Posted onSeptember 22, 2020|Comments Off on Roundup: JoyRide And STAR, Short Film Festival, More
Many Westporters spin. Many support efforts to help great causes.
Now JoyRide and STAR Lighting the Way are teaming up to raise money for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
A spin class this Saturday (September 26, 12 to 1 p.m.) will help fund STAR programs — and all donations will be matched 100% by an anonymous donor.
This is a great opportunity for new spinners, experienced ones, and everybody in between. It’s an inclusive, no-judgment opportunity.
The cost is $50 per rider, payable to STAR at the door. Space is limited; click here to register.
For 9 years, Nancy Diamond produced the “Short Cuts” festival at Garden Cinemas.
The Norwalk art house theater has closed. But the series soon goes virtual. Its new sponsor is the Westport Library.
The dates are Thursday, October 8 and Thursday, November 12. Both “festivals” run from 7 p.m. to 8:45.
As usual, Nancy will introduce 5 short movies curated from the Tribeca Film Festival. Afterward though, there’s a remote talkback with 3 of the films’ directors. They’ll be live — and around the globe. One is in Switzerland, another from the UK, and a third all the way in Brooklyn.
Anyone can watch at home via computer, or cast onto a big-screen TV. They’ll also be shown on the Remarkable Theater’s even-bigger Imperial Avenue parking lot screen. There’s room for 70 (socially distanced) cars.
Click here to read about the films, and order tickets.
And finally … today is the first day of fall. Happy equinox!
Comments Off on Roundup: JoyRide And STAR, Short Film Festival, More
Starting Monday (September 21), the Board of Education will resume in-person meetings.
Board members, administrators and invited speakers will all be present. Members of the public can participate via real-time broadcasts, and comment via Google Docs.
“Unfortunately, we cannot predict or control the turnout at our meetings, and a large gathering at a public meeting of the board could pose a public health risk,” the Board says.
“In evaluating the viability of a limited number of socially distant seats for the public in person, the logistical challenges of ensuring social distancing and mask-wearing, determining who is allowed into the meeting and who is turned away, etc., are substantial and might interfere with the work of the board in real time.
“We are heartened by the substantial increase in public participation through our use of Google Docs. This method will continue to afford anyone who feels uncomfortable about coming out to a public meeting during a pandemic a voice in our decision-making process.”
As Architectural Digest notes, fashion designer Christian Siriano moved to a modern house near Compo Beach a few months ago.
And as alert “06880” reader Mary Hoffman notes (via the Wall Street Journal), the backyard of that home was the site yesterday for a fashion show. Among the guests: Billy Porter.
Siriano famously dressed Porter in a tuxedo ballgown for the Oscars.
Billy Porter in Westport. (Photo/Charlie Sykes for AP)
After 55 years as a summer staple, the Westport Parks & Recreation Roadrunner races went virtual this year.
The weekly events — starting first with a couple of miles, increasing each Saturday to a 10-mile run just before Labor Day — are the baby (and now near senior citizen) of Staples High School’s longtime track coach and guru Laddie Lawrence.
The most recent Road Race Management newsletter — aimed at race directors and industry professionals — highlights Lawrence’s long involvement with the series. There’s an extensive interview looking back on 55 years, and vintage photos. Click here to see.
Laddie Lawrence, at a Roadrunner race finish line.
The Westport Library edges one step closer to normalcy. On Monday (September 21), the Library Store begins offering personal shopping appointments.
The 15-minute sessions can be in person or virtual (via FaceTime or WhatsApp). Slots are available weekdays, from 2 to 6 p.m. Click here to schedule.
The Store accepts credit cards, checks, Apple Pay and Google Pay — no cash. Purchases made virtually will be scheduled for pick up weekdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Last night’s Remarkable Theater screening of “Top Gun” — a fundraiser for the Catch a Lift Fund — drew a great crowd to the Imperial Avenue parking lot.
Fall is almost here. But Westport’s love of the pop-up drive-in theater — and support for excellent causes — has not wavered one bit.
Dave Briggs’ intriguing Instagram Live interactive interviews continue today (Friday, September 18, 6:30 p.m.). The former CNN, NBC Sports and Fox News anchor’s guest is Westport’s own noted actor Stéphanie Szostak (“A Million Little Things,” “The Devil Wears Prada”).
You can listen — and participate — on Instagram:@WestportMagazine.
The other day, “06880” mentioned Positive Directions’ new Teacher Support group. It meets weekly via Zoom. The cost was $40.
Now, however — thanks to the generosity of Positive Directions’ board of directors –this group will be underwritten. It’s now free to all teachers and school personnel. Email amiceli@positivedirections.org, or call 203-227-7644 to reserve a spot.
Groove is known for its trendy clothes, for women, children and babies.
