Antiques Shows______

Saturdays (opening for season April 26, weekly to Oct 26): Bethlehem Flea Market, Bethlehem Fairgrounds, 384 Main St North/Rte 61, 6 am-1 pm, free adm & parking, 200 spaces will offer antiques & collectibles, plants & flowers, organic foods & farmer’s market, artisans & crafters, food, machinery & equipment & much more; 860-618-2940.

Sundays (through Dec): Elephant’s Trunk Country Flea Market, Rte 7, New Milford, 7 am-2:30 pm (early buying 5:45 am, $20), adm $2, free ages 12 & under, leave pets home, vendors offer antiques, collectibles & misc, refreshments available; 508-896-1975.

Sundays (through fall): 8th season Clinton Village Antiques & Collectibles Flea Market, 327 East Main St/Rte 1, Clinton; 860-669-3839.

April 26-27: 32nd annual Depression Glass Show & Sale, Southington High School, 720 Pleasant St, Southington, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 11 am-4 pm, adm $6, presented by Nutmeg Depression Glass Club & featuring Depression era glass & pottery, also free American glass & pottery ID service, door prize (Forest Green Charm luncheon set); 860-643-5353.

May 4: Flea & Antique Market, Island Beach parking lot, Arch St, Greenwich, 10 am-4 pm, 125 vendors; 203-622-4136.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St, Ridgefield. Hours: Tues-Sun 12-5 pm. Call 203-438-4519.

*(new show) April 29-July 13: “Serge Spitzer: Still Life,” new installation by Mr Spitzer in Cornish Family Sculpture Garden featuring tens of thousands of specially produced tennis balls “will animate both space & meaning as circumstances cause the tennis balls to travel through the world.”

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 1-5 pm. Call 426-4533.

In first floor display cases — Through April 30: “Works In Connecticut Wood,” dozens of hand-turned wooden bowls & vases by self-taught artist (& Newtown resident) Michael C. Agius, who uses locally found wood for his works.

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

Through May 4: “Jump: The Synergy of Connection,” works by cross discipline contemporary artists who use the repetitive process of joining multiple circles, or jump rings, to create “rhythmic patterns & interesting forms that are sculptural & ornamental,” curated by David Licata, collection also incl works by David Austin, Conner Bishop, Ruth Borgenicht, Robert Dancik, Dennis Gardner, Lindsay Ketterer Gates, Cas Holman, Scott David Plumlee, Leslie Pontz, Judy Walker and Donovan Widmer.

Featured Artist of the Month, special presentations in BCC Gift Shop: Through April 30: works by multi-faceted artist Linda Banks, BCC faculty member & glass studio manager, who works in glass, jewelry, baskets & gourds.

Brookfield Museum & Historical Society, 165 Whisconier Rd (Rtes 133 & 25), Brookfield Center. Hours: Sat 12-4 pm, first Sun of month, by appt & chance. Call 740-8140.

*(new show) May 3-Sept 1: “The Brookfield Attic,” summer exhibition will share some of more than 30,000 artifacts from museum’s permanent collection incl paintings, textiles, photos, handcrafts, Native American artifacts & info on early settlers, all which tell “rich & unique history of the town”; May 3-4, grand opening weekend, 12-4 pm.

Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Rd (at corner of Center St), Easton. Hours: Mon 10 am-5 pm, Tues-Wed 10 am-8 pm, Thurs 10 am-6 pm, Fri 10 am-5 pm, Sat 10 am-3 pm. Call 261-0134.

Through May 7: pencil point carvings & sculptures by Dalton M. Ghetti, who carves very intricate & miniscule pcs of art on the graphite of pencil tips; April 30, artist’s lecture, 7 pm, Mr Ghetti will discuss, share techniques & answer questions about his work.

Fenn Gallery of Contemporary Art, 345 Main Street/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours: Wed-Sun 12-5 pm. Call 203-263-2821.

Through May 11: “Spring Fever,” monotypes & monoprints by printmakers Zemma Mastin White, Tom Stavovy & Nancy McTague-Stock, works on paper from the estate of Gertrude Barrer, plus encaustic paintings by gallery artist Kim Bernard.

Gregory James Gallery, 13 Main St (on the green), New Milford. Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am-6 pm, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun & eves by appt. Call 860-354-3436.

