Some Sunday Photo Challenges are hidden in plain sight. We pass by them every day, but often look past as they blend in with the landscape. Or we don’t look far enough up (or down) to see them.
Others are out in the open, but you won’t see them if you don’t go there. We don’t show really obscure spots. Still, if you don’t shop at Trader Joe’s, you won’t recognize part of its mural.
And if you don’t walk out toward the Sherwood Mill Pond, on the pedestrian path and footbridges heading to Compo Cove, you won’t pass Clark Hanford’s house.
His is the last one on the left, before the garages. That’s where last week’s Photo Challenge was located. Karen Como’s photo showed a planter, with a little green figure, set amid some scruffy grass and dirt. (Click here to see.)
Clark is a Staples High School graduate, and a noted artist. His yard is home to an eclectic array of stuff — including, at one time, a tiny electric vehicle.
If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth a trip. So, of course, is the walk along the Mill Pond.
Pat Saviano, Micheal Simso and Beth Berkowitz were the readers who correctly identified last Sunday’s challenge.
If you know where in Westport you’d find this week’s, click “Comments” below. It too is in the “you’ve got to go there to know” category.
But if you don’t go there — sorry, you’re just not a real Westporter.
This was the scene yesterday in Norwalk, as workers dismantled the fire-damaged Fairfield Avenue I-95 overpass:
(Photo/News12 Connecticut)
Last night, massive “shears” were brought in from Long Island, to cut the metal. Work will continue all weekend.
Want to watch the ongoing operation, from the comfort of your home? Click here for this fascinating live webcam, courtesy of the state Department of Transportation.
Just when you think you’ve seen everything … you realize you haven’t.
A driver yesterday — perhaps unhappy with the I-95-related traffic, perhaps confused, perhaps distracted, but definitely not someone you want behind the wheel — decided to create a new street, in the pedestrian alley between Don Memo and Barnes & Noble.
Employees of Walrus Alley finally stopped him.
(Hat tip and photo/Joelle Malec)
But that’s not all.
He also ran the red light right there.
And drove right past pedestrians in the crosswalk, to make that right hand turn off the Post Road into the very narrow alley.
You can’t make this stuff up.
Nor would you want to.
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The Gillespie Center and Hoskins Place men’s and women’s shelters, and the Westport Food Pantry at the same site, have temporarily closed.
Homes with Hope has embarked on a $1.2 million renovation of the Jesup Road facility.
Food pantry pick-ups can be made at the Sasco Creek Village community building (1655 Post Road East) across from Goodwill) every weekday except Wednesday, from 1 to 4 p.m.
“It’s sad,” says Homes with Hope CEO Helen McAlinden. “But the result will be happy.”
Gillespie Center and Hoskins Place: temporarily closed.
Marc Hartog appreciated “06880”‘s recent Roundup item, noting that AEDs are back in a number of public outdoor locations.
The deputy director of Westport Emergency Medical Service adds: “PulsePoint AED is an app that shows locations of public access AED (automated external defibrillators.
“As long as the user has location permission allowed on their cellphone, it shows the location of the closest AEDs, along with a picture of the location. Clicking on the picture then adds more specific information.
“For example, if I’m near Winslow Park, it says ‘Entrance behind Westport Country Playhouse, by map and dog fountain; address 295 Post Rd East.’
“It also shows who is responsible for that AED (in this case, Norwalk Hospital EMS), along with the email address of the responsible party.
“Or if I’m around Main Street, the map shows 3 public access AEDs: 2 inside Town Hall, 1 outside at the ball field in the rear parking lot.
“The only downside is that the app only shows AEDs that have been registered with PulsePoint by the entity that owns and is responsible for it. There may well be other public access AEDs downtown, possibly within stores or restaurants, but they are not registered and do not show up.
“We strongly encourage any business with an AED to register their location.”
The Westport Country Playhouse’s move to a new format — with plays scheduled for October through April, rather than the summer — will generate a lot of laughs.
In a good way. The 3 shows are comedies, in what the 94-year-old theater is called a “Season of Laughter.”
Each play runs for 3 weeks. The season also includes a holiday offering and musical revue.
“The 39 Steps” (October 22-November 9) is “a fast-paced frenzy of espionage and murderous mayhem … (mixing) Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film with a juicy spy novel, and a dash of Monty Python.”
“Native Gardens” (February 18-March 8) features 2 sets of neighbors, who become “feuding enemies in a backyard battle for the ages.”
“Theatre People” (March 25-April 12) is set in 1948, as Broadway stars gather in a Newport mansion for a weekend of “romance, chaos, and misunderstandings.”
The shorter-run productions are “A Sherlock Carol” (the family holiday show by artistic director Mark Shanahan, back after last year’s sold-out run; December 17-22), and “Broadway Scores at the Playhouse,” songs from the Golden Age to recent musicals (January 23-26).
Season ticket packages for all three longer-run productions start at $68. Tickets will go on sale soon. Click here for complete season details.
