Antiques Shows______

April 15-17: First Annual Great Danbury Antiques Fair, PAL Building, 25 Hayestown Rd, Danbury, Fri preview party 6-9 pm (adm $30, reservations requested), regular show hours Sat-Sun 10 am-5 pm, adm $6, 57 dealers w/ wide variety of styles & offerings, proceeds will benefit museum & historical society; 743-5200.

April 16: Political Collectors Show, Holiday Inn, 210 Washington Ave, North Haven, 8:30 am-4 pm, adm $5, sponsored by American Political Items Collectors; 860-673-1787.

April 16-17: Westchester Glass Club 2005 Collectors’ All Glass Show & Sale, Greenwich Civic Center, Old Greenwich, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $7 (free parking), 60 nat’l dealers participating, also ID booth, glass repair, special presentation on “Patrick F, Slane, America’s Forgotten Glassmaker” by author & lecturer Joan Kaiser; 203-966-1777, 973-763-4524.

April 17: 53rd Edition of Greater Hartford Vintage Clothing & Jewelry Show & Sale, Emanuel Synagogue, Mohegan Dr, West Hartford, 10:30 am-4 pm, adm $5.50, 50 booths; 860-342-2540.

April 23-24: Durham Firearm & Knife Show & Sale, Durham Fairgrounds, off Rte 17, Durham, Sat 9 am-5 pm, Sun 9 am-3 pm, 350 tables; 914-248-1000.

April 24: 2005 Automated Music Show, The Inn at Ethan Allen, Lake Avenue Ext, Danbury, 7 am-3 pm, adm $10 (free after 10:30 am), 20th anniv season continues w/ dealers presenting talking machines, Victrolas, music boxes, parts, etc; 330-325-7866.

May 1: Antique/Arts & Crafts Expo, Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 10 am-4 pm, free adm; 364-1882, 417-4860.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

Bethel Arts Junction, 5 Depot Place, Bethel. Hours: Wed 7:30 pm (opens for weekly poetry program), Thurs & Sun 1-4 pm, Fri-Sat 1-8 pm. Call 798-2193 or 740-7351.

Through May 15: “For All Seasons,” new paintings by Deborah Dargaty in pastel, watercolor & acrylics, all depicting floral scenes.

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.

In Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (lower meeting room) — Through April 30: “Flagpole Photographers Camera Club’s Annual Members’ Exhibition,” photos in color, black & white and digitally created by members of Newtown’s photography club.

On library’s main floor — *(new show) April 17-May 20: Earth Fragments,” new series of work by Newtown resident & artist Virginia Zic feature watercolor “portraits” of the earth’s surface; April 17, opening reception, 2-4 pm.

Gallery of Contemporary Art at Sacred Heart Univ, 5151 Park Ave, Fairfield. Hours: Mon-Thurs 12-5 pm, Sun 1-4 pm. Call 203-365-7650.

Through April 17: “Student Art Exhibition,” works by current SHU students.

Haas Library at Western CT State Univeristy, Osborne St (midtown campus), Danbury. Call 837-8486.

*(new show) Through April 30: “An Authors’ Exhibit,” collection of books, journal & magazine articles, scripts, musical scores, dramatic performances, videos & other presentations of talent published by WCSU faculty & staff members.

*(new show) Through April 30: “A Photographers’ Exhibit,” photographs by faculty & staff of WCSU.

Highstead Arboretum, 127 Lonetown Rd, Redding. Hours: by appt only. Call 203-938-8809.

*(new show) April 16-May 16: “Highstead Portfolio: Photographs by Birgit Freybe Bateman,” images ranging from expansive landscapes to enchanting details by Ms Bateman; April 16, opening reception, 2-5 pm (brief gallery talk by Ms Bateman at 2:30).

Kent Art Association, 21 South Main St/Rte 7, Kent. Hours: Thurs-Sun 1-5 pm. Call 860-927-3989.

