“At the Water’s Edge,” a photographic exhibit by Westport photographer Larry Silver, was celebrated tonight with an opening reception at the Westport Library Sheffer Room Gallery, It runs through Feb. 24. There will be an artist-to-artist talk with Miggs Burroughs on Thursday, Jan. 23, from 6 to 7 p.m.  After moving to Westport in 1973, Silver began a photographic series depicting the lifestyle and activities that he saw at the beaches and shoreline of Westport and the neighboring towns. The above picture is called “Dancing on the Jetties.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Silver photo

Westport photographer Larry Silver (r) draws a laugh from a reception crowd tonight at the Westport Library Sheffer Room Gallery where his “At the Water’s Edge” exhibit of photographs is on display through Feb. 24. Silver’s wife Gloria is in the front row (black hat). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

Westport photographer Larry Silver, 85, gestures tonight as he addresses a reception crowd at the Westport Library Sheffer Room Gallery where his “At the Water’s Edge” exhibit of photographs is on display through Feb. 24. Silver’s photographs are in many museum collections including: Metropolitan Museum, Whitney Museum,Brooklyn Museum, Los Angeles County Museum and International Center of Photography.  Some of the photographs in this exhibition are in numerous museum collections. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com

The Westport Library tonight launched its new event series, “Andrew Wilk Presents…” with an evening featuring Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker Michael Davie. The presentation weaved together his adventures from Kosovo to the Congo with deeply personal reflections on travel, family and connecting with people all over the world. The evening was moderated by television, film, music personality Andrew Wilk. (An earlier version of this caption incorrectly said Andrew Wilk was related to the late Max Wilk of Westport.) (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport Country Playhouse has been awarded a $50,000 Challenge Grant from Newman’s Own Foundation, the independent foundation created by the late actor and philanthropist, Paul Newman, it was announced today.

In conjunction with the Playhouse’s year-end fundraising appeal, Newman’s Own Foundation will match all annual fund gifts up to $50,000 through Dec. 31.

The Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge Grant will help to highlight the important role of philanthropy in sustaining the nonprofit theater where ticket sales account for less than half of the operating budget, an announcement said.

“Sustained support from foundation partners like Newman’s Own Foundation allows the Playhouse to create professional theater of the highest quality in our broadest community,” said Michael Barker, Playhouse managing director.

The popular Fairfield Counts Orchestra performed today to a packed house at the Westport Center for Senior Activities. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By Susan Granger

In the mood for escapist adventure? See “The Aeronauts” about two of the most intrepid explorers in the history of ballooning.

In 1862, pioneering meteorologist James Glaisher (Eddie Redmayne) enlisted daredevil balloon pilot Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones) to fly higher than anyone in history, taking off from London’s Vauxhall Pleasure Garden. Their backgrounds and how they met are revealed in flashbacks.

While advancing knowledge about the weather and breaking records, they faced a myriad physical and emotional challenges.

While Glaisher was a founding member of the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain, the character of Wren is a composite of several pilots, particularly France’s flamboyant Sophie Blanchard, who set off fireworks from her balloon at night.

The Westport Library today hosted Sara Shepard, bestselling author of “Pretty Little Liars,” who spoke about her new book, “Reputation” and life as a writer. Wendy Walker, author of “The Night Before” and other thrillers, moderated. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By Susan Granger

In “Knives Out,” when acclaimed mystery writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead — his throat slit — just after his 85th birthday celebration, it’s thought to be suicide.

But everyone in his extended family has a reason for killing him — like Harlan’s resentful son Walt (Michael Shannon), his wife Donna (Riki Lindhome) and creepy grandson (Jaeden Martell); Harlan’s officious daughter Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis, her husband Richard (Don Johnson) and cranky grandson Ransom (Chris Evans); and Harlan’s goofy ‘lifestyle influencer’ widowed daughter-in-law Joni (Toni Collette) and college age granddaughter Meg (Katherine Langford).

Harlan’s devoted nurse Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas), the daughter of an illegal immigrant, was the last one to see him alive. And someone hired highly-esteemed detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) to accompany the local police officer (Lakeith Stanfield) and his deputy (Noah Segan) as he interviews those who were at Harlan’s home that fateful evening.

Adapting the style of Agatha Christie with a touch of Trump-era class-warfare, writer/director Rian Johnson’s star-studded, character-driven plot unfolds like the board game Clue, a bit reminiscent of “Sleuth” and “Murder on the Orient Express.”

By Susan Granger

Rarely does a biopic not only live up to your expectations but exceed them.  That’s because “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is not a chronicle of Fred Rogers’ life; instead, it’s almost a fable, illustrating his values, illuminating what made this gentle man who wore Keds and zipped cardigans so beloved.

When his “Esquire” magazine editor assigns skeptical Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) to write a 400-word piece about TV host Mister Rogers (Tom Hanks) for their upcoming “Heroes” issue, he’s perplexed.

“I don’t do puff pieces…I have no idea how to write about a person like Fred,” Lloyd admits. He’d just published a Kevin Spacey expose and was considered a ‘hostile’ investigative journalist, one to be avoided.

“Why Fred made that decision, he never told me,” Lloyd admits. “Fred moved in mysterious ways.”