Issuu

D E C E M B E R 2 02 0

MICHAEL

BOLTON

Brings Holiday Cheer and Charity

OF WE S T P OR T, C T

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

DECEMBER 2020 PUBLISHER

Marisa MacLean | marisa.maclean@lifestylepubs.com EDITOR

Robin Moyer Chung | robin.chung@lifestylepubs.com

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS FINALLY HERE! While festive and fun, this time can also be stressful. There’s a lot to do and we’re here to help! This month’s issue includes a comprehensive gift guide for everyone on your list. You can find most of the items here in our community. We are all about shopping local and supporting each other. Savvy + Grace and Awesome Toys and Gifts are two shops that have had to completely restructure their business models this year. See how they’ve reinvented themselves and are gearing up to make this holiday season the best, and easiest, gift-giving

AD DESIGNER

Miranda Read L AYO UT DESIGNER

Emily Lisenbee CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Robin Moyer Chung, Crystal Thompson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mindy Briar, John Videler

experience yet. We also tour one of our town’s most striking waterfront houses. Our Open House feature will have you dreaming of this home for the holidays. And we wouldn’t leave you without winter decorating tips and recipes. Check out our holiday planter feature on page 22. The advice for transforming your entryway will have your home feeling like a winter wonderland in no time. This year in particular it’s important to give back and support local non-profit organizations. We feature two important charities. Make-A-Wish CT fulfills the wishes of children with a critical illness between the ages of 2 1/2 and 18 years old. Follow us as we speak with families that have had their wishes granted. Our cover story features the king of romance, Michael Bolton. But we’re not talking music with him in this issue. This month, Michael shares his non-profit, Michael Bolton Charities, with us. Michael’s organization has supported numerous programs for chil-

CORPORATE TEAM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

dren and women at risk due to domestic, physical and emotional abuse. In this article

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

he discusses his motivation for starting the organization over two decades ago. Turn to

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

page 42 to learn how Westport’s most famous resident has helped those who need it

AD MANAGER Chad Jensen

most and how you can participate.

REGIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Eric Williams

We hope receiving this magazine in the mail gives you an excuse to put your feet up,

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

relax, and read about the magnificent things happening in our community. Happy Holidays, Westport. Can’t wait to see you in 2021! 514 W 26TH ST., KANSAS CITY, MO

ON THE COVER Michael Bolton in his Westport home

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MINDY BRIAR 10

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

CityLifestyle.com/Westport

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 areas’ 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 accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

INSIDE THE ISSUE DECEMBER 2020

FEATURES 34 Resolution: Gifts Relaxing, Socializing, Exercising, and Having Fun

42 Michael Bolton Charities Creating a Safe Place from the Storm

50 Fabulous Home for the Holidays 25 Surf Road in Westport

42 56

56 Toy Story How Awesome Toys and Gifts Gears Up for Happy, Hectic Holidays

DEPARTMENTS 10

Lifestyle Letter

Good Times

Around Town

22 Renovate & Refine 28 Trend Setter 34 Localâ€™s Choice 50 Open House 56 Locals Only 62 Giving Back 66 Culinary Creations

GOOD TIMES

Catch A Lift Movie Night For over a decade the Catch A Lift Fund (CAL) has provided Veterans holistic methods of healing their injuries, mentally, physically and spiritually. CAL promotes a healthy lifestyle focused on core pillars: Nutrition, Fitness, Emotional Wellness & Community. To raise money for CAL, the Westport chapter held a fun-filled Remarkable Theatre movie night on September 16, featuring Top Gun.

Pink Aid's Semi-Virtual 10th Anniversary Celebration

Pink Aid’s Semi-Virtual 10th Anniversary Celebration was broadcast on October 10 to hundreds of supporters who purchased event links and Party Packages. An amazing line-up of guest hosts and a shout out from Billy Joel were a few of the highlights. A prerecorded “Celebration of Life Fashion Show” featured women recovering from breast cancer.

1. Keeping safe at Party Box Pickup! | 2. Chairs Cindy Citrone and Kim Meier. | 3. Nicole and Craig Bonn and guests. (Photo: Harley Bonn)

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Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

GOOD TIMES

World Peace Art Opening at MoCA Westport

On October 8, MoCA opened its newest exhibit, World Peace. Curated to appear together for the first time, the works in World Peace reflect the culture of identity and the divided and fractured political climate of America’s past and present. This timely and compelling multi-media exhibition features both local and world-renowned artists.

1. Suni Munshani, John Marion, Andrea Pouilot and Liz Leggett. | 2. State Senator Will Haskell, exhibition co-curators Todd von Ammon, Liz Leggett and Ruth Mannes. | 3. Kathie Bennewitz, Town Curator of Westport Public Arts Collection Committee, with husband Scott Bennewitz.