Through May 28: “Spring Show 2008,” first show of new season will feature 50-plus works by regional artists incl Christine Debroski, Frank Federico, Robert Ferrucci, Vincent Giarrano, Christopher Magadini, Bill Rice, Lorraine Ryan, Anda Styler, Danielle Wexler, et al.

Mark Twain Library, Diamond Hill Rd at Rte 53, Redding. Hours: Mon-Thurs 10 am-7 pm, Fri-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-5 pm. Call 203-938-2545.

Through May 30: “Heat and Pressure – 100 Years of Bakelite,” 250+ rare Bakelite objects & related materials assembled from the Amsterdam Bakelite Collection owned by Reindert Groot.

Morrison Gallery, Kent Village Barns, 8 Old Barn Rd (near Rte 7 at Rte 341), Kent. Hours: Wed-Sat 10:30 am-5:30 pm, Sun 1-4 pm. Call 860-927-4501.

*(new show) April 26-May 25: more than 15 new oil paintings by celebrated Italian artist Alberto Mancini & 6 bronze sculptures by John Balsamo; April 26, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave, New Haven. Call 203-432-5050.

Through July 19: “Las Artes de Mexico,” celebration of rich & diverse artistic traditions of Mexico from ancient worlds of Mayas & Aztecs to great 20th Century works of Miguel Covarrubias, Jose Clemente Orozco & Diego Rivera, also pre-Colombian artifacts, Mexican textiles.

Washington Art Association, 4 Bryan Plaza, Rte 47, Washington Depot. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday 12-5 pm. Call 860-868-2878.

*(new show) May 3-June 1: “Water, Water Everywhere…,” paper lithographs by Roxanne Faber Savage, graphic designs by Paul Manlove & oil paintings by Greta Waller, “three artists … whose freedom of invention taken them to personal expressions in print, graphic design & oils w/ a refreshing twist”; May 3, artists’ reception (public invited), 4-6 pm.

Wisdom House/Marie Louise Trichet Gallery, 229 East Litchfield Rd, Litchfield. Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am-4 pm. Call 860-567-3163.

*(new show) April 27-July 11: “Life With Clay – 35 Years,” exhibition of works by Joy Brown; April 27, opening reception 3:30-5 pm.

Yale University Art Gallery, 1111 Chapel St at York, New Haven. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-6 pm. Call 203-432-0600.

Through May 4: “Making It New: The Art and Style of Sara and Gerald Murphy,” exploration of couple who served as inspiration for Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night offers all 7 of Mr Murphy’s surviving canvases along w/ paintings, watercolors, drawings & photos by artists within their circle, also personal correspondence & artifacts.

Through May 4: “Colorful Impressions: The Printmaking Revolution in Eighteenth Century France,” more than 100 images from the most groundbreaking period in the history of color printmaking, organized by National Gallery of Art, many presented in multiple impressions or alongside related drawings.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Apple Festival at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church, 175 Old Tannery Rd, Monroe. Call 268-4265.

Brookfield Theater for the Arts, Rte 25 (behind Brookfield Library), Brookfield Center. Call 775-0023.

May 3 & 5: Auditions for Peter Pan, Sat 11 am-1 pm for children, 1-3 pm for adults, Mon 7-10 pm, children by appt, director Alicia Demster has roles for children ages 6-12 who will be asked to learn short dance combo and/or read sides from script, adults should prepare 16 bars showing their range from Broadway (prepare ballad & uptempo song), bring sheet music, accompanist provided, may be asked to learn short dance combo and/or read sides from script, performances will be weekends July 4-19.

Oxford Day, Oxford High School, 61 Quaker Farms Rd, Oxford. Call 203-888-2468.

June 7: Artists & crafters invited to apply for inaugural event to be held at high school, will run 10 am-5 m (rain date June 8), seeking handmade crafts, also fine art incl watercolors, oils, acrylics, pastels, photography & sculpture, all must be original & available for purchase.

Palm Rebekah Lodge #43, 25 Danbury Rd/Rte 7, New Milford. Call 860-355-0243.

May 17: Vendors sought for craft fair, will run 9 am-4 pm, non-refundable $35 fee for space, call phone # above or visit OddfellowsCT.org for details.

