Feb 11: Antiques & Collectibles Show, Naugatuck High School, 543 Rubber Ave, Naugatuck, 9:30 am-4 pm, adm $2 (no early birds), 70+ dealers; 203/723-2588.

Feb 17-18: 24th Anniv Stratford Armory Antiques & Collectibles Show & Sale, National Guard Armory, 63 Armory Rd, Stratford, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $5.50 (free parking), 75 booths, cafeteria; 914/248-4646.

Feb 24-25: 23rd Vintage Clothing, Estate & Cotume Jewelry, Vintage Textile Show & Sale, Stratford Nat’l Guard Armory, Armory Rd at Rte 108, Stratford, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $5, 75 booths; 914-248-4646.

Feb 25: 25th Annual Tolland Hist Scty Antiques Show, Tolland High School, Old Cathole Rd, Tolland, 10 am-4 pm (early buying 8:30 am, adm $10), reg adm $5, 70 exhibitors; 860/872-7716.

The Barnum Museum, 820 Main St, Bridgeport. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-4:30 pm, Sun 12-4:30 pm. Call 203/331-1104.

*(exhibition date extended) Through April 1, “Life’s A Circus!,” collage paintings by Marilyn Cohen (“paintings” created w/ bits of brightly-colored paper, appear from a distance to be watercolors) celebrating circus families, animal trainers, clowns, daredevels, animals, old-fashioned circuses, etc.

*(exhibition date again extended) Through June 30, “P.T. Barnum Presents The Divine Jenny Lind,” celebration of 150th anniv of the Swedish soprano’s debut North American tour incl artifacts from Barnum’s permanent collection along w/ pcs loaned from other museums, all arranged in 6 vignettes.

Beaux Arts Gallery, Barclay Square/16 Sherman Hill Rd, Woodbury. Hours: M-F 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Sat 9:30 am-4:30 pm. Call 263-3939.

Through Feb 24, “Water, Land and Sky,” selected works by Laura Evans, Robert Holden, Carey McDougall, Patricia Melvin, Frank Metz, Anda J. Styler, and others.

Bethel Arts Junction, 5 Depot Place, Bethel. Hours: Wed 12-4:30 pm, Thurs-Sat 12-9 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm. Call 798-2193.

*(new show) Feb 10-March 1, “Come To The Caribbean,” artwork by Deborah Dargaty, Rosemary Slie Mesaric & Jo Ann Simon, who have traveled separately & together to the Caribbean for painting inspiration; Feb 10, opening reception, 6-9 pm (snow date Feb 11, 2-5 pm).

Fine Line Art Gallery, Sherman Village, 682 Main St So (above Gepetto’s Toys), Woodbury. Hours: Th-Sun 11 am-5 pm. Call 266-0110.

Through Feb 25, “Anniversary Show,” 7th anniv celebration w/ fine art, pottery & jewelry by 15 award-winning CT artists.

New Britain Museum of American Art, 56 Lexington St, New Britain. Hours: Tues, Thurs-Fri & Sun 12-5 pm, Wed 12-7 pm, Sat 10 am-5 pm. Museum Highlights Tour offered each Sun at 2 pm. Call 860/229-0257.

Through Feb 18, “New/Now: Ellen K. Levy,” traditional paintings to computer-generated prints reflecting changes brought about by science & modern technology.

*(new show) Feb 15-April 29, “One Nation: Patriots and Pirates Portrayed by N.C. Wyeth and James Wyeth,” paintings by 2 generations of the Wyeth family incl images by N.C., a prominent illustrator of classic novels & magazine articles who was called upon by US gov’t & military agencies during WWII to create patriotic images, and James (Jamie), whose pcs reflect a changing sense of patriotism & a loss of public innocence during Vietnam War & Watergate; Feb 15, gala opening auction & dinner fundraiser, begins 6 pm, call for details (no public hours Feb 15).

