Tag Archives: Saugatuck Rowing Club

Pic Of The Day #51

Posted on June 6, 2017 | 6 comments

Rowers underneath the William Cribari (Bridge Street) bridge. (Photo/Dave Dellinger)

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“Saugy Thursdays” Are Here. We’ll Drink To That!

Posted on May 31, 2017 | 13 comments

College students are familiar with Thirsty Thursdays. (Very familiar.)

Now, the Boathouse Restaurant at Saugatuck Rowing Club introduces “Saugy Thursdays.”

From 5 to 7 p.m. every Thursday, they feature drinks and small bites.

A DJ kicks things off this week (tomorrow, June 1). On June 8, Greg Wall — the Jazz Rabbi — plays.

Everyone is invited to Saugy Thursdays.

Even college students home for the summer, suffering from Thirsty Thursday withdrawal (21 and over, of course!).

The Boathouse Restaurant introduces Saugy Thursdays, starting this week.

 

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Posted in Restaurants, Saugatuck

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“Night On The River” Is For The Birds

Posted on May 20, 2017 | 2 comments

After 21 years, nearly everyone in town has a birdhouse.

For more than 2 decades, residents enjoyed a Birdhouse Auction. The idea was creative, fun — and totally Westport.

Local artists created amazing, unique and very cool birdhouses. They were showcased in Main Street store windows, kicked off by a springtime “stroll.” Then — as the highlight of a fun party — people bid to buy them.

All funds went to Project Return, the North Compo Road group home for girls and young women undergoing difficult times.

This special lenticular birdhouse was created by Miggs Burroughs.

But according to Jeff Wieser — CEO of Homes With Hope, the Westport housing organization that oversees Project Return — the effective shelf life of a fundraiser for most non-profits is 7 to 10 years.

The Birdhouse Auction took a tremendous amount of time and effort, by a dedicated core of volunteers. They asked a lot of very generous and talented and local artists.

And — as noted above — you can fit only so many birdhouses in your back yard.

Last year marked the final Birdhouse Auction. But Project Return needs as much support as ever.

Fortunately, a group of volunteers has created a new fundraising event. It’s a summer party with cocktails, dinner and dancing at the Saugatuck Rowing Club. Called “Night on the River,” it’s set for Saturday, June 3.

Vineyard Vines’ Main Street window — with white outfits specially for the “Summer Nights” gala.

Wieser is particularly pleased that a “great group of younger people” has taken over the planning.

“The next generation is getting involved in Westport volunteerism,” he says. “They’ve got a new canvas of creativity.”

But they’re keeping some of that old Main Street stroll flavor.

Because the dress code for “Night on the River” is “strictly summer white,” organizers are asking downtown merchants — most of whom own clothing stores — to feature white clothes in their windows.

In addition, Amis restaurant created a special “Summer Nights” cocktail. It drew raves at its recent debut.

“Hopefully this is the start of a whole new tradition,” Wieser says.

Hopefully too the birds won’t notice there are no new feeders this year.

(Click here for more information on — and tickets to — “Night on the River.”)

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Posted in Arts, Entertainment, Organizations, People, Restaurants

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Pic Of The Day #29

Posted on May 15, 2017 | 3 comments

The Saugatuck River, as seen from Saugatuck Rowing Club. (Photo/Tom Cook)

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Boathouse Restaurant: Saugatuck Secret Slips Out

Posted on December 3, 2016 | 14 comments

It’s one of those enduring urban — okay, suburban — myths: The restaurant at Saugatuck Rowing Club is private. It’s for members only, but if you go there they’ll (wink, wink) serve you.

Once upon a time, that was semi-true. The restaurant was private, but signing in made you a member for the day.

Now it’s totally false. The Boathouse at Saugatuck is a full-fledged, legit, open-to-the-public restaurant.

And a great one.

With indoor and outside (enclosed in winter) seating, and a spectacular setting — overlooking the Saugatuck River — the Boathouse is one more in a long list of excellent dining options in the neighborhood that has become Westport’s dining hotbed.

Plenty of windows offer a view of the Saugatuck River -- including rowers from the club.

Plenty of windows offer views of the Saugatuck River — including rowers.

Several months ago, says manager and event planner Nancy Burke, the Boathouse added needed parking spots and changed their liquor license, to become an actual restaurant. They can now advertise, and market themselves to the public.

Word is getting out. Executive chef Paul Scoran — formerly of Paci in Fairfield — focuses on innovative American cuisine. There’s plenty of local fish, with other selections too. (I had a really interesting pasta dish, with lobster, shrimp and crab.) The menu changes seasonally. Full catering services are also available.

Westporters may still be confused by the relationship between the restaurant and rowing club. They share a building — and from the dining room you can watch rowers work out in the gym — but they’re 2 separate entities. Both, however, are owned by the same man: Howard Winklevoss, a Greenwich businessman perhaps better known as the father of Tyler and Cameron, twin Olympic rowers/litigants who claim Mark Zuckerberg stole their idea to create Facebook.

