Today’s CT United motorcycle ride — paying tribute to victims and first responders of 9/11, in the largest motorcycle ride in the state — has been canceled. The forecast is for rain this morning. There is no rain date.

The start of the CT United ride, at Sherwood Island State Park. (Photo/Penny Pearlman)
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Two new restaurants open officially on Tuesday.
Both will crush it.
And both hosted large, high-energy private parties last night.
In just 3 weeks, Don Memo has been transformed into Massi Co.
Owner Massimo Tullio has fulfilled his dream, of designing an Italian restaurant that honors his love of food from Naples. He and the team behind Don Memo (and the Whelk) and Don Memo have created a unique (and killer) menu, in a town with many other Italian options.
The space — in what was Westport’s original Town Hall, with a long bar, and broad patio fronting Post Road East — is both bright and fresh. Click here for the Massi Co website.

Massi Co’s pizzas (being served on the right) are Neopolitan specialties. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Meanwhile, at the other end of town, 300 guests enjoyed a special party at Dandelion, the restaurant inside the new Delamar hotel.
Realtor Judy Michaelis organized the benefit, for Westport’s Volunteer Emergency Medical Service.
The Mediterranean menu and large bar will be open for dinner only, for the first weeks. Reservations are required. Click here for the Dandelion website.

Dandelion, last night. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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From beets to bread.
Le Pain Quotidien (“the daily bread”) will move into the space in the Fresh Market plaza, vacated several months ago by Little Beet.
The Brussels-based chain offers “a warm, communal dining experience with fresh, organic ingredients and delicious, artisanal baked goods.”
This is the third Fairfield County location. The others are in New Canaan and Greenwich.

Coming soon to the Fresh Market plaza. (Hat tip and photo/Molly Alger)
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A new school year brings a new slate of programs at Wakeman Town Farm.
And they’re not just for kids.
Offerings include farm and culinary experiences for youngsters; parent and child farm classes; cooking classes for toddlers, teens and adults, plus animal care, sustainability, crafts and more for older students.
Click here to see what’s up at WTF.

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Speaking of the environment: Aspetuck Land Trust and Norwalk Land Trust have merged.
The resutl: NLT’s 33-property, 110-acre portfolio has been added to ALT’s 2,200 acres, across 8 town.
Aspetuck Land Trust will add a new staff member to manage Norwalk’s preserves, and the Farm Creek Education Program for 4th graders.
Founded in 1966, ALT has over 1,700 members and is one of the state’s leading land trusts. The merger aligns with ALT’s Green Corridor 2030 Initiative, to connect and protect landscapes across Fairfield County.
To learn more about Aspetuck Land Trust, click here.

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Yesterday’s Homes with Hope food drive was a great success.
As Westporters often do, they flooded the tables at Stop & Shop with much-needed donations.
The event was co-sponsored by the Westport Police Department, Sunrise Rotary Club and CTBites.

Homes with Hope volunteers, with their bounty.
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Also yesterday: thunderstorms, which postponed or canceled many outdoor activities. (Including Slice of Saugatuck. The new date is next Saturday.)
But one show went on: the Japanese Fall Festival, at Jesup Green.
Visitors enjoyed many aspects of the culture, including this aikido demonstration:

(Photo/Amy Schneider)
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Congratulations, Constance Lake!
The 2008 Staples High School graduate (also known as Constance Walsh) wrote and produced “Lodestone.” The play opened last weekend, as part of the Circle Theater Festival off Broadway.
The love story explores loss, dreams, and the innovation of language, uwninding the desire of 2 unsuspecting lovers caught in a living zoetrope. The experimental play stages its tale inside a set that moves and dances, evoking and mirroring the character’s experiences and possible trajectories.
The show runs on 4 Sundays: today (September 7), the 14th and 21st, and October 19. To learn more, click here.

Connie Walsh
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows the first sign of fall. Richard Fogel spotted it at Old Mill, near Hillspoint Road.

(Photo/Richard Fogel)
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And finally … in honor of the new Le Pain Quotidien restaurant, how about a song by Bread?
(Speaking of bread … “06880” relies on contributions from readers like you. Please click here to support our work. We can’t make it without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!)














