Antiques Shows______

Feb 24-26: 36th Annual Darien Antiques Show, First Congregational Church of Darien, 14 Brookside Rd, Darien, Fri 7-9 pm (preview party, tickets $50), Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 11:30 am-5 pm, adm $8, 30+ dealers, proceeds to benefit church’s outreach efforts; 203-655-0491.

Feb 25-26: Orange Historical Society Antiques Show, High Plains Community Center, 525 Orange Center Rd, Orange, Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $4.50; 203-765-6465.

March 5: 21st Annual Newtown Historical Society Antiques Show & Sale, Edmond Town Hall gymnasium, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, adm $5, dealers from across state & region will have diverse offerings, proceeds to benefit historical society; 426-5937.

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.

In Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (lower meeting room) — Through Feb 28: “Images of Nature,” photographs by Art Anderson, Bob Berthier & Frank Gardner.

In first floor display cases — Through March 31: “North American Animals,” carved wooden animals by Newtown resident Wayne Smith, painted by Carol Smith, incl foxes, moose, wolves, cougars, bears, skunks, coyotes, squirrel, rabbit & lynx.

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

Through March 26: “Bend-Twist-Wrap: Contemporary Work in Wire,” new sculpture by artists from across the country.

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.

*(new show) March 2-April 15: “Oil & Water,” comparison & contrast of works in 2 media, exploring diff styles & constraints faced by artists, works in oil by Bill Claps, Kevin Conklin, Lynne Knobel & Carol Coppola-Young, watercolors by Kimberly Meuse, Susan Sharp & Carol Matyia-Ross, also sculpture by Geraldine Marcenyac & Janice Mauro; March 2, opening reception, 5:30-8 pm.

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.

Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St, Danbury. Call 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. (see Misc calendar for ongoing programs schedule)

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

*(new show) Through April 4: “American Photography,” 40+ photos by Larry Roberg taken in CT, MA, CA & Fl in color & black & white, highlighting some of Mr Roberg’s dramatic landscape & scenic photography; Feb 25, opening reception, 12-3 pm.

Golden Age of Trucking Museum, 1101 Southford Rd/Rte 188, Middlebury. Call 203-577-2181.

Through April 16: “Big Boys & Little Treasures,” new series of paintings by self-taught artist Kiki Michalek depicting classic trucks, also hand painted cigar boxes BY Ms Michalek featuring classic trucks.

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

Through March 6: “Poetry in Color,” abstract oils on paper & canvas by Anne Hebebrand..

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

Through March 31: “The Hopkins Archaeological Site,” artifacts from one of the first prehistoric sites documented in Litchfield County, which indicate site was seasonal camp regularly used for thousands of years, ca 10,000-7,000 BC.

Through March 31: “Bear Dancers,” original Native American-inspired watercolors & prints by Connecticut artist & New York City native Joan La Rocca, whose inspiration comes from nature, the American Southwest & Native American spirituality.

Through March 31: “Southwestern Indian Pottery,” pottery spanning more than 1,000 years of Southwestern pottery development, focusing on Tewa & Keresan speaking peoples of Pueblo communities of presented New Mexico & Arizona.

Kent Art Association, 21 South Main St/Rte 7, Kent. Hours: Sat-Sun 12-4 pm. Call 860-927-3989.

*(new show) March 4-12: “11th Annual Secondary Student Art Show,” works by students in 25 regional public & private secondary schools; March 4, opening reception & awards ceremony, 2-4 pm.

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

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 March 18: “Continuum,” recent oil paintings & collages by Kezia Hearn, reflecting the great variety of plant forms the artist finds in her garden.

Moose Hill Gallery, 451 Moose Hill Rd, Monroe. Hours vary; call for schedule. Call 261-5578.

Through Feb 28: “Art from The Heart,” original works in oil, pottery, sculpture, photography & more by members of For Art Sake.

Northwest Corner Artisans (in Backcountry Outfitters complex), 8 Old Barn Rd, Kent. Hours: daily 10 am-5 pm. Call 860-927-3069.

Through Feb 28: “Not So Wild & Wooly,” myriad fine art & craft of animal friends incl works by Heidi Kelly (stained glass), Betty Ann Medeiros (watercolors & tiles), Marian Meigs (cut paper), Hank Meirowitz (donkey photography), Near North (Adirondack animals), Joan Palmer (watercolors), Karin Smith (photography), Elissa Weil (animals painted on barn wood) & Patricia Wilson (silver jewelry from impressions of horses’ teeth).

