Westport, CT February 2022

F E B R UA RY 2 022 | TH E LO C A L LOV E I S S U E

The Art Among Us Kid Sistr Band: Tik Tok Famous

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

Love Local!

February 2022 PUBLISHER

Marisa MacLean | marisa.maclean@citylifestyle.com EDITOR

Robin Moyer Chung | robin.chung@citylifestyle.com

February - Local Love Art comes in many different forms, and it gives us a glimpse of someone’s heart—a part of them we don’t see on the surface. We are all drawn to various expressions of art in different ways, and we tend to appreciate artistic expression that makes us feel something and that resonates with us. I have always admired the vast creativity that artisans of all kinds pour into their craftsmanship.

Our February issue is dedicated to sharing about local products, makers and artists in our area. As you read about a few artisans in our community and their stories of passion and self-expression, we hope you are inspired to pursue what you love. After all, February is the month of love. With the hectic schedules we often keep, it is easy to let our hobbies, talents and special interests fall by the wayside. We just have to be deliberate about allowing ourselves time for interests that we love and that fill us up.

So, while you fill your home with chocolates, flowers and valentines (and perhaps college basketball) this month, remember to give yourself some time to do what you love. Find what makes you feel alive, and don’t forget to share it with us. And while you are at it, don’t forget to shop local and support our local makers and artists right here in our community.

AD DESIGNER

Rachel Chrisman LAYOUT DESIGNER

Sara Minor CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S

Anna Barnes, Dave Briggs, Robin Moyer Chung, Alex Franklin, Meredith Guinness CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

Dan Woog, Twah Dougherty, Philip Montgomery, Kate Jordan, Carol Rosegg, Robert Benson, Kathleeh O'Rourke, LIz Banfield, Tim Willoughby, Leila Brewster, Julia D'Agostino, Maya Porrino

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

MARISA MACLEAN, PUBLISHER @WESTPORTLIFESTYLE

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Randy Radosevich CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER Bruce Ianni DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson AD MANAGER Chad Jensen WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

Learn how to start your own publication at: citylifestyle.com//franchise

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Westport Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Westport area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

Information in Westport Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the

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L I F E ST Y LE LE T T E R

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F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

inside the issue The Local Love Issue

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F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

28 The Charm and Wonder of Magic

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Lifestyle Letter

14

City Scene

18

Business Monthly

22

Artist’s Palette

28

Locals Only

33

Must See

38

Our Town

50

Local Limelight

58

Travel Journal

64

Inspired By

70

Events

74

Culinary Creations

How Mentalist Ryan Oakes Indulges Our Love of Disbelief

33 Over a Century of Westport Art MoCA Displays (Some of) WestPACS Grand Collection

38 Artistic Director

Westport Country Playhouse's Wonderful Mark Lamos

50 Artists of Westport and Weston Art In Its Many Forms

A RTS + C U LT U R E

ENT ERTA I NMENT ENT ERTA I NMENT A RTS + C U LTU R E

T R AV EL

LI FE + C U LT U R E

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Christina Rodriguez Christina photographs the Tik Tok famous all-female indie band, Kid Sistr. "When you’re feeling young, and alive, and aching to connect, this is the kind of music that provides you with what you’re looking for." - Underwater Sunshine Festival.

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LI FE + C U LT UR E

FO O D + B E V E R AG E

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T h e du o k i tc h e n c o l o r s c h e m e i s t i m e l e s s .

Ke e p u p p e r c a b i n ets l i g ht a n d n e u t r a l a n d g o b o l d a n d da r ke r o n t h e b o tt o m to c r e a te a c l a s s i c a n d e l e g a nt l oo k .

W h i te c a b i n ets , w h i te c o u nte rto p s a n d w h i te t i l e s w i l l a l l c o nt r i b u te to b r i g hte n i n g y o u r s p a c e . Ra t h e r t h a n r e c e s s e d l i g ht i n g , c h oo s e p e n da nts w h i c h w i l l b r i n g t h e l i g ht c l o s e r to y o u .

G i ve y o u r k i tc h e n a q u i c k m a ke ove r b y r e fr e s h i n g y o u r wa l l o r f l oo r t i l e s !

A va i l a b l e i n a ka l e i do s c o p e o f c o l o r s , p a t t e r n s , tex tu r e s a n d s i ze s w h i c h c a n a dd p e r s o n a l i t y a n d c r e a te a fo c a l p o i nt .

F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen in the city.

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DAN WOOG

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LYNN UNTERMEYER MILLER

2 DAN WOOG

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DAN WOOG

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DAN WOOG

DAN WOOG

LISA NEWMAN

1: Santa poses with Westport artist Rosie Jon and her son Leo. 2: Face painter Sophie Alcyone, a senior at Staples High School, had plenty of work. 3: Ugly sweater contest winners Tim Stevenson and Lisa Armstrong. They earned gift certificates to Savvy + Grace. 4: Santa poses with 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Planning & Zoning chair Danielle Dobin, and friends. 5: The Staples Orphenians gathered on Main Street for the “06880” Holiday Stroll. 6: Staples senior Sam Betit leads the Staples Orphenians in caroling. 7: First annual 06880 Holiday Stroll in downtown Westport! Lila Newman enjoys her face paint.

Want to be seen in the magazine?

Tag your social media photos with @westportlifestyle

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C I T Y SC E N E

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Where neighbors can see and be seen in the city.

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1: Domestic Violence Crisis Center of CT (DVCCCT) Harvest Fest: Melissa Kiniry, Danielle Herzlich, Grace Congr. 2: DVCCCT: Suzanne Adam, Anush Yegyazarian, Janill Sharma, David Stone, Wendy Herrick, Vasso Gyftopoulos, Bob Seigal, and Jennifer Leahy. 3: DVCCCT: Mary Ansaldi and the New Canaan Moms CHICHI UBIÑA

Want to be seen in the magazine? Tag your social media photos with @westportlifestyle

E X P E R I E N C E M AT T E R S

In today’s unparalleled real estate market, whether buying or selling, you can count on my experience and professional commitment to superior customer service, with persistence, attention to detail, creative negotiating and communication to result in a successful transaction. I bring a wealth of knowledge of local markets gained from 30 years as a realtor, long-time residency in Westport, and active involvement in community service, youth athletic activities and schools. In navigating the twists and turns of a real estate transaction, I utilize my experience as a critical care unit head nurse to analyze a situation and respond quickly and appropriately. I look forward to the opportunity to prove experience matters.

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C I T Y SC E N E

Kitchen Traditions

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F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

business monthly A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Local Designer: Raven-Lewis Jewelry A uniquely assembled female owned & created jewelry brand sold worldwide, that speaks to the spiritual journey we experience in one way or another.

Showcasing beauty, femininity, the divine energy women possess, as art in dainty yet fashionable luxury, everyday wear jewelry. Raven-Lewis Jewelry uses the natural elements and essence of crystals as inspiration for handmade jewelry with a modern twist. Etsy.me/36sehf V

File of Life - EMS Here's something you may not know about Westport: File of Life (FOL).

It's a record of your important information that first responders will need to help treat you when you call 911, including medical information that they and the hospital will need to know to help you in your time of need.

Download it and fill it. Let yourr family know where it is. Some people will leave it on their refrigerator or at their bedside.

WestportEMS.org/file_of_life/

Congratulations, Dan Woog!