Through April 24: “2005 KAA Members’ Art Show & Sale,” more than 100 paintings incl oils, watercolors & pastels, also graphics & sculpture in various mediums.

Miller Studio & Gallery, 495 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Mon-Tues by chance or appt. Call 203-263-3939.

Through May 5: “Life Imitated,” still lifes by Jean O’Brien & John Schieffer, each of whom has very different interpretations of the genre.

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

Through May 16: “Home and Abroad,” oil paintings by Nicholas Halko incl landscapes of his CT home, images from foreign travel, still lifes & figure studies.

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

Through May 8, “New York Moments,” New York City-themed paintings by the Goshen-based artist Frank Federico.

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

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

Through April 21: “Characters: Scene II,” the return of characters in contemporary arts & our apparent need for the stories they tell featuring works by internationally renowned & emerging artists from worlds of fine art & illustration w/ pcs presenting cultural, historical, stylistic & technical diversity by artists from around the world.

Through April 21: “Edward Hopper & John Marin’s New York,” works on paper from the collection of Theodore C. Rogers and Hirschl & Adler Gallery, selections illustrate how 2 contemporaries responded in diff ways to visual & emotional dynamisn of NYC during first quarter of 20th C, complemented w/ photos by other major American photographers of the era, such as Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, Walker Evans & Berenice Abbott.

Through April 21: “Chaotic Symmetries: The Fabric of Life Series,” photography by John Arabalos, who seeks the chaotic patterns that exist in nature.

Through April 21: “Twice Removed,” mixed media installation by Hazel Usher, who uses 2 steel structures (one 12x8 ft, the other 6x4 ft) to suggest the industrial riverside area of her native city of Liverpool, and photos, silkscreen & paintings to represent the way the city’s river encircles & influences the lives of nearby residents.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St, Hartford. Hours: Wed-Fri 11 am-5 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am-5 pm. Hours. Call 860-278-2670.

Through April 17: “Cleve Gray: A Special Memorial Exhibition,” celebration of the late Connecticut artist will offer a selection of his large abstract canvases filled w/ rhythmic sense of color, form & line.

Through April 24: “Ellen Carey/Matrix 153,” new large-scale works by a maverick in minimalist photographs, marking 20 years of experimentation by Carey w/ one-step, peel-away Polaroid process camera.

Through April 24: “Contemporary Art: Floor To Ceiling, Wall To Wall,” major contemporary art acquisitions of the last 45 years, plus 4 new gifts & 15 select loans from private collections, explores the sweeping view of paths taken by artists over the past 4½ decades.

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

Through May 15: “2005 Student Art Exhibit,” painting, sculpture, multimedia installations, drawings, photography & prints of student works as selected by 3-person jury.

Washington Art Association, Bryant Plaza, Rte 47, Washington Depot. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 860-868-2878.

Through April 24: “Members’ Show 2005,” works by developing artists & longstanding gallery-represented members, works incl drawings, paintings in oil, acrylic & watercolor, plus sculpture & pottery.

Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Rd, Wilton. Visitor Center Hours: winter hours (effective Nov 15) Thurs-Sun 9:30 am-5 pm. Call 203-834-1896.

Through May 1: “Artists At Weir Farm: The Woodlands of Branchville – Josette Urso,” oil paintings & black & white drawings by Ms Urso, who was inspired by Weir Farm’s landscape during her 2003 stint as an artist-in-residence.

White Silo Farm & Winery, 32 Rte 37 East, Sherman. Spring Hours: Sat-Sun 11 am-5 pm & by appt. Call 860-355-0271.

Through April 17: works by painter, fiber artist & beader Ninon deZara-Ronn, steel mobiles & freeform sculpture by James Hunter & organic works by Peggy Westphal.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Acting Up Theater Works, at The Portuguese Cultural Center (within Western CT Medical Center Complex), 65 Sandpit Rd, Danbury. Call 942-9303.