Silvermine Guild Arts Center, 1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan. Hours: Tues-Sat 11 am-5 pm, Sun 1-5 pm. Call 203/966-5617.

*(new shows — all open this weekend, and all continue through March 18)

“Art Noir,” sculpture by David Boyajianm, paintings by Ann Chernow & paintings/prints by Mitchell Friedman exploring “psychologically charged subect matter.”

“Back Home Away From Home,” postcard-sized, toned, hand-colored & transferred photos by Tertuliano Delgado & Nash Hyon expressing “What is Home?” and “Where is Home?” while focusing on Italy.

“Industrial Archeology,” jewelry design, sculpture, paintings, drawings & assemblages by Robert Dancik, Jim Felice, Christie Gallagher, Bob Keating & Alex McFarlane exploring the evolution of modern industry using scientific methodology.

“NEOmadonna,” paintings, drawings, mixed media & sculpture to explore the images conjured by the word Madonna by Leslie Giuliani, Patrick Maisano, Eve Stockton & Joan Wheeler.

“Winter White,” paintings by Lou Hicks & Juliet Holland & sculpture by Sharon Wandel explore the impact of a shared experience in Japan w/ Japanese artists & their effect of the Japanese culture’s quiet & meditation on the artists.

Wadsworth Atheneum, 600 Main St, Hartford. Hours: Tues-Sun 11 am-5 pm. Call 860/278-2670.

Through Feb 18, “Bustles and Bows: Fashions from the 1870s,” mannequins dressed in ensembles such as those which were seen in the paintings by Manet, Monet & Renoir in the exhibit “The Impressionists at Argenteuil.” Through April 29, “Gauguin’s ‘Nirvana:’ Painters at Le Pouldu, 1889-1890,” interrelated artworks-paintings, drawings, prints, and sculpture by Paul Gauguin, the Dutch painter Meyer de Haan, and others, from collections around the world, done while the artists found a temporary refuge in Le Pouldu, a rustic fishing village in Brittany.

Washington Art Association, Bryant Plaza, Washington Depot. Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am-5 pm (closed Wed), Sun 2-5 pm. Call 860/868-2878.

Through Feb 25, “3X — Exposure,” nude self-portrait photographs by Lee Fearnside, photos by commercial photographer Wayne Greene & short films on paper by Patricia Mazza.

Yale University Art Gallery, 1111 Chapel St at York, New Haven. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-6 pm. Masterpiece Tours of Permanent Collection every Sat 1:30 pm, Sun 3 pm. Call 203/432-0600.

*(new show) Through March 25, “Objective Color,” paintings, sculpture, prints, installation & video works by 36 artists who have explored color as its own entity (“freed from representation”); Feb 21, Art à la Carte tour of exhibit w/ its curator, 12:20 pm.

Connecticut Poetry Society, 41 Sunnybrook Bend, Waterbury 06708.

Feb 27: Closing date for 2001 Lynn DeCaro Powtry Competition, open to all high school students in CT (public, private & alternative school programs all eligible), cash prizes, also publication in CT River Review & membership to CT Poetry Scty, send ASAP for complete rules to above address; high school English departments have also been notified of the contest.

Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury 06810. Call 748-1716.

Feb 26: Deadline to request packet of info concerning vacancy for salaried music director/conductor position for Danbury Concert Chorus, letter of application w/ resume due by March 16, DCC is all-volunteer, non-auditioned singers w/ weekly rehearsals Sept-May, contact music centre for details (can also send email to dmc61@juno.com).

International Festival of Arts & Ideas, 195 Church St, New Haven 06510. Call 203/498-1212.

Feb 15: Applications due for 2001 Festival of Arts & Ideas from CT-based performing artists, poets and dance/theater groups who wish to perform this year, festival June 14-30 in & around downtown New Haven, applications must be accompanied by audio or video tape samples, call or write for complete details & applications, email also accepted at community.programs@snet.net.