Congratulations to Dan Woog for receiving a United Soccer Coaches Letter of Commendation. A member of United Soccer Coaches since 1983, Woog’s was a player growing up in Connecticut, a coach at the youth and high school levels in the state, a writer and journalist covering issues in the game for multiple publications including Soccer America and as a leader in the Association’s advocacy groups including eChair of the LGBTQ+ and Allies.

Photography Pamela Einarsen

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B USIN E SS M ON T H LY

If you want to be included, send us a message!

Visit CityLifestyle.com/Westport to get in touch.

Fairfield County Shops By featuring the best locally owned businesses in Fairfield County on one site, we help you quickly discover awesome products and great new stores. You can shop by store, category, or one of our eight gift guides. Help support the shops that make Fairfield County such a special place to live. FairfieldCountyShops.com.

Blossom+Stem Moves to New Space in Sconset Square Blossom + Stem Floral Design moves to Sconset Square! Gorgeously curated fresh and dried flower arrangements and bouquets for all occasions. Blooms by the stem bouquet'd on site to gift or to bring home plus plants and succulents. Centerpiece and tablescape styling for all occasions. Floral design for weddings and celebratory events. Subscription flower packages and floral workshops.

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WHERE ART AND TECHNOLOGY CONVERGE

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The sunny space makes colors bloom.(Photo: Maya Porrino)

divine inspiration ARTICLE BY MEREDITH GUINNESS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY PATRICK SIKES, TNAS STAFF + MAYA PORRINO

A Westport Woman's Passion for Art Finds sanctuary in a Former Norwalk Church Giving back to the community is a key at TNAS. (Photo: TNAS Staff)

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A RT IST ’S PA LE T T E | L IFE + CULTURE

Tribute to Alexandra Korry.

(Photo: Maya Porrino)

The 2021 grand opening festivities of The Norwalk Art Space (TNAS) were clipping along as planned outside on the large patio – speeches by politicians, the obligatory ribbon-cutting and VIP photos ops – when the slate-grey clouds above the exciting new museum and café poured forth a steady late spring rain.

“That was Alexandra,” says Artistic and Educational Director Duvian Montoya, smiling and shaking his head. “She was saying, ‘Go inside! Get in there and enjoy your space!’”

“Alexandra” is Alexandra Davern Korry, the alpha and omega of this inspiring new venture that’s giving unlikely new life to a former Christian Science church-turned-carpet warehouse just north of Mathews Park on West Avenue.

An ambassador’s daughter who lived in Chile, Ethiopia and England before settling with her own husband and two daughters in Westport, Korry was long a trailblazer.

She forged a notable career as a mergers and acquisitions attorney – and was a formidable art collector, philanthropist and fierce Civil Rights advocate as well – before the high ceilings, multi-paned windows and mountains of potential in the 1935 former sanctuary caught her eye.

“In the 1990s, it became a rug store and there were actually rugs hung on display over these windows,” Montoya says gazing over the sun-drenched space from high in the former choir loft. “She had the vision to see past that.”

With encouragement from her husband and daughters, Korry set to work creating her museum and afterschool educational program. TNAS would be a buzzing hive of creativity with a simple yet profoundly effective mission: local artists would be given the opportunity to mount free exhibitions in the gallery and be provided free studio space, and in exchange would teach free art classes to under-served high school students. It was important to Korry that the project help narrow opportunity gaps and give everyone a fair shot, so the space

would focus on enhancing opportunities and equity for these marginalized groups.

“Priority is given to the artists Korry found sorely underrepresented in the international museums she had visited – women and people of color,” says Katy Sullivan, Gallery and Events Manager. And the space’s vision would expand beyond the visual arts to include a full music program led by saxophonist David DeJesus, a professor of music at Purchase College, and a writers’ group, among other things.

“We want a place where all generations are welcome,” Katy, herself a painter, says.

The promise of the Norwalk Art Space was coming to a crescendo when tragedy struck. Korry was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and passed away in 2020, halfway through the site’s creation.

Her loss was – and is – deeply felt by those who create and inspire others in the space that has become one of her dearest legacies. About a month after his wife’s death, Robin Panovka sought advice from Duvian, a professional artist who had co-founded two enduring Fairfield County arts organizations: the Saint Philip Artist Guild Network in Norwalk and the Artists Collective of Westport.

The two discussed what it would take to get artists involved, how to program the space andif there was enough want in the community to fulfill Alexandra’s mission.

“I was really open and honest,” Duvian says, “and it was a natural progression from advisor to employee.”

Korry had left a unique blueprint for the look and feel that melds the church’s ‘bones’ with imported tiles from Italy and the striking green lighting imported from Germany that leads to the museum café, created by Connecticut Restaurant Association 2021 Restaurateur of the Year Bill Taibe.

“It is my first space outside of Westport, at least in the last 15 years,” says the impresario behind The Whelk, Don Memo and Kawa Ni. “Joining the team at TNAS was an easy CONTINUED >

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / W E ST P O RT

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Bill Taibe's café. (Photo: Patrick Sikes)

“We want a place where all generations are welcome.”

—Katy Sullivan choice for me, the mission is special, and I really fell in love with Alexandra’s story. It’s been a great partnership since opening, and I look forward to making it a valuable, contributing member of the Norwalk community.”

In its first year, TNAS has welcomed a series of exhibitions from its Korry Fellows, an eclectic crew including mixed media pop artist Tara Blackwell to Westport-based abstract and figurative artist Kelly Rossetti to Lizzy Rockwell, an award-winning author/illustrator who is director of Peace by Piece: The Norwalk Community Quilt Project. This fall brought a showing of works by Duvian and his mentor, Robert Cottingham.

Resident artists, who have been known to follow their individual muses at all hours of the day, include crafter Francisco Mandujano, Norwalk visual artist and educator Lorena Sferlazza and painter/mixed media artist Remy Sosa, whose work considers how emotional and internal worlds are shaped by the broader trends in social life. Emily Teall, a sculptor and installation artist, teaches at Fusion Academy’s Greenwich campus.

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A RT IST ’S PA LE T T E | L IFE + CULTURE

Free, small-enrollment classes at TNAS run the gamut from blind contour drawing to iPhone photography and helping aspiring young artists build their first portfolios. A songwriter’s circle, teen open mic night, and weekend jazz ensemble sessions are a welcome addition to the burgeoning “Museum Mile,” which includes the nearby Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Stepping Stones Museum for Children and Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum.

Through it all, devotion to Korry’s mission runs deep. The Art Space team is passionate about fomenting a love of art in underserved youth, supporting local artists and bringing the Norwalk community together, Katy and Duvian say.

Katy scans the inventive work filling the sanctuary. “Our heart is in this place,” she says. “We really want it to work.

It’s an honor to be here, to be doing this.”

TheNorwalkArtSpace.org

E M O H COME E S U O H Y A L P E TO TH !

2 2 0 2 IN APRIL 5 - 23, 2022

NEXT TO NORMAL

MUSIC BY TOM KITT BOOK + LYRICS BY BRIAN YORKEY DIRECTED + CHOREOGRAPHED BY MARCOS SANTANA

The 2009 Tony Award®-winning hit musical and winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama pushed the boundaries of contemporary musical theater.