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

Through spring (exhibition dates extended): “Landscape Under Siege: Invasive Plants of Connecticut,” botanically accurate watercolors by members of Greater New York chapter/Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, w/ identifying names & descriptions, highlight plants besieging the New England landscape.

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

Through Feb 26: “Faces and Places: photographs by Sam Lamhut & Art von Plachecki.”

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.

Through 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.

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

Through Feb 26: works in collage by Flavia Bacarella, drawings by Bonner Cabot & assemblages by Mary Hawvermale.

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

Through April 23: “London: John Virtue,” approx 80 recent works by Mr Virtue, done during 2003-05, while he was assoc artist of The National Gallery, London, in which he focused on buildings, their relationships between structures & the overall topography of London; Feb 18, exhibition tour, free, noon; Feb 19, “London’s River: The Thames in verse and prose,” 2 pm, free “verbal tapestry” from sev centuries of description of the city’s oldest thoroughfare, readings by members of Yale’s English Dept; Feb 21, “Art in Context: Venue No. 2,” 12:30 pm, free lecture by Gary Haller, meet in Entrance Court of Jonathan Edwards College, call for directions; Feb 25, exhibition tour, noon, free.

Yale University Art Gallery, 1111 Chapel St at York, New Haven. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-6 pm. Call 203-432-0600.

Through July 23: “Baubles, Bangles, and Beads: American Jewelry from Yale University, 1700?2005,” mourning rings, miniatures, knee buckles, bracelets & other notable & unusual selections from the gallery’s collections of gold, silver & costume jewelry, many on public view for first time.

Through summer: “American Paintings, Sculpture and Decorative Arts,” comprehensive selection of works from YUAG’s American art collection incl paintings by Edward Hopper & Thomas Hart Benton, also examples of furniture, turned wood, glass & pewter.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin Lane, Ridgefield. Call 203-431-9850.

March 6-7: Auditions for Craig David Rosen’s comedy Straight Men Can’t Dance, 7:30-9:30 pm (callbacks March 11, read-through March 13), openings for 5 men & 1 woman, character list, story line & directions to theater at TheaterBarn.org, play to be directed by Mr Rosen, performances to be weekends April 21-29..

Sons of Portugal Marching Band, Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Rd, Danbury. Call 942-9303.

Openings for trumpet players in senior band, must have at least 4 yrs experience, rehearsals are Sun mornings 10 am-noon at cultural center, band performs in parades & concerts all year, plays current American standards to Portuguese marches, call for details

Concerts, Musical Events ____

Feb 24-March 12: Broadway Bound at Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Rd, Danbury, tickets $35 adults, $25 students, performances Fri-Sat 5:30 (reception, then dinner at 6 & show at 8), Sun 12:30 pm (reception, dinner at 1, show at 3), revue of some of Broadway’s best musicals follows buffet dinner; 470-7528.

Feb 25: Danbury Contra Dance at Western CT State University’s Williams Gymnasium, Osborne St (midtown campus), Danbury, dance lesson 7 pm, dancing begins 7:30, adm $8 ($5 WCSU students), caller Christine Hale will lead dances, w/ live music by The Reel Thing, singles & couples welcome, new dancers always welcome; 262-8411 (betw 12-8 pm).

Feb 25: Ballroom Dance, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Park Ave, Bridgeport, adm $15 (incl lesson at 8 & snacks), dancing from 7 pm-midnight, performance by World Champion Latin finalists Dmitri & Svetlana Ostashkin (9:30 pm), singles & couples welcome; 203-374-7308.

Feb 25: Hot Cat Jazz Band concert, Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown, 7:30 pm, adm $12 adults, $10 seniors, free ages 6 & under, performance by Ross Tucker and his jazz band will incl swing, big band jazz & classic rock music with vocals; 426-9024, 426-3496.

Feb 26: “The Whole World In Her Hands — A Great Singer’s Life in Song,” Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury, performances at 2 & 5 pm, tickets $15/adv, $20/door, celebration of Marian Anderson performed by soprano Awet Andemicael will incl folk & art songs from Russia, Germany, Scandanavia & the US, also some of Miss Anderson’s signature spirituals; 746-2694.

Feb 26: “Exultate, Jubilate: Winners & Semi-Finalists of GWCC Chamber Music Competitions,” Post University’s MacDermid Hall, 800 Country Club Rd, Waterbury, 3 pm, free concert (donations welcome) will feature young performers honored by Greater Waterbury Classic Concert events incl soprano Anna Antunes, mezzo soprano Lisa Cobhan, pianist Shannon Bona, pianist Rebecca Karabus, soprano Abra Segerson, tenor Jason Alderuccio, soprano Jacqueline Boutoute & baritone Reuben Barnes, reception to follow; 203-754-5590.