PS: In other Playhouse news, a limited number of tickets remain for Bernadette Peters’ evening of songs from music masters (May 19, 7 p.m.). Click here to purchase, and for more information.
Also: A third Mike Birbiglia “Please Stop the Ride” show has been added next month. It’s June 4 (8 p.m.).
Tickets to his June 7 performance are sold out. There are only a few seats left for the second one (June 5). Click here to purchase, and for more information.
Westport Country Playhouse (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
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The Westport Book Shop is going to the dogs.
Exhibitor of the month Clark Hanford is showing oil paintings featuring dogs. They are painted in 19th century style, and are presented in antique frames.
Hanford has been an artist for over 5 decades, working in painting, clothing and sculpture. Before returning to Westport in 1985, the 1962 Staples High School graduate lived, worked and studied in London for 17 years, making and selling works from his Notting Hill shop.
He has created lifelike sculptures of Marlene Dietrich, Lucille Ball, Katherine Hepburn, Liz Taylor and others, dressed in period clothing made by Clark.
Hanford’s notable clients include Burt Bacharach, Demi Moore, John Entwistle, Elton John, Debbie Reynolds and David Bowie.
A reception is set for May 15 (6 to 7:30 p.m.).
Clark Hanford, at his Westport Book Shop exhibition.
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All month long, the Mid-Fairfield County Association of Realtors is running a food drive, to benefit Person-to-Person.
Items — including especially cereal, oatmeal, hearty soups, peanut butter and jelly, protein and granola bars, bags or boxes of rice, canned fruit and vegetables, pasta and sauce, dried and canned beans, nutrition bars, coffee and tea — can be dropped off at the MFCAR office (19 Imperial Avenue, weekdays between 9:30 a.m. and 3:15 p.m.).
The month-long drive ends with a shredding event (June 1, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Colonial Green). Anyone bringing a food donation gets complimentary shredding.
To give a monetary donation to People-to-People, scan the QR code below:
No one knows. But Caleb Scharf’s insights are probably far better than the rest of us.
NASA’s senior scientist for astrobiology at the Ames Research Center returns to the Westport Astronomical Society’s free online lecture series. He’ll discuss “The Search for Life in the Universe: 2024 and Beyond” on May 21 (8 p.m.; click here for Zoom; click here for YouTube livestream).
This is his third appearance at the WAS. He’ll speak specifically about research in exoplanetary science, exploration of the solar system, and upcoming plans for Mars, Titan, and the Habitable Worlds Observatory (NASA’s future space telescope).
The Joggers Club is moving to the Greens Farms train station, with “fun runs” on Saturdays starting at 8 a.m. It’s a buildup series, free to all registrants in the Fairfield Half Marathon.
The Joggers Club also runs (ho ho) Track Nights (Thursdays, 6:30 p.m., Staples High School track) and a Kids Run Club (Sundays, 4 p.m., Staples High School track; $25 per session, grades K-8).
Joggers Club memberships ($50) include a free Lululemon running shirt ($78 value), a year of free coffee and bagels after each run, plus fitness and friends.
The Cottage is offering a prix fixe, 4-course Mother’s Day meal.
From noon to 5 p.m. next Sunday (May 12; $110 per adult, $55 per child, not including tax and tip), chef Brian Lewis rolls out the red carpet for Mom and her family.
When Fantasia headlined a tribute to Clive Davis recently at Carnegie Hall, she did so with her voice — and an elegant gown.
It was designed, Essence says, by Christian Siriano, “who has built quite a name for himself in the fashion industry. The lavender long sleeve dress featured a leg slit and a black feather trim all around the gown, causing a dramatic, old Hollywood effect.”
Siriano is — in addition to being a former Project Runway winner — a Westporter. His Collective West collection is on Post Road West.
Click here for the full Essence story. (Hat tip: Danielle Teplica)
Fantasia, and her Christian Siriano gown. (Photo courtesy of Essence)
Lift Wellness will hold a ribbon cutting for the opening of its mental health and eating disorder partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment for teens and adults at their 8 Myrtle Avenue location on May 17 (11 a.m.).
The timing is appropriate: This is Mental Health Awareness Month.
Attendees can enjoy food, take a tour, and pick up swag. Click here for more information.
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo highlights the Longshore golf course, in full, beautiful bloom:
And finally … Fantasia was wearing a non-Christian Siriano outfit (see story above) in this 411 million-view video.
But she still looks (and sounds) great.
(From high fashion to homeless shelters, “06880” has our town covered. This is “where Westport meets the world.” We rely on reader support. Please click here to help. Thank you!)
Yesterday, “06880” previewed Clark Hanford’s art show. Set for Old Mill Beach this weekend, it drew readers’ praise for its open-air creative funkiness.
But Westport is not Westport without controversy.
A beach-area resident writes:
The so-called “art show” has an impact on the neighborhood, legal and otherwise. It makes the already difficult parking situation horrible for residents, and anyone else wishing to use the beach.