STRAIGHT WHITE MEN

BY YOUNG JEAN LEE DIRECTED BY MARK LAMOS

A father and his grown sons gather on Christmas Eve for pranks, Chinese takeout, and gossip. But when an impossible question threatens the festivities, they’re forced to face their own identities.

JULY 5 - 17, 2022

KIM´S CONVENIENCE

BY INS CHOI

A convenience store sets the stage for this delightful comedy about a Korean-Canadian family. Before it was a hit on Netflix, it was this warm and joyous play.

All dates, titles, and artists are subject to change.

4000 MILES

BY AMY HERZOG DIRECTED BY DAVID KENNEDY

Two unlikely roommates — 21-year-old Leo and his feisty 91-year-old grandmother Vera — infuriate, bewilder, and ultimately find each other in this funny and moving play.

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Mentalist and magician Ryan Oakes, with Melissa Joan Hart, performing at the Maritime Aquarium.

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LOCA LS ON LY | A RTS + CULTURE

The Charm and Wonder of Magic HOW MENTALIST RYAN OAKES INDULGES OUR LOVE OF DISBELIEF

ARTICLE BY ROBIN MOYER CHUNG

Consider this: scientists create ibuprofen to relieve headaches. Do we know how they created them? No. Do we know what’s in them? Maybe, sort of. Do we know how they work? Probably not. At least, we don’t know how they work any more than how Ryan Oakes, who Forbes claims is the “hottest magician working today,” makes a tiny X miraculously appear on the hand of the man in front of him. A Sharpied X? Magic! Ibuprofen that eradicates headaches? Nah. Why are we in awe of a trick? Because we want to believe in the delight and thrill of magic. We forget our gravitas while witnessing unexplained phenomena existing solely for our entertainment; a remnant of childhood wonder. According to Ryan, "It’s me creating a moment for you that you perceive as magic, which I do through shaping your perception.”

The famed mentalist/magician asked a party guest to select a card, look at it, then put it back in the deck without showing him. Then Ryan placed the stack of cards on the floor. We all watched as a single card wiggled out from the deck, unaided by human force. When Ryan plucked it off the floor, it was the card the guest had selected.

Someone shrieked in disbelief. It may have been me.

I mean, that rudderless, brainless piece of stock moved all by itself.

How does he make a card crawl from its cohort? How does he know the name of our random friend or the song we sing in our head?

It’s impossible, charming, and wonderful.

Ryan, winner of the Society of American Magician’s National Magic Competition (his industry’s highest honor), travels around the world performing for audiences online and in-person and developing marketing programs for companies as diverse as Siegfried & Roy and Hermès.

Which begs the question - what did he do for Hermès?? “They were introducing a new fragrance, Water of Marvels [Eau des Merveilles], and wanted to create magic with the bottle and box itself,” Ryan regales. “I developed tricks using the iconic ribbon, orange box, a scarf, and the bottle. For instance, a playing card would appear in a perfume bottle. I worked with local magicians to perform in stores and Hermès boutiques.”

Of his audiences, there are those who are rapt and those who try to figure out the secret. I’m of the enraptured ilk and followed him around like a puppy at the party for which he performed. At one point he folded a slip of paper into several halves and whipped out a small pair of scissors from his pocket. He asked a partygoer to think of a singer. Swiftly, he sliced at the folds, small bits falling like confetti.

CONTINUED >

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / W E ST P O RT

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Cut-out portrait of Rihanna.

As he unfolded the paper he asked for the name of the singer. The partygoer replied, “Rihanna” as Ryan unfolded a beautifully cut portrait of the rockstar.

Even though he insists it’s only a perception, I’m pretty sure it was actual wizardry.

Then there’s his “Digital Deception” which uses iPhones and technology to astound viewers. He took a guest’s iPhone and opened the calculator app. Then he passed it among the crowd, asking each person to add a number - a lucky number, their age, etc. - to the number on the calculator. The result was one billion nine hundred million forty million… or, said another way, the man’s phone number.

Of course, a small squad of participants searched the phone for clues afterward. They promptly announced they had figured out the trick based on some inane reason that made no sense. “There’s always one person who thinks ‘Oh, I figured it out’ maybe just to pacify their own curiosity,” Ryan states. “If they figure out even a piece [of the illusion] they’ll tell themselves they’ve broken down the whole facade. But there are multiple layers, not just one little secret.”

By the way, of those trying to explain the iPhone trick, how many of them truly understand how an iPhone works?

Texting and emails and touching images to multiply numbers - does that illicit the same cries of joy and disbelief as finding the card you selected in someone else’s pocket?

No. Something to think about.

Why are we in awe of a trick?

Because we want to believe in the delight and thrill of magic. We forget our gravitas while witnessing unexplained phenomena existing solely for our entertainment; a remnant of childhood wonder.

According to Ryan, "It’s me creating a moment for you that you perceive as magic, which I do through shaping your perception.”

RyanOakes.com

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LOCA LS ON LY | A RTS + CULTURE

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ARTICLE BY DAVID BRIGGS

MoCA Displays (Some of) WestPACS Grand Collection

Collection of the Century Charles Joyner, Village @ Ntonso (2020), Westport Public Art Collections, Gift of the artist.

There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love art museums and those who don’t. I fall in the latter group! So, why am I writing a story about MoCA Westport?

I have a soft spot for MoCA. I love the great drinks at the bar, the art classes for my kids and, frankly, the people. MoCA is much more than an art museum. It’s for people like me who don’t obsess about art, but love everything it encompasses.

Christa Forest, Don't Judge Me (2021), Westport Public Art Collections, Gift of Friends of Westport.

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The Westport Museum of Contemporary Art - now MoCA - has been a local gem for 50 years.

There may be no finer example of what and who MoCA is than their upcoming exhibit ‘The Westport Idea’(January 28 - March 12) of our Westport Public Arts Collection (WestPAC). Yes, we own an expansive collection of art dating back more than a century to 1910. The collection grew under the Depression-era Public Works Administration in the 1930s and in 1965 the late Burt Chernow, art historian, writer, and Westport resident, collected original fine art for students to view daily.

Burt believed that “the vital and formative years spent by children in public schools are significant in determining their adult attitudes towards art.” Westport Town Curator Kathleen Motes Bennewitz states, ”We’re a museum without walls, MoCA is giving us the walls, we’re in hallways, we’re in meeting rooms and when you put our works of art in that beautiful space it just shines.”

You may have seen some of WestPAC's incredible art at any one of eight local schools or five town buildings and never realized its rich history. “The art isn’t intended to be intimidating, it’s meant to be inviting” adds Kathleen.

It's the relatable, local quality that makes this exhibit one we can all, even skeptics like myself, appreciate. MoCA’s Director of Exhibitions Liz Leggett tells me “This is a great inter-generational opportunity.”

Paul Camacho (1929 - 1989), Portrait of a Girl with Striped Shirt, 1966, Westport Public Art Collections, Gift of the James H. Daugherty Foundation.

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Liz is one of thousands of residents since the early 1900s who came to Westport because of its connection to the arts.

By 1904, painters, sculptors, printmakers, and illustrators gravitated to Westport from New York City. “What happened became an art community, not an art colony. This was a very broad group of people, they were a jovial group and they got “the party going,” says Kathleen..

A newspaper quote from 1913, which you’ll see in the exhibit, is the quintessential summation of our history: “They belong to New York, to Paris, to Munich and Rome. They are first-class painters, and while their homes are in Westport, they are citizens at the same time of the wider art world.”