March 2: Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill at Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7:30 pm, tickets $20 adults, $5 children, performance by 6-time All-Ireland Champion fiddler Martine Hayes & celebrated guitarist Dennis Cahill sponsored by Shamrock Traditional Irish Music Society; 203-256-8453.

March 3: Doot! at Mattatuck Museum Arts & History Center, 144 West Main St, Waterbury, 5:30-7:30 pm, adm $10 ($5 museum members) incl performance, light refreshments & access to some of museum’s current exhibitions; 203-753-0381 x20.

March 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.

March 4-5: “Broadway Tonight!” at St James Church, 25 West St, Danbury, Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 5 pm, tickets $12/adv, $15/door (dinner packages available, call for details), beloved & classic songs from Broadway blockbusters incl Phantom, West Side Story, The Producers & others will be performed by soloists Paris Cheffer (baritone), Brian Cheney (tenor), Culver Casson (soprano) & Jennifer Toohey (soprano), also The Hat City Singers & Hat City Kids, all accompanied by Arnie Gross; 746-2694.

March 11: 4th Annual NBLA Dinner & Country Dance, Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, adm for dinner & dance $25, dance only $10, chili cook-off begins at 6 pm, dinner is at 7, square & contra dancing begins at 8 (live music by Bill Fischer & The Wild Notes); 791-4853.

Ives Concert Hall at Western CT State University, White Hall, Fifth Ave & White St, Danbury. Call 837-8350.

Feb 24, WCSU Jazz Orchestra, 8 pm, free.

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: 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).

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

Performances 8 pm unless noted: March 3, Dave Mason, $45; March 11, An Evening with Lucie Arnaz, 8 pm, tickets $45 & $55.

Ridgefield Symphony Youth Orchestra, at East Ridge Middle School, 10 East Ridge Rd, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-3889.

March 5, RSYO Spring Concert, 4 pm, tickets $10-$15, call for program details.

Waterbury Symphony Orchestra. Call 203-574-4283.

Concerts at Naugatuck Valley College Fine Arts Center, 750 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury, 3 pm, tickets: $25-$40 adults, $5 students: March 5, Faure’s Suite from Pelease et Melisande, Walton’s Concerto for Violincello (feat cellist Christopher Pegis) & Sibelius’ Symphony #5.

Films _________________

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

Independent Film Festival, free, screenings 7:30 pm: March 7, film shorts (incl Sangam, Inja, Mt Head & others; call for full listing).

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

Independent Film Series, free, screenings at 2 pm: March 5, Witnesses.

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

Feb 24-March 2: Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire (PG), daily 7 pm, mat Fri, Sun-Mon, Wed-Thurs 1 pm.

Maritime Aquarium, 10 North Water St, South Norwalk. Call 203-852-0700.

Through June 15: Bugs!, Mon-Fri 11 am, 1, 2 & 3 pm, Sat-Sun 1 & 3 pm; also double feature Fri-Sat 7 pm.

For Kids & Families _________

Feb 26: Family Day: Celebrating Ben Franklin, at The Bruce Museum, One Museum Dr, Greenwich, 1-4 pm, adm $7 adults, $5 seniors & students, free ages 5 & under, 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), all in conjunction w/ current exhibition “Ben Franklin’s Curious Mind”; 203-869-0376.

March 2: Wings To Fly: Mother-Daughter Book Discussion, Danbury Library, 170 Main St (at West St), Danbury, 6:30 pm, free (registration required), one-hour discussion for girls in 2nd-4th grade & their mother (or other adult) concerning Keep The Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter & Connie Roop, discussions also planned for March 16 & 30, April 6 (diff titles, call library for details); 797-4528.

March 5: Concert by Ridgefield Symphony Youth Orchestra at East Ridge Middle School, 10 East Ridge Rd, Ridgefield, 4 pm, tickets $10-$15, call for program details; 203-438-3889.

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.

Flanders Nature Center, Flanders at Church Hill Rd, Woodbury. Call 203-263-3711.

Feb 25, Kids’ Adventure Club: Maple Syrup Magic Show, 10 am-noon, $12 ($10 members), registration required & space limited, students in grades K-5 (parents welcome, free) will learn about stages of turning maple sap into syrup, also hands-on activities, hike to nature center (dress appropriately) & stories.

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

Feb 25, The Russian American Kids Circus, shows at 2 & 6 pm, tickets $25 adults, $20 seniors, $15 students & children.

