As a homeschooled middle schooler, Quinn Fitts was vaguely aware of Toquet Hall.
Yet until, as a Staples High School freshman, she heard youth board members of the town’s teen center talk about an upcoming “’20s Night” — 1900s, not 2000s — she had never gone.
But she climbed the stairs to Toquet (it’s in one of those if-you-know,-you-know locations, in the alley between the Post Road and Jesup Road by the Westport Book Shop).
Toquet Hall’s funky exterior.
Quinn walked into the wide-open room, with couches, a stage, video games and snacks. She played table games, and card games.
“It was pretty cool,” she recalls.
Toquet Hall: the view from the stage.
Two years later, Quinn is on the Toquet Hall youth board herself.
They meet weekly. They plan, and run, events. “It’s a great way to get involved in the community of Westport,” she says.
And to offer fun, low-key activities to middle and high schoolers here.
As the youth board has done for nearly 3 decades — ever since the center opened in 1998, in a 19th-century building that was once an opera house — they’ve tried to get the word out that it is a great place to hang out.
Plenty to do for everyone, at Toquet Hall.
One of the first big events Quinn helped with was “Spicy Twos” — a “Hot Ones”-esque evening. More recently, she worked on another “20s Night.”
On Friday, March 20 Toquet Hall is open from 5 to 10 p.m., for board games, card games, video games (there’s a Switch, Wii, and 3 types of Smash Bros), pool, or just talking with friends.
Pool, video games, and much more.
The next event (Saturday, March 21) is “Jeopardy Night.” In the works: a “Star Wars” movie.
And of course, there is music.
The Townies get ready to play.
Toquet also offers events for middle schoolers. (Tonight — Friday — there’s a Super Smash Bros. tournament, from 7 to 9 p.m.). And it’s open for drop-ins after school for that age group too.
Quinn is part of Staples Players. Her friends enjoy Toquet Hall (and serve on its youth board).
She wants other friend groups to come too.
“It’s a fun place to hang out,” she notes. “We don’t have other places where you can just exist for free, except the library.”
For more information, including a calendar, click here. The Instagram is @toquethall.
(“06880” often covers Westport’s youth scene — plus everything else in town. If you enjoy stories like this, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
…..yet another reason to like Westport. Growing up in NYC the hardest part for grade school and H.S. kids was to gather in a safe place (without parents) and have something to do without having money to do it with.
This is truly, Westport’s best hidden gem! The staff and the environment they provide for kids are top notch. As a parent, I cannot say enough great things about this place.