If you’re reading this, you’re part of the great “06880” online community.
Which means you’re invited to our 9th annual “blog party.”
The date is Thursday, July 21. We’ll gather at 6 p.m. at Compo Beach — specifically, alcohol-is-okay South Beach, by the trees (the opposite end from the cannons).
Bring your own food, beverages (no glass bottles, though!), beach chairs and blankets.
The first 8 years were great successes*. They were true community gatherings– chances to meet and mingle with the diverse “06880” community (both online and real). It’s fun, un-fancy, and free!
This year’s blog party will be better than ever.
I can’t give away any secrets, though. You’ll just have to show up, and see for yourself.
*Except for the rainout. And the heat.
Patti and Doug Brill and friends say: “Come to the blog party””
NOTE: The “06880” blog party is free. But we rely entirely on donations to keep writing (and partying.) Please click here to help!
Thursday, July 21 is the day for our annual “06880” blog party.
It’s fun. It’s social. It’s chill.
Longtime resident or newcomer; old or young; frequent commenter or lurker — all are welcome.
Meet neighbors and strangers; politicians and normal people. Put faces to names you’ve only read about. And do it all at a place dear to every “06880” resident’s heart: Compo Beach’s South Beach, near the kayak launch.
Westperters have long known and loved Popup Bagels — well, at least since 2020, when our neighbor Adam Goldberg took advantage of COVID downtime, his love of baking and his creativity to come up with what some argue is the Best. Bagel. Ever.
Compact, crusty and generously coated with seeds, they draw raves wherever they’re sold. But they’re sold only in pop-up — that is, pickup — locations.
I may have been the first media outlet to write about Popup Bagels. Since then, he’s expanded to Redding and Greenwich.
And, occasionally, New York.
Traditionally hard-to-please bagel lovers there have embraced Adam’s creations. So has Brooklyn BagelFest, where he won the People’s Choice award. It was a stunning victory for a Fairfield County upstart.
Now comes another prize: a writeup in the New York Times. Today’s Food section contains a mouth-watering review (and photos).
Click here for the full story. Click here for the website to order — but good luck with that.
You shoulda thought of it sooner. (Hat tip: Sharon Fiarman)
A few of Adam Goldberg’s many bagels. (Photo/Jen Goldberg)
The closing of Church Lane to vehicles has brought excitement — and outdoor dining — to that small street downtown.
But with no dinner menu, Manna Toast could not capitalize on the fun.
Now they can. The restaurant — whose loyal customers love its plant-based, non-GMO, artisanal, organic, locally-sourced eat-in, takeout and delivery menu — has added “Manna at Night.”
Available at heated tables and indoors until 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (with more days to come soon), chef Jason Wiener offers shared plates (the roasted brussels with gingery soy and cashew coconut crunch is great), bowls (ditto the Thai curry), sliders and desserts, along with cocktails, wine and beer.
Manna Toast has rolled out the dinner options quietly, working out the kinks while maintaining the café and caterers’ high quality.
Now the word is out: Manna is much more than breakfast, lunch and toast.
(Manna Toast is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here for more information.)
The last time I posted a story about a musician asking for help in the Stop & Shop parking lot, I learned it was a scam.
This one seems more legit. But I can’t vouch for sure.
Nn “06880” reader (and shopper) writes: “I came out of Stop & Shop, and heard the most beautiful music. This family moved here from Romania 6 months ago, and are living out of their car.
“They said they are connected with Family & Children’s Agency (their English was not great, so I think that is what he said). The father (playing/pictured here) was an electrician in Romania, but said he can/will do any kind of work. He learned to play music from his grandmother.”
Rockwell Dance Center in Trumbull got to know Charlie Capalbo through his cousin Harrison, who danced there.
Every year, RDC organizes a benefit concert. Charlie — the Fairfield Ludlowe High School graduate/hockey goalie, and grandson of Westporters Ina Chadwick and Richard Epstein — was battling cancer for the 4th time.
When RDC asked Charlie if they could do this year’s concert in his honor, he said yes — provided the proceeds went to 2 local pediatric cancer charities that helped him and his family. He chose Infinite Love for Kids Fighting Cancer, and LIVFREE.
Charlie died last week, a month before his 24th birthday. The concert — this Saturday (April 30, 7 p.m., Trumbull High School) — will celebrate his life.
The dance community and hockey community will come together for Charlie. The Fairfield Co-op, Fairfield Prep, Trumbull High and St. Joseph hockey teams will open the concert with a “stick tap for Charlie.”
The concert includes song and dance. Tickets are $20, and are available at the door (cash, check or Venmo), or through Venmo now (@theparkerproject).
MoCA Westport’s Family Day will have something for everyone.
Even the world-famous Piglet.
The June 18 event (noon to 2 p.m.) features the blind, deaf pink puppy of that name. He’s inspired a global movement for acceptance, inclusion, empathy and kindness. Veterinarian Melissa Shapiro — author and co-creator of “The Piglet Mindset” — will share his story, and talk about her new children’s book “Piglet Comes Home.”
The day also includes healing art activities, mural painting, music by Dustin Lowman, an ice cream truck, meet-and-greet with dogs from Westport Animal Shelter Advocates, homemade doggy treats from Earth Animal, and free admission to the exhibit of Westport student artwork. Click here for tickets.
