Eggy, a Connecticut band from the New Haven area, headlined the Wesport Weston Chamber of Commerce Night tonight at the Levitt Pavillion. The annual event brings members of the Chamber to the venue for a summer party. The opening act was Jon Saxon, a Westport resident. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Levitt Pavilion tonight hosted the Sommers Rosenthal Family Band,  Led by patriarch, Phil Rosenthal (former lead singer of The Seldom Scene), the group played an eclectic mix of folk, bluegrass, and jazz stylings. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) J,C, Martin for WestportNow.com

By Jarret Liotta

One of the favorite spokespersons for a generation of women came to The Westport Library tonight to share her thoughts on dating, aging and “going big!”

Author Candace Bushnell (l) and Westport blogger Jennifer Blankfein tonight. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com

Candace Bushnell wrote the New York Observer column “Sex and The City” — and a subsequent anthology published in 1997 under the same name — that was the basis for the popular HBO series that ran from 1998 to 2004 and starred Sarah Jessica Parker as Bushnell’s alter ego Carrie Bradshaw.

Currently on a book tour for her latest, “Is There Still Sex in the City?, Bushnell made for a sold-out event, with more than 300 tickets reserved.

Westport blogger Jennifer Blankfein, who authors “Book Nation by Jen,” posed questions to Bushnell, who talked for a full hour about her life and work, before taking time to autograph books and pose for pictures with fans, almost all of whom were adult women.

By Susan Granger

Written and directed by Lulu Wang, based on her own experiences, the intergenerational-bonding comic drama “The Farewell” revolves around a Chinese-American artist, Billi (Awkwafina), living in Brooklyn, who returns to her hometown in northeastern China when she learns that her adored Nai-Nai — grandmother in Mandarin — has Stage IV lung cancer.

The family decided not to tell Nai-Nai (Zhao Shuzhen) that she only has a short time to live, believing that anxiety could kill her before the cancer. Instead, Nai-Nai’s two sons, their wives and children gather in Changchun, ostensibly for the wedding of Billi’s cousin Haohao (Han Chen) and his Japanese girlfriend, Aiko (Aoi Mizuhara).

Ambitious and Americanized to her core, Billi believes that suppressing her grief and keeping the severity of Nai-Nai’s illness secret is wrong but — as the family reunion progresses — she begins to appreciate the intrinsic value not only of the deception but also of her Chinese culture/heritage.

Eastern philosophy underscores balance and harmony, minimizing conflict while emphasizing a collective consciousness. Which is why Billi’s family chooses not to reveal Nai-Nai’s medical condition.

Mimi &  the Podd Brothers entertained tonight at Westport’s Levitt Pavilion. Based in New York City, the group has been described as a fresh take on early Jazz with classical trimmings and soulful underpinnings. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

There was a packed audience tonight for the Levitt Pavilion performance by Billy and the Showmen. Established more than 50 years ago by band leader Billy Frenz, Billy and the Showmen has earned a reputation as one of Connecticut’s most enduring rhythm and blues bands. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Soprano Terry Eldh, a Staples High School graduate, was joined by tenor Frank Mastrone, dancer Michelle Thompson Ulerich, and accompanied by Heather A. Hamilton tonight at the Levitt Pailion as they paid tribute to Leonard Bernstein through his songs and their stories. They also honored Broadway producer-director Hal Prince who died Wednesday at age 91. Eldh and Mastrone worked with Prince on “Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Westport Library Sheffer Room tonight was the venue for a colorful artist-to-artist discussion in conjunction with Michael Brennecke’s current exhibit, “TERRAIN, Paintings & Drawings by Michael Brennecke.” Brennecke (l) discussed the evolution of his work in a talk with fellow Westporter, photographer and graphic artist Miggs Burroughs. Brennecke, a lifelong resident of Westport, grew up here when, according to Brennecke, “you couldn’t throw a stone without hitting an artists studio.” After graduation from Staples High Schoo,l he attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and received a BFA from Tufts University. Brennecke said his ongoing exploration of color and texture was greatly influenced by Paul Klee and Jean Dubuffet. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By James Lomuscio

The image on the stamp is that of a young woman sitting on the ground. She is anxiously huddled over. Her head is in her arms. She is apparently in need of a fix as the above headline reads “Prevent drug abuse.”

Miggs Burroughs with his ex-wife and close friend Mimi and the 1971 stamp that embroiled them in controversy. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The 8-cent stamp that debuted Oct. 4, 1971 was the creation of longtime Westport artist Miggs Burroughs.

The first day cover (FDC) of the stamp initially released in Dallas depicts a hypodermic needle under the banner “Conquer drug addiction.” It adds, “Over 100,000 Americans lead totally unproductive lives because of their addiction to narcotics.”

“And that was considered a big crisis; that set off a big alarm,” Burroughs said in his Westport studio.