Local social media is filled with posts, all with the same message: Stay home!
Many roads have not yet been plowed or treated. The snow is coming down hard.
One commenter said she’d never been more frightened driving as an adult than tonight.
It’s Friday night of a holiday week.
Light a fire. Open a bottle. Stream a movie. Snuggle. Chill.
See you in the morning!
They’ll get there soon. In the meantime: Don’t drive! (Photo/Rick Carpenter)
Today, we feature a “double Friday Flashback.”
We look back 50 years ago this holiday season — by reposting one of our most commented-on Friday Flashbacks. This one originally ran in 2020. Ho ho ho — enjoy!
When Fred Cantor graduated from Yale University in May of 1975, his parents gave him a 35mm Nikkormat camera. He’d always enjoyed taking photos, with an inexpensive Kodak.
In December he returned to Westport for break, from the University of Connecticut School of Law.
There was a beautiful snowfall. On Christmas Day, Fred knew that downtown would be empty. He’d always enjoyed the “Norman Rockwell-esque” feeling there. He hoped to capture it, without interference.
After 50 years — almost to the day — parts of downtown look very different. Parts look much the same.
After 50 years too, the photos have faded.
But the memories have not.
Gorham Island. The Victorian house has been replaced by a large office building.
Main Street, without any holiday decorations. Gene Hallowell’s Mobil station is now the site of Vineyard Vines.
Further up (undecorated) Main Street, we see Achorn’s Pharmacy on the left (now in Playhouse Square); Oscar’s across the street on the right (soon to be Luya restaurant), and the large furniture store (now, after burning down a couple of years later), The Gap.
The much-loved Remarkable Book Shop has been reimagined as Eleish Van Breems.
Westport Bank & Trust was most recently Patagonia. Soon it will be home to Compass Real Estate. The YMCA building on the left is now Anthropologie.
Ice on the Saugatuck River still looks the same.
Fairfield Furniture has been transformed into National Hall — the original name for the 1800s building. It’s being repurposed for AIG.
Before the Wright Street building rose up behind it — and, later, an architectural firm took over the space — a popular liquor store occupied the busy Wilton Road/Post Road West corner. A decade ago, David Waldman offered to buy this building and move it, creating a right-turn lane from Wilton Road. The town refused. We live with the consequences every day.
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Several times a day, Balducci’s customers ask, “Where’s Charlotte?”
The longtime, much-loved cashier — now 94 years old, whose tenure goes to back half a century to its Hay Day days — has not been at her post.
Charlotte (Photo/Ryan Allen)
The good news: She’s doing fine.
The other day, her friend Dan Frank — the man who helped orchestrate a Christmas gift for Charlotte last year — helped her tape this holiday message:
Meanwhile — unknown to Charlotte — Dan is helping raise funds for her retirement gift. The store will close in February.
Click here to contribute, and say “thank you” for 50 years of service to customers, who quickly became friends.
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As noted in Monday’s Roundup, “Today Show” co-anchor Craig Melvin chatted the other day with his minister, Rev. Jeff Rider of Green’s Farms Church — and an NBC crew.
The segment has aired a couple of times this week. Now the entire country can hear Rev. Rider’s holiday message.
(Photo/Richard Fogel)
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows a dramatic late-afternoon sky, over Grace Salmon Park:
(Photo/Rindy Higgins)
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And finally … happy Boxing Day!
(In England, the traditional Boxing Day gift is a donation to your hyper-local blog. Great idea! Please click here to bring this tradition to our country. Thank you!)
Posted in Local business, Media, religion
Tagged Balducci's, Charlotte, Craig Melvin, Green's Farms Congregational Church, Rev. Jeff Rider
Imagine looking at a social media post with a portrait painted decades ago, and the comment: “This is Muffet Shayon. Does anyone know her?” …
… and realizing she’s your sister.
And that for decades, your family had no idea where the painting was.
The other day Diana Shayon was stunned to see that image, and question, on Facebook’s “Westport Front Porch” page.
Local artist Peter Barlow had painted Diana when she was a 5-year-old Westport child, as well as her 3-year-old sister Muffet.
The Shayons had Diana’s portrait. But they never knew what happened to Muffet’s.
Muffet’s portrait.
It ended up in an attic in the Pawcatuck home of Peter Barlow. The longtime Westport artist and photographer moved to the eastern Connecticut town a couple of decades ago. He died in August, at 95.
