April 6-7: Political Ephemera Show, Swap & Sale, Holiday Inn, North Haven, Fri 9 am-5 pm, Sat 9 am-2 pm, adm $3.50 (free for students Sat), free appraisals; 860-658-6198.

April 7: 9th Annual Country Antiques in CT’s Quiet Corner, H.H. Ellis Technical School, 613 Upper Maple St, Danielson, 10 am-3 pm, adm $5, 45 dealers; 860-774-8511.

April 8: Windham Antiques & Collectibles Show, Windham High School, Willimantic, 10 am-3 pm; 860-456-2178.

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St, Ridgefield. Hours: Tues-Thurs & Sat-Sun 1-5 pm, Fri 12-8 pm. Call 203-438-4519.

Through April 20, “Systematic Drawing: Janet Cohen & John F. Simon, Jr,” drawings inspired by the basic human impulse to categorize, rationalize & systemize by Ms Cohen & Mr Simon. Through May 20, “The Girl Made of Butter,” new work by Janine Antoni, winner of 1999 Larry Aldrich Foundation Award, incl cibachrome print photographs & sculpture; April 22, Contemporary Context, 4-6 pm, $10, discussion by Ms Antoni concerning the themes she has explored throughout her career & how they relate to her current exhibition. Through May 20, “Paper,” major survey of contemporary work by 12 artists who use paper as a sculptural medium of its own right.

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 12-5 pm. Call 426-4533.

*(new show) Through April 30, “Ten Years of Fun with Photography,” approx 80 photos by longtime Newtown residents Mary Mitchell & Al Goodrich depicting wide variety of subjects & locations; April 8, opening reception, 2-4 pm.

Brookfield Craft Center, 286 Whisconier Rd (Rte 25), Brookfield. Hours: M-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 775-4526.

*(new show) April 8-May 27, “Contemporary Ironwork: The Artist Blacksmith,” wrought metal furniture, lighting units, tableware & other stylish designer home accessories by 30 of the country’s foremost blacksmiths.

The Discovery Museum, 4450 Park Ave, Bridgeport. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 203-372-3521.

*(new show) April 7-May 27, “At A Split Second: Visual Stories of and by Young People Living in An Urban Community,” photographs by 20 Longfellow School students as they investigated their community through art; April 22, artists’ & community reception, 4 pm.

Fairfield Historical Society, 636 Old Post Rd (opposite Town Hall Green), Fairfield. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-4:30 pm, Sun 1-4:30 pm. Call 203-259-1598.

Through April 8, “Shaping Fashion: Connecticut’s ‘Supporting’ Role,” the social & aesthetic aspects of devices incl stays, hoops, bustles, corsets & corselettes produced by CT manufacturers is explored through patent drawings, business histories, advertisements, photos, & mannequins in period fashions.

Housatonic Museum of Art/Burt Chernow Galleries at Housatonic Community College, 90 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport. Hours: Mon-Wed, Fri 8:30 am-5:30 pm, Thurs 8:30 am-7 pm, Sat 9 am-3 pm, Sun 12-4 pm. Call 203-332-5000.

Through April 22, “Transformations,” annual faculty exhibition presents works in various mediums.

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 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.

Ridgefield Library, 472 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-2282.

Through April 30, “New York, New York, By Five,” scenes of New York City by 5 artists.

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

All on view through April 22: “Memorial Exhibition,” paintings by the late Diane Alexander incl egg tempera paintings from 1940s & acrylic still lifes from her 1990s Prism Series. “Contradictions,” paintings by Mikhail Gubin. “Signs,” installations by Adam Niklewicz. “Director’s Choice: Illusions of the Present,” monotypes by Aleksandr Razin. “Director’s Choice: Virtual Journey To The Red Empire — A Russian-born Artist’s Experience in Russia & America,” a retrospective of the paintings of Leonid Lamm; March 25, discussion of his work & the challenges of his career as an artist in Russia by Mr Lamm, 4 pm.

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

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. Through May 20, “Freeness!” third in 4-part series by Amistad Foundation exploring the changing definitions of freedom throughout the history of African-Americans, this section focuses on Civil War to Great War years.

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 April 22, “2001 Members’ Show: Mixed Mediums,” annual presentation of works by gallery members incl works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, photography & sculpture, presented in memory of Mary Harrison; March 31, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Rd, Wilton. Hours: Wed-Sun 8:30 am-5 pm. Call 203-834-1896.

*(new show) April 11-June 3, “Artists at Weir Farm: Richard Lang Chandler,” paintings by the former Weir Farm artist-in-residence.

Wooster Community Art Center, 73 Miry Brook Rd, Danbury. Gallery hours: M-F 9:30 am-6:30 pm. Call 744-4825.

Through April 30, watercolors by Michael Patterson presenting views of New York City, Paris, Costa Rica & Florence, plus drawings of local musicians.

Yale Center For British Art, 1080 Chapel St (at High St), New Haven. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 203-432-2800.

Through April 29, “The Paul Mellon Bequest: Treasures of a Lifetime,” 160 paintings, plus sculpture, works on paper & rare books from the final bequest of YCBA’s founder & greatest benefactor; April 10, Art in Contect lecture “’Muly Moloch’ and the Prince’s Pony,” 12:30 pm; April 12, “The Paul Mellon Bequest” gallery talk, 11 am; April 14, introductory tour of YCBA, 11 am; April 17, Art in Context lecture “Hunting and Hawking: Paul Mellon’s Sporting Books,” 12:30 pm; April 19, “British Art in the 20th Century” gallery talk, 11 am.

Connecticut Master Chorale, by appt only (a few locations available). Call 775-2602.

Auditions being conducted by director Tina Johns Heidrich for May 20 spring concert “Handel With Care,” openings in also section, rehearsals Tues evenings, concert will feature “great & glorious choruses from Handel’s most famous oratorios,” concert will be at St Peter’s Church, Danbury, contact Ms Heidrich to arrange appt.

April 6: Kevin Briody and Erik Balkey at Roxbury Coffee House, Roxbury Congregational Church, Roxbury, 8 pm, $5 donation, performance of Americana, folk & blues.

April 7: NUMC Coffee House, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 7:45-10:45 pm, adm $4 (or $3 if staying after Pasta Dinner earlier that evening), bluegrass music & other styles led by Roger Sprung, et al, choice of desserts, soft drinks/coffee; 426-9998.

April 7: 4th Annual CT Choral Society Benefit Concert, Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room, 45 Main Street, 8 pm, tickets $25, “romance through music” will be performed by pianist Joseph Jacovino and tenor Ciro Franco, benefit for CCS; 800-555-5250, 203-263-7603.

April 8: Fractured Fairy Tales by CT Gay Men’s Chorus, Ives Concert Hall/WCSU, 181 White St, Danbury, 4 pm, tickets $20 & $25, familiar songs of childhood stories & fables will be re-told in playful new ways & w/ non-traditional takes on the lives of well-known characters incl Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, et al; 800-644-2462.

April 15: Yamaha Salon Series Concert: Richard Cameron-Wolfe, Connecticut Conservatory of the Performing Arts, 79 West St, New Milford, 2 pm, free contemporary music concert by composer & pianist Wolfe will incl his work, also works of Erik Satue, Flanagan & Rudhyar; 860-354-2978.

April 20: Rebecca Riots at Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, 8 pm, tickets $10, “fresh radio folk” trio blends distinctive voices into “amazing” harmonies w/ catchy, thoughtful, uptempo songs about modern life & love; 203-438-5795.

April 20: Fractured Fairy Tales by CT Gay Men’s Chorus, Quick Center for the Arts, Fairfield Univ, North Benson Rd, Fairfield, 8 pm, tickets $20 & $25, familiar songs of childhood stories & fables will be re-told in playful new ways & w/ non-traditional takes on the lives of well-known characters incl Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, et al; 800-644-2462.

April 21: Psalm 150 at Community Coffeehouse, 7 Madison Ave, Danbury, 7:30-10:30 pm, free adm & refreshments, guest performers are gospel/jazz quintet from New Haven; 748-4972.

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).

