Slice Of Saugatuck Draws Hundreds For Food, Music and Fun
The possibility of rain didn't dampen attendance much at this years Slice. There were shorter lines at most restaurants with the exception of Lomito, the newish Peruvian food eatery which opened this year, and the the food was delicious as usual.
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Four of the venues had multiple bands playing throughout the event adding to the fun.
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As in years past, the Westport Firefighters at the Saugatuck firehouse made sure all the kids waiting on line got an opportunity to climb on the fire truck, getting an chance to rig the bell and perhaps dreaming of one day becoming a Westport Firefighter.
The Black Duck staff enthusiastically served up their famous wings. Westport First Selectwoman Jen Tooker, Second Selectwoman Andrea Moore and RTM member Andrew Colabella made sure they got to enjoy the entire event, pausing on Railroad Place for a quick photo before getting back to sampling the street's excellent cuisine.
The Gault family provided kids a chance to create some artwork and get their face painted in the parking area of Match Burger & Lobster.
Even a few adorable pups strolled the event getting love from doggie fans.
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Westport's Craig Melvin and Lindsay Czarniak Raise $1.2 Million For Colorectal Cancer Alliance
Today Show Co-host Craig Melvin and Sports Reporter Lindsay Czarniak, Hosted the Star-Studded Event to Increase Awareness and Funds to Combat the Disease. They are joined on stage by NBC Legendary personality Al Joker.
Craig Melvin and Lindsay Czarniak and NBC and Today Show personality Al Roker get things going to begin the auction portion of the evening at Bridgeport's Total Mortgage Arena on Sunday night.
Westport, CT, power couple Craig Melvin and Lindsay Czarniak teamed up with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance Bottoms Up Invitational golf tournament and concert to raise awareness and funds in honor of Craig’s brother Lawrence Meadows, who died from the disease at the age of 43. Despite being more fatal than most cancers, colorectal cancer is less known and less funded. The second annual event surpassed last year’s fundraising goal by bringing in more than $1.2 million. Craig and Lindsay were joined by notable celebrities eager to make an impact during the events in Connecticut on September 24-25.
Above, Melvin take a moment for a photo with Westport First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Second Selectwoman Andrea Moore. Other celebrities attending the function included MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhl, host of the 11th Hour on the network with Craig (center) and Craig with Westport friends.
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Stephanie Ruhl with Selectwomen Andrea Moore and Jen Tooker, (left). Lindsay Czarniak with friends (center). Former Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe, Today Show’s Al Roker.
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Colorectal cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for men and women combined, is on the rise in people under age 50. It is the only cancer that is preventable, yet it’s estimated to be the deadliest cancer among 20-49 year olds by 2030, if things remain the same.
“As the largest nonprofit dedicated to colorectal cancer advocacy, the Alliance’s mission is to end this disease in our lifetime,” says Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. “We're honored to have Craig, Lindsay, and so many talented and influential supporters bringing attention to our cause, and helping raise critical funds.”
“As the largest nonprofit dedicated to colorectal cancer advocacy, the Alliance’s mission is to end this disease in our lifetime,” says Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. “We're honored to have Craig, Lindsay, and so many talented and influential supporters bringing attention to our cause, and helping raise critical funds.”
Proceeds from the events will benefit the community served by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s programs that advocate for prevention, magnify support, and accelerate research. To learn more about how you can help or to donate, visit ccalliance.org/getinvolved.
Caring and Lindsay on stage inviting guests to come to the stage as the auction is about to begin..
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Auctioneer Lydia Fenet revved up the crowd and got paddles raised as eager buyers bid on a long list of fabulous offerings provided by generous sponsors, including great vacations and a dinner and bourbon tasting at the Westport home of Craig and Lindsay.
The opening reception and concert took place at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport on September 24th and featured members of Hootie & The Blowfish, the Spin Doctors’ Chris Barron, saxophonist and composer Branford Marsalis, singer, songwriter and guitarist Edwin McCain, The Voice alumni Ray Boudreaux, Javier Colon, and Preston Pohl, and more amazing artists. The celebrity golf invitational at Shorehaven Golf Club in Norwalk on September 25 featured TV Hosts Carson Daly, Dylan Dreyer, Willie Geist, Sterling Sharpe, Harry Smith, and Rutledge Wood, as well as actress Stephanie Szostak, among others.
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Connecticut's own Javier Colon was one of the headliners who took the stage following the auction. Colon, born in Stratford, is well known as the winner of season one of the Voice in 2011 received the first four-Coach chair turn from Adam Levine, Cee-Lo Green, Blake Shelton, and Christina Aguilera.
About The Colorectal Cancer Alliance
The Colorectal Cancer Alliance empowers a nation of passionate and determined allies to prevent, treat, and overcome colorectal cancer in their lives and communities. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance advocates for prevention, magnifies support, and accelerates research. We are the largest national nonprofit dedicated to colorectal cancer, and we exist to end this disease in our lifetime.