Though it often feels like more of a hedge fund town these days, our art scene is alive and well and, according to Liz, is the reason MoCA expanded from a tiny space on Riverside Avenue to the gorgeous space at 19 Newtown Turnpike in Westport.

Renowned local photographer Jerri Graham came to Westport on the advice of a fellow artist in 2007 and says of her inclusion in this exhibit, “Whenever I take a photo, I want to make the moment last forever. Being a part of this show and this collection gives those points in time a longer life than just Instagram or Facebook.”

Well stated, Jerri! See the rest of you at Yappy Hour!

MoCAWestport.org

Richard Hunt (b 1936), Untitled (c. 1972), Westport Public Art Collections, Gift of the Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs.

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Adger Cowans (born 1936), Three Shadows (1968), Westport Public Art Collections, Gift of Friends of Westport.

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ARTICLE BY ROBIN MOYER CHUNG

Westport Country Playhouse (Photo: Kathleen O’Rourke)

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE'S WONDERFUL MARK LAMOS

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Built as tannery in 1835, the Westport Country Playhouse raised the curtain on its first production in 1931. Given the town’s talented residents and proximity to NYC, the theater quickly earned a reputation for excellence and attracted promising young apprentices like Mary Rodgers (daughter of Richard Rodgers) and the inestimable Steven Sondheim.

Now in its 91st year, Artistic Director Mark Lamos continues to burnish the reputation of our theater, following in the footsteps of producer James B. Mackenzie, actress Joanne Woodward, and other esteemed theater professionals.

WLM: HOW DID YOU BECOME THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR FOR WCP IN 2009?

Mark Lamos: I had been a artistic director at a number of places and freelancing in opera and other theaters at the time. Then I got a call from Westport Playhouse and was asked to replace Paul Newman* as the director of Of Mice and Men. I directed the production and was asked to be artistic director. It was serendipitous; I was tired of flying around Europe and Canada, my husband was based in New York City, and we had a house in CT. I feel comfortable in a non-profit theater situation, I’m not crazy about commercial theater for money. The pressures are not ones that I find challenging or interesting. In non-profit there’s a precious bond that forms between the artists and the community. *Paul Newman died in September of 2008.

Mark’s production was dedicated in his honor.

Artistic Director Mark Lamos.

(Photo: Bruce Plotkin)

The stage.

(Photo: Robert Benson)

MARK L AMOS

WLM: WHEN PLANNING A NEW SEASON, WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER? ML: Planning a season is a free-wheeling spit-balling session and everyone has ideas about what we should do. We want to make sure we have an even number of male and female writers, so we’re speaking to different kinds of theatergoers. We need to be conscious of budget. We think about what we’ve done in the past, what David Kennedy [Associate Artistic Director] and I desire to do. And then flat-out entertainment.

Things come into the mix in the strangest ways.

For instance, [in 2012] David came into a planning meeting and said “I re-read a play last night and I think you should all read it again - don’t think I’m crazy.” It was Raisin the Sun and I said “That old chestnut? I don’t think so.”

Of course we all read it again and it became so alive because of community events, I was able to convince Phylicia Rashad to direct it.

WLM: DOES THE MAKE-UP OF YOUR AUDIENCE AFFECT YOUR ARTISTIC DECISIONS? ML: I think if you find five things you’re passionate about and gather artists who are passionate about it, the audience will be there.

It’s not a question of what demographic I think it will appeal to; it never works when I do that.

I care about communicating with them and broadening the audience base.

CONTINUED >

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Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, directed

by Phylicia Rashad, Lynda Gravatt, Luka Kain, and Susan Kelechi Watson. (Photo: T. Charles Erickson)

WLM: IN 2012 YOU PREMIERED A WONDERFUL PLAY, HARBOR, ABOUT TWO MARRIED MEN ON NANTUCKET WHO ARE VISITED BY ONE OF THEIR SISTERS AND HER DAUGHTER. IT WAS AN ADVENTURESOME CHOICE AT THAT TIME. HOW DID IT HAPPEN? ML: Harbor was written by Chad Beguelin, the bookwriter for Aladdin the musical.

His agent sent us the play and I loved it. It’s so funny and so surprising. I met with him and I talked a little about the play and I asked him to change something.

He agreed, which isn’t always the case!

It had an off-Broadway run and brought a broader audience to the Playhouse. One man threw his arms around me and said, “Thank you for putting me in the show.”

WLM: TELL ME ABOUT WORKING ON A NEW PLAY WITH THE WRITER. ML: Michael Gotch wrote two new plays. Tiny House, which was a virtual production here. I loved how he created the family. He was an actor and I’d worked with his company before. He continued writing on it while we worked in rehearsal, which was extremely gratifying for him and for all of us.

Then he wrote Starter Pistol for the same group of actors. Michael was trying new and exciting things in his writing. It was tremendously satisfying to birth a play with people who cared so much about it. We were all very candid; it can’t just be a love-fest.

2018's Man of La Mancha (Photo: Carol Rosegg)

WLM: IN 2018 YOU DID ONE OF MY FAVORITE MUSICALS, MAN OF LA MANCHA. IT WAS ALSO ONE OF THE BEST PRODUCTIONS I’VE SEEN OF IT. ML: Man of La Mancha was suggested by a young staff member. I’m not crazy about the piece, but she said ‘I think it would have a lot of resonance in the community. There are a lot of Hispanics and Latins.’”

So I cast it with a Latin cast. All of these performers were so gifted, and they said it was the first musical their parents took them to. They used Hispanic accents and it came so alive because they were so passionate about it.

The play takes place in a prison which was immediately relevant given what was happening at the border at the time. The abuse of women by men in power was also particularly relevant. A woman [who is hurt] feels worthless, then this man makes her feel human.

It became a woman’s story because it was about her being held up and shown she had worth. We were all so empowered.

WLM: I HAVE A MILLION MORE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, BUT I HAVE TO ASK FOR YOUR THOUGHTS ON HAMILTON. I was a Tony voter at the time and we were invited back to see it a second time. Seeing it again was a different experience. I was absolutely blown away.

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You have to work seeing that musical, you have to engage in this twisty story about a flawed man and a flawed republic.

When theater breaks a mold like that, you feel lucky to be alive.

WLM: BACK UP - YOU WERE A TONY VOTER?? TELL ME ABOUT THAT! ML: I was a Tony voter for nine seasons while I was on the executive board of the Stage Directors and Choreographers - three three-year terms, the longest anyone is allowed to remain on the SDC exec board.

You sit through a lot of stuff people have spent a lot of time and money on, and it’s terrible. But you have to watch it.

At least once a season you don’t want to see something, and I didn’t care about seeing Once. But I had to. And I loved it!! I was weeping - I listened to every single note.

Then there was Bright Star, Steve Martin’s musical was up against Hamilton for Best Musical. We loved it. When the curtain went up on the 2nd act and Steven Martin was playing banjo… we were cheering and leaping. We got the album! But we knew it didn't have a chance.

Harbor by Chad Beguelin, directed by Mark Lamos, with Alexis Molnar, Kate Nowlin, Bobby Steggert, Paul Anthony Stewart (Photo: T. Charles Erickson)

2019's In the Heights (Photo: Carol Rosegg)

WLM: LAST QUESTION, DO YOU EVER CHOOSE A SHOW AROUND AN ACTOR? ML: No, because more often than not they’ll get a movie.