Miscellaneous ___________

Feb 25: Old-Fashioned Ham & Bean Dinner, Jesse Lee United Methodist Church, 25 Flat Rock Rd, Easton, 5:30-7 pm, $8 adults, $5 ages 12 & under, traditional dinner will incl honey ham, beans, coleslae, rolls, dessert & beverages, proceeds to benefit church’s community outreach projects; 372-8250.

Feb 25: Telescope Viewing, Western CT State Univ Westside Observatory & Planetarium (westside campus), Lake Ave Extension, Danbury, 6:30 pm, free viewings of Mercury, Saturn, winter sky & early spring sky; 837-8672.

Feb 26: “Digital Cameras: The Basics,” Danbury Library, 170 Main St (at corner West St), Danbury, 2-4 pm, free presentation by photographer Bill Thebert will incl info on what to look for when purchasing a digital camera, basic steps of downloading & editing photos, & how to email photos; 797-4527.

Feb 26: “Letting Go Of Victim Consciousness: Accepting Authorship of Our Lives & Choosing Peace,” Woodbury Yoga Center, 122 West Side Rd, Woodbury, 6:45 pm, free program by instructor Janaki Pierson will be followed by group meditation (free instruction available) & informal tea reception; 203-263-2254.

Feb 27: Fireside Crafts Workshop: Rug Hooking & Binding, Glebe House Museum & The Gertrude Jekyll Garden, Hollow Rd, Woodbury, 10 am-2 pm, $25 plus materials fee, Sharon Mathews will lead hands-on workshop of rug hooking & binding finished work using kits w/ colonial designs, space very limited; 203-263-2855.

Feb 28: 48th Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, St John’s Episcopal Church, 5 Washington Ave/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 5-7:30 pm, donation $7.50 adults, $3.50 ages 3-10, free ages 2 & under, traditional meal of pancakes, corned beef hash, sausage, applesauce & beverage; 426-3112.

Feb 28: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, South Britain Congregational Church Parish House, Rte 172 (at East Flat Hill Rd, next to general store), South Britain, 4:30-7 p, $7 ages 12 & up, $5 ages 11 & under, plain, blueberry & apple pancakes plus sides & soft drinks, coffee; 264-5890.

Feb 28: Mardi Gras Pancake Supper, St Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 95 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, 5-7 pm, $3/person (max $10 family), sponsored by St Thomas’ Church School, all welcome; 743-1494.

March 1: “Life Science & The Law: Making Sense of A Brave New World,” WCSU Science Building, Osborne St at Dr James Roach Ave (WCSU midtown campus), Danbury, 7 pm, free program will have CT Appellate Judge Barry R. Schaller & journalist Todd Brewster discussing the ramifications of technology when it outpaces the law; 837-8486.

March 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.

March 2: Telescope Viewing, Western CT State Univ Westside Observatory & planetarium, Lake Ave Extension, Danbury, 6:30 pm, free viewings of waxing crescent moon, Saturn, winter sky & spring sky; 837-8672.

March 3: CWU World Day of Prayer, Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown, 1 pm, all welcome, worship service presented by Church Women United/Newtown-Bethel will celebrate “Signs of the Times” through prayer, Scripture readings, hymns & presentation by Peace Corps volunteer Laura Hickey; 426-9024, 426-5192.

March 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.

March 4: CT ConTacts Singles Dance, at Fireside Inn, 123 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown, 8 pm-1 am, adm $17 incl dinner & dessert buffets, dancing to DJ selections (Top 40, classic rock, recent oldies & requests), no bluejeans; 203-468-1144.

March 4: “Herbal Medicine for Beginners,” Sunrise Herb Farm, Codfish Hill Rd, Bethel, 9:30 am, free program (must mention that you saw listing or press release in The Newtown Bee; registration due by Feb 24) will offer info on benefits of herbs in today’s world via slide shows & handouts; 794-0809.

March 4: Gala Art Auction at Southbury Volunteer Fire Dept Hall, 461 Main St/Rte 6, Southbury, 7 pm, tickets $10, auction of art sponsored by Southbury Jr Women’s Club will benefit charities supported by SJWC; 264-6393.

March 5: Open House & Demonstrations, Matthew Curtiss House, 44 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 10 am-4 pm, free adm, ongoing demonstrations of count thread cross stitch by Peg Forbell & theorem painting by Lorraine van DerVende, also docent tours of historical society’s headquarters; 426-5937.

