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Arts and Leisure
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Hey, Rochester: It’s Jack Benny’s Daughter in Westport
By Larry Untermeyer
A Westport group took a laughter-filled walk down memory lane today with the daughter of one of the 20th century’s most famous U.S. entertainers—Jack Benny.
Joan Benny of Greenwich regaled the Y’s Men of Westport Weston today with stories about her legendary comedian father, Jack Benny. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Joan Benny of Greenwich regaled the Y’s Men of Westport Weston weekly meeting with story after story about her father and other entertainment world greats.
They included members of Benny’s radio entourage--Rochester, Mary Livingston (Benny’s wife), singer Dennis Day and announcer Don Wilson.
She also told stories about other celebrities including Benny’s legendary rival Fred Allen and comedian Bob Hope.
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Learning the Art of Murals
Second grade students at Westport’s King’s Highway Elementary School Wednesday learned the art of creating a mural through the hands-on instruction of artist Barbara Lawless, a longtime Westport resident and creator of Weston’s Town Hall mural, among many other local artworks. The art lesson was a part of ArtSmart, a program in which Westport parents introduce elementary school children to the wonders of fine art. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Former Restaurant Critic Serves Up NYC Culinary History
By Phyllis Groner
For years, William Grimes ate on the company’s tab. But no longer.
William Grimes: His photo was posted in a kitchen. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
The former restaurant critic for The New York Times told a Westport Public Library audience today he’s turned into a dinner-at-home guy.
“I don’t go out to dinner very much any more since I have to pay for my own meals,” he said.
Grimes, in Westport to talk about his book “Appetite City: A Culinary History of New York, ” has been at the Times 20 years.
In addition to restaurant critic, he has worked as a magazine writer, culture reporter, theater columnist, book reviewer, and lately obituary writer.
More "Former Restaurant Critic Serves Up NYC Culinary History"
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Storytellers
There was “Off the Wall Storytelling” tonight at the Fairfield Theater Company as a number of Westporters joined neighbors for the Fourth Wall Down production hosted by Westporter Ina Chadwick, WestportNow Insider Arts columnist, (front center) and Fairfield resident Simon Billig (seated) The six programmed volunteer storytellers regaled the audience with eight-minute stories of coincidences and were joined by three members of the audience. Pictured with Chadwick and Billig are (l-r) Steve Knowles, Karen Knowles, Joe Limone, Pumfey Silverglide, Rebecca Jarit, Stephen Siegel, Marjorie Kass; (back row) John Lamb, musician, and Rozanne Gates. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Telling a Tale of Survival
Longtime Westporter and author Nechama Tec today showed clips at the Westport Public Library from the movie “Defiance” she co-produced with her son, Roland, and starring Daniel Craig of James Bond fame. Her book, “Defiance: The Bielski Partisans” published in 1992, was changed slightly for more drama and to fit into a two-hour movie. Based on a true story, “Defiance” takes place in 1941 when three Jewish brothers escape from Nazi-occupied Poland into the dense Belorussian forest. There they join Russian resistance fighters and endeavor to build a village in order to protect themselves and others in danger. Today’s program was co-sponsored by the Holocaust Child Survivors of Connecticut. Many survivors were in the audience. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com
Coming Home to Talk about the Fall of French Cuisine
Michael Steinberger, Staples ‘85, is coming home to Westport next week to talk about food, wine, and the end of France.
Michael Steinberger: Westport schools encouraged his curiosity. Contributed photo
Actually, that’s the title of his book, “Au Revoir to All That: Food, Wine and the End of France,” which he will be signing Friday, Nov. 27 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Liquor Locker on Main Street.
Steinberger, wine columnist for Slate and a contributing writer for the Financial Times of London, said his spirited, illuminating tour of a cuisine and country in transition has ties to Westport.
In an e-mail message to WestportNow, he said his interest in exploring the world—he reported from Hong Kong in the early 1990s as British rule came to an end—is traceable to his Westport education.