April 6, Sweeter Than Wine and Sans Cherubs, 9 pm, $8; April 7, singer & “future folk hero” Peter Mulvey, 9 pm, $10, Anne Heaton opening; April 8, Matt Nathenson, 7 pm, $5, S. Eagan opening; April 11, Toning Group, 7 pm, free, explore vocal techniques used to open the Chakra; April 12, Scarlet Fire, 8:30 pm, $5, local band performs original work in style of Grateful Dead; April 13, Stephan Kellogg, 8:30 pm, $8, high energy performance will open w/ set by Alistar Mook; April 14, Monthly WPKN Benefit featuring singer-songwriter Peter Spink, edgy-moody contemporary singer Mila Drumke, acoustic performance by X-It & solo performance by Laurie Geltman, 9 pm, $10.

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

Stage A Performances, 7-9 pm, $20, eclectic music & multi-media series w/ the latest in contemporary performance & music trends: April 13, Brad Mehldau, jazz.

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

Performances 8 pm, free unless otherwise noted: April 8, Fractured Fairy Tales by CT Gay Men’s Chorus, 4 pm, tickets $20 & $25, familiar songs of childhood stories & fables will be re-told in playful new ways & w/ non-traditional takes on the lives of well-known characters incl Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, et al (call 800-644-2462).

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

Acoustic blues, 7-10 pm, free adm (unless noted) but reservations sugg: April 6, Too Old To Care, acoustic trio featuring fiddler Steve “Screamin’ Cat” Flachsburg, bassman Brian “Po’ Boy” Douglas & guitarist Michael “Hopper” Schwarschild performs western swing, blues & country; April 7, Chris Rello, $10; April 13, Chance Browne & Friends, blues guitarist & vocalist joined by guitarist & vocalist Don Cooper; April 14, Satan and Adam (Charlie Hilbert & Adam Gussow), $10.

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: April 11, faculty recital featuring David F. Machell (flutes, electronic bagpipes), pianist Howard Rovics & soprano Christina Rovics, guest narrator Dr Harold Schramm, music of Martinu & Pessard, traditional Celtic music, works on Native American instruments, etc; April 17, trumpet player Tony Kadleck w/ Fairfield Univ Jazz Ensemble, 7:30 & 9:30 pm, tickets $8 adults, $5 students, highly sought-after NYC-area trumpet player will be guest artist in concert of orig works by ensemble members & traditional covers.

Recorder Society of Connecticut, New Milford-Danbury. Call 860-354-1856.

Playing sessions/membership meetings Sat 10 am-12:30 pm as follows (call for membership details), non-members welcome for one free trial meeting: April 7, at Richter House, 100 Aunt Hack La, Danbury.

Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, Ridgefield High School, 700 North Salem Rd (Rte 116), Ridgefield. Music director & conductor Sidney Rothstein. Call 203-438-3889.

Performances 8 pm, tickets $25-$35 (series tickets available): April 21, guest violinist Stephanie Jeong, works of Adams, Bizet/Schedrin & Paganini.

The Discovery Museum/Henry B. duPont Planetarium, 4450 Park Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203-372-3521.

Children’s planetarium shows Tues-Fri 1 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm. Shows suitable for all ages Tues-Fri 3:30 pm, Sat-Sun 1 & 3 pm. (Call museum for current programs.)

Through Aug 31: Sat-Sun, Traveler’s Guide to the Solar System (ages 7-adult), 1 & 3 pm, Wonderful Sky (preschool-age 7), 2 pm; Mon-Fri Wonderful Sky 1 pm, Traveler’s Guide to the Solar System, 3 pm.

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

April 6-11: Finding Forrester (PG-13), Fri-Sat 7 & 9:30 pm, Sun-Wed 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 & 4 pm, Wed 1 pm.

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

Hollister Film Series, free screenings, 1 & 7 pm, preceded by Movie Chat: April 10, A Star is Born, **evening screening 6 pm.

Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Ave (former Ridgefield High School bldg), Ridgefield. Call 203-438-5795.

April 6-12: Gladiator (R), Fri-Sun & Thurs 7:15 pm, mat Sun & Thurs 3:15 pm.

Wadsworth Atheneum, 800 Main St, Hartford. Call 860-278-2670 x3027.

Spring 2001 Film Series, tickets $6 (unless noted), series continues to April 28, contact museum for full schedule: April 6, Simon Magus (1998, England), 7:30 pm, then April 7 at 2 & 7:30 pm; April 12, Honor of the House (1999, Iceland w/ subtitles), 7:30 pm, then April 14 at 2 & 7:30 pm; April 21, The Polish Bride (1998, Netherland w/ subtitles), 2 & 7:30 pm; April 27, Chocolat (PG-13, United States), 7:30 pm, then April 28 at 2 & 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: April 7, Altered States (Ken Russell, 1980); April 14, Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982).