March 5: Baseball Card & Sport Memorabilia Show, Ramada Inn, 225 Lordship Blvd, Stratford, 9:30 am-2:30 pm, adm $3 adults, 99¢ ages 10 & under, special appearance by pitching legend Denny McLam (12-1 pm only), dealers from 5 states w/ sport & vintage cards, memorabilia, supplies, autographs & more;364-1209.

March 7: American Sewing Guild/CT chapter Comfy Quilts Sew-In, Yankee Quilter, 1481 Southford Rd/Rte 67, Southbury, 10 am-3:30 pm (volunteers welcome for any amount of time they can offer), quilters of all levels & backgrounds invited to join ASG/CT chapter members to make lap quilts for cancer patients in area hospitals, call for list of needed supplies; 203-888-5869.

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

Programs free unless noted: March 4, Basic Computing, 9 am-noon, free (registration needed), hands-on workshop designed for true beginner will focus on keyboard, shortcuts, mouse use & more; March 7, Non-Fiction Book Group, 1 pm, discussion of All the Shah’s Men by Stephen Kinzer, newcomers welcome; March 9, Phantom Train & Rails to Trails program, 7:30 pm, author Sue Delbianco will offer slide show related to her book The Last Phantom Train & offer history about local Rails To Trails efforts; March 10, A History of Beer, 7 pm, free (registration required, must be age 21-plus to participate), join Steve Small for history & beer tastings; March 11, Intermediate Computing, 9 am-noon, $10 (& registration needed), class covers Web issues incl downloading files, saving photos, also time for Q&A.

Flanders Nature Center/Van Vleck Farmhouse, Flanders & Church Hill Rd, Woodbury. Hours: Mon-Sat 9 am-5 pm. Call 203-263-3711.

Misc programs: Through April 5, Wednesday Wanderings, begin 9:30 am, free & no reservations needed, all ages welcome to join naturalist Ronnie Kamphausen to enjoy sights, sounds & surprises of nature while exploring trails of nature center.

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

Feb 25, Artifact ID Day, 1-3 pm, included w/ museum adm, bring in artifacts for ID & discussion w/ Dr Lucianne Lavin, IAIS director of research & collections; March 11, Winter Beading Workshop, 11 am-3 pm, $30 ($25 members) incl materials, join master beader & IAIS educator Janis Us to make small change purse decorated w/ traditional Iroquois raised beadwork designs.

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

Dinner programs 4th Sat/month, 7-10 pm, $15 & bring dish to share, RSVP requested: Feb 25, Harvey Cushing will lead discussion on “Growing an Earth-Friendly Garden Using Simple Methods to Make Gardens Easier & Self-Sustaining,” program will be lead-in to organic garden space to be available this summer.

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: Feb 25, Bennett’s Pond Trails, Ridgefield (Mary Jo Zemitis, 203-263-3683); March 4, Lake Waramaug Pinnacle, New Preston (Mike Cianciolo, 860-355-5896).

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 to March 17 only, Wed, Sat-Sun 9 am-1 pm, free adm but reservations absolutely required.

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 The New Sorrento, 32 Newtown Rd, Danbury, 9:30 pm, tickets $15 unless noted: Feb 25, headliners Bill Campbell & Louis Ramey, opening act by Jack Kearney; March 4, Rich Vos, tickets $17.50; March 11, headliner Vic DiBitetto, opening acts by Garry Levy & Keith Anthony.

Wednesday Night Poetry, 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: March 1, Amy Holman; March 8, Ira Joe Fisher.

Theatre ______________

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

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

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

Lend Me A Tenor, Feb 24-March 24, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (March 5 only) 2 pm, tickets $20 adults, $17 seniors & students; also (Thurs) March 23, 8 pm.

Seven Angels Theatre, Hamilton Park Pavilion, Plank Rd, Waterbury. Call 203-757-4676.

Laughter on The 23rd Floor, through March 5, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Thurs, Sat-Sun 2 pm, call for ticket prices; Feb 24, Dessert Night; March 3, Wine & Martini Night.

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

The Last Five Years, through March 18, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (March 5 only) 2 pm, tickets $20; Feb 23, Pay-What-You-Want Night, 8 pm, name your ticket price. Play Reading Series, free:

Troupers Light Opera Company, St Luke’s Performing Arts Center, 377 North Wilton Rd, New Canaan. Call 203-548-9972.

Iolanthe, March 24-April 1, curtain Fri-Sun 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm, tickets $25 adults, $20 seniors, $15 students.

Western CT State University’s Berkshire Theater, Osborne St, Danbury. Call 837-8732.

As You Like It, March 2-11, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, tickets $18 adults, $15 seniors & students.

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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 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.