For more information or to make a contribution, visit ccalliance.org.
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Voices Cafe At Unitarian Universalist Congregation Hosts Two Contemporary Folk Artists Saturday Night
Voices Cafe, called Westport’s musical gem, brings the power of song to our local community. On September 30th two of the most powerful contemporary folk artists, Abbie Gardner and Tracey Grammer, will be at Voices Cafe in a rare co-bill! These talented female artists bring incredibly unique energy and positive vibes to contemporary indie/folk music. You will enjoy their musical artistry when they sing individually and when they pair their vibrant voices.
All net proceeds of Voices Cafe concerts benefit local social justice programs and community causes.
On Saturday September 30th Voices Cafe’s doors open at 7:30pm and showtime is 8:00pm. For tickets and info go to voicescafe.org.
Enjoy this BYO setting with café-style seating (at tables) or individual seating, bring your own beverages and snacks, or buy a snack from our sweet treats table. Groups of four or more can reserve table space. General admission: $25 per person.
For more info and tickets for September 30th’s concert at 8pm, go to: Voices Cafe.
For additional information please contact Voices Cafe at 203-227-7205 ext 20 or via email: VoicesCafeCT@gmail.com.
About The Artists:
Abbie Gardner (left) is a fiery dobro player with an infectious smile. Whether performing solo or with Americana darlings, Red Molly, Gardner’s acclaimed tales of love and loss, both gritty and sweet, are propelled by her impeccable slide guitar chops. Her live shows are truly unique - as an award-winning songwriter, captivating vocalist, and a world-class lap style dobro player, she has an unmistakable sound all her own.
From Abbie Gardner’s 2022 “DobroSinger” CD, preview her song “Born in the City”. Listen to her artistry here: abbiegardner.com
Tracy Grammer (right) is among contemporary folk music's most beloved artists. Renowned for her pure voice, deft guitar and violin work, and incantatory storytelling, Grammer has recorded and performed with Joan Baez and Mary Chapin Carpenter, headlined several of the nation's top folk festivals, including Philadelphia Folk Festival and Falcon Ridge, and enjoyed 12 consecutive years as one of folk radio's 50 top-played artists, singing both solo as well as with the late Dave Carter. LOW TIDE, the first of her albums to showcase her original songs, has met with high acclaim. Music Matters Review shares about Grammer’s LOW TIDE: “A bold new sound, attitude, and personal viewpoint…. engaging songs beautifully sung and arranged.”
Village Records says that with Hole, from Grammer’s LOW TIDE, Grammer continually demonstrates that she’s “a voice to be reckoned with.” Listen to her songs here: tracygrammer.com
For more info and tickets for September 30th’s concert at 8pm, go to: Voices Cafe.
For additional information please contact Voices Cafe at 203-227-7205 ext 20 or via email: VoicesCafeCT@gmail.com.
Award Winning Concert Pianist, Navy Lieutenant Alex Beyer Thrills Saugatuck Congregational Audience
The Sanctuary at Saugatuck Congregational on Sunday was packed with more than 150 past and future fans of a local musical treasure, Alex Beyer formerly Fairfield and now living at the U.S. Naval base at Norfolk, VA. He is serving his country as a Lieutenant and pilot of the U.S. Navy's E-2 Hawkeye, an American all-weather, carrier-capable tactical airborne early warning aircraft.
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Alex has entranced area audiences for years, frequently playing concerts at Fairfield's Greenfield Hill Congregational church and extensively both domestically and abroad. Alex, now, 29 has received warm praise for his performances nationally and internationally. In 2016, he received Third Prize in the Queen Elisabeth Competition, an international competition for career-starting musicians held in Brussels. and was named one of five finalists of the American Pianists Association Awards.
Recently, he has been a guest soloist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Brussels Philharmonic, the National Orchestra of Belgium, the Royal Orchestra of Wallonia, and the Irish National Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the Milwaukee, Charlotte, Hartford, New Haven, Waterbury, and Bridgeport Symphony Orchestras, among others. Recent performances have brought him to Greece, Slovakia, Holland, Belgium, and across the United States. He received Sixth Prize at the 2015 US Chopin Competition. He was a 2012 US Presidential Scholar in the Arts.
Above: Alex relaxing in the green room before his performance. He uses that time for several brief meditations to prepare. Also above, Beyer was introduced by Liang-Fang Chang, who holds a doctor of musical arts degree and is Director of Music Ministry at the church, laughing as her introduction was interrupted by her cell phone ringing, reminding everyone to silence their own phones.
Lt. Beyer spoke between selections providing detail on some of the music in his program. Most interestingly, Beyer spoke fondly of a sort of distant connection with Rachmaninoff. Alex's grandfather graduated from MIT and the next day began working for a newly established Long Island company, Sikorsky Aero Engineering Corporation. In the fall of 1923, Russian aviation pioneer and designer Igor Sikorsky was facing economic disaster when he received a visit from fellow Russian, Rachmaninoff who pulled up to Sikorsky's "factory", which was a chicken house at a friend's farm. Rachmaninoff told Sikorsky, ‘I believe in you and your plane and I want to help you.’ ” The composer sat down and wrote a check for $5,000 (approximately $100,000 today). With a smile, he gave the check to the stunned Sikorsky and said, “Pay me back whenever you can.”
