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January was a hotbed of celebrity gossip around the state, with the announcements that Amanda Bynes and John Mayer will be making appearances this year — the latter at Bridgeport’s Sound On Sound music festival. This, plus a number sightings and award-season nominations make up Jnauary’s celebrity news.
Here are some of the famous people who visited or made the news in and around Connecticut in January:
Chevy Chase dines at The Wheel at The Village in Stamford
Stamford
Chevy Chase and his wife Jayni enjoy dinner at The Wheel restaurant in Stamford with their daughters.
Chevy Chase / Contributed photo
Bedford, N.Y. resident and actor Chevy Chase was spotted dining at The Wheel at The Village in Stamford with his wife Jayni and daughters in January celebrating his daughter Cydney’s 40th birthday.
– Susie Costaregni
Martha Stewart checks out Waterbury hot dog restaurant’s wall decor
Frankie’s Family Restaurant in Waterbury, CT.
Contributed photo/Frankie’s Family Restaurant
Martha Stewart dined at Frankie’s Family Restaurant in Waterbury in January and examined the dining room’s hotdog-themed wall decor, staff said. The Waterbury restaurant on Reidville Drive opened a little earlier than 11 a.m. and served fries, burgers and hot dogs to Stewart and her friends, Joe Mascolo, one of the managers, said.
– Abby Weiss
Amanda Bynes to join ‘All That’ cast at 90s Con at Hartford Convention Center
Hartford
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – JUNE 05: Actress Amanda Bynes arrives at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios’ Gibson Amphitheatre on June 5, 2011 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
The 90s are back. In January it was announced that the second annual 90s Con is coming to the Connecticut Convention Center, featuring Amanda Bynes in an “All That” reunion and an appearance by Steve Burns of the children’s television show “Blues Clues.”
– Andrew DaRosa
Oscar 2023 nominees with CT ties
These are the 2023 Oscar nominees with CT connections.
Photo credits (top to bottom): Pool, Getty Images; Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP; Michael Loccisano/Getty Images; Paras Griffin/Getty Images
The 2023 Oscar nominations announced in late January included several with Connecticut ties like Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Brendan Fraser, Brian Tyree Henry, Carter Burwell and Frances McDormand.
– Abby Weiss
2023 Golden Globes winners have ties to Connecticut
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 10: Angela Bassett poses with the Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture award for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” in the press room during the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 10, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
This year’s Golden Globes had several winners with Connecticut ties including Angela Bassett, Mike White and Paul Dano of “The Fabelmans.”
– Abby Weiss
Netflix’s ‘That 90s Show’ features Greenwich actress Ashley Aufderheide in lead role
Greenwich
(L to R) Mace Coronel as Jay, Callie Haverda as Leia Forman, Ashley Aufderheide as Gwen Runck, Reyn Doi as Ozzie, Maxwell Acee Donovan as Nate, Sam Morelos as Nikki in episode 101 of “That 90s Show.”
PATRICK WYMORE/NETFLIX
Almost two decades after “That 70s Show” counted down to its finale, Netflix has moved the franchise into a whole new era with “That 90s Show,” which premiered in January.
Greenwich resident Ashley Aufderheide portrays Gwen Runck, a riot girl and feminist.
– Andrew DaRosa
CT native and ‘Abbott Elementary’s,’ Sheryl Lee Ralph, to perform at Super Bowl LVII
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 15: Sheryl Lee Ralph attends the 28th Annual Critics Choice Awards at Fairmont Century Plaza on January 15, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
The NFL announced its official pre-game lineup for Super Bowl LVII in late January. Emmy award-winner, Sheryl Lee Ralph, is one of the performers and will sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before kickoff.
– Jailene Cuevas
Brendan Fraser wins award for best actor at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards
AP
Actor and Bedford, N.Y. resident Brendan Fraser won the award for best actor at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards in January for his performance as Charlie in “The Whale.” The movie about a 600-pound teacher living as a recluse was filmed in Newburgh, N.Y. and was released nationally in December.
– Susie Costaregni
Charli D’Amelio performs at ‘Dancing with the Stars’ live show in CT
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 09: Charli D’Amelio attends the 2022 Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on April 09, 2022 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Nickelodeon
After winning the last season of “Dancing with the Stars,” TikTok celebrity and Norwalk native Charli D’Amelio performed during “Dancing with the Stars: Live!” in January at Mohegan Sun.
Charli D’Amelio was a special guest at the event, alongside her mother, Heidi D’Amelio, as well as “Jersey Shore’s” Vinny Guadagnino and “The Bachelor’s” Gabby Windey.
– Joseph Tucci
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone dines at the Tony’s at the J House
Greenwich
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone speaks during a news conference at Yankee Stadium, Dec. 21, 2022, in New York.
Seth Wenig/AP
New York Yankees manager and Greenwich resident Aaron Boone was seen dining at the Tony’s at the J House in Riverside in January. Also seen at the popular spot was WOR radio host Mark Simone.
– Susie Costaregni
Sen. Blumenthal quotes Taylor Swift during Ticketmaster senate hearing
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal has called out deceptive ticketing practices by Ticketmaster during the recent Taylor Swift tour ticket sale.
Dave J Hogan/Getty Imges for MTV and AP Photo/Jessica Hill
Senator Richard Blumenthal once again quoted Taylor Swift in January — this time in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing over Ticketmaster’s alleged monopoly over the live music industry with its Live Nation merger. Blumenthal was one of a few senators who quoted Swift during the hearing, which included testimony from witnesses like president and CFO of Live Nation, Joe Berchtold.
– Andrew DaRosa
John Mayer to headline Bridgeport’s Sound On Sound music festival
Bridgeport
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 02: John Mayer performs at Alice 97.3’s Alice In Winterland at SAP Center on December 02, 2022 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/WireImage)
Steve Jennings/WireImage
It was announced that Fairfield native John Mayer is returning home to play the Sound On Sound music festival on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at Bridgeport’s Seaside Park. The A-list musician will headline the festival, organizers have confirmed. Bridgeport-born Mayer is the first artist to be announced for the 2023 lineup; the rest of the lineup is set to be announced Tuesday, Feb. 14.
– Andrew DaRosa
Former CT house of KISS guitarist Ace Frehley becomes an Airbnb rental
Wilton
NEW YORK, NY- CIRCA 1979: Peter Criss, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Ace Frehley of Kiss at ‘Kiss Concert’ on July 25, 1979 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. (Photo by Robin Platzer/IMAGES/Getty Images)
Images Press/Getty Images
The former Wilton home of original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, has been converted into an Airbnb. While living in the sprawling 6,400-square-foot estate in the early ’80s, Frehley recorded many of his contributions to KISS at the “Ace in the Hole Studio” in this home.
– Andrew DaRosa
Famed chef Jacques Pépin, Chris Sarandon talk Rice Krispies and ‘Art of the Chicken’
Fairfield
Famed French Chef Jacques Pepín joins actor Chris Sarandon for a live taping of Sarandon’s podcast at the Sacred Heart Community Theater in Fairfield on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023.
Daniel Figueroa IV/Hearst Connecticut Media
Jacques Pépin, one of the most celebrated French chefs, joined Chris Sarandon on stage in Fairfield in late January for a live taping of the actor’s podcast.
– Daniel Figueroa IV
Anika Noni Rose marries actor Jason Dirden during private ceremony
Actress Anika Noni Rose (best known for being the voice of Tiana from Disney’s “Princess and the Frog”) announced in January that she got married to fellow actor Jason Dirden (known for playing Basie Skanks on “Greenleaf”) during a private ceremony in October of last year.
– Joseph Tucci
