Today’s online art gallery includes, as usual, faces, pets, and the world around us.
As well as — for the first time ever — the New York Mets.
No matter what style or subject you choose — and whether you’re a first-timer or old-timer — we welcome your submissions. Watercolors, oils, charcoal, pen-and-ink, acrylics, digital, lithographs, collages, macramé, jewelry, sculpture, decoupage, needlepoint — we want whatever you’ve got.
This feature is open to all. Age, level of experience, subject matter — there are no restrictions. Everyone is invited to contribute.
Just email a jpeg to 06880blog@gmail.com. And please include the medium you’re working in — art lovers want to know.
“(Wow!) What is That?” — oil on canvas (Mary Madelyn Attanasio)
“Puffina” — acrylic abstract (Patricia McMahon)
Untitled — impasto acrylic (Dorothy Robertshaw)
Untitled (Tom Doran)
Untitled — hand-painated, mixed media, in acrylic display case at Westport River Gallery (Fazzino)
Untitled (Duane Cohen)
“Vintage School in Eastern Connecticut, With Sunlight and Approaching Storm” (Peter Barlow)
“I’m Peeking at Mi Papa Leading Hikers up Into the Andes. Te Amo, Papa!” (Mike Hibbard)
“Drama” — multi-media composition (Maj Kalfus)
“Not Happy About Being Given a Timeout” (Lawrence Weisman)
“Teddi” — acrylic on canvas (Missy Greenberg)
“Are We There Yet?” (Martin Ripchick)
“A Very Rare Septopus” (Steve Stein)
(Entrance is free to our online art gallery. But please consider a donation! Just click here — and thank you!)
Each was special, in its own way. All were impressive. The result was a very successful first-ever “Historic Homes of 06880” house tour.
Annette Norton’s small 1700s home on North Avenue was a great attraction for the many residents who drive by often, admire her exterior renovation, and wonder what’s inside.
Annette Norton (left) shows guests the original fireplace, with a mantel she found in upstate Connecticut. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Mark Yurkiw and Wendy Van Wie’s barn is a 2-story, wide-open, wood-paneled delight that includes Mark’s artwork treasures in every corner.
A view of the Cross Highway barn, from the 2nd-floor landing. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Matt Burrows and Amy Gay surprised visitors to their 1742 home, also on Cross Highway. The exterior is a faithful restoration of a well-known, once-dilapidated property, while the interior is very modern, beautifully designed (by the owners), and open.
Matt Burrows (right) shows off the open floor plan he designed for his home. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Julia Gross and Mark Lamensdorf’s property on Old Hill Road delights at every turn, from original wooden beams and a formidable stone basement, to an old outhouse (now shed) in the back that “seats 3.”
The original door and beams in the original kitchen on Old Hill Road. (Photo/Amy Saperstein)
KMS Team at Compass co-sponsored the event. Karen Scott, Laurie Morris, Michael Mombello, Susan Seath and Karen Hagen were superb docents.
“06880” board members Amy Saperstein, Bill Scheffler and John Dodig (and his husband Rodger Lawrence) assisted, with help from Staples’ Service League of Boys.
“06880” often reports on Westporters who restore — rather than tear down — some of our oldest homes. Yesterday, readers went behind the scenes, to experience 4 of the homes they’d only read about before.
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Speaking of restored homes: Here’s another shot of the continuing work being done at 44 Compo Cove, perhaps the most photographed house in Westport.
For the second weekend out of three, the feared “traffic-geddon” generated by the I-95 Saugatuck Avenue bridge replacement project was largely avoided.
Traffic flowed smoothly — well, as smoothly as our “new normal” on Friday night, all day Saturday, Sunday morning, and early Sunday afternoon.
Then — for the second Sunday afternoon out of 3 — Westport was suddenly gridlocked.
Just like 2 weeks ago, traffic materialized out of nowhere. And it was everywhere.
Saugatuck — and feeder arteries like Greens Farms Road and Bridge Street — were jammed.
A line of cars and trucks extended from the North Kings Highway/Wilton Road light, all the way past Hudson Malone.
