Antiques Shows  _________________

Jan 8-9: 59th Papermania Plus, XL Center, 225 Trumbull St, Hartford, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, $7, 150 exhibitors; 860-563-9975, 860-529-2234.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places    ____________________

The Barnum Museum, 820 Main St, Bridgeport; 203-331-1104.

Through January 9: “Celebrate the Season,” one gallery decorated w/ lg glorious Victorian Christmas tree in celebration of the holidays.

Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533.

In Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (lower meeting room): Through Jan 31: pastel portraits by Frank Arena.

Discovery Museum & Planetarium, 4450 Park Avenue, Bridgeport; 203-372-3521.

Through Jan 30: “Giant Worlds: A Voyage To The Outer Solar System,” hands-on collection allows visitors to learn about Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus & Neptune incl their formation, atmosphere, comparisons to Earth & more.

The Gallery at Hunt Hill Farm, 44 Upland Hill Rd, New Milford; 860-355-0300.

*(new show) Jan 15-30: “Six Views,” photographs by NHS students Casey Rose-Kearns, Casey Hill & Melissa Destaphano, plus 3 Brookfield HS students, who have mentored w/ photographer Laurie Klein & assistant Nicole Cudzilo; Jan 15, opening reception, 3-5 pm; Jan 23, gallery talk w/ featured artists, 2 pm.

Good News Café & Gallery, 684 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury; 203-266-4663.

Through Jan 10: “Storms and Other Skies,” photos & paintings by Suzan Scott that capture the changing skies & shifting atmosphere of storms.

Gunn Memorial Museum, 5 Wykeham Road (at Rte 47), Washington Green; 860-868-7756.

Through Jan 16: “Washington Winter Wonderland,” more than 130 vintage Steiff stuffed animals, Christmas trees decorated by local designers & mural by former Metropolitan Opera scenic artist John Pitts.

Institute for American Indian Studies, 38 Curtis Rd, Washington; 860-868-0518.

*(new show) Through Jan 29: “”Red Bear’s Frontier,” finely crafted personal accessories by Daniel Bosques (Taino descent), of buffalo, elk, deer & other quality leathers, that replicate goods that would have served frontiersmen & Native American peoples during 16th & 17th Century; Jan 16, Meet the Artist program, 12-4 pm.

Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury; 860-350-2181.

Through Jan 10: raku pottery by Eva St John & oil paintings by Kezia Hearn.

*(new show) Jan 15-Feb 19: “Inside Out,” watercolors by Rosemary Benivegna & oils by Souby Boski; Jan 15, opening reception, 2-4 pm (snow date Jan 22).

Rockwell Art and Framing, 470 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield; 203-894-8000.

Through Jan 21: “The Guild Group,” collaborative effort between Rockwell Gallery of Ridgefield & Ridgefield Guild of Artist Satellite Gallery Program offers works in various media incl acrylic & oil, ink, watercolor, gouache, monotype printing & torn paper by Randy Carboni,  Kim Hanna, Paola Lazzaro, Cindi Mullins, Paula Renee & Rachel Volpone.

Auditions, Juried Events    _________

Long Wharf Theatre Next Stage Program, 222 Sargent Dr, New Haven; 203-787-4282.

Jan 8-11: Auditions for non-Equity actors for Tiger Tiger Tiger, Sat-Sun 11 am-5 pm, Mon-Tues 6-10 pm, non-Equity actors ages 14-60 invited to audition for program for early theater professionals, be prepared to read sides from show & sing 16 bars from rock musical (suggestions incl Thirteen, Little Shop of Horrors & Seussical), actor-musicis who play piano, bass, guitar or drums a plus, actors of all ethnicities encouraged, Maryna Harrison is directing, Annie DiMartino is musical director, performances April 6-9, rehearsals to begin first week of Feb.

Concerts, Musical Events _________

Jan 8: NUMC Coffee House, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 7:45-10:30 pm, adm $4 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see listing under Miscellaneous), $5 otherwise, live bluegrass & folk music, light refreshments; 203-426-9998.

For Kids & Families _______________

Jan 15-16: Blues Clues Live! Blue’s Birthday Party, Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield, Sat 10 am & 1:30 pm, Sun 1:30 pm, 4/$40 (free ages 12 & under), live preschool children’s theater performance of the popular Nickelodeon Jr. TV program, special theater seating for children; 203-431-9850.

Jan 15: “Snow Exploration,” Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 10-11:30 am, free, learn about secret life of snowflakes while catching, observing & classifying into 7 basic varieties, view snowflake works of Wilson A. Bentley, dress warmly for outdoor work, program will run snow or no snow; 203-734-2513.

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533 (children’s dept 203-426-3851).

Family programs: Jan 12, Beyond Candy Land, 1-4 pm, drop in & play any of a variety of board games collected by Eric Paradis, parents need to stay with children age 10 & under.

