A Night Designed for Save the Children

Event organizers breathed a sigh of relief Thursday night as the skies cleared for Moffly Publishing's Second Annual Westport Design District event in downtown Westport.

"I'm so happy the weather held out," said event organizer Caroline Coursen, "we were putting up the signs in the rain!" 

The beautiful weather and opportunity to shop, have a cocktail, and take advantage of discounts lured residents from Westport and surrounding towns to Main Street, Post Road and Sconset Square.

Denise Baliotti, an interior decorator from Darien, was browsing through HB Home, a home decorating and design shop in Sconset Square, with a friend and sipping a glass of glass of chilled white wine,

"This is a fun event," Baliotti said.  "Sometimes I can't get to the stores and it's a great opportunity to come into the stores and see what's new."

Denise Talbot of Norwalk, also an interior designer, said she was bringing some clients to Dovecote when they discovered the event.  She and client, Pamela Friedman of Darien, stopped into Lucy's boutique on Post Road to try on a few colorful summer dresses. 

Westport residents, Karen Vargo and Lynne Pasternack, came out for an evening of fun and a night off from their regular routine,

"We're both stay at home moms, so this gives us a reason to get dressed up and go shopping without the kids," Vargo said. "The fashion show at Lucy's was great.  It's a little glamour close to home."

Shop owners were pleased with the turnout and the exposure these type of cooperative events bring to Westport's retail community. 

Brian Olson, Gallery Manager for Rockwell Art and Framing, said he had more than 50 people come through the gallery last night and credits these types of events with introducing locals to the resources right in their own back yard.

"Through the past few cooperative events, people are really starting to discover Sconset Square.  Getting them to find us is great, it's a nice atmosphere to stroll and discover."

Sarah Kaplan, owner of Dovecote, said that the event, "brings a whole new customer base" into the store.   Dovecote hosted a photography exhibit by Roberto Duetsco, a New York based photographer specializing in art, fashion, and film.   His series, "The Wild Horses of Sable Island," featured black and white images of wild horses that live on the remote Canadian island.   Kaplan hoped to introduce her clients to a new artist and the history of Sable Island through the photographs. 

Part of the proceeds from the event were donated to Westport-based international charity organization, Save the Children. Representatives from Save the Children were promoting their new campaign to raise awareness about infant and child survival rates.

"It's great to be out in the community." Said Tricia Puskar, Associate Director of Outreach of the Survive to 5 campaign.  "People are stopping by and offering to donate and have been saying, 'We love Save the Children!' It's great to step outside our offices and into the community!"