Antiques Shows______

Jan 28-29: 2nd Annual Vintage Clothing, Jewelry & Textile Show & Sale, Sheraton Hotel, 2701 Summer St, Stamford, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $10 (free indoor parking), free ages 12 & under w/ adult, 70 available booths; 914-248-4646.

Jan 29: 40th Anniversary Tolland Antiques Show, Tolland High School, Old Cathole Rd, Tolland, 10 am-4 pm (early buying 8:30 am, adm $15), adm $5, 65 booths; 860-872-7716.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-4519.

Through March 12: “Karkhana: A Contemporary Collaboration,” works by 6 contemporary Pakistani artists – Aisha Khalid, Hasnat Mehmood, Muhammad Imran Qureshi, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Talha Rathore & Saira Wasim.

Through March 12: “Todd Hebert: 2005 Aldrich Emerging Artist Award Recipient.”

Through March 12: “Cyrilla Mozenter: More saints seen,” series of small-scale vessels made primarily from cream-colored felt.

Through March 12: “John Giglio: BlowHomes – A Main Street Sculpture Project,” site-specific soft sculpture is inflatable one-third scale replica of Victorian house that serves as front of Aldrich.

Black Rock Art Center, 2838 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203-367-7917.

Through Feb 11: “Artists Choose Artists,” works by Colleen L. Coleman, Rick Molina, Daniel Amazu Wasser & Cate Leach.

Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Hours: Mon-Thurs 10 am-8 pm, Fri 12-5 pm, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-5 pm. Call 426-4533.

In Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (lower meeting room) — Through Jan 31: “Waterborne,” 16 paintings by Beverly Branch, many featuring children at play in surf, sand & waves, few also depicting figures & landscapes of local interest.

In first floor display cases —Through Jan 31: jewelry dolls by Ivett Worrell.

Brookfield Craft Center, 286 Whisconier Rd (Rte 25), Brookfield. Call 775-4526.

*(new show) Feb 5-March 26: “Bend-Twist-Wrap: Contemporary Work in Wire,” new sculpture by artists from across the country; Feb 5, opening reception, also gallery talk by curator Robert Dancik, 3 pm, free.

Bruce Museum of Arts & Sciences, One Museum Dr, Greenwich. Call 203-869-0376.

*(new show) Jan 28-April 23: “Ben Franklin’s Curious Mind,” original art & artifacts, also hands-on interactive displays based on Franklin’s inventions & achievements celebrate 300th birthday of one of country’s most dynamic, inventive & distinguished citizens; Feb 26, Family Day: Celebrating Ben Franklin, 1-4 pm, hands-on activities for all ages, demos incl Daniel Rosenberg & His Exploding Thunder House, also performance The Courage to Dream: The Amazing Life of Ben Franklin (at 3 pm, suitable for 1st grade & up), also free adm for anyone named Franklin (ID required); March 26, “Franklin The Musician,” 3 pm, lecture & performance by Ellen Cohn on songs Franklin wrote, songs he quoted in letters & how playing & singing in intimate settings helped foster some of his friendships.

City Lights Gallery, 37 Markle Court, Bridgeport. Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am-5:30 pm, Sat 11 am-4 pm, also by appt. Call 203-334-7748.

Through Feb 18: “Bridgeport: Past, Present & Future,” city will be the major theme of first exhibit of the year w/ works showing & by artists new & established to the city incl Eric Coleman, Doris B. Giammatteo, Suzanne Kachmar, Phil Levine, Andy Pinto, Nathaniel W. Plotkin, Rab Thornton, Lou Trapasso & Mary Witkowski.

Danbury Museum & Historical Society, 43 Main St, Danbury. Call 743-5200.

Through Feb: “Danbury: Floods of 1955,” 50th anniv commemorative exhibit depicting flooding of 1955 & changing face of city’s Main St as flood recovery necessitated demolition & replacement of key areas.

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

Through Feb 28: “Landscapes To Love,” photographs by Heidi Schmitt Erspamer of predominantly New England scenes, ranging from macro lens studies of woodland plants to wide vistas of Long Island Sound & the Maine coast; Jan 28, artist’s reception (public invited), 12-3 pm.

Fenn Gallery of Contemporary Art, 345 Main Street/Rte 6, Woodbury. Call 203-263-2821.

Through Jan 29: “Simple and Complex,” contemporary still life paintings in pastel & oil by Peter Seltzer, figurative sculpture “w/ a touch of whimsy” by Michael McLaughlin.

