Since opening 6 months ago, The Clubhouse has become a hot destination for big games on big TVs, golf and other sports simulators, high-tech darts, karaoke, parties, corporate events, and the 21+ rooftop.
The restaurant and bar have gotten great reviews too.
The Clubhouse restaurant …
But owners Emily and Tim Zobl want everyone to know: Despite its name, The Clubhouse serves much more than “bar food.”
Sure, the smashburger and wings prepped 3 ways are bestsellers.
But Chef Katie McKeown has refined the dinner menu to feature dishes like New York strip steak, crispy salmon, mussels, caviar-topped crispy rice, a quinoa bowl, fried oysters and Tim’s signature rigatoni.
… with one sampling of dishes …
Other “creative, fun” items include Philly cheese steak dumplings, and wonton tacos.
All sauces and dressings are made from scratch.
The restaurant has been the scene of themed programs, like a bourbon dinner in collaboration with Greens Farms Spirit Shop.
A tequila dinner is set for September.
… and another.
Groups of 20 to 50 people have booked The Clubhouse for birthday parties, corporate gatherings and the like. The Zobls expect an uptick in after-wedding parties, now that the Delamar Westport has opened diagnonally across the street.
Striving to market themselves as more than a sports bar and golf simulator center, The Clubhouse will host events like mahjong parties this fall.
The other day, a mom’s group, with 6 babies, came in for a late lunch. Emily — who has 2 young children — felt right at home.
Westport 10 — our town’s social and networking group for Black men — met recently at The Clubhouse.
Meanwhile, the rooftop’s hours have been extended, to match other Westport outdoor venues. It’s now open until 11 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and midnight Fridays and Saturdays.
The Zobls look forward to cooler autumn weather, with football games on the rooftop TVs, a fire pit, and bourbon and beer from the bar.
“Right when we opened, the Knicks were in the playoffs,” Tim says. “People were four deep at the bar. Now we’re ready for college football.”
And ready too for diners who don’t care about sports, but just want good food.
“We’ve built a great team,” Emily says. “We’ve had a lot of fun. We’ve been embraced by the community. We feel very lucky.”
And, she emphasizes, “keep the feedback coming. That’s how we tweaked our menu.”
(“06880” reports often on Westport businesses and restaurants. If you appreciate our hyper-local coverage, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Many Staples High School students have interesting summer gigs.
Take Nolan Francis. The rising senior worked at Yale University’s Choate Lab, researching a rare skin condition called ichthyosis, or epidermal differentiation disorder (EDD). It can lead to fatal heart disease, or a significant decline in quality of life.
Recent cuts to the National Institutes of Health have “pushed the possibility of a cure from the near future to a far-fetched aspiration,” Nolan says.
A labmate, 2nd-year medical student Devin Seli, is affected by EDD. Twice a week, he swims with a triathlon group at Compo Beach.
So Nolan, Devin and a few others from the lab decided to raise awareness — and funds.
All donations will go to the Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types, which bridges the financial gap for people with the disorder. FIRST has also awarded millions of dollars in research grants to laboratories.
PS: Here’s a bit more about Nolan, a definite rising star. His work in Staples’ Scientific Research Program earned him 4th place at the state High School Science Symposium. He also received the International Society for In Vitro Biology award at the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair.
He is on Staples’ STEM Journal editorial board, and is the incoming vice president of the Sciene National Honors Society. He’s also an AP Scholar with Distinction, and founded the current iteration of Staples’ National English Honor Society.
He has volunteered at Norwalk Hospital’s Catheterization Lab, and was a counselor at Camp Discovery, for children unable to attend mainstream sleepaway camps due to medical conditions.
He plays violin in the Symphonic Orchestra. He was the first-ever junior to be captain of Staples’ boys swim team. He received the inaugural Junior Leadership Award at the Scholar-Athlete banquet. And he’s been involved with the Westport Weston Family YMCA’s Special Olympics swim program since 2018.
For well over a quarter of that time — 14 years — Hal Shupack served on the board of the non-profit, dedicating to ending homelessness and food insecurity in Fairfield County.
On Friday, the Gillespie Center’s courtyard was named for the longtime Weston resident. A former 1st Selectman, he died in 2020, at 84.
Homes with Hope president and CEO Helen McAlinden said that from her first days “he took me under his wing, showed me around Weston, and taught me everything I know about the town. His knowledge, kindness, and deep-rooted commitment to the community were inspiring, and contagious.
“Hal lived his values every day, whether through his leadership as first selectman, his tireless work on countless boards and committees, or his long-standing dedication to Homes with Hope. His warmth, his wit, and his deep care for people made a lasting impact on everyone who knew him.”
Several dozen guests — including members of Shupack’s family — attended the ceremony.
Since opening last month, Gruel Brittania has become one of Westport’s favorite restaurants.
The Cross Highway parking lot is often full. Occasionally, customers park on nearby Vineyard Lane.
Yesterday, this driver did not want to walk the extra 50 steps. He (or she) planted his (or her) car smack in the middle of the exit:
(Photo/Andrew Bangser)
To be clear: That white vehicle is blocking the exit (and a couple of cars on the right).
That empty space next to it? That’s a legit parking space.
I’m sure the Brits have a better word than we do for “entitled jerk.”
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Speaking of confusion: Signs have been placed on downtown streets, indicating new parking rules.
On-street limits have been lowered from 3 hours to 2. (They remain 3 hours in downtown parking lots.)