And the stretch from Parker Harding Plaza to the Post Road/Riverside Avenue/Wilton Road cluster**** was as bad as its ever been.
Some drivers waited patiently. Others devised new maneuvers to try to gain an edge, creating (of course) further chaos.
The state Department of Transportation once again completed the “bridge slide” portion of the project ahead of schedule.
The southbound span of I-95 was open around 4:30 p.m. But traffic continued for quite a while on the mean streets of Westport.
“It defies logic,” says Dan Vener, who took this photo of I-95 traffic, while stuck in the ground-level jam:
(Photo/Dan Vener)
Meanwhile, for a fascinating time-lapse version of the “bridge slide” — from 6 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Sunday — click below:
Jon Gailmor — the beloved Vermont musical icon — returned to his Westport home town yesterday, for a sold-out show at the VFW.
The 1966 Staples graduate was joined by a few talented friends: former classmates Rob Carlson (his singing partner from the 1970s) and Roger Kaufman, plus Suzanne Sheridan, the producer of the popular “First Folk Sunday” series.
It was a trip back to a magical musical time.
And just perfect for these days, too.
From left: Jon Gailmor, Roger Kaufman, Suzanne Sheridan, Rob Carlson. (Photo/Pam Washburn)
The Westport Arts Advisory Committee sponsored its annual TEA (Thinkers, Educators, Artists) Talk at the Westport Library.
A crowd of 150 people heard experts — including Emmy- and Grammy Award-winning 1971 Staples grad Brian Keane, town-wide K-12 arts coordinator Steve Zimmerman, and artist/arts consultant Liz Leggett — discuss “What’s Next for the Arts?,” as it faces challenges from artificial intelligence.
Topics included whether or not AI poses an existential risk to the arts; the role of education; the pure joy of making art, and — intriguingly — how we decide what is real, not real, and “authentic.” Does, in fact, “authentic” matter at all?
Panelists used AI tools to create illustration and art, using prompts from attendees. Artists showed traditional techniques.
There was a lot to think about.
And every comment was generated by humans.
Panelists — each under their photo — at yesterday’s TEA Talk.
Field Trip jerky — the very popular producer of healthy, protein-rich snacks ranging from beef, chicken, turkey and pork to jalapeño, cracked pepper and everything bagel — is headquartered in downtown Westport.
But it reaches all over the country.
Literally.
The other day, Bruce Miller and his wife were in Alaska. On a tour of Denali National Park, guests received a snack box.
Inside was a Field Trip Cracked Pepper Turkey Stick.
“We traveled 4,400 miles from home to enjoy a local treat!” he says.
You don’t have to go to The Last Frontier.
Field Trip is sold at retailers like Stop & Shop and CVS.
And in their only retail outlet, next to their Post Road offices opposite Design Within Reach.
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Artists Collective of Westport member Maj Kalfus’ work is featured at the Weston Senior Center, through the end of December. Her 30 pieces include oil paintings, collage, brush and ink, graphite, digital art and drawings from life.
A reception is set for November 16 (6 to 8 p.m.). Kalfus teaches at the Westport Senior Center. Her portrait of Ella Fitzgerald was featured at the recent Westport Country Playhouse tribute to the jazz singer.
As we head into mid-fall — with winter not too far away — this is the “Westport … Naturally” scene from Ellen Wentworth’s living room:
(Photo/Ellen Wentworth)
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And finally … in honor of our great “Historic Homes of 06880” tour (story above):
(A lot went on this weekend — and, as always, “06880” previewed, and now reviews, it. If you enjoy our hyper-local coverage, please consider a contribution. Click here — and thank you!)
The correct day, but incorrect date, was posted yesterday for former superintendent of schools Dr. Elliott Landon’s funeral.
It is tomorrow: Monday, September 4, 10 a.m., at Temple Israel.
Dr. Elliott Landon
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Today’s grand opening of the Daniel E. Offutt III Education Center at Weston’s Lachat Town Farm will be special.
The morning includes tours of the new facility and a pancake breakfast (from now until noon), plus hayrides, pony rides, a blacksmith demonstration live music, children’s book reading, and visits with the farm’s goats and bunnies.