April 23-24: Open auditions for Once On This Island, 2-8 pm, openings for all major roles & chorus parts, prepare Broadway tune & bring sheet music, rehearsals to run June 27-Aug 4 (Mon-Thurs 6:30-9:30 pm), performances will be Aug 5 & 7, 12 & 14.

Congregational Church of New Fairfield, 20 Gillotti Rd, New Fairfield. Call 746-2865.

April 30-May 1: Auditions for 10th annual all-youth production, Sat 4-7 pm for ages 12-24, Sun 1-4 pm for ages 7-12, no experience necessary & no preparations needed for audition, children should be accompanied by at least 1 parent or guardian, director is Carl Anderson, performances will be weekends of July 29-Aug 7, send email to BetsyMusic@yahoo.com for details.

The Gallery at Kent Art Association, 21 South Main St/Rte 7, New Milford. Call 860-927-3989.

April 29-30: Receiving for Annual KAA Spring Art Exhibition, Fri 1-4 pm, Sat 10 am-1 pm, juried show open to all artists who work in oils, watercolors, pastels, graphics & sculpture, all works must be representational, show will run May 6-June 6, visit www.KentArt.org or call phone # above for details.

Musicals at Richter, Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Rd, Danbury. Call 748-6873, visit www.MusicalsAtRichter.org.

April 16: Second casting call for adult performers, 1-4 pm, those who have already auditioned need not attend this call, director Donald Birely is seeking candidates for Erik, Gerard Carrier, Alain Cholet & Carlotta for Phantom (to be produced July 7-23), and candidates for Max Detweiler & Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music (July 28-Aug 13), visit MusicalsAtRichter for full character & script breakdowns, bring photo & résumé, prepare 2 Broadway show tunes (uptempo & ballad) & be ready to sing only 16 best bars if necessary, accompanist will be provided.

Newtown Children’s Music Talent Show, at Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 206-1962.

May 19: Auditions for area young adults for talent show to be performed on June 18, auditions begin at 5:30, acts can be singing, dancing and/or instrumental, music should be on CD (CD player will be provided), audition fee is $5, partial proceeds of fees & ticket sales day of show will benefit Town Hall Board of Managers’ efforts to replace seats in town hall’s theater, contact Cathy Urso for additional info.

Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St, Newtown. Call 203-438-8311.

April 28: Receiving for artists (incl non-members) for 35th Annual Juried Spring Art Show, 3-7 pm, regional artists invited to submit work in oil, watercolor, pastel, acrylics, graphics, mixed media, printmaking & sculpture (no photography) for spring show to run May 1-8 at library, SCAN membership is not necessary, awards ceremony & opening reception May 1 (2-4 pm), contact Will Doyle for full prospectus.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

April 15-16: “A Night at The Opera,” Western CT State University’s Ives Concert Hall (White Hall), 181 White St, Danbury, 8 pm, tickets $10 adults, $5 senior citizens & ages 12 & under, performance of opera scenes & choruses by WCSU voice faculty w/ WCSU Opera Ensemble; 837-8350.

April 16: ShoreGrass at Trinity Episcopal Church, 30 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 4 pm, freewill donations, concert by CT-based band will incl “old-timey,” early country, traditional bluegrass, folk, gospel & original music, post-performance reception w/ musicians, concert continues church’s Music at Trinity concert series; 426-9070.

April 16: Monthly Ballroom Dance at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Park Ave, Bridgeport, 7 pm-midnight, adm $15, singles & coules welcome, free dance lesson at 8, performance by Pasha Pashkov & Inna Brayer (silver medallists, recent World Championship International Jr 10-Dance Title), general dancing to DJ selections, refreshments available, reservations suggested; 203-374-7308.

April 16: Community Coffeehouse, 7 Madison Ave, Danbury, 7:30-10:30 pm, free adm (donations accepted; $5-$10 suggested), performances by Christopher Wright & his band, refreshments available; 748-4972.

