When this story was posted — at 10:20 a.m. — there was 1 minute of summer left. Autumn arrives at 10:21.
In honor of one of Westport’s 4 favorite seasons, “06880” photographer Andrew Colabella sent along these images. All were taken here, late in the day, throughout the summer.
Click on or hover over to enlarge. Enjoy! And don’t forget to mark your calendar.
Summer arrives on June 21, 2017. At 12:24 a.m.
Posted in Beach, Restaurants, Weather
Tagged Andrew Colabella, Compo Beach, Oscar's Deli
When Oscar’s closed last month, many devotees were devastated.
And several long-time employees were suddenly out of jobs.
Fortunately, it’s hard to keep good men (and women) down.
Alert — and gratified — “06880” reader Kevin Rakin reports that Joaquin, Javier and Lilly are all working at Greenfield Hill Market.
Oscar’s fans know what a great job they do. Now its Fairfield’s turn to find out.
Back at work, at Greenfield Hill Market.
Today was hot and humid. But it’s never too hot for Saugatuck’s great Italian food, from places like Tutti’s and Tarantino’s.
Or Mexican (Viva’s, Cuatro Hermanos), Thai (Rainbow) or Japanese (Kawa Ni).
Every restaurant — including Dunkin’ Donuts — was represented at this afternoon’s Slice of Saugatuck.
So were stores, ranging from liquor (99 Bottles) to sports (Attic) to my favorite — not just in Saugatuck but all of Westport (Indulge by Mersene).
The 5th annual event was sponsored by the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce. Funds benefit the Gillespie Center food pantry. Slice is nice!
The line to sample Julian’s pizza ran past Parker Mansion.
Tutti’s served up — among other favorites — a tasty chicken dish.
Al DiGuido’s Saugatuck Sweets scooped ice cream, on the plaza.
Things were quieter on the river, where Downunder offered kayaks.
Bands — rock, acoustic, even Caribbean — played throughout Saugatuck. This group had a prime spot, at Bridge Square.
First Selectman Jim Marpe and his wife Mary Ellen hung out at the Black Duck.
Cuatro Hermanos added a sombrero to their rice and beans.
A tae kwan do demonstration enlivened Railroad Place. Shattered boards lie on the left.
Every year — with new shops and new residents joining established stores and longtime residents — Saugatuck gets better than ever.
You can say the same about Slice of Saugatuck.
The 5th annual event — set for Saturday, September 10 (2 to 5 p.m.) — is already one of the street fair highlights on the Westport calendar. A few tweaks this year will make it the best one yet.
The sponsors — the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce — has added beer gardens on Bridge Street and Railroad Place. A later start time allows restaurants to offer happy hour for food and drinks after the festival.
From Bridge Square to Railroad Place — and everywhere else — Slice of Saugatuck is packed. (Photo/Terry Cosgrave)
Speaking of Railroad Place: Every business there is participating this year. All told, nearly 50 restaurants and merchants will open their doors (or put food samples and wares out on the sidewalk).
New music at 6 venues will rock the Slice — including high school bands promoting a fundraiser for Toquet Hall.
Slice of Saugatuck — a fun combination of food tasting and retail experiencing — draws over 2,000 people a year. They wander the narrow streets of this vibrant neighborhood, visiting favorite restaurants and stores and discovering new gems.
The Slice is a kids’ delight too, with an obstacle course, bouncy houses, a climbing wall, balloon bender, dance demonstrations and a Maker Faire area.
What kid doesn’t like getting in a fire truck?
There’s a $10 admission fee ($5 for kids) — but funds go back to the Gillespie Center food pantry. So far, over $14,000 has been raised.
“Slice” refers to both the physical boundaries of Saugatuck — it looks like a pizza serving — and the area’s many Italian restaurants.
Pizza can be served both traditionally, and in new, creative ways.
You can say the same about Slice of Saugatuck.
(For more information, and to see participants and a “Slice of Saugatuck” map, click here.)
Click here for “06880+”: The easy way to publicize upcoming events, sell items, find or advertise your service, ask questions, etc. It’s the “06880” community bulletin board!
As summer winds down — admit it, with school starting yesterday it’s over — let’s look back at the original Compo Beach concessions stand.
(Photo courtesy of Paul Ehrisman)
This 1933 photo shows the forerunner of what many longtime Westporters remember as “Chubby Lane’s.” The food stand was located where the volleyball courts are now. Beach stickers were not needed for parking.
For the past 20 years, Joey Romeo has taken Compo (and Longshore’s) food service to new levels. But if you recall Chubby’s — or “Louis Stone’s Compo Beach Pavilion” — click “Comments” below, and share memories.
Posted in Beach, Friday Flashback, Looking back, Restaurants
Tagged Chubby Lane's, Compo Beach, Louis Stone's Compo Beach Pavilion
The other day, alert — and hungry — “06880” reader JP Vellotti was walking home from the train station.
Smells from the many area restaurants were alluring. He got even hungrier.