April 7: Children’s Egg Hunt, Candlewood Chuch, 52 Stadley Rough Rd, Danbury, free event for ages 4-6th grade, rain or shine, registration 9:55-10:15 only (also pre-registration accepted by calling church), egg hunt, games, crafts, refreshments & Easter story presentation; 797-1834.

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

April 14, Paper Power, 10 am-noon, $15, ages 7-11 will explore paper’s strengths & weaknesses w/ artist Nell Tresselt, then create paper pieces of their own.

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

Free public programs: April 19, Magic & Mystery Book Club, 6:30 pm, book discussion for ages 9-12, group will meet 2nd-to-last Thurs on monthly basis to discuss fantasy & mystery stories aimed at young readers, April’s book will be The Secret of Platform 13 by Eva Ibbotson, refreshments & 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.

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: April 17, The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown.

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

Peter Rabbit, through April 14, curtain Sat 12 & 2:30 pm, Sun noon only, tickets $10.50.

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: April 9-10, Blooming Beauties; April 16-17, Water Wonders.

Science Center of Connecticut, Trout Brook Dr, West Hartford. Hours: Tues-Wed 10 am-5 pm, Thurs 10 am-8 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 860-231-2824.

Through June 20, “LEGO™ Invention Adventure,” three discovery areas challenge children of all ages to contrcut earthquake-proof buildings, maneuver a robot using voice commands and build & race a gravity-powered car.

Through April 8: Housatonic Art League 30th Anniversary Spring Show, New Milford Railroad Station, 11 Railroad St, New Milford, free, March 30 7-9 pm (opening reception & awards presented), then daily 12-4 pm, works in oil/acrylic, water media, pastels, graphics, photography, sculpture & mixed media by regional artists; 860-355-0349.

April 6: S&S Singles Monthly Pizza Party & Dance, Fireside Inn, 123 Main St So/Rte 25, Newtown, 7:30-11:30pm, adm $12; 743-4480, 261-5960.

April 6: Southbury Garden Club meeting, Southbury Town Hall Room 205, Main St, Southbury, 1:30 pm, $5 (guest/refreshments fee), lecture & slide presentation by Gardener of the Year Pernell Gerver on “Gardens to Attract Hummingbirds & Butterflies,” question & answer session to follow; 267-6826, 267-6660.

April 7: Monthly Pasta Project Dinner, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 5-7:30 pm, adm $8 adults, $7 seniors, $3.50 children, full spaghetti dinner w/ choices of sauce, garlic bread, salad, desserts & soft drinks; 426-9998.

April 7: Wheels for the World Estate/Art/Tag Sale, Old Town Hall, Main St So/Rte 6 at Mountain Rd, Woodbury, 9 am-4 pm, original artwork, European antiques & books from around the world, collectibles & various treasures from local estate will be sold to raise funds for Wheels for the World, int’l organization devoted to collecting & redistributing wheelchairs, metal walkers, crutches & canes; 203-263-0270, 264-0530.

April 7: Alliance Française of Northwestern CT Café Conversation, Southbury Public Library, 561 Main St/Rte 6, Southbury, 10 am-noon, free, all levels of French speakers invited to open discussion, led by 2 Alliance members, comparing French-Canadian family life to French family life; 262-0626, 203-263-4096.

April 7: Annual Easter Craft & Bake Sale, Holy Trinity Orthodix Church, Eight & Roberts Ave, Danbury, 10 am-3 pm, homemade pierogies, nut rolls & poppy seed rolls, apricot rolls, prune rolls, tea cookies, smoked & fresh kielbasa, et al, also handmade crafts, lunch available; 748-0671.

April 7: American Sewing Guild/Danbury chapter meeting, location given w/ reservation, 11 am-2 pm, non-members welcome, program on “New Technology & Latest Trends in the Sewing Machine”; 792-4059.