April 17: “Tutti: Danbury Community Orchestra & Danbury Preparatory String Orchestra,” Western CT State University’s Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 3 pm, free performance by 75-member DCO of Smetana’s The Moldau, Sibelius’ Finlandia & Schumann’s Spring Symphony, then 45 members from DPSO will join DCO for performance of Alfven’s Swedish Rhapsody; 748-1716.

April 17: Borealis Wind Quintet at First Congregational Church, 6 Kirby Rd, Washington Green, 4 pm, adm by donation (suggested $15), works of Debussy, Milhaud, Johann Strauss Jr et al; 860-868-0569.

April 17: Thoroughly Wicked Hairspray! by CT Gay Men’s Chorus, at Fairfield University’s Quick Center, North Benson Rd, Fairfield, 7 pm, tickets $25-$30, classic & contemporary Broadway shows are “sliced, diced & dished” in CGMC’s spring 2005 production; 800-644-2462.

April 21: “Cuadro Flamenco,” Western CT State University’s Student Center Theatre, 181 White St, Danbury, 6 pm, free concert of flamenco guitar, song & dance performed by Val Romas & His Flamenco Group; 837-8734.

April 23: The Cadet Glee Club of the US Military Academy at West Point, at Golden Hill United Methodist Church, 210 Elm St (at corner of Elm St, Golden Hill St & Lafayette Square), Bridgeport, 7:30 pm, $10 donation (will pay expenses of bringing cadets to Bridgeport, any additional proceeds will benefit Habitat For Humanity, Center for Woman & Families, and glee club’s music fund), program of popular, classical & patriotic selections; 268-2837.

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

Performances 8 pm unless noted: April 29, Time For Three, $40 & $45, string aficionados/classical, jazz, bluegrass string trio; May 5, Rockapella, $45 & $50, with special guests The Retrotones.

 

Films _________________

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

April 15-21: Dear Frankie (PG-13), daily 7 & 9:15 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:30 & 4 pm; Downfall (R), daily 6:40 & 9:25 pm, mat Fri 3:50 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 1 & 3:50 pm; Melinda & Melinda (PG-13), daily 8:55 pm, mat Fri 4:15 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 4:15 pm; Millions (PG), daily 6:50 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:45 pm; Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (G), daily 7:10 & 9:05 pm, mat Fri 5:15 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 1:15, 3:15 & 5:15 pm.

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

April 15-21: Because of Winn Dixie (PG), daily 7 & 9 pm, mat Sat 2:30 pm, Sun-Thurs 1 & 4 pm.

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

Lost & Found Film Series, 7:30 pm screenings followed by guest speakers for Q&A, tickets $15: April 15, Happy Hour, screening of film will be followed by panel discussion w/ stars Eric Stoltz, Caroleen Feeney & Robert Vaughn, plus director Mike Bencivenga, hosted by Ira Joe Fisher & Morton Dean.

For Kids & Families _________

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

April 23, Right Brain Saturday, 10 am-noon, $25, monthly workshops (so different topics monthly) taught by local artists & museum educators allow children to experience artwork in the galleries & then apply the methods, concepts or ideas they see into their own projects, all materials provided.

Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave/Rte 302, Bethel. Call 794-8756.

April 19, Journal Making for Teens, 2-4 pm, students in grades 6-12 invited to make small journal for writing or photos, space limited (so reservations required).

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 27, Nutmeg Book Discussion, 6:30 pm, one-hour discussion will focus on Made You Look by Diane Roberts.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203-394-6565.