Feb 11: The Mikado, Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Rd (at corner of Center St), Easton, 1:30 pm, free performance of Gilbert & Sullivan’s operetta is suitable for all ages, reception follows; 261-0134.

Feb 14: Recital by mezzo-soprano Helen Falcone & pianist Leslie Merwin, East Hill Woods auditorium, 611 East Hill Rd, Southbury, 7:15 pm, free & open to all ages; 262-6161.

Feb 14: “Wedding Music Through The Ages,” First Presbyterian Church, Sport Hill Rd/Easton Tpke, Fairfield, 8 pm, free performance of vocal & instrumental selections, w/ narration, showing how wedding music has changed since 1800; 203/374-2774.

Feb 18: Duquesne University Tamburitzans, Center for the Performing Arts at Sacred Heart Univ, 5151 Park Ave, Fairfield, 3 pm, tickets $17-$20, lively program of eastern European folk music & dances will feature authentic costumes, instruments, songs & dances celebrating life & love from Russia, Poland, Greece, Bulgaria & Hungary; 203/374-2777.

Feb 25: Jacques Thibaud Trio at Edmond Town Hall auditorium, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 3 pm, tickets $14, $12 students & seniors, free age 14 & under, performance of award-winning trio will incl works of Beethoven, Dohnanyi & Mozart, reception w/ performers will follow, hosted by Newtown Friends of Music; 426-6470.

Acoustic Café, 2926 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203/335-FOLK (3655).

Open mic every Tues, sign ups 7 pm, performances begin at 8; Video Nights Wed & Thurs, 8:30 pm (call for each night’s selection, or just show up).

Feb 9, Laura Warfield & Friends, 8 pm, adm $10, yoga instructor by day, singer-songwriter by night w/ insight & inspiration; Feb 10, Deni Bonet & Terence Martin, 9 pm, adm $10, acoustic violin, guitar & dobro, also pedal steel guitarist Dan Bonis, monthly WPKN benefit show; Feb 11, Ellis Paul, 5 pm, adm $15, Liz Graham opening; Feb 15, Cats Like Angels, 8 pm, $4, acoustic folk rock & pop, Acoustic Café debut; Feb 16, Electric Fish, 9 pm, $5, electric rock; Feb 17, The Kennedys, 9 pm, $12, acoustic folk & contemporary by popular husband-wife team.

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

Stage A Performances, 7-9 pm, $20, electic music & multi-media series w/ the latest in contemporary performance & music trends: Feb 16, Mark Ribot, rock/jazz.

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

Feb 11, “An Anniversary Celebration,” 3 pm, tickets $10 adults, $7 seniors & students, guest musician Joseph Genualdi will join GBYO to celebrate his father’s 20th anniv as GBYO Music Director, program incl works of Vivaldi, Bruch, Wagner, Offenbach, Mahler & Rimsky-Korsakov.

Hartford Symphony Orchestra, The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave, Hartford. Call 860/246-6807.

Performances 8 pm, tickets $10-$50: Feb 9-10, concert w/ guest violinist Midori performing Glazunov’s Violn Concerto, also works of Barber & Shostakovich w/ full orchestra.

Family Matinees, 11 am, adult tickets $10-14, children $11: Feb 24, “A Morning at the Movies,” fun, kid-friendly version of Feb 23-24 “Oscars” performances w/ music of Wizard of Oz, et al.

Ives Concert Hall at WCSU, White Hall, Fifth Ave & White St, Danbury. Call 837-8350.

Performances 8 pm, free unless otherwise noted: Feb 10, senior recital by Michelle Utz on flute, 3 pm; Feb 14, faculty recital by percussionist Dave Smith, cellist Judy Smith & Theresa Dolak on clarinet, 1 pm; Feb 21, guest artist recital by inspirational pianist & storyteller Louis Joseph Crescenti, 1 pm, call for ticket details.

New Haven Symphony Orchestra, (box office) 33 Whitney Ave; performances in Woolsey Hall, College & Grove St, New Haven. Conductor Jung-Ho Pak. Call 203/776-1444, 800/292-NHSO.

