NOTE: This story has been updated, to include information on all 22 restaurants and caterers participating. Comments questioning the lack of participation of certain restaurants have been removed, as those restaurants will be represented.
It hasn’t created much buzz — yet.
It’s not Festival Italiano.
But a “Slice of Saugatuck” festival scheduled for September 17 may draw many Westporters down to that old, diverse, now rapidly redeveloping neighborhood.
The Westport News reports that the event — organized by RTM member and area resident Matthew Mandell — will include food from 22 restaurants and caterers, from Riverside and and Railroad Place out to Saugatuck Avenue; wine from Grain and Grape and Saugatuck Wine & Spirits; kayak rides at Downunder; fly fishing lessons at Westport Outfitters, and tours of the Saugatuck fire station.
At the same time, word on the street — Riverside Avenue — is that Doc’s Cafe will close at the end of October. One door closes, another opens, as my Italian grandmother used to say (if I had one), but losing what is arguably Westport’s funkiest “coffeehouse” is the yin to Slice of Saugatuck’s yang.
For Westporters who can’t (or won’t) venture across the bridge to the Slice event — or for anyone into street fairs — here’s another bit of news: Blues, Views and BBQ returns to the Levitt Pavilion September 24-25.
Sure, it’s clunkily named. But the annual event — featuring, this year, music from Otis and the Hurricanes, River City Slim and the Zydeco Hogs, and the Westport Heritage Blues Band starring Charlie Karp and Crispin Cioe (plus many others), and lots of mouth-watering food — has become an early fall, not-to-be-missed downtown staple.
On consecutive weekends next month we’ll celebrate one festival in a traditional Italian neighborhood, then another honoring the decidedly un-Westport (but very welcome) traditions of blues and barbecue.
They say the 3rd time’s the charm. Anyone ready to resurrect the Apple Festival?