Category Archives: Events

Special Events at either location

25th Anniversary Party

Posted on by

WW 25th logo

WesWings 25th Anniversary Celebration

APRIL 30, 2016

Love WesWings as much as we do? Owners Ed Thorndike ’89 and KarenKaffen-Polascik are throwing a party to celebrate 25 years feeding Wesleyan Students. The party will feature a concert by The Rooks (Wes alumni band!), yummy sushi by Yooki Yama Restaurant, and the CLASS OF 2016. Seniors over the age of 21 will be given 2 drink tickets.

Sponsored by the Senior Class Gift Committee, University Relations and WesWings!

Event details

Saturday, April 30, 2016
8 -11 p.m.
Beckham Hall

**Registration is for seniors only and ID is required. Space is limited.

Please register by Tuesday, April 26.

Register Here

Text of Ed’s Speech to the Class 2016 at Wine and Cheese

Posted on by

FullSizeRender (5)On Friday September 25, WesWings sponsored a Wine and Cheese party for the class of 2016 at Beckham Hall.  For those who were unable to attend or may have had difficulty hearing due to sound and mic equipment problems, we are posting the details of Ed’s speech here.

____________________________

Thank you and welcome.  I am Ed Thorndike and I, along with my business partner, Karen Polascik, own Wes Wings and The Red & Black Café.  As many of you know, Wes Wings will be celebrating its 25th year in business.  We have several events planned to celebrate starting with tonight.  Next week we’re bringing a group of our staff to NYC to see Hamilton.  We are also planning a large celebration next spring and we hope to see all of you then too.

Now in addition to owning WesWings, I am also an alum, class of 1989.   I want to welcome you tonight on behalf of the alumni association as well.  Over the coming days, weeks and months you will hear a lot of good reasons why you should contribute to the senior class gift.  And for those who have or will soon be giving, I thank you for your gift.  I know many of you have reasons why you DON’T want to give.  I’ve heard them.  I’m still paying tuition.  I don’t have a job.  I have tons of loans.  Or maybe you’re just pissed off at one of things the administration has done recently.  But here’s the thing.  For me.  When the smoke clears it comes down to the Wesleyan experience.  The Wesleyan experience is special and is what motivates me.  It’s been passed down to you and you will soon pass it down to classes that come after you.  You’re probably asking yourself, “what is this Wesleyan experience of which you speak so eloquently?”  Well I’ll tell you….

It’s football games and basketball and hockey.  It’s ultimate Frisbee and West African dance concerts outside.  It’s seeing your friends in shows at the ’92 theater.  It’s Ebony Singers in the Chapel, it’s research in Hall Atwater

It’s bands at Art House, Buho and Eclectic.  It’s parties in the backyards of Fountain.  It’s a party ON Fountain.  It’s Pine Palace or the Fishbowl.  It’s getting a grilled cheese at 2 am from Whey and a breakfast pail from WesWings the next day.  It’s O’Rourkes, or Ford News Diner.  It’s Thai Gardens, Typhoon and Neon.

Continue reading →

Blizzard’s Over On to the Super Bowl

Posted on by

katy-perry-super-bowl-halftime-show20140203040017!Puppy_BowlKaty Perry, Puppy Bowl XI, Super Bowl XLIX, there’s just so much going on this Sunday.

Here’s what you need to know.

  • We will be open all day Sunday 11am-8pm.
  •  Brunch will be served 11am-2pm.
  • We will be open 2pm-5pm for Chicken Wing orders
  • Full Menu for dinner 5pm-8pm

If you would like to order wings in advance, you can.  Just stop by anytime this week to place your order and reserve a time to pick up.  Remember kick-off is 6:30.  We suggest getting your orders in early because it’s the Super Bowl and we’re a wing place.

That said, here’s the funny thing.  It’s the Super Bowl, we’re a wing place but once the game starts at 6:30 we are totally dead.  EMPTY, NOBODY HERE.  This means for those of you who aren’t into the game but are into ‘Swings, you can come by on a Sunday, no less, and enjoy Penne Vodka without the huge crowds.

 

New Chef, Old Chef

Posted on by

FullSizeRenderJeff Roberts was recently re-hired as our chef at WesWings.  Jeff had worked for us back in the 90s, during the early years of our empire.  For the past sixteen years he has amassed a great deal of experience and culinary knowledge that he now brings back to us.  Most recently, he was working at the upscale Bin 300 in Wolcott, CT.

While we will maintain many of our old favorites, look for new specials this semester, as Jeff looks to expand and enhance our offerings.

Middletown P&Z Approves In-Ground Pool 2nd Phase Outdoor Improvements

Posted on by

IMG_0548

 

 UPDATE:  Most people we talked to said they prefer to swim in outdoor pools during the summer.  We checked and apparently we’re not open in the summer.  Since there doesn’t seem to be as much interest in an outdoor skating rink, we’ve decided NOT to put in a pool.  (I’ll save my “HOFF” costume for another time.)

Middletown planning and zoning approved the next phase for WesWings outside improvements.  As many of you know, last summer’s patio installation was the first phase of our overall outside renovation.  Last night’s meeting was one of the final hurdles we had to overcome to begin the installation of the in-ground pool.  Unfortunately, plans for the outdoor stage area were rejected due to concerns over loud noise disturbing area residents.  Along with additional landscaping, we will finally have the outdoor pool that Wesleyan has been lacking.

Of course none of this would have been possible without our generous contributors to our Kickstarter campaign.

While most people chose the $25 level – breakfast pail served while floating on a tube, seven people did buy the $500 level – name plated chaise lounge chair (reservation not incl.)  There were no takers for the $2,500 level where you could have a bucket of wings (or seitan) served poolside by Ed or Karen in their Baywatch lifeguard gear.

So be sure to join us poolside next fall for our grand opening!

Karen & Ed

 

 

 

Grand Cousin at Red & Black Café

Posted on by

1380734_10201453948043614_487578668_nGrand Cousin is the hot to trot rock act on the Wesleyan campus right now- even a dude from das racist tweeted their latest video- and people tell us that their live shows are amazing. This stripped down, acoustic version promises to be one of our craziest Music Mondays this year. “Camera” is a catchy tune with just the right amount of creepy built in- that’s what hooked us- now you should come get hooked too!!!

Come for dinner- have a fruit smoothie- rock on.

Monday September 30, 2013
6:00-7:00pm
Red & Black Café
45 Broad St

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBvm5wgBLts

https://www.facebook.com/events/659668234058261/

Deal’s Off -You’re Stuck with Us

Posted on by

TheBreakUp1

The deal to sell WesWings has fallen through.  Apparently, the vegan buyers feel they can feed more Wesleyan students in Brooklyn.  Plus it turns out that it costs a lot more than we thought to retire early even with the life expectancy for someone who’s been eating at WesWings for over 20 years.

We do appreciate all the well wishes we received today.  (really? soybean cookie dough didn’t give it away)  We can now look forward to many years in the basement of 156 High St., frying wings and livin’ the dream.

Karen & Ed