Winton Marsalis at MoCA Westport On Friday, October 2 MoCA Westport featured the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Septet with Wynton Marsalis. Their program, "Sound of Democracy" was a unique repertoire focused on freedom and democracy, played for the first time in Connecticut. Proceeds from this event will support MoCA Westport, who could not hold their traditional gala this year, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. (Photos: Dylan Goodman)

1. Obed Calvaire. | 2. Wynton Marsalis. | 3. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

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Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

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AROUND TOWN

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ROWAN CENTER'S ANNUAL "GINGERBREAD HOUSES AND COCKTAILS FOR A CAUSE" Please join The Rowan Center on December 3, 2020 for the 12th Annual "Gingerbread Houses and Cocktails for a Cause.” Guests will receive a ready-to-decorate gingerbread house, icing, decorations and champagne while joining virtually from the comfort of their homes. Co-chairs Kim Ebbesen, Pam Graber, Grace Leone, and the committee are excited to bring this fun event to everyone and promote awareness of TRC's services. TRC provides free counseling and advocacy services to local survivors of sexual violence, as well as prevention education classes for the greater community.

For tickets and information, visit

TheRowanCenter.org.

WESTPORT LIBRARY PRESENTS THE POWER OF SPORTS (VIRTUAL EVENT)

IN STORE POP UP THROUGH CHRISTMAS AT BESPOKE DESIGNS, 5A SCONSET SQUARE Home. Holidays. Entertaining. Whether a birthday, backyard wedding, or intimate family holiday celebration let’s celebrate the ones we love. Together with Diane James Home and Hôtel Silver

CBS News correspondent Jeff Pegues sits down

Ltd Bespoke invite you to an in-store pop up. An

with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Dave

outstanding collection of vintage silver from small

Winfield, Los Angeles Sparks Forward Candace

dishes perfect for nibbles and noshes to large

Parker, and former NBA star Charles Smith to dis-

serving platters. Each piece has a story to tell.

cuss how George Floyd’s death sparked a social

Layered in together with “fresh” picked autumn

justice movement in sports. Athletes are using their

bouquets in vessels perfect for any interior style.

power and influence to mobilize fans. Is this a posi-

And of course Bespoke is known for creating the

tive development for major league sports or should

most wonderful holiday cards and invitations and

the stars just “shut up and dribble?”

everything paper you can imagine.

Be part of this fascinating conversation that goes beyond the sports arena and into the heart of American culture. Tuesday, December 1 at 7:00 PM, Register at Crowdcast.io/e/The-Power-of-Sports-Jeff

Would you like to get in touch with us? We would love to hear from you! Contact us at CityLifestyle.com/ Westport using the Get In Touch link and let us know what you think.

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

FESTIVE RENOVATE & REFINE

ARTICLE ROBIN MOYER CHUNG PHOTOGRAPHY JOHN VIDELER

PORCH DECOR PLANTED BY MAURA PUNCHES UP PLANTERS

THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN

credits her knowledge of gardening to her

EVERYTHING IN OUR PLANTERS DIE.

mother and grandmother, and her passion

Actually, they died around Halloween, but

for planters to an interior designer friend for

this is the time of year we step outside

whom she assisted.

and notice it.

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

We asked her to spruce up two completely

We’re clearly not keeping up with those

dismal planters. The results far surpassed

things and we’re not alone. Maura, the

anything else that has ever graced these

planter designer of Planted by Maura knows

particular vessels. So we asked for some tips

this, too. That’s why her business has

and advice, should we ever decide to tackle

rocketed since she started last March. She

them again on our own.

TIP #1 When choosing a front entry, pool or patio container take into account color, scale and vibe. Consider placement: shade or sun, plant color, texture. Also, does it need to be protected from deer? CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Westport

RENOVATE & REFINE (CONTINUED)

TIP #2 Watering and maintenance is critical to successful planters. Schedule the watering times on your phone so you won’t forget your plant babies.

TIP #3 Refresh your planters seasonally. I love looking forward to a fresh new look for spring, summer, fall and winter: + Spring with a pop of color or some curly willow for height. + Summer blooms with color! + Fall cabbage and a pumpkin or two. + Winter evergreens with white accents feel so festive and crisp like the winter air.

Beautiful new plantings! 24

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” - Edith Sitwell

There’s no place like home for the Holidays! May your Holidays and the New Year be filled with health, happiness, peace and love!

CONTACT INFO instagram @plantedbymaura

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Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

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TREND SETTER

A B as k e t f o r A l l

SEASONS

ARTICLE ROBIN MOYER CHUNG

SAVVY + GRACE'S FABULOUS CUSTOM BASKETS

Annette Norton. (Photo: Mindy Briar)

Savvy + Grace (Photo: Mindy Briar) 28

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

Westport-themed basket.

PEOPLE WHO KNOW A LOT ABOUT WINE, OR

downtown scene. For over three years she’s worked

WHO WANT TO APPEAR TO, THROW AROUND

tirelessly to stock a wide selection of, like, every-

THE TERM “TERROIR.” The term refers to the

thing, at excellent price points and free gift-wrap-

conditions in which a grape is grown that affects

ping. And it was working - a loyal cadre of patrons

its flavor. Terroir can apply to other foods as well,

hardly looked beyond her shop for gifts and goods.

so I’m assuming that gives us license to use it

According to one of these customers, Caroline

wherever else we want.