The $4 million center includes a large gathering spce with stone fireplace, art studio, classroom — and Brian’s Kitchen, a demonstration space honoring Brian Gordon.
At Staples High School, Brian was president of his Class of 1987, and a basketball star. He went on to become president of his ’91 class at the University of Pennsylvania too.
When he, his wife Kristy and daughters Molly and Drew moved to Weston, he became active there too. As 2nd Selectman Brian vigorously supported Lachat Town Farm. He particularly enjoyed Music at the Meadow, and other special events, with his family.
Cooking was one of Brian’s passions. He delighted his family and friends with culinary treats. He rarely used a recipe, believing that cooking was an expression of love and caring, and should be joyful and creative.
Brian’s Kitchen will continue his legacy of good food, good times and good fun. Click here to read more about Brian’s life, and his contributions to Weston.
Brian Gordon, at work.
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Right now, there are 4 Hungry Pots in the world: Danbury, Wethersfield, Manchester, and Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
Soon, there will be a fifth.
A sign at the former Panera Bread — across from Shake Shack — announced its arrival.
It’s an “all you can eat Korean BBQ and Hot Pot.”
The website says: “We offer different variety of fresh quality meats seafood and vegetable to provide our guests with an enjoyable dining experience and authentic atmosphere. Customer service is our top priority when it comes to our customers. It is a perfect place for family gatherings, birthday parties and other events. We are passionate to bring a new unique dining experience for our new customer.
“The owner and all staff in Hungry Pot will greet you with the warmest welcome, whether you are a habitual patron or come for the first time. We have made painstaking efforts to create the tidiest and cleanest dining place, and guarantee you with friendly and timely service. All of your demands and feelings will be cared in our restaurant.
“We pick ingredients carefully and use only the freshest and natural ones to prepare every dish.”
Frank Rosen headed to Lime Rock Park yesterday, and spotted 3 fellow Westporters.
He was spectating. But they were all racing.
One of the trio was a (relatively rare) female driver, Lexy Barlow (below). She’s a 2018 Staples High School graduate.
The others were Joe Fuller (below) …
… and Josh Lewis (silver #812, below):
It’s great that Westport was well represented at Lime Rock. Our 3 drivers are following in the footsteps — er, slipstream — of our town’s most famous race car driver of all time.
A guy named Paul Newman.
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The Japan Society of Fairfield County invites everyone to a Fall Festival next Sunday, (September 10, 1 to 4 p.m., Jesup Green).
The family-friendly event includes taiko drum performances, live plays of Japanese folk tales, martial arts demonstrations and traditional dancing.
The Westport Book Shop’s featured artist this month is Maj Kalfus.
She’ll exhibit several digital compositions. Her paintings and drawings are influenced by an extensive career in the fashion industry. All work on display is available for purchase.
Maj teaches art in Westport and Weston, as well as the Silvermine Arts Center. She is a member of The Artists Collective of Westport.
Nature photographer and Westport Community Gardens director Lou Weinberg contributes today’s great “Westport … Naturally image.”
(Photo/Lou Weinberg)
He adds this context:
“Dragonflies love to be photographed. This one cracked a broad smile for me.
“Dragonflies are a great control on the mosquito population. A single dragonfly can eat 30 to hundreds of mosquitoes per day.
“The Westport Community Gardens and Long Lots Preserve provide great habitat and food for these critters. They are part of the incredible biodiversity supported by our model of suburban open-space environmental rehabilitation.”
And finally … Jimmy Buffett died Friday. He was 76.
The New York Times calls him a “singer, songwriter, author, sailor and entrepreneur whose roguish brand of island escapism on hits like ‘Margaritaville and ‘Cheeseburger in Paradise’ made him something of a latter-day folk hero, especially among his devoted following of so-called Parrot Heads.”
Click here for a full obituary. Meanwhile, here are a few of my favorites. Jimmy Buffett always made me smile.
(Today, “06880” is “where Westport meets Margaritaville.” If you enjoy our musical tribute — or any of our other daily selections, or anything else on this blog — please consider a contribution. Just click here. Thank you!)
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