Programs incl w/ zoo adm ($8 adults, $6 ages 3-11 & seniors, free ages 3 & under, group rates available): through April 30, Annual Wildlife Art Show, daily 9 am-4 pm works by area high school students in photography, watercolor, sketching & other mediums; April 16, Pet Awareness Day, 12-3 pm, included w/ zoo adm ($8 adults, $6 seniors & ages 3-11), animal adoption & animal rescue organizations will offer presentations on pet care & safety, also children’s crafts & other surprises; April 18-22, Backyard Beasts, daily 2 pm, kindergarten & elementary age school children & families invited for 45-min interactive programs that will incl live animals and/or stories & facts, presented at Prof Beardsley’s Research Station, included w/ zoo adm; April 18-22, April Vacation Adventures, 9 am-12:30 pm, $35/day ($150/week), for ages 6-11 & pre-registration required, participate in talks & activities w/ zoo staff, animal-related games, plus arts & crafts; April 22, Earth Day Celebration, 12-3 pm, sneak preview of The Sunset Switch w/ children’s book author Kay Kudlinski, also children can meet animals mentioned in her book, crafts & related Earth Day activities, all visited requested to bring used athletic shoes (no cleats) for donation to Nike Reuse-A-Shoe Program (collection continues to April 28)

Miscellaneous ___________

April 15: CT ConTacts Singles Dance Party, Anthony’s Lake Club, Vespucci Dr, Danbury, 8 pm-1 am, adm $15, dinner & dessert buffets, dancing to DJ selections (Top 40, soft rock, recent oldies & requests), “dress to impress” (no jeans); 203-468-1144.

April 16: Lions Club & Leo Club Pancake Breakfast, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 7:30 am-noon, adm $6 adults, $4 seniors, $2 ages 6-12, free ages 5 & under, proceeds will help support clubs’ commitment to tercentennial restoration of Edmond Town Hall.

April 16: Café Conversation, Southbury Public Library, 561 Main St South/Rte 6, Southbury, 10 am-noon, free, public invited to join members of Alliance Française of Northwestern CT for conversation in relaxed & friendly atmosphere, all levels of French speakers welcome, BYO beverages & breakfast snacks; 203-266-5588.

April 16: Friends of New Milford Library Special Clearance Sale, New Milford Public Library, 24 Main St, New Milford, 10 am-3 pm, coffee table books (many in like-new condition), fiction & non-fiction books, children’s books, early titles/classics & more; 860-355-1191, 860-355-8280.

April 16: CT ConTacts Singles Dance Party, at Colonial Tavern, 24 Hawley Rd (off Rte 67), Oxford, 8 pm-1 am, adm $15, dinner & dessert buffets, dancing to DJ selections (Top 40, soft rock, recent oldies & requests), “dress to impress” (no jeans); 203-468-1144.

April 17: Poetry reading at Promisek Farm, Skyline Ridge Rd, Bridgewater, 2 pm, sugg donation $10, cover-to-cover reading by Cortney Davis of her new book Leopold’s Maneuvers, discussion to follow on how a book of poetry gets put together, how experiencing a full book differs from hearing individual poems & how its forms can tell a particular story; 860-354-1788.

April 17: “The Quest for God,” Woodbury Yoga Center, 122 West Side Rd, Woodbury, 6:45 pm, free discussion by Tully Moss will focus on whether religious beliefs can add to benefits of daily meditation, followed by group meditation (free instruction available) & informal tea reception; 203-263-2254.

April 18: “American Perspectives on The German Press,” Western CT State University’s Student Center (Room 202), 181 White St, Danbury, 7 pm, free roundtable discussion about the differences in content, style & readership betw American & German news, panelists to incl writer & magazine editor Andrea Crawford, culture reporter Hugh Eaken & radio reporter Alisa Roth, each of whom has served as foreign correspondents in Germany; 837-8445.

April 18: Candlewood League of Artists (CLA) program: Richard Ochs, New Fairfield Library, Rte 39 (just west of intersection w/ Rte 37), New Fairfield, 7-8:30 pm, free demo on working w/ watercolors by national & international award-winning artist Mr Ochs; 746-1526.