Barney, “Annette has created a gem for us here in

For instance, Main Street. All of those empty stores staring blankly at us while we shop is scary and sad. Covid, internet, and rent have made down-

Westport and it’s the ultimate experience in local love when you step into her shop.” Then: Quarantine.

town’s terroir “lousy.” However, unlike vineyards

“I didn’t know what to do!” admits Annette. A

and possibly any other land to which terroir applies,

website, sure, but she needed more. Then, with

there are small patches of “good” terroir polka-dot-

Easter around the corner, she bought every basket

ted around the downtown.

she could find and stuffed them with fun, age-ap-

Upon one of these patches is Savvy + Grace.

propriate items plucked from her shelves. “They

Its owner, Annette Norton, has been the unofficial

were over-the-top! My daughter said, ‘It’s like a

cheerleader of restoring Westport’s once-bustling

Kardashian Easter.’”

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Westport

TREND SETTER (CONTINUED)

Annette chatting with WLM Editor Robin Moyer Chung for this article.

She had 100 orders - that’s a lot of custom baskets. Annette recalls, “I thought, ‘This is a sign everything’s going to be okay.’” Mother’s Day came with more baskets: UGG robes and slippers, “Mom” sweatshirts, Madeleine Thompson cashmere sweaters. Basket orders continue for other life events. A basket for an ill friend contained weighted aromatherapy “hugs” and lotions. A basket to celebrate a new job filled with a Swell bottle, Kate spade pens, flask, and a craft cocktail in a jar (to fill the Swell bottle… I mean the flask.) And, of course, a Westport basket. If you don’t have a reason to buy a custom basket, how about this: “Because”. Thematically, it includes whatever you want. Annette can help you find a lot of great product for a basket like that. 30

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

Savvy + Grace face masks.

Real Housewives of Westport wine glass.

CityLifestyle.com/Westport

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Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

LOCAL’S CHOICE

Resolution: GIFTS DID YOU READ OUR TOY STORY ARTICLE? It's going to be big year for gift-giving! So here are some ideas for adult-oriented local-ish gifts, from $9 to "price upon request," tiny phones to gold lamé socks. Let's resolve to enjoy matter what it tries to throw at us.

RELAXING, SOCIALIZING, EXERCISING, AND HAVING FUN

Y DA

LIDAYS HAP HO PY

YS HAPPY H DA OL LI I 34

the most wonderful time of the year - no

APPY HOLI DA S H YS

Y HOLIDAYS PP HA HA P

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

ARTICLE ROBIN MOYER CHUNG

g i f t s fo r

R E S O LU T I O N: S O C I ALI Z E

1. ENGRAVED BELL’INVITO PUCKER ENGRAVED STATIONARY, Bespoke, $60 | 2. MINI SMARTPHONE 3G MOBILE PHONE, $88.50 | 3. CRUDITÉ PLATTER, TheHomeCookCT.com, price upon request | 4. GIANT TUMBLING GAME, Anthropologie, $50 | 5. CORN HOLE SET, TheTwoOhThree.com, $225 | 6. THE GRINCH DINNERWARE, Williams Sonoma, starting at $12.95 | 7. PINK FLAMINGO PARTY CRACKERS, Etsy, ShopRinconEvents, $26 | 8. TRUDEAU DUO TONE FLORAL WINE CHARMS, Amazon.com, Set of 12, $8.99 | 9. BARTACO TAKE-HOME MARGARITA KIT FOR 6, $45, order.bartaco.com

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Westport

RESOLUTION: GIFTS (CONTINUED)

g i f t s fo r

RESOLUTION: HAVE FUN

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

g i f t s fo r

RESOLUTION: EXERCISE

1. COLOR BLOCKED CANTEEN, She La La, $34.95 | 2. FAST & FREE TIGHTS 28”, Lululemon, $128 | 3. MADEWELL X KULE HOODIE, Madewell, $168 | 4. SPORTS BRA WITH CRYSTAL STRAPS, Shoes ‘n’ More, $40 | 5. JOYRIDE MEMBER BIKE, Joyridestudio.com, $1,999 | 6. SAUCONY KILKENNY XC8, Fleet Feet, $65 | 7. FPM SPECIAL EDITION PILATES STATION, Mitchells, price on request | 8. GIMME 10 DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE ROLLER, Amazon.com, $22.99 | 9. THE ROWHOUSE, 3 classes for $35 (subject to change)

