Archive for November 13th, 2012

Back in the days when high school rocked

Tuesday, November 13, 2012 by:Scott Gargan
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There was a time when area high school students didn’t have to travel to New York City to bask in rock royalty.

It was in the late 1960s/early 1970s, and bands such as The Doors, Cream, The Yard Birds and The Beach Boys had played to packed auditoriums at high schools throughout the region.

In a recent interview with Danbury News-Times, Paul Rotello recalled his experience attending a Doors concert at Danbury High School on Oct. 11, 1967. He remembered seeing Jim Morrison stride up to the microphone in a ruffled, button-down shirt and black-leather pants as the iconic lead singer dove into the band’s first number, “Moonlight Drive.”

“My best friend’s sister turned to Jell-O,” Rotello later recalled.

David Hull, of the recently-reunited 70s-era pop band, The Dirty Angels, had the chance to see Cream, The Animals and Buddy Miles play at Staples High School in Westport, which was then known for its eclectic, bohemian atmosphere.

“It was a really free-thinking time,” said Hull, who went onto perform and tour with Miles, a disciple of Jimi Hendrix.

NOTE: Are you a graduate of a high school in Fairfield County? Do you remember seeing a rock legend perform at your school? Please share your thoughts, or email reporter Scott Gargan at scott.gargan@scni.com.

“Real Housewives” Ramona Singer to raise a glass in Stamford

Tuesday, November 13, 2012 by:Christina Hennessy
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Ramona Singer can relate to those who have yet to find the perfect pinot grigio. For many years, her quest to find the perfect potable remained similarly unfulfilled.

But this “Real Housewives of New York” star decided to take matters into her own hands and last year launched Ramona Pinot Grigio, which is made in the Veneto region of Italy. In October, her first red, Ramona Red: Sangiovese Merlot (suggested retail, $14.99), which — like the white wine — is produced by Opici Wines, began being shipped to national retailers. She described her which was produced in Tuscany, as a fruity, but balanced “mini-Super-Tuscan” with a “smooth finish.”

“Whatever I do I take great pride in,” said Singer, who is one of the original cast members of the show, which airs on Bravo. “I had to make sure I loved it.”

Singer, 55, will be at the BevMax wine and liquor store, 835 E. Main St., Stamford, from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 15. It is one of a number of appearances she has made to support her newest line of products. She also has a Tru Renewal skin care line and two jewelry collections, True Faith and Ramona Singer Jewelry that is featured on HSN.

Singer, who counts more than 337,000 followers on her Twitter account, said she enjoys these events, since it helps her to meet some of those tens of thousands of fans face-to-face. Part meet-and-greet, part free tasting, Singer said she is particularly heartened by the positive feedback she’s received about a product that she had great fun creating.

“I really enjoy getting closer to my fans,” she said, adding that at a recent event there were three generations of the same family who had come out to meet her.

It was largely fans who spurred her to consider putting out a line of wines. A wine aficionado who was not shy about her love of pinot grigio on the show, she said she was getting thousands and thousands of emails and tweets from fans asking her what was her favorite wine.

Now, they know about at least two.

“All the flavors come from me,” she said, noting that before she launched she was not hesitant about sending back samples that did not pass her taste test. A wine aficionado long before she was cast on the show, she said was confident she would put on wine that she herself would love to buy.

“I truly believe a good wine can be had for $10, $12 or $100 dollars,” she said.

View photos from the event HERE

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