Antiques Shows______

Through April 26: Southport-Westport Antiques Show 2003, Fairfield County Hunt Club, 174 Long Lots Rd, Westport, Fri 11 am-6 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm, adm $10, 60+ dealers, call for details on programs for 39th annual Southport-Westport incl Designers Choice House Tour, Saturday Night Spaces, etc; 203-259-1710.

April 27: 48th Edition Greater Hartford Vintage Clothing & Jewelry Show & Sale, Emanuel Synagogue, Mohegan Dr, West Hartford, 10:30 am-4:30 pm, adm $5; 860-342-2540.

April 27: 22nd Annual Connecticut Postcard Club Postcard Show, Holiday Inn North Haven, 201 Washington Ave/Rte 5, North Haven, 10 am-4 pm, adm $3, 35 dealers; 203-888-0205.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

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 27, “Janice Caswell: New Work,” colorful iconic maps by Ms Caswell, consisting of hole-punched paper, collage, marker, acrylic & pins arranged on white background, offer glimpses of places both real & imagined.

Through April 27, “Mark Dion: Full House,” first major New York area solo exhibition of an internationally-recognized American artist (& winner of 2001 Larry Aldrich Foundation Award) offers 7 major installations incl selection of 80+ drawings, collections of artist’s journals ca 1983-present, 1,000 cubit foot Vivarium (22-foot-long fallen tree-turned-home for moss, lichen & insects).

Beaux Arts Gallery, 495 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours: M-F 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Sat 9:30 am-4:30 pm, Sun by appt. Call 203-263-3939.

Through April 27, “Lasting Impressions,” new works by Anda Styler offering a departure in that the artist is presenting “perfect memories of perfect places.”

The Cosmic Hippo, Kent Green Shopping Village, Kent. Hours: daily 10 am-4 pm. Call 860-927-3069.

Through April 30, “Spring Has Sprung,” group show focusing on spring scenes & botanicals incl handmade soap by Virginia Spina, botanical prints from Adirondack artist Susan Cassenaugh, pressed flowers by Ellen Hoffman, floral impression fused glass by Lisa Caron Hickey, floral T-shirts by Marie Sodaro, & spring photography by Elizabeth Place, Karin Smith & David Buck.

Through April 30, digital & Adobe photography by students of Wamogo High School.

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

Through April 28, recent paintings by Tina Gauthier, many inspired by artist’s journey in China from November 2001 to February 2002.

Grey Horse Gallery, 3 Washington Ave/Rte 34 (in old Masonic Temple, 1st floor; behind St John’s Episcopal Church), Sandy Hook. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-4 pm. Call 270-1199.Permanent display of oils & pastels by Dick McEvoy.

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

Through April 30, oils, acrylics & watercolors by students of Wooster Community Art Center.

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

Through April 20, “Marsden Hartley,” first Hartley retrospective in 20 years of one of most celebrated names in American painting presents 85 paintings & 20 works on paper demonstrating the stylistic & thematic range of Hartley’s innovative work.

Washington Art Association, Bryant Plaza, Rte 47, Washington Depot. Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am-5 pm (closed Wed), Sun 2-5 pm. Call 860-868-2878.

Through April 27, “2003 Members’ Show,” showcase of WAA members w/ works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, photography, works on paper & sculpture.

*(new show) May 3-25, “Paintings On Paper,” works by Rosemarie Beck, Catherine Drabkin, Phyllis Floyd, Barbara Grossman & Victor Pesce; 860-868-2878.

WCSU White Hall Gallery, 181 White St, Danbury. Call 837-8140.

Through May 2, “The Senior Photography Portfolio Show.”

Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Rd/Rte 7, Wilton. Hours: Mon & Fri 10 am-6 pm, Tues-Thurs 10 am-7 pm, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-5 pm. Call 203-762-3950.

Through April 29, “American Modern Art From 1920-1945,” special loan from private Wilton collection offers 35+ works on paper using watercolor, gouache & drawings to reflect the importance of development of modern art in US.

Woodbury Public Library, 269 Main St South/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours Mon, Wed, Fri-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Tues & Thurs 10 am-9 pm, Sun 1-5 pm.