Seven Angels Theatre, Hamilton Park Pavilion, Plank Rd, Waterbury. Call 203-757-1316 x15.

May 4-5, 12: Auditions for Hello Dolly, all roles available, by appt only, director Semina DeLaurentis & music director Richard DeRosa are seeking male & female actors, singers & dancers ages 10 & up, auditions & rehearsals will be at Seven Angels Theatre, performances to be Aug 2-3 at Palace Theatre, call for audition appt & more info,

Concerts, Musical Events ____

April 27: “CT Choral Society Spring Concert: A Concert of Psalms,” Congregational Church of Naugatuck, 9 Division St (on the green), Naugatuck, 2 pm, tickets $20 adults, $10 ages 10 & under, performance by auditioned professional & amateur singers will incl music from Renaissance to 21st Century based on Psalm texts incl Vivaldi’s Beautus Vir (Psalm 11), 4 settings of Psalm 23 (by Schubert, Rutter,Haugen & Wilber), Palestrina’s Sicut Cervus (Psalm 41), arrangements of Psalm 150 (Rutter, Thomas & Aguiar) & other Psalm settings, CCS will be joined by Litchfield County Children’s Choir; 206-7186.

April 30: Pianist Ann Schein, Heritage Village’s Sarah Cooke Hall, 466 Heritage Village, Southbury, 3 pm, suggested donation $15, performance by versatile pianist who has performed in 50+ countries, w/ NY Philharmonic, LA & London Philharmonic, Philadelphia & Cleveland Orchestras & many others will continue Heritage Concert Society’s 2007-08 season; 264-1102, 262-6510.

May 2: “Spring Jubilation,” Naugatuck Valley Community College Mainstage, 750 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury, 8 pm, suggested donation $10, special performance by NVCC Gospel Choir w/ special guests Zion Baptist Church Fifth Sunday Choir for rousing & inspirational performance; 203-596-8615, 203-768-9158.

May 3: NUMC Coffee House, 7:45–10:30 pm, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Road, adm $3 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see separate Misc listing), $4 otherwise, live bluegrass & folk music, refreshments, suitable for all ages;  426-9998.

May 3: Swing Lessons & Dance, Norfield Grange, 12 Good Hill Rd, Weston, doors open 7 pm, adm $15 for dance & 1 lesson, $20 dance & 2 lessons, intro swing fundamentals lesson w/ swing DJ Stretch at 7:30,supplemental swing dance lesson at 8:30, dancing 9:30-midnight, very beginner friendly, no partner required, premium hardwood dance floor in charming, 100+ year old hall, music by swing DJ Stretch, air-conditioned and dehumidified, presented most 1st & 3rd Sundays, hosted by Fair WestSwing Project; 203-522-5341.

May 4: Danbury Community Orchestra at Western CT State University’s Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St/Rte 6, Danbury, 3 pm, free performance by 85-member orchestra made up of adult & teen musicians will incl CT premiere of Concerto for English Horn and Orchestra (w/ featured soloist James Thoensen) by Robert Edward Smith, also first movement of William Grant Still’s Afro-American Symphony, plus works of Beethoven & Holst; 748-1716.

May 4: The Tricordes at Brookfield Library, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield Center, 3 pm, free concert by violinist Andrew Smith, cellist Andrea Mills & guitarist Daniel Corr will incl works of Haydn, Johanson, Magi & de Fossa, light reception to follow, continues library’s Afternoons at The Arbor concert series;  775-6241 x104.

May 4: Brookfield High School Small Group Chorus concert at Canterbury School chapel, 101 Aspetuck Ave, New Milford, 3:30 pm, free performance by choral group of 24 singers ages 16-18 directed by John MaMendola will incl works of Palestrina, Handel, Pedroia, Rutter, Bach, Ramirez, Bernstein & Mozart; 775-7725, 860-210-3800.

May 7: “American Songbook” by Alamanda Women’s Choir, South Britain Congregational Church, Rte 172 at East Flat Hill Rd, South Britain, 7:30 pm, suggested donation $10, performance of choral music spanning 1860s-1960s incl spirituals, folk songs & legendary hits will be performed by women’s choir directed by Amy Bernon, light reception to follow; 203-232-7857.