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.
The annual “06880″ party is less than a week away.
And if you’re reading this, you’re invited.
Next Thursday (July 15, 6 p.m.) is the day and time. The far end of Compo’s South Beach — away from the cannons, near the boat and kayak launch — is the place. (Still confused? See the aerial view below.)
The blue arrow marks the “06880” party spot.
Every member of the “06880″ (as in, this website) community is invited. We welcome frequent commenters and lurkers. Folks who have lived here all their lives, and those who moved here yesterday. People who want the Cribari bridge to stay the same, those who want a new one, and everyone in between. (Though we’ll keep the party a politics-free zone.)
The tagline for “06880″ is “Where Westport meets the world.” Next Thursday, that world comes to Compo.
Bring your own food, beverages, beach chairs and blankets. (If you bring extras to share with others, we won’t say no). Then mix, mingle and enjoy the evening with the “06880″ crowd.
There’s no charge. It’s a “fun-raiser,” not a fundraiser.
A “blog party” — the “06880” version of a block party.
Two years ago, lightning knocked out our annual “06880” blog party.
Last year COVID kept us all home.
But that’s all in the rear view mirror. Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 15 — the day one of summer’s best traditions returns.
If you’re reading this, you’re part of the great “06880” online community.
Which means you’re invited.
We’ll gather at 6 p.m. at Compo Beach — specifically, alcohol-is-okay South Beach, by the trees (the opposite end from the cannons).
Bring your own food, beverages (no glass bottles, though!), beach chairs and blankets.
A blog party is a true community gathering. It’s a chance to meet and mingle with the diverse “06880” community (both online and real). It’s fun, un-fancy, and free (unless you don’t have a sticker — but closer to the date, we’ll try to arrange rides).
This year’s blog party will be better than ever.
You read it here first.
A few fun folks at a pre-COVID, pre-thunderstorm “06880” party.
The rain started at the worst possible time — around 5:45, 15 minutes before the “06880” blog party was to begin. Prill Boyle came by to say hi, but had to leave.
By 6:20, it was coming down steadily.
A few hardy souls — Michael Calise, Esther Koravillas, Jan Carpenter, Robert Mitchell and I — ventured out. We didn’t notice Bonnie Marcus in her car nearby. I hope I didn’t miss anyone else.
Radar showed the rain settling in.
Of course, as soon as we left, it ended.
If you came late: thanks! If you wanted to be there but couldn’t come: sorry!
See you next year. The long-range forecast is good.
The weather was a bit nicer in 2014. (Photo/Betsy Phillips Kahn)
Thunderstorms are forecast for today and tonight. Hey — we’ve got our 7th annual “06880” blog party, starting at 6 p.m.!
We’re still set for South Beach — the alcohol-is-fine-except-no-glass-bottles end, furthest from the cannons. Unless, of course, there’s rain and lightning then.
If it rains earlier, we’ll clear off the tables and benches. (If you’ve got an extra folding table, please bring one!) If it rains during the event, we’ll open umbrellas – or scatter.
This is a bring-your-own-food-and-beverages event. If you’d like to bring something extra to share, feel free!
We 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.
See you tonight!
We hope.
We’ll be just to the left of this jetty (near the boat and kayak launch). Without the car, though. And probably without the blue skies. (Photo/Linda Gramatky Smith)
This Thursday (July 18, 6 p.m.) is the day and time. The far end of Compo’s South Beach — away from the cannons, near the boat and kayak launch, not far from the new bathroom — is the place. (Still confused? See the aerial view below.)
The blue arrow marks the “06880” party spot.
Every member of the “06880″ (aka this website) community is invited. We welcome frequent commenters and lurkers. Folks who have lived here all their lives, and those who moved here yesterday. People who want the Saugatuck bridge to stay the same, those who want a new one, and everyone in between. (Though the party is a politics-free zone.)
The tagline for “06880″ is “Where Westport meets the world.” Next Thursday, that world comes to Compo.
Bring your own food, beverages (no glass bottles!), beach chairs and blankets. We could use a few folding tables, too. Then mix, mingle and enjoy the evening with the “06880″ crowd.
There’s no charge. It’s a “fun-raiser,” not a fundraiser.
A “blog party” — the “06880” version of a block party.
See you Thursday!
(PS: We try to match people who need rides, with those who can offer them. If you fall into either category, please email me privately: dwoog@optonline.net. No promises, but I’ll do my best.)
If you’re reading this, you’re part of the great “06880” online community.
Which means you’re invited to our 6th annual “blog party.”
The date is Thursday, July 18. We’ll gather at 6 p.m. at Compo Beach — specifically, alcohol-is-okay South Beach, by the trees (the opposite end from the cannons).
Bring your own food, beverages (no glass bottles, though!), beach chairs and blankets. If you’ve got a folding table, we could use that too.
The first 5 years were great successes. They were true community gatherings– chances to meet and mingle with the diverse “06880” community (both online and real). It’s fun, un-fancy, and free (unless you don’t have a sticker — but even then, we’ll try to arrange rides).
This year’s blog party will be better than ever. And here’s a special feature: a new bathroom has just been built, a few steps across the road.
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome, appreciated — and tax-deductible! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881. Or use Venmo: @blog06880. Or Zelle: dwoog@optonline.net. Thanks!)
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