Westport may not be the center of the musical universe.
But last night, it sure came close.
Darlene Love’s first live performance in 2 years thrilled a sold-out Levitt Pavilion crowd.
The Levitt Pavilion was packed, on a beautiful evening. (Photo/JC Martin)
The singer — who turns 80 this month — gave one of the most memorable performances in the outdoor venue’s 47-year history.
Mixing her Phil Spector hits with gospel and more recent Stevie Van Zandt songs, she owned the stage with a powerful, wide-ranging voice and engaging banter.
Darlene Love in action. (Photo/JC Martin)
As befitting a former backup singer — if you haven’t seen “20 Feet From Stardom,” why not?! — she gave extended solos to a pair of future stars.
Darlene Love’s backup singers got their own star turns. (Photo/JC Martin)
Darlene Love was clearly delighted to be back on stage. And — because there are always Westport connections beyond the obvious — one of the key members of her rock-the-house band was our neighbor, saxophonist Crispin Cioe.
Saxophonist Crispin Cioe (left) is a huge Darlene Love fan. (Photo/Dan Woog)
He once called Darlene Love his “soul and inspiration.” He’s played with her for over 30 years.
And yes, they both gave a rousing rendition of that Righteous Brothers/Phil Spector song of the same name last night.
A pre-show announcement warned concert-goers that, because of COVID, there would be no dancing in front of the stage. So these fans — all probably born years after Darlene Love sang with the Crystals — danced in their own pod. (Photo/JC Martin)
Meanwhile, an hour or so earlier and a couple of miles away, Soundview Drive was the stage for a concert of a different kind.
More than half a dozen Broadway stars sang from the front lawn of Karen Elizaga and her husband, Jay Ptashek.
Broadway stars on Soundview Drive. (Photo/Lauri Weiser)
Mixing familiar show tunes with humor — it’s not every day that cars and trucks pass between singers and audience — the singers wowed a crowd arranged in beach chairs, across the street on Compo Beach.
6-year old Chloe Silverstein, and a small part of the large crowd on Compo Beach. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Among the performers: Staples High School graduate Mia Gentile (“Kinky Boots”) and Karen and Jay’s own daughter, Sloane Ptashek.
Mia Gentile, a proud Staples Players alum. (Photo/Lauri Weiser)
Admission was free. But anyone could make (and still can!) donations to Broadway for Arts Education. The non-profit provides arts education to underserved youth in New York, Haiti and India.
Host Karen Elizaga and her husband, Jay Ptashek. (Photo/Lauri Weiser)
After one rainout, and then a COVID cancellation, the “06880” community was ready to party.
I did the hard thing (picked the most beautiful night of the summer) and the easy one (put out the word for people to come).
You guys did the rest.
Over 150 “06880” readers gathered at South Beach last night for our annual “blog party.”
The crowd was young …
Ann Sheffer with her grandson.
… and old(ish).
Dan Woog (left) and Miggs Burroughs. (Photo/Patrick Kennedy)
It included folks who grew up here in the 1940s, and a couple who moved here in April.
There were politicians, and normal human beings.
There were Westporters with beach stickers, and Westonites, Norwalkers and Fairfielders who got rides, walked from nearby friends’ houses, or paid the full boat at the gate to get in.
(Photo/Robin Tauck)
Everyone brought food, soda, beer and wine (no glass bottles, though!).
The Westport Garden Club even brought decorations. Their #FridayFlowers were a day early, but “06880” was honored to be this week’s recipient.
Yours truly, with a gorgeous Westport Garden Club arrangement. (Photo/Dennis Jackson)
People chatted with old friends, and made new ones. They ate and laughed. They luxuriated in a beautiful, pre-pandemic community gathering, at one of the most beautiful spots in town. They watched the sun go down. Some stayed until long after dark.
(Photo/Isabelle Alvarado)
Thanks to all who came to our party, and made it such a fantastic evening.
It’s all good for tonight’s “06880” Compo Beach “blog party.”
We’re set for 6 p.m. at South Beach — the alcohol-is-fine-except-no-glass-bottles end, furthest from the cannons.
Please bring your own food and beverages. If you’d like to bring something extra to share, feel free! (Folding tables and chairs are good too.)
We’ll provide the “06880” community — a chance to meet commenters and lurkers. Each year there are oldtimers, newcomers, politicians and normal human beings. It’s a chance to talk, laugh and trade stories about this wild, wacky and only slightly dysfunctional town we share and love.
Plus, the weather is supposed to be perfect.
See you tonight!
PS: If you’re coming over the William F. Cribari Bridge, allow extra time. You never know when it might be closed.
We’ll be just to the left of this jetty (near the boat and kayak launch). Without the car, though. (Photo/Linda Gramatky Smith)
Ben Casparius is one step closer to Major League Baseball.
The former Staples High School star was chosen in the 5th round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in yesterday’s draft. He was #162 overall.
The pitcher recently completed his senior season at the University of Connecticut. He was 8-5, with a 4.03 ERA, and a team-leading 15 starts. He struck out 15 Georgetown players in 7 innings, a career high.
According to SB Nation:
Casparius led the Huskies in innings (91 2/3), as well as strikeouts (127), which translates to 12.5 strikeouts per 9 innings. His strikeout mark is second in UConn history…. This was enough to earn Casparius ABCA First-Team honors for the Northeast region, as well as second-team all-conference honors and a spot on the Big East all-tournament team.
Casparius’ best pitch is his change-up, which MLBPipeline graded a 55 on the 20-80 scouting scale, which translates to above-average. His fastball, slider and control were each given 50 grades, which is average. His fastball sits around 91 mph but he has been recorded as high as 95 mph. He projects as a strike-thrower with a solid three-pitch mix. This, despite his slight 6-foot, 208-pound build, leaves him a chance to start through his professional career.
The “recommended signing bonus” for Casparius is $318,200. (Click here for the full SB Nation story. Hat tip: David Goldstein)
Longtime Westporter Leonard Kritzer died Sunday in Boca Raton, Florida. He was 97 years old.
In 2012 — nearly 70 years after he helped liberate France from Nazi occupation — he was named by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to that nation’s elite Legion of Honor. The group was founded in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte.
A group of 20 World War II veterans received an insignia from the French Consulate in Boynton Beach, Florida. Their Knight honor was the highest of the Legion’s 5 degrees.
Kritzer spent 50 years in Westport, as a merchant and home builder. He and his wife Lea moved here from Long Island in 1954 to open Country Casuals, a women’s sportswear and country attire shop in Compo Shopping Center. He later founded Kritzer Development Corporation, and built 50 homes in Westport and Weston.
Kritzer was a 19-year-old student (and 6-4 basketball player) at Brooklyn College when he was drafted into the Army, in 1944.
He landed at Utah Beach a month after D-Day. A veteran of the Battle of the Bulge and 3 other engagements, he spent most of his time at the front. His unit calculated the distance to enemy artillery based on the sounds of big guns.
After France was liberated, Kritzer’s unit moved into Germany. They remained there as an occupying force, after surrender. He was discharged in 1946.
He retired 2 decades ago to Florida, with his wife Lea. He was an avid tennis player there.
Kritzer is survived by his wife Lea; son Harry; daughter Lizzz; granddaughters Lauren Hammarstedt and Erin Spillman; great-grandsons Sagan and Julien Spillman, and great-granddaughter Hariet Spillman.
Speaking of parking: There are a few parking spots on the east side of Hillspoint Road, in front of the old Positano’s restaurant.
Savvy out-of-towners used to park there, then walk to Compo Beach. Now they’re reserved for beach sticker vehicles only.
Occasionally, someone parks just south of the permitted spots. Westport Police are quick to ticket them.
I’ve never seen anyone park quite so illegally as this, though. This was a couple of hundred yards south of the zone — closer to Schlaet’s Point than Old Mill.
And please, do not comment that “it may have been a medical emergency.” Unless the emergency was a complete stoppage of the driver’s brain.
