About Westport
Charming and Cosmopolitan
Located on the Long Island Sound, Westport (pop. 25,749) has the
coastal charm of a resort town but with a cosmopolitan sophistication.
It’s often been called “the Beverly Hills of the East” where
celebrities like Paul Newman, Phil Donahue, Marlo Thomas, and Bette
Davis have resided. Martha became famous here. Westport is home to
Newman’s Own and Save the Children.
Westport residents are members of Longshore Country Club, the town waterfront park with an 18-hole golf course, three pools, tennis courts, and skating rink. Longshore (then a private estate owned by the flamboyant Westerner Fred Lewis) may well have been the inspiration for Jay Gatsby’s mansion and Westport the true setting for The Great Gatsby, after Fitzgerald spent summers here.
First-Class Cultural Activities and Entertainment
Following a $35 million restoration, led by Joanne Woodward, the
Westport Country Playhouse now operates year-round. A virtual Who’s Who
of theater have trod the boards of the Playhouse, and Come Back, Little
Sheba, The Trip to Bountiful and Butterflies are Free all premiered
here.
During the summer, the Levitt Pavilion offers over 50 nights of free entertainment on the banks of the Saugatuck River. The School for Famous Artists was located here, and the Westport Arts Center keeps that heritage alive with year-round exhibitions and concerts. There are great restaurants – from The Dressing Room (operated by Paul Newman and Michel Nischan), which serves locally-grown fare, to excellent Thai, Chinese, Indian, Italian, and American cuisine. And yes, there are two Starbucks.
Other Facts
In 2004 the Wall Street Journal identified Westport’s Staples High
School as one of the "best public and private high schools in the
nation." Staples’ newspaper, Inklings, has won the Columbia Scholastic
Press Association gold medal every year since 2000. Its drama
department has received many awards, including numerous Moss Hart
awards.
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