(Photo/Sal Liccione)
There’s just one problem: The sign says enforcement begins at 7 a.m. Notices from the town — and the Board of Selectwomen vote — is for 8 a.m.
“06880” reached out to town officials for clarification. We have not yet heard back.
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Tickets are on sale now Westoberfest.
The 8th annual festival — sponsored by the Westport Downtown Association — rolls into town October 4 (noon to 6 p.m.).
On tap: family activities, craft beers, live music, vendors, food, contests — and a few surprises.
Organized in collaboration with The Grapevine and Castle Wine & Spirits, everyone with access to the beer tasting tent receives a free tasting glass and koozie.
There are several ticket options including with or without admission to the beer tasting tent. Seniors and children 4-12 years old get special rates; children under 4 are free. Click here for details, and to purchase.
For the past 24 years, Westporter Ellen Bowen has joined her brother David Paine’s non profit, 911Day, to honor the victims, heroes and first responders of that tragedy.
It’s a day of remembrance — and service.
What began as a small project — painting a teachers’ lounge in a school in lower Manhattan — has grown to an initiative in 21 cities.
30,000 volunteers pack over 9 million meals– in one day — for food banks and pantries.
This year for the first time, the Meal Pack program comes to Connecticut.
Bridgeport’s Total Mortgage Arena and 9/11 Day seek volunteer teams (6 members and more) from companies and businesses, to 2 spend 2 hours packing meals.
Ellen says, “This is an inspiring and rewarding way to spend a couple of hours giving back — just like we all tried to do on that tragic day 24 years ago.”
Paul Scheulefe is a Boston-area native. He lives there now.
But he spent 25 years in Weston. He commuted to New York; after retiring, he taught English at Brunswick Academy and Fairfield Country Day School. he also coached lacrosse, and founded the Weston Lacrosse Club.
He honed his writing skills at the Westport Writers’ Workshop. He’s just published his first novel, “Damaged Goods.” Set during the financial crisis of 2008, it’s about a high-powered Wall Street trader’s existential crisis after learning he is the custodian of his estranged late sister’s frozen eggs.
Of special interest to “06880” readers (who Scheufele hopes will become “Damaged Goods” readers: The story is set in Westport.
Feedback to his “family drama” book — part of the Ann Patchett/Jodi Picoult genre — has been excellent, he says. Click here to buy.
James Lovell — the commander of the Apollo 13 spacecraft whose return to Earth following a massive explosion as it neared the moon in 1970 captivated the world (and, later, movie audiences in “Apollo 13”) — died Thursday. He was 97.
Richard Wiese — a longtime Weston resident, and president of The Explorers Club — knew Lovell.
He says, “Although Jim stopped traveling to space decades ago, he continued to be an inspiration to people young and old by encouraging their interest in science, and leading by his own example – one must be bold to turn the impossible into reality.
“Captain Lovell’s life and legacy are in keeping with the highest traditions of The Explorers Club. For those of us who knew him, Jim was a humble, down-to-earth friend. Legends aren’t only made in space — sometimes, they’re made in the way they treat people here on Earth.”
James Lovell (left) and Richard Wiese, Explorers Club president.
And finally … in honor of the gorgeous sturgeon moon (photo above):
(A beautiful moon, a beautiful weekend day, a beautiful “06880” online community … we are blessed. Enjoy the first two. And if you enjoy this blog, please click here to support our work. Thanks!)
On Thursday, Governor Lamont signed into law a firearm industry responsibility act.
Connecticut Against Gun Violence board chair Melissa Kane — a former Westport 3rd selectwoman — worked hard, for a year and a half, to get it passed.
Another key advocate was Josh Koskoff, the Staples High School graduate and partner at the law firm Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder.
The act requires gun manufacturers, distributors and retailers to implement safeguards to prevent firearms from being sold to prohibited purchasers, traffickers or individuals at risk of harm.
“This holds them responsible,” Kane says.
“We need more of this. We need to stop gun violence. And we will all keep working until we do.” (Hat tip: CAGV board member Lisa Newman)
Melissa Kane watches proudly, as Governor Lamont signs gun legislation on Thursday.
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Speaking of poltiics: Yesterday’s New York Times included an essay by Cameron Stracher — a writer and lawyer specializing in media and entertainment law — about his role in helping the National Enquirer kill 2 stories during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Stracher — who at the time lived in Westport, and was general counsel for the Enquirer’s owner — describes the what-ifs regarding his decision to write 2 contracts to pay informants to not run articles that might have hurt Donald Trump’s campaign.
He concludes with a different decision 2 years later. This time he refused to write a contract, and was forced out of his job.
State Senator Ceci Maher reminds residents: Connecticut’s sales tax-free week begins Sunday, August 17, and runs through Saturday, August 23.
Timed with back-to-school and return-to-office late-summer sales, most clothing and footwear valued under $100 sold in the state will be tax-free. That also applies to purchases made from online retailers.
Exceptins include specialized boots, globes and shoes for athletic and professional purposes, handbags, jewelry, wallets and other accessories, and sports helmets and uniforms. Click here for a full list of non-taxed items, and those that will still be taxed. Click here for an FAQ about the tax-free week.
For some reason, this item is not part of Connecticut’s sales tax-free week.
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When Westport’s Kiwanis Club chapter folded last year, the fate of the Westport Triathlon — its signature event — was uncertain.
But myTeam Triumph — the non-profit that helps people with disabilities compete in races, by pairing them with able-bodied volunteers — stepped up, to continue the 20-year tradition.