There's indoor dining on the 2nd floor (left), and outdoor dining on the deck (enclosed in winter). The bottom floor -- and part of the 2nd -- is devoted to rowing.

There’s indoor dining on the 2nd floor (left), and outdoor dining on the deck (enclosed in winter). The bottom floor — and the right side of the 2nd — is devoted to rowing.

Winklevoss’ Saugatuck Rowing Club helped jump start the revitalization of Saugatuck. Now his restaurant will draw even more folks to the neighborhood.

But although the Boathouse is relatively new — at least as a public venue — it is in some ways part of the “old” Saugatuck.

One of the waiters is Frank DeMace. His grandfather — Tiger DeMace — was the longtime owner of a restaurant that for decades had quite a name of its own: Mario’s.

boathouse-logo

 

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Posted in Organizations, People, Restaurants, Saugatuck

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Saugatuck Rowers Represent

Posted on August 31, 2016 | Comments Off on Saugatuck Rowers Represent

International rowing is no day at the beach.

As soon as Staples High School ended in June, 3 Saugatuck Rowing Club racers left for junior national team training camps.

After intense workouts, they were selected to represent the US at the World Junior Rowing Championships in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The next competition began immediately: for seats in the boat. That continued almost until the starting gun, for what was billed as the largest world rowing championship ever.

Their hard work paid off. Harrison Burke and Kelsey McGinley took bronzes in the men’s and women’s junior 4+ and 4-, respectively. Grace McGinley placed 5th in the grand final of the women’s 8+ event. All are Staples students.

Kelsey McGinley (center) hugs her teammates after earning the women's junior 4+ bronze medal.

Kelsey McGinley (center) hugs her teammates after earning the women’s junior 4- bronze medal.

Then the fun began.

As soon as they secured their boats, rowers from the many competing countries converged in a “mosh pit” near the finish line grandstand, to trade gear.

The Westporters returned home with uniforms and more from Holland, Britain, Germany, Chile, South Africa and more.

Rowers who had just battled head to head — at the highest level — smiled at each other, happily negotiating trades. Fortunately for our kids, US gear was hot.

Harrison Burke (left) snapped selfies with other national rowing teams.

Harrison Burke (left) snapped selfies with other national rowing teams.

Saugatuck rowers rise before dawn and train on the icy river — then go back to hit the gym after school — for many reasons.

Earning a place on the national team is one.

Becoming friends with competitors from all over the world — earning respect, and sharing their uniforms — is another.

Congratulations, Harrison, Kelsey and Grace. You’ve done us — and yourselves — proud!

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Posted in Sports, Staples HS, Teenagers

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Saugatuck Scholar-Athletes Stroke To Success

Posted on June 16, 2016 | 3 comments

“06880” seldom runs sports stories. If we did, we’d be inundated by every team and parent in town. Besides, something called the “sports section” of newspapers covers all that.

But I’m always happy to give props to national champions. I’m even happier when those athletes come with a great, non-athletic back story. So here goes.

Last weekend, at the USRowing Youth National Championships in West Windsor, New Jersey, Saugatuck Rowing Club‘s juniors repeated as gold medalists in 2 events — a first for any youth rowing team anywhere. Plus, the men’s youth pair took a bronze.

Saugatuck Rowing Club's women's youth openweight 8+ team celebrates after their national championship win.

Saugatuck Rowing Club’s women’s youth openweight 8+ team celebrates after their national championship win.

Over 400 boats and 1,700 athletes — representing almost 180 rowing clubs from 30 states — competed. Saugatuck’s 50 rowers included nearly 30 from Westport.

The national titles follow other great victories, at the Head of the Charles (with a new course record) and San Diego Crew Classic, and US representation by Staples High School seniors Oliver Bub and Lucas Manning at last year’s World Junior Rowing Championships in Rio de Janeiro.

Sharon Kriz, Oliver Bub and Lucas Manning, after earning a bronze medal at the men's youth pair national championship.

Saugatuck Rowing Club youth director and boys head coach Sharon Kriz, Oliver Bub and Lucas Manning, after earning a bronze medal at the men’s youth pair national championship.

Crew may be the most physically demanding of all sports. Saugatuck’s rowers practice year-round, often 6 to 10 times a week, with sessions before school and doubles on weekends.

Yet many of the local club’s boys and girls carry GPAs of 4.0 and higher. They find time to be Eagle Scouts, president of the National Honor Society, leaders of clubs like Save the Children and Catering for Kindness, chair of the Westport Youth Commission, board members of Safe Rides, volunteers with Builders Beyond Borders, and more.

They’ve received awards of excellence in Latin, and as Advanced Placement Scholars with Distinction.

Graduating seniors from Westport will continue their rowing careers at schools like Boston College, Brown, Dartmouth, Duke, Georgetown, Hobart, Middlebury, MIT, Penn, Princeton and Tufts.

SRC seniors pose proudly with the shirts of the colleges they'll row for.

SRC seniors pose proudly, wearing gear of the colleges they’ll row for.