But Peter did not paint Muffet’s portrait.
It was the work of his mother, Dorothy Hope Smith. A portraitist specializing in children, she had a studio on Sylvan Road North.
The Barlows’ studio on Sylvan Road North.
Her most famous work was the illustration of the Gerber Baby. (Her model was a little Westport girl. Click here for Peter’s recounting of that tale, 10 years ago.)
Peter’s father, Perry Barlow, was an artist too: a prolific cover illustrator and cartoonist for The New Yorker.
Peter’s daughter, Dorrie Barlow Thomas, found Muffet’s painting while cleaning out her father’s home. Figuring it was a long shot, she posted a photo of the painting, and her query, on Facebook.
Peter Barlow
A friend saw it, and contacted Diana. The friend was right: It was Diana’s sister.
Diana went online. Eventually, she discovered Peter Barlow — and his grandmother, and daughter — through a story.
An “06880” story.
Diana contacted Dorrie. A few days later, they headed to her Stonington home, to pick up the painting.
Sadly, Muffet will never see it. She died 3 years ago.
But Diana is giving it to her niece — Muffet’s daughter.
Decades later, Muffet’s portrait has found a home.
Dorothy Hope Smith’s “Gerber baby” sketch.
(“06880” covers Westport’s arts scene, history, and intriguing people. Sometimes — like today — they all intersect. If you enjoy stories like these, please click here to support our work. Thanks!)
Posted in Arts, Children, Totally random
Tagged Dorothy Hope Smith, Dorrie Barlow Thomas, Peter Barlow
Homes for the holidays!
Hillandale Road
Valley Road
Turkey Hill Road South
Taylor Lane
Westfair Drive
Hale Street
Harding Lane (All photos/Andrew Colabella)
When Lou Kitchner — the beloved Bedford Middle School band director — lost his son in an automobile accident 7 years ago, the community rallied around.
Once again, others are trying to help him.
His 3-year-old granddaughter has been diagnosed with strabismus in both eyes. Her condition is progressing quickly. Without corrective surgery, she risks losing her vision.
A GoFundMe page has been set up, to help pay for surgery. Click here for details, and to contribute. (Hat tips: Andrew Colabella, Lauren Karpf)
Lou Kirchner’s granddaughter.
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As the year winds down — and restaurants are packed — CTbites serves up its staff picks, for “Top Eats of 2025.”
Westport choices include:
To read the full statewide list, click here.
(Photo/Sal Liccione)
Massi Co (Photo/Jenae Weinbrenner)
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On the day before Christmas — as kids everywhere were thinking of reindeer — 2 Westport deer got entangled together, with soccer netting, around Burr Farms Road.
It could have been tragic. But Wildlife in Crisis intake director Peter Reid arrived, and assessed the situation in his typical calm, knowledgeable way.
As he planned his strategy, the bucks did a thrust away from each other, freeing one deer.
However, netting was still wrapped around the leg and antlers of the other. Hopefully, he will free his leg, and that his antlers will soon fall off.
Julie Loparo, president of Westport Animal Shelter Advocates, urges Westporters to be aware of the hazards to wildlife presented by soccer and other outdoor nets.
Meanwhile, Reid — in his other role, as Westport’s animal control officer — is pursuing a tranquilizing program, for use in situations like this.
Deer, entangled in soccer nets.
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Susan O’Brien is a social worker, with a private practice in Westport. She writes:
“I regularly observe the heightened level of stress parents experience during this busy time of year. Calendars quickly fill with school events, social obligations and holiday preparations, often leaving parents feeling stretched thin. While these activities can be meaningful, it is important to remember that children value undivided attention far more than any gift or perfectly planned experience.
“I often encourage parents to focus on fostering meaningful connections with their children. One simple yet powerful recommendation is to spend just ten minutes a day in uninterrupted time together—free from phones, distractions, and schedules. During this time, allow your child to lead the play or activity. This creates a space for genuine interaction, emotional attunement, and connection.
“Quality, not quantity, is what matters most. Choosing one intentional activity—such as taking a quiet walk, reading together, or visiting the library—can have a profound impact. These moments communicate to children that they are seen, heard, and valued. Ultimately, what children need most is not more doing, but more presence.
“By prioritizing quality time and meaningful interactions, parents can strengthen their bond with their children and create lasting memories, even amid the holiday hustle.”
Susan O’Brien
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Among the Christmas Eve traditions observed last night in some Westport homes: the Feast of the 7 Fishes.