Through April 30, “The Italian Experience,” poetic photographs by Rita L. Frost & Francis J. Caro.

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, “Materials,” mixed media collage-drawings by Charlene Fox, Rita Golaszewski, Ginger Hanrahan, Joan Gillman Smith & Karen Siegel – all students of J. Pindyck Miller, who will also have works on view.

*(new show) May 6-June 30, prints & drawings by Marc Chabot; May 9, opening reception, 5-7 pm.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Town Players, The Little Theatre, Orchard Hill Rd, Newtown. Call  270-9144 (theater, lvg msg), RBaumgartner@fair1.fairfield.edu (director’s email).

May 5-6: Auditions for All’s Well That Ends Well, 7-9:30 pm, all roles open, arrive at theater ready to read from script and without any assumed accents, director is Ruth Anne Baumgartner, Town Players’ production of Shakespeare work will be presented in Fri-Sat July 11-Aug 2 incl 1 Sun mat.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

April 25: The Phil Woods Quintet, WCSU Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 7 pm, performance continues programming of 8th Annual WestConn Jazz Festival, call for program & adm details; 837-8614.

April 25: “The Funky-Gia Earth*Nite Benefit,” Colorado Brewery, 6 Delay St, Danbury, 8 pm-midnight, tickets $6/adv, $7/door, performances by Gia & Funkestra, part of 3rd Annual PATH Earth*Week events; 791-1450.

April 25: Philharmonia Orchestra at Yale Benefit Concert, at Woolsey Hall, College St at Grove St, New Haven, 8 pm (free pre-concert lecture by Bruckner scholar & YSM Professor Paul Hawkshaw, 6 pm), tickets $15 reserved seats, $10 general adm, $6 students, guest pianist Dean Robert Blocker will join orchestra for works of Beethoven & Bruckner; 203-432-4157, 203-432-4158.

April 25-26: 3rd CT Choreographers’ Forum Concert, Naugatuck Valley Community College Fine Arts Center, 750 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury, performances 8 pm, tickets  $15 adults, $8 students, showcase of works by choreographers Patricia Buchanan, Terre Lefferts, Mary Barnett & James Robey, performances by students of Brass City Ballet; 203-575-8179, 203-573-9419.

April 26: Ridgefield Chorale spring concert, at East Ridge Middle School, Ridgefield, 7 pm, tickets $10 adults, $5 seniors & students, free ages 5 & under, performance of five decades of pop hits from all music genres w/ accompanist Gina Wilson, also Ridgefield Swing Band, vocalist Wendy Cahill; 203-438-3425.

April 27: “Music For AN Earth Celebration II,” United Congregational Church, 877 Park Ave (at State St), Bridgeport, 4 pm, free performance w/ guest organist K. Bryan Kirk; 203-335-3107.

April 27: Pianist Fred Hersch at WCSU’s Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 7 pm, performance by Grammy-nominated pianist joined by WCSU Jazz Orchestra concludes programming of 8th Annual WestConn Jazz Festival, call for program & adm details; 837-8614.

April 27: Ailey II at Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, 4 pm, tickets $20 & $25 adults, $15 students & seniors, performance by second touring group of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; 203-438-5795.

April 29: Chamber Music at Yale bonus concert, at Battell Chapel, College St at Elm, New Haven, tickets $12 adults, $6 students, performances by ensembles from Yale School of Music’s chamber music program, chosen by competitive audition to appear on series; 203-432-4157, 203-432-4158.

April 30: “A Recital for Peace, Love and Country,” First Congregational Church, 164 Deer Hill Ave, Danbury, recital for flute, pipe organ, violin & bagpipes by flutist & highland bagpiper David F. Machell, pianist & organist Howard Rovics, violinist Katherine Down & narrator Harold B. Schramm, w/ music of Bach, Schubert, Dykes, Poulenc, traditional Celtic & traditional American songs.

May 1: The Elizabeth von Trapp Consort at Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies and the Performing Arts, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, 8 pm, tickets $15 & $20 (tickets for postponed Dec & March shows will be honored); 203-431-5739.

May 1: New Music New Haven: Martin Bresnick, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Orange St at Wall St, New Haven, 8 pm, free concert of works by featured composer Bresnick; 203-432-4157, 203-432-4158.