April 18: “Live Birds of Prey,” Housatonic Valley Group of The Sierra Club meeting, at Brookfield Community Center, 100 Pocono Rd, Brookfield, 7:30 pm, free & open to non-members, presentation by Hope Douglas, founder of Wind Over Wings, will incl commentary about birds & presentation of live birds; 775-9644.

April 19: Lunch & Learn: The Diagnosis and Treatment of Osteoporosis, noon-1:30 pm, Lockwood Lodge at Ashlar of Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Road, free program by guest speaker Thomas P. Nipper, MD, will offer helpful hints in diagnosing serious arthritic conditions with emphasis on latest available technology, lunch included in presentation, reservations mandatory; 364-3127.

April 19: Annual Dinner offered by Newtown Bridle Lanes Assn (NBLA), Newtown Meeting House (lower level), 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7 pm, free dinner (reservations by April 17), program by guest speaker Bill Newman (saddlemaker for Bevald’s in New Canaan); 426-3612.

April 19: “Bird Banding & The MAPS Program,” Southbury Public Library, 561 Main St South/Rte 6, Southbury, (social gathering at 6:30) 7-9 pm, free program by CT DEP wildlife technician & bird bander Laurie Fortin will be main feature of April meeting by Western CT Bird Club, non-members welcome; 426-3901.

April 19: “Enhancing Your Backyard Habitat for Songbirds and Butterflies,” Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 7:30 pm, requested donation $4, program by DEP wildlife biologist Peter Cicone will incl basic concepts of backyard habitat management & improving conditions for songbirds & butterflies w/ specific info on native plants required for wildlife food & cover; 734-2513.

April 20: Housatonic Valley Paddling Club meeting, CL&P building, Barnabas Rd, Newtown, 7 pm, free & open to non-members, programs by Dave Sinish on offerings from Collinsville Canoe & Kayak & a program (also by Mr Sinish) on “Kayak Adventuring in Connecticut,” plus an update by club’s webmaster Rob Wallace; 203-263-3281.

April 20: Candlewood Valley Knitting Guild meeting (non-members welcome), at The Village Sheep, Rte 202, New Milford, 7 pm, anyone interested in knitting & the club welcome; 775-3672.

April 20-23: Annual Botsford Fire Department Carnival, at Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Rd/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, Wed-Fri 6-10 pm, Sat 2-10 pm.

April 23: 11th Annual New Morning Natural & Organic Earth Day Celebration, New Morning Store, Middle Quarter Mall, 738 Main St South/Rte 6, Woodbury, 11 am-4 pm, free adm, “Sustainable Agriculture” is theme of event w/ hundreds of exhibitors set up outdoors under tent & incl samples of latest & best in natural & organic foods, live music, games for children, holistic practitioners, local non-profit organizations & raffle; 203-263-0673.

April 24: Poetry Reading & Open Mid, The Hickory Stick Bookshop, 2 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot, 2 pm, reading by Sondra Zeidenstein (from her collections incl Resistance & Family Reunion: Poems about Parenting Grownup Children) will be followed by open mic; 860-868-0525.

Active Singles. Call 860-253-9782.

Hikes for singles ages 30s-50s held 1st & 3rd Sun/month, 9:30-11:30 am, free, hikes available in 4 difficulty levels, no dogs or children: April 24, Paugussett State Forest, Newtown.

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

Programs free unless noted: April 16, Intermediate Computing, 9 am-noon, $10 (registration required), hands-on class incl downloading files, saving photos, email topics incl sending & receiving attachments, also time for Q&A; April 16, Indian Cooking Demo, 1 pm, $7 supply fee (registration mandatory), demo of Indian cooking by Kanwal Sahki; April 17, book signing & author reception, 2-5 pm, public invited to join celebration for Newtown author C.J. Golden upon release of her book The Tao of The Defiant Woman, partial proceeds of book sales that afternoon will be donated to library; April 21, Evening Book Group meeting, 7:30 pm, discussion of Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich, newcomers welcome; April 24, “The Ghosts of Versailles,” 5 pm, free lecture by Strother Purdy concerning the haunting 1901 experiences of two English ladies visiting Versailles, light refreshments will follow, presented by Alliance Française of Northwestern Connecticut.