Ives Concert Hall at Western CT State University, White Hall, Fifth Ave & White St, Danbury. Call 837-8350.

Free concerts, 8 pm unless noted: April 25, Jazz Fest: The Airmen of Note, 2 pm, performance by the premier jazz ensemble of US Air Force, donations to music dept accepted; April 25, Jazz Fest: WCSU Jazz Orchestra, 7 pm, tickets $15 adults, $10 seniors & students (not participating in festival), jazz orchestra will perform w/ guest saxophonist Jimmy Heath; April 26, Jazz Fest: Cedar Walton Quartet concert, 7 pm, tickets $15 adults, $10 seniors & students; May 4, Danbury Community Orchestra, 3 pm, free performance by 85-member orchestra made up of adult & teen musicians will incl CT premiere of Concerto for English Horn and Orchestra (w/ featured soloist James Thoensen) by Robert Edward Smith, also first movement of William Grant Still’s Afro-American Symphony, plus works of Beethoven & Holst (call 748-1716 for info).

Films _________________

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

Global Warming: Fact or Fiction? screenings 7 pm: May 6, The Great Global Warming Swindle; May 13, Dimming the Sun.

Discovery Museum, 4450 Park Ave, Bridgeport. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm & most Monday holidays (call ahead). Call 203-372-3521.

Planetarium shows: One Small Step and Larry – Cat in Space, call museum for screenings schedule.

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

April 25-30: The Bucket List (PG-13), Fri-Sat 7 & 9 pm, Sun-Wed 7 pm, mat Sun 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

For Kids & Families _________

April 25-26: The Diary of Anne Frank, Western CT State Univ Berkshire Theatre, Berkshire Hall, Osborne St, Danbury, Fri 7 pm, Sat 2 pm, tickets $15, family theater production by WestConn in cooperation w/ LaMar Productions; 778-3344.

April 26: Kids’ Earth Celebration, our green house, 4 Washington Ave/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 11 am-3 pm, baked goods sale (for Canine Advocates), sidewalk sale, organic lemonade stand, also nutrition demo (11:30), story & activity (12:30), kids’ yoga session (1:30) & henna body art (2 pm, fee); 364-1484.

April 26: Sir George and The Dragon puppet show, Edmond Town Hall theater, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, tickets $5, performances 2 & 4 pm, performance by master puppeteer John McDonough & his Pumpernickel Puppets, proceeds to benefit Edmond Town Hall Theater Restoration Project; 270-4285.

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

Children’s programs, free unless specified:

Young Adult programs, free unless specified:

Family programs: April 27, Shakespeare’s Birthday Party, 3 pm, celebrate The Bard’s birthday w/ live music by The Reel Thing, performance by C.H. Booth’s Mark & Wig Players, Elizabethan games, munchies, children’s crafts, birthday cake & maybe even a visit by HRM Queen Elizabeth I.

Flanders Nature Center, Flanders at Church Hill Rd, Woodbury. Call 203-263-3711.

May 3, “Farm Kids” workshop, 10 am-12:30 pm, $20 ($15 members), ages 3-10 can learn about farm life, animals, animal sounds, what grows in gardens, farming equipment & how important farming is to human survival.

Miscellaneous ___________

Saturdays (opening for season April 26, weekly to Oct 26): Bethlehem Flea Market, Bethlehem Fairgrounds, 384 Main St North/Rte 61, 6 am-1 pm, free adm & parking, 200 spaces will offer antiques & collectibles, plants & flowers, organic foods & farmer’s market, artisans & crafters, food, machinery & equipment & much more; 860-618-2940.

April 25: Wine & Food Tasting, Club NewFit, 23 Commerce Rd, Newtown, 7-10 pm,  tickets $35, also silent auction, proceeds to benefit Newtown Dog Pound fundraising & Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue (NUSAR); 426-8591.

April 25: “The Graduate Institute,” Western CT State Univeristy Student Center, 181 White St/Rte 6, Danbury, 10:30 am, $5 contribution suggested, presentation by Kaitlyn Pierce will cover institute established w/ mission of offering grad programs in emerging fields of conscious evolution, experimental health & healing, holistic thinking, irenic studies, oral traditions & organizational leadership, proceeds will support student scholarships & health promotion & exercise programs at WCSU; 837-8882.