April 7-8: 11th Annual Super Train Exhibition, Brookfield Museum & Hist Scty, Rte 25 at 133, Brookfield Center, 10 am-5 pm, adm $3 adults, $1 ages 7-14, free age 7 & under, $2 seniors, operating model train layouts (N to G-scales), collections, photos, railroad antiques, artwork, videos & memorabilia, toy trains set up for children to operate, proceeds will help museum’s capital campaign; 775-4719.

April 9: “The Sybil Ludington Story,” C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7:30 pm, free program presented by Ludington biographer Vincent Dacquino will present story of 16-year old Revolutionary War heroine of Danbury, who rode on horseback from her father’s farm to gather patriot troops against the British, sponsored by Newtown Hist Scty; 426-5937.

April 9: Lunchtime Poetry Series, WCSU Haas Library CyberCafé, 181 White St, Danbury, 12:30 pm, free public poetry readings by faculty & staff of WCSU, featured poet is asst prof of English Michael Chappell; 837-8628.

April 10: Newtown Newcomers Club Monthly Hospitality Coffee, Newtown Meeting House lower meeting room, 31 Main St/Rte 25 (at flagpole), Newtown, 10 am, all new residents, those who have had baby or other recent lifestyle change, etc invited, children welcome, refreshments & socializing; 270-8065.

April 10: Women’s Forum & 1st Annual Jill Award Presentation, Stony Hill Inn, Rte 6, Bethel, 6-9 pm (doors open 6 pm for networking, followed by dinner & guest speaker), presentation of Jill Award to Bunny Jacobson of Danbury sponsored by Jill magazine, program by author Susan Colantuono, reservations required, presented by Women’s Publishing, Inc.; 792-2070.

April 10: “An Evening with the Masters” visual arts program, New Milford High School cafeteria, Rte 7, New Milford, 7-8:30 pm, free, demonstration & discussion by children’s book illustrators & CD-ROM developers Mark Covell & Philip Straub, reception follows, monthly program suitable for all ages co-sponsored by Housatonic Art League & New Milford Commsn on the Arts; 860-354-7558.

April 11: Town & Country Garden Club meeting, Newtown Senior Center, Riverside Rd, Sandy Hook, 7:30 pm, free & open to non-members, slide program by Bartlett Arboretum director Michael P. Harvey on “Gardens of the British Isles”; 426-2652.

April 11: Naugatuck Valley Community College Annual Writers’ Conference, 9 am-5 pm, adm $30 incl lunch, morning & afternoon sessions focuses on genres & aspects of writing, keynote speaker Rita Papazian (freelance journalist, columnist & adjunct professor), luncheon speaker Diane Smith (Positively Connecticut & Absolutely Positively Connecticut); 203-596-2115.

April 12: Horticulture Club of Newtown meeting, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 8 pm, free & open to non-members, program on “Current Diseases in the Landscape” by CT Agricultural Station pathologist Sharon M. Douglas.

April 12: “Tunnel Vision: The Lore of the Tunnel at the Glebe House,” Glebe House Museum & Jekyll Garden, Hollow Rd, Woodbury, noon, free lecture is part of Greater Litchfield Hills “History Bites” spring lunchtime series, bring lunch (refreshment & dessert provided), presentation by Frank Coburn will concern his research on the myth of an alleged tunnel on the museum’s property; 203-263-2855.

April 14: Portrait of Lincoln, one-man presentation at New Fairfield Senior Center, Rte 39 (#28 Heritage Plaza), New Fairfield, 2 pm, free, presentation by Lewis Dube as The Great Emancipator incl Lincoln anecdotes, reading of “Mrs Bixby’s Letter,” “Gettysburg Address” & other speeches, etc; 746-3289, 791-1244.

April 15: Audubon Scty Wildflower Walk, Bent of the River Audubon Center, 185 East Flat Hill Rd, South Britain (off Rte 172), meet in parking lot at 10 am, free, led by botanist Martha Cushman, walk will last approx 2 hours, sponsored by Lillinonah Audubon Scty; 798-0477.

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

Adult Programs: April 11, Brown Bag Tour Day, 11 am-1 pm, $3, special tour & lunch discussion w/ fellow art lovers, museum staff & docents, concerning current “Paper” exhibition, bring bag lunch & drink, coffee/tea & dessert provided.

Stage A: Poetry, open mic poetry readings w/ musical accompaniment incl dance & orig song also welcomed, Fri 7-9 pm, $5 (incl wine & light refreshments): next program April 6.