Performances 7:30 pm, tickets $15-$48 unless indicated: Feb 15, Symphony Series: Evening of Brahms, guest conductor Leslie Dunner, guest pianist Adam Neiman, performances of Piano Concerto No 1 & Symphony No 3.

Newtown Friends of Music, Newtown. Call 426-6470.

Concerts at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 3 pm, $14, $12 seniors/students, free ages 5-14 w/ adult (subscriptions available), reception follows performances: Feb 25, Jacques Thibaud String Trio, Berlin-based trio will offer unique interpretations of works of Beethoven, Dohnanyi & Mozart.

Next Stop Café, 102 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. Call 730-9940.

Acoustic blues, 7-10 pm, free adm but reservations sugg: Feb 9, Tim Regan, raw country spirituals to punchy city-blues shots, originals & interpretations; Feb 10, Lowrey Hammer & Jen Scholle **adm $14.50, roots blue, original & traditional music in Americana genre; Feb 11, Stephen Back; Feb 16, Shrdlu Ashe, harmonica, guitar & fiddle on folk, country, blues, pop, jazz, classical & bluegrass.

Norwalk Youth Symphony, Norwalk Concert Hall, 125 East Ave, Norwalk. Call 203/866-4100.

Feb 11, Norwalk Youth Symphony Winter Concert, 3 pm, ticekts $12 adults, $7 students & seniors, works of Schumann (Principal Orchestra), Gounod & Strauss (Concert Orchestra), Mozart, Anderson & Haydn (Chamber Orchestras).

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

Performances 8 pm unless noted: Feb 10, Chamber Music Scty of Lincoln Center, 8 pm, guest violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg (pre-concert talk 7 pm by music critic Robert Sherman), tickets $30; Feb 17, Garth Fagan Dance Co., tickets $28-$38, modern dance, Afro-Caribbean movement, ballet & rule-breaking experimentation choreographed by the Tony Award-winning choreographer of The Lion King, et al; Feb 23, pianist Awadagin Pratt, tickets $24-$30, works of Bach, Beethoven, Gibbons & Liszt.

Sweet Harmony’s Coffee House, St Andrew’s Church, Rte 202 & Wheaton Rd (at light), Marble Dale. Call 860/868-2275.

Feb 10, Forever Einstein, 8 pm, tickets $10.

Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel St (on corner of High St), New Haven. Call 203/43202800.

Free concerts (msm adm is also free): Feb 18, “Concert of 18th Century Music,” 2:30 pm, arranged & conducted by Margaret van Dijk, works of Handel, Corri & selection from John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera, performed on violin, cello & harpsichord w/ baritone & soprano soloists; Feb 21, guitarist Stephen Osserman & flutist Joanna Spencer, 12:30 pm, lunchtime concert of Latin American music for flute & guitar w/ works of Villa-Lobos & Piazzolla.

Bethel Cinema, 269 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. Call 778-2100.

Feb 9-15: Chocolat (PG-13), daily 6:15 & 9:15 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:30 & 4:15 pm, also Sat 11 am for Freudian Flicks program; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon(PG-13, subtitles), daily 7:10 & 9:35 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:55 & 4:30 pm; O Brother, Where Art Thou? (PG-13), dailt 7:30 & 9:45 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 12:45, 3 & 5:15 pm; Traffic (R), daily 6:40 & 9:25 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1 & 3:50 pm; The Wizard of Oz (G), mat Sat noon.

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street, Newtown. Call 426-2475.

Feb 9-15: The Gift (R), daily 7 & 9 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 & 3:45 pm, Tues 1 pm.

Easton Library, Morehouse Rd at Center St, Easton. Call 261-7939.

Feb 20: The Actress (1953), free screening, 7:30 pm.

Ridgefield Library, 472 Main St, Ridgefield. Call 203/438-2282.

