“Primary Trust” — the next Westport Country Playhouse production, about change, friendship, quiet courage and mai tais — opens April 14.
As always, the Playhouse has planned special several events. They include:
Taste of Tuesday (April 14, 6 p.m.): Season ticket holders enjoy snacks, beverages, and casual pre-show conversation.
PRIDE Night (April 16): A pre-show gathering for the LGBTQ+ community.
Opening Night (April 18): A post-show reception, open to all ticket holders.
Sunday Symposium (April 19, after the 3 p.m. matinee): Panel discussion and Q&A about community, isolation and behavioral health with artistic director Mark Shanahan, Rev. Richard Williams of Pivot Ministries, and a representative of Silver Hill Hospital.
Taste of Tuesday Wine Tasting (April 21): Pre-show sampling of wines from The Grapevine, with snacks.
Together at the Table (April 26, $15): Families and groups enjoy a communal pizza lunch and discussion of the play before the matinee show.
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Congolese drums had never been heard in the Westport Library before yesterday — or perhaps in any other library, anywhere.
But there they were at 10 a.m., kicking off a jam-packed VersoFest Saturday with a dance and drum workshop.
Cumbe Dance, at the Westport Library. (Photo copyright DinkinESH Fotografix)
Also yesterday: actress Gina Gershon discussed her new memoir, “AlphaPussy: How I Survived the Valley and Learned to Love My Boobs,” with journalist/rock memoirist (and Westport resident) Alisyn Camerota.
Gina Gerson, with Alisyn Camerota. (Photo/Susan Garment)
Last night ended with musician/writer/playwright/poet/visual artist/alt-rock legend David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets).
He read from his new poetry book “Rhapsody, Threnody & Prayer,” was interviewed by author Douglas Rushkoff, and finished with a set of acoustic songs.
David J (Photo copyright DinkinESH Fotografix)
The 5th annual music, media and more event concludes today (Sunday), with a panel on AI and the music industry (10:30 a.m.), a conversation with Capitol Theater owner and festival producer Dean Budnick (12 p.m.), a Suno workshop (12 p.m.), and a screening of “Grateful Dead: Dead Ahead” (2 p.m.).
Speaking of the Library: It’s a storied Westport institution.
So is Staples Players.
On Monday, April 6 (6:30 p.m.) they’ll collaborate for the first time ever, on a staged (and free!) reading.
David Roth’s Theatre 3 Advanced class presents “Almost, Maine.” The whimsical, funny and poignant show takes place as northern lights hover about a remote town. Residents fall in and out of love, in unexpected and hilarious ways.
And — because neither Players nor the Library ever does things halfway — playwright John Cariani will come to the reading, and lead a talkback afterward.
As promised, the new apartments being built at 85 Post Road West — between Kings Highway Elementary School and Riverside Avenue — include “affordable housing” based on state guidelines.
Applications are being accepted for the 22 1- and 2-bedroom units. The maximum rental prices are $2,100 and $2,511 respectively.
Applicants will be contacted first come, first served, and given the opportunity to submit supporting documentation and go through the verification process.
Click here for the submission form. Questions? Call 475-999-2445.
Early stages of construction last year, on Post Road West.
Speaking of new construction: As Coastal Luxury Homes prepares to convert 455 Post Road East — the former Connecticut Humane Society — to 25 apartments and 5 townhouses, they’re paying homage to the former tenants.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” featured photo comes from Michael Szeto.
After installing a birdfeeder this past week, his first visitor was a Cooper’s hawk. It frequently visits back yards, to prey on small birds drawn to feeders.
(Photo/Michael Szeto)
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And finally … on this date in 1871, Royal Albert Hall was opened by Queen Victoria.
Which brings to mind 2 songs by British bands, each of which mentions one of them.
(A day in our life includes a reminder that “06880” relies on the generosity of our readers. If you appreciate these daily Roundups — or anything else — please click here to support our work. Thanks!)