May 2: Yale Alley Cats at Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, Rte 25, Brookfield Center, 7 pm, tickets $50 incl performance, cocktails & hors d’oeuvres, silent auction & art exhibit by students of Devereux Glenholme School, gala celebration of theater’s change from Country Players of Brookfield to new name & direction of theater will be highlighted by performance of a cappella group from Yale Univ; 775-0023.

May 2: Westover School Spring Dance Concert, LBD Auditorium, 1237 Whittemore Rd/Rte 188 (on the green), Middlebury, adm by donation (reservations requested), 7:30 pm, faculty & student works incl tap, classical ballet, hip hop & modern dance, also vocal selections, reception w/ refreshments, raffle & silent auction; 203-577-4535.

May 2: St John’s Chorale Annual Spring Concert, Saint John’s Church, Rte 47, Washington, 8 pm, tickets $15 adults, $8 students, performance of Dvorak’s Mass in D Major & Janacek’s Mass in E-flat Major (“The Unfinished Mass”) by 20-member choral will be conducted by Mark R. Scholtz, performance repeats May 4; 860-868-2527.

May 3: Newtown United Methodist Coffee House, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 7:45-10:30 pm, adm $3 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see details under Miscellaneous), $4 otherwise, live bluegrass & folk music, refreshments, suitable for all ages; 426-0617.

May 3: “Men Without Instruments: An A Cappella Showcase,” Danbury High School auditorium, Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury, 7 pm, tickets $10 adults, $7 seniors, $5 students, performances featuring HatCity Acapella, Brandeis University’s VoiceMale, UConn’s ConnMen & Danbury High School’s Treblemakers, proceeds will benefit scholarship fund for DHS graduating seniors in choral program.

May 4: “Pasticcio: A Family Concert,” Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St, Danbury (WCSU campus), 3 pm, free “patchwork of symphonic music” by Danbury Community Orchestra will incl dances, folk songs, Beethoven & Brahms, also Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto w/ guest soloist James Palmer of Newtown, concert suitable for entire family; 748-1716.

May 4: St Stephen’s Choir with Orchestra in concert, at St Stephen’s Church, 351 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, 4 pm, suggested donation $10, concert concludes church’s 2002-03 Sunday Afternoon Concert Series; 203-438-3789.

May 4: “A Symphony of Psalms: CT Choral Society Spring Concert,” First Congregational Church, West St at Deer Hill Ave, Danbury, 4 pm, tickets $18/avance, $20/door, performances of Handel’s Dixit Dominus, Stravinksy’s Symphony of Psalms & Mendelssohn’s Hear My Prayer, chorus accompanied by CT Choral Society Orchestra, featured soloists & directed by John Robert Liepold; 800-555-5250.

May 4: St John’s Chorale Annual Spring Concert, Saint John’s Church, Rte 47, Washington, 4 pm, tickets $15 adults, $8 students, performance of Dvorak’s Mass in D Major & Janacek’s Mass in E-flat Major (“The Unfinished Mass”) by 20-member choral will be conducted by Mark R. Scholtz; 860-868-2527.

May 4: The Bad Plus at Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, 8 pm, tickets $30, Minneapolis-based jazz band (bassist Reid Anderson, pianist Ethan Iverson, & drummer David King) also draws inspiration from dance, pop & rock, performance will incl graceful & unique originals & “deconstructed covers” of Nirvana, Blondie & Aphex Twin; 203-438-4519.

Greater Bridgeport Symphony, Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203-576-0263.

Performances 8 pm, tickets $17-$47 w/ student & group discounts: April 26, “Festive Blast,” upbeat program w/ guest trumpeter Allen Vizzutti will incl works ranging from Baroque favorites to Argentinean tango incl handle, Hertel, Beethoven, De Falla, Piazolla & Vizzutti (7 pm, pre-concert performance by GBS harpist Wendy Kerner Lucas).

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

April 29, “Mozart Mania: WCSU Concert Choir & WCSU Chamber Singers Spring Concert,” 8 pm, free (donations will benefit music dept), performance by 95-voice non-auditioned ensemble & select group of 17 vocalists will highlight vocal works of Mozart from each decade of his life.

Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield Univ, North Benson Rd, Fairfield. Call 203-254-4010, 877-ARTS-396 (877-278-7396).

May 3, Quartetto Gelato, 8 pm, tickets $24-$30, discounts for students & seniors, traditional masterworks, operatic arias, tangos & folk songs from around the world by Canadian-based group (performance preceded by “Art To Heart” discussion w/ Dr Laura Nash, director Fairfield Univ music dept, 7 pm).

Ridgefield Symphony Youth Orchestra, at Ridgefield Playhouse for Music and Performing Arts, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-3889.

May 4, debut concert by RSYO, 4 pm, tickets $15 adults, $10 ages 12 & under, director Jonathan Schiffman will lead program of works by Bartok, Haydn (w/ soloists Andrea Reinhardt & Jeffrey Reinhardt), Bach & Vivaldi.

Films _________________

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

April 25-May 1: Bend It Like Beckham (PG-13), daily 7:05 & 9:40 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:20 & 4:25 pm; Bowling For Columbine (R), daily 9:50 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 4 pm; City Of God (R), daily 6:50 & 9:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:30 & 4:10 pm; The Good Thief (R), daily 7:20 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:10 pm; Nowhere In Africa (NR), daily 6:40 & 9:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:30 & 4:10 pm.

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

April 25-30: Two Weeks Notice (PG-13), daily 7 & 9pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

For Kids & Families _________

April 27: 2nd Annual Waldorf School 5K Fun Run, Housatonic Valley Waldorf School, 1 Jacklin Rd (at Rte 302), Dodgingtown, registration opens 7:30 am, race begins at 8 for children, 9 for adults, awards & raffles; 364-1113.

April 27: Housatonic Valley Waldorf School Open House, 1 Jacklin Rd (at Rte 302), Dodgingtown, 10 am-noon, meet teachers & learn about curriculum for preschool & grades K-8, also puppet show presentation by Early Childhood teachers; 364-1113.

May 4: Girl Scout Camp Candlewood Open House, New Fairfield, 11 am-3 pm rain or shine, free open house for parents & girls to learn about activities offered during Girl Scout Summer Camps, 1- & 2-week sessions for day & resident camps available June 30-Aug 8, daily bus transportation & some financial aid available, call for directions & other details; 203-762-5557 x11.

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 426-4533 (children’s dept 426-3851).

Free programs (unless specified): April 26, Tea With Felicity, 4 pm, dramatization of American Girl play followed by discussion of “issues of the day” (set in Colonial America); May 3, Mother’s Day Craft Workshop, 1-2 pm, $2 materials fee (due at in-person registration), ages 6 & up invited to craft time w/ Marie Walker; May 5, Young Adult Stamping Workshop, 4-6 pm, $5 materials fee (due at workshop), stamp art workshop for grades 5-8 (no younger siblings, please) conducted by Barbara Shohet will incl instruction on making greeting cards, stationary, gift boxes & more.

The Graceful Planet, 75 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook. Call 426-8215.

April 26, Earth Day Celebration, family yoga 10:30 am (free), Danskinetics 11:30 am ($25, pre-registration required), family drum circle 1 pm (free).

Miscellaneous ___________

April 25: “A Carnival of Caring,” St Rose of Lima Parish Hall, 46 Church Hill Rd, Newtown $5/person, $16 maximum/family, St Rose School 6th grade class fundraiser will include dancing to DJ selections, games, silent auction, Easter Egg hunt, raffles and more, proceeds to benefit cancer research, reservations suggested (limited capacity); 426-2333.

April 25: Pasta Dinner & Mystery Dinner, United Church of Danbury (Fellowship Hall), 5 Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury, dinner 5:30-7 pm, theater follows at 7:30, tickets $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 ages 12 & under, all welcome; 743-1503.

April 25: Spring Psychic Fair, Danbury Holiday Hilton, Newtown Rd/Rte 6, Danbury, 6-11:30 pm, free adm, readings by psychics, clairvoyants, astrologers, tarot & gemstone readers, drawings by spirit guides, vendors; 792-2939.