Knights of Columbus Museum, 1 State St, New Haven, Wed-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm. Call 203-865-0400.

Through Jan 29: “Fifth Annual Christmas Tree Festival,” annual festival exhibit of 25 trees decorated w/ ornaments created by CT school children in grades K-5, this year’s theme is “The Nativity.”

Through Jan 29: “Christmas In Miniature: Crèches from Around the World,” examples of crèches from Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia & the US, incl 3rd Century gravestone of Severa (first recorded display of Nativity).

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

Through March 20: “Connecticut Seen/Connecticut Scene,” paintings from CT’s premier mid-size museums incl Mattatuck, New Britain Museum of American Art, Florence Griswold Museum, Lyman Allyn Museum & Bruce Museum explores the evolving view of nature in 19th Century CT.

Miller Studio & Gallery, 495 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury. Call 203-263-3939.

*(new show) Through March 30: “Winterludes,” group exhibit featuring works to warm the coldest winter days w/ paintings by Thomas C. Adkins, Ella Crampton-Knox, Pete Bergeron, Robert Crawford, Susan Falato, Robert Holden & Robert Kozora, new works will rotate into show at different times during 11-week presentation.

Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury. Hours: Mon 12-7 pm, Wed 10 am-7 pm, Thurs-Fri 10 am-5 pm, Sat 10 am-2 pm. Call 860-350-2181.

Through Feb 6: “Three Men, Three Journeys,” photography by Richard Denisevich, Michael Frohne & Jonathan Gordon, each of whom used his camera to chronicle his travels across US & around the world.

Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave, New Haven. Call 203-432-5050.

Through Jan 30: “Gargantua The Great,” presentation of skeleton & photos of Gargantua, one of most famous circus attractions of all time.

River Glen Fine Arts Gallery, 3 Washington Ave/Rte 34, Sandy Hook. Hours: Tues 12-4 pm, Sat-Sun 11 am-4 pm. Call 270-1199.

Through Jan 29: “American Impressionists in France,” paintings by Frank Federico & Dick McEvoy done in Paris, Giverny & Provence.

Paintings by Rainie Crawford, Frank Federico, Leslie Lillien Levy, Dick McEvoy, Alain J. Picard & Peter Seltzer, sculpture by Sterett-Gittings Kelsey.

Sherman Library, 1 Sherman Center, Sherman. Call 860-354-2455.

*(new show) Through Feb 26: “Faces and Places: photographs by Sam Lamhut & Art von Plachecki.”

Silvermine Guild Arts Center, 1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan. Call 203-966-9700.

Through Feb 5: “Annual New Members’ Show,” works by 17 artists recently accepted into Guild.

Through Feb 5: “Sea Level,” works by Judith Orseck.

Through Feb 5: “Director’s Choice: Original Repetition,” works by 17 Guild artists recently on view at GE.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St, Hartford. Call 860-278-2670, TDD 860-278-0294.

Through Feb 8: “Drawn From Memory,” works by 12 contemporary artists who are fascinated w/ the theme of memory, its nature & persistence, while wrestling w/ incongruities & issues of veracity & subjectivity of memory, ancestry & cultural heritage, nostalgia & loss, & construction of collective identity.

alongside pcs that have not been viewed publicly in decades.

Walsh Art Gallery at Quick Center, Fairfield Univ, North Benson Rd, Fairfield. Hours: Tues-Sun 11 am-=5 pm, Sun 12-4 pm. Call 203-254-4000 x2969.

*(new show) Jan 28-March 4: works by Faith Ringgold incl brilliantly colored story quilts, oils, prints, tankas, works on paper, solft sculpture & 11 orig children’s book illustrations; Jan 28, opening reception, 6-8 pm; Feb 1, “Director’s Choice – Feminist & Post-Modern African-American Art: The Works of Faith Ringgold,” 12:30 pm, $5, gallery walk & talk by gallery director Diana Mille, PhD.

Washington Art Association, Bryant Plaza, Rte 47, Washington Depot. Call 860-868-2878.

Through Jan 29: “Young Talent 2006,” annual celebration this year will incl abstract paintings by Kyle Bowman, landscape paintings by Brian Kierman, drawings and paintings by Jay Noble interior paintings by Jennifer O’Connell, figurative paintings by Amanda Rogers, still life paintings by Nicole Salva, & a graphic novel by Amber Scoon.

*(new show) Feb 4-26: works in collage by Flavia Bacarella, drawings by Bonner Cabot & assemblages by Mary Hawvermale; Feb 4, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

Yale Center For British Art, 1080 Chapel St (at High St), New Haven. Call 203-432-2800.