This event is a commercial enterprise. As you can see in the sign, there will be an auction. Old Mill Road, Compo Cove and the beach are zoned residential areas. The parking lot isn’t Jesup Green or Parker Harding Plaza, serving commercial businesses.
A Parks & Rec study indicated there are not enough spaces for residents and fellow Westporters. There will never be enough spaces. Adding in the folks on Hillspoint and in the area who “dump” their cars there, and regular legal usage for enjoying the beach, it is problematic at best.
Is there a need to hold a for- profit event during the summer months? Wouldn’t a time before Memorial Day or after Labor Day be more appropriate (unless of course there is a financial incentive)?
Should someone be compelled to support this art show, park at Compo Beach and walk over. It’s a lovely walk (ask Dan Woog — he does it!).
There is limited parking at Old Mill Beach. An arrow (top right) shows the site of this weekend’s art show. (Photo/Google Maps)
Two of Westport’s identities — arts town and beach town — meet this Saturday and Sunday (August 29-30). Clark Hanford presents his annual Old Mill Beach Art Show.
Westport is also a hedge fund town. Fortunately, you don’t need to be a billionaire to buy some great art at this show.
It’s a wonderful, funky event. There’s a neighborhood feel, but everyone is welcome.
Clark — a 1962 Staples High School graduate — is a very talented artist. (If you’ve ever wandered by his house — the yellow gingerbread-style home bordering the Old Mill path to Compo cove — you’ve probably admired some of his work, in and around his yard. You’ve also seen his old-time electric car, but that’s another “06880” post.)
Clark Hanford advertises his art show, in front of his gingerbread-style house.
This year, Clark’s added a few others to his show. There’s noted designer (and 1965 Staples grad) Miggs Burroughs; whimsical clockmaker Steve Lunt; Westporter Ade Van Duyn; Compo Cove artist Greg Puhy; Old Mill artist Isaac Sonsino, and Claudia Schattman, whose mosaics decorate (among other things) the old-time parking garage behind Old Mill. (Click here to see her very cool work.)
The works will be spread out on Clark’s lawn, and hung on his front and side gates and fence. Every piece is unique. It’s all for sale — including this great wooden doghouse advertisement Clark created just for the show:
(The Old Mill Beach Art show runs Saturday and Sunday, August 29 and 30, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The address is 31 Old Mill. Of course, parking is very, very tight.)
Sure, this is the weekend of the Sono Arts Celebration. It’s a great festival — but with 95-degree heat and 100% humidity, who needs the crowds and concrete?
You can still get your art fix — and add a few sea breezes — at Clark Hanford’s special art show. Set in the shaded front lawn of his Old Mill home, it’s a fun, stressless — and very professional — alternative to the much bigger South Norwalk event.
Clark’s show (at the end of the Old Mill parking lot) runs today until 5 p.m. Tomorrow (Sunday), it’s 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Several other artists are represented. In addition to paintings, there are sculptures and other artwork.
Clark Hanford, his artwork, and his Old Mill home.
The talented painter, sculptor, Old Mill resident — and 1962 Staples graduate — is getting ready for his 3rd outdoor art show. He’s selected some of his best dog works — and portraits, landscapes and still lives — and added artwork of other local artists. This Saturday and Sunday (August 4-5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), it’s all on display in front of Clark’s house.
That’s what makes this show blog-worthy. He lives at 31 Old Mill — a funky Victorian on the way to Compo Cove — and all the art will hang on his fence. It’s a perfect setting for some very good (and fun) art.
Clark’s 1st how, in 2010, was a great success. Last year’s was blown away by Hurricane Irene.
This year, Clark Hanford’s outdoor art show will blow you away.
This weekend, great artwork will hang on the fence.
Cottages. Wooden bridges. Ducks, egrets, herons, gulls, swans, cormorants. And the Mill Pond itself.
It’s an artist’s dream, and from dawn mist to dusky sunset, folks are out there painting.
Now everyone can see their work.
Clark Hanford — painter, sculptor and Old Mill resident — has gathered several other artists together. This Saturday (Aug. 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), they’ll present an outdoor exhibit of their work.
The show — highlighting the infinite moods of Old Mill and Compo Cove — takes place at Hanford’s home: 31 Old Mill.
You can’t ask for a better curator. A 1962 Staples graduate, Hanford has been a working artist for over 4 decades.
“Although I sometimes saw people painting on the beach, I’d be busy in my studio doing portraits or sculpting,” he says.
“I just enjoy being here. I don’t have a need to paint it.”
But this winter — when it was cold and nasty, and he vowed to do something special when if summer finally arrived — Hanford decided to paint outside. Then he hit on the idea of a little show.
Scouting for artists with different styles and points of view, he found talented folks like Cornelia Gaines Olsen, Judy Katz and Bobbi Eike Mullen.
Once upon a time, Westport was an “artists’ colony.” On Saturday, the special colony of Old Mill honors the artists who honor it.
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