But those fishes don’t magically appear on plates. The meal takes plenty of preparation … including this, captured by Molly Alger yesterday at Superior Seafood:
(Photo/Molly Alger)
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All over town yesterday, families and friends gathered for Christmas Eve.
At Compo Beach, a flock of seagulls did the same.
Jeff Chasnow spotted them all — and sends along today’s “Westport … Naturally” image.
(Photo/Jeff Chasnow)
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And finally … there are only a squintillion holiday songs to choose from.
Everyone has their favorites.
Here — in very different genres — are 2 of mine.
It’s become an “06880” tradition to greet readers on Christmas Day with a video of our friend and neighbor — Weston’s own José Feliciano — singing the world’s most favorite bilingual holiday song.
And this is the greatest live version of the jingly, jangly, jaunty tune.
So to everyone in our 06880 community — and 06883, and everywhere else “where Westport meets the world”:
¡Feliz NavidadPróspero año y felicidad!
¡
One view of the Saugatuck River Christmas boat … (Photo/Diane Bosch)
… and another (Photo/Eric Bosch)
Comments Off on Pics Of The Day #3171
Posted in Pic of the Day
“06880” culture correspondent Robin Moyer Chung reports:
Ana Gasteyer rocked the Westport Country Playhouse Monday night.
Her show “Sugar & Booze” — based on her holiday album of the same name — is touted as “an uproarious homage to Christmas albums of old” by Billboard.
The comedian, musician and actor — best known for her iconic send-ups of Martha Steward and Celine Dion on “Saturday Night Live” — interspersed comedy (“Hello Westport! … Did I pronounce that correctly?”) and songs she pointedly assures the audience are “seasonal secular songs with Santa.”
She did it hot on the heels of the “SNL: The Anniversary Special” (in which she revisited her famous characters), and the 20th anniversary of “Wicked” (in which she played Elphaba on Broadway).
As a treat, she threw into the song mix her restrained and passionate rendition of “Defying Gravity.”
Ana Gasteyer (Photo/Shervin Lainez)
It was an exuberant performance tempered by deadpan comic delivery, her red sequin shirt sparkling in the footlights like a holiday ornament, accompanied by 8 band members and her violin.
A fun bit: Halfway through the show the bandleader wandered into the audience with a bag of “white elephant” gifts (things Ana had ostensibly dragged out of her closet and couldn’t wait to get rid of).
To 3 excited winners — judged by the ridiculousness of their holiday attire — he gifted useless things like a green sparkly fringe sweater.
Like chocolate chips in the larger cookie of the Westport Country Playhouse season (Martha Stewart reference — get it?), these one-night shows mixed into larger ones offer glimpses of stunning, sometimes legendary talent. They include Mandy Patinkin who performed earlier this month
The show was, as her bare-breasted kitchen vixen once said, “a good thing.”
(“06880” covers Westport’s cultural scene — and much, much more. We rely on reader support to do it all. Please click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!)
Comments Off on Ana Gasteyer’s “Sugar & Booze”
Posted in Westport Country Playhouse
Tagged Ana Gasteyer, Robin, Robin Moyer Chung
If you’ve driven past the VFW or Wakeman Town Farm, or stopped in at the Parks & Recreation office, Senior Center or Aspetuck Health District, you have admired their festive doors.
They’re not from the wreath fairy.
The decorations were crafted — creatively, colorfully and lovingly — by the Westport Garden Club.
Every year, a dedicated and green-thumbed crew gathers for their annual tradition. They transform fresh balsam into unique 26-inch wreaths.
This year WGC members made 23 wreaths, for 16 locations all over town. Each is decorated with signature bows, natural accents and tailored ornaments, plus a holiday message from the Garden Club.
Members met recently for their annual workshop at Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center. When they finished their labor of love, our public spaces — Adams Academy, Earthplace, A Better Chance, Homes with Hope and over a dozen more — looked even more cheerful.
The Westport Garden Club’s mission has always been about more than just an annual plant sale and gardening tips. For over 100 years, they have conserved and beautified Westport.
In a world filled with excess and plastic, their work stands out as fragrant. Genuine.
And gorgeous.
Thank you, Westport Garden Club. You are our Unsung Heroes of the week — and of every holiday season.
(“06880” is proud to honor Unsung Heroes — and tell many other tales of town too. Please click here to support your hyper-local blog.)
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