Roundup: Fashionably Westport, Cops, 3 Presidents …

Hundreds of Westporters mingled, sipped cocktails, nibbled on light bites, listened to jazz, bid on auction items, and watched dozens of neighbors walk the Westport Library runway last night.

“Fashionably Westport” is one of the town’s hottest tickets. The annual Westport Downtown Association event is a fundraiser for Homes with Hope.

MC Dave Briggs and runway director Carey Price kept things lively.

A full day of in-store activities follows today (Friday, March 29).

Seen on the runway: 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker …

… Representative Town Meeting member Andrew Colabella …

… and a host of other models. MC Dave Briggs is at right. (Photos/John Videler for Videler Photography)

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When it comes to watching — and understanding — a solar eclipse, most of us are, well, in the dark.

The always-helpful folks at the Westport Astronomical Society can help.

For the April 8 event, Westport Observatory volunteers will bring telescopes and safety gear to the Westport Library’s upper parking lot (near the Levitt Pavilion).

Peak eclipse is at 3:26 p.m., when the sun in Westport will be 90.7% obscured.

The next partial solar eclipses aren’t until 2028 and 2029 — and they won’t obscure the sun anywhere near what we’ll see next month.

For that, you’ll have to wait until the total solar eclipse on the morning of May 1, 2079.

 Partial solar eclipse.

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There are a thousand reasons to appreciate and admire our Westport Police Department.

Here’s reason 1,001.

Next Thursday (April 4, 5 to 9 p.m.), officers will “work” with the wait staff at Rizzuto’s restaurant. Customers are encouraged to leave extra tips. They’ll all go to Special Olympics Connecticut.

Our police are known as Westport’s finest. Thanks to the force, Rizzuto’s and Special Olympics, for this very “fine” idea.

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Music and Women’s History Month are the themes of 4 new art exhibits at the Westport Library.

“Thinking Inside the Box” on the main level is an idea put forward by artist and author Melissa Newman. 21 artists from around the area created multi-dimensional works.

In the Sheffer Gallery, Marlene Siff’s “Finely Tuned” features 5 large dimensional paintings named for, and linked to, a specific expression found in music, along with several maquettes she created prior to construction of the final pieces. Visitors to the gallery can scan a QR code next to each piece and listen to the musical selections that inspired her. Finely Tuned runs through June 10, with a reception and artist talk moderated by Miggs Burroughs on May 5 (2 p.m.).

Also running through June 10 is Camille Eskell’s exhibit, “Scheherazade: Storyteller.” Eskell’s reception and talk is on Wednesday (6 p.m.). Eskell’s digital photo-based collages incorporate textiles such as saris, hand-made paper, cast sculpture, trims, jewels, and more, to explore self-perception, societal attitudes, and psychological states related to gender bias.

Rounding out the new exhibits is “Art of the Album: And All That Jazz,” album covers from the collection of Ellen and Mark Naftalin, displayed in the Jesup Gallery. It features album covers of some of the pioneering jazz musicians who changed the face and sound of American music forever.

From left: Camille Eskell, Marlene Siff, Mark Naftalin.

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David Meth went to the transfer station the other day. The amount of trash in one gigantic vehicle stunned him.

He watched in awe as it disgorged its garbage. It took a long time.

As the truck unloaded and the pit filled, David took some photos.

“06880” often posts beautiful shots, of gorgeous Westport.

These are a bit different. But they too provide an important look into who we are.

Beginning …

middle …

… and end. (Photos/David Meth)

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Westport loves our ospreys.

But as we look at these magnificent raptors, it’s easy to forget that they survive by preying on other creatures.

The other day, one of our Fresh Market ospreys dined out on a good-sized flounder. Ospreys have a keen eye for detecting prey from afar, sharp talons for killing, and powerful beaks for tearing flesh.

That’s today’s  “Westport … Naturally” nature lesson.

(Photo/Mark Laclair)

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And finally … I was at the “3 Presidents” event at Radio City Music Hall last night. Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were interviewed by Stephen Colbert.

It was a remarkable evening.

The 3 US presidents discussed the state of America and the world. They looked back at history, and forward to November.

They were interrupted several times by protestors, angry about Biden’s policies in the Middle East. “Let them speak,” he said.

Obama took a stronger tone: “You can’t just talk, and not listen. The world is complicated. It’s hard to solve these problems.”

There were speeches too by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and First Lady Jill Biden.

Plus — and this is where this feature is heading — entertainment. The list included Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, Lea Michele and Mindy Kaling.

Cynthia Erivo

The only one of those performers I had ever seen live was Ben Platt. I’m sure I would have gone to my grave without imagining seeing any of the others.

But they all slayed.

So — in keeping with our traditional end-of-Roundup musical salutes — enjoy:

(“06880” is indeed “where Westport meets the world.” Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)