April 26: Workcamp Tag Sale, Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown, 9:30 am-1:30 pm (no early birds please), tag sale, also local vendors, event is fundraiser for group of young adults from NCC, Newtown United Methodist Church, St Rose of Lima & Sacred Heart Church who are planning to spend one week in NC in August; 426-1362, 426-9024.

April 26: Earth Day Celebration, Newtown Middle School, Queen St, Newtown, 9:30 am-3 pm, free, info about alternative energy choices, green living methods & products, wetland protection, open space acquisition & more, also organic foods, presentations by members of Candlewood Valley Trout Unlimited (10 am-noon), Ecology Walk (2 pm); 270-3331.

April 26: Fundraiser for Mike Heneghan, Hot Shots Grille, 130 Mt Pleasant Rd (Rte 25 at Rte 6), Newtown, 1-5 pm, adm $10, buffet by Hot Shots, music by Fog, 50/50 raffle, auction, cash bar, fundraiser for Newtown resident fighting leukemia, proceeds going to The Mike Heneghan Leukemia Fund; 426-0090.

April 26: Sir George and The Dragon puppet show, Edmond Town Hall theater, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, tickets $5, performances 2 & 4 pm, performance by master puppeteer John McDonough & his Pumpernickel Puppets, proceeds to benefit Edmond Town Hall Theater Restoration Project; 270-4285.

April 26: Coin & Currency Show, American Legion Hall, Post #17, Cedar St, Naugatuck, 9 am-2 pm, free adm, old & new coins, silver & gold, proof & mint sets, also paper currency; 746-7531.

April 26: World Tai Chi & Chi Kung Day observation, Western CT State University Quadrangle, off White St or Fifth Ave (behind Fairfield Hall, White Hall, Warner Hall & Higgins Hall), Danbury, 9:45-11 am, join practitioners around the world in creating a wave of healing energy by bringing awareness to the benefits of tai chi & chi kung for physical, mental & spiritual health & fitness, event will move to Bill Williams Gym (Berkshire Hall, Osborne St) if rain.

April 26: “Getting to The Corps of Geocaching,” Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 10-11:30 am, free presentation (registration requested) by Marci Montrose (natural resource specialist park ranger, US Army Corps of Engineers at Hop Brook Lake, Middlebury) will present program on geocaching, “an entertaining adventure game for GPS users,” also history of geocaching, materials needed to geocache & instructions on how to use related websites & GPS devices; 734-2513.

April 26: Saturday Seminar at The Golden Age of Trucking Museum, 1101 Southford Rd/Rte 188, Middlebury, 11 am-3 pm, display of creations by The ATEAM (Affiliated Truck Enthusiasts And Modelers), Q&A session, lunch available; 203-577-2181.

April 26: 2nd annual Victorian Tea, Roxbury Congregational Church, 24 Church St/Rte 317, Roxbury, 11 am-4 pm, adm $10 adults, $8 ages 10 & under, tea selections, finger sandwiches & sweets served by members of Roxbury Women’s Auxiliary, who will be costumed for the event (public welcome to also wear costumes); 860-354-5921.

April 26: Weekend Bird Walk, Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave (off Rte 34), Derby, 5 pm, free walk led by Kellogg Center volunteer will last up to 2 hours, all levels of birders welcome, sharpen bird identification skills or just enjoy guided hike through grounds of Kellogg Center & adjacent Osbornedale State Park; 743-2513.

April 26: 23rd annual Goods and Services Auction, First Congregational Church of Bethel, 46 Main St, Bethel, preview 5:30 pm, auction begins at 7, 100+ lots being offered, food & beverages available, church is handicapped accessible; 792-0477.

April 26-29: Wilton Library Annual Book Sale Fundraiser, at Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Rd/Rte 7, Wilton Center, Sat (early buying 7- 9 am, adm $15) 9 am-5 pm (refreshments all day by Rotary Club of Wilton, w/ proceeds also benefiting library), Sun 12-5 pm, Mon 10 am-5 pm (all items half price), Tues 10 am-2 pm (remainders free, donations accepted), 70,000 items in 50+ categories, also live auction (Sat 11 am), silent auctions Sat-Sun (see auction items at WiltonLibrary.org), annual event is major fundraiser for library; 203-762-3950.