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Westport

RESOLUTION: GIFTS (CONTINUED)

g i f t s fo r

RESOLUTION: REL AX

1. CASHMERE BLANKET, Kerri Rosenthal, $628 | 2. ARIANA BOHLING ALPACA SLIPPERS, Bungalow, $198 | 3. COMPO SWEATSHIRT, Savvy + Grace, $38.95 | 4. SWEET DREAMS SLEEP SET, Anthropologie, $128 | 5. 1000 MG CBD GUMMIES, Franny’s Farmacy, 16 oz., $99 | 6. A SYMPHONY OF HITS, MichaelBolton.com, $13.95 | 7. DREAM SPA GIFT CERTIFICATE, any amount | 8. ZIGI & MARAIS ELLA READING GLASSES, $38 | 9. SEAGLASS STARS PILLOW (can double as napping aid), Fig Linens and Home, $293

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

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ARTICLE ROBIN MOYER CHUNG | PHOTOGRAPHY MINDY BRIAR

MICHAEL BO LT O N CHARITIES

CREATING A SAFE PLACE FROM THE STORM

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

WHEN

WESTPORT

RESIDENT

AND

MULTIPLE GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING SINGER AND SONGWRITER MICHAEL BOLTON WAS 21, HE HAD RELEASED THREE ALBUMS AND BECOME A FATHER TO HIS FIRST DAUGHTER. Heady accomplishments, no doubt. Yet he says of a photo in which he’s holding an acoustic guitar and singing to his baby girl “In [the photo] I’m thinking, ‘She doesn’t know I can’t afford our rent.’ I was struggling financially to stay alive.” Despite his albums for major record labels, which floundered and flopped despite his talent, despite his notorious coif, Michael struggled for years to gain traction in the music industry. Meanwhile, his family grew from one to three daughters. With paychecks cobbled together from gigs and voice lessons, he managed - barely - to forfend eviction. It wasn’t until his oldest daughter turned 12, he 34, that his song “That’s What Love Is All About” kick-started his rise to contemporary music history. He became the longlocked crooner of pop ballads for which a generation of romantics swoon. Michael was often invited to parlay his fame into raising funds for causes such as juvenile diabetes and MS. One evening he took a mental “snapshot” of his surroundings: he was performing with Ray Charles and Whitney Houston, seated with Presidents Ford and Reagan. It was in that moment he realized he had the notoriety and fame to raise money not only for his friends’ charities, but also for his personal altruistic objectives. In 1993 he created Michael Bolton Charities (MBC) with a simple personal mission: alleviate poverty to avoid homelessness. Love may be blind, but the sting of destitution and fear of living on the streets are not. We, as consumers of pop-culture fairytales, are conditioned to glamorize the scratching and scrapping of embryonic rock stars. But, as Michael knows too well, nothing is glamorous when it compromises the well-being of children.

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Westport

MICHAEL BOLTON CHARITIES (CONTINUED)

He hired Jackie Smaga as executive director, who con-

+ Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): Michael has

tinues working with him today. Jackie researched home-

traveled to DC three times and testified before Congress

less shelters to determine which facilities MBC should

in support of the landmark VAWA to maintain necessary

fund. Her research uncovered a heartbreaking number of

legal and safety measures for women victims of abuse

women and children who were victims of domestic abuse.

and violence. As well, he encourages men to step up and

Michael, with three daughters and raised by a single

speak out against abuses toward the women in their lives.

mother, was shocked. “I wasn’t remotely aware of the vio-

Of each project, Jackie insists, “Michael’s commitment

lence women and children were experiencing at home. An

is incredible, his passion is incredible. He’s deeply involved

irony never far from my conscience: when we go home we

in every decision made, he doesn’t just lend his name.”

shut the door to our sanctuary and we’re safe. When those

One of these decisions was creating a music therapy

who experience domestic violence shut the door, they’re

program for kids, titled “Beyond Trauma: Healing Through

in the most dangerous place.”

Music (BT)”. Growing up in New Haven, Michael’s interest

Further, through a collaborative study they learned that

in music and maintaining a healthy voice helped him avert

many single mothers in the shelters are cognitively-im-

drugs and other destructive behaviors that hurt a number

paired. Shelter workers at that time weren’t universally

of his peers. “Music was a saving grace. The distractions

aware of, or addressing, the mental incapacitation of the

and the dangers fall away because your love for music is

chronically homeless. These women could not manage a

so strong,” he explains. Perhaps the saving grace of music

family without hours of specialized training from a family

could help children of domestic abuse?

advocate; removing them from the relative protection of a shelter would put them at heightened risk of danger. Equipped with this information, several goals for MBC emerged: help women and kids at risk, support family advocates, and provide funding to work with these families until they learn to be independent. Today, MBC has raised over $10 million and funded nearly l00 charities and organizations, including:

homes are inherently distrustful of adults and have low esteem, making a relationship with a “talk” therapist challenging. With music, however, “we release oxytocin, which is the hormone that makes us feel trust and connectedness with each other,” explains MBC music therapist Courtney Biddle, MMT, MT-BC.

