Antiques Shows______

May 16: Weston Historical Society Outdoor Antiques Show, The Coley House, 104 Weston Rd/Rte 57, Weston, 10 am-4 pm, adm $5-$15; 203-226-5643.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

Bachelier-Cardonsky Gallery, Main St/Rte 7, Kent. Hours: Fri-Sun 11 am-5 pm & by appt during week. Call 860-927-3129.

Through May 23, “Raw Energy,” paintings by David Eddy & William Thomson, paintings & monoprints by Lisbeth Firmin.

Bethel Arts Junction, 5 Depot Place, Bethel. Hours: Wed 7:30 pm (opens for weekly poetry program), Thurs-Sat 12-9 pm, Sun 11-4 pm. Call 798-2193 or 740-7351.

Through June 12, “Recent Works: Tarol Samuelson,” new pcs by Newtown artist who conceptualizes works as electronic images before executing them in traditional media incl oil on canvas.

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.

On library’s main floor: Through May 12, “Spread Over the Years,” paintings by Donald Purdy.

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

Through June 6, “Stand and Deliver: Handmade Moveable Books,” handmade artist books by 52 book & paper artists representing 24 states & 5 foreign countries.

Brookfield Historical Society, Rtes 133 & 25, Brookfield Center. Hours: Sat 12-4 pm, also by appt & by chance (when museum flag is displayed). Call 740-8140.

Through Aug 31, “Inner Space To Outer Space”; May 16, “Hubble Space Telescope – From Earthly Beginnings through 14 Years in Space,” 2 pm, free slide lecture by Newtown resident & space telescope systems engineer Linda Abramowicz-Reed.

Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St, Danbury. Hours: (Jan-March) Wed-Sat 10 am-4 pm, Sun 12-4 pm, (April-Dec) Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 778-8337.

Permanent exhibitions on railroad history (museum is along old New Haven RR line & housed in former Danbury station & railyard), also original & restored rolling stock incl a New Haven RR Mack FCD railbus, Alco RS-1 diesel locomotive, fully operating turntable, etc.

Good News Café, 684 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours: Mon, Wed-Sat 11:30 am-10 pm, Sun 12-10 pm. Call 203-266-4663.

Through June 7, “Lush Life,” recent works on acrylics by Joan Lockhart, who is celebrating her successful return to professional roots after years working as graphic designer.

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.

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

Through June 30, “Native Wildflowers of the Northeast,” works by 27 artists ranging from silverpoint to traditional scientific renderings in watercolor of native wildflowers; May 16, artists’ reception (public invited), 1-4 pm.

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

*(new show) Through June 30, “Preserving the History of The Weantinock,” artifacts excavated from Bridgewater site where Western CT State University Field School have been set up to learn more about Native Peoples who lived in & around Lovers’ Leap, especially Weantinock Indians & their ancestors.

*(new show) Through Aug 31, “Northern Hunters and Fishermen: Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic, Sub-Arctic and Northwest Coast,” objects reflecting Native American peoples’ lives in, reliance on & respect for the plant & animal life that surrounded them in homes of northernmost North America.

Miller Studio & Gallery/Beaux Arts Gallery, 495 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Sun 12-4:30 pm. Call 203-263-3939.

*(new show) Through July 3, “The Modern Landscape,” works of Judith Andrew, Joy Bristow, Robert Crawford, Fran Henry-Meehan, MaJo Keleshian, Annabelle Meacham, Katrina Schmidt-Rinke & Tom Yost; May 8, artists’ reception (public welcome), 4-6 pm.

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.

*(new show) May 8-31, “A Personal Garden of Eden,” oil paintings by Kathi Packer, who uses brilliant color & fine detail to portray her vision of the Garden of Eden; May 8, opening reception, 2-4 pm.

Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave, New Haven. Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 203-432-5050.

Through June 1, “Dinosaur Eggs, Nests and Young,” more than 100 fossil dinosaur eggs & embryos at hands-on exploration stations & animated video presentations featuring well-known dinosaur experts allow visitors access to new evidence that unlocks the mysteries of dinosaur reproductive behavior.