April 26-May 4: CT Clay Artists Show & Sale, at former Ruben’s store location, 3 Sugar Hollow Rd, Danbury, Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm, professionally handbuilt, wheel thrown & sculpted art made from stoneware, porcelain & earthenware by 13 professional potters & artists from Fairfield County; 748-5611 (Marcus Dairy Bar).

April 27: Victorian Tea, St Peter’s Episcopal Church, 175 Old Tannery Rd/Rte 111 (opposite Monroe Green), Monroe, 12:30-3:30 pm, tickets $15 (reservations available), tea, breads, sandwiches & desserts offered by The Episcopal Church Women, proceeds to benefit various charities;  268-4265.

May 1: “Farms in Art,” New Pond Farm, 101 Marchant Rd, West Redding, 7 pm, adm $12 ($10 members; reservations requested), Dr Virginia Bush will offer 90-min art history program illustrated w/ slides from her personal collection (of 30,000-plus images) will look at multitude of ways farms & farm animals have been represented in art over the centuries, up to contemporary art; 203-938-2117.

May 1: “Interpreting The Constitution,” Wilton Historical Society, 224 Danbury Rd/Rte 7, Wilton, 7:30 pm, free lecture by Sanford Levinson (centennial chair, United of Texas & author) will explain legal theories w/ which Supreme Court justices have interpreted the document incl originalism, textualism, strict constructionism & living constitutionalism, Q&A to follow, reservations suggested, co-sponsored w/ Wilton Library; 203-762-7257, 762-3950.

May 3: Youth Education Day, Sandy Hook Center, Washington Ave (Rte 34, at Burton property), Sandy Hook, 8:30 am-1:30 pm rain or shine, free but reservations due ASAP 25, ages 8-18 invited to learn casting w/ fly rod, fly tying, discover river’s ecosystem & entomology, stocking trout, picnic lunch (also free), raffles & prizes & more, parents invited to join their kids to continue fishing after 1:30; 994-0627.

May 3: Church Women United May Friendship Day celebration, C.H. Booth Library lower meeting room (use lower/rear library entrances), 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 9 am, free, all invited to join local CWU-Newtown members and guest speaker Dr Kathleen Chesto for service to celebrate theme of “God’s Wisdom Inspires Hospitality… The Heart of Hospitality” through prayers, presentation, discussion & hymns; 426-5192.

May 3: Spring Plant Sale, Newtown Middle School front lawn, 11 Queen St, Newtown, 9 am-3 pm, hanging baskets, flats of annuals, assorted perennials, presented by Newtown Junior Women’s Club, proceeds will benefit charities in & around Newtown; 304-1204.

May 3: Marketplace Fair, Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown, 10 am-3 pm, free adm, indoor event will offer embracelets by Patty Sullivan, artwork by David Merrill, home party demonstrators, handcrafted home décor & gift items from SERRV International (fair trade items), also raffle of donated items from demonstrators; 740-2733, 426-3496.

May 3: “Art in Bloom,” The Budd House, 50 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown (opposite town hall), 4-6 pm, tickets $25, spring celebration & fundraiser presented by The Garden Club of Newtown will offer wine, hors d’oeuvres & works by Newtown artists complemented by floral arrangements by garden club members, proceeds to benefit Newtown Scholarship Assn; 270-0665.

May 3: NUMC Monthly Pasta Dinner, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 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 separate Concerts listing); 426-9998.

May 3: Rummage & Tag Sale, Oxford Congregational Church, 3 Academy Rd, Oxford (opposite The Oxford House), 10 am-3 pm, something for everyone;  860-485-2221.

May 3: Friends of Middlebury Library Annual Book Sale, in library’s Larkin Room, 65 Crest Rd, Middlebury, 10 am-4 pm, wide selection hardcovers & paperbacks in numerous categories, proceeds will help purchase items & fund programs for library not incl in annual budget; 203-758-2634, 203-577-4164.

May 3: Spring Auction, St Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 95 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, 6:30-8:30 pm, free adm, silent & live auctions, door prizes, hors d’oeuvres, wine & cheese, dessert & coffee; 742-1494.

