Between its sloping floor, river view, frequently flooded parking lot and basic but down home menu, “the Duck” never pretended to be anything other than what it was: Westport’s favorite (okay, only) dive bar.
One view of the Black Duck … (Photo/Lynn Untermeyer Miller)
For decades, the former barge — which always seems ready to sink, yet somehow remains afloat — never changed.
… and another. (Photo/John Videler for VidelerPhotography)
But the age of AI is here.
And it’s everywhere. Including the Duck.
Last weekend, longtime Westporter Scott Smith, his son Cole Prowitt-Smith and Cole’s girlfriend headed to Saugatuck.
She’s from out of town. Cole wanted to show her a genuine Westport landmark.
They sat outside, on the covered deck. As Scott enjoyed the classic view of the Saugatuck River under the I-95 bridge — with action at the boat ramp across the water, and listening to trains rumbling past — Cole showed him the menu.
It was a new design. Scott says, “perhaps I wouldn’t have picked up on it. But since Cole is a Gen Zer working in New York, and very much involved with AI, he pointed out some glaring absurdities with the photos on the cover.”
Black Duck menu. (Photo/Scott Smith)
As he looked closely, Scott saw that every image was “a horrid example of the AI-enshittification of our commerce and culture.”
The small second floor had been transformed into something grand. Ditto the bar.
The outdoor deck had umbrellas, like Longshore.
The sun was setting — to the north! — across what looked like a wide bay.
And, Scott wondered, What happened to I-95?!
The sun sets to the north, across an impossibly wide Saugatuck River. And why, Scott asks, is one couple sitting oddly behind the backs of others?
“The Black Duck has its own beauty and history, right down to the slanted floorboards,” Scott says. “How anyone could sign off on this faux design is beyond me.
“Truth in advertising may no longer be a thing. But how do you square this AI-feverish depiction when you’re sitting in the real Duck?
“You have to laugh. But it’s not really funny.”
(“06880” regularly covers Westport’s restaurant scene — in all its forms. If you enjoy this, or any other features on “06880,” please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
It’s a sure sign of summer: Beach parking emblems go on sale online, and in the Westport Parks & Recreation Department office, at 9 a.m. next Monday (March 11) for Westport and Weston residents. The number of sales to Westport and Weston residents is not limited, and they are not required until May 1.
Sales of emblems to people not living in Westport or Westonbegin online, and in the Parks & Rec office, at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13. A limit of 450 will be sold.
If you have purchased emblems or registered for Parks & Rec programs in prior seasons, you already have an online account established. Click here to log into your account. Then choose memberships; in the search box, type “Resident.” This brings all Westport resident vehicle packages to the top page. Weston residents should type “Weston” in search box.
After verification (Parks & Rec may request a copy of your current registration, or updated proof of residency), online purchases will be mailed to you. It may take 14-21 days.
Construction will begin soon on Summit Saugatuck’s 157-unit housing complex, on Hiawatha Lane Extension.
But residents of the neighborhood got a bit of relief recently, when plans for a 5-story, 42-unit affordable housing development nearby were withdrawn.
Cathy Walsh, applicant for the project and former Planning and Zoning Commission chair, withdrew the application last month, CT Insider reports.
However, the reprieve may be temporary. She said that she and Faustina Zucaro — owner of the property — will resubmit it later. Further details on the withdrawal or new submission were not available. Click here for the full story.
Plans for this 5-story, 42-unit housing complex have been withdrawn.
Many readers have asked about funeral services for Leonard Everett Fisher. The noted illustrator, longtime Westport volunteer and World War II veteran died last weekend, at 99.
His family says there will be no immediate service. However, they look forward to a public celebration of his life life close to or on his 100th birthday in June.
“06880” will provide details when they are finalized.
Leonard Everett Fisher (Photo/Ted Horowitz)
=================================================
Connecticut’s presidential primary election is April 2.
But with the state finally embracing early voting, Westporters have 4 options besides that date to vote.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The only polling place is Town Hall. Do not go to your regular poll location!
Town Hall is open for early voting on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, March 26-30 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (though not Good Friday, March 29), and on April 2 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For information regarding the primary, including how to vote by absentee ballot, click here.
WestportMoms’ 3rd annual Easter Egg Hunt is so big, there will be 2 of them.
The Saturday, March 23 event at Long Lots Elementary School (11:45 a.m. for ages 2-5; 12:30 p.m., kids 6+) includes art projects, cookie decorating, prizes, face painting, food trucks, games and more.
Bring the whole family, tell your friends, and come have fun with us!
Tickets are $20 per family. Click here to purchase.
================================================
In 2005 I wrote and published “Staples High School: 120 Years of A+ Education.”