“Planning a season is a free-wheeling spit-balling session and everyone has ideas about what we should do. ...Things come into the mix in the strangest ways.”

FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / W E ST P O RT

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EMS NEEDS

TRAINING AND VOLUNTEERING FOR WESTPORT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE

YO U!

EMS Classroom on Jesup Road. (Photo: WVEMS)

ARTICLE BY ROBIN MOYER CHUNG

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F E AT U R E | LOCAL SERV IC E S

EMS Crew with volunteers.

Do you know who enjoys being a passenger in an ambulance?

Kids. On Touch-a-Truck day. Do you know who else? No one.

Still, as much as we hope to never qualify for ambulance assistance, the vehicles are an oddly comforting symbol of the lengths people will go to help one another. Because Westport relies on, and needs more, EMS volunteers.

According to Marc Hartog, Westport EMS Deputy Director, Westport EMS could not operate 24/7 without volunteers.

Westport EMS, a division of the Police Dept, receives a budget which pays for the salaries of 6.5 full-time staff, the contract for 24/7 paramedic coverage with Norwalk Hospital, service contracts for some equipment, billing services for patient transports, etc.

Westport Volunteer EMS (WVEMS) a fundraising organization, raises all of the funds to purchase all else it needs, from capital and operational supplies, ambulances, SUVs to bandaids and everything else in the vehicles, plus maintenance and repairs of these items. Their primary donations are from residents and corporations.

Aside from six employees, EMS has 58 currently “active” volunteers who round out the active workers. “There are some shifts that are all volunteers,” Marc says. They respond to 2,500 calls a year, day and night. While 58 is great, the reality is only a handful of them do the bulk of the work. So - did I mention? - more volunteers are necessary.

THUS, THE TRAINING CLASS. There are roughly 20 students per class, which is open to residents of Westport and surrounding towns. Students as young as 14 may apply. Years ago, many of the volunteers were 30-50 year old women, not in the workforce, with kids either in school or out of the house, who had time to volunteer during the day. Today, their ranks include “Younger people interested in medicine, and retirees looking for meaningful ways to spend time” as well as others.

Before going any further, there are two levels: EMR and EMT. The differences are: • EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) trains 80-100 hours, is a first responder on a basic level and never treats a patient on their own – they are always accompanied by an EMT or Paramedic.

• EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) trains 120-180 hours (up to 300 for advanced). EMTs do all an EMR does, including some medications and basic airway adjuncts and suctioning. According to WestportEMS.org, “basic EMTs are usually restricted to using oxygen, glucose, asthma inhalers, and epinephrine auto-injectors (a common exception to the no-needles rule).”

The highest level, Paramedic, requires training beyond the scope of this program.

Not all students wish to become volunteers. Some see it as a step to being in the fire department (EMT certification is usually a pre-requisite to apply for firefighter jobs) or to volunteer in another town. Still others believe it will “look good” on a college application. Whatever the reason, they soon learn it’s hardly a walk in Winslow Park.

EMS Youth Corps.

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James Bairaktaris during a shift.

WHAT, EXACTLY, DOES THE CLASS ENTAIL? Marc hands me a textbook the size and weight of an anvil. A quick skim of the images proves this is serious stuff. Marc explains, “Volunteers are required to know basic anatomy and physiology, stethoscope use, how to measure blood pressure, splinting, bandaging, how to deliver oxygen and ventilate a patient, CPR, childbirth. Plus they need a rudimentary understanding of what paramedics do, which is everything a doctor would do except surgery.”

Naomi Weingart, whose daughter, Emily, inspired her to take the course, describes it as a “mini med-school.”

Of note, kids age 14-16 may only train to be EMRs. However, they volunteer alongside paramedics and EMTs. While they are fully engaged and not barred from typical rescue work, Marc states, “If the crew chief feels it’s emotionally charged they may elect to not have the teen involved in the call.”

Courses are several months long, with two evening classes a week and one eight-hour Saturday class each month.

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Hands-on training. (Photo: WVEMS)

IS THERE AN UPTICK IN APPLICANTS AFTER A TRAGEDY? Yes. Which is both good and bad. It’s unfortunate that action is instigated by hardship, but fortunate that hardship instigates action.

WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS? Marc indicates there are several steps: • Applicants must affirm they understand the training program has rigorous physical challenges and must pass a functional agility test that simulates an actual 911 call, including carrying equipment up two flights of stairs, doing CPR and administering oxygen, doing a full assessment of a patient, lifting 100 lbs on their own, and carrying a simulated 150 lb patient with another rescuer.

• Applicants must include health/medical information and authorization for a background check.

• Applicants must take a written EMT quiz with a grade no lower than 80%, and they must pass an oral board interview with a panel of five experienced first responders.If this seems rigorous, well, it is. You’re dealing with a life, not a bag of snacks. Both are important, but one requires more physical and emotional fitness than another.

Due to these rigors and other reasons of attrition, the graduation rate is approximately 75-80%. Then after graduating there are other tests involved - but if you’re dedicated to becoming part of the force, don’t worry about that right now.

Just read the words of Jodie Mysel, who was persuaded by her EMT-trained daughter to take the course, “Taking the EMT course has been life changing… Just knowing I am learning valuable information that will help someone in an emergency and maybe even save their life, is all the reward I need.” Naomi adds, “I really value the fact that volunteering for EMS is so critical and immediate. I can’t wait to get on the ambulance.”

Jaime Bairaktaris, WVEMS Director and Executive Editor and Founder of WestportLocalPress.com, shares a personal experience: “In fifth grade I had to call 911 as my mother suffered a respiratory emergency in our kitchen. As I watched one of my camp counselors come down our driveway minutes later in the ambulance, I knew I needed to become one of the helpers one day.

“In high school I signed up, passed my exams, and had my first shift at the age of 15. EMS became my ‘sport,’ my crews became my friends, and I had become one of the helpers.

“Any 15-year old can be involved in a traumatic experience, however very few can walk away saying they responded to it and learned from it. Some calls scared me, and with honesty, some calls still scare me. However we were taught how to process what’s in front of us, help those who need it, and use the experience to help the next patient.

“My journey came full circle a few years ago when I responded to a person in cardiac arrest on a weekend morning. With the help of firefighters and police officers, their life was saved and they were able to walk out of the hospital a few days later. That Monday while at my day job, a student of mine asked if I had been one of the people to help save their uncle that weekend. I didn’t know it at the time, but it turned out that I was.”

In short, this is an extraordinary opportunity to enrich oneself and, in doing so, come to the aid of our neighbors when they are most in need.

