Category Archives: Beach

For nearly 50 years, Bloodroot has served delicious vegan food — spiced with healthy amounts of feminist ideology, and a side helping of social justice-type books — in a funky, you’ve-got-to-know-it-to-get-there spot on Bridgeport’s Black Rock Harbor.

Co-founder and longtime Westporter Selma Miriam died in February, 2 weeks short of 90.

But Bloodroot lives on. It’s gotten plenty of national attention. (Just the other day, it was mentioned on Brian Lehrer’s WNYC show as a restaurant well worth taking a detour to.)

Now it’s the focus of a feature documentary.

“A Culinary Uprising: The Story of Bloodroot” debuts Sunday (June 22) at the 38th Connecticut LGBTQ Film Festival in Hartford.

Miriam saw the video in November, and loved it. Click here or below for the trailer. (Hat tip: Sal Liccione)

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On the other end of the political spectrum: This bus — part of the “Take Back Connecticut” tour — drew plenty of attention, as it drove through Westport yesterday.

Here’s one view, in front of Splash car wash. Images include the flag raising at Iwo Jima, Martin Luther King, Donald Trump after the assassination attempt, and — oddly — John F. Kennedy, just before he was killed in Dallas.

(Photo/Chris Tait)

Here’s another image, from Main Street:

(Photo/Sal Liccione)

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When the world shut down 5 years ago during COVID, VFW Post 399 sponsored a blood drive.

They had one the next month. And the month after that …

On June 27 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), the VFW reaches a milestone: their 60th month in a row collecting blood.

In those 5 years, they’ve welcomed over 2,700 donors. And impacted countless more lives.

This month’s Red Cross blood drive is sponsored by the VFW’s neighbor, the Goddard School.

Donors are encouraged to schedule appointments in advance. Click on www.RedCrossBlood.org; use the sponsor code VFWWESTPORT. Or call 800-733-2767.

Give blood here!

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The Levitt Pavilion hosts 4 free shows, from tonight through Sunday.

• Thursday (today): Juneteenth special: Leon Tumbo and Sug Daniels
• Friday: Dogs in a Pile
• Saturday: Theo Kanel with Katie Lynn Sharbough
• Sunday: The always-popular Frank Mastrone & Friends.

Click here for details about artists, start times, more — and how to reserve your free tickets.

Tonight: Leon Tumbo and Sug Daniels.

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After a 5-year hiatus, the Westport Parks & Recreation Department men’s basketball summer league returns to Compo Beach, on Monday nights.

All Westport and Weston residents are eligible to sign up. The deadline is June 27th. Click here to register, and for more information.

Hoop dreams. (Photo/JD Dworkow)

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“The Edge of Water” by Olufunke Grace Bankole, “O Sinners” by Nicole Cuffy and “Rabbit Moon” by Jennifer Haigh are finalists for the 2025 Westport Prize for Literature.

It is awarded annually, to honor an original work of literary fiction that is both relevant and timeless.

This year’s winner will be honored at The Westport Library on November 6. The conversation with the winning author will be moderated by The Yale Review editor Meghan O’Rourke.

This is the third year for the $10,000 prize. The first grant went novelist Zadie Smith for “The Fraud.” The 2024 recipient was Alejandro Puyana, for his debut novel, “Freedom is a Feast.”

Submissions for the 2025 prize were read and vetted by nearly 50 volunteer readers. The best-reviewed manuscripts advance to the jury, which will select the winner.

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Westporter Soha Ellaithy led a group of Fairfield County mothers, who raised over $30,000 to support the Leonard Education Organization (LE•O).

The non-profit provides college tuition assistance and job placement services to under-resourced students from around the world.

Raising funds, for a great cause.

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Yesterday’s morning fog kept the crowds down at Sherwood Island State Park.

But — as today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows — the geese sure didn’t mind.

(Photo/Pamela Docters)

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And finally … in honor of Juneteenth:

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