1,000 copies of the 390-page history of the school were printed. All sold, but a second printing was not financially viable.
From time to time, they show up on eBay. They usually cost about $75. (The original was $20.)
But the other day, proud 1992 Staples grad Evan Stein spotted a copy with an eye-popping price: $288.99.
“It must be autographed,” he said.
I’m not sure how the seller came up with that figure. But it’s perfect for anyone who would never pay $289 for a history of a high school.
The cheap edition of my Staples history book is in the upper left corner on eBay. The deluxe one is at the right.
FUN STAPLES HISTORY FACTOIDS:
The first graduating class was just 6 students. All were girls.
Wilbur Cross — future Yale professor, Connecticut governor and parkway namesake — was the second principal of Staples High School.
In the 1930s, Staples sponsored 2 rifle teams: one for boys, one for girls.
In 1954, Staples was the first Connecticut school to offer an Advanced Placement (AP) class.
In the 1970s, Staples was a national Ultimate Frisbee leader.
In 2001, senior Mariangela won both the Siemens Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition and the Intel Science Talent Search. Each carried a $100,000 scholarship prize.
=================================================
Speaking of Staples: The high school has announced the names of its 20 high honors graduates, in the Class of 2024.
They are the seniors whose academic grade point average is in the top 4% of the class.
The high honors students will be celebrated this spring, at a special dinner at the school. They are:
Front row, from left: Connor Ng, Ellen Ou, Kaitlyn Seo, Kathryn Asiel, Defne Merih, Gabriela de Brito, Leigh Foran, Emerson Briggs, Neva Mermagen, Mabel Propper. Back row: Peter Loranger, Darren Weng, Gabriel Weng, Dyan Fiore, Courtlyn Crombie, Elizabeth Turner, Jeremy Rosenkranz, Eitan Eiger, Jameson Russell, Andrew Berkowitz.
Williams College is going to the NCAA D-III men’s basketball round of 16.
And they’re headed to Greensboro, North Carolina thanks to a Greens Farms Academy graduate.
Cole Prowitt-Smith finished a driving, double-clutch layup with less than 1 second to go last weekend, leading the Ephs to a dramatic 79-77 win at #5 Oswego State. It capped a 27-point night for the 6-4 senior. (His father, Scott Smith, writes frequently for “06880” on environmental issues.)
Williams faces Christopher Newport University on Friday.
Westport is proud of its rainbow crosswalk, on Jesup Road at Taylor Place.
Now, to make the area even more colorful, Westport Pride — the town’s LGBTQ organization — has joined the Parks & Recreation Department’s Adopt-a-Spot program.
Partnering with Tuliptree Site Design, a gay-owned, Norwalk-based design firm, Westport Pride is installing a pollinator pathway garden along the 100-foot Jesup Road median.
The garden will include native wildflowers, adding both color and a a habitat for native species downtown. Flowers will include daffodils, lupine, coneflower, primrose, coreopsis, spiked gayfeather, cornflower, daisies, poppy, phlox, butterfly milkweed and yarrow. The design will also incorporate spring bulbs
Planting was completed on Monday.
Tuliptree design director Michael Mushak and Westport Pride chair Brian McGunagle, at the rainbow crosswalk and pollinator pathway.
If you haven’t been to an Artists Collective of Westport pop-up gallery, you’re missing great shows.
The next one is March 13-17 (1 to 5 p.m., Westport Country Playhouse Sheffer Barn).
The opening reception — always packed and buzzing — is March 12 (6 to 8 p.m.). Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Mark Naftalin will entertain on piano.
An artists’ talk is set for March 17 (4 p.m.).
Participating artists include Trace Burroughs, Linn Cassetta, Beatrice delPerugia, Charles Douthat, Cecilia Moy Fradet, Ronnie Gold, Ning Jia, David Stephen Johnson, Maj Kalfus, Karen Kalkstein, Robert Meyer and Jen Williams.
“Footloose The Musical” dances onto the Coleytown Middle School stage next month Tickets for the Coleytown Company show go on sale Friday.
The show — a stage and screen favorite for its celebration of youth, forgiveness and the power of music — is set for Friday, April 5 (7 p.m.), Saturday, April 6 (1 p.m. and 7 p.m.), and Sunday, April 7 (1 p.m.).
And finally … Today in 1836, a 13-day siege by an army of 3,000 Mexican troops ended when 187 Texas volunteers defending the Alamo were killed. The fort was captured.
(“06880” is your hyper-local, reader-supported blog. To make a tax-deductible contribution, please click here. Thank you!)
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!)
GET THE “06880” APP
The “06880” app (search for it on the Apple or Android store) is the easiest way to get “06880.” Choose notifications: whenever a new post is published, or once or twice a day. Click here for details.
