Antiques Shows __________________________

Feb 6: 18th Annual Antiques & Collectibles Show, Naugatuck High School, 543 Rubber Ave, Naugatuck, 9 am-3:30 pm, $4, $2 children, 60+ dealers; 203-217-8005.

Art Exhibits _____________________________

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.

Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St, Danbury; 778-8337.

Permanent exhibitions on railroad history (museum is along old New Haven RR line & housed in former Danbury station & railyard), also original & restored rolling stock incl a New Haven RR Mack FCD railbus, Alco RS-1 diesel locomotive, fully operating turntable, etc.

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.

Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Rd (at corner of Center St), Easton; 203-261-0134.

*(new show) Jan 15-Feb 15: “Methods in Botanical Art,” watercolors & colored pencil artwork, needle arts  (incl pcs incorporating antique methods) & jewelry by local botanical artist Christine Leddy; Jan 15, opening reception incl Afternoon Tea, 12-3 pm.

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.

*(new show) Through March 28: “Stars and Stripes: new work by Patricia Brace,” new work by grad student who uses craft & minimalism to align concepts of American patriotism & feminism; Jan 16, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

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.

The Artist’s Corner (within Museum Shop, can be visited without paying full museum adm): 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.

Mattatuck Museum, 144 West Main St, Waterbury; 203-753-0381.

Through March 25: “Suburban Dreams: Middlebury in the 20th Century,” survey of historic sites & buildings in Middlebury combined w/ links between industrial leaders of Naugatuck Valley & growth of Middlebury from farm town into Valley suburb; Jan 16, “Suburban Dreams Illustrated,” 2 pm, $5, lecture by curator Rachel Carley on history of how Middlebury became one of region’s most desirable suburbs.

Through March 30: “Quiet Spirit, Skillful Hand: The Graphic Work of Clare Leighton,” works by the CT artist (1898-1989) who was a leading figure in the revival of the art of wood engraving in early 20th Century.

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

*(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).

Morrison Gallery, 5 Maple St, Kent; 860-927-4501.

Through Feb 28: “Four Giants,” works on paper by Hans Hofmann, oils & pastels by Wolf Kahn, oils & acrylics by Cleve Gray and steel & stone sculpture by Jonathan Prince.

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  _________________

CT Choral Society, South Britain Congregational Church Parish Hall, Rte 172 at East Flat Hill Rd, South Britain; 203-206-7186.

Singers in all voices invited to audition for 30th anniv spring season (by appt only), season to incl April 10 benefit concert in Danbury, May 21-22 performances in Newtown & Naugatuck (respectively), auditions continue all month, rehearsals each Mon 7:30 pm, group led again this season by Conductor Eric Dale Knapp, visit CTChoralSociety.org or call phone # above to set audition appt.

Concerts, Musical Events _______________

Jan 16: “The Great American Piano Revisited,” Pomperaug Woods, 80 Heritage Rd, Southbury, 3 pm, free performance by pianist Paul Bisaccia w/ rare Gershwin treasures & new arrangements, also works of Eubie Blake, Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, et al; 203-262-6555 x178.

Jan 23: “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and other magical works,” Danbury High School, 43 Clapboard Ridge Rd/Rte 39 Danbury, 3 pm, free family concert by Danbury Symphony Orchestra will incl special guests Danbury High School String Players, also McKenna Mase (winter, 2010 Danbury Music Centre Student Concerto Competition) & Candlewood Children’s Choir, program to incl Sorcerer’s Apprentice, music from The Snowman, “Muppet Medley,” et al; 203-748-1716.

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.

Jan 22: Madeline and The Bad Hat at The Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Ave, Ridgefield, 11 am & 2 pm, $15, original musical based on the children’s book by Ludwig Bemelmans; 203-438-5795.

Miscellaneous ____________________________

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.

Jan 16: Winter Fantasy Fashion Show, Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room, 45 Main St, Newtown, $20, fashion show of current prom styles modeled by members of NHS Winter Guard, refreshments, proceeds to benefit NHS Winter Guard program; 203-364-9492.

Jan 27: “JFK50,” Western CT State Univ Haas Library, Osborne St, Danbury, 11 am, free, presentation of JFK inaugural memorabilia & talk about recollections of President Kennedy by former Danbury Mayor James E. Dyer, followed by talk on JFK’s influence on the country by WCSU Prof Marcy May; 203-834-8486.

Feb 5: 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.

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

Jan 20, Evening Book Discussion Group, 7:30 pm, discussion concerning A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens, newcomers welcome; Jan 26, “The Ropes of Life” Book Group, 7:30 pm, discussion led by Julie Stern concerning E.M. Forster’s Howard’s End.

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

(FILM) Jan 14-20: Megamind (PG), Fri-Sun 7 & 9 pm, Mon-Thurs 7 pm, mat Sat-Mon 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

Flagpole Photographers Camera Club, C.H. Booth Library lower meeting room, 25 Main St, Newtown; 203-426-2316.

Meetings 3rd Thurs/month, 7:30 pm, non-members always welcome: Jan 20, slide show by Bill Snellings of images shot during autumn 2009 at Yellowstone National Park, members to compete with photos of cars, also open color and black & white categories (call 860-488-1983 for details about this month’s meeting).

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; Jan 22, Winter Survival Walk, 12:30 pm, $8 ($6 IAIS members), $4 kids, join primitive skills practitioner Jamie Leffler for 2-hour outdoor program searching for signs of wildlife & learning basic winter survival strategies.

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 Toastmasters, Town Hall South Parks & Recreation Conference Room, 3 Main St, Newtown; 203-313-5507.

Local chapter (NewtownToastmasters.FreeToastHost.cc) of nat’l/international organization meets 1st & 3rd Wed/month, guests & newcomers welcome: next meeting, Jan 19, special meeting at Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room, 45 Main St, public invited to join club for celebration of receiving charter from Toastmasters International.

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).

Theatre __________________________________

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

The Old Masters, Jan 19-Feb 13, contact theater for curtain & ticket details.

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.

Special Events:

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.

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Events that appear by date have Newtown items listed first, with additional events listed by their start time.

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.