Through Feb 5 (exhibition dates extended): “The Worlds of Francis Wheatley,” highlights from YCBA’s rich holdings of Wheatley’s work in all genre & media incl oils, watercolors, drawings & prints.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Newtown Choral Society, rehearsals at Newtown Middle School, Queen St, Newtown. Call 426-3769.

Openings for spring concert in May, director Mary Andreotta has openings for all voices, all ages (ages 8 & up; young singers must have parent accompaniment), weekly rehearsals Wed 7-9 pm, group welcomes area residents (not just Newtown residents) who enjoy singing, have desire to learn & to be challenged musically, spring concert will celebrate last 100 years of song.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

Jan 28: Monthly ballroom dance, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Park Ave, Bridgeport, 7 pm-midnight, adm $15, free lesson at 8 pm, performance by US 10-dance champions Gherman Mustuc & Iveta Lukosuite at 9:30, singles & couples welcome, complimentary snacks, reservations suggested; 203-374-7308.

Jan 29: Caledon at First Church of Christ Congregational, 25 Cross Highway (on the green), Redding, 5 pm, tickets $15/adv (max $30/family), $20/door (max $40/family), traditional Scottish songs by “the 3 Scottish tenors,” post-performance reception w/ singers; 938-2004.

Jan 30: 4FutureMusic at Western CT State University’s White Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 7:30 pm (snow date Jan 31), free concert by Afro-Peruvian group featuring some of Peru’s finest touring musicians will incl Afro-Peruvian traditional & jazz fusion music on trumpet, sax, guitar & percussion incl cajon, jajita & quijada vocals & zapateo dancing; 748-1131.

Feb 4: NUMC Coffee House, 7:45–10:30 pm, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Road, adm $3 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see separate Misc listing), $4 otherwise, live bluegrass & folk music, refreshments, suitable for all ages; 426-9998.

Feb 5: The Heritage Brass Quintet of US Military Academy Band, at Brookfield Library, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield Center, 3 pm, free performance by group formed in 1985 will incl musical styles from 16th Century to present, suitable for all ages, reception to follow; 775-6241 x104.

Feb 5: “Once Upon A Time – music and stories,” Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury, 3 pm, free concert by Danbury Symphony Orchestra will offer selections from West Side Story, Carmen, William Tell, also “Harry Potter,” “The Legend of John Henry,” etc, all geared toward younger listeners; 748-1716.

Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras, at Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203-459-4249, 203-452-0003.

Feb 12, GBYO Winter Concert, 3 pm, tickets $12 adults, $10 students & seniors, performances by String Orchestra (Mozart’s “Allegro” from Symphony in G Major), Concert Orchestra (works of Handel & Brahms), Symphony Orchestra (Mozart, also Tchaikovsky’s Waltz from Sleeping Beauty) & Principal Orchestra (Copland’s ”Quiet City,” w/ guest soloists Zebediah Upton on trumpet, John Hanulik, Jr on English horn).

Newtown Friends of Music, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown. Call 426-6470.

Concerts at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 3 pm, $18 adults, $16 seniors, free ages 5-14 w/ ticket-holding adult (subscriptions available), reception follows performances: Feb 12, pianist Katia Skanavi, program TBA; March 12, Cavani String Quartet, works of Mozart (Adagio & Fugue, K 546), Beethoven (String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op 130) & (quartet member) Merry Peckham (Breakfast at The Ibis).

Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield Univ, 1073 North Benson Rd, Fairfield. Call 203-254-4010, 877-ARTS-396 (877-278-7396).

Performances 8 pm unless noted: Feb 2-3, A Grimm Preview: Excerpts from Handel and Gretel, 7:30 pm, $12, performance by SaReel, featuring new choreography by Oris Cook & Faith Pilger, will offer excerpts from full production to preview this summer in NYC; Feb 4, “Blind Date” by The Bill Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, tickets $30-$40, performance to feature dance-theater collage w/ Chinese poetry, the Mexican national anthem, video images & set filled w/ geometric abstractions & surreal images, post-performance Q&A.

Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies & Performing Arts, 80 East Ridge Ave, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-5795.

Performances 8 pm unless noted: Jan 28, Blue Oyster Cult, $60, Vervain opening; Feb 3, An Evening with Keller Williams, $35 & $50, w/ special acoustic set by Keller & The Keels (Larry & Jenny, featured on Williams’ album Grass).

Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra. Call 203-438-3889.

