Harbor View Under the Sun Return to Longshore as La Plage Patio Opens

James Bairaktaris 8/27/21 James Bairaktaris 8/27/21

Harbor View Under the Sun Return to Longshore as La Plage Patio Opens

Hicham Amaaou, La Plage partner and regional director for the Greenwich Hospitality Group - which operates the restaurant - serves Kate And Diane of Greenwich a glass of Cremant de Loire sparkling rosé from the newly opened patio. La Plage opened their dining room earlier this month in the former Pearl space at the Inn at Longshore, with the patio opening last night - bringing harbor views back to the dinner hour. Photo by JC Martin for WestportLocal.com

James Bairaktaris 8/22/21 James Bairaktaris 8/22/21

Black Duck Weathers Hurricane; Floor No More Crooked than Usual

The Black Duck Cafe on Riverside Avenue was lively tonight as blue skies appeared above the nearly 200-year-old barge. The “Duck” has served patrons from its perch beneath the I-95 overpass for nearly five decades - weathering dozens of blizzards, floods, and hurricanes (or near-misses, like Henri). Although locals still wonder when the old ice barge may slide off its foundation into the Saugatuck, the building is virtually unchanged year after year, storm after storm. A traditional bar and grill, the restaurant has live music every Sunday from 6 until 8 in the evenings, which didn’t miss a beat tonight as the Saugatuck institution opened up like it always does - Hurricane threat or not. The neighborhood watering hole nearly shut down in Fall of 2018 due to financial troubles, but after negotiations between creditors, landlord and investors - Barge Burgers and beers continued to slide across the bar as an agreement allowed to keep the business in operation. It grew to national fame in 2011 when chef Guy Fieri featured the Duck on his Food Network show: Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. WestportLocal.com photo — The Black Duck Cafe on Riverside Avenue was lively tonight as blue skies appeared above the nearly 200-year-old barge. The “Duck” has served patrons from its perch beneath the I-95 overpass for nearly five decades - weathering dozens of blizzards, floods, and hurricanes (or near-misses, like Henri). Although locals still wonder when the old ice barge may slide off its foundation into the Saugatuck, the building is virtually unchanged year after year, storm after storm.
A traditional bar and grill, the restaurant has live music every Sunday from 6 until 8 in the evenings, which didn’t miss a beat tonight as the Saugatuck institution opened up like it always does - Hurricane threat or not. The neighborhood watering hole nearly shut down in Fall of 2018 due to financial troubles, but after negotiations between creditors, landlord and investors - Barge Burgers and beers continued to slide across the bar as an agreement allowed to keep the business in operation. It grew to national fame in 2011 when chef Guy Fieri featured the Duck on his Food Network show: Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. WestportLocal.com photo

James Bairaktaris 8/15/21 James Bairaktaris 8/15/21

Mrs. London’s Bakery: On Target for Mid-September Opening

After nearly six months of Westporters wondering “Where is Mrs. London?”, Max London answered the call. “We are currently targeting a mid September opening” he said in an email this week, citing the universal pandemic problem of delayed construction and equipment deliveries slowing their doors’ opening on Church Lane. London’s parents, Wendy and Michael London, founded the artisan bakery in 1977 in Saratoga Springs, New York - with Max taking over operations alongside an investor in 2014. Click here for the March 2021 New Neighbors piece on Mrs. London’s.

James Bairaktaris 8/14/21 James Bairaktaris 8/14/21

This, or This? Downtown Shopping Day Underway on Main Street

Local shops, vendors, restaurants, musicians, and local organizations were beating the heat today under the sale-tents throughout Main Street. The event ends at 5:00 today and includes live music, a sidewalk bar, and sales from dozens of members of the downtown community. The Downtown Shopping Days are sponsored by the Westport Downtown Association, and have been a big hit with bargain hunters throughout the summer season.