Flagpole Photographers, C.H. Booth Library meeting room, 25 Main St, Newtown. Call 364-1719, 426-0558.

Through April 30: “Flagpole Photographers Camera Club’s Annual Members’ Exhibition,” photos in color, black & white and digitally created by members of Newtown’s photography club.

Meetings 3rd Thurs/month, 7:30 pm, non-members always welcome: April 21, guest speaker Wayne Chou w/ program on scanning & digital programs, members’ competition is “Leaves/Fall Colors.”

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

Art at The Nature Center, 7:30 pm, $5: April 15, “Porcelain’s Surprises” by Jean Mann, slides & original works by one of the world’s most expert porcelain carvers.

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

April 17, “Native Uses of Trees, Lichens & Mosses,” 1:30-3:30 pm, $12, first nature walk of spring will be led by E. Barrie Kavasch, learn about Native uses of trees, lichen & mosses & their importance in natural ecosystem, bring hand lenses to study smaller organisms that live on tree back (CT educators can earn .2 CEU for participation).

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

Dinner programs 4th Sat/month, potluck dinners, RSVP requested: April 23, Kismet dinner & discussion group, at Fairfield County Agricultural Center, 67-69 Stony Hill Rd/Rte 6, Bethel, begins 7 pm, $15 (pre-registration required & bring dish to share for potluck dinner), also discussion of “The Christ Template” to be led by art educator Elaine LeFloch.

McLaughlin Vineyards, Albert’s Hill Rd, Sandy Hook. Call 426-1533.

April 16-17, Spring Fling Weekend, 11 am-5 pm, $5/adv, $7/day of, annual celebration of spring season will incl tastings of new vintages, light refreshments & live music.

Newtown Hikers. Call 426-2897 or 788-1398 (Ester Nichols), 270-4340 (Newtown Parks & Rec).

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9 am, free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders as follows: April 16, Ransom Hunt Audubon Sanctuary, Bedford, N.Y. (Dave Wesley, 203-438-1459); April 23, hike or bike Harlem River Rail Trail, Amenia, N.Y. (Evelyn Schonberg, 426-0425); April 30, Westside Highway River Walk, New York City, all day hike and then dinner out (note: this program will meet at Edmond Town Hall at 8 am, then carpool to Brewster to take train; Sawsan Ali at 426-8911)..

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.

Sacred Grounds/Trinity Productions workshops, 24 Alpine Circle, Sandy Hook, or Brookfield Commons, 246 Federal Rd (Suite C-23A), Brookfield (call for location), or by appt, or in-home by appt. Call 426-9448.

Programs at Brookfield Commons: April 15, Angel Prayer & Healing Circle w/ Barbara Van Kirk, 7-9:30 pm; April 17, Talking with Heaven, 4-6 pm, $30, guest medium will be Joan Carra.

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

Meetings 4th Wed/month, 1:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: April 27, watercolor demo by Pat Billeci.

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.

Theatre ______________

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

Hair, through May 22, curtain Fri 8 pm, Sat 8:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 5:30 pm, tickets $38.50 & $42.50, discounts available for students & seniors (call for details).

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

Golf With Alan Shepard, through April 24, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Thurs, Sat-Sun 2 pm, call for ticket prices.

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

The Elephant Man, April 22-May 21, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat (May 8 only) Sun 2 pm, tickets $17.50; also (Thurs) April 21, senior citizens’ preview, free dress rehearsal open to all area seniors; (Thurs) April 28, Pay What You Want Night, 8 pm, name your ticket price.

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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, but must be in sharp focus. Please call for specs if you plan to email digital photo files.