More "Coming Home to Talk about the Fall of French Cuisine"
Learning About All That Jazz
More than 80 persons attended today’s jazz concert at the Westport Arts Center. “This is the first time we’ve ever held a combined jazz concert and education event,” said Richard Epstein, the center’s director of music. The goal was to de-mystify jazz by not only performing the music but explaining the basic principles behind the music, according to Brian Torff, the center’s artisitic director for jazz. The musicians/educators included (l-r) Tony Lombardozzi, (guitar, Wesleyan University), Brian Torff (bass, Fairfield University), Jesse Hameen, (drums, Neighborhood Music School, New Haven) and Jane Ira Bloom, (saxophone, The New School). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Welcoming New Visitors to the Westport Arts Center
Westport Arts Center Executive Director Nancy Heller welcomed guests to today’s jazz concert and asked how many were visiting the center for the first time. About one-third of the audience raised hands. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
“Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah”
The CantiamoCHOIR delighted the audience today at Westport Town Hall with a “Say it with Music” medley that included Allan Sherman’s 1963 song “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah (A Letter from Camp).” Marlane Tubridy directed. A portion of the proceeds went to chapters of the Domestic Violence Crisis Center in Norwalk, whose area includes Westport, and the Center for Women and Families in Bridgeport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo
All in the Family
Mark and Sean Tubridy, part of the New York City-based rock trio Cyderobin, performed two original songs today at a Westport Town Hall concert by the CantiamoCHOIR. The choir’s director, Marlane Tubridy, is their mother. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Playing at the Playhouse
Children played at the Westport Country Playhouse today before the sold out performances of “Henry and Mudge,” a musical about a boy and his dog based on the best-selling series of books by Cynthia Rylant. At the craft activities in the Sheffer Rehearsal Hall, the Playhouse provided children with tools to create a gift for their very special pet. “Henry and Mudge”, performed by five actors, was produced by Theatreworks USA. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Arts Center Presents Introduction to Jazz on Sunday
Jane Bloom: will demonstrate saxophone. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
The Westport Arts Center will present an Introduction to Jazz on Sunday at its Riverside Avenue gallery.
Prominent jazz musicians and music educators from universities throughout New England will introduce basic jazz elements within a performance and discussion format.
Many jazz styles from spirituals, swing, and ballads to blues and contemporary forms will be demonstrated at the 3 p.m. event.
The musicians/educators include Jane Ira Bloom, (saxophone, The New School); Jesse Hameen, (drums, Neighborhood Music School, New Haven); Tony Lombardozzi, (guitar, Wesleyan University); and Brian Torff (bass, Fairfield University). Tickets are $15 / $5 (18 & under)
Curtain Call for Players “Guys and Dolls”
The cast of the Staples Players production of “Guys and Dolls” takes a curtain call Friday night on opening night. During the curtain call, Caley Beretta, president of the Staples Players, asked the audience to hold their applause for an announcement--that Kerry Long, the associate director of the show and her husband David Roth, its director, became parents earlier in the day of a daughter, Lucy. “Guys ad Dolls” runs Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. There will also be a special “stimulus performance” Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. with reduced ticket prices. More information is available on the Players Web site. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Westport Music Teacher Hits it Big at MLB.Com
Westport music teacher and performer Suzanne Sherman Propp has achieved a major league honor—her song “Running Home” has been selected as the soundtrack for MLB.com’s new video montage of the 2009 baseball season.
Westport’s Suzanne Sherman Propp is interviewed on MLB.com about her song “Running Home” which was selected for MLB.com’s video montage of the 2009 baseball season. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow photo from MLB.com
“I’m so thrilled and honored and excited,” the Green’s Farms Elementary School teacher said in an interview with MLB.com. “It made me cry to watch it. I hope everyone enjoys it.”
Produced with the help from her brother Russell Sherman, the video captures the key moments from the year that saw the New York Yankees triumph in the 2009 World Series to win their 27th championship.
“When we’re sitting in the stands as parents, there’s such a mix of emotions, highs and lows, the thrill of watching your kid coming around third and tearing for home,” said Propp, the mother of two, including a 12-year-old baseball player.
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P&Z Approves New Levitt Pavilion Applications
The Westport Planning and Zoning Commission tonight approved applications that will clear the way for a new Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts. The commission expressed support for careful monitoring of construction on the former landfill site on the Saugatuck River as required by the Conservation Commission. It also said that the Pavilion grounds must be open to the public from dawn to dusk except from Dec. 1 to April 1 of each year. Pictured is a model of the design by Westport architect Peter Cadoux. Levitt backers hope to begin construction on the $5 million structure in the fall of 2010 and have it ready for the 2011 summer season. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo
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