This year’s Westport Triathlon is Sunday, September 7, at Compo Beach.
It’s a super sprint distance (1/2-mile swim, 5 1/2-mile bike, 2.2-mile run), making it very beginner-friendly — great for families and “tri-curious” first-timers.
MyTeam Triumph provides all the adaptive equipment: inflatable rafts for the swim (pulled by Angel swimmers), and wheelchairs that convert to bike trailers for the ride, then convert back for the run. Angels can support any or all of the legs.
But he’s adding his own thoughts too. Describing the state Department of Transportation, Ben writes:
“They had plenty of room at this intersection to make 2 lanes: a left turn lane, and a straight/right turn lane.
“Instead, they simply built1 lane, as it was before the construction.
One lane on Bulkley Avenue North, at Post Road East. (Photo/Ben Meyer)
“As a result, there are often several-minute backups down Bulkley Avenue North in the morning or evening.
“Alas, this intersection is but one example of road intersections that are inadequate for the traffic volume.
“If the state is going to the expense and trouble of redoing intersections, why are they not opening up the lanes approaching these intersections wider where possible/needed?
“Traffic delays at many Westport intersections are due to poor design. They waste our precious time and gas! Is the town aware of serious cross-town traffic delays? And if so, what are they doing to address it?”
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Of all the full moons, the sturgeon — the August one, named for its occurrence with a fish run in the Great Lakes — is one of the most spectacular.
Jim Hood captured its rise — spectacularly — over Compo Beach last night.
Also last night: Lulada Club, at the Levitt Pavilion.
The all-female salsa orchestra from Brooklyn had the crowd on its feet, right from the start.
And the audience knew what they were doing: For a half hour before the show, the group offered a dance lesson.
(Photo copyright DinkinESH Fotografix)
Tonight (Saturday), Grammy Award-winning Adrian Quesada – co-founder of Black Pumas — brings his solo project full band show Boleros Psicodélios, for a free 7:30 p.m. show. They head to Washington soon, for an NPR Tiny Desk session.
Tomorrow (Sunday), it’s the Wood Brothers, with Mason Via (ticket purchase; 6 p.m.).
The Westport Fire Department, with help from Fairfield, spent nearly 3 hours fighting a brush fire yesterday on I-95 southbound, between exits 19 and 18.
Two lanes of traffic were closed, as were 2 local roads.
Fighting the brush fire on I-95. (Photo courtesy of Westport Fire Department)
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Speaking of the Department: 4 Westport firefighters will be promoted to lieutenant on August 26: deputy fire marshal Robert Lenois, and firefighters Michael Peck, Ronald Burgess and Todd Hall.
The public is invited to the 3 p.m. ceremony, at Fire Department headquarters.
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Seen on social media, with no other context:
“Is anybody on Kings Highway North missing a white domestic bunny?”
Inquiring minds would love to know the answer.
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Butterflies are back!
And Jamie Walsh captured — on camera, the best way — this glorious swallowtail, for our daily “Westport … Naturally” feature.
And finally … as Don Memo gets ready to say “adios”:
(The weekend is here. We hope you’re doing something fun, relaxing and/or interesting. Whatever it is, “06880,” will continue to serve you, 24/7/365. Please click here to support our hard work. Thanks!)
There will be 2 more candidates on the November 4 ballot.
Democrats Steve Shackelford and Jodi Harris collected — and the town clerk certified — over 400 petition signatures.
He is a former Representative Town Meeting member; she is a former Staples High School PTA co-presisdent.
They’ll join Democratic Town Committee-endorsed candidates Lauren Karpf (RTM deputy moderator) and Abby Tolan (incumbent BOE member), and Republican Town Committee-endorsed candidates Dorie Hordon (incumbent), Michelle Hopson, TEAM Westport member Andy Frankel, and Kaitlin Zucaro.
Shackelford and Harris say, “We are honored to have the opportunity to earn the trust and support of our fellow Westport residents. We look forward to engaging with the community and sharing our vision for a thoughtful, effective and forward-looking board that puts students and families first.”
Steve Shackelford and Jodi Harris.
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The Westport dining scene is about to change.
And “06880” is eating it up.
Today (Thursday) at 6 p.m., Dan Woog and Dave Briggs bring our popular “Dave & Dan” Instagram Live camera to Don Memo. Our Instagram is @06880danwoog.
The popular Mexican restaurant in the middle of downtown will soon become a popular Italian-American spot: Massi Co.
We’ll chat with owner Massimo Tullio about the new concept, his own career, and Westport’s ever-evolving culinary scene.
Also today — like every Thursday, from May to November — the Westport Farmers’ Market comes alive, at the Imperial Avenue parking lot (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).
But this day is extra special. It’s part of National Farmers’ Market Week, celebrated every first week of August.
Check out the 36 vendors — along with live music, informational tables, a great community vibe, and much more.
In other Farmers’ Market news, the Young Shoots photo contest — for photographers ages 5-18 — has been extended one week. The new deadline is August 15. Click here for details.
Happy National Farmers’ Market Week! And if you’re a young photographer: Celebrate with your camera.
See you at the Farmers’ Market! (Photo/Marcus Slomich)
Speaking (still) of food: Quietly but deliciously, Field Trip has helped make Westport the jerky capital of the Northeast.
The company’s headquarters are at 153 Post Road East, opposite Design Within Reach.
Now they’re adding a sister brand there.