Concerts at Ridgefield High School, 700 North Salem Rd/Rte 116, Ridgefield, 8 pm, tickets $15-$50: Feb 4, “Couples in Love,” program to incl Gershwin’s Lullaby, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy, vocal version (feat soprano Laura Heimes & tenor Tony Boutte), Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Mancini’s Moon River &  Gershwin’s Symphonic Suite from Porgy and Bess.

St Steven’s Episcopal Church, 315 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-3789.

2005-06 Sunday Afternoon Concert Series, performances 4 pm, sugg donation $10: Feb 12, New England Baroque Soloists, led by artistic director Doug Myers.

Films _________________

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

Alliance Française Cinémathèque series, free, screenings 2 pm: Jan 29, Cyrano de Bergerac.

Independent Film Festival, free, screenings 7:30 pm: Feb 7, Le Grand Voyage.

Danbury Library, 170 Main St (at West), Danbury. Call 797-4533.

Independent Film Series, free, screenings at 2 pm: Feb 5, Wilby Wonderful.

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

Jan 27-Feb 2: Yours, Mine & Ours (PG), Fri-Sat 7 & 9 pm, Sun-Thurs 7 pm, mat Fri 4:30 pm, Sat 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

For Kids & Families _________

Feb 4: The Three Feathers, Housatonic Valley Waldorf School, 40 Dodgingtown Rd/Rte 302, Newtown, 10 am, free puppet play of Grimms’ fairy tale suitable for young children; 364-1113.

Feb 4: The Adventures of Curious George, at Kennedy High School, Highland Ave, Waterbury, 3 pm, tickets $7, play based on classic books about mischievous monkey will be performed by professional acting troupe TheatreWorks USA; 203-577-2377.

Feb 5: “Once Upon A Time – music and stories,” Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury, 3 pm, free concert by Danbury Symphony Orchestra will offer selections from West Side Story, Carmen, William Tell, also “Harry Potter,” “The Legend of John Henry,” etc, all geared toward younger listeners; 748-1716.

Feb 7: Stories & Craft for Black History Month, Danbury Public Library, 170 Main St, Danbury, 4 pm, free one-hour program for children in grades 3-5 will incl reading of Follow the Drinking Gourd, discussion of The Underground Railroad & creation of unity wreaths, registration required; 797-4528.

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

Children’s programs, free unless specified: Feb 11, Valentine’s Day Craft Workshop, 1 pm, $3 materials fee (due at registration), ages 6 & up invited to join Marie Walker for craft workshop.

Young Adult programs, free unless specified: Feb 7, We Love Chocolate! workshop, 3-5 pm, $6 (due day of program, reservations required) students in grades 6 & up invited to make chocolate gifts to enjoy or give as gifts, led by Marie Walker, limited to 12 students; Feb 8, YA Book Talk, 4 pm, one-hour program for readers in grades 5-9 will focus on Eragon by Christopher Paolini.

Downtown Cabaret Children’s Theatre Co., 263 Golden Hill St, Bridgeport. Call 203-576-1636.

Goldilocks, through Feb 26, curtain Sat-Sun 12 & 2:30 pm, all seats $12.50; also (Sat) Feb 4 at 9:30 am; no 2:30 show (Sun) Feb 12.

Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras, at Klein Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203-459-4249.

Feb 12, GBYO Winter Concert, 3 pm, tickets $12 adults, $10 students & seniors, performances by String Orchestra (Mozart’s “Allegro” from Symphony in G Major), Concert Orchestra (works of Handel & Brahms), Symphony Orchestra (Mozart, also Tchaikovsky’s Waltz from Sleeping Beauty) & Principal Orchestra (Copland’s ”Quiet City,” w/ guest soloists Zebediah Upton on trumpet, John Hanulik, Jr on English horn).

Miscellaneous ___________

Through Jan 29: Annual SCAN Color in January Show & Sale, Lexington Gardens, 32 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, 10 am-5 pm daily, free adm, presentation of more than 200 works in oils, watercolors, pastels & graphics representing 100+ artist members of Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, free demos Sat-Sun 12:30 (Jan 28, painting with watercolor by Cal Martin; Jan 29, acrylic portrait from life model by Beverly Branch); 798-7439.

Jan 27: CT ConTacts Singles Dance Party, Fireside Inn, 123 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown, 8 pm-1 am, adm $17, dinner & dessert buffets, dancing to DJ selections (Top 40, soft rock, recent oldies & requests); 203-468-1144.