Ridgefield Guild of Artists (RGA) Gallery, Halpin La, Ridgefield. Hours: Thurs-Sun 1-5 pm. Call 203-438-8863.

Through May 30, “RGA Student & Faculty Show,” works by RGA art students, ages kindergarten through adult, & their instructors.

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 May 23, “Three From Massachusetts,” landscapes by Jeffery Marshall, monotypes by Lynn Peterfreund & sculpture by Marilyn Ranker.

WCSU Warner Hall Gallery, 181 White St, Danbury. Call 837-8466.

*(new show) Through May 23, “WCSU Spring Thesis Exhibition,” works by candidates to receive their master or fine arts degrees, marking culmination by 1 illustrator & 7 painters of 2 years of intensive study & creative work by students whose work depicts the disparity of their backgrounds through wide variety of themes & techniques.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Brookfield Arts Commission. Call 740-2801.

May 29: Dancers & singers, food vendors, artists & crafters being sought for International Cultural Festival, will run on Brookfield Town Hall property, 12-4 pm, contact Joanne Hunter ASAP for details.

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

May 17-18: Auditions for Neil Simon’s Little Me, 7-9 pm, director Bradford Blake seeks 8 men & 8 women of varying ages, arrive prepared w/ best 16 bars that show range, power & confidence, accompanist provided (anyone without sheet music will not be seen), be prepared to learn movement combo & to read from script, sev non-singing roles also available, seeking multi-racial casting, rehearsals to begin late May (usu Mon-Thurs eves), performances weekends July 16-Aug 21.

Town Players, The Little Theatre, Orchard Hill Rd, Newtown. Call 270-9144.

May 10-11: Auditions for Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, 7-9:30 pm, director Ruth Anne Baumgartner seeks 11+ males & 4+ females for speaking roles (additional non-speaking “extras” roles available), gender-blind casting may be poss for some roles, Falstaff already cast – all others open, be prepared to read from script, those who are new to Ms Baumgartner may be asked for prepared Shakespearean monologue, backstage help also needed, contact director at RBaumgartner@mail.fairfield.edu for addt’l casting details (call theater for directions if needed).

 

Concerts, Musical Events ____

May 8: “Masters of Vienna,” Naugatuck Valley Community College Fine Arts Center, 750 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury, 8 pm, tickets $20 adults, $18 seniors & students, spring concert by Naugatuck Valley Community College Chorus & Greater Middletown Chorale wil incl music of the most famous composers of the Viennese school – Mozart, Haydn & Beethoven; 203-575-8039.

May 8: The Seasons by Danbury Concert Chorus & Danbury Symphony Orchestra, at WCSU’s Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 8 pm, free performance of Haydn’s master work for chorus, orchestra & soloists celebrating “everyday country life during the 18th Century” will feature soprano Anne Dreyer, tenor Sean Fallen & bass Erik Kroncke w/ DCC & DSO; 748-1716.

May 11: Pianist Jerry Traunig at The Homesteads at Newtown, 166 Mt Pleasant Rd/Rte 6, Newtown, 7 pm, free adm, selections from Mr Traunig’s repertoire incl ragtime, novelties, standards, showtunes, classical & more, post-performance reception; 426-8118.

May 11: Concert pianist Cathy Tao Yin at East Hill Woods auditorium, 611 East Hill Rd, Southbury, 7:15 pm, free concert w/ works of Beethoven & Chopin, also traditional Chinese pcs; 262-6161.

May 13: “Stars, Stripes and Sousa!” at Western CT State Univ’s Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 8 pm, tickets $25 adults, $15 seniors & students, performance by Keith Brion & The New Sousa Band w/ WCSU Wind Ensemble will offer authentic re-creation of turn-of-the-century Sousa concert, also works by Danbury native Charles Ives; 837-8350, 837-8486.

May 14: The Woodland Scholars at Trinity Episcopal Church, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7 pm, suggested donation $7, 18-member a cappella vocal ensemble’s program will incl psalms of Brahms & Mendelssohn, spirituals, folk songs & Pops arrangements; 426-9070.