DefenderBar will be the first bar ever — and one of the first snacks in the US — to use functional ingredients like psyllium husk (to support gut health) and dandelion root (for the liver and gut), while also fueling the brain and heart with chia, flax and hemp seeds.
There are 3 flavors: cinnamon churro oatmeal, peanut butter chocolate chip and coconut almond chocolate.
To support the launch on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, founders Matt Levey, Tom Donigan and Scott Fiesinger invite any “06880” reader to come in to the store, and show you’ve followed the brand on any of those platforms.
You’ll get 25% off the entire store, including Defender and Field Trip.
The first 100 people in (and following on social media) will receive a free Defender bar. The promotion begins August 13, and runs through August 20.
Levey explains, “we realized we’re not 25 anymore. But we’re still pushing ourselves — on the trails, in the gym, at home with our wild kids — and we needed a better way to fuel that lifestyle.
“As longtime friends who have spent half our lives in the better-for-you food industry, and as adventurers and dads, we looked for something with functional macros, real ingredients, and satisfying.
“We were tired of bars that were all sugar and no substance, or ones that claimed to be ‘healthy’ but left us crashing mid-hike. So we got to work. We kept it simple, with nutrient-dense ingredients.”
Defender bars are definitely worth a field trip!
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Speaking of local businesses: The Gig Center (next to Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids) is now The Music Collective.
It offers the same services: private music lessons, rock band programs, instrument repairs, music books and instrument accessories. It’s also still the home of Westport Musical Instrument Rentals.
The new phone number is 203.292.3077.
Jamming at the Gig Center.
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Nature, memory, abstraction and form are the basis of 3 new art exhibits at the Westport Library.
The artists and their works are Steve Moen (“Circling Back,” in the Sheffer Gallery), Tom Kretsch (“A Symphony of Color,” South Gallery), and Linn Cassetta (“Eggcentric,” Jesup Gallery).
Each exhibit will have a separate reception (6 p.m.) and artist conversation (7 p.m.), with Artists’ Collective of Westport co-founder Miggs Burroughs. Moen’s is set for August 13; Kretsch’s is August 27, and Cassetta’s is September 17.
What’s new in the world universe of amateur telescopes?
Wesetport Observatory Bob Meadows is just back from the 89th annual convention of amateur telescope makers. He’ll describe all the innovations at the Westport Astronomical Society’s next lecture: August 19 (WAS classroom, 8 p.m.)
The event will also be livestreamed on Zoom and YouTube.
Seen at the Westport Observatory. (Photo/Frank Rosen)
And finally … on this date in 1789, The Department of War was established.
(Politics, food, art, entertainment … just another day on “06880.” If you learn about your town — or anything else — from our daily Roundups, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Marisa Longo grew up close to both sets of grandparents — geographically, and culinarily.
Even with a full-time job, her maternal grandmother cooked everything — pasta, bread, dessert — from scratch. Her maternal grandfather made wine.
Marisa’s paternal grandmother made hot lunch for everyone at Marisa’s parents’ clothing store. Every afternoon at 3, she brought espresso: hot in winter, iced in summer.
Marisa’s mother was also a great cook.
As they grew older, Marisa and her 3 sisters shared their grandparents’ and mother’s recipes. They added tweaks here and there, and tested them among themselves.
Marisa Lambert
In 2006 she — now Marisa Lambert — and her husband Thomas moved to Westport. He’s a partner in FLB Law on Riverside Avenue.
She’s an attorney too. Next month, their twins will enter Staples High School.
Food has always remained close to Marisa’s heart. She’s taken cooking classes, and is part of a cooking club that began with parents on her son’s baseball team.
Now she’s sharing her passion with a wider audience.
“Cooking Like Nonna” — a nod to the beloved Italian word for “grandma” — began a year ago. When Marisa shared it with a wider audience in January, it took off.
On Instagram and TikTok, she offers recipes with personal twists. Often rooted in her heritage — whether a slow-simmered Sunday sauce, pasta primavera or ricotta pancakes — her goal is to bring people together through food.
“Just like both my nonnas, and my mom did,” Marisa notes.
TikTok screenshot.
In addition to home cooking, she spotlights local restaurants and businesses. She has featured the “cozy comforts” of Tutti’s Ristorante and Fatto a Mano, and the fresh, healthy offerings aat Organika, among others.
“Cooking Like Nonna” has caught the eye of major brands and platforms. Appetito recently featured Marisa. Her cooking videos have been shared by Italian companies like Bono di Sicilia (the largest producer of certified EVOO in Sicily) and Mutti, a maker of tomato products since 1899.
Locatelli Cheese — even older, at 200-plus years — gave her a like.
Just as gratifying are comments from individual followers. A thank-you for Marisa’s stuffed zucchini recipe warms her heart. She knows she is following in her nonnas’ footsteps.
Marisa Lambert celebrates National Smoothie Day at Organika.
Like making a family dinner, being a content creator takes plenty of behind-the-scenes work. Marisa constantly tests, adjusts and modernizes her recipes.
The other day it was a microwavable asparagus dish, with Parmesan cheese and olive oil. “Old school recipes, with a modern twist,” she says.
Since going online, Marisa has discovered a “large and friendly community” of creators and foodies.
She also learned new skills — including video editing.
Marisa’s goal is to expand — first throughout Fairfield County and Connecticut, then around the tri-state region.
She’d like too to start an international segment. One friend from the Republic of Georgia, and another from Hungary, are inspiring her to add new dishes.
