Bridgeport’s Downtown Thursdays line-up announced

Wednesday, May 15, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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Live music is returning to McLevy Green this summer.

Downtown Thursdays, Bridgeport’s free annual concert series, kicks off on Thursday, June 6 and continues every Thursday — with the exception of July 4 — until Aug. 29. Concerts start at 6 p.m.

The 12-week series brings a mix of rock, reggae, funk and folk acts from across the Tri-State area to Downtown Bridgeport, creating a carnivalesque atmosphere that lures families and young professionals alike.

“Downtown Thursdays brings top local acts from a variety of musical genres to the heart of our walkable, vibrant downtown neighborhood in historic McLevy Green,” Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said in a statement. “I invite Bridgeport residents and visitors from our neighboring towns to check out a concert this summer, have dinner at one of our excellent restaurants and enjoy a Thursday evening in downtown.”

Check out the line-up, below:

  • June 20 – Natural Wonder (Bridgeport/Stevie Wonder covers); The Chords

  • July 11 – Special guest to be announced…

  • Aug. 29 – Lovewhip (Boston/disco pop, world rock)

 

 

Categories: Local Talent, Music, Outdoors

Alive @ Five 2013 openers announced

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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We’ve already heard and reacted to the news about this year’s Alive @ Five line-up, which includes the Wallflowers, Bret Michaels and Michael McDonald.

Now, the bands that will support the headline acts have been announced, via the Stamford Downtown Special Services District (check them out, below).

The openers were chosen from a pool of 400 submissions, with each band matched up with its corresponding headliner according to genre, according to the DSSD.

The summer concert series is to begin on Thursday, June 20 and continue every Thursday — with the exception of July 4 — until Aug. 15. Attendees age 12 and younger will be admitted free, but must enter before 7 p.m. The openers go on at 5 p.m.

Categories: General

Shelton family competes on ‘Feud’

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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Pictured: With “Family Feud” host Steve Harvey are members of the Baldyga family of Shelton, from left, Kristen, her sister Kellie, her sister Kim, her husband Ken, and her father Ken.

For one Shelton family, “It’s time to play the Feud!”

Taking the stage in front of a live studio audience in Atlanta, the Baldyga family squared off against the Patel family of Chicago in an episode of “Family Feud” airing Tuesday.

“Regardless of winning and losing, it was so much fun,” said Kellie Baldyga, an account director in Norwalk. “It was by far one of the best experiences we had individuals and as a family. It’s definitely one of the top three experiences in our life.”

As for Steve Harvey, the show’s waggish host, Baldyga said, “He was the nicest, most charming guy.”

“It’s like you’re in audience for an eight-hour comedy show every day,” recalled Baldyga, who, along with her family members, sat in the crowd as they waited for their turn to compete. “He makes you feel comfortable on stage.”

The Baldygas got the chance to play on “Family Feud” after winning a contest hosted by Foxwood Resort and Casino last year. As the family learned, the “Feud” starts long before the actual competition.

“You have to re-audition when you get to Atlanta,” Baldyga said. “If you’re not enthusiastic enough, or nervous on the stage, you could be sent home. Even then it’s a gamble.”

Fortunately, The Baldygas succeeded. But did they go on to win the $100,000 prize?

Tune into find out when the Baldygas episode of the “Family Feud” airs Tuesday, May 14 at 10:30 a.m. on Channel 20 WCCT and at 5 p.m. on My 9, WWOR; or on Tuesday, July 2 at 5:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 5 p.m. (check back for information on the channels).

 

Categories: General

One more day to have your say in ‘revolutionary’ campaign

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 by:Christina Hennessy
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OpSailAt right, a flotilla of small craft fill Niantic Bay off East Lyme, Conn., as the USS Carter Hall is moored offshore Friday, July 6, 2012, to kick off festivities in OpSail 2012. Niantic currently tops the list of “Fan Favorite” towns in a contest sponsored by Connecticut’s Office of Tourism. Voting in the competition ends tomorrow. (photo/The Day, Sean D. Elliot)

It appears the smaller the better when it comes to the voting in Connecticut’s “still revolutionary” campaign to pick the top fan-favorite town or city in the state.

Voting ends tomorrow in the program, which is running on the Visit Connecticut Facebook page. As of this post, Niantic is at the top, followed by Mystic. The remaining towns within the top 15, in order, are Putnam, New Haven, Old Saybrook, Wethersfield, Essex, Hartford, New London, Newtown, Willimantic, Wallingford, Bridgeport, Waterbury and Milford.

The top 10 will enjoy a summer of promotion from the state’s office of tourism.

Niantic has been at the top since the contest began last month. The commitment is high in this small village. You can see that dedication in a video that was made with 34 local businesses and community groups (see below). The competition brings attention to the state’s tourism tagline, “Still Revolutionary,” by asking participants to vote for those places that are known for “original ideas, inspiration and innovation,” according to a recent news release. Further, specific businesses, destinations and attractions within those towns and cities can be designated as the best within the best.

This is the first year the state is seeking a top town. Last year, it only sought destinations and attractions, which enabled several Fairfield County sites to enter the top 10, including Stamford’s Curtain Call, Inc. and Westport’s Levitt Pavilion and Westport Country Playhouse.

For those who prefer the pen-and-paper route, you can mail in your vote by including a first and last name, date of birth, telephone number and email address on a 3×5 card. List a town and destination or business that inspires you and mail it by May 15 to “Connecticut Fan Favorite Town” Sweepstakes, 220 East 42nd St., New York, NY 10017 Attn: Jennifer Kohanim.

