Used to be if I was looking for a quiet place to nap, I could head to the unoccupied back room at one of our local retail stores, but no longer. The Dressing Room, a women’s boutique located at 85 South Main Street, has put its formerly unoccupied “back room” to good use, offering a new service called P.S. ... designs (PS for “Personally Styled”), which hosts parties and activities that help customers create and customize all kinds of accessories, from fabric belts to bath fizzies and handmade soaps. Owner Jennifer Keddy with the help of Missy Grasso-Galante are welcoming girls’ workshops, birthday parties, ladies’ nights out as well as “Mommy & Me” events. They are planning to show it all off next next weekend with an open house on Friday, April 24, from 7 to 9 pm, and Saturday, April 25, from 9 am to 5 pm. Jennifer even hosted a “test drive” recently for Christina Sgobbo, Cassidy Kortze, her sister Keeley, and daughter Kayla. Each girl got to play fashion designer by decorating their own fabric belts and creating their own original bath soaps. We even have them pictured showing off their creations. This sounds like a fun place to throw a party, but unfortunately, it will probably be much too loud in there for a lazy cat to catch a few winks!

When The Waterbury Chorale performs Broadway Sings! this weekend in Torrington, Newtown resident Brett Boles may be one of the proudest people in the theater. The chorale will be offering a Broadway-themed concert during a performance that will celebrate the organization’s new partnership with several arts organizations, and it will also perform two selections, “Wait” and “Carnival,” from Brett’s musical The Count of Monte Cristo. While the chorale traditionally performs within Waterbury, the April 18 concert will be the first at The Warner Theater. The evening will include performances by The Waterbury Chorale Orchestra and members of Nutmeg Ballet, and the program will be very familiar, considering the music will come from the shows Carousel, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, Oklahoma!, Chicago, Les Miserables, My Fair Lady, and The Sound of Music. For ticket and other information call 860-589-7180 or visit WarnerTheatre.org.

Speaking of wonderful things musical, Newtown High School 2008 graduate Lindsey Jones will be playing in the pit of Western Connecticut State University’s production of The Marriage Of Figaro, April 17–20, at Ives Concert Hall. I know you can’t tell actors “good luck,” but what do you say to musicians? The Marriage Of Figaro is a comedy about the upcoming marriage of Figaro, whose bride has caught the attentions of a count. The tickets for the show cost $15 for adults, $10 for children under 12 and seniors, and is free for WCSU students with identification. The show starts at 8 pm both nights.

Caroline (“Cari”) Wollman has decided to run a collection for The Newtown Animal Shelter and The Governor’s Horse Guard as part of the community service project she needs to de leading up to her bat mitzvah. Help Cari Help The Animals will run April 20 to May 4, with collection points set up at Newtown Middle School and the United Jewish Center in Danbury. Among the items she is hoping to collect for the animal shelter is cat litter, Iams Lamb & Rice dry dog food, pig’s ears (not rawhide), Iams dry cat food, laundry detergent, dish detergent, and paper towels. For the horse guard Cari is suggesting Velcro-style bell boots (medium), Ultra-Shield X Fly Spray, horse shampoo, Show Sheen, gallons of vegetable oil, and large sponges. Cash donations will be used to purchase items on this list or given directly to either organization if a check specifies one recipient or the other. For additional information give Cari a call, 270-1894.

If you’re finished with your spring cleaning and want to redecorate your home or pick up some gently-used clothing at more than reasonable prices, the Newtown VNA Thrift Shop may be a good choice to start some shopping. The VNA will be holding a Spring Bag Sale on Saturday, April 18, during its regular hours of 9 am to noon. Everything you can fit into a shopping bag will be yours for $3.

The state DEP issued a notice last week for Connecticut residents to be on the lookout for black bears now that winter is over. Seems it’s time for those bears to start waking up and lumbering around, looking for food and something to keep them busy until hibernation season returns.

If you’re a turkey, you’re feeling pretty safe these days, at least that’s what some library patrons and Bee employees were thinking earlier this week. Lilla Dean found library director Janet Woycik on Tuesday morning and told her that she had seen a great big turkey hanging around the front steps of the library just before it opened that morning. A little while later the same bird, who was easily four feet tall, was spotted walking back and forth in the driveway at 5 Church Hill Road. Members of the sales, accounting, and circulation departments at The Bee saw the thing taking its time just walking around. It took off pretty quickly, however, when two members of the editorial department went after it with their cameras.

If you run into Jean Kreizinger any time soon, be sure to congratulate her on the great news her family received this week: Jean’s daughter Karyl K. Evans, who now lives in North Haven, was among those honored with nominations on April 15 when The Boston/New England chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announces its nominees for this year. Karyl received one nomination as the producer, director and editor for Grove Street Cemetery: City of the Dead, City of the Living about the history and community involvement with the Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven. (The film itself was nominated for Best Informational Program.) Karyle was also nominated for Best Director (Individual Achievement) for the Grove Street Cemetery film and nominated as the Producer/Director/Editor for Best Educational Program for a short documentary she created about New Haven Symphony Orchestra’s Youth Orchestra Festival. The Emmy Awards ceremony will be held in Boston on May 30.

Sandy Hook artist Richard Budman is putting the final touches on his next exhibition, “Perceptions of Reality.” The show will be one part art show and one part fundraiser for the Connecticut chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Budman, who said recently that “Several years ago I finally had to admit that my memory wasn’t what it [once] was,” has been working on a number of paintings in his colorful signature style and will also be putting work from recent years into the show. The exhibition will be presented at Creative Framing in Monroe and will open on Saturday, May 2, with a reception to run from 4 to 7 pm.

Go find a quiet place for a nap, but don’t forget to come back next week to… read me again.