Fernando Scarpati, Positano Ristorante chef/co-owner, checks out the site of a fire in a dining room wall, which closed the restaurant Sunday night. He said Positano is now open and operating on regular hours. He said the hot stove on the opposite side of the wall built up heat to a point that it ignited a portion of the wall. “Fortunately, the construction of the wall had a fire-stopper panel that stopped the progress of the fire,” Scarpati said. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport photographer Larry Silver today addresses a reception at the New York Historical Society where his exhibit “Photographs by Larry Silver, 1949-1955,” opened July 1. The exhibit showcasing 45 photos of post-war New York City life by the Bronx-born photographer runs until Dec. 4. The Society is at 170 Central Park West (77th Street). Silver is a 43-year resident of Westport and a recipient of the Westport Arts Achievement Award in the Visual Arts in 2006. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com

Westport photographer Larry Silver (c) embraces his friends Gloria and Howard Paul of Nyack, N.Y.  today while posing for a photograph in front of his own photographic work. Silver photographed the couple at her grandmothers house in Bronx N.Y. on their way to the prom in 1955. A reception to celebrate “Photographs by Larry Silver 1949-1955” was held at the New York Historical Society 170 Central Park West. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com

Westport’s Rothbard Ale + Larder European Gastropub celebrated Oktoberfest today in the alley and front of the Old Town Hall at 90 Post Road East. The festivities continue until 11 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

A guest at today’s Okotberfest celebration at Rothbard Ale + Larder, 90 Post Road East, offers up some brew to a four-legged celebrant. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Students at the Suzuki Music School of Westport perform today at the official opening of the school’s new 7,000 square feet location at 246 Post Road East in the Colonial Green complex, former home of the Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage (MTC). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Cutting the symbolic ribbon today at the new home of the Suzuki Music School of Westport were (l-r)  Sheila Ward, school board member; Sarah Smale, assistant director; Amadeo Rodriguez, board chairman; First Selectman Jim Marpe, and Andrew Smith, director, Suzuki Music Schools.  Marpe said today’s performance by the young musicians reminded him of his younger days when he performed on the clarinet. “It gives me much pleasure to see so many youths skillfully playing the violin and developing the very important music discipline at an early age,” he said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By James Lomuscio

Westporter Mike Krysiuk could be describing an event in real time when he recounts being in a sportscar doing 100 mph and driven by his friend drunk at the wheel.

Mike Krysiuk: in coma seven weeks. Contributed photo

“My friend and I were coming out from New York, coming down Route 123 in New Canaan,” he recalled about the incident 42 years ago. “We went across the line to buy some beer in Vista, N.Y.”

It was Sunday, Jan. 31, 1974, a time when Connecticut Blue Laws prohibited alcohol sales on Sunday. Kyrsiuk says both he and his friend Ted Reynolds were drunk.

“It was a two-seater Triumph GT6,” Krysiuk said. “He tried to downshift. The gears locked, the brakes locked, and we went skidding and heading head for a pile of dirt and a big black shadow next to the pile of dirt.

Chef Brian Lewis of Westport’s The Cottage restaurant, widely praised by reviewers, announced today he is expanding it by adding space next door.

Chef Brian Lewis: dining, bar, and kitchen areas will expand. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

An announcement said work began this week on adding 800-square feet to his existing 1,500-square feet in at 256 Post Road East in Colonial Green. The site was formerly Le Farm Restaurant.

“I could not be more grateful for the love and support the Town of Westport and all of Fairfield County and beyond has given to us since we opened nearly a year ago,” said Lewis in the announcement.

“While we have big plans for this additional space, our number one priority is to continue to offer the same comfortable atmosphere, delicious cuisine and warm hospitality that we are proud to be known for.”

By Susan Granger

“Bridget Jones’s Baby,” the long-awaited third installment, begins as charmingly awkward, accident-prone Bridget (Renee Zellweger) is celebrating her 43rd birthday – alone, once again – with Celine Dion’s “All By Myself.”

A funeral flashback reveals that Bridget’s caddish boss, Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant), has died and her longtime lover, successful barrister Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), is married to a woman named Camilla.

Bridget is a successful TV news show producer and her best friend, anchorwoman Miranda (Sarah Solemani), has concocted a plan to launch her back into the dating world during a weekend at the Glastonbury Music Festival.

That’s where American billionaire Jack Quant (Patrick Dempsey) gallantly pulls her out of a mud puddle. He’s CEO of an online dating website. Later that night, he and Bridget hook up in his ornate yurt.