In the works: a 2-video series on the Westport Farmers’ Market. The first will focus on what’s available there; the second, on what she makes with those ingredients.
Though she now has an international audience — with some of her most avid followers living in Italy — Cooking Like Nonna remains a family affair.
Marisa began by sharing recipes with her sisters. She still does.
Her son and daughter help film her segments.
And of course, whenever she tweaks a recipe, cooks a meal or uplodads a new reel, Marisa thinks of her nonnas.
Many Westporters have enjoyed the Broadway hit “John Proctor is the Villain.”
The show — about rural Georgia high school students studying “The Crucible” during the #MeToo movement — is being adapted for film. Tina Fey and Marc Platt are producing — Britt Hennemuth will oversee the project.
The 2008 Staples High School graduate — and proud Staples Players alum — is Universal Studios’ senior vice president for production development and special projects.
But that’s not the only SHS connection. The epigraph for the show’s published script features lyrics from a Charly Bliss song. Band members (and fellow Players alumni) Eva Hendricks and Dan Shure overlapped with Hennemuth’s Staples years. (Hat tip: Kerry Long)
Britt Hennemuth
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We all know there is no such thing as a free lunch.
In Weston, you can’t buy one either.
The Lunch Box — the town center’s only restaurant — closed Saturday.
It had been a fixture there for 48 years. Current owners Josh and Jessica Tolk bought it in 2014, and expanded the menu.
The Lunch Box (Photo courtesy of TripAdvisor)
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Speaking of Weston: The Financial Times just posted an informative — and only slightly frightening — story headlined “What Happens Once We Spot the Asteroid That Will Hit Earth?”
Buried deep in the details about asteroid 2024 YR4 (spoiler alert: It’s not gonna smash into us) is this nugget:
On a December morning in 1807, eyewitnesses in the town of Weston, Connecticut, saw an explosion in the sky. Rocky fragments littered the woods about town, but the idea that the Weston meteorite, as it was later called (a meteorite is a space rock that has descended through the atmosphere) originated from space, as some scientists at the time were claiming, was ridiculed.
“Gentlemen, I would rather believe that two Yankee professors would lie,” Thomas Jefferson said, “than believe that stones fall from heaven.”
I could have said this was Asteroid 2024 YR4, and you wouldn’t have known it’s not. It’s just a random one, drawn by a random artist. (Courtesy of European Space Agency)
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The public is invited to tomorrow’s promotion ceremony for 3 Westport Police officers. The event is set for 9:30 a.m., at police headquarters on Jesup Road.
The 3 are Detective Sean Doyle, Sergeant James Baker III, and Lieutenant Howard E. Simpson III.
Lesliie and Andrew Ward’s hometown business continues to work like a charm.
The couple’s 3 sons played football and basketball for Westport youth and Staples High School teams. Each then competed in college.
Every season Leslie and Andrew made bracelets showcasing their uniform numbers or initials, customized for their sport and team colors.
For good luck, they did not take them off all season long.
Some of Bleacher Family’s bracelets, customized by sport, uniform number and school colors.
Family members, friends and fans noticed their bracelets, and asked for ones for their own kids’ teams.
As word spread, the Wards launched a small family-run online business, so people in Westport (and beyond) could order their own personalized/customized bracelets.
To honor a family member who died, the Wards donate a portion of each year’s profits to the American Cancer Society and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Click here to see a great selection of bracelets, plus ordering information. Supporting a local business — and cancer research — is a win/win.
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Next up for the Westport Country Playhouse Family Festivities Series: Ramblin’ Dan & The Freewheelin’ Band.
The high-energy, interactive kids’ concert is set for August 2 (4 p.m.). The show — the album release party for Ramblin’ Dan’s new album — will include a 5-piece band, large props and costumes.
The artist reimagines children’s favorite nursery rhymes to entertain adults just as much as kids, through rock ‘n’ roll, reggae, New Orleans swing, funk, hip hop, jazz, gospel, folk and bluegrass.
Ramblin’ Dan has performed thousands of concerts and parties, and taught well over 10,000 early childhood music classes.
Tracy Porosoff sends today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo, and writes: “The goldfinch likes the seeds, even though we may think the flower is past its prime.”
And finally … Ozzy Osbourne, the heavy metal and reality TV pioneer, died yesterday. He was 76.
He had suffered from Parkinson’s disease, which the New York Times said was exacerbated by “exacerbated by his chronic drug abuse.” Click here for the full obituary.
(Black Sabbath, the Police [Westport, that is], killer asteroids — just another day at “06880.” If you enjoy our daily Roundups, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Savvy shoppers know they can get badass bagels at the Westport Farmers’ Market. And just over the Norwalk line, on Lois Street (take a right at the McDonald’s, on Westport Avenuue/Route 1).
Westporter Jennifer Balin began baking — with a sourdough starter — in the COVID spring of 2020. She already ran the very popular Sugar & Olives farm-to-table restaurant/event space. The pandemic forced her to pivot.
Her bagels are made with only a few ingredients: organic and non-organic bread flour and ryle flour (all non-GMO, locally or regionally sourced), water and sea salt.
They’re dairy-free and vegan. The sourdough starter allows the dough to be naturally leavened, without commercial yeast.
They come in a variety of varieties — plain, smoked sea salt, golden sesame, black sesame, Himalayan blue poppy, whole wheat, pumpernickel caraway, cinnamon raisin and everything — plus several cream cheese options.
