As tonight’s DNR concert drew to a close at the Levitt Pavilion, two women called out “you need dancers on the stage!” And that’s all it took to get guests to climb on the stage and dance for several songs with the band. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jaime Bairaktaris for WestportNow.com

By Susan Granger

Remember Reese Witherspoon in “Wild” (2014)? As Cheryl Strayed, she hiked the Pacific Coast Trail to exorcise her demons and re-discover herself. Now, Robert Redford, as travel writer Bill Bryson, tackles the Appalachian Trail to escape encroaching ennui in “A Walk in the Woods.”

This comedic drama begins in New Hampshire, where Bryson is determined to test his mettle, setting his sights on the daunting 2,180-mile trek, stretching from Georgia to Maine, while his sensible British wife, Catherine (Emma Thompson), insists he have a traveling companion.

After canvassing his circle of friends, Bryson gets stuck with an old Iowa frenemy, disreputable Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte), a recovering, unrepentant alcoholic. The engaging rapport and cinematic camaraderie of these mismatched septuagenarians propel the gentle plot.

When Katz asks how he knows so much about trees, Bryson says, “From books. Books are TV for smart people.” To which Katz replies: “I don’t get bogged down in minutiae; I’m above the details.”

To the delight of a large audience, the Westport Center for Senior Activities today hosted Joe Utterbac playing sounds of the Great American Songbook. Director of music and organist at the First Congregationsl Church of Fairfield, Utterbac has taught more than 20 years at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield. He also has composed 402 pieces of music. His selections included music of George Gershwin and Cole Porter. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Norwalk artist Norm Siegel, who has always maintained a love for all things aviation and space, shows off one of his works at tonight’s Westport Artists’ Collective Pop Up art show at the Westport Arts Center. The oil on canvas painting is called “Louis Blériot lors du Premier Salon de l’Aeronautique à Paris 1909.” Blériot, a French aviator, inventor and engineer, on July 25, 1909 made the first flight across the English Channel in a heavier-than-air aircraft. The one-night only art show featuring 15 artists was the fourth since the Collective’s founding. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Scenes from tonight’s one-night only Pop Up art show at the Westport Arts Center presented by the Westport Artists’ Collective. Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com and contributed photos

Duvian Montoya (l), a founding member of the Westport Artists’ Collective, and Jill Sarver, manager, visual arts, at the Westport Arts Center, look over Sarver’s work, which is among artwork from 15 artists to be displayed one night only on Thursday at the Collective’s Pop Up art show at WAC. Installation of the works was completed today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Scenes from today’s second and final day of the eighth annual Blues, Views, and BBQ Festival in Westport. Lynn U. Miller and J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com and WestportNow.com photos

Blues star Joe Louis Walker tonight closed down the eighth annual Blues, Views, and BBQ Festival tonight in Westport.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J.C. Martin for WestportNow.com