 

Categories: Event, General, Local Talent, Tourism

‘All My Children’ spends day at the beach

Monday, May 13, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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Since being revived earlier this year, “All My Children” has been filming primarily on location in Stamford’s West Side.

But on Monday, cast members of “AMC” spent a day at the beach — Darien’s Weed Beach to be exact — shooting scenes for an upcoming episode of the popular, and now online-only, soap.

Pictured is director Christopher Goutman with Denyse Tonz (who plays Miranda Montgomery) and Eric Nelsen (who plays AJ Chandler).

“AMC” airs on the Online Network.

Categories: Television

New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast to give Greenwich talk

Monday, May 13, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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New Yorker cartoonist and Ridgefield resident Roz Chast will give a talk at the Greenwich Library Cole Auditorium on Monday, May 13 at 7 p.m.

Chast will speak about her work in the Flinn Gallery exhibition, “Very Short Stories: Conceptual Illustration,” which will be open that evening. There will be a book signing following the talk.

Chast’s cartoons about neuroses and general angst have been running in The New Yorker since 1978. She lives in Ridgefield with her husband, fiction writer Bill Franzen.

The Flinn Gallery is open Sunday, 1-5 p.m.; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Categories: Art

Out and about: Things to see and places to be this weekend

Friday, May 10, 2013 by:Christina Hennessy
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Growing up, Lucie Arnaz did not have far to go to be surrounded by great musicians and great songwriters, she said recently. Early on, this daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz was exposed to the kind of music that teamed winning melodies with moving lyrics.

Arnaz, a Weston resident, is set to appear in Ridgefield on Friday to share some of these classics of the American songbook, but with a twist. She will deliver them with a Latin flavor, honoring her father’s roots. As she noted in a recent article:

He had such a great love of music that all he did was want us to enjoy it with him

Arnaz is not the only musical act set to entertain this weekend. The Fab Faux will be at the Capitol Theatre. Brian LaBlanc will bring out the Diamond on Saturday. Norwalk singer Tangela Smith gives a hometown show on Saturday, which happens to be the same day that Stanwich Congregational Church offers up a spiritual welcome to spring. Barry Manilow can be found at Mohegan Sun.

There’s plenty more music. The Sherman Chamber Ensemble performs Sunday. Nellie McKay comes to the Emelin. Huey Lewis and The News will be in Tarrytown, N.Y., along with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin. The Fairfield County Children’s Choir will share “The Miracle of Singing,” while Musicians from Marlboro will share their talent in Greenwich. There also will be a tribute to Chet Baker in Westport.

Robert Dean, Tom Shillue, Mike Epps, Donnell Rawlings, Nazareth, Lily Tomlin and Jodi Weiner are some of the comics making their way to stages throughout the state. On stage you can find “Cirque Ziva,” “Seascape,” “The Dixie Swim Club,” “30! TAW Celebrates,” “Of Mice and Men,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Showstoppers on Stage” all on area stages.

If you plan to go out, there is the Norwalk Regional Tree Festival and art exhibitions up on display at the Glass House grounds. There is a special evening of art and music planned at the site for Friday. Meanwhile, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is hosting a Mother’s Day event (consider this a reminder: Mother’s Day is Sunday.) The Bartlett Arboretum will be hosting a plant sale, too. Or, even if you plan to stay in, you can hear from someone who has his eyes to the outside. Audubon Greenwich will welcome Alvaro Jaramillo, senior biologist at the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, for a talk about birder’s brains.

Dance events include the Center Stage showcase in Stamford, “Dance Across China” in Ridgefield and a performance of “Snow White” in Purchase, N.Y. The visual arts offer up a number of events, as well, including several openings and ongoing shows. These include new shows at the Loft Artists Association, New Canaan Library, Bruce Museum, and Flinn Gallery and Stamford’s Mayor’s Gallery.

If you are looking for a cool day trip, get yourself onto a train into Grand Central to check out the Parade of Trains, just one of many events scheduled this year to honor the terminal’s 100th anniversary.

Until next time …

 

 

Categories: Art , Comedy , Dance , Event , General | More

Baby goats hobnob with Kathie Lee and Hoda on ‘Today’ show

Friday, May 10, 2013 by:Scott Gargan
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As we reported yesterday, the Stamford Museum & Nature Center‘s baby goats, Kathie Lee and Hoda, surprised their celebrity namesakes on an episode of the ‘Today’ show that aired this morning.

After expressing disbelief over her recent induction into the Maxim Hot 100 list, Hoda Kotb turned her attention to the news of the newborns.

“We have reached a new level, this doesn’t happen all the time — two baby girl goats were born to the Stamford Museum & Nature Center in Connecticut,” she said with the inflection of a proud mother. “They were asking people, ‘What should we name the two girl goats?’ And guess what, they decided to name them after us.”

Victoria Marr, co-manager of Heckscher Farm at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center, then cut in with the babies, surprising Kotb, who shrieked, “The goats are here!”

“All my life I’ve wanted my own goat!,” Gifford quipped. “This is better than the Maxim list!”

To meet Kathie Lee and Hoda (the goats), come to SM&NC’s Spring on the Farm Festival weekend on Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19.

See the video of from the “Today” show, below (skip to the 2:20 mark):

Categories: Outdoors, Television
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