No matter how you slice ’em, Jennfer Balin’s bagels are badass.
Recently, Badass expanded its reach. They’ve opened shops in New Canaan, and Rye and Armonk, New York.
All serve (in addition to bagels and schmears) open-faced sandwiches like green goddess (green goddess cream cheese with cucumber, dill and a lemon wedge), avocado jam (smashed avocado, special sauce, radish, fried shallots, black lava salt) and bacon jam (house-made bacon jam, lettuce and tomato, with ramp oil and a dollop of tomato jam).
The Badass Bagels outlets also carry favorite food finds from around Fairfield County.
In addition to using locally grown produce in their spreads and salads, Balin participates in farmers markets beyond Westport: Rowayton, New Canaan, Rye, Ridgefield and Larchmont.
But you don’t have to go to one of her stores, or a farmers’ market, to find Badass Bagels. They’re also at Greenology/Jack’s Coffee and Double L Market here, and the Georgetown Owl in Redding.
Meanwhile, Balin says, franchise opportunities are available. Her bagels may soon spread far beyond Fairfield and Westchester Counties.
How badass is that?!
Jennifer Balin (right), and a loyal customer.
(“06880” regularly covers Westport business owners, and their companies. If you enjoy learning about your neighbors — and eating well — please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Save the date! This year’s LobsterFest — the early fall fun-fest (and fundraiser) at Compo Beach — is September 20.
All the food and family-friendly entertainment features of past years return. The Westport Rotary Club promises a few new additions, along with new beverage options.
Right now, the Westport Rotary Club is signing sponsors. It’s a great opportunity to align with one of the town’s most lively and popular events.
It’s all for a great cause. The Rotary Club is celebrating its centennial with a major contribution to the Compo Beach playground renovation.
They awarded $385,000 to the project from last year’s Lobster Fest. Another $285,000 went to 46 local and regional causes — and $100,000 more to support international projects. The largest is outfitting a new dental and vision building in rural Uganda.
It’s not easy capturing lightning (on camera, of course).
But Meredith Holod was in the right place, at the right time — and a safe distance away — Monday.
Here’s her view during the quick but intense storm, from Compo Beach.
(Photo/Meredith Holod)
But lightning did strike twice, elsewhere in Westport. The Fire Department responded to 2 incidents.
One struck a home on Joanne Circle, igniting a fire on the second floor. Crews swiftly contained the fire before it could spread further. No injuries were reported.
Meanwhile on Bayberry Lane, lightning struck a pet “invisible fence.” The surge caused electrical damage, and posed a risk to the property.
“Summer storms can be dangerous, and things can go wrong quickly,” says Fire Marshal Terry Dunn.
“Electric pet fences are especially vulnerable, because they’re wired underground and usually connected to your home’s electrical system. If lightning strikes nearby it can travel through that wiring, damage your home, and potentially start a fire. It takes just a few seconds to unplug the system when a storm is on the way. It’s a smart precaution.”
The Westport Fire Department urges residents to take precautions during thunderstorms:
Unplug electric fences.
Use surge protectors for important electronics; unplug non-essential devices.
Avoid using wired appliances or electronics during a storm.
Stay indoors and away from windows when thunder or lightning is present.
Saturn — the wildly successful calendar app for high school and college students, which began as a Staples High venture when Class of 2017 member Dylan Diamond was a teenager there — has been acquired by Snap.
The new owners — the company behind Snapchat — did not disclose terms of the day. But most of Saturn’s 30 full-time employees will join their new owner.
Engadget, which first reported the news, says: “It’s not clear what exactly Snap has planned for Saturn, but … the calendar app will continue to operate as a standalone service.”
Saturn may help introduce calendar-related features into Snapchat.
Saturn is available at more than 17,000 high schools. And Snap is used by more than half of US teenagers.
John McCarthy was the most recent “06880” reader to send a photo of the camera mounted at the Longshore entrance, and wonder why it’s there.
(Photo/John McCarthy)
“Seems a little out of place,” he writes.
Not really. Parks & Recreation Department director Erik Barbieri explains: “This is a license plate recognition camera, for cars entering Longshore.
:There have been break-ins in the past, but the cameras in the parking lot couldn’t always catch the plates.
“This helps us know who came in, if there are any other issues in the future. A good recommendation from the Police Department.”
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For years, Staples High School Class of 2024 graduate Ethan Walmark entertained Westporters, with his many musical talents.
But not just us.
Ethan was on the “Today Show.” He helped Yoko Ono flip the switch to light the Empire State Building blue for World Autism Awareness Day. His performance of “Eminence Front” rocked a Who show. He sang the national anthem in front of 25,000 fans at Red Bull Arena.
As a 12-year-old Coleytown Middle School student, Ethan followed Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Billy Joel and Elton John at the 1st-ever Autism Awareness Gala Fundraiser at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Now — a rising sophomore at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music — Ethan is back in town.
Tonight (Wednesday, 6 to 9 p.m.), he performs outside the Spotted Horse — on keyboards, and electric and acoustic guitar.
He won’t sing all of the 3,000 songs in his repertoire. But you’ll recognize many of your favorite Beatles, Billy Joel, Elton John, Motown, John Mayer, Simon & Garfunkel and Four Seasons favorites.
And Ethan will take requests.
Ethan Walmark
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Speaking of entertainment: Country music rocks the VFW this Saturday (July 19, 8 p.m.).