Jan 28: NHS Winter Guard Extravaganza, Newtown High School gymnasium, 12 Berkshire Rd/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, begins 5:30 pm, admission $7 adults, $5 students & seniors, refreshments available; 426-7646.

Jan 29: Open House at Chase Collegiate School (formerly St Margaret’s-McTernan), 565 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury, 1-3 pm, families invited to learn about academic programs, application procedures & tour campus of independent day school for pre-kindergarten to grade 12; 203-236-9560.

Feb 1: “How To Get Kids to Eat The Right Stuff,” Total Learning 7 Therapy Center, 5893 Main St, Trumbull, 7:30-9 pm, free seminar (reservations requested) led by Dominique Doris, MS, RD,CD/N, will incl healthy food choices, overcoming challenges of feeding kids, dealing w/ picky eaters, & strategies to avoid fights at the table; 203-268-8852.

Feb 2: First Thursday, a Contemporary Cocktail Hour, at The Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St, Ridgefield, 6:30-8:30 pm, adm $20 incl snacks & tours of exhibitions (cash bar); 203-438-4519.

Feb 4: NUMC Monthly Pasta Dinner, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 5-7:30 pm, adm $8 adults, $7 seniors, $3.50 children, full spaghetti dinner incl salad, desserts, and soft drinks/coffee raises funds each month for church, all welcome, coffee house/musical event follows (see separate Concerts listing); 426-9998.

Feb 4: Dark Organic Chocolate Fondue, New Morning Store, 738 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury, 1-4 pm, free; 203-263-0673 x317.

Feb 5: Baseball Card & Sport Memorabilia Show, Ramada Inn, 225 Lordship Blvd, Stratford, 9:30 am-2:30 pm, adm $3, 99 CENTS ages 10 & under, special appearance by NY Jets legend Emerson Boozer, also dealers from 5 states w/ sports cards, vintage cards, new sets, wax boxes, autographs & more; 364-1209.

Feb 5: Super Bowl Party at Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Rd, Danbury, tickets $25 (snacks, hot & cold buffet 7 pm), door prizes & more, doors open 3:30 pm, kick-off is 6:30, seating limited (RSVP suggested); 470-7528.

Feb 7: Romance Book Sale, Danbury Public Library, 170 Main St, Danbury, 10 am-2 pm, gift-quality hard cover & paperback books by popular romance authors, also children’s books, videos & music CDs, prices will range from 50¢-$5;796-8061.

Feb 8: “Native Plants for Birds and Butterflies,” Newtown Senior Center (multi-purpose building), Riverside Rd, Sandy Hook, 7:30 pm, free presentation by Bent of the River Audubon Center director John Longstreth will cover making backyards friendlier for native plants and wildlife, also discussion of invasive plants, the needs of birds and more, sponsored by Town & Country Garden Club of Newtown; 264-5098.

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

Programs free unless noted: Jan 28, computer class for intermediates, 9 am-noon, $10 supply fee; Jan 31, author talk & book signing, 7:30 pm, program by David Shugarts (Secrets of The Widow’s Son: The Mysteries Surrounding the Sequel to The Da Vinci Code); Feb 7, Non-Fiction Book Group, 1 pm, discussion of Peter Bergen’s Holy War Inc, newcomers welcome; Feb 9, author program, 7:30 pm, Cathryn Prince will discuss her new military book Shot From The Sky: American POWs in Switzerland, discussion to follow, also light refreshments; Feb 11, Basic Computing, 9 am-noon, free (registration needed), hands-on workshop designed for true beginner will focus on keyboard, shortcuts, mouse use & more.

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

Jan 28, Winter Walk, 12-2 pm, $8, survivalist Jamie Leffler will lead program to ID tracks & offer basic survival skills useful during winter months.

Kismet, programs at Bethel Arts Junction, 5 Depot Place, Bethel. Call 748-3125, 426-9448.

Dinner programs 4th Sat/month, 7-10 pm, potluck dinners (bring dish to share), RSVP requested: Jan 28, guest speaker Maia will discuss shamanism.

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

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9:30 am (later start during winter season), free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders as follows: Jan 28, Huntington State Park, Weston (Evelyn Schonberg, 426-0425); Feb 4, dirt road hike along Housatonic River, Salisbury (Rita Qubick, 268-4119); Feb 11, NY City to China Town & Little Italy w/ leader Molly Schleis (748 5202), plan on all day w/ train ride into city & dinner out, depart Newtown 10:30 am, bring lunch to eat on train, arrive 12:35 pm, estimated cost for train & dinner $45 (adults) or $33 (seniors).

