Marina Drasnin is a different kind of “06880” podcast guest.
She’s not in town government. She does not lead an interesting business, non-profit or organization.
What Marina is is a very excited new resident of Westport. She’s been here just a year, but she loves everything about this town.
She sees it through fresh eyes, and offers an intriguing perspective. The other day we chatted about Westport — what brought her here (spoiler alert: It involved the LA wildfires), what she expected, what she found, and much more.
Click here or below to see this place through very special eyes: Marina Drasnin’s.
The Westport Center for Senior Activities offers a number of wellness programs.
Three are dedicated specifically to support people living with Parkinson’s. They include:
Boxing: A high-energy class to improve balance and coordination, taught by fitness instructor and boxer Dan Lewis. Thursdays, 2-3 p.m.; July 10-September 25. $60.
Fitness: A movement-based fitness program to enhance strength, flexibility and mobility, taught by fitness instructor Beth Dalen. First 3 Wednesdays of each month, 10:15-11 a.m.; July 9-September 24.
Support Group: Guided discussions offering emotional support, shared experiences and practical strategies for living with Parkinson’s. Guest speakers address specific topics. The group is facilitated by nurse Diane Bosch. 10:15-11 a.m.; July 23, August 27, September 24.
To learn more, call assistant director Holly Betts (203-341-5096) or program specialist Joe Anastasi (203-341-1066).
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Free entertainment is on tap this weekend, at the Levitt Pavilion.
Early Clover — the former Coasters’ lead singer and Apollo favorite pays tribute to Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, Otis Redding and more tonight (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.).
Tomorrow it’s Jake Swamp & the Pine, with Kali Stoddard-Imari (Sunday, 6:30 p.m.). Songs range from acoustic anthems to hoedowns to waltzes, drawing on influences from folk, bluegrass and pop.
Speaking of shows: The Old School Revue All-Stars have a great reputation. So does the Weston History & Culture Center’s “Music at the Barn” outdoor summer concert series.
So the band’s appearance on Sunday, July 13 (5:30 p.m.) should be an extra-special evening. They’ll play classic R&B, rock, soul, jazz and swing tunes.
Current and former members have toured and/or recorded with Steely Dan, the Average White Band, Joe Cocker, Bob Dylan, Jose Feliciano, Tower of Power, Hall & Oates, the Blues Brothers, Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin.
Bring a lawn chair, and a picnic (no food truck). Tickets are $15 for members, $20 for non-members; purchase here or at the show.
Marina Drasnin — the photographer and artist who left Los Angeles for Westport after the wildfires, and was featured recently in “06880” — is this month’s guest exhibitor at the Westport Book Shop.
She’ll show her very personal and evocative collection, “ad-DRESSING-life,” featuring her hand-beaded and story-imbued miniature dresses. Each one represents a meditation on love, loss and memory, created during her husband’s 5-year battle with illness.
Marina studied at the Sorbonne. Her work has been exhibited in galleries in Boston, Los Angeles and Paris.
A reception is set for July 16 (6 to 7:30 p.m.).
Meanwhile, the Book Shop’s Short Story Book Club meets July 24 (6 p.m.) to discuss “A Cup fo Cold Water” by Edith Wharton (1895) and “Paul’s Case” by Willa Cather (1905).
Registration is required. Call 203-349-5141, or email RSVP@westportbooksaleventures.org.
Including — on the steeple, and a flag — Assumption Church.
Work has been going on there for a while. But this weekend, it really catches your eye.
(Photo/Janine Scotti)
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Thursday’s wind storm was brief, but powerful.
Especially at Robin Frank’s house. Two umbrellas on metal poles nearly crashed through the kitchen window while she was making dinner.
This one — reaching the second floor — was especially scary:
(Photo/Robin Frank)
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Leslie Byelas — a noted lawyer, and former assistant US Attorney in Connecticut — died Wednesday in hospice care, at his Fairfield home. He was 88.
The Bridgeport native received an undergraduate degree in 1958 and a law degree in 1961, both from Boston University. He served in Connecticut’s Office of the Judge Advocate, and the US Army Reserve.