April 25: “The Gilded Age, 1877-1890,” YMCA Greenknoll Annex, Greenknoll Professional Building, 60 Old New Milford Rd, Brookfield, 7 pm, free workshop/lecture presented by Dr Tim Tuttle on America circa late 19th Century; 744-1000.

April 25: CT Catholic Singles Spring Dinner Dance, Roberto’s Restaurant, 505 Main St/Rte 25, Monroe, 7:30 pm, $25, all welcome, reservations requested; 261-2414.

April 25-26: EMS Danbury Club Days, EMS store, Danbury Fair Mall, Danbury, 9 am-10 pm, representation from members of Nat’l Wildlife Federation, Earth Island Institute, The Raptor Center, Sirenian Int’l, Institute of Range and The American Mustang, The Wolf Education Center, Pandas Int’l, Orangutan Foundation, Caribbean Conservation of Sea Turtle, Wildlife Conservation Scty, Adirondack Mountain Club, Sierra Club, & others; 794-1043.

April 26: Revolutionary War Re-enactment, Fairfield Hills grounds, Mile Hill Rd, Newtown, 9:30 am-4 pm, camp life, campfire cooking & battle re-enactment (1 pm) of 1st Battalion DeLauncey’s Brigade.

April 26: Quilt Exhibition & Textiles Sale, Beardsley Homestead, 31 Great Ring Rd, Monroe, 9 am-3 pm, display of recent historical society quilt acquisitions, also Bicentennial Quilt w/ 26 individually hand made blocks on display, plus sale of new & vintage textiles, fabrics & textile equipment; 268-5511.

April 26: Third Annual Children’s Day, CityCenter Danbury, Ives St & Patriot Dr, Danbury, 1-4 pm (rain date May 3), day for parents, families & communities to value & uplift children will be celebrated w/ face painting, mask making workshops, live entertainment, give-aways, etc; 797-8088.

April 26: 18th Annual Goods & Services Auction, First Congregational Church of Bethel, 46 Main St/Rte 302, Bethel, preview begins 5:30, auction 7 pm, 100 lots to be sold w/ proceeds to benefit church’s programs & missions, partial proceeds also designated for local outreach within community; 748-6112.

April 26: “Back To The Future” open house/benefit event, Main Street Theater Company, 124 South Pomperaug Ave, Woodbury, 6-9 pm, tickets $40/adv, $45/door, celebration of what theater has already done & preview of what’s possible for the future through student performances, also refreshments, silent auction, psychic readings; 203-758-9758, 203-263-0854.

April 26-27: 7th Annual Gracious Home & Garden Show, Weston High School gymnasium, Rte 57, Weston, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $6/adv, $7/door, 50+ vendors offer unique items for home & garden during fundraiser by Weston Young Woman’s Club to benefit selected Fairfield County charitable organizations; 221-0559.

April 26-27: Antique Farm Tool Exhibit, Flanders Nature Center, Woodbury, 1-4 pm, free adm, rain or shine, 500+ antique tools, farm implements & utensils illustrating life in early 1800s on view, also draft horse demos (Sat, call for time), horse shoeing demos (Sun, call for time), pony rides & hay rides, children’s art show, children’s craft tables; 203-263-3711.

April 27: 2nd Annual Waldorf School 5K Fun Run, Housatonic Valley Waldorf School, 1 Jacklin Rd (at Rte 302), Dodgingtown, registration opens 7:30 am, race begins at 8 for children, 9 for adults, awards & raffles; 364-1113.

April 27: Pancake Breakfast, Dodgingtown Firehouse, Rte 302, Dodgingtown, 9-11:30 am, proceeds to benefit Housatonic Valley Waldorf School.

April 27: Housatonic Valley Waldorf School Open House, 40 Dodgingtown Rd/Rte 302, Newtown, 10 am-noon, meet teachers & learn about curriculum for preschool & grades K-8, also puppet show presentation by Early Childhood teachers; 364-1113.

April 27: Odd Fellows & Rebeka’s Lodge Scholarship Breakfast, Odd Fellows Hall, Rte 7, New Milford, 8-11 am, adm $6 adults, $3 ages 12 & under, all-you-can-eat breakfast (eggs, pancakes, sides, coffee, tea & juice) will benefit lodge’s scholarship fund; 860-354-1062.