May 3: Wine Tasting Party at Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury, 7:30-9:30 pm, tickets $25 (early reservations strongly suggested, space very limited), samples of wine, also hors d’oeuvres, live music by pianist Steven Isaacson; 748-1716.

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

Programs free unless noted, reservations requested, call if weather is questionable, leave pets home: April 25, Spring Wildflower Walk, 9:30 am, $5 ($3 Bent Center members; registration requested by April 22), join naturalist Chris Cohen for one-hour guided walk through Audubon’s “garden” of spring ephemerals & wildflowers; April 27, Early Bird Walk, 8 am, free one-hour walk w/ bird expert Donna-Rose Smith; April 29, Invasive Plants Work Day, 1:30-4 pm, volunteers invited to help maintain bird & wildlife habitats by eliminating aggressive, alien plants that damage ecosystem & degrade wildlife habitats, hand tools provided, bring heavy duty work gloves (runs every Tuesday until mid-Oct); May 4, Early Bird Walk, 8 am, free one-hour walk w/ bird expert Donna-Rose Smith.

Brookfield Craft Center, 286 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield. Call 775-4526.

“The Craft Continuum” lecture series, Wed 6-8 pm, free lectures by artists associated w/ BCC school & gallery: April 30, Barbara Allen, ceramic & mixed media artist (& Newtown resident) will share images of her work in Ghana, also experiences working on projects w/ school children.

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

April 29, “Green Giving,” 1 & 7 pm, Rene Hue & Kim Sala will offer ideas to revive the past & infuse the new w/ found objects in the home, registration required; May 6, Non-Fiction Book Group, 1 pm, discussion of Charles Fishman’s The Wal-Mart Effect: How the World’s Most Powerful Company Really Works – and How It Is Transforming the American Economy, newcomers always welcome.

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

Weekly games, Sat 1-5 pm, drop-in chess open to all skill levels, sets & boards provided, hosted by US Chess Federation expert Glenn Budzinski.

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

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9 am (spring start), free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders (in parentheses) as follows: April 26, Bear Mountain, Salisbury (leader Molly Schleiss, 914-945-2996); May 3, Central Park, New York City, all day hike, dinner out, train fare (leader Nancy Ziegler, 203-732-2618).

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.

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

Non-profit weight loss support group meets every Mon 6:30-7:30 pm (weigh-ins 5:45-6:15, meetings 6:30-7:30), meetings $2/week, membership $24/year. April 28, guest speaker: dietician from Griffin Hospital; all welcome.

Treehouse Comedy Productions.

Funniest Comic in Connecticut Contest: April 26, Finals, at Trinity on Main, 69 Main St, New Britain, 8 & 10 pm, tickets $19.50, featuring 5 acts w/ 10 min stage time each, also sets by guest performers.

Shows at The New Sorrento, 32 Newtown Rd, Danbury (call 744-5575), shows 9 pm & tickets $15 unless noted: April 25, Jim Florentine headlining, tickets $19.50, opening acts TBA.

Theatre ______________

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

The Odd Couple, April 25-May 4, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (May 4 only) 2 pm, tickets $20 (Dinner & Show Package, with dinner at Bailey’s Backyard of Brookfield, $45; call box office for details).

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

The Boys, through April 26, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, tickets $25 – matinee will be special fundraiser performance followed by Q&A w/ playwright Anne Nelson, proceeds to benefit Sherman Volunteer Fire Dept.

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

Moonlight and Magnolias, through May 10, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (May 4 only) 2 pm, tickets $20; **note: those with severe nut allergies should avoid this production.

Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court (off Rte 1), Westport. Call 203-227-4177.

Time of My Life, through April 26, curtain Tues-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun 3 pm, call for ticket info.

 

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Events that appear by date have Newtown items listed first, with additional events listed by their start time. At the time of printing, the information here is accurate as presented; a call ahead is always a good idea to be safe.

DEADLINE INFORMATION

Press releases for the Enjoy calendar of events or the Enjoy section must be received by MONDAY NOON for publication in that week’s edition of The Newtown Bee. Send to the attention of Shannon Hicks, Associate Editor, Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or to shannon@thebee.com. Photos are welcome and can be black & white or color, but must be in sharp focus. Please call for specs if you plan to email digital photo files.