Les had a longtime legal practice in Westport. He retired in 2020, after 59 years in the profession.
In addition to his wife Ellen Lubell, Les is survived by his sons Michael and Jonathan, stepdaughter Karina Lubell, sister Ruth Byelas, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Amy Bloom and Bill Mainor, grandchildren Tristan Mareuil and Axel Mareuil, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, the Connecticut Food Bank, and Connecticut Humane Society.
Les Byelas
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We get lots of sunset photos at “06880.”
But Cabry Lueker’s image of Burying Hill Beach is particularly compelling, for today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature.
Marina Drasnin was a Holiday on Ice figure skater.
She married, got divorced and remarried. Eight years ago, her second husband passed away.
Marina Drasnin
All along, she enjoyed a career as a photographer and artist. She worked for Larry David, arranging flowers and creating other art projects for his events. She developed books of photos, for private clients.
Marina had a beautiful home, with a garden she loved, in Pacific Palisades, California.
Life was great — until this past January, when wildfires raged. Then came torrential rains, and mudslides.
Marina’s home suffered extensive smoke damage. Most of her neighbors’ were destroyed.
After living with her friend Randy Gardner — the figure skating star — in Manhattan Beach for 2 weeks, and 2 more weeks with other friends in Ventura, she decided to take up friends’ suggestions to move east.
A Southern California native, she’d gotten to know — and love — this part of the country as a Tufts University student.
Her son went to Sarah Lawrence College, and now lives in Brooklyn. Marina’s best friend lived in Westport, and is now in Weston.
Moving was a daunting decision. She navigated a tight real estate market, from 3,000 miles away.
Suddenly, something came on the market: a 900-square foot cottage on Richmondville Avenue.
The wooden floors were new. It was clean and fresh. In back was a beautiful garden.
Marina’s Richmondville garden.
She put in an application, sight unseen. Then she googled the name of the realtor: Mar Jennings.
Amazingly, Marina learned, he’d been a figure skater.
They chatted, and found several friends in common. Mar has been “an angel,” Marina says.
And that was just the start of her love affair with her new home town.
Marina (and her 2 cats) arrived on May 1. Since then, life has been wonderful.
Marina has enjoyed photographing scenes like this.
Outgoing by nature, Marina met many new people. They’ve quickly become friends.
The staff at the Parks & Recreation office were extremely helpful. A girl working at the Longshore tennis courts introduced her to a woman, who invited her into a doubles game. The other women were equally warm.
The woman’s Greens Farms home was surrounded by lilacs and dogwoods. “I’m in heaven here, with them all around,” Marina says.
Marina is enchanted by scenes like this.
The garden in her new home — and shops like Terrain — enthrall Marina. She looks forward to checking out Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Shop, which she’s heard so much about.
“I almost got in a car accident today, looking at all the peonies and rhododendrons.” (She’s already driving like a Westporter, it seems.)
She went to the Memorial Day parade. She’s been invited to a clambake.
Memorial Day photo collage, by Marina Drasnin.
And Jenny Bentley — half of the 2Jens organizing business — is helping Marina unpack and get settled. (They met through a mutual friend, who works for Westporter Shonda Rhimes.)
“I love all these old houses and country roads,” she says.
“People in L.A. seee my Instagram and say, ‘You’re in love with Westport.’ I am. I feel safe here. I can go places by myself. I’m so happy.
“I’m happy with my neighbors. I’m happy to see people walk by. I just saw an old-fashioned ice cream truck!'”
After we chatted, Marina was off to the Westport Book Shop. She loves it too — and hopes one day to have a show there.
Compo Beach lifeguard chair (Marina Drasnin)
Soon, Mar Jennings — the realtor who helped her find the cottage she loves — will be taking her to dinner.
They’ll have a lot to talk about, from their ice skating past to the home town they now share.
Mar Jennings and Marina Drasnin.
(Welcome to Westport, Marina! Whether you’re a newcomer or a native, we hope you enjoy “06880.” A reminder: We rely on readers’ support. If you like this hyper-local blog, please click here. Thanks!)
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