April 27: 2nd Annual Mind, Body, Spirit Expo, Danbury Sheraton, 18 Old Ridgebury Rd, Danbury, 10 am-5 pm, adm $10, free lectures, 40+ vendors/exhibitors, also workshops ($20 each, call or visit for schedule & reservations), afternoon focusing on metaphysical & alternative healing modalities, presented by Trinity Productions; 748-3125. www.TrinityProductions.org.

April 27: Scottish High Tea, Southbury Hilton, Rte 188, Southbury, 2-5 pm, $26, all welcome to join St Andrew’s Society of Connecticut for full Scottish meal w/ entertainment incl playing of The Great Highland Bagpipe; 203-272-9013.

April 27: “All Pervading Calmness and Joy: Meditating in the Presence of A Spiritual Teacher,” Woodbury Yoga Center, 122 West Side Rd, Woodbury, 6:45 pm, free program by Newtown resident & yoga student Rose Bergen will be followed by group meditation & tea reception; 203-263-3354.

April 28: “Lyme Disease,” Fireside Inn, 123 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown, 7-9 pm, free program by Dr Bernard Raxlen; 270-3301.

April 29: Garden Club of Newtown program, C.H. Booth Library lower meeting room, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 1 pm (preceded by members’ meeting & lunch), free and open to non-members, slide and video presentation by Brad Cooper (Cooper Mulch & More) on pond gardening using “Mother Nature-oriented” design and management; 270-1108.

April 30: 11th Annual Book & Author Luncheon, East Hill Woods, 611 East Hill Rd, Southbury, noon, tickets $25 (reservations required), speakers are Dr Jerry Labriola, Ursula McCafferty & Bettie Walker, proceeds will benefit collections of East Hill Woods Library; 264-7890.

May 2: Merryhill Child Care Art Auction, Fireside Inn, 123 Main St South/Route 25, Newtown, preview 6:30 pm, auction begins 7:30, tickets $10, fundraiser for Merryhill’s “Buy The Building” Fund will offer art in all media & price ranges & honor First Selectman Herb Rosenthal, also door prizes, cash bar; 426-7001, 426-9847.

May 3: AAUW Spring Breakfast, Fireside Inn, 123 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown, 8:30 am, $25 ($10 of which will benefit Leonette Wishard Endowed Fellowship), Bridgeport Area Branch of American Association of University Women breakfast event will include program by guest speaker Polly Brody.

May 3: 2nd Annual Sandy Hook Arts & Crafts Festival, Sandy Hook Center, 10 am-3 pm, show and sale by fine artists and crafters, also farmer’s market, children’s crafts, pony rides and petting zoo, hooked rug display, more, all events within walking distance.

May 3: NUMC Monthly Pasta 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 incl salad, desserts, and soft drinks/coffee raises funds each month for church, all welcome, coffee house/musical event follows (see details under Concerts); 426-0617.

May 3: Tag & Bake Sale, Harmony Grange, Rte 110 at 111, Monroe, 9 am-4 pm, combined event being presented by Harmony & Trumbull granges, kitchen will also be open for lunch; 268-3480.

May 3: Beginners’ hike at Tarrywile Park, Southern Blvd, Danbury, 10 am start, free 45 min hike over easy terrain at easy pace, bring water, canceled if heavy rain, pre-registration required; 744-3130.

May 3: “Luma” at Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies and the Performing Arts, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, shows at 2 & 8 pm, all matinee seats $15, evening show $20-$25 adults, $15 adults & ages 15 & under, show takes light & “sculpts it into dynamic forms that dance, spin, orbit & enchant”; 203-438-5795.

May 3: 11th St Thomas’ church Spring Auction, St Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 95 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, 6:30-8:30 pm, free adm, gift items & baskets from local businesses, refreshments, door prizes all evening; 748-2089.

May 4: “Serendipity 2003: A Fine Art and Craft Show,” Ballard Park, Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, 10 am-4 pm, free adm, annual spring art & craft market by Ridgefield Guild of Artists features 100+ artists & artisans from throughout Northeast exhibiting & offering demonstrations all day, also free art classes for children led by RGA teachers; 203-438-8863.