Because of the government shutdown, SNAP benefits (food stamps) will be halted or delayed to many local residents, starting today.
In response to this, Westport Rotary Club and Sunrise Rotary Club have organized an emergency food drive for today (Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.), at Stop & Shop.
Rotary volunteers, with help from the Westport Police Department, will be there to collect food for Homes with Hope’s Gillespie Center Food Pantry.
The most needed items are rice, pasta, pasta sauce, canned goods 9tuna, soup, vegetables, beans, fruit), cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter and jelly.
And don’t forget: Homes with Hope’s Community Kitchen is open daily for lunch (12 noon) and dinner (5 p.m.). It’s at the Gillespie Center on Jesup Road (behind Barnes & Noble).
A September food drive stocked Homes with Hopes’ food pantry. With SNAP benefits ended, more donations are needed. The pantry is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 1:30-4:30 p.m., and Thursday from 1:30 to 6 p.m.
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For a while, Westport has had 2 different registries for residents in crisis.
One was used by the Department of Human Services to check on seniors living alone with medical needs during storms and other emergencies. The second was managed by the Police Department, to help first responders understand the needs of people with disabilities during 911 calls.
Now they’ve merged. Human Services, and the Police and Fire Departments, have launched “Westport Ready.”
Westport now offers one streamlined service for seniors and people with disabilities during emergencies.
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Meanwhile, on a lighter — by which we mean, Halloween — note: There was one less house this year to trick or treat at, in the Compo Beach neighborhood.
This is the final chance for tickets to tomorrow’s 3rd annual “Historic Homes of 06880” tour.
On Sunday, from 1 to 4 p.m., we’re partnering with our friends at KMS Team at Compass to offer an inside look at 4 historic houses.
They’re at 221 Greens Farms Road, 249 Greens Farms Road, 155 Long Lots Road, and 209 Wilton Road. Click here for details of each.
Tickets are $60 each, $100 for 2. Click here to purchase. Proceeds help fund “06880”‘s work — which, as always, chronicles Westport’s past, present and future.
249 Greens Farms Road — one of 4 historic homes on tomorrow’s “06880” tour.
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Tomorrow (Sunday, November 2, 5 p.m.), Chabad of Westport launches its Film Series.
They’ll show “Blind Spot”: the first documentary exposing campus antisemitism before and after October 7, 2023. After the screening, executive producer Leonard Gold will take part in a conversation about the film. Click here to register.
Westport was the first community to form a sister city partnership with one in the Ukraine, shortly after the Russian invasion. In less than 4 years, our town has provided over $300,000 worth of food, clothing, wood pellet stoves, communications equipment, trash trucks and more, to our war-torn friends.
Ukrainian Aid International — the boots-on-the-ground non-profit founded by Westporters Brian and Marshall Mayer, which has delivered over $2.5 million in aid to the region — is hosting 2 events soon. Both highlight the sister cities program — and the new “Sister State” relationship between Connecticut and Donetsk, the front-line oblast.
UAI’s team and local leaders will over personal stories, and describe first-hand experiences of their partnerships.
The first is November 9, at 2 p.m. (Ferguson Library, Stamford). The second is November 10, at 4 p.m. (Fairfield Public Library; register here).
The next Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand play reading — “The Machine” — is Monday (November 3, 7 p.m.)
It’s a “smart, fast-moving thriller about a poet, an AI, and the tricky questions that arise when technology starts writing our art for us.” Click here for tickets, and more information.
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Club 203’s next event is “Giving Thanks Together.”
Westport’s social group for adults with disabilities gathers at the Senior Center on November 12 (6:30 to 8 p.m.) for turkey sandwiches and apple pie, laughter, bingo, and a celebration of friendship and connections.
MoCA\CT will be there as usual, with an art activity that’s a creative way to reflect on what everyone is thankful for this year.
As for “06880”: We’re thankful that Club203 offers a space for all Westporters to find those friends, and make those connections, that are so important in life.
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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