May 14: “Jubilee – A Season of Restoration,” Naugatuck Valley Community College MainStage Theatre, 750 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury, 8 pm, adm by donation at door, spring concert by NVCC Gospel Singers w/ guest soprano Ramona Hunter, also Zion Baptist Spiritual Dancers, program of traditional gospel music; 203-575-8039.

May 14-16: “The Balancing Act: Laughing and Singing Through Life,” jazz-inflected cabaret performances by singer & actress Donna Moore at The Sherman Playhouse, Rte 39 at 37 (behind firehouse), Sherman, Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 3 pm, tickets $20, romantic songs mixed w/ autobiographic patter & tuneful skits; 746-1562, 746-6101.

May 15: Annual Armed Forces Day Tribute, Edmond Town Hall gymnasium, 45 Main St/Rte 35, Newtown, 6:30-10:30 pm, adm by donation, performances by The Roger Sprung Band and The ShoreGrass Band, dancing encouraged, refreshments available; 426-4817.

May 15: Community Coffeehouse, Community Meeting House, 7 Madison Ave, Danbury, 7:30-10:30 pm, adm by donation, performances by Nate & James, also Shana Cassidy, refreshments available; 748-4972.

March 15: Marc Cohn at Ridgefield Playhouse for Performing Arts, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, 8 pm, tickets $46 & $56 (or $76 Gold Seating, which incl Meet & Greet reception); 203-438-5795.

May 15-16: Sleeping Beauty by The Main Street Ballet, at Nonnewaug High School, Minortown Rd, Woodbury, curtain Sat 7 pm Sun 3 pm, tickets $15 adults, $10 seniors & ages 18 & under, performance featuring Tchaikovsky’s music, following original choreography by Marius Petipa, will incl students of Woodbury ballet studio & guest dancer Jonathon Collins as Prince Desire; 203-263-5107.

May 16: “Musicians with a Mission… Food Aid Danbury 2004,” WCSU Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 3 pm, tickets $15, performance of familiar & classical music by Norwalk Youth Symphony Orchestra & a cappella group The Trinitones will be followed by reception (all audience members invited), all ticket sales proceeds will benefit Danbury Dorothy Day Hospitality House & Daily Bread Ecumenical Food Pantry; 203-938-9290.

Fireside Inn, 123 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 426-7001.

Ballroom, Latin & Swing Dance Party, every Wed 7-11 pm, $12, singles & couples welcome for free dance lessons (7:30), buffet dinner (8), open dancing to DJ selections, dressy attire (no jeans).

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

Performances 8 pm, tickets $17-$47 w/ student & group discounts: May 15, “All That Jazz,” featuring classic ragtime works of Scott Joplin, Fats Waller, Eubie Blake, et al (rescheduled from Dec 6, originally called “A Jazzy Holidays Pops Concert”).

Hartford Symphony Orchestra, The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave, Hartford. Call 860-246-6807.

May 7-8, Masterworks Series conclusion: Saint-Saëns’ Symphony #3 in C minor Op 78 (“Organ”), w/ guest organist Edward Clark, 8 pm, tickets $15-$57 ($7 college students & ages 18 & under), also Barner’s Symphony #1 Op 9 & Schwantner’s “Neew Morning for the World (Daybreak of Freedom)” (free pvw 7 pm by Maestro Cumming, pre-concert performance by Hartt School Community Division of UHartford).

Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield Univ, 1073 North Benson Rd, Fairfield. Call 203-254-4010, 877-ARTS-396 (877-278-7396).

Performances 8 pm unless noted: May 8, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, $30, nation’s premier repertory chamber ensemble will offer all-Dvorak program, (performance preceded by “Art To Heart” discussion w/ journalist Robert Sherman, 7-7:40 pm).

Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, Ridgefield High School, 700 North Salem Rd (Rte 116), Ridgefield. Call 203-438-3889.

Performances, 8 pm, tickets $25-$45 adults, $15-$25 ages 18 & under: May 8, “Soulful Music To Love: Mahler,” rescheduled from Dec 6 (tickets for original date will be honored), performance of Mahler’s Symphony #6.

