Tag Archives: Bespoke Designs

Roundup: Kids’ Heart Screening, TAP’s Mt. Joy …

There are 5 items on the Zoning Board of Appeals’ meeting next Tuesday (October 8, 6 p.m.; www.westportct.gov; Zoom link here; also Optimum channel 79 and Frontier channel 6020).

The item — continued from September 24 — is an appeal by two neighbors ofo the decision by Planning & Zoning director Mary Young to sign a liquor permit for Old Mill Grocery & Deli by Romanacci.

Click here, then scroll down for all meeting materials (listed as 222 Hillspoint Road).

Public testimony may be offered by joining the meeting. Written comments may also be sent to ZBA@westportct.gov by noon on the day of the meeting to be distributed to ZBA members. Written comments received after noon on the day of the meeting will be entered into the record.

Old Mill Grocery & Deli (Photo/Dave Dellinger)

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Artie DiRocco writes: “Four years ago I lost my otherwise healthy, athletic and full-of-energy 16-year-old son, a student at Wilton High School, to sudden cardiac arrest. There were no warning signs.

“He would be alive today if we had his heart screened. We had no idea this was something we should do. He looked fine, and acted like there was nothing wrong.

“This Saturday (October 5, noon, Westport Weston Family YMCA), our organization, More George, is teaming up with In A Heartbeat to offer a free heart screening for children (ages 8-25).

“I can’t stress how important this is. I don’t want anyone to feel the things I feel, or cry the way I still cry. You have the opportunity to put this worry behind you. Please take advantage of this!”

Click here to register. Walk-ups are accepted, but pre-registration speeds the process.

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Yesterday — October 1 — was the first day since summer that dogs were allowed on Compo Beach.

Several readers emailed “06880,” noting/complaining that more than a few dogs — well, their owners — did not exactly follow the rules for leashed/unleashed areas.

This guy seemed to know what was expected.

(Photo/Mary Minard)

Just a reminder: Obey the rules. It’s our beach. It belongs to everyone. But everyone has a place.

Making new friends, on the first day back. (Photo/Cat Malkin)

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Elsewhere at the beach, there’s a new poem in the poetry box, at the end of Soundview Drive near Schlaet’s Point.

Appropriately, it’s about the time of year just past:

(Photo/Matt Murray)

The poetry box is a project of Westport’s poet laureate, Donna Disch.

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It’s that time of the year: Pippa’s Pots at the Westport Farmers Market.

All year long, the Westport sustainability advocate makes ceramic pots, bowls, mugs, vases and more, at Silvermine Arts Center.

Every fall, she sells them at the Imperial Avenue market. She’ll be there tomorrow (Thursday, October 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

This year, she’ll include pots from some of her generous classmates.

All proceeds go to Green Village Initiative. Their mission is to grow food, knowledge, leadership and community, through urban gardening and farming, to create a more just food system in Bridgeport.

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Kids of all ages are invited to Westport Book Shop’s 4th annual Pumpkin Painting Project this Saturday (October 5, 10:30 a.m. to noon, Jesup Green).

The morning includes pumpkin painting, surprise critters from Earthplace, tattoos, snacks and a free Tree Board giveaway. Costumes are encouraged.

Pumpkin decorating on Jesup Green. (Photo/Frank Rosen)

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Last September, when TAP Strength sponsored the Sound on Sound music festival in Bridgeport, they connected with the members of Mt. Joy. I

(If you don’t know: They’re a hugely popular indie band. Last weekend, they played at Madison Square Garden).

TAP Strength founder EJ Zebro stayed in touch with lead singer/guitarist Matt Quinn, bonding over their mutual love for the Arsenal soccer team.

Last Thursday, Mt. Joy invited TAP Strength to be their personal hands-on manual therapists backstage, at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater.

The team helped alleviate the repetitive stress the band experiences from performing and playing instruments, ensuring they felt great for the Bridgeport show.

