Martha Stewart arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Feb. 9 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Former Major League Baseball manager Bobby Valentine, of Stamford, with Norwalk resident Art Kean of Kean's Korner Mobil in New Canaan at the Forever Sweet Bakery in Norwalk. Valentine signed copies of his book, "Valentine's Way," at the shop on Dec. 18.
Scene… Forever Sweet Bakery in Norwalk hosted a book signing with former Major League Baseball manager and Stamford resident Bobby Valentine on Dec. 18. Valentine signed copies of his new book “Valentine’s Way — My Adventurous Life and Times,” a look back on 40 years in baseball as a player and manager. More than 100 people showed up at the bakery, including Norwalk resident Art Kean Sr., owner of Kean’s Korner Mobil on South Avenue in New Canaan who had three books signed as well as his New York Mets hat. The bakery also provided free cupcakes to all customers.
Scene... Emmy-winning filmmaker Matthew Heineman has made the short list for Best Documentary Feature at the 94th Academy Awards for his work “The First Wave.” A New Canaan Country School graduate who grew up in Darien, Heineman directed, produced, shot and edited the film. National Geographic Documentary Films said the film offered “exclusive access inside one of New York City’s hardest-hit hospital systems during the harrowing first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic.” “The First Wave” is streaming on Hulu.
The gift of giving… The American Red Cross is offering blood donors a chance to win tickets to the Super Bowl and a home theater package during January. Donors will be entered to win two tickets to super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles, including round-trip airfare, entry to the official NFL tailgate event, three nights hotel accommodations and a $500 gift card. Blood drives are taking place at the Greenwich Blood Donation Center on Indian Field Road from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dec. 26, Jan. 7 and 9; from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 27, 28, Jan. 4 and 10 and at St. Mark’s Church on Oenoke Ridge in New Canaan from 1 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 4. For more listings and times, go to www.RedCrossBlood.org. Donors must make an appointment via the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, online, or by calling 1-800-Red Cross.
Scene… Lifestyle guru and former Westport resident Martha Stewart, who lives in Bedford, N.Y., is selling a ceramic replica of her white-glazed Nativity set, a product of her pottery class while she served time at Alderson federal prison 17 years ago for insider trading. The 14-piece Nativity sells for $149 and is available online at https://martha.com/search?q=nativity&t=shop.
Music… Concert pianist Randall Atcheson is performing at the YMCA Greenwich at 50 E. Putnam Ave. at 2 p.m. Dec. 26. A reception will follow the concert. Atcheson, a graduate of the Julliard School of Music, has performed worldwide, recorded 16 albums, played for three presidents and performed numerous solo concerts at Carnegie Hall. The concert is free and open to public. For more info, call 203-869-1630, Ext. 0.
Out there… Westport Country Playhouse Radio Theater is offering a free broadcast series reprised from last year’s audioplay, “A Merry Little Christmas Carol,” airing on WSHU-FM radio at 3:06 p.m. Dec. 26. “A Merry Little Christmas Carol” was written and directed by Mark Shanahan, curator of Playhouse Radio Theater, and features Playhouse actors and artistic director Mark Lamos as narrator and Broadway actor Paxton Whitehead. The series will also be accessible on the Playhouse’s website at www.westportplayhouse.org through Jan. 2. For more info, visit www.westportplayhouse.org, email boxoffice@westportplayhouse.org, or call 203-227-4177,
Winter wonderlands… The winners of Stamford Downtown’s 11th annual Deck the Downtown Holiday Window decorating contest have been announced. The Best of Show winner was Verde Galerie at 79 Atlantic St., which was awarded a grand prize of $750, and second-place winner Ninja Bubble Tea at 225 Summer St., which was awarded $500. The awards are to be dedicated to permanent spring facade improvements at their businesses in collaboration with Stamford Downtown.
“Christmas — that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance, a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.”
And that’s all for now.
Got a tip? Seen a celebrity? Email Susie Costaregni at thedish2@yahoo.com