Alex started his musical training early, being taught by his mother, a pianist herself and piano instructor. He then began training with renowned master piano teacher, Julliard trained Yoshie Akimoto of Wilton who won the Steinway teacher of the year award last year. Beyer studied with Yoshie from age 11 onward, and always kept coming back to play for her.
Beyer then attended Harvard (2017) and New England Conservatory (2018) where he maintained a dual degree program, doing normal undergrad at the former while taking lessons and then earned his masters at the latter in the 5th year. His second degree was in mathematics, quite helpful in his Naval career. Immediately after graduatioon in the summer 2018, Alex joined the navy training to become a naval aviator. Alex told WestportLocalPress that after touring internationally and doing pretty well, he found things in the music career path that he was less interested in. He said his musical training, with it's extensive repetition provided a foundation for his flight training. He said he "hit the simulator pretty hard" adding that he "may be a bit of a workaholic". When not deployed Beyer has played in a summer music series at the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk at he invitation of series manager, a retired Navy captain who also loves music.
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A packed audience of more than 150 filled the Sanctuary at Saugatuck Congregational Church on Sunday. The audience ranged from the very young to the not-so-very young.
The terms prodigy and gifted have been linked with Alex over the years. As if being a classical pianist at that level was not enough Beyer was an exceptional athlete, playing soccer and tennis.
Alex opened the program with Four selections from Songs Without Words, Op 19b & 30, by F. Mendelssohn and followed with Impromptu in A Flat Major, Op 90 No 4, by F. Schubert and Preludes, Op 28 Nos 1-8, by F. Chopin. Next he performed Preludes Op 32, No 5 in G Major and No 10 in B Minor, by S. Rachmaninoff, Romanian Dances, Sz 68, by B. Bartok, finishing the program with Sonata No 3 in A Major, Op 28, by S. Prokofiev. Beyer played all of these complex and challenging compositions from memory as he has been doing for more than 15 years. His Mom said that "Alex had practiced piano every day of his life"
The audience roared its applause after each piece concluded. Beyer's Mom, Misty (above right) listens attentively as she has many times for many years. Alex tragically lost his Dad in 2008 who was certainly there in spirit. Misty continues to inspire young musicians with her Music For Youth program which she runs in Bridgeport and other Fairfield county schools to educate and promote emerging artists.
After only a minute or so into his standing ovation, Beyer exits the stage and a minute later returns for an encore, sting that he will perform another Rachmaninoff selection, saying with a chuckle "if the piano can take it".
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After another standing ovation for his Rachmaninoff encore, Alex holds a meet & greet session with friends and fans both old and new. At right, Alex takes a photo with two of his mentors, his Mom, Misty and his instructor Yoshie Akimoto., Steinway teacher of the year awardee last year.
To can see and enjoy this phenomenal concert visit the Church's Youtube page:
https://www.youtube.com/live/qUleioRilpI?si=l55vutuI0fO5qgTc
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At the conclusion of the event Alex and the church hosted a masterclass with several of the area's gifted students. Here, Beyer gives notes to Giuseppina Santandrea, a Weston High sophomore who performed Rondo Capriccioso, op.14 by Mendelssohn. Other students involved were Felix Baer, Bedford Middle School, 8th grade on viola, Sabrina Lee, Weston Middle School 7h grader also on piano. On cello, a Staples High senior, Madeleine O'Neill performed Camille Saint-Saens: Cello concerto No. 1, op 33, Mov. III.
Beyer then began his nearly 7 hour drive back to the base in Norfolk.
About the Saugatuck Congregational Concert Series:
The Saugatuck Concert Series came from the idea of opening the beautiful sanctuary to the public. Church should be related to people’s everyday life, not just Sunday services. Also, I hope through the concert series, people in our community can attend professional performances without taking a train down to nyc.
This is our 2nd year of the concert series. The series includes solo recitals, chamber music, and choral concerts. Last year, we held concerts by concert pianist Uriel Tsachor (Queen Elizabeth and Busoni competition prize winner), Hui-Mei Lin, cellist Peter Seidenberg, Westport Orphenians, Western Connecticut State University Chamber Singers, as well as myself and my viola colleague Suzanne Wager.
Their next concert will be on Sunday, Oct. 22, at 3pm. Music Ministry Director Dr. Chang and her colleague, Dr. Hui-Mei Lin, will play a piano four-hand recital. The program includes works by Debussy, Burge, and Schubert.
All the concerts are free and open to the public. Saugatuck believes music is a common language, not a privilege.
This is a self-funded concert series, so donations are greatly appreciated to support the future concert series.
Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com