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present

A new exhibition featuring selected works from the Westport Public Art Collections (WestPAC) O n v i e w a t M o C A We s t p o r t • J a n u a r y 2 8 – M a r c h 1 2 , 2 0 2 2

19 Newtown Turnpike, Westport, CT

For gallery hours, directions + more visit mocawestport.org Featured in T h e We st p o r t Id e a Lynsey Addario Enrico Baj Leonard Besser Ralph L. Boyer Paul Camacho Carlotta Corpron Ann Chernow Adger Cowans Charles Daugherty James H. Daugherty Lisa Daugherty Steven Dohanos Jim Dine

Walter Einsel Sam Francis Elaine Kaufman Feiner Leonard Everett Fisher Davira Fisher Lillian Freedgood Christa Forrest Jerri Graham Hardie Gramatky Charley Harper Howard Heath Richard Hunt Robert Indiana

Albert Drexler Jacobson Lester Frederick Johnson Asger Jorn Charles Joyner Alex Katz Nicholas Krushenick Estelle Thompson Margolis Henri Matisse Joan Mitchell Norma Minkowitz László Moholy-Nagy Enid Munroe Fred Otnes

Gabor Peterdi Mel Ramos Baroness Hilla von Rebay Robert Rauschenberg Barbara Rothenberg Lucy Sallick Larry Rivers Larry Silver Victor Vasarely Tom Wesselmann Jean Woodham

MoCA Westport thanks Wendy and Jacques Bouthillier for their generous support in funding The Westport Idea exhibition.

Their gift allows MoCA to make this extraordinary collection available in a formal museum space for the first time.

The Museum also thanks the Westport Arts Advisory Committee for the opportunity to share these works with the community.

Background Image: Paul Camacho (1929 - 1989), Portrait of a Girl with Striped Shirt, 1966, Westport Public Art Collections, Gift of the James H. Daugherty Foundation.

(Photo: Kate Jordan)

ARTICLE BY ROBIN MOYER CHUNG

Artists of Westport and Weston Art In Its Many Forms

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Shari Lebowitz (Photo: Julia D'Agostino)

/ Shari Lebowitz Paperpreneur, Bespoke Designs

Shari’s invitations are the art that elevates an event or an announcement. The design and quality of her work engages the recipient and communicates its purpose before a single line is read.

How she discovered her art: “I believe my art chose me! When I got engaged in 2016, I couldn’t find a place in Westport to have wedding invitations made. So I opened the destination that offered the experience I was looking for.

Original designs, innovative materials, a joyous environment, and full service at every touchpoint.”

Her dream invitation: “Adele’s wedding! Because her energy and laughter carries me through so much design time. And because I believe in second weddings. (!!)”

What she’s learned: “Every single story that we have the honor of sharing - a wedding, a mitzvah, an 80th birthday - fills me with tremendous joy.”

BespokeDesigns.com

CONTINUED >

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Craig Melvin and Lindsay Czarinak in a party photo booth. (Photo: Leila Brewster)

/ Sarah True

John Videler

Founder & Creative Director, True Event

Part installation, part performance art, everyone from the guests to the bartender play a significant role in Sarah’s events.

The parties appeal to all senses while being functional, allowing its theatre to appear effortless and joyously memorable.

Why events?: “I first fell in love with the art of entertaining when I was living in NYC, 15 years ago.

Her inspiration: “Inspiration is everywhere, I love finding it in the most unexpected places. When I go on long runs or walks on the beach, watching the sunset and the gorgeous colors that bleed into the sky. It is so cool how nature inspires color palettes for weddings and events; it is the best daily does of inspiration if you just stop for a minute and look. I also love going into Anthropologie and Terrain downtown and pulling from stores, and from interior design and fashion magazines.”

TrueEvent.com

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Sarah True (Photo: Brooke Allison)

“Inspiration is everywhere, I love finding it in the most unexpected places.”

— Sarah True

Fedora in Atlanta

/ John Videler

/ Butch Quick

Photographer

John’s landscape and drone photography reflect a lifetime of knowledge and love of our town. Whether the Cribari Bridge in December or a crystal-smooth Saugatuck River, they exquisitely remind us of the remarkable nature of what we see every day.

When he decided to pursue photography: “I knew I wanted to be a photographer from seeing my father photographing food products for Pepperidge Farm. He was a commercial photographer working exclusively for them and I would watch him photograph Milano cookies, blueberry tarts, and Godiva chocolates.”

Where he finds inspiration: “Television, movies, hiking, podcasts, youtube.... it comes from everywhere.”

His dream shoot: “I’ve always wanted to photograph the Tour De France. Every year I watch it on television and I wish I could shoot the whole month.”

Photographer

Butch Quick

Butch’s portraits show more than a subject’s face; they convey their culture, emotions, their past and future, even the air around them. They make the viewer inspired, surprised, and immersed in what they are seeing.

Why he photographs people: “I love deeply connecting, meeting people, it’s incredibly easy for me. I’ll stop a total stranger, introduce myself, and in seconds I’m given the opportunity to capture their amazing presence!! For a lot of people that’s hard, but for me it’s a huge part of the journey.

“Every person I meet and capture leaves with a smile, knowing that I saw them and how beautiful they are. That gives me joy and we are strangers no more!”

If he could meet anyone: “Without question, the incredible legendary photojournalist and Life Magazine photographer Gordon Parks and iconic fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh!”

Videler.com ButchQuick.com

CONTINUED >

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(Photo: Christina Rodriguez)

/ Kid Sistr All-Women Indie Trio

The collaborative artistry of musicians is only possible with a rare, singular creative identity. This band of three older sisters brilliantly musicalizes the hard candy/teen angst/what the h@ll aesthetic of the ruthless and adored kaleidoscope of life. Of note, they recently opened for musician Willow Smith.

How Sara chose her art: “I was 11 and I couldn’t stick with any extra curricular activity. I quit everything I tried.

My mom was sick of it so she enrolled me in a rock band music program. As soon as I played one song with the other kids I was hooked. I still remember how I loved the feeling of my ears ringing after rehearsals. I was sort of a troubled kid and playing loud rock music made me feel like I was special.”

Becca’s inspiration: “I get inspired by movement. I’m a big believer that movement can really shake loose emotions and ideas that won’t come out if you’re sitting still. I like to take long walks with my journals. I walk until I get an idea or a feeling, and then I pause to journal it out.”

What Sabel has learned: “I’ve definitely learned to trust myself a lot more. Whether it be in songwriting or business, I’ve realized the validity of my decisions more and more.”

KidSistrBand.com

54

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | A RTS + CULTURE

Danna Rogers & Jen Kass Team

at The Higgins Group LOVE where you LIVE

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But there‘s more...

Potential to include a charming guest house, complete with kitchen, vaulted ceilings and 4 bedrooms. The perfect space for guests, or an amazing home office.

Centrally located, yet very private, this 2-acre property is one of the home‘s most impressive features. With masonry walls fabricated from stones from the property, broad lawn spaces and adorable bunnies abound, hence the name ’Rabbit Hill.”

Price Upon Request | 6 Bedrooms, | 7 Full baths | 1 half bath | 2 Acres 8600+/- Square feet Coleytown/Coleytown/Staples

higginsgroup.com Danna Rogers • (917) 282-6292 | dannakrogers@gmail.com Jen Kass • 203-368-8032 | jenkass32@gmail.com

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Celebrating 25 Years Est. April 1, 1996

SGBBW Attorneys from left to Right: Jake DelGreco, Natassia M. Fodor, Aidan R. Welsh, Jill H. Blomberg, Cynthia C. George, Peter M. Bryniczka, and Molly C. Sanford

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Proudly introducing our new Westport office: 180 Post Rd. E., Westport, CT 06880 FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / W E ST P O RT

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Rockefellers, Rainforests and Rainbows A Visit to Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve ARTICLE BY ALEX FRANKLIN

It’s often the little things that differentiate one resort from another. Of course the grounds, the beach, and the food are all important and Dorado Beach excels in all of these categories. But what it really comes down to is how the people that bring the Dorado to life make you feel when you're there.