EJ Zebro works on Matt Quinn (foreground); TAP therapist Colleen Morley (rear) takes care of bassist Michael Byrnes.

Plenty of Westporters enjoyed the concert. Some were TAP Strength clients.

Probably none of them knew the connection between the band’s easy movements on stage, and their own Post Road wellness center.

From left: Colleen Morley, Michael Byrnes, Matt Quinn, TAP Strength’s EJ Zebro and Lauren Leppla.

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Bespoke Designs — Shari Lebowitz’s custom invitations/printing/engraving/and more shop in Sconset Square has closed.

She built a devoted clientele, since opening there in 2017. She’ll continue to serve them online. (Hat tip: Sal Liccione)

Shari Lebowitz, in her Sconset Square doorway.

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Yesterday’s Roundup story about the Jewish Federation of Fairfield County’s interfaith “As One We Come Together” gathering on October 7 (7:30 p.m.) did not include a registration link.

Click here to register.

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This handsome tree — shown at night in Robin Frank’s back yard — is the perfect way for our “Westport … Naturally” feature to welcome October.

(Photo/Robin Frank)

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And finally … happy 78th birthday, Don McLean!

(Since 2009, “06880” has brought you news and information you can use — and we’ve never missed a day. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)

Speaking Of Bespoke Designs

For years, Shari Lebowitz visited Westport. When the time came to leave Manhattan — and her very successful interior design firm — our town’s arts, culture and strong sense of community made it a natural new home.

Her move worked out even better than she dreamed. Shari bought a home in Old Hill, made friends, found a sense of purpose, and met a fabulous man. They got married last October, in a beautiful wedding at Longshore. Their extended families enjoyed a perfect New England fall weekend.

But — you know there’s a “but” — while Shari wanted her event to be entirely local, the one thing she could not find here was wedding invitations.

Though she’d never heard of Printemps, she was looking for a place like it. Unfortunately, the all-things-stationery shop on Avery Place closed nearly 6 years ago, after 34 much-loved years in business.

The former site of Printemps.

Not long after, Shari saw a “magical” space in Sconset Square. She quickly realized it was perfect for a design studio.

The lease was available.

Bespoke Designs — the name she chose, to describe her one-of-a-kind approach to invitations, paper and engraving — is now open, every day except Sunday (and by appointment too!).

Shari hopes her 2nd-floor studio becomes a “wonderful, warm place” where people feel welcome to stop in, talk, find unique designs, and share special events.

Shari Lebowitz, surrounded by her special designs.

“We create custom products for people who want beautiful invitations and stationery, with their own brand and identity,” Shari explains. “Place cards, monograms — it’s all personalized, high-end, bespoke.”

She notes that weddings today can be much more complex than back in the day — when, say, Printemps opened.

There are welcome dinners, pancake breakfasts, clambakes. Bespoke Designs can create a unique map of Westport, including restaurants, private homes, the church and Compo Beach.

Though weddings are big business (and, Shari points out, “a lot more people are allowed to get married now!”), she is involved in much more. She creates beautiful designs for christenings, kids’ parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, anniversaries — you name it.

She’s done her homework. She represents traditional paper brands like Crane, and has brought designers, calligraphers and hand-letterers into their network (from as far away as New Orleans). “These are people you can’t find elsewhere — or online,” Shari says.

Some will come to the studio for special events. Also in the works: calligraphy and related workshops.

Shari cites a recent Wall Street Journal story, calling ink the new status symbol. “In an age of unattractive communications, where people email and tweet and use emojis, we’ve lost the opportunity to be personal,” she says. “People are going back to pens and ink and personal notes — and they want them to be beautiful.”

Shari — who for years loved nearly everything about Westport — really loves her new venture.

She’s particularly excited about Sconset Square. Le Penguin has brought new energy to the small shopping center.

It’s right around the corner from Printemps. In many ways, what once was old is new again.

Shari Lebowitz, in her Sconset Square doorway.