Hollister Film Series, free screenings, 1 & 7 pm, preceded by Movie Chat: Feb 14, Citizen Kane, *NOTE: evening screening will begin 6:30 pm; Feb 27, RKO 281.

Western CT State University/Student Center, Roberts Ave (midtown campus), Danbury. Call 837-8486.

5th Annual Black History Month Festival of African Films, free: Feb 9, Sango Malo (The Village Teacher), 7:30 pm; Feb 14, Chef! (“Chief!”) and La Tete Dans Les Nuages (“Head in the Clouds”) double-feature, 1 pm; Feb 15, Chef! (“Chief!”) and La Tete Dans Les Nuages (“Head in the Clouds”) double-feature, begins 7:30 pm; Feb 21, Dakan (“Destiny”), 7:30 pm.

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

“British Directors In & On America,” free film series (continues to April 28, call museum for full schedule), screenings 2 pm: Feb 10, The Trouble with Harry (Alfred Hitchcock, 1955).

Feb 10: Make-Your-Own craft workshop, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, 11-12:30 pm, $2, open to ages 6 & older, participants will make cranberry-filled hearts & sachet hearts, registration required by Feb 9; 426-4533.

Feb 10: “Games People Play,” Mattatuck Museum, 144 West Main St, Waterbury, 10 am-noon, free hands-on activity for parents & children to use prints from museum’s collection to create fun & imaginative games incl puzzles, search quiz, mix & match, mazes, etc, pre-registration required; 203/753-0381.

Feb 10: Bridgeport Hospital’s “Breakfast at The Barnum: Tale of the Name of the Tree,” The Barnum Museum, 820 Main St, Bridgeport, 10:30 am, admission $5, $4 for seniors, $3 for children 12 and under, performance by Robert Rogers Puppet Co. will tell story of a famine that could be eliminated if a name is found for a mysterious fruit tree, continental breakfast & museum adm incl, reservations not necessary; 203/331-1104.

Feb 10: 2nd Annual “Quilt a Heart for your Valentine,” Easton Historical Scty office, Morehouse & Center Rd (behind library), Easton, 1-4 pm, $5, quilting lesson for ages 8 & up, refreshments, space limited so reservations suggested; 452-8434.

Feb 17: Mother Holle puppet play, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 1 pm, free (tickets available one hour before performance), Grimm’s fairy tale about a young child’s journey to be performed by teachers of Housatonic Valley Waldorf School; 364-1113.

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield. Call 203/438-4519.

Feb 24-25, Papier-Maché Masterpieces: A Two-Part Workshop, Sat 10 am-noon, Sun 12-2 pm (both sessions mandatory), $28, for ages 4-6, viewing of current “Paper” exhibition followed by design, assembly & papier maché of shape,object or animal of choice,then cover w/ color & texture to bring creations to life, smocks & snacks provided, parents welcome to stay.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Danbury Square, 15 Backus Ave, Danbury. Call 730-2733.

Free public programs: Feb 11, If You Give A Mouse a Cookie Tea Party, 3 pm, ages 3-5 invited to have tea w/ the high energy hero of Laura Joffe Numeroff’s If You Give A Mouse a Cookie, **NOTE: registration required for this program; Feb 14, Valentine Party for Preschoolers, 11 am, story time for ages 2-5 w/ snacks, crafts & valentine giveaways; Feb 18, Cheerios Toddler Event, 3 pm, Cheerios Bingo & other games for ages 3-5, also giveaways.

Beardsley Zoological Gardens, 1875 Noble Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203/394-6565.

Tours of zoo every Sat & Sun through March, incl w/ zoo adm.

Discovery Museum, 4450 Park Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203/371-1903.

Feb 19, “Ferris Wheel Physics” school holiday program, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, $16, discover the science behind one of the stories featured in museum’s “Imagination Highway” exhibit.