May 4: Spring Railfair 2003, Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St, Danbury, 10 am-5 pm, adm $7 adults, $3 ages 5-12, annual spring event offers programs/lectures/discussions on railroading & related activities incl track laying demos, how cars couple & uncouple, operating rail yard rides, gift shop open, refreshments, etc, coincides w/ Danbury Railway Museum Big Train Show at WCSU (adm for RailFair allows adm into train show); 778-8337.

May 4: 2nd Annual Dream Come True Ride For Dreams, Sacred Heart Church, Rte 172 (at Main St South/Rte 6), Southbury, rides begin 1 pm, 10-mile Family Fun Ride & 20-mile Challenge Course available, $25 adults, $10 ages 18 & under, registration available at event, all riders must wear helmets, all proceeds will go directly towards fulfilling dreams of local chronically or terminally ill children; 203-263-7268.

May 4: Girl Scout Camp Candlewood Open House, New Fairfield, 11 am-3 pm rain or shine, free open house for parents & girls to learn about activities offered during Girl Scout Summer Camps, 1- & 2-week sessions for day & resident camps available June 30-Aug 8, daily bus transportation & some financial aid available, call for directions & other details; 203-762-5557 x11.

Audubon Center at Bent of the River, 185 East Flat Hill Rd, Southbury. Call 264-5098.

Free programs unless noted, reservations requested, call if weather is questionable: April 26, Earth Day Celebration, volunteers needed to plant trees (9 am), also hikes departing 11 am & 2 pm, test water quality along the way; April 27, Audubon Society Wildflower Walk, 10 am, botanist Martha Cushman will lead 2-hour program focusing on spring flora; April 29, Nature Walk for Adults, 9 am, learn to identify early spring birds by sight & song, walk along Pomperaug River to listen & look for frogs & salamanders, identify spring wildflowers in meadows & forest, bring binoculars if possible, on mostly level ground w/ occasional slope.

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

Programs free unless noted: April 25, Tavern night, 7-10 pm, live music by The Reel Thing, dancing, also games throughout library, part of NewtownREADS programming; April 28, Felicity – American Girl, 4 pm, play coincides w/ era depicted in NewtownREADS featured title April Morning; April 28, “Innovative Job Search Strategies,” 7 pm, program by Janice Weinberg (author, How To Win The Job You Really Want); April 30, blood pressure screenings, 10 am-noon, no appt necessary; May 16, Agnes DeMille Dancing at The Library, 7 pm, Carol Schweid’s one-woman show highlights life & times of Broadway star Agnes DeMille.

Borders Books*Music*Café, 110 Federal Rd, Danbury. Call 798-1100.

Free public programs: April 28, Moms Who Will Do Anything To Get Out Of The House book group, 7:30 pm, discussion of Jennifer Weiner’s Good in Bed, all welcome; May 1, Meet the Author: David Silberkleit, 7:30 pm, program w/ author of A New Adventure Every Day; May 5, book discussion group, 7 pm, discussion of Robert Kiyosaki’s Soulprints, all welcome.

Danbury Public Library, 170 Main St, Danbury. Hours: Mon, Thurs 9 am-8 pm, Tues 9 am-5 pm, Wed 1-8 pm, Fr-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun (Sept-May) 1-5 pm. Call 797-4505.

BookTalk series, 6:30-8 pm, free, refreshments, titles as follows: April 28, discussion of Nuala O’Faolain’s My Dream Of You.

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/Candlelight Art Evenings, 7:30 pm, $5: April 25, “A Work in Progress” by Peter Seltzer, master pastelist will discuss the unfolding evolution of his own process & imagery through slides of his pastels & paintings.

Misc programs: April 26-27, Antique Farm Tool Exhibit, 1-4 pm, free adm, rain or shine, 500+ antique tools, farm implements & utensils illustrating life in early 1800s on view, also draft horse demos (Sat, call for time), horse shoeing demos (Sun, call for time), pony rides & hay rides, children’s art show, children’s craft tables.

The Graceful Planet, 75 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook. Call 426-8215.

April 26, Earth Day Celebration, family yoga 10:30 am (free), Danskinetics 11:30 am ($25, pre-registration required), family drum circle 1 pm (free).