At our first lunch, the servers provided crayons and activity sheets for our children. Our little girl drew a rainbow and, on a whim, gifted it to our kind and attentive waiter. At our last meal, the management had gone out of their way to frame the rainbow painting our daughter had made and hang it on the wall of the restaurant near

our table. They even hung a small plaque citing her as the artist. On top of that the same waiter created a beautiful rainbow painting of his own, inspired by our daughter, which he gifted to her. That is one example among many of the warmth and kindness of the staff that, together with the stunning beauty of the resort, make the Dorado such a special place to visit.

STORIED HISTORY Dorado Beach is a reserve, first developed in 1905 as a pineapple plantation by Alfred Livingston. His daughter, Clara Livingston, was one of the first licensed female CONTINUED >

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Modern luxury meets tasteful rustic charm with wooden walkways connecting the lobby to the shops, library and restaurants.

pilots. As such, she became friends with Amelia Earhart who visited using the landing strip on the grounds that is still there today. In 1955, Laurence Rockefeller worked with Clara to create one of the first environmentally conscious resorts in the world.

OVERWHELMING FIRST IMPRESSIONS On arrival we passed one of the gorgeous 18-hole courses and paused to let a few of the permanent residents of the property roll by in their charming, personalized golf carts. Pulling up to the hotel itself, a team of smiling bellman greeted us by name and offered us a sampling of tropical fruit flavored popsicles. Behind them was a lily pond, home to turtles, ducks, and a few graceful white herons. Modern luxury meets tasteful rustic charm with wooden walkways connecting the lobby to the shops, library and restaurants. Everywhere you’re surrounded by lush greenery that opens to sweeping views of the ocean.

ROOMS We sped to our room through the vibrant jungle on one of the many hotel golf carts. (Outside, our neighbors had parked some of the bicycles the hotel makes available to guests.) A wide, spacious common room with dining area opens onto a beautiful outside patio.

The enormous bathroom has a modern tub and huge shower. A glass door leads to a private outdoor shower so you can rinse off under the canopy of native trees and plants. The bedroom alone was much larger than my first NYC apartment. Both the main room and the common room have floor to ceiling glass sliding doors that seamlessly connect the room with the outdoors.

There is a second set of dark wooden louvered and screened doors for those who want the breeze without the bugs. The room also has a wide back patio with a private heated pool. Beyond the pool is a path to a bright green lawn where our children flew kites, gifts of the hotel. Beyond that lies the breathtaking beach.

WATER AND SAND When the Rockefeller family took control of the property, they dropped a line of rocks as a breakwater from tip to tip of the half moon bay. The waves from the Atlantic break on these rocks sending dramatic

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explosions of white sea spray into the air. This breakwater creates a calmer shoreline, ideal for swimming, paddle-boarding, and snorkeling. It also provides the constant soothing sound of crashing and rolling waves.

The sand is powdery and clean, ideal for building sandcastles. Up early with young kids, when we reached the beach the chairs already had fresh towels laid out. Settle in with a book and an attendant appears with bottled water in a bucket of ice, ready to take your order for a snack or a drink. I’ll never forget that beach, the near daily rainbows and the pride in my son’s face after riding his first wave.

Adjoining the beach is the Positivo pool which I can safely say is the most stunning and well-designed pool I’ve ever seen. The pool’s tile is rich, dark blue which contrasts with the bright Caribbean Sea. The waving palm trees and infinity edges weave the pool into the surrounding rocks, sand, and beach. At the tip of the resort is a massive hot spa and, for the adventurous, a refreshing plunge pool kept icy cold.

Our daughter had never been snorkeling, but had stared in amazement at her grandfather’s tropical fish tank back home. One of the hotel staff heard us discussing her fear of the snorkel mask and brought us a fullface version. Her absolute delight upon seeing her first fish is something I’ll cherish forever. “Do the fishies really live here daddy?” she asked. I’ll always be grateful for the thoughtfulness of the person who went out of their way to give my daughter that moment.

DINING There are three main restaurant options, along with impressively fast in-room dining. Coa has special options like Wagyu beef and an expansive wine list.

There is a broad bar and lounge area with live music nearly every night. Asian-influenced Positivo offers an Omakase option, tasting menus, and premium sake. The sand floors combine with the sea air to make the outdoor dining experience lovely. Encanto also provides open-air dining and a varied menu. I personally recommend the Churrasco: expertly grilled steak with traditional Puerto Rican mamposteao. It goes very well with the local dark rum, Barrilito. Be sure to ask for “Tres Estrellas” they will know exactly what you mean.

SPA An enormous ancient Ficus tree sits outside the entrance of Spa Botanico, which itself resembles a hidden temple. The reflecting pool echoes the feel of a sacred space dedicated to relaxation. There is a male and female side, with clothing optional, and a wide menu of treatments.

Lush greenery is everywhere in the private areas, and it seems the spa was carved out of the wilderness.

SO MUCH MORE As if the surf, sand, and sun weren't enough, there is also a waterpark on the property with waterslides, a lazy river, and electric bumper boats. The Rockefeller walking trail is 11 miles through the forests. You can also enjoy kite surfing, sailing, windsurfing, or trips into nearby old San Juan. They offer daily coordinated activities for the kids and an interesting and informative rum tasting.

EFFORTLESS RELAXATION AND GRACE The thing tying all this beauty and indulgence together is still the way you are treated by the people of Dorado Beach. The location is pure magic, the rooms are opulent and comfortable, and the food is delectable. All of these things stand head and shoulders above other resorts. What makes the place special is the way the staff makes everything seem so effortless, allowing guests to relax and enjoy themselves. The resort is a memory factory. There were too many perfect moments to count.

For more information visit: RitzCarlton.com/en/hotels/puerto-rico/ dorado-beach

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architectural design custom homes . remodeling www.westportbuilder.com 203.227.1055 8 wright st., ste 107, westport, ct 06880

OF W E S T P OR T, C T Registrations are open for all our dance programs. dance in a safe environment with The Best Dance teachers.

Open to Adults, Kids and Tots in Group Classes, Private Lessons, Livestream Classes Available.

Director Enrique Alarcon | (203) 341-8900 | 222 Post Rd. West TheDanceCollective | thedancecollectivect.com

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WOOD BIN Solid Wood Furniture

Celebrating 40 Years Founded in 1980

Custom Finished and Ready to Finish Furniture 305 Federal Road Brookfield, CT (203) 775-1770 | woodbinfurniture.com Hours - Sat. 10-5 | Sun. 12-4 | Mon-Fri. 10-6

Winter Sale now in progress FEB R UARY 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / W E ST P O RT

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the art of blogging

THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK (AND PLANNING) IN CONTENT CREATION THAN MEETS THE EYE. ARTICLE BY ANNA BARNES

When I started my blog in 2014, I borrowed a camera from my grad school’s media department and enticed a friend to take photos of me in a stylish outfit outside the Cleveland Art Museum. The joke was on us when we realized after an hour of shooting, my friend hadn’t been holding the shutter button down all the way and we had a total of five photos to work with. In that exact moment I realized there’s a lot more work (and planning) in content creation than meets the eye.