 “Imagination Highway” Magical Book Series, Sat 10:30 am-12:30 pm, $16, story & activity programs based on following books: Feb 10, reading of Gerald McDermott’s Arrow to the Sun, then learn about weather around the world & make Aztec sun calendar; Feb 24, reading of Donald Hall’s Ox Cart Man, then learn about machines & make a wooden cart.

Museum Magic Hour programs, story-telling & craft programs for ages 2½-5 w/ adult, 10:30-11:30 am, $12/team, reservations, workshop dates & featured books as follows: Feb 10, To Market To Market, by Anne Miranda; Feb 24, Cock-A-Doodle, by Janet Stevens.

Flanders Nature Center, Church Hill Rd, Woodbury. Call 263-3711.

Outdoor Rangers, programs for preschoolers, Mon-Tues 12:30-2:30 pm, $15, classes incl crafts, games, songs, stories, puppet shows, music & snack time, topics as follows: Feb 26-27, Maple Syrup;.

Feb 9: Labyrinth Walk To Celebrate Love, First Presbyterian Church, 178 Oenoke Ridge/Rte 124, New Canaan, 6-9 pm, $10 sugg donation, walking meditation on Chartres 11-circuit and/or Classical 7-circuit labyrinths; 203/966-5459.

Feb 9: PHD’s Valentine Psychic Fair, Holiday Inn, Newtown Rd/Rte 6, Danbury, 6-11:30 pm, free adm, readings by psychics, clairvoyants, astrologers, tarot & gemstone readers; 792-2939.

Feb 9: St Thomas’ Episcopal church Annual Card/Game Dessert Party, 95 Greenwood Ave/Rte 302, Bethel, 7:30 pm, adm $5, bring favorite card or board games, dessert buffet, door prizes, proceeds to benefit Haitian student scholarship fund, snow date Feb 10; 792-0197, 743-1494.

Feb 10: 3rd Annual Cupid’s Romance Book Sale, Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, 10 am-1 pm, hundreds of titles from asst of romance series; 794-8756 x4.

Feb 10: “The Path of Wholeness: Using the Labyrinth to Enhance Your Health & Well-Being,” First Presbyterian Church, 178 Oenoke Rd/Rte 124, New Canaan, 10 am-3 pm, $65 (reservations required), walking meditation workshop on using labyrinths for health & well-being led by Helen Curry & Cathie LeVasseur; 203/966-5459.

Feb 10: CT Catholic Singers Valentine’s Dinner Dance, Tashua Knolls Restaurant at Tashua Knolls Golf Course, 40 Tashua Knolls La, Trumbull, 7 pm, $25, all are welcome; 261-2414.

Feb 14: Town & Country Garden Club meeting, Newtown Senior Center, Riverside Rd, Sandy Hook, 7:30 pm, free & open to non-members, Audubon program on “Connecticut Birds Through the Season” will be presented by guest speaker Betty S. Kleiner; 426-2652.

Feb 15: Fairfield County Christian Women’s Club Sweetheart Luncheon, Family Life Center, 498 White Plains Rd, Trumbull, 12-2 pm, $10, free nursery available, “A Great Love Story” program by Elsie Anctel, live musicl by Connie Hovan; 268-9572, 203/375-2233.

Feb 16: S&S Singles Monthly Pizza Party, The Fireside Inn, 123 Main St So/Rte 25, Newtown, 7:30-11:30 pm, all welcome, call for details; 743-4480, 261-5960.

Feb 17: Alliance Française Café-Conversation, Starbucks, Southbury Green, 775 Main St So, Southbury, 10am-noon, free, open discussion based on timely subject (group will read recent article to get discussion started), open to all levels of French speakers; 267-7548.

Feb 17: Italian Bistro Spaghetti Dinner, Woodbury United Methodist Church, Main St/Rte 6 at Church St, Wodbury, 5-7:30 pm, and $7 adults, $6 seniors, $3.50 age 12 & under, full all-you-can-eat dinner incl salad, beverages & dessert; 263-4775.