Grady McAuliffe — with his new single “On the Edge” at #4 on the Hot Disc/All Country Radio chart — and his band bring their high-energy, country grit, Southern Soul and rock-infused sound to the Riverside Avenue venue.
Mitchells held their annual Compo Beach party last night, for company members and their families.
As always, it was first class: lobster and shrimp, Colony Pizza, hot dogs and much more.
Jack and Bill Mitchell — the second generation, after their parents Ed and Norma — were joined by their sons and daughters-in-law, and their kids. The 4th generation is well on its way to making its mark on the Westport store — and those in Greenwich, Long Island, on the West Coast, and now Dallas.
The fifth generation was there too. Their time will come!
Of course — befitting two Westport town jewels (Mitchells and Compo) — the weather was perfect.
Bill Mitchell, at the company picnic. (Photo/Dan Woog)
They marched up Cross Highway on their way to Danbury, where they burned a supply depot.
But on their way back, they were ambushed by patriots. It was reported that fighting was fiercer than at Lexington and Concord.
The British never returned.
Until now. Next Monday, the British will be back on Cross Highway.
This time, they’ll be welcomed with open arms.
And hungry stomachs.
Karen Hubrich’s Gruel Britannia — the popular and unique Southport restaurant — will open its second outpost. The site is the former Porch, closed since December.
2025 sign harks back to 1777.
The spot between North Avenue and Bayberry Lane is iconic. It wasn’t there when King George’s soldiers marched by. But it has been around for over a century. For much of that time, it was Christie’s Country Store.
Now it’s poised for a new life.
Hubrich — a Johnson & Wales graduate whose varied, 46-year culinary career includes stints as personal chef for Michael Bolton, and at the Fairfield County Hunt Club, New York Times executive dining room and Pequot Yacht Club — has a partner with even deeper Westport roots than hers.
Staples High School graduate Scott Rochlin — who owned Henry’s (now Tarantino) in Saugatuck, and built the Porch’s interior for owners Bill and Andrea Pecoriello — approahced Hubrich with the idea after the Porch closed.
She had been thinking about opening another place in Westport. She’d already considered the former International House of Pancakes on Post Road East.
But the Cross Highway space was much more intriguing.
Who you gonna call? Karen Hubrich and Scott Rochlin. (Photos/Dan Woog)
When Hubrich walked into the vacated space, she had a vision: a space with all the fun of Gruel Britannia — and “where old England meets New England.”
There will be afternoon teas, pig roasts, lobster bakes, cigar night dinners, a cooking class, etiquette class, car show in the parking lot, private events … the possibilities are endless.
S0 are opportunities to partner with Wakeman Town Farm, just up the road.
Unlike the Porch, they won’t close at 3 p.m. That’s when kids from nearby Staples High and Bedford Middle School will start arriving. A couple of hours later, families will stop for meals to eat in, or take out. (Dinner hours begin after Labor Day.)
Earlier — starting with breakfast — the gazebo will be open. Formerly an ice cream stand, it is rechristened as the Tuck Shop.
The British term will soon become familiar to Westporters. And to everyone else driving by, including contractors, landscapers, deliverers and others.
They can pop in for coffee, breakfast (egg sandwich, bacon butty, breakfast burrito), baked goods (scones, muffins, cookies), lunch (carnita rice and bean bowl, chicken parm sandwich, smashburger, hot dog), or an ice cream sandwich, gelato or sorbetto.
Tuck Shop menu …
The menu in the main, century-old building includes sandwiches, wraps, salads — and of course bangers and mash, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, mushy peas and other traditional dishes from across the pond.
Virtually everything — including fries and chips — is home-made.
… and lunch.
A soft (“very soft,” Hubrich emphasizes) opening is set for Monday (July 21). This week, she and Rochlin are taking care of all the details necessary to open a new restaurant.
“The Pecoriellos (former operators )took good care of the Porch,” Rochlin says. The new ones are just adding fresh paint, new wallpaper — and of course the Union Jack colors at the Tuck Shop.
Hubrich is also making sure the staff watches “Downton Abbey.”
One of Westport’s favorite restaurants will soon become a different favorite spot.
On August 16, Don Memo will serve its last meal. In early September, it reopens as Massi Co.
Named after owner Massimo Tullio, and backed by the Don Memo oand Whelk team, the new restaurant in the iconic stone building (Westport’s original Town Hall) will feature a “deeply personal Italian-American” concept
It will include Neapolitan brick oven pizzas, house-made pastas and craft cocktails. Chef Zach Hinman is in charge of the kitchen. (Hat tip: Dave Briggs)
Massimo Tullio (Photo courtesy of The Connecticut Edit)
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For as long as the Merritt Parkway has existed — nearly 90 years — Westport has had 2 exits: 41 and 42.
Soon, they’ll be gone.
In their place will be Exits 20 and 21.
The new numbers conform to federal standards, which mandate that exits show the approximate mileage from a starting point. With the Merritt, that’s the New York border.
New signs will be installed on the parkway beginning July 28. There will also be signs noting the “old exit” numbers. They’ll be in place for at least 2 years.
Other state highways have already been renumbered. The “Connecticut Turnpike” (I-95) will follow, either next year or in 2027.
So say goodbye to the Exit 42 cluster****. Soon, it will be the mess at Exit 21.
And Westport’s Parks & Recreation Department wants to make sure no one misses out on any action. For example:
Beach volleyball:Middle and high schoolers, all levels. Led by Brendan Giolitto, Staples High School coach.