+ Columbus House/Sojourner’s House: A home for

“All the aspects of music therapy, whether it’s learning

women suffering from violence, abuse, AIDS and cognitive

an instrument, discussing a meaningful lyric, writing a

limitations. Trained staff offers psychiatric counseling, com-

song/rap, creating beats, or playing improvised music,

munity team-building and other services to help them inde-

help students to access and often transform their emo-

pendently live with their families. Says a former resident,

tions. Playing music is often joyful and can dramatically

“Everything I gained from the classes, meetings, and even

shift a student’s mood. Having the courage to create

doing the chores helped me to reclaim control over my life.”

music in the moment helps students connect with others

+ Mt. Sinai Sexual Assault & Victims Intervention

as well as learn to trust themselves more,” BT Director Cyd

Program: Provides case management, therapy, education, and other services to help sexually exploited or trafficked youth.

Kids can be difficult to reach, especially those who have witnessed or are victims of violence. Children from abusive

Slotoroff, MT-BC explains Further, “The rhythmic aspect of playing music can help students increase their internal organization”

+ New Haven Family Justice Center (FJC): A “one-stop

Success stories abound: a 7th grader tells Courtney,

shopping center” modeled after a center in Brooklyn.

“The whole rest of the school feels like Hell, but this room

According to Jackie, “If a woman needs help she can

(music therapy room) feels like Heaven.” A high-schooler

walk in the door and get all the help she needs right

in an exceptionally difficult situation tells Cyd how music

there.” Why is it important? “It takes a lot of guts for a

“reminds me how human I am; makes me an optimist.”

woman to walk in the door in the first place. If she gets

With music, says Cyd, “They become empowered and

shoved around she may give up.”

learn to trust themselves more.”

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

Michael Bolton and Music Therapy participant Miguel Robles. (Photo: Stuart Walls Woodstock Studios)

Del Bryant, former President & CEO of BMI, recipient of 2011 Michael Bolton Charities Lifetime Achievement Award, Nick Jonas, Michael Bolton and Carolyn Bryant. (Photo: Stuart Walls - Woodstock Studios)

Ray Charles and Michael Bolton. Photo: the Ray Charles Foundation

Michael Bolton and Clint Eastwood at the 2011 MBC Benefit concert and celebrity golf classic in Reno, NV. (Photo: Stuart Walls - Woodstock Studios)

Whitney Houston and Michael Bolton. (Photo: Ron Galella)

At a rally for reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). (Photo: Jim Watson/AFP/GettyImages.)

Michael and his Daughter Isa. Photo in frame by Bree Belford

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Westport

MICHAEL BOLTON CHARITIES (CONTINUED)

Now we’re on the cusp of a new decade and MBC is moving firmly into the future. Today, MBC is more relevant than ever. Quarantine has forced many women and children into untenable yet unavoidable situations. On Saturday, December 12 at 7 PM Michael is hosting Chords of Hope: A Quarantunes Virtual Special Event to raise awareness and funds for MBC. This event is part of the extraordinary Richard and Demi Weitz Quarantunes initiative which has raised over $10 million for COVID-19 and social relief organizations during quarantine. The event will feature celebrities, musical performances, and notable honorees. Please visit ChordsOfHope.org for tickets and more information. Beyond COVID-19 relief, Michael’s “overall big picture goals” are to increase the music program to reach more kids. “If I could, I would create Beyond Trauma 100-fold.” MBC also plans to develop an in-school program, educating boys on the causes of domestic violence and how to control the emotional and psychological impulses that lead to abuse. He envisions including sports and other role models telling young men, “you can’t be proud of yourself if you’re violent.” A year ago, Michael read a poem written by a student in the program. The poem was about being broken. But it ended with Now I want to live. “We all have relative hardships,” Michael says, “When are we in the middle of the afternoon writing down, ‘Now I want to live’?” SPECIAL NOTES: You may not have known about Michael Bolton Charities. If you did know, you may not have known much about it. Here’s what else you may not know about Michael Bolton: “I am a hopeless romantic and at the same time I’ve always been a comic. There’s not a principal in elementary school who couldn’t throw me out.” For further evidence, watch his Jack Sparrow video (collaboration with The Lonely Island - Youtube.com/ watch?v=GI6CfKcMhjY). And check out “Michael Bolton’s Big Sexy Valentine’s Day Special” on Netflix (Netflix.com/ watch/80151370?source=35). (Though wildly funny, do not let your kids watch them. Seriously.) Also, two of his daughters own retail stores - and who doesn’t love to shop? Isa owns Loved Boutique in Branford and Taryn owns Around the Rosy, for children, in Westport. MichaelBoltonCharities.com ChordsOfHope.org 46

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

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Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

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OPEN HOUSE

PHOTOGRAPHY CT PLANS

ARTICLE ROBIN MOYER CHUNG

Fabulous

Private terrace off the master bedroom.

