Pop-Up Bagels has done it again!
This weekend Adam Goldberg’s stealth-no-more store — the one behind Cycle Dynamics that draws dozens of devoted customers every Friday, Saturday and Sunday — repeated last year’s upset, out-of-the-burbs Brooklyn Bagelfest win.
This time, they even doubled their victory. They captured both the expert judges and people’s choice awards.
So let there be no doubt: The best bagel shop in New York is … Pop-Up Bagels. From Westport, Connecticut.
Adam Goldberg with the gold, from last year and this.
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The blues are alive and well in Westport.
A standing room crowd packed the Trefz Forum yesterday for the first of Mark Naftalin’s “Blue Sundays.”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer — former keyboardist with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, who has reocrded or played with James Cotton, John Lee Hooker, Etta James, Percy Mayfield, Carla Thomas, Irma Thomas, Otis Rush, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner and many others — curates and hosts the monthly series.
Mark Naftalin on piano, fellow Westporter and saxophonist Crispin Cioe, and other band members.
His initial session included an all-star cast: Chance Browne, Chris “Otis” Cross, Paul Gabriel, Manny Foglio, Mark Zarestky, David Anastasia, Matt Moadel, Barry Urich, Smokin’ Joe Naimy, Crispin Cioe and Washboard Slim.
They ripped through classics like “I Put a Spell on You,” and originals that deserve to be classics.
As the blues-influenced Rolling Stones sang in Chuck Berry’s “Around and Around”: “The joint was rockin’.”
Another shot of the band. (Photos/Dan Woog)
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Speaking of the library: There’s a thought-provoking display just inside the front door, on the main level.
Across the nation, drives to ban books are gaining momentum. Challenges come from the right and the left.
The reasons vary. They include degradation of women, sexual explicitness, political viewpoints, bias against male students, sexual assault, offensive language, LGBTQ+ content, violence, insensitivity and Satanism.
The Westport Library shows those challenges sharply:
Like many libraries everywhere, Westport’s has committed itself to “empowering the individual and strengthening the community through dynamic interaction and the lively exchange of ideas.”
Without banning access to them.
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With the Red Cross experiencing a blood shortage, this Wednesday’s drive at the VFW is crucial (September 21, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 465 Riverside Avenue). The event is sponsored by the Westport Young Woman’s League. Click here to make an appointment; use sponsor code “VFWWestport.”
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Damon Rein and his son Jack Rein — a Staples High School senior — are training hard. Their goal is to collectively do over 2,500 push-ups in 1 hour next month, to raise money for the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. It’s part of the 13th annual Push Against Cancer.
They’re already halfway to their $10,000 goal. Click here for more information, and to help.
PS: Jack created this cartoon of Andrew Berman — the local Push leader — in honor of the event:
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Graffiti “artists” have tagged 2 locations in Westport: the Hales Road bridge over I-95, and (below), the pedestrian bridge over Dedman Brook, connecting the Levitt Pavilion and the Imperial Avenue parking lot:
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“Finding Westport”‘s latest design leaves no doubt about the town’s name:
It’s available as a t-shirt, tank, fleece, hoodie, sweatshirt, mug, tote bag, greeting card, blanket, pint glass, tumbler and outdoor rug. Click here to order, and for more “Finding Westport” options.
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Lisa Newman writes: “My son spotted this little guy spectating on opening day of Westport softball at the Town Hall fields.”
What a great way to start off our “Westport … Naturally” week!
(Photo/Lisa Newman)
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And finally … as noted above, Mark Naftalin’s “Blue Sunday” show at the Westport LIbrary included the classic “I Put a Spell on You.”
Here are 5 other versions of this great song:
(“06880” isn’t singing the blues. But contributions always help keep this blog in the pink. Please click here to help.)