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

April 26, Native American flute presentation, 1 pm, adults $4, $2 children, presentation by Sioux singer Kenneth Merrick will incl singing, flute performance, & discussion of flute’s origins in North America & its music; April 27, “Writing Passion: Finding Your Voice,” call for time, $60, writing circle will encourage development of unique writing styles; May 3, Raised Iroquois beading workshop, 10:30 am-2:30 pm, $25, Janice Us & Ann Lowe-Salmon will teach how to bead using Iroquis raised beading technique, suitable for all ages, projects based on past experience levels.

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

Meetings 2nd & 4th Sun each month, 4-6 pm, $20: April 27, “Conversations With The Other Side” w/ clairvoyant & spiritual medium Cheri Scheinin, $20, **at 2nd Annual Mind-Body-Spirit Expo, Danbury Sheraton, 3-5 pm.

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 & leaders as follows: April 26, Audubon Center at Bent of the River, Southbury, 4-hour hike on new perimeter trail (Elsie Douglas, 426-6687, ElsaDoug@aol.com); May 3, Naugatuck State Forest, 6-mile loop (Tim Hanbury, 203-888-3025)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.

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

Free programs: April 27, Poetry in Motion, 2 pm, interactive poetry discussion w/ Ira Joe Fisher.

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.

Workshops to communicate w/ angels, God, deceased or living by guidance, 2nd & 4th Sat/month in Sandy Hook, 1-3 pm, call for details: April 26, “How To Talk with The Other Side,” $40, program w/ Cindy Miller, Cheryl Scheinin & Nancy Lawrence.

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

Meetings 2nd Wed/month, 7:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: May 14, watercolor program by Marija McCarthy.

May 3-11, 33rd Annual Spring Juried Art Show, at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St, Newtown, works by members & non-members in acrylic, graphics, mixed media, pastel, printmaking, oil, sculpture & watercolor.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meetings, 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.

April 28, special meeting w/ guest speaker Kevin Bill, MS (director, The Marcus Cardiac Rehabilitation Center at Danbury Hospital), on “The Importance of Weight Loss Through Exercise on the Heart.”

Theatre ______________

Country Players of Brookfield, Rte 25, Brookfield Center. Call 775-0023.

Playwrights Collective, free readings of new works (donations welcomed): April 27, reading of Shadow Dancing (2-act drama by Jewel B. Davis), 1 pm.

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

Swing! through May 18, curtain Fri 8 pm, Sat 5:30 & 8:30 pm, Sun 5:30 pm, tickets $34-$42, discounts for seniors (5:30 shows), students & groups, rush tickets 30 min before shows.

Hartford Stage, 50 Church St, Hartford. Call 860-527-5151.

Diosa, through May 11, curtain Tues-Thurs, Sun 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed (April 30 & May 7) 2 pm, Thurs (April 24 only) 2 pm, Sat (May 10) 2:30 pm, Sun (April 27, May 4 & 11) 2:30 pm, tickets $22-$60.

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

Mainstage: The Triumph of Love, April 30-June 1 (previews April 30-May 6, opening night May 7), curtain Sun & Tues 7 pm, Wed-Fri 8 pm, Sat 8:30 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun 2 pm, mat Wed (May 21 & 28) 2 pm, tickets $15-$47.50, student & senior discounts available; May 1, Theatre 101, 7 pm, pre-show crash course on the world of theater; May 8, Pay-What-You-Can performance, 8 pm.

Sherman Players, Sherman Playhouse, Rte 37 at 39 (behind firehouse), Sherman. Call 860-354-3622.

Weird Romance, through May 3, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 3 pm, tickets $15 adults, $13 seniors & students.

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

The Laramie Project, April 25-May 24, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (May 11 only) 2 pm, tickets $15; (Thurs) May 1, Pay-What-You-Can performance, 8 pm.

Town Players of Newtown, Little Theatre, theatre is on Orchard Hill Rd (mailing address is PO Box 211), Newtown. Call 270-9144.

Barefoot in the Park, May 2-24, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (May 18 only) 2 pm, evening performances $12, mat tickets $10, season tickets available.

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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.