That’s the biggest misconception about bloggers or influencers: a perceived lack of planning. I hate to break it to you but your favorite influencer likely isn’t waltzing around Manhattan in a ballgown and fourinch heels on a daily basis going about her errands. A lot of the content we see on social media is not, repeat NOT spontaneous. And while this is common knowledge, I think it’s best to be open and honest about content planning because life is hard enough without thinking everyone’s picture-perfect lives go on like clockwork around us (the curse of social media).

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Did I mention the exorbitant amount of outtakes? Depending on the outfit and location, I often sort through 50 or more photos to find the winner.

A behind the scenes shot in Kennebunkport, Maine. Yes, my husband graciously takes many of my photos.

I prefer to shoot my content in the mornings before the sun is too high to avoid a Peter Pan-esque shadow dancing on the ground behind me.

But there is an art to being a content creator. I know each blogger has a different method to their madness, but when I plan to shoot a recipe I’ve made it two or three times before shooting and sharing on Bliss & Bellinis to make sure it’s absolutely perfect. My apartment’s kitchen has dark countertops under less than desirable lighting, which makes it hard to get a good photo so I have a piece of white marble that I pull into natural light and set up the recipe in that space. I don’t use any ring lights, so I truly have to cross my fingers it’s not a miserable grey day because I need good, natural light to photograph the dish.

CONTINUED >

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And shooting outfits outside? This one takes a lot of time and effort leading up to actually taking the picture. Besides selecting the exact outfit to showcase, I’ve got to scout a picturesque location, with little foot traffic, and pray the weather cooperates. I work during the week at my corporate job, so the weekends are really all I’ve got to work with.

I also prefer to shoot my content in the mornings before the sun is too high to avoid a Peter Pan-esque shadow dancing on the ground behind me. “Just take pictures inside” you say? Add a small apartment and Covid regulations into that mix and that really shortens the list of potential locations.

I could go on for days about the planning, strategizing, and execution behind being a content creator but I guess revealing all those details is like giving away the recipe to my secret sauce. Long story short you’ve got to be your own account person, stylist, creative director, photographer, photo editor, copywriter, IT department and social media strategist and you’ve got to get pretty good at them all. So just know the creators you choose to follow are putting a lot of effort into creating the recipes, outfits, restaurant recommendations, gift guides, and beautiful images you love to see. And the great part of social media is how easy it is to support your favorite creators; you can just engage with, interact, and share their posts; their works of art. @bliss_and_bellinis

A laughable attempt at the very first blog photoshoot for Bliss & Bellinis back in 2014. This is one of the five images that we captured.

The great part of social media is how easy it is to support your favorite creators; you can just engage with, interact, and share their posts; their works of art.

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LOVE

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CONVENIENT, COMFORTABLE, and CUSTOMIZED AT-HOME VETERINARY CARE FOR DOGS AND CATS in Fairfield County, CT. jess@bespokevetservice.com

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HAIR AND MAKEUP CONCIERGE SERVICES

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events A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in the city.

FEBR UARY 2ND

Pages Through the Ages: “God’s Shadow” by Alan Mikhail

WESTPORT MUSEUM FOR HISTORY AND CULTURE | 7:00 PM Pages Through the Ages is a book discussion group hosted jointly by the Westport Museum for History and Culture and the Library. Discuss God’s Shadow: Sultan Selim, His Ottoman Empire, and the Making of the Modern World by Alan Mikhail, with Bruce Mc-

Guirk and other history buffs. Meetings will alternate between the buildings, so please check the venue prior to attending! WestportHistory.org FEBR UARY 2ND

Free Star Party

WE ST P O RT O B S E RVATO RY, 1 82 B AYB E R RY L A NE | 8 :0 0 P M We’re an all volunteer-run, non-profit organization that’s free and open to the public every Wednesday night from 8-10 pm if the skies are clear.

We do not open when it's expected to be cloudy.

FEBR UARY 5TH

23rd Annual Crossword Contest!

WE ST P O RT L I B R A RY | 1 :0 0 P M Westport's crossword puzzle contest is back in the Library! Enjoy a wordy afternoon with Will Shortz, New York Times crossword puzzle editor. Participants will strive to solve three puzzles during a set time for a chance to compete in the final round. Wordplay games will make the day even more fun! WestportLibrary.org

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We all know family caregivers who are burned out. Caregiving is hard work! In fact, 84% of caregivers describe it as difficult.

The average caregiver provides 20 hours of care each week to their loved one. It’s no wonder, they can find themselves neglecting their own needs.

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events A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in the city.

FEBR UARY 15TH

The DAVINCI Mission to Venus

LIMP IN...RUN OUT SPORTS ORTHOPEDICS PRE/POST OP CARE VESTIBULAR PELVIC FLOOR DRY NEEDLING HOME VISITS ALWAYS 1 ON 1 212-353-8693 zionpt.com

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WAS -C T.O R G | 8 :0 0 P M Launching in 2029, the DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging) mission seeks to understand how Venus formed and evolved, as well as provide data to help determine whether Earth’s sister planet ever had surface oceans of liquid water. Dr. Giada Nichole Arney, Co-deputy PI for the DaVinci mission to Venus, will be joining us via Zoom.

FEBR UARY 16TH

Play With Your Food

MO CA WE ST P O RT | 1 2:0 0 P M Join us at noon for a new season of One Act plays followed by a talkback with the professional cast of actors and director plus a delicious boxed lunch catered by popular local restaurants “to stay or go!” All within the lunch hour (and a half!). JIBproductions.org/copy-of-box-office FEBR UARY 19 TH

A Night at the Museum (Pre-K - Grade 3)

MO CA WE ST P O RT | 6 :0 0 P M Drop your kids for an evening of art activities, a dance party, pizza and games! MoCAWestport.org

Saul Zion, DPT, SMP, CMP, AHC and Jean Paul Desrosiers Free Consultation – zoom or in person 1555 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880 72

EVE N TS

blossomstem.com • (203) 293-4275 24 Railroad Place Westport, Connecticut Follow the flowers • V @blossomstem 2022-2023 Wedding Inquiries being accepted.

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Robin Selden

G A M E DAY

guacamole bar ARTICLE BY ROBIN SELDEN OF MARCIA SELDEN CATERING

Feeding a crowd for your Super Bowl party? This easy recipe will please all of your guests!

INGREDIENTS • 12 Ripe Haas Avocados, mashed • 1 Lime SUGGESTED ADD-INS

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Chopped Garlic Chopped Cilantro Fresh Basil Sliced Scallions Tajin Seasoning Truffle Salt Maldon Salt Pepper Mill Picked Jalapenos Chopped Kale Cojita Cheese Feta Cheese Pomegranate Seeds Kalamata Olives

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Lime Wedges Fresh Lobster Jumbo Lump Crabmeat Crispy Crumbled Bacon Corn Kernels (we like to grill ours) Diced Mango Diced Tomatoes Diced Pineapple Diced Red Onions Diced Vidalia Onions Pico De Galo Chopped Jalapenos Assorted Hot Sauces

DIRECTIONS Mash avocados and add the juice of 1 lime. Put in a bowl that you plan to serve it in. Place your favorite “add ins” in small bowls. Serve with Tortilla, Plantain

MARCIASELDEN.COM

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& Yucca Chips.

Let the fun begin!

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