Then he saw these cherry tomatoes growing outside Fleishers Craft Butchery.
(Photo/JP Vellotti)
JP says, “If they don’t put a ‘please do not pick’ sign up soon, there might be a new meaning to ‘community garden.’
But he resisted temptation. And got his tomato fix at Julian’s instead.
Posted in Environment, Local business, Restaurants, Saugatuck
Tagged Fleishers Craft Butchery, JP Vellotti, Julian's Brick Oven Pizza
Westport Animal Shelter Advocates posted this on Facebook:
Last week at about 6:15 p.m., when the air was still very muggy with the temperature in the high 80’s, a group of diners (and Westport residents) at Sherwood Diner became aware of a large SUV in the parking lot with a small dog inside — and New York plates. The windows were completely shut.
It was determined that the car had been there at least 45 minutes. A call was made to Westport Police, as Westport’s animal control officer was off duty.
Officer Wong Won and another officer (whose name we don’t know) responded quickly. The owner of the car was identified (mid-meal). She became belligerent and defensive, and stated, “this wouldn’t be an issue in Westchester.”
Officer Won responded, “Ma’am, this is Westport. We love our dogs in Westport.”
The dog owner was ticketed, and warned about leaving her dog in a hot car.
WASA would like to thank Officer Won and his fellow Westport officer for coming to this dog’s rescue, and handling the situation so beautifully. Tails are wagging all over Westport in appreciation.
Our thanks too to the Westport residents who were advocates for the little dog.
Yes, Officer Won, this is Westport. And we do love our dogs!
(Hat tip: Kendall Gardiner)
Westporters are still adjusting to the loss of Oscar’s.
But around the time the Main Street deli closed — and beloved owner Lee Papageorge died — longtime Westporter Susan Brody spotted this doppelganger in Marseille:
The French are known for fiercely protecting their language. Neither “bagels” nor “sandwiches” sound French to me.
As for “Oscar’s” — in any language, that means “love.”
(Hat tip: Eden Werring)
There are plenty of places to get good, expensive meals in Westport.
But there was only one Kibberia.
The fresh, healthy (and very inexpensive) Middle Eastern restaurant on the Norwalk town line — named for kibbeh, the delicious Lebanese dish — filled a special niche.
Nick Iskandar.
Owner Nick Iskandar created a wonderful space. He had devoted customers — including nearby office workers looking for great lunch fare — and a strong catering operation.
But tonight Kibberia serves its last shish kebab, shawarma and fantastic lentil salad. His lease expired, and the cost of doing business here grew too high.
Nick told “06880”:
It has been a pleasure being part of the Westport community for the past 3 years. We made a lot of friends here and had a lot of loyal customers who, I am sure, will be upset that we are closing.
I want to thank all our customers and all the people who supported us, especially Dan and the “06880” community who always wrote great things about Kibberia.
I hope to see you at our Danbury location. I wish you all the best.
I will certainly miss Kibberia. It was a wonderful restaurant.
I’ll miss Nick — an exceptionally kind and generous man — even more.
Fortunately, he’s keeping his Danbury location. His customers there certainly appreciate him. Kibberia’s address there is 93 Mill Plain Road.
Some of the many intriguing dishes at Kibberia.
As reported in March on “06880,” 36 Elm Street is the final key to creating an entirely new downtown streetscape. That’s where the Villa del Sol restaurant intrudes into the sidewalk next to the new Bedford Square retail/residential complex. And where an adjacent parking lot — near the back entrance to the old Y and the former Klein’s — is a poorly configured, hard-to-navigate, chaotic mess.
David Waldman — the Bedford Square developer — has spent months pursuing a land swap. He hopes to buy 36 Elm Street, then trade it for a section of the town-owned Baldwin parking lot across the street. Waldman would build an 8,477-square foot building behind Lux Bond & Green.
Villa del Sol would reopen there, alongside 3 small retail stores. Small retail stores would open there. Above them would be 4 apartments — 1 of them rented under state “affordable” guidelines.
The town would demolish the Villa del Sol building, creating additional parking, walkways and greenery. Waldman says that despite taking Baldwin spots for the new building, the town would net a gain of 2 parking spaces in the new lot.
None of this is new news. But Waldman has just created a web site that shows — visually — exactly what the move would look like. Here’s the view looking south, with the Brooks Corner shopping center at bottom center.
Here’s another view. Brooks Corner — is at left, with Serena & Lily behind it:
Here’s an artist’s rendering. The new parking lot (old 36 Elm Street) is at left; across Elm Street is the new building (white), with Serena & Lily next to it.
For more information on the proposed 36 Elm Street swap, click here.
Click here for “06880+”: The easy way to publicize upcoming events, sell items, find or advertise your service, ask questions, etc. It’s the “06880” community bulletin board!
Posted in Downtown, Local business, People, Real estate, Restaurants
Tagged 36 Elm Street, Bedford Square, David Waldman, Villa del Sol
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