Home for the Holidays 25 SURF ROAD IN WESTPORT

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

DEAR HOLIDAY FAIRY, This home is what I want for Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa. I’m sure you were hoping I’d ask for towels or an electric toothbrush, but houses like this rarely come on the market and I think I’ve earned a gift like this. No need to to discuss why, just trust me. It’s right smack on the water but you don’t have to worry about flooding: because of the retaining walls, water has never gone above the sea grass out there. Which is lovely, isn’t it? I could stare at the backyard and the water for hours though the enormous window in the living room. Or the dining room. Or almost anywhere, really - there are a lot of windows because, holy cow, what a view!! (The woman who’s selling it looked at 43 waterfront properties before landing on this lot. Fair to say she’s an expert on residential water optics.) It was built in 2007 and is in excellent condition. Experience has revealed I’m not a fan of living through a re-model, so check that box! It’ll be 8,000 square feet once I complete the third floor (2,400 square feet of open floor space)! I might make it into an enormous guest suite, or one of those adult hide-outs that are becoming popular. It’s plumbed for an elevator so I can easily access the kitchen without running into people (i.e. kids) on the staircase. When I’m not hiding from my kids I can swim with them off the dock or in the backyard pool. Let me guess: you’re thinking, “A pool on Surf Road? Impossible!” And you’d be right - today. But an earlier zoning regulation was granted not only for the pool but a three car garage. Sweet, right? Oh! It has two laundry rooms! One on the first floor, one on the second floor. I might opt to use the 1st floor laundry for myself and let my kids choke the 2nd floor laundry with their piles of dirty clothes. I’m so sick of clawing a path through their smelly mess to find the washer and dryer. You know a separate laundry room has been a dream of mine for years. It has big closets, radiant heated bathroom floors, Subzero and Wolf appliances in the kitchen and, best of all, a large butler’s pantry for lots of tableware. I know you don’t think I need any more dishes, but I really do. The dining room is beautiful so I want to have dinner parties. (side note: can I keep the furniture?) and there are endless possibilities: pool parties, boating parties, etc. Which reminds me, next year I’m asking for matching paddle boards. I mean, I can dock a boat here but I have modest needs. Thank you and Happy Holidays! P.S. If I can’t have the whole thing, I’ll settle for the master bedroom with huge picture windows and the private deck. Staging: House Whisperers

CONTINUED >

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t, en sid

Raveis lliam i W

Marilyn Heffers , S

ale s

Vic e

Pr e

OPEN HOUSE (CONTINUED)

Backyard lap pool.

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

Marilyn Heffers, Sales Vice President, William Raveis marilyn.heffers@raveis.com

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Happy Holidays from Earth Animal The Best Dog & Cat Foods • Fresh Baked Organic Cookies • USA Treats & Chews Wild Bird Seed & Feeders • Leashes, Collars, & Beds Toys & Gifts for people too!

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SHOP DOWNTOWN WESTPORT HOLIDAY SHOPPING IS SO MUCH BETTER IN PERSON!

visit WestportDMA.com to learn about new stores and other activities! 54

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

WESTPORT USA

by Frankie Vinci at Westport River Gallery

bedford square, westport

whipsalon.com

One Riverside Ave â€¢ 203.226.6934 CityLifestyle.com/Westport

LOCALS ONLY

TO Y S T O RY

HOW AWESOME TOYS AND GIFTS GEARS UP FOR HAPPY, HECTIC HOLIDAYS

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

ARTICLE ROBIN MOYER CHUNG HEY, PARENTS — GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS.

PHOTOGRAPHY JOHN VIDELER

Good news is, industry cognoscenti predict it’ll be a banner holiday season this year. After months of drive-by birthdays and celebrations the pent-up demand for extravagance and gifts will explode when winter hits. Bad news is, you’re responsible for making it happen. I’m not a Scrooge; I love the holidays. But let’s collectively admit they’re exhausting. It’s Newton’s Thirdish Law: every gift has an equal and opposite price tag, every party has an equal and opposite clean-up day. Regardless, the nascent days of December, before Newton starts kicking the tires, will find us giddily shopping for presents and trappings, excited by the prospect of laughter, cheer, and indulgence of every sort. This is the time to start shopping, finish early, and curl up by the fire with whatever sugarplums turn you on. Don’t know where to start? I have an idea. Awesome Toys and Gifts (Awesome). I know, I know: a toy store is a toy store and why not click through the internet and make it easy? Well, you’ve clearly never been to Awesome. Walking through their modest storefront is like entering Narnia through the wardrobe. The store is, like, huge and filled with items designed solely to delight and amuse. It inspires. It energizes. Put another way: my kids aged out of toys a couple of years ago. My toy-buying days are over. Yet I still left the store with a bag full of stuff and a container of jalapeño-garlic crickets. These crickets come in five different flavors. An enormous wall o’ games runs perpendicular to a giant display of puzzles. There are baby Yodas and Fubbles and Springlings and Ninja Warrior equipment. Battery-activated luxury kid cars with remote control steering for helicopter parents share space with Chula hoops that are three times the size of regular hula hoops but still intended for one person

Owner Nick Tarzia.