Youth tennis (including peewees): All levels; fundamentals, technique and match play.
Swim lessons: Beginners and advanced; Stroke development, water safety and confidence.
Football skills and drills: Non-contact; focusing on speed, agility and position-specific drills. Led by LST Pro staff.
Baseball: Hitting, fielding, base running and teamwork; led by LST, in partnership with Westport Little League.
Tot N’ Play Camp: A week of sports, crafts, beach time and class camp, for pre-schoolers. Flexible scheduling, with a focus on friendship, teamwork and adventure.
Skyhaws Volleyball: Fundamentals like passing, setting, hitting and serving, in a fun, beginner-friendly environment.
Next Generation Skateboarding: From beginners to advanced: skate and shred safely and confidently.
The Grit Ninja: Obstacle courses challenge youngsters physically and mentally; build strength, agility and grit in an exciting, supportive setting.
Squirt & Parent ‘n’ Me programs: Introduce little ones to soccer, t-ball, lacrosse, track and field and more, with a helping hand. Build confidence and coordination in a playful, comforting environment.
Outdoor Fitness with Andrew Berman: An invigorating bodyweight workout class at Compo Beach. Focus on strength, balance and mobility, in a beautiful setting.
Jay Schadler is a noted journalist, photographer and artist.
For more than 3 decades he traveled the world as a correspondent and anchor for ABC News, “20/20,” “Nightline,” “Good Morning America,” National Geographic TV and others. His work has been featured too on Bravo and Discovery.
His new gig: podcaster, with Verso Studios at the Westport Library. Through intimate interviews, he tells stories of Westporters’ life transitions.
Many names are familiar. The 5 episodes in Season 1 include living a life with no memory, with Doug and Patti Brill; the grief of loss and the gift of love with Jenny and Anthony Capalbo; a new heart and a new life with Gerardo Lambert; turning tragedy into legacy with Jim Kudzo, and exploring talent and opportunity with Andrew Wilk.
In Westport, Paul Newman’s home overlooked the Aspetuck River. His New York apartment has a view of Central Park’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. (Photo/Evan Joseph Studios, courtesy of the Wall Street Journal)
Hitch & the Giddyup are heading to Weston. Yee haw!
The country/bluegrass/soulful American band plays at “Music at the Barn” — the Weston History & Culture Center’s outdoor summer series — on July 27 (5:30 p.m.).
Tickets are $15 for members, $20 for non-members; children under 12; click here or purchase there. Bring a lawn chair, food and drinks (no food truck!).
Francesca “Franny” Cenatiempo died at home, surrounded by her family. She was 33, and hahd battled cancer.
Francesca was born on July 4th, 1992 to Carmine and Sandra. At age 7 she was enrolled in Saint Catherine Academy; then as an adult, at Saint Catherine Center for Special Needs.
She loved school and her program, and was celebrated, cared for and loved by the staff. She was surrounded by friends who reciprocated her unique love. At Saint Catherine Francesca met her longtime caregiver, Sonia Vielot, who became an integral part of her family.
Her obituary says, “Francesca had a gift for deeply touching the lives of everyone she met. She greeted people with open arms, accompanied by the biggest hug and an unforgettable smile. Her laughter echoed everywhere she went, as she saw the beauty and joy in every person and part of this world. She was a pasta lover, a Disney fanatic, and had an eye for all the cute boys. She enjoyed music, dancing, and splashing around at the beach.”
Francesca is survived by her loving parents, Carmine and Sandra Calise Cenatiempo; siblings CJ and Charlotte Cenatiempo; grandparents Michael Calise, Sally Palmer and Barbara Mehle; aunts and uncles Filippo and Pina Cenatiempo, Leonardo Cenatiempo, Alfredo and Rosa Cenatiempo, Stefano Cenatiempo, Giulio and Gabby Cenatiempo, Catherine and Don Lawson, Maria and Jon O’Herron, Bettina and Michael Colleen, and Frank and Robin Calise, and many cousins.
A celebration of her life is set for tomorrow (July 12, 11 a.m., St. Francis of Assisi, Weston). Donations may be made in her name to Saint Catherine Center for Special Needs. Condolences for the family may be left online.
Francesca Cenatiempo
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Frances Mande — a Westporter for nearly 70 years — died Wednesday. She was 103.
Born in Russia in 1922, she came to Brooklyn with her family when she was 7. She and her husband Irving met when she was 17, and married when she was 19.
Fran and Irv moved to Westport in 1956. They raised 3 children in the house where she lived until passing. The couple traveled the world together, until Irv’s death in 2006.
Fran loved attending shows at the Westport Country Playhouse, and taking her children and grandchildren to Compo Beach and Mario’s restaurant. She was a regular at the Senior Center, Westport Library and Levitt Pavilion.
She also enjoyed the Westport Road Runners program. Her photo was in the Westport News after finishing a 10-mile race, in her 70s.
After “06880” wished her a happy birthday last month, she was lifted up by emails from readers.
A funeral is set for Sunday (July 13, 10 a.m., Temple Israel of Westport). Shiva will be held at her home. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Westport Library or Westport Senior Center.
Like any good mother, this one fed her little one:
Johanna Keyser Rossi — who took today’s spectacular “Westport … Naturally” image near Fresh Market — reports, “She fed him for a long time. So I assume there is only one baby osprey.”
And finally … in honor of the new Merritt Parkway numbering system: This is the closest I could get.
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