By Susan Granger

“Aladdin,” Disney’s live-action remake of its 1992 animated classic stars Will Smith, first as a mariner/storytelling father and then as the jovial, blue-skinned Genii released from the lamp.

In the fabled kingdom of Agrabah, thieving Aladdin (Mena Massoud) — with his mischievous monkey Abu perched on his shoulder — nimbly lifts dates from a marketplace vendor and steals a bracelet belonging to Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott), who’s incognito, spending time among the people of her city.

Thinking she’s the Princess’s handmaiden, Aladdin returns Jasmine’s bracelet, and these two attractive young people definitely connect. But the princess must marry a prince, not a pauper.

Enter evil Jafar (Marwan Kenzari), ambitious adviser to the Sultan (Navid Negahban), who dispatches plucky Aladdin to retrieve a Magic Oil Lamp from the Cave of Wonders.

Large crowds congregated at the outdoor patio of Rothbard Ale + Larder, 90 Post Road East, today for Spargelzeit, based on a festival popular in Germany that celebrates the asparagus season harvest. The eatery offered ales, central European cuisine items and live music. According to a Rothbard staff member, this is the first of its weekly summer weekend festivals. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

There was a Gatsby gathering today courtesy of the Westport Historical Society. About 20 people took part in the “Walk in Gatsby’s Shoes,” one of the WHS Destination Westport series of walking tour lectures of Westport’s  history. The tour, starting at the Longshore Park marina, was led by Robert Steven Willams who collaborated with fellow Westporter Richard “Deej” Webb on a book and documentary about the F. Scott Fitizgeralds’ time in Westport. The tour concluded at the site of the Fitzergeralds’ former rental summer home, 244 Compo Road South. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Scenes today on progress of the Westport Library’s transformation project with a grand opening set for Sunday, June 23. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Susan Granger

It’s more mayhem and murder as John Wick (Keanu Reeves) prepares for war; that’s the translation of the Latin word “Parabellum” in the subtitle of “John Wick: Chapter 3.”

In the original film, Wick was mourning the death of his wife Helen when his beagle puppy, a posthumous gift from Helen, was murdered. Revenge became the name of his sociopathic game.

Beginning where Chapter 2 ended, Wick is racing through midtown Manhattan with less than an hour to prevent his being made “excommunicado” by The High Table, a top-secret, international assassin syndicate, because he broke the Prime Directive by killing an enemy on the premises of the Hotel Continental, a supposed safe-space, run by imperious Winston (Ian McShane).

With a $14 million contract on his head, every killer in New York seems to be after him: a giant corners him in the stacks of the New York Public Library, then more self-defense in an antiques store, Grand Central Terminal, and astride a horse riding down a busy road under a Brooklyn El train.

The Westport Country Playhouse announced today it has been awarded a $20,000 Art Works grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for the autumn production of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage’s “Mlima’s Tale.” 

Directed by Mark Lamos, the drama will run from Oct. 1 to 19.

“These awards, reaching every corner of the United States, are a testament to the artistic richness and diversity in our country,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.

“Organizations such as Westport Country Playhouse are giving people in their community the opportunity to learn, create, and be inspired.”

Bill Harmer (c), executive director of the Westport Library, today gave members of the Westport Sunrise Rotary Club a tour of the remodeled section of the library. The grand reopening will be on Sunday, June 23. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo