The Westport Arts Center’s Family Art Day on Sunday, March 26 will feature a Create Your Family’s Modern Crest event. The session runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Families work at the Art Center’s Family Day last November. (CLICK TO ENLARGE)  Photo by Xenia Gross

Always a popular event, the Center’s bi-annual Family Art Day provides an opportunity for families to work together on hands-on creative projects. 

For the March 26 event, families will enjoy a visit from Caroline Wurtzel, an illustrator and graphic designer for Bustle.com, a website dedicated to providing the latest news on politics, technology, fashion, and more, an announcement said.

Wurtzel will speak about the art of design and will help families create their own family crest using a variety of materials and design techniques.

By Susan Granger

Ever since 1933, the huge gorilla-like creature named Kong has been a cinema icon. Its newest incarnation, “Kong: Skull Island,” is an action-packed sci-fi adventure that evokes legendary monster movies of bygone years with a fresh perspective.

In 1973, just after the United States withdrew from the Vietnam War, Earth-mapping satellite photos revealed a long-hidden landmass in the South Pacific, known as Skull Island, surrounded by a perpetual storm system.

That prompts investigator Bill Randa (John Goodman) to initiate an exploratory expedition, muttering, “There will never be a more screwed-up time in Washington” — a line which immediately elicits audience laughter.

To guide his team of scientists (China’s Tian Jing, Corey Hawkins), Randa hires black-ops survivalist James Conrad (Tom Hiddleston). They’re joined by Mason Weaver (Brie Larson), a plucky “anti-war” photo-journalist, and given a military escort, headed by embittered Lt. Col. Packard (Samuel L. Jackson) with his intrepid squadron.

Westport’s award-winning photographer Spencer Platt just completed a 10-day assignment in Russia, his first visit to that country. The 1989 Staples High School graduate told Fortune.com that his unplanned assignment was “Show me life on the street.” “I didn’t know if I was going to be treated with derision, suspicion, and I was a little apprehensive about what I would get,” he said. He was able to be discreet when photographing the locals. “They were surprisingly indifferent to me kind of being in their face with a camera,” Platt said. The result is a fascinating look at Russia and Russians today. Click HERE for the portfolio. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The Westport Country Playhouse cast of tonight’s Script in Hand reading of “Lobby Hero” by Kenneth Lonergan celebrates in the green room with the play’s director, Anne Keefe (r). Actors (l-r) are Robert Eli, John Clarence Stewart, Elise Kibler and Charles Socarides. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Actors paused today during a rehearsal for tonight’s Westport Country Playhouse Script In Hand reading of “Lobby Hero,”  a romantic comedy/drama by Kenneth Lonergan, 2017 Academy Award recipient for Best Original Screenplay for “Manchester By The Sea.” The reading will be directed by Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist and curator of the play reading series. Pictured: (seated, l-r) John Clarence Stewart, Charles Socarides, Elise Kibler and Robert Eli; (standing) Martha Stout, stage directions, Ann Sheffer, Script in Hand sponsor, and Anne Keefe, director. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Maatlow for WestportNow.com

A Westport Historical Society event, “Come Build Westport –- One LEGO at a Time,” was held today at Branson Hall at Christ & Holy Trinity Church. Participants -– 45 children helped by 37 parents and friends—were invited to use 75,000 LEGO blocks to construct 22 Westport buildings, which were then laid out on a large Westport map. The program was designed by award-winning architect Stephen W. Schwartz and sponsored by Karen Berkemeyer Home, a kitchen and bath design firm located at 175 Post Road West, Westport. Said Schwartz: “The goal is to make the public aware of the town’s rich architectural heritage, so that when they are out and about they might notice the design features that make some of Westport’s buildings notable.” Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

Goodnight Moonshine performed tonight at Voices Café at the Unitarian Church in Westport to a sold-out crowd. Molly Venter, guitar and vocals, Eben Pariser, electric guitar and vocals, and Adam Chilenski on upright bass performed songs of joy and grief full of emotional potency and lush harmonies. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jane Sherman for WestportNow.com

Westport artist Nina Bentley shows off her latest creations in “Rewritten!,” typewriter art based on a series of redesigned keys of antiquated typing instruments. There is an opening reception today from 6 pm. to 7 p.m. for the display in the Westport Library’s Riverwalk Gallery. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport Country Playhouse tonight hosted “Letters to Our Daughters,” a special community event honoring International Women’s Day. The event featured a diverse group of performers and writers. Pictured taking their bows are Sharone Sayegh; Farah Bala; Patricia Russo; Ann Harada; Patricia Kalember; Pamela A. Lewis; Kelli O’Hara; Elise Kibler; Danielle Davenport; Wilhelmine Hartong; Aleta Mitchell; Jane Green, and Khadija Gurnah. The program was curated by Samantha Goober and Anne Keefe, Playhouse artist. Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com