(with enviable core strength). Games for babies, games for kids, classic games for families, and stretch-your-brain strategic games for teens and young adults. The man behind the magic, Nick Tarzia, details his two success strategies for today’s challenging toyscape. First, “Free delivery, free batteries, free gift wrapping, free birthday card.” “I bought a Barbie Dream House,” one customer gushed. “It took up over half my trunk - and they wrapped it!” Though she opted to pick it up curbside they will happily deliver anything in Westport and Weston if you spend over $25. “I grew up in the pizza business,” says Nick, “we’d cook and deliver a pizza in 40 minutes - why can’t you do that to a gift?” Second, Nick shifted focus from Awesome the store to their comprehensive website which lists a quadrillion toys. Nick recounts, “When the state told us we had to close for walk-in business our online sales and free same day delivery took off.” CONTINUED >

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LOCALS ONLY (CONTINUED)

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

AS WELL, THEY BOLSTERED OFFERINGS OF HIS FIVE QUINTESSENTIAL COVID CATEGORIES: 1. Puzzles 2. Legos 3. Arts & crafts 4. Education books (Kuman, Brainquest) 5. Games Speaking of Legos, Nick’s expecting 320 cases of the coveted blocks, which translates to roughly 1,000 sets. That’s a lot of Legos. But he’s stocking up because COVID is gumming up the supply lines in Mexico and Texas and no number of education books will make a kid forget (s)he wants a Lego kit. We happen to be sitting at tables initially used for the coffee bar and birthday parties. They are now pushed to the wall and used for interviews with Westport Lifestyle. But they’ll be back, because retail, according to Nick, will evolve from what it is now (or was in 2019) “It will become a gathering spot, not just a fulfillment center.” Eager for him to augur this year’s musthave toys? Well, with our fun little world teetering on a corona surge, you’ll want family games and puzzles. The younger set may want slushy machines, aquarium with jelly fish that change colors, and boom boxes that work with bluetooth on your phone, and Pokémon. The slushies and the boom box make sense. The aquarium may give us pause, but remember: these are kids. We played with dirt when we were young, so to each their own. Of the Pokémon, Nick says, “We got 24 trainer boxes in yesterday. There are six left.” So now he’ll order more. Along with more Legos, which are certain to sell quickly. But right after he sends a quick order to Treasure X. He stands and exclaims “I’ve been ordering non-stop. I’m excited about this holiday season!” As I left the store with my mood rings and dead crickets I realized: I am, too. AwesomeToys.com

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All investments carry some level of risk, including the potential loss of principal invested. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss. Saugatuck Financial is a marketing name for Justin Charise and is not a broker-dealer, registered investment advisor, federal savings bank, subsidiary or other corporate affiliate of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company including its subsidiaries, nor is it a legal partnership or entity. Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI (NM), and its subsidiaries. Charise is a representative of Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company®, NMWMC Milwaukee, WI, a subsidiary of NM and limited purpose federal savings bank, and registered representatives of Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (securities), a subsidiary of NM, registered investment adviser, broker-dealer and member FINRA and SIPC. All NMWMC products and services are offered only by properly credentialed representatives who operate from agency offices of NMWMC.

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

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GIVING BACK

ARTICLE ROBIN MOYER CHUNG

The Po w e r of a Wish

MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

S THERE ANY WORD MORE DELICIOUS THAN “WISH”? Any concept more potent in its possibilities? A wish is a miracle, when a miracle is most needed.

Which is precisely the objective for the Make-A-Wish

Foundation (MAW), the purveyor of pure fantasy for children with critical illnesses. Since 1986, the Connecticut chapter has granted over 3,400 wishes, approximately 225 each year. I spoke with Director of Major Gifts Kim Pugh, who is used to talking about MAW at length: everyone is enthralled by the foundation’s deliverables. I mean, a wish? Anything?? With few exceptions (tricked-out Maserati, hunting wildlife), yes! A playhouse with a purple door, backyard zombie cabin, baby alpaca - pretty much anything their parents can tolerate. (Of note, wishes are not limited to terminally ill individuals. 90% of the recipients grow up and many become part of the MAW alumnae network.) If you are between 2 1/2-18 years old with a qualifying illness you are eligible for a wish. Period. Nothing else matters: not religion or income or race or whether or not you told your little brother he ate slugs when he was a baby. WISHES FALL INTO FIVE CATEGORIES: 1. I wish to be… (firefighter, policeman) 2. I wish to have… (shopping spree, puppy) 3. I wish to go… (travel) 4. I wish to meet… (celebrity, local magazine editor) 5. I wish to give… (throw party in the hospital for all of their caregivers) You can’t have a double-wish unless it happens organically, i.e. I wish to go wine-tasting in Napa Valley and eat at French Laundry. And it should be the child’s wish, not the parents’. In addition to being a director, Kim is one of 300 Wish Granters, or “human dream-weavers” in Connecticut, which is where the wish begins. Two Wish Granters are assigned to each family to gather information about the child’s heartfelt wish and ensure they know that the wish and the Wish Granters are as close to magic as they may ever get. “We’ll ask ‘Favorite color?’ ‘Favorite food?’” Kim says, “If they say ‘pizza with olives’ then I’ll bring them a pizza next time I see them.” In some cases, such as with Westport’s Mateo Riera, the child knows what he wants: to be at the Barcelona vs. Real Madrid game! Mateo was diagnosed with leukemia when he was five and spent the next three years in treatment. His mother, Inés, says, “He had frequent appointments and lost his hair. He had a port in his chest to receive IV chemotherapy in the hospital and took lots of medicine at home, and chemo through lumbar punctures.”