Feb 18: “A Horticultural Approach to Carpets,” lecture at First Congregational Church, Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury, 4 pm, $12, program by consultant, appraiser & student of Oriental carpets & related Islamic art, sponsored by Glebe House Museum/Jekyll Garden; 203/263-2855.

Feb 20: “An Evening with the Masters” visual arts program, New Milford High School cafeteria, Rte 7, New Milford, 7-8:30 pm, free, demonstration & discussion of oil painting by a master artist, reception follows, monthly program suitable for all ages co-sponsored by Housatonic Art League & New Milford Commsn on the Arts; 860/354-7558.

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

Art Buzz, series of artist talks in café setting, 6:30-8 pm, $20 full series, $5 per session, guest artists are incl in current “Paper” exhibition: Feb 15, Allyson Strafella.

Bent of the River Audubon Center, 185 East Flat Hill Rd, Southbury. Call 264-5098.

Free programs, unless noted, reservations requested: Feb 11, winter bird walk, 9 am, look for wintering birds while walking some of center’s trails; Feb 14, “Winter Forests,” 8 am, tree ID walk along grounds; Feb 17, “Winter Forests,” 9 am, tree ID walk along grounds w/ center’s manager; Feb 21, winter bird walk, 8 am, look for wintering birds while walking some of center’s trails.

Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. Call 794-8756.

Free programs: Feb 13, discussion of Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood, 7:30-9 pm.

CT Contacts, New Haven. Call 203/468-1144.

Dances each Fr @Pinecrest Country Club, Rte 110, Shelton, 8 pm-1 am, $13, no jeans/sneakers. Dances Sat @Colonial Tavern, Rte 67, Oxford, 8:30 pm-1 am, $13, no jeans/sneakers.

Danbury Public Library, 170 Main St, Danbury. Hours: Mon, Th 9 am-8 pm, Tues 9 am-5 pm, Wed 1-8 pm, Fr-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun (Sept-May) 1-5 pm. Call 797-4505.

Free programs: Feb 16, “The African Countries of Botswana & Zimbabwe,” 2 pm, free one-hour multi-media program suitable by all ages will feature photos by world traveler & Ridgefield resident Bill Krebs, all set to music of The Lion King, program will be repeated Feb 24 (at 10:30 am).

Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St, Danbury. Hours: 10 am-4 pm daily (April 1-Nov 26). Call 778-8337.

Wednesday Evening Events series, 7:30-8:30 pm, sm donation requested, weekly programs follow weekly museum member meetings, subjects as follows: Feb 14, “Model Locomotive Maintenance,” by Don Silberbauer; Feb 21, “New Haven Railroad,” by Peter McLachlan.

Devil’s Den Preserve, 33 Pent Rd, Weston. Call 226-4991.

All events free, reservations required: Feb 10, winter hike, 1-2:30 pm, hike of just over 2 miles.

Flagpole Photographers, C.H. Booth Library meeting room, 25 Main St, Newtown. Call 270-1943, 426-0558.

Meetings 3rd Thurs/month, 7:30 pm, non-members always welcome: Feb 15, program by Don Bruen on “Photography on Art,” members’ competition on “Macro Prints.”

Flanders Nature Center/Van Vleck Farmhouse, Flanders & Church Hill Rd, Woodbury. Hours: Mon-Sat 9 am-5 pm. Call 263-3711.

Feb 19, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), 7-9 pm, free (registration required), class focusing on use of GMOs, pesticides & herbicides in the food we eat will be led by Clark Farm owner & master gardener John Clark.

Through March 28, Wednesday Wanderings, 9:30 am, weekly walks w/ Ronnie Kamphausen along Van Vleck Farm Sanctuary’s trails to observe & enjoy changes in plants & animals through second half of winter season, sm donations for center appreciated.

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

Art Lovers’ Lunch series, 12-1 pm, discussion of specific artwork from museum’s collection followed by lunch from Exhibition Café, lecture fee $5, lunch prices vary: Feb 23, “Fruit on a Fish Dish,” by Milton Avery.

