Antiques Shows______

March 20-21: 47th annual Manchester Antiques Show, Second Congregational Church, 385 North Main St, Manchester, Fri 11 am-8 pm, Sat 10 am-4 pm, adm $5, lunch & dinner available; 860-649-7770.

March 20-22: Ephemera 29: The International Fair & Conference, Hyatt Regency, 1800 East Putnam Ave, Old Greenwich, Fri 9 am-4 pm (conference), Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 11 am-4 pm, adm $12, $6 ages 12-21, free ages 11 & under w/ paid adult, 90+ dealers & exhibitors, appraisals by John Bruno (Sat 12:30-2 pm, $5/item); 603-509-2639.

March 28: 24th Annual Newtown Antiques Show, Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades Lane, Newtown, 10 am-4 pm, $7, dealers from CT, New England, NY, et al, presented by & fundraiser for Newtown Historical Society; 426-0376.

March 28: 17th annual Country Antiques, H.H. Ellis Technical High School, 613 Upper Maple St, Danielson, 10 am-3 pm, adm $6 (early buying 9 am, $12), 60 dealers from New England & beyond, refreshments; 860-774-8511.

March 29: Yankee Pole Cat Insulator Club Antique Insulator, Bottle & Collectibles Show, American Legion Post #80, 556 Enfield St/Rte 5, Enfield, 8 am-2 pm, free adm, 40+ tables; 261-1190.

Art Exhibits____ _____

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

Through May 24: “Frank Poor: Enon Cemetery Main Street Sculpture Project,” outdoor installation taking form of 19th Century cemetery from artist’s hometown in Woodstock, Ga.

Through May 24: “Kwang Young-Chun: The Soul – Journey to America,” largest freestanding paper sculpture to date (14+ ft & approx 650 lbs) by Korean artist who uses recycled pages of Korean books & medicine wrappers on mulberry paper.

Through May 31: “Dave Cole: Flags of the World,” American flag cut & resewn from official UN “Flags of the World” set.

Through May 31: “David Taylor: Frontier/Frontera,” photos & video works offering a real-time glimpse into the dynamics of the US-Mexico border.

The Barnum Museum, 820 Main St, Bridgeport;

203-331-1104.

Through March 29: “Freedom Dancing,” works by Bridgeport painter & poet Shanna Melton, whose imagery reflects an intimate response to the African diaspora.

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

In Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (lower meeting room) —Through March 30: “A World in Transition: Three Women’s Views,” works by Beverly Branch (paintings that “give rise to the spirit & goodness of those things [the artist sees] as valuable on this fragile & extraordinary place we call Earth”), Linda Dohanos portraits, (fine art & illustrations that exemplify the joy she takes in life & art) and Julia Provey (colorful abstract paintings w/ primitive edge).

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

*(new show) March 22-May 3: “Out of the Loop: Innovations in Hooking,” celebration of resurgence in American art form of rug hooking, guest curated by Liz Alpert Fay of Newtown; March 22, opening reception,

2-4 pm (curator’s talk at 3).

Creative Framing, 150 Main St, Monroe. Call 203-880-9125.

*(new show) March 28-April 4: “Dapper Dogs and Classy Cats,” modern paintings of cats & dogs by the Sandy Hook artist Richard R. Budman, partial proceeds of painting, print & book sales to benefit Newtown, Monroe & Easton animal pounds; March 28, opening reception & book signing, 4-7 pm.

Discovery Museum and Planetarium, 4450 Park Ave, Bridgeport; 203-372-3521.

Through April 27: “Take Flight,” exploration of the creative process & fundamentals of flight incl hands-on build-your-own planes & rockets feature.

Housatonic Museum of Art/Burt Chernow Galleries at Housatonic Community College, 900 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport; 203-332-5000.

Through March 22: “Ann Chernow: Picasso Project,” prints by the Westport artist that follow the printing techniques of Pablo Picasso, collaborative project done w/ master printer James Reed to replace toxic media used in Picasso’s printer’s workshop.

Mattatuck Museum Art & History Center, 144 West Main St, Waterbury; 203-753-0381.

Through March 22: “Lest We Forget: Images of the Civil Rights Movement,” work by the late Woodbury artist Robert Templeton, who devoted two-plus decades to creating portraits of those who personified the Civil Rights Movement.

Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury;

860-350-2181.

Through April 6: “Landscape Elements,” recent oils paintings & drawings by Susan Monserud, former teacher & architect, now full-time painter, who finds inspiration for her abstract works in the patterns & rhythms of the landscape.

Visual Impact Gallery, 4 Eagle Rd, Danbury; 790-9650.

Through March 31: portraits of President Lincoln by Wendy Allen.

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

Through March 31: “What Lies Beneath? Revealing Painters’ Secrets,” works from museum’s permanent collection that have been examined using X-radiology & infrared imaging for underimages, or images hidden under the final surface painting, incl works of van Gogh, Monet, Renoir, Rousseau, et al.

Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop, 317 Federal Rd/Rte 7, Brookfield. Call 775-4888.

Through April 30: nature photos by members of Candlewood Camera Club.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Musicals at Richter, at Wooster School, 91 Miry Brook Rd, Danbury. Call

March 26: Auditions by appt for alumni performers, send email to MikeLozier@earthlink or call 860-354-7335 eves or weekends (see shows below).

March 27-29: Open auditions for 2009 season, Fri 7-10 pm, Sat 2-6 pm, Sun 1-5 pm, mainstage shows to be Funny Girl (June 18-July 4), A Chorus Line (July 9-25) & Children of Eden (July 30-Aug 15), all roles open full breakdowns at MusicalsAtRichter.org, bring photo & resume (stapled), prepare 2 songs to show range (uptempo & ballad), bring sheet music in key (accompanist provided), be prepared to learn short dance combo & read from script; also seeking male & female performers w/ strong dance training for featured choreography in all 3 shows.

March 28: Auditions for ages 15 & under, 10 am-1 pm, considering casting for featured roles & youth ensemble members for Children of Eden.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

March 21: “Zoe’s Musical Fairy Tale, Upon A Time,” The Merwinsville Hotel, 1 Browns Ford Rd, Gaylordsville, 7:30 pm, $25 (reservations suggested), operatic concert performance by Zoe Vandermeer w/ narrator & pianist Timothy Alexandre Wallace, wine & cheese follows performance, proceeds benefit Merwinsville Hotel; 860-350-4301.

March 24: “An Evening of Afrikan History and Culture,” Mattatuck Museum Arts & History Center, 144 West Main St, Waterbury, 6:30 pm, $15 ($10 museum members), drum circle performance & history lesson by Kojo Bey, also performance by Sounds of Afrika, proceeds to benefit OBey YouthCafre programs in Ghana; 203-753-0381 x10.

March 28: Monthly ballroom dance, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodoc Church, 4070 Park Ave, Bridgeport, 7 pm-midnight, $15 adm, singles & couples welcome, free lesson 8 pm, performance 9:30 by professional dancers Lukasz Chockuba & Paulina Malinowska, complimentary snacks; 203-374-7308.

March 29: Ali Ryerson & Friends at Brookfield Library, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield Center, 3 pm, free jazz concert by internationally acclaimed performer & recording jazz flutist, who will be joined by guitarist Tony Lombardozzi & bassist Jeff Fuller; 775-6241 x104.

March 29: Wilton Candlelight Concerts: Bass-Baritone Jason Hardy & Pianist Jerome Tan, at Wilton Congregational Church, 70 Ridgefield Rd/Rte 33, Wilton, 4 pm, $25 adults, $10 students (season tickets $90, $75 seniors), program to incl works of Rubenstein, Massenet & Finzi, proceeds to benefit Wilton Library Association; 203-762-3401, 203-762-5019.

Keeler Tavern Museum, 132 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-5485.

2008-09 Louise McKeon Chamber Music Concert Series, performances 3 pm, tickets $15 adults, $12 students & seniors, $10 ages 12 & under: March 22, “The Softer Side of Percussion.”

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, tickets $18, $16 seniors, free ages 5-14, reception follows performances: March 22, pianist Katia Skanavi in concert, works of Schubert, Carl Vine & Chopin.

For Kids & Families _________

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown.

Call 426-4533 (children’s dept 426-3851).

Children’s programs, free unless specified: April 1, Mother Goose on the Loose, 10 am, free 20-min award-winning early literacy program for ages 2 & under & parents, walk-ins welcome, weekly to May 13.

 

Miscellaneous ___________

March 21: Roast beef dinner, Good Shepherd Lodge & Odd Fellows Hall, 25 Danbury Rd/Rte 7, New Milford, $10, $8 seniors, $5 ages 5-12, free age 4 & under, full dinner, take-out available; 860-355-0243.

March 21: Artist Festival & Wine Tasting, St Peter’s Episcopal Church, 175 Old Tannery Rd, Monroe, 5-7 pm, $15 donation, $25/couple, work by local artists Barb Lopez, Jo Ann Frawley, Mary Jaeger, Mary Lou Wagner & Greg Karas, wines from local vineyards & distributors, door prizes & light food; 268-4265.

March 22: PHD Spring Psychic Fair, Maron Hotel, Mill Plain Rd, Danbury, 11 am-6 pm, free, area psychics, clairvoyants, astrologers, tarots & mediums readers featured, also pet psychic (bring photos, not pets);

470-1806.

March 22: “The Calming, Centering Influence of Meditation: Observations from Practice,” Woodbury Yoga Center, 122 West Side Rd, Woodbury, 7 pm, free presentation by Susi Stone, tea reception & group meditation to follow; 263-2254.