But on Saturday, October 24 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.), the Post Road West boutique welcomes Dana Ciafone to a book signing. The author of Celebrating Bentley — the kids’ book about a boy and his dog — will be there. All profits go to Little Black Dog Rescue.
And finally … in these days of wildfires, hurricanes and much more, it’s nice to hear James Taylor’s soothing voice. No matter how dark the lyrics. (Hat tip: Jerry Kuyper)
Stay away from the William F. Cribari Bridge today. The Saugatuck River span is closed through 3 p.m., for inspection. Use alternate routes!
William F. Cribari Bridge — stay away today! (Photo/Sam Levenson)
Registration for Senior Center October-December classes is underway for Westport residents. Non-residents can register beginning Monday (September 21).
For more information, click here, call 203-341-5099, email seniorcenter@westportct.gov/seniorcenter.
Smoke from the wildfires out west have reached Westport. This was the scene yesterday evening, at Compo Beach:
(Photo/Stephen Raffel)
COVID has canceled many traditional activities. But not Oktoberfest!
Wakeman Town Farm celebrates outdoors on Thursday, October 8 (5:30 p.m.). Chef Alison Milwe Grace cooks up a great German meal (with a veggie option for non-meat eaters). Bring a sweater or jacket and your favorite German beer or adult beverage. Click here for details and tickets.
Teaching has always been stressful. During COVID, it’s exponentially tougher.
To help educators de-stress, Positive Directions has launched a Teacher Support Group. Trained counselors lead discussions Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. via (of course) Zoom. The cost is $40 per session. Email amiceli@positivedirections.org, or call 203-227-7644 for reservations.
With kids back at school — meaning more than half the time, they’re learning at home — parents may need a private office.
Serendipity Labs — the on-demand workspace at 55 Post Road West — offers a complimentary private day office for all new inquiries. It’s available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Serendipity memberships include high-speed WiFi, complimentary coffee, spacious common areas, guest reception and concierge services. For details click here, call 203-979-4084 or email mburns@serendipitylabs.com.
Serendipity Labs, 55 Post Road West
Classic movies continue this Saturday (September 19, 8 p.m.) at the Remarkable Theater. Earthplace co-sponsors “Raiders of the Lost Artk.” Click here for tickets and more information.
Speaking of movies: Ethan Hawke will direct a new movie about the lives and careers of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. The project has the blessing of Woodward — now 90 — and the actors’ family.
The film is expected to focus on their 50-year marriage, including their decision to raise their children in Westport rather than Los Angeles. (Hat tip: Johanna Rossi)
Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman.
And finally … today would have been B.B. King’s 95th birthday. He died 5 years ago, but the thrill of his blues guitar will never be gone.
Every year, Westport’s Sunrise Rotary raises nearly $100,000 from 2 events: The Duck Race, and a wine tasting gala.
Eighty percent of the proceeds are donated to organizations that serve the health, hunger, safety and education needs of adults and children from Stamford to New Haven. The other 20% funds disease prevention, health, peace promotion, education and economic development across the globe.
COVID -19 forced the cancellation of both fundraisers.
To partially fill the gap — and provide safe, fun activities that may also attract new members — Sunrise members collaborated with the Remarkable Theater. They showed “School of Rock” on the Imperial Avenue parking lot screen. The famous yellow duck — and a duckling — were there, welcoming movie-goers.
More events are planned. To learn more about membership, email
info@westportsunriserotary.org. To support charitable giving, send a check to
Westport Sunrise Rotary, PO Box 43, Westport, CT 06881-0043.
Nothing is wrong. The convertible’s driver adjusted its hydraulics, for a comfortable viewing spot at the Remarkable Drive-In.
As a Staples High School student, Dylan Diamond made frequent appearances on “06880.”
At 15, he built an app that allowed classmates to view their schedules and grades — then rolled it out nationally, with hundreds of thousands of downloads.
He followed up with apps that helped skiers find buddies on the slope, and let users book everything from babysitters and yardwork to concert tickets.
Now Inc. has taken notice. He and Wharton School classmate Max Baron have gone all-in on Saturn, a calendar app.
Inc. says “they are working to build community around the calendar in high schools, with a big vision fueling them: to own the time layer of the internet.”
To hear Inc.’s podcast — in which the two discuss “why retention is social, how living together has given the co-founders an ‘always on’ mindset, and what they learned from their early work experience at Tesla and Havas” — click here. (Hat tip: John Dodig)
Dylan Diamond, in San Francisco. While still a Staples High School student, he scored a coveted invitation to Facebook’s F8 conference.
How bad are the wildfires out west?
Peter Gold notes that Connecticut has 3.548 million acres. As of Saturday, over 3.2 million acres have burned in California this fire season alone. In addition, 900,000 acres burned in Oregon, and over 600,000 more in Washington.
“It’s hard to imagine an area almost one-and-a-half times the size of Connecticut burned in just 3 states,” he says.
Battling a blaze in California.
Jane Mansbridge is a professor of political leadership and values at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
A recent Harvard Gazette story traces her “jagged trajectory” from her youth in Weston, and years at Staples High School (Class of 1957) to her current role as one of the world’s leading scholars of democratic theory.
She loved growing up in a small town. But, she says, she was bullied in Weston and at Staples for being “bookish and a smart girl.”
Realizing that not everyone liked the kind of person she was, or the values she held may have contributed to her later drive to find out more about people who were not like her, she says.
Click here for the full story. (Hat tip: A. David Wunsch)
Jane Mansbridge (Photo/Stephanie Mitchell for Harvard staff)
The porgies are in! This was the scene yesterday, at Sherwood Island State Park. Of course, fishermen always observe social distance.
(Photo/Roseann Spengler)
And finally … On this day in 1814, Francis Scott Key watched a British bombardment of Maryland during the War of 1812. Inspired by the sight of an American flag still flying at daybreak, he wrote a poem. “The Defence of Fort M’Henry” was later set to music. In 1931 “The Star-Spangled Banner” became our national anthem. One of the most famous versions was sung by our wonderful neighbor, Weston’s Jose Feliciano, before Game 5 of the 1968 World Series in Detroit. It was controversial at the time; no one had ever delivered such a non-traditional rendition.
His performance nearly ended his career. But 42 years later — in 2010 — he was invited back to Detroit, to perform it again. This time, the crowd roared.
Posted onSeptember 11, 2020|Comments Off on Roundup: Census, Bloodroot, Shorefest, More
As the 2020 census continues, Westport’s self-response rate is 76.2%. That’s well above the rate for the state of Connecticut: 69.4%. (The figures include responses from all known addresses.)
Officials urge anyone who has not completed the census to do so. Census data informs how billions of dollars in federal funds are distributed for health clinics, school lunch programs, disaster recovery initiatives, and other critical programs and services for the next 10 years.
Click here to complete the census response. Click here to see Westport’s response rate. (Hat tip: Peter Gold)
Bloodroot has done the same for nearly half a century more.
The Bridgeport feminist vegetarian restaurant/bookstore — opened in the 1970s by Westporters Noel Furie and Selma Miriam, nurtured by ever since and still run by the indefatigable women — is the subject of a new documentary.
“Bloodroot” premieres Sunday, September 20 (7 p.m.). The film will be shown at the Imperial Avenue parking lot — home to the Remarkable Theater and its partner for this showing, the Westport Farmers’ Market.
The film — about feminism as well as food — is an homage to Furie and Miriam, says WFM executive director Lori Cochran-Dougall. They are longtime supporters of the market, and a mentor to its director. Click here for tickets.
Three local restaurants are offering tailgating options for the documentary.
Terrain’s $50 box for 2 people includes tomato salad, kale falafel and blackberry pie. Click here for ordering information.
Manna Toast’s offering ($20 for 2) includes choice of toast, salad, rosemary popcorn and iced tea. Click here to order.
Kawa Ni’s dinner ($60 plus tax and 3% kitchen share, for 2) includes tsukemono, shaved broccoli miso goma, tomato tofu pockets and a bun bowl. Call 203-557-8775 to order by 4 p.m. on September 18.
(Form left): Noel Furie and Selma Miriam, Bloodroot founders.
Speaking of food: Friends of Sherwood Island — members of the organization with that name, and those who merely love Connecticut’s 1st state park, a 236-acre gem hidden right on the Westport coast — are invited to an important fundraiser.
Shorefest on a Roll rolls out Sunday, September 20. Guests will enjoy a rolling tour of the park, accompanied by a podcast describing its fascinating history and its many features — plus a “lobster roll to go” feast.
The event includes a field of whirligigs, exotic kites, disc golf exhibitions, musical performances and model plane flyovers at the park airfield, all while cruising the loop at 10 miles an hour.
The only stop is near the end of the tour to pick up hot or cold lobster roll dinners. The entire loop takes 12 minutes.
Click here for tickets. Proceeds support Friends’ efforts, including the newly renovated Nature Center, tree planting, maintenance of the vast purple martin colony, and the 9/11 Memorial.
Dog-gone it!
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce held out as long as they could. But the 5th Annual Westport Dog Festival — set for October 4, after being rescheduled from May — has been canceled.
That’s the second major event — following Slice of Saugatuck — shelved by the Chamber, due to the coronavirus.
But they’re running concerts both weekends. Terrapin: The Grateful Dead Experience performs tonight, in a sold-out show. Two other shows are slated for October 2 and 3. Tickets go on sale next week. For more information, click here.
And finally … as we remember 9/11:
Comments Off on Roundup: Census, Bloodroot, Shorefest, More
Owner Pete Aitkin wants to add some new “flashback” items to the Black Duck menu.
And he needs “06880” readers’ help.
“Many readers have fond memories of the Big Top,” he says, referencing the beloved, mouth-watering burgers-and-more joint on the Post Road and Roseville Road that is now (aaaargh) McDonald’s. “Some even worked there.”
Pete wonders: What kind of ribs did they serve? Baby backs? Beef? He thinks they were pork spare ribs. Any info on sauce or seasoning would be great too.
Email duckpeter78@gmail.com, or call 203-227-7978.
Yesterday marked the start of another school. It’s different than any that came before. But — as students, staff and parents saw yesterday at Coleytown Elementary School — some things never change:
(Photo/Stephanie Mastocciolo)
The Artists Collective of Westport knows about shows. So they’re proud to collaborate with the Remarkable Theater on a showing of “Best in Show.”
The drive-in movie — a biting satire about dog shows — will be shown Thursday, September 17 at 8 p.m. at the Imperial Avenue parking lot. The gate opens at 7.
“American Graffiti” is a classic end-of-summer film. Which makes it an appropriate — if last-minute — choice for tonight at the Remarkable Theater.
Showtime on Imperial Avenue is 7:45 p.m. And it’s half price! Click here for tickets.
Mark your calendar! Director/producer/screenwriter Craig Davidson’s “Island of Baseball” will be available for streaming through the Harlem International Film Festival at 7 p.m. on September 13. (Click here for more information.)
The documentary explores the special relationship between baseball in Cuba and the US, and the central role of Black Americans and Afro-Cubans in that history.
Covering American Negro Leaguers, major leaguers and Cubans of every race, it offers insights into the complexities of race in both nations in the first half of the 20th century, and the crucial role Cuba played in breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball — an important early success of the civil rights movement.
Davidson is a 1970 Staples High School graduate. He’s also the owner of Westport’s greatest Ebbets Field mural. It decorates the inside of his fence, near Compo Beach.
Click below to see the trailer. (Hat tip: Fred Cantor)
New Westport resident Mike Zitomer spotted these contradictory signs by Church Lane. He wonders what to do.
And finally … time for a little “September Grass.” Thank you, James Taylor!
It’s hard to believe, but 2020 marks the 19th anniversary of 9/11.
Several Westporters were killed on that tragic day. Nearly everyone here knew someone who died. All of us were affected — and remain so today.
The Catch a Lift Fund is a living memorial to that day. CAL helps thousands of post-9/11 combat-wounded veterans regain their mental and physical health through gym memberships, home gym equipment, personalized fitness and nutrition programs, and a peer support network.
Neighbors like Adam Vengrow have woven Catch a Lift into the fabric of Westport life. They sponsor events that are life-changing for veterans, and the men and women who attend.
Another tragedy — the coronavirus pandemic — has not slowed them down. On Thursday, September 10 (7 p.m., Imperial Avenue parking lot), they offer a Catch a Lift night of remembrance — and a classic film.
Working with the Remarkable Theater, they’ll show Top Gun (and, before it, a special 9/11 and CAL trailer). It’s a great addition to their summer drive-in movie lineup.
It should be an inspiring — and fun — night. Tailgating is encouraged (in each car’s designated space). Each car receives a homemade pizza from Colony Grill, and a goodie bag with snacks and surprises from local businesses and CAL. Athletic Brewing Company will be there too, offering free (non-alcoholic) craft beer.
Click here for tickets (only 75 parking spots available). Click here for a donation to Catch a Lift. And click here to learn more about this great organization.
The Remarkable Theater was this summer’s surprise entertainment hit. The group — whose focus is bringing a movie house back to Westport — pivoted during the pandemic, procuring an outdoor screen and showing several drive-in films a week at the Imperial Avenue parking lot.
The site is just south of the Westport Woman’s Club — which every year for nearly a century has run the beloved Yankee Doodle Fair. The event spills into the parking lot, and is a major fundraiser that allows the WWC to provide aid to many local nonprofits.
The Remarkable Theater’s premiere event — “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” — was a fundraiser for the Woman’s Club. The other day, Remarkable president Marina Derman (bottom row, right) presented a check to WWC past president Christina McVaney. Watching from the steps above are Remarkable vice president/creative director Doug Tirola and club president Karen Kleine.
Balducci’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last night. No word yet on the fate of the Westport location.
A rally Saturday in support of the US Postal Service drew a small crowd to the Norwalk Post Office. Several Westporters attended, including Hallie Picorello (lower right).
(Photo/Carmine Picorello)
And finally … I’ve been waiting for a while to include this. As summer starts to fade, now is as good a time as any.
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!)
GET THE “06880” APP
The “06880” app (search for it on the Apple or Android store) is the easiest way to get “06880.” Choose notifications: whenever a new post is published, or once or twice a day. Click here for details.
The 