Films _________________

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

May 7-13: Bon Voyage (PG-13), daily 6:45 & 9:15 pm, mat Fri 4 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 1:30 & 4 pm; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (R), daily 9:35 pm, mat Fri 5:15 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 1:10 & 5:15 pm; The Ladykillers (R), daily 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 3:15 pm; Laws Of Attraction (PG-13), daily 7:20 & 9:25 pm, mat Fri 5:20 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 1:20, 3:20 & 5:20 pm; Osama (PG-13), daily 7 & 8:55 pm, mat Fri 5 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 1, 3 & 5 pm;

Sunday Classic with Dr Lowry, 10:30 am, $10 incl film, pre-screening info & post-screening discussion:

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

Free screenings: May 14, Seabiscuit, 7 pm; May 23: Trois Couleurs: Rouge, 2 pm, in French w/ subtitles.

“Foreign Film Series: Newtown a la Cannes,” screenings 7:30 pm, free: May 27, Ali Zaoua; June 3, Light of My Eyes(rescheduled from May 13);

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

Through May 12: Mystic River (R), Fri, Mon-Wed 7 pm, Sat-Sun 7:30 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun 1 & 4 pm.

May 8: The Agent (R), 1 pm.

Maritime Aquarium, 10 North Water St, Norwalk. Call 203-852-0700.

Through June 17: Ocean Oasis, daily 11 am, 1 & 3 pm, also Fri-Sun 7 pm w/ Volcanoes of the Deep Sea (double feature); Volcanoes of the Deep Sea, Mon-Fri 12 & 2 pm, Sat-Sun 12, 2 & 4 pm.

For Kids & Families _________

May 7: Kindergarten Friday at Monroe Public Library, 7 Fan Hill Rd, Monroe, 1:30 pm, free (registration requested/space limited), kindergarteners (or children age 5) invited to special program of games, stories & craft or video; 452-5459.

May 13-14: The Velveteen Rabbit by Connecticut Children’s Theatre, at University of Bridgeport Mertens Theater (in Arnold Bernhard Arts Center), 84 Iranistan Ave, Bridgeport, Thurs 10 am & 12:30 pm, Fri 10 am, tickets $10, $7 for groups of 10 or more, performance based on Margery Williams’ story of love & unconditional friendship; 800-87-6639.

May 15: Snow White and Rose Red, Housatonic Valley Waldorf School, 40 Dodgingtown Rd/Rte 302, Newtown, 10 am, free adm, puppet show of Grimms Fairy Tale presented by school’s early childhood teachers will feature hand-made puppets in age-appropriate (ages 3-6) performance; 364-1113.

May 15: Family Fun Day at The CT Resources Recovery Authority Garbage Museum, 1410 Honeyspot Rd Extension, Stratford, 10 am-2 pm, free adm, museum & recycling center tours, movies & craft activities using recycled materials; 203-381-9571.

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

Young Adult programs, free unless specified: May 19, The Hobbit book discussion, 4:30-5:30, readers in grades 5-8 invited to discuss Tolkein’s prelude to Lord of The Rings trilogy, reservations requested.

Bruce Museum of Arts & Sciences, One Museum Dr, Greenwich. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-5 pm. Call 203-869-0376.

Through Aug 1, “Simply Sensational: An Exploration of The Sense,” family-oriented exhibition illustrates how people & animals use their senses to survive in & strive to understand the world.

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

Programs included w/ zoo adm ($8 adults, $6 ages 3-11 & seniors, free ages 3 & under, group rates available): May 8, International Migratory Bird Day, 12-3 pm, learn about the amazing creatures that cross 2 continents every year, offerings incl talks, presentations, crafts & demos on how to make backyards a haven for these birds.

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

Pinocchio, through May 23, curtain Sat-Sun 12 & 2:30 pm, tickets $12.50, group discounts available.

Miscellaneous ___________

May 7: May Friendship Day Celebration, Lockwood Lodge at Ashlar of Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Rd, Newtown, 2:30 pm, free (donations accepted) service led by members of Church Women United/Newtown-Bethel will follow theme of building friendships through faith, light refreshments, all welcome; 426-9707, 426-5192.

May 7-8: 14th Annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale