Happy belated birthday, Bambi Linn!
The dancer, choreographer and actress — and longtime Westporter — turned 100 yesterday.
She trained extensively with Agnes de Mille. In 1943, at 17, she made her Broadway debut in the original production of “Oklahoma!” She is the last surviving cast member of opening night.
De Mille used her again 2 years later in “Carousel.” Other Broadway credits include the title role in “Alice in Wonderland” (1947) and Blanche in “I Can Get It for You Wholesale” (1962).
She made occasional guest appearances through the early 1980s.
In the 1950s, Bambi Linn was half of a ballroom dance team with her first husband, Rod Alexander. They made frequent appearances on TV’s “Your Show of Shows,” “The Colgate Comedy Hour,” “Toast of the Town” and others.
She made her only film appearance as the fantasy Laurey in the extended Dream Ballet sequence in “Oklahoma!” (1955).
In Westport, she and her second husband, dancer Joe DeJesus, taught dance to generations of youngsters.
She also helped with Staples Players’ productions of 2 shows she knew well: “Alice in Wonderland” (1964) and, 10 years later, “Carousel.”
Happy 100th birthday, Bambi Linn! (Hat tip: Paul Malamphy)
Bambi Linn, as Dream Laurey in “Oklahoma!” on Broadway …
… and as Louise with Jan Clayton (Julie Jordan” in the 1945 “Carousel.”
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
The Westport Senior Center kicks it off on Friday (May 1, 1 p.m.), with a special event featuring Melissa Bernstein.
The co-founder of Melissa & Doug Toys will chat with “06880” founder Dan Woog about her personal journey through anxiety and depression.
She’ll discuss the tools and insights that helped guide her back into the light, and what she has discovered about finding purpose and meaning along the way.
Melissa is the author of “Lifelines” and “The Heart of Entrepreneurship: Crafting Your Authentic Recipe for Success.” She also curated a collection of stress-relief tools inspired by her own life experiences, available at Lifelines.com.
To register, call the Senior Center: 203-341-5099.
Melissa Bernstein
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A recent CT Insider story caught Susan Iseman’s eye.
It said that each year, the Connecticut Department of Transportation collects 3,000 dumpsters’ worth of trash and debris from state roads, highways and parking lots.
“06880” has reported recently on the Staples Service League of Boys’ clean-up efforts around town, and the 2 Rotary Clubs’ work at I-95 Exit 17.
Susan adds a local note. She writes: “If everyone just disposed of their trash properly, state and town workers could be doing something else.
“I seem to recall volunteers have cleaned trash from the Saugatuck River and its banks, and different parts of town where trash piles up.
“I recall a photo after the 4th of July fireworks depicting all the trash left behind. Of course the town picks it up, but really: Who does this?
I live near a baseball field. After games there are water bottles and trash left behind, despite receptacles close by.
“I walk my dog at the Haskins Preserve. You’d be shocked at the trash and poop bags left in the parking lot.
“The caretaker told me he doesn’t want to leave a receptacle there, because he has seen folks dump their household trash in it.
“As a fitness walker, I see cups, cans and nip bottles along the roads. This is my Earth Day month rant!”
Not a rant, Susan — valid points.
Come on, Westport. Do better!
Staples’ Service League of Boys on Sunday, picking up trash at a baseball field.
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Speaking of the environment: Saturday’s rain moved Earthplace’s 5th annual Toast to the Trees indoors.
But spirits were not dampened. And the celebration of nature was as festive and fun as ever.
Guests walked a “tasting trail,” and toasted with beer selections from 8 breweries. Arts and crafts and other activities designed engaged children of all ages.
Volunteers from the Georgetown Alumni, National Charity League and Staples Service League of Boys (SLOBs) helped support the event.
Proceeds from Toast to the Trees benefit Earthplace’s nature education programs, scholarships, and community outreach initiatives. For more information, click here.
Plenty of action. at Earthplace’s Toast to the Trees.
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With 2 days left in the Westport Downtown Association’s Fashionably Westport silent auction — click here for dozens of items, from food and entertainment to travel and experiences — let’s give a great shoutout to the folks who make it all happen.
And by “all,” we mean Saturday’s fashion show at the Westport Library.
They found dozens of models; arranged for outfits, hair styling and makeup; planned caterers and music; solicited sponsors — and did it all as a benefit for Homes with Hope.
Our (very stylish) hats are off to Westport Downtown Association president Maxx Crowley and his staff: Huong Belpedio, Rachel Katzman, Brian Spurr and Shawn Kapitan.
Great job! Westport thanks you. And hopes you don’t get hired away by Milan.
Westport Downtown Association staff and friends, at Fashionably Westport …
… and president Maxx Crowley. (Photos/John Videler for Videler Photography)
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Speaking of downtown: Another fitness center is moving in.
Tremble — which calls itself “Miami’s hottest workout” — will take over the 180 Post Road East space formerly occupied by the AT&T store, across Bay Street from Design Within Reach.
The national franchise — with studios in (among other places, the Hamptons, Soho and Darien — says that its “high intensity, low impact heart pumping full body workout … combines the best of strength training, cardio and Pilates inspired movements all in one session on reformers
“We focus on full body functional movements centered around the core that will make you stronger both mentally and physically. TREMBLE classes are conducted in a boutique, upscale environment limited in sizes to give you the attention you need. TREMBLE to the rhythm of curated playlists from our instructors that will get you pumped up and sweaty.”
Click here for their website. To follow on Instagram, click here.
Tremble, at the Post Road/Bay Street corner. (Photo/Sal Liccione)
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Steven Rubin is about to publish his first novel.
The Weston resident’s “The Unraveling of Michael” Galler — released May 12 — is a psychological family drama set on Boston’s North Shore, where he was raised.
It’s about a teenager transitioning from high school to college, with an obsessive fear of cancer. Click here for more information. Click here for the novel’s back story, from the Marblehead Weekly News.
A book launch is set for The Tailored Home May 16, 2 p.m., The Tailored Home), with a book signing at Barnes & Noble on June 6, also at 2.
Steven Rubin
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Saxophonist Vincent Herring carries on the hard bop tradition of Cannonball Adderley and Jackie McLean. Chatting with Greg “The Jazz Rabbi” Wall before their performance last winter at the Westport Library, they discovered both were enchanted by the music of Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh, disciples of the great pianist and pedagogue Lennie Tristano.
Herring and Wall agreed to perform that exciting music together at Jazz at the Post. The shows are this Thursday (April 30, 7:30 and 8:45 p.m.; dinner from 7; VFW Post 399).
They’ll be joined by 3 exciting artists: pianist Steve Sandberg, bassist Yuriy Galkun and drummer Steve Johns. Click here for tickets.
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A woodpecker and friend found a feast recently, at a Bayberry Lane bird feeder.
Here, in today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured photo, they try to get the hang of it.
(Photo/Jonathan Alloy)
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And finally …did you know that the birth flower for April is sweet pea?
(You may find garbage all over town — see the story above. You can keep “06880” garbage-free — or at least, without ads — by clicking here. Thank you!)
A way prior tenant to Tremble was Baskin & Robbins. We’d go there after seeing movies at Fine Arts 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Happy 100th birthday, Bambi Linn! I took ballet at her Compo Road studio for many years. (If I remember correctly, she and her husband lived in the house as well.) She was, in a word, terrific.