Newtown Hikers. Call 426-2897, 270-4340.

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9 am, free, all welcome, bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations as follows (call hike leader if weather doubtful): Feb 10, rail trail from Trumbull to Old Mine Park, Monroe (Morie Colburn, 203/937-8067); Feb 17, White Memorial, Litchfield (Betty Horton, 860/354-7526).

Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Ave/Rte 34, Derby. Hours: Tues & Thurs 10 am-3 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm. Call 922-7832.

Feb 10, Indoor Gardens Tour, free one-hour program at 11 am & 2 pm, discover the museum’s furnishings & artwork covered w/ flowers & plants done during 18th & 19th C.

Quick Center for the Arts, at Fairfield Univ, North Benson Rd, Fairfield. Call 203/254-4010.

Open Visions Forum Series, lectures by guest speakers, tickets $15, $10 seniors, $5 students: Feb 21, award-winning author/playwright Tony Kushner, 7:30 pm, topic will be “The Arts as Political Provocateur.”

Wednesday Night Poetry Series, Bethel Arts Junction, 5 Depot Place (in former railroad station bldg), Bethel. Call 426-3388 (Faith Vicinanza), 270-6202 (Michael Seri), 748-2828 (BAJ).

Series presented ev Wed 7:30-10 pm (doors open 7 pm, featured poets 8:30 pm, poetry workshop 9:15 pm), adm $1 ($3 if out-of-state or major guest poet), guest/featured poets as follows: Feb 14, Chante Franklin; Feb 21, former cowgirl Nancy Dulaney.

Danbury High School, Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury. Call 860/868-6218 (Shepaugh High School guidance dept).

Love Letters, Feb 17, 7:30 pm, tickets $40 & $65 (upper tier incl post-performance private reception w/ actors), one-time benefit performance starring Mia Farrow & Sam Waterston.

Hartford Stage, 50 Church St, Hartford. Call 860/527-5151.

Oedipus the King, through Feb 11, curtain Thurs & Sun 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm, tickets $20-$55, group discounts.

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

Mainstage: The Third Army (world premiere), through Feb 11, curtain Tues 7 pm, Wed-Fri 8 pm, Sat 4 & 8:30 pm, Sun 2 & 7 pm, tickets $15-$45, group discounts.

On Stage II: The Mandrake Root (world premiere), through March 18 (production extended), curtain Tues 7 pm, Wed-Fri 8 pm, Sat 8:30 pm, Sun 7 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun 2 pm, tickets $15-$45; Talkback Tuesdays follow Feb 13, 20, 27 & March 6 performances, discussion w/ actors, director or designers focusing on topics of play; Feb 18, WSHU-FM Sunday Symposium, follows matinee, informative discussion of play’s issues w/ panel of scholars or artists.

Polka Dot Playhouse, 177 State St, Bridgeport. Call 203/333-3666.

Over the River and Through the Woods, through Feb 25, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun 2 pm, tickets $23-$30.

Ridgefield Theatre Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield. Call 203/431-9850.

You Can’t Take It With You, Feb 16-March 10, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm (also mat Sun, Feb 25, 3 pm), tickets $15 adults, $12 seniors & students.

Yale Repertory Theatre Co., University Theatre, 222 York St, New Haven. Call 203/432-1234.

The Way of the World, Feb 9-March 3 (previews through Feb 12; opening night Feb 13), curtain Mon 7 pm, Tues-Sat 8pm, mat Sat 2 pm, tickets $20-$36, discounts for students, seniors & groups; Feb 12, Pay What You Can preview; Feb 15, New Haven Advocate Ale Club Beer Tasting, prior to evening show; Feb 17, Family Dollar Matinee, 2 pm, kids’ tickets $1; Feb 17, Re:Play, post-evening show discussion w/ artistic team.

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Events that appear by date have Newtown events 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 prints; please call for details concerning photo files to be emailed.