Newtown VNA Thrift Shop, Edmond Town Hall (lower level), 45 Main Street, Newtown. Call 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. Call (Tues-Fri 9 am-3 pm) 800-368-8954.

Seasonal: Observation area open Dec 28 to March 17 only, Wed, Sat-Sun 9 am-1 pm, free adm but reservations absolutely required.

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

Through Jan 29, Annual SCAN Color in January Show & Sale, at Lexington Gardens, 32 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, 10 am-5 pm daily, free adm, presentation of more than 200 works in oils, watercolors, pastels & graphics representing 100+ artist members of Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, free demos Sat-Sun 12:30 (Jan 28, painting with watercolor by Cal Martin; Jan 29, acrylic portrait from life model by Beverly Branch); 798-7439 (show chair Garry Thomas).

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 426-6224.

Non-profit weight loss support group meets every Mon 6-8 pm (weigh-ins 6-6:45, meetings 7-8), meetings $2/week, membership $20/year.

Treehouse Comedy Productions.

Shows at Marisa’s Ristorante, 6540 Main St, Trumbull (call 459-4225), tickets $10 unless noted, comedy shows start 10 pm, live music starts at 6 (unless noted), no cover charge (unless stated): Jan 28, The Harold Zeno Orchestra w/ Walter Andrus, 8 pm, then Anthem Reggae Band, 10:30 pm; Feb 3, co-headliners Peter Bales & Monty Hoffman, showtime 9:45 pm, tickets $10.

Shows at The New Sorrento, 32 Newtown Rd, Danbury, 9:30 pm, first act, featured act & headliners as follows, tickets $15 unless noted: Jan 28, headliner Joe Matarese, opening sets by Steve Lazarus & Mike Burton.

Wednesday Night Poetry, NEW LOCATION: at Molten Java, 102 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. Call 426-3388 (Faith Vicinanza), 739-0313 (Molten Java).

Series presented ev Wed 7:30-10 pm (featured poets 8:30 pm, poetry workshop 9:15 pm), adm $1 ($3 requested if out-of-state or major guest poet), guest/featured poets as follows: Feb 1, open mic featuring “I Write the Songs” theme; Feb 8, open mic featuring spring poems theme; Feb 15, 4th Annual Erotic Poetry Open Mic, leave the kids home (remember: erotic poetry, not porn!).

Theatre ______________

Downtown Cabaret Theatre, 263 Golden Hill St, Bridgeport. Call 203-576-1636.

Nunsense A-Men!, Feb 3-March 12, curtain Fri 8 pm, Sat 5:30 & 8:30 pm, Sun 8:30 pm, tickets $10-$30, discounts for seniors, students & groups, rush tickets ($25) 1 hour before curtain if available.

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

Private Lives, through Feb 5, curtain Sun, Tues-Wed 7 pm, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun & Wed 2 pm, Sat 3 pm, tickets $20-$60, student, senior & group discounts available.

Square One Theatre Company, Stratford Theatre, 2422 Main St, Stratford. Call 203-375-8778.

The Value of Names, Feb 3-18, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm, tickets $16 adults, $15 seniors & students.

Stamford TheatreWorks, 200 Strawberry Hill Ave (on Sacred Heart campus), Stamford. Call 203-359-4414.

National Pastime, Feb 1-19,curtain Tues-Sat 8 pm, also Sun 7 pm, also first Tues (Feb 7) 7 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun 2 pm, tickets $21-$34; Feb 5, Conversation Club, post-mat discussion w/ actors & directors; Feb 7, Art vs Life, A Deeper Look, post-performance discussion of play’s issues.

Yale Repertory Theatre, 1120 Chapel St (at corner of York), New Haven. Call 203-432-1234.

The People Next Door, through Feb 4, curtain Fri-Sat, Tues-Thurs 8 pm, mat some Sat & Wed (call for schedule), tickets $30-$50; Jan 27, Talk Back, post-show Q&A w/ cast & crew members; Jan 28, open captioning on mat performance; also Jan 28, Talk Back, post-matinee Q&A w/ cast & crew members; Feb 4, mat will be audio described.

*******************

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 the Enjoy calendar of events or the Enjoy section must be received by MONDAY NOON for publication in that week’s edition of The Newtown Bee. Send to the attention of Shannon Hicks, Arts Editor, Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown 06470, or to shannon@thebee.com. Photos are welcome and can be black & white or color, but must be in sharp focus. Please call for specs if you plan to email digital photo files.