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

Free programs: April 12, poetry reading & discussion w/ Blue Masked Forest author Tim Murname, 8 pm, followed by open mic readings, audience invited to share their original work.

Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, 9 Main St/Rte 61, Bethlehem. Hours: MAY 4-OCT 28 Wed, Fri-Sun 11 am-4 pm. Call 203-266-7596.

April 7, pruning workshop, 9:30 am-noon, $25 ($45 if combined with B-F H&G’s April 28 “garden exercise workshop,” call for details), learn & practice basic principles of tree & shrub pruning that will improve health of plants, proper tools & methods discussed, led by B-F H&G horticulturists Robin Zitter & Rob Girard.

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

1st Sat each month (April-Nov), Rail Yard Local, adm to msm incl rides through rail yard in 1920s era passenger coach w/ stop on state’s only operating turntable. (see Arts listings for permanent exhibit info)

Wednesday Evening Events series, 7:30-8:30 pm, sm donation requested, weekly programs follow weekly museum member meetings, subjects as follows: April 4, slide show by Ron Smith; April 11, “New Haven & Others” by Peter McLachlan.

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

April 18, Composting workshop, 7-9 pm, $10 (registration required), master gardener John Clark will cover all phases of composting; April 19, “A Homestead’s History: The Van Vleck House, 1786-Present,” noon, free “History Bites” lecture by Virginia Hart will cover history of Natalie Van Vleck’s saltbox.

Highstead Arboretum, 127 Lonetown Rd, Redding. Call 938-8809.

Programs 10 am, $5 each, reservations suggested: April 14, A Bark with Some Bite, learn composition & function of bark (whether thick- or think-skinned) as an integral layer of tissue used to identify native & ornamental trees & shrubs.

Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave/ Rte 34, Derby. Call 203-734-2513.

Saturday Bird Walks, free, bring bird guides & binoculars (limited supply available for loan), suitable for all ages: Walks 1st Sat/month begin 8 am, leave from main parking lot; 3rd Sat/month begin 9 am, leave from center’s main lobby.

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): April 7, Devil’s Den, Easton, moderate (Evelyn Schonberg, 426-0425); April 14, Mahopac/Pleasantville, NY Rail Trail, hike/bike (Ester Nichols, 426-2897, 788-1398).

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 (separate door for thrift shop), shop carries discounted items from local businesses & private donors incl clothing & sm home accessories, etc.

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.

Historical hikes of Kellogg Estate & Osbornedale State park 1st Sat each month, 11 am, history of the area revealed through stone walls, old foundations & other landscape features, difficulty ranges mild-moderate.

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

Meetings 2nd Wed/month, 7:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: April 11, guest artist sculptor James Grashow (**meeting preceded by board of directors meeting, 6:15 pm).

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: April 11, Sandy Hook poet & nat’l award winner Charles Rafferty (The Man on the Tower, Where the Glories of April Lead, also numerous chapbooks & magazine appearances).

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

Blood Brothers, through May 20, curtain Fri 8 pm, Sat 8:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 5:30 pm, tickets $28-$30, senior discounts on matinees, limited rush & student discounted tickets.

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

On Stage II: The Model Apartment, through May 13 (previews to April 10, opening night April 11), 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 Tuesday” programs follow 7 pm performance, discussion w/ actors, directors and/or designers concerning play’s hot topics.

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

 Angels Over Broadway (revue of Broadway show tunes), April 6-28, curtain Fri-Sat 8:30 pm, mat April 22 (Sun) 3 pm, tickets $15 adults, $12 students & seniors.

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

Joyful Noise (CT debut), through April 8, call for evening & matinee performance schedule, tickets $23-$35.

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

Earth and Sky, through April 14, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat (April 14 only) 4 pm, Sun (April 8) 2 pm, tickets $15, $14 seniors.

Yale School of Drama, Holcome T. Green Hall, 1156 Chapel St, New Haven. Call 203-432-1234.

The Birds (premiere of work “freely adapted” from Aristophanes’ classic Greek comedy), through April 14, curtain Mon 7 pm, Tues-Sat 8 pm, mat April 14 at 2 pm, tickets $28-$36, student, senior & group discounts; April 13, ASL-interpreted performance (TDD 800/842-9710).

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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.