Miscellaneous ____________________

Jan 8: NUMC Monthly Pasta Dinner , Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 5-7:30 pm, $9 adults, $8 seniors, $3.50 children, optional coffee house w/ live music follows (see listing under Concerts); 203-426-9998.

Jan 10: “Town Historian’s Annual Lecture: What’s Old That’s New,” C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7:30 pm, free annual lecture by Dan Cruson will incl new photos & stories of early NHS track and football teams, Sandy Hook Athletic Club, also screening of short film of 1939 Memorial Day parade incl rare footage of opera singer Grace Moore singing publicly in Newtown; 203-426-5937.

Jan 12: “Searching For Maiden Names in A Family Tree,” C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St, Newtown, 7 pm, free program by Ray Maki will offer 9 techniques used for one of the most difficult aspects of genealogy, hosted by Genealogy Club of Newtown; 203-270-7887.

Jan 15: “Snow Exploration,” Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 10-11:30 am, free, learn about secret life of snowflakes while catching, observing & classifying into 7 basic varieties, view snowflake works of Wilson A. Bentley, dress warmly for outdoor work, program will run snow or no snow; 203-734-2513.

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533.

Jan 10, Daytime Book Discussion Group, 1 pm, discussion of The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly, newcomers welcome; Jan 12, “Searching For Maiden Names in A Family Tree,” 7 pm, free program by Ray Maki will offer nine techniques used for one of the most difficult aspects of genealogy, hosted by Genealogy Club of Newtown (call 203-270-7887).

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-2475.

(FILM) Jan 8-13: Secretariat (PG), Fri-Sat 7 & 9:10 pm, Sun-Thurs 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

Institute for American Indian Studies, 38 Curtis Rd, Washington; 860-868-0518.

Jan 16, Natural Remedies for Women’s Health, 1-3 pm, $15 (IAIS members $12; 0.2 CEUs for CT educators), herbalist & flower essence practitioner Lupo Passero will lead introductory workshop on natural remedies incl focus on herbs for vitality, stress management & healthy hormonal balance.

Newtown Chess Club, at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533.

Weekly games, Sat 1-5 pm, drop-in chess open to all skill levels, sets & boards provided, hosted by US Chess Federation expert Glenn Budzinski.

Newtown Hikers. Call 203-788-1398 (Ester Nichols), 203-270-4340 (Newtown Parks & Rec).

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 10 am (winter start time), free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders (in parentheses) as follows: Jan 15, White Memorial (Little Pond area), Litchfield (Ildiko Gramling, 203-263-0086); Jan 22, Bent of the River Audubon Center, South Britain (Lynn Mavela, 203-264-7828 or 989-529-6914)).

Newtown VNA Thrift Shop, Edmond Town Hall (lower level, use rear parking lot), 45 Main Street, Newtown; 203-270-4377.

Shop is open every Wed 12-3 pm & Sat 9 am-noon, access is from town hall’s back parking lot, shop carries discounted items from local businesses & private donors incl clothing, sm home accessories & more.

Shepaug Eagle Observation Area, Shepaug Housatonic Hydroelectric Station, River Rd, Southbury; 800-368-8954 (reservations line open Tues-Fri 9 am-3 pm).

Observation area open to March 16 only, Wed, Sat-Sun 9 am-1 pm, free adm but reservations absolutely required (reservations line now open).

Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, Inc. (SCAN), Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-6654.

Programs 2nd Wed/month, 7:30 pm, free, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: Jan 12, acrylic figure in landscape using acrylics by Beverly Branch.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-6224 (ask for Betty) or 203-264-3728 (ask for Krista).

Non-profit weight loss support group meets every Mon 6:30-7:30 pm (weigh-ins 5:45-6:15, meetings 6:30-7:30), meetings $2/week, membership $24/year.

Theatre         __________________________

CES Regional Center for the Arts, 23 Oakview Dr, Trumbull; 203-365-8857.

The Skin of our Teeth, Jan 7-8, curtain 7:30 pm, tickets $12, $10 senior citizens.

Long Wharf Theatre, 222 Sargent Dr, New Haven; 203-787-4282.

Jan 16, Torture Team, 7 pm, $75, special reading of Philippe Sands’s work by Vanessa Redgrave to be followed by discussion w/ Sands & Redgrave, partial proceeds to benefit The Center for Victims of Torture.

Stray Kats Theatre Company, Edmond Town Hall Alexandria Room, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-514-2221.

Staged readings, 7:30 pm, $25 (season subscription available), Q&A w/ actors & reception follows: Jan 14, The Bickersons.

TheatreWorks New Milford, 5 Brookside Ave, New Milford; 860-350-6863.

Almost, Maine, through Jan 8, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 2 pm, $20.

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Events that appear by date have Newtown items listed first, with additional events listed by their start time. At the time of printing, the information here is accurate as presented; a call ahead is always a good idea to be safe.

DEADLINE INFORMATION

Press releases for Enjoy must be received by MONDAY NOON for publication in that week’s edition of The Newtown Bee. Send to Associate Editor Shannon Hicks, Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or shannon@thebee.com.