And finally … on this day in 1985, the Live Aid benefit concert for famine relief took place in London and Philadelphia. Concerts inspired by the event were held in the Soviet Union, Canada, Japan, Yugoslavia, Austria, Australia and West Germany.
An audience of about 1.9 billion, in 150 nations, watched the live broadcast — nearly 40 percent of the world population.
It took a while for this news to make it here. But it was worth waiting for.
After a long and legendary teaching career in Westport, beloved elementary school icon Patsie Bonardi returned to her hometown of Bethlehem, New Hampshire.
For her 90th birthday in June, the town gathered along Main Street. They celebrated her with a surprise “reverse parade.” Residents gathered outside the theater, post office and library, holding signs and cheering as she rode by in her convertible — with a police and fire truck escort.
Elementary school students held handmade signs.
Bonardi was a longtime supporter of the Colonial Theater, and served as a library trustee and Home Health Care Board member. As part of her birthday celebration, residents raised $1,300 in her name for the theater.
(Click here for the full story, from the Littleton Courier. Hat tips: John and Carol Waxman)
Patsie Bonardi, during her parade. (Photo/Angel Larcom)
The “Piece by Piece” artwork was unveiled Friday at the Westport Library. Sixty local artists each contributed a panel — not knowing how it would fit into the “big picture.” They had no idea what the finished piece was.
Turns out to be a work by Keith Haring.
The final work impressed the Westport Library crowd. (Photo/Miggs Burroughs)
Individual panels were on sale, with proceeds split between the Library and the artist of that particular panel.
Adam Bremen was born with cerebral palsy. He’s used an electric wheelchair all his life.
In 2017, he decided to become more physically fit. Thanks to water aerobics and the Keto diet, he lost 45 pounds. His next step was to create a good-tasting Keto-based snack bar. He called it Keto Krisp.
This past weekend — after quarantining for 16 months — Adam traveled from California to Westport. He visited his sister Erin, who lives here.
Adam had never kayaked before. But the crew at Westport Paddle Club took care of him. He and his family had a fantastic time.
He’s thanking them by sending a package of Keto Krispy bars. And he’ll wear his WPC t-shirt proudly.
Adam Bremen and Westport Paddle Club owner Robbie Guimond (front), with Adam’s family and WPC staff members.
Sure, the Levitt Pavilion offers 50 nights of free summer entertainment.
But here’s a different kind of free show, at a very different site.
Karen Elizaga lives on Soundview Drive, between Norwalk and Westport Avenues. This Friday (July 16, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.), she’s hosting a group of Broadway stars.
Devin Ilaw (“Miss Saigon,” “Les Miserables”), Sarah Beth Pfeifer (“Lightning Thief”), Staples High School graduate Mia Gentile (“Kinky Boots”) and others will sing in her front yard. Everyone is welcome to gather on the beach, and listen.
The goal is to raise awareness — and funds, if you’d like to lend support — of Broadway for Arts Education. The non-profit provides arts education to underserved youth in New York, Haiti and India.
It should be a great event. And even though there’s no ticket, feel “free” to donate to this important group.
From horseback riders to model plane flyers, there’s always something going on at Sherwood Island State Park.
But yesterday might have been a first: an in-the-water wedding.
Patricia Auber was attracted by the singing and tambourine playing. She wanted to keep a respectful distance, so there are no details about the bridge and groom. Still, she did capture this wonderful photo:
A minister leads the ceremony, in Long Island Sound. (Photo/Patricia Auber)
Noted Westport photographer Tom Kretsch, and Shapleigh Smith of Stowe, Vermont have been friends for 65 years.
The Newtown natives parted ways after high school. But they reunited in Stowe, where Shap lives and Tom bought a timeshare. at the Trapp Family Lodge.
Last winter they spent time photographingthe back roads of the Northeast Kingdom. Now they’re showing their work, back in their hometown of Newtown.
This Thursday (July 15, 5:30 to 7 p.m.) is the opening of “Down on Vermont Country Road: Old Friends and New Visions” at the Cyrenius Booth Library on Main Street. The show runs through Labor Day.
One of Tom Kretsch’s Vermont photos.
Staples High School boys soccer tri-captain Bruno Guiduli knows the important of giving back.
During the past year he’s raised over $2,300 for TOPSoccer. The non-profit helps special needs youngsters play the sport Bruno loves.
This Saturday (July 17, 8 a.m. to noon), he invites everyone to Wakeman Field. He’ll set up a special goal he built with his father, Barry. All are welcome to test their skills, while learning about TOPSoccer. Donations will be gratefully accepted.
Bruno Guiduli, with the TOPSoccer goal he invites everyone to shoot at.
This weekend’s Fresh Market osprey update, from Carolyn Doan:
“I can’t believe how big they’ve gotten. I was there for breakfast. Dad brought a fish, right on time. He called from a tree to wake everyone up, and went over to the nest once all 3 were ready to eat. Two of the siblings are very affectionate with one another, which was wonderful to watch.
“They were stretching their wings a lot, so fledging is imminent.”
A man in France takes care of the grave of an American soldier, killed on D-Day in Normandy, age 29. He’d like to contact any relatives he can find.
The soldier’s name was Sgt. Glenn Everett “Tex” Moats. He lived in Fairfield. If any “06880” readers remember the family, click here to respond. (Hat tip: Kendall Gardiner)
Nadine Cherna is proud of all her piano students. But she’s particularly proud of Eric Gordonos. The 13-year-old plays everything she asks, everything he can find — and then composes his own pieces. Here is an excerpt:
And finally … speaking of talented young pianists, today would have been Van Cliburn’s 87th birthday. He rocketed too fame in 1958, when — just 23 years old — he won the 1st International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, at the height of the Cold War.
Lots of cars look alike these days. Lots of them don’t even need keys to start. And lots of us have lots of things on our minds.
That can be a dangerous combination, as Evan Stein learned this weekend.
Here’s his car theft story — with a part-O. Henry, part-Westport twist.
I went to the beach on Saturday. Put on sunblock, had a nap and listened to podcasts. My wife Jenny went for a walk.
Evan Stein took this selfie Saturday at Compo Beach.
At 2:45 my alarm went off. I packed up our stuff and put it in the back seat of my parents’ car, which I borrowed because I don’t have a beach sticker this year.
When the stuff was in the car, Jen got back from her walk. We did a lap around the marina, and walked back to our car.
We headed across town to my parents’ house, about 10 minutes away. As we pulled into the driveway, I reached up to open the garage door buttons.
The buttons weren’t there.
I puzzled over this for a moment, then said to Jen, “I think this might not be our car.”
She said, “Of course it isn’t. We borrowed your parents’ car.”
I said, “No. I mean, I don’t think this is their car!”
I had driven to the beach in a Toyota SUV. I now drove an Infiniti SUV.
Evan Stein sent along this approximation of the 2 SUVs.
It was the same color. Same basic shape. But there had been clues. There were more cameras as we backed out of the space at the beach. There was a map on the screen as we drove home. There were 2 beach stickers. My father does not leave extra stickers on the windshield.
And as we looked around, we saw children’s seats in the back. Thank G-D there were no sleeping kids!
Then there was a purse by Jen’s feet. It was not her purse.
The culprit.
Presumably, there was a key fob in the purse. How else could the car have started?
I pulled into the driveway. I told my parents we were home. But I said we had to go back to the beach. We had taken someone else’s car.
My dad followed us to Compo. When we arrived, the couple whose car we had taken were talking to the Westport Police.
I pulled into a spot by the showers. I got out and apologized for taking the car.
The officer took my name and phone number. He seemed more focused on reminding the couple to not leave their keys in the car.
My father and I walked back to his car. I drove us home.
“Grand Theft Auto” challenge unlocked. Fortunately, without an arrest.
The morals of the story: Don’t leave your key fob in your car. And pay attention!
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