March 24: “Lower Housatonic River Valley, Then & Now,” Case Memorial Library, 176 Tyler City Rd, Orange, 7 pm, free Illustrated presentation by Lucianne Lavin (director of education, Institute for American Indian Studies), reception follows;

203-795-6465.

March 25: “Love Songs: From the Middle Ages to Songs by Louis Cabrel,” Town Annex Building, 297 Main St South/Rte 6, Woodbury, 5 pm, free lecture in French by Dr Catherine Randall (prof of French, Fordham Univ) hosted by Alliance Française of NW CT, reservations requested; 263-4096.

March 26: Screening of My Architect: a Son’s Journey, The Federation-Jewish Communities of Western CT, 444 Main St North, Southbury, 1:30 pm, free screening of film by Nathaniel Kahn; 267-3177.

March 27: “Sustainable Gardening for Historic Homes,” The Merwinsville hotel, One Browns Ford Rd, Gaylordsville, 7:30 pm, free; 860-350-4301.

March 28: “Grow Your Own: a workshop for people interested in healthy living,” Fairfield County Extension Center, 67 Stony Hill Rd/Rte 6, Bethel, 9 am-4 pm, $25 incl lunch ($15 members), programs led by professional farmers, call for info & reservations; 240-2295.

March 28: Craft Fair, Palm Rebekah Lodge, 25 Danbury Rd/Rte 7, New Milford, 89 am-4 pm, vendors, raffle baskets, baked goods & lunch; 860-355-0491.

March 28: Pasta dinner, Stepney Baptist Church, 423 Main St, Monroe, 5:30-7:30 pm, $10 adults, $5 ages

5-12, free age 4 & under; 268-9680.

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

Misc programs, free unless noted: March 25, screening of The Violin, 1 pm; March 26, “Election 2008: A Look Back at Moving Ahead from a Media Perspective,” 7:30 pm, discussion led by Hugh Bailey (The Connecticut Post & Greg Dworkin (Politico, Daily Kos) will look at election coverage from sev perspectives incl new & old media, registration requested; March 30, Mad About Minis, 7 pm, miniature enthusiasts invited.

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown.

Call 426-2475.

March 21, Gilbert Gottfried, 8:30, $25-$35, w/ Tim Young & Randy Levin (call 268-5857).

(FILM) March 20-26: Marley & Me (PG), Fri 7 & 9:15 pm, Sun-Thurs 7 pm, mat Fri 4:30 pm, Sat 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

Newtown Hikers. Call 788-1398 (Ester Nichols),

270-4340 (Newtown Parks & Rec).

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, 10 am, free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes: March 21, Huntington State Park, Redding, easy hike (Louann Chevalier, 426-2072); March 28, short hike at Richter Park, Danbury,  followed by a pot luck lunch and spring schedule planning (hike leader is Carol Fullman, 270-1747; lunch host and food coordinator is Susan Gabriele, 775-8236).

Newtown VNA Thrift Shop, Edmond Town Hall (lower level), 45 Main Street, New-town. 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.

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

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

Treehouse Comedy Productions.

Shows at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25 (call 268-5857): March 21, Gilbert Gottfried, 8:30, $25-$35, w/ Tim Young & Randy Levin.

Shows at Harborside Bar & Grille, 946 Ferry Blvd, Stratford, 9 pm, $15 unless noted: March 21, RC Smith w/ Perry Gardner & David Lee Nelson.

Shows at The New Sorrento, 32 Newtown Rd, Danbury (call 744-5575), shows 9 pm & tickets $15 unless noted: March 21, Jim Florentine (“That Metal Show”),$19.50, w/ Eric Deskin & Sharon Simon; March 28, Some Assembly Required (improv by Scott Baker & Al Isaacs), also Tim Homayoon & David Lee Nelson.

Theatre ______________

Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, Brookfield Playhouse, 182 Whisconier Rd (Rte 25, behind library), Brookfield Center. Call 775-0023.

Tea At Five, through March 21, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, tickets $20.

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

Smoky Joe’s Café: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller, through March 19, curtain Fri 7:30 pm, Sat 8:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 5:30 pm, tickets $39-$42, group discounts available.

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

On Stage II: Bad Dates, through March 22, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Tues-Wed & Sun 7 pm, mat Sat 3 pm, Sun & Wed 2 pm, tickets $32-$62 (student & senior discounts available); call for special program details.

Newtown Middle School Drama Dept, at Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen St, Newtown. Call 426-7642.

Annie, March 20-22, curtain Fri-Sat 7 pm, mat Sun 2 pm, $13 adults, $10 high school students & younger.

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

How I Learned To Drive, through April 4, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (March 22 & 29) 3 pm, tickets $24, $20 students & seniors, recommended for mature audiences, no intermission.

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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, Associate Editor, Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 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.