CONTINUED >

CityLifestyle.com/Westport

GIVING BACK (CONTINUED)

When he was cancer-free for two years and off his medication, MAW flew him and his family to Barcelona and arranged for his grandparents to join them. The night of the game, a driver whisked them all to a wonderful dinner and gave them stadium tour passes. Mateo was beyond thrilled. “[The soccer players] are superstars for him,” Inés exclaims. She describes the experience as “Indescribable. Just being able to finally feel like you can celebrate something in a way that’s through his desires and wishes. I’m at a loss for words.” The wishes are arranged by Wish Coordinators. They have access and ability to do things we mortals can not. For instance, a popular destination is Disney World (well, pre-COVID). The Wish Coordinators arrange for transportation, hotel, special “alternate entrance” passes for rides, meeting Cinderella at her castle, even opening the front gate in the morning. While the cost fluctuates with each wish, the average cost is… wait for it… $10,000. Woah, right? Some wishes cost a bit more but are worth it: a young girl hadn’t seen her grandfather since she was three years old. She learned he was terminally ill and wished for her entire family of eight to fly to

Nyla, 8, blood disorder, wished for a puppy.

Ghana and visit him. MAW flew them to West Africa, and her family was able to see him right before he died. Some are less, like a puppy. So the Wish dream team will throw in toys — training, vet expenses, food for a year, maybe a dog bed - fun extras to make it an amazing experience. Wishes are as varied as the kids who make them: + A girl, 5, fighting cancer, wants to be a ballerina. She was gifted ballet classes and is waiting until she can be brought to the Schubert so she can dance beneath the lights. + A boy, 17, fighting cancer, wished for a shopping spree. While on the spree he bought gifts for his brother and his mom “Because my mom takes care of me,” he explained, and because he knew his illness affected the entire family. + A boy, 14, fighting cancer, wants to take over a diner for a day: plan the menu, cook, take orders, the whole bit. MAW is currently researching what diner he can take over and when is a safe time to do so. Unfortunately, no wish can stop COVID. But the MAW team is doing whatever they can to make sure these kids get what they want. Not only do these children need a generous sprinkle of fairy dust, but doctors have noted the most withdrawn and reticent of kids come to their appointments smiling and talkative after their wishes are granted. Further research has shown that wishes save lives by giving kids hope and a reason to survive. A wish “renews hope, uplifts spirits and encourages the belief in the impossible.” And a little bit of happiness, a small escape from reality, never hurt anyone. 64

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020

Ben, 17, lymphoma, wished for a boat.

Lucy, 3, cancer, wished for a playhouse with a purple door.

Celebrating 40 Years Founded in 1980

40 year anniversary sale now in progress

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CULINARY CREATIONS

THE

HARVEY

WALLBANGER

WAS

INVENTED BY A THREE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION

MIXOLOGIST

DUKE

ANTONE. The cocktail is said to be named after a Manhattan beach surfer who lost a surfing competition. As with many cocktails, we add one ingredient at a time to the glass. The Harvey Wallbanger is like a complex screwdriver. This cocktail became famous in the 1970s from a mascot of a silly cartoon character that promoted the Galliano liqueur. The Harvey Wallbanger became popular and became a staple through the 1990s . Then it faded when speakeasies became more trendy. The Harvey Wallbanger is a simple cocktail with a sweet and exquisite flavor. This cocktail only consisted of three ingredients,

From the past:

The Harvey Wallbanger INVENTED IN 1952 THE COCKTAIL BECAME POPULAR IN THE 1970S AND AGAIN IN THE 1990S

vodka, orange juice and Galliano, when invented. The Tiki glass was designed for this cocktail and was used to serve the cocktail on the beach. Galliano, a sweet herbal liqueur, was invented in 1896 by the Italian distiller and brandy producer Arturo Vaccari of Livorno, Tuscany. Galliano L’ Authtico is a neutral alcohol and is infused with the pressings from the herbs except for the vanilla. It was re-launched in 2010 with bigger and brighter flavor. In the cocktail today we have the three main ingredients plus some extras to give it a trendy new taste.

The Harvey Wallbanger + 1½ oz. Vodka + 1 oz. Galliano + 2 oz. Orange Juice + ½ oz. Lemon Juice + ¼ oz. simple syrup (optional)

ARTICLE CRYSTAL THOMPSON

+ 2 dashes Vanilla Extract + Splash of soda In a shaker combine all ingredients except for the soda. Shake vigorously for eight seconds. Pour over fresh ice. Top with soda. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry. Enjoy!

Westport Lifestyle | December 2020