All that excellence didn’t just happen, of course. They’ve had great role models — in their families, their schools, and through Saugatuck junior director and boys head coach Sharon Kriz, herself a former US national team competitor and current president of Westport’s Kiwanis Club.

That’s the kind of sports story I love.

And if these talented, well-rounded and very hard-working young rowers have a spare second to read this, here’s hoping they’ll accept our town’s hearty congratulations too.

Members of Saugatuck's women's youth openweight 8+ team boat cheer as the lightweight girls are about to join them on the winners' podium.

Members of Saugatuck’s women’s youth openweight 8+ team boat cheer as the lightweight girls are about to join them on the winners’ podium.

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Posted in People, Sports, Staples HS, Teenagers

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Saugatuck Rowers Race To National Titles

Posted on June 18, 2015 | 4 comments

The Saugatuck Rowing Club made big waves last weekend.

The local juniors won 2 gold medals at US Rowing’s Youth National Championships in Sarasota, Florida. It’s only the 2nd time ever that a club won both the lightweight and openweight girls 8 events.

The victory by the girls openweight 8 capped an undefeated year. The crew achieved youth rowing’s Triple Crown, winning the Head of the Charles regatta, San Diego Crew Classic and Youth Nationals.

Girls openweight 8 - Saugatuck Rowing Club

SRC sent a 2nd girls openweight 8 to Florida, a rare qualifying feat. That crew placed 8th overall.

In addition, an openweight girls pair from SRC won a bronze medal. And a lightweight girls 4– composed entirely of 1st-year rowers – won the C final.

Of the 30 female rowers, 20 from Westport won medals. A number return for the 2015-16 season.

... and the national champ lightweight 8 boat.

… and the national champ lightweight 8 boat.

The Saugatuck Rowing Club does not get a lot of press. We see them working — hard — on the river. But around here crew is not exactly a spectator sport.

Congratulations to all — and to SRC junior director Sharon Kriz — on a job well done!

(Westporters on the winning boats include girls varsity 8: Lelia Boley, Grace McGinley, Alison Morrison, Katherine Ratcliffe, Willemijn ten Cate and Nica Wardell; girls varsity lightweight 8: Grace Johnson, Reni Forer, Camila Meyer-Bosse and Imogen Ratcliffe.

 

 

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Posted in People, Sports

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Scores Of Santas Stumble Through Saugatuck

Posted on November 24, 2014 | 5 comments

Saugatuck, Santa Claus and alcohol. It doesn’t get better than that.

The trifecta is our 2nd annual “Santa Cause.” The creation of Westporters Kelley and Drew Schutte, it’s an absurdly fun (and adult) afternoon. And it’s a fundraiser for a wonderful beneficiary: Adam’s Camp New England, which helps special needs children realize their full potential.

Did I mention there are drinks?

Drew and Kelley Schutte — aka Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Here’s the deal. This Saturday (November 29), attendees must dress up in Santa and Mrs. Claus outfits. (Full costumes, please!)

Everyone gathers at the Whelk, at 3 p.m. sharp. Every 45 minutes they drink/crawl their way from one fine Saugatuck establishment to the next. (Saugatuck Sweets provides free coffee, because man does not live by bread beer alone.)

At the last stop — the Rowing Club — awards will be presented (don’t ask). Then come (surprise!) drinks, bites, and dancing your bells off to Fry Daddy’s.

Here’s the holiday catch: The cost is a minimum of $125 per person Santa.

Of course — this being the holiday, and there’s alcohol involved — you can give more. $2,700 covers a full camp experience for one child.

Christmas drinkThis being litigious Westport, there are guidelines. Each party’s drop-off and pick-up rides must be arranged in advance (unless there’s a designated sleigh or car driver).

Cash is requested for drinks and tips. No credit cards — bartenders have enough trouble without trying to figure out which Santa bought which Christmas ale.

Ho ho ho!

(Pre-registration is requested; send a check made out to “Adam’s Camp,” with a list of the number attending and your email address, to the Schuttes, 12 Sunnyside La., Westport, CT 06880. Include the name of all your Santas, and your email address. For more info, call 917-297-1324.)

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Posted in Restaurants, Saugatuck

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Sami Jurofsky: Westport’s Newest NCAA Champ

Posted on June 2, 2014 | 1 comment

Yesterday, “06880” proudly trumpeted Cameron Wilson’s NCAA golf championship.

Today we honor Sami Jurofsky. In Indianapolis on Sunday the 2011 Staples grad helped Ohio State win the NCAA Division I women’s rowing title. This is the 2nd straight national crown for the Buckeyes.

It was a busy day. Sami also coxed the 3rd-seeded 2nd varsity eights to a 1st-place victory.

Victory was sweeter because her sister Carleigh Jade — a 2008 Staples grad — flew in to surprise Sami.

A junior at OSU, she started as a coxswain at the Saugatuck Rowing Club — for the boys eights.

Congratulations, Sami! You definitely know how to rock and row.

Sami Jurofsky

Sami Jurofsky

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