Bitter temperatures, then quick warming yesterday caused a frozen pipe to burst during lunch at The Porch @ Christie’s.
A screen shot from a video by Dylan Curran (below) shows water cascading between 2 light fixtures, down the front of a display case, and into one of several trash cans.
But nothing stops Andrea and Bill Pecoriello. The owners worked their magic tirelessly, and opened again this morning.
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Speaking of The Porch:
The popular Cross Highway deli/restaurant is the site of the next Club 203 party. Westport’s great social group for adults with disabilities celebrates St. Patrick’s Day there the night before: March 16, 7 p.m.
Westport Country Playhouse was the scene of the club’s recent Valentine’s dance party. Over 120 guests and a dozen volunteers enjoyed stacks of heart-shaped pizzas donated by Planet Pizza, sweetheart cookies courtesy of Stew Leonard’s and The Pantry, and a jewelry-making and artful “live love” project sponsored by MoCA of Westport.
Click here for more information on Club 203, and the St. Paddy’s Day social.
Rockin’ Club 203’s Valentine’s dance, at Westport Country Playhouse.
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Yesterday’s Roundup noted that although the Norwalk Bed Bath & Beyond store is not accepting coupons — and everything is 20% off — it was not on the chain’s list of hundreds of stores slated for closing.
But Bobbie Herman — who told “06880” that both it and the Fairfield store will close — was right.
A call to the Norwalk location yesterday confirmed the news. The person who answered said the news has not yet been announced officially. The final day is “sometime in March.”
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Two years ago, Jay Norris sat with 4 other Black men. Their goal was to create a social community in Westport for people of color.
The men would network. They and their spouses would attend cultural events, and dine out together; they’d organize beach parties and other events for their kids.
Hoping for a few more men, they chose an optimistic name: Westport 10.
They’ve met at places like La Plage, Autostrada and Hudson Malone. Their children have gotten together. By their presence and involvement in local affairs, they’re making Westport more comfortable for themselves — and more welcoming for all.
Westport 10 has grown rapidly. They’re now up to over 50 men and their families.
So Jay has announced a new name: Westport 100.
Congratulations! Here’s hoping for more name changes in the future.
At a recent Westport 100 lunch at Hudson Malone, clockwise from bottom right: Titus McDougal (wearing a cap), Alexis Johnson, Lorenzo Wyatt, Kevin Christie, Dr. Stephan Grevious, Ron Gordon, Trey Ellis, Vinny Spencer, Roy Adams, Timothy Tanksley, Jay Norris, Ted Parker, C.D. Glin,
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New York Times crossword puzzle editor and NPR puzzle master Will Shortz entertained hundreds of puzzle solvers and word lovers yesterday, at the 24th annual Westport Library contest.
The crowd worked on 3 puzzles he brought — all yet to be published in the Times — and then followed along as 3 finalists competed onstage. Before the final round, Shortz led a series of word games.
“You’re sharp!” he said, as one man took about three nanonseconds to turn one word (“mechanize”) into the name of an animal by adding another (“chimpanzee”).
The crossword champion — who won a previous contest here — was Glenn Ryan. He finished the final puzzle — an always-tough “Saturday” one — in 6 minutes, 48 seconds.
The rest of us are still working on it.
Will Shortz, leading word games at the Westport Library. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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Last week, Matt Murray’s radar detector started going bonkers at various spots it never had before.
He realized it was triggered by boxes on telephone poles. Looking closely, he saw that they’re property of the Connecticut Department of Transportation. He worried that “Big Brother” was monitoring speeds.
A state Department of Transportation traffic study box. (Photo/Matt Murray)
They are on (among other roads) North Avenue, Cross Highway and Bayberry Lane — all areas that are being studied for traffic patterns, prior to recommendations for improvement.
Westport Police Chief says, “the data is not vehicle specific. Nor is it being used for enforcement.”
Matt sends along this link, from a barcode on the radar box.
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Kat Evans is this month’s featured artist at the Westport Book Shop.
Her luminous color field paintings are on display through February 28. All are available for purchase.
Kat’s art has been shown in juried solo and group exhibitions, and hangs in collections throughout North America, Europe and Japan. She is a member of the Artists Collective of Westport.
Kat Evans, at the Westport Book Shop.
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The Westport Country Playhouse Script in Hand 2003 play reading series begins with “As Bees in Honey Drown.”
The fun-filled, insightful social satire is set for Monday, February 13 (7 p.m.). Script in Hand eadings offer intimate storytelling. Professional actors bring words to life, without sets or costumes.
Click here for tickets, and more information.
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Readers submit many great sunrise photos.
This one — from a few days ago, at Compo Beach — makes it to the top of the “Westport … Naturally” queue. The birds add a special touch.
(Photo/Simon Gurvets)
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And finally … today is National Fart Day. No s—.
(If you click here to contribute to “06880,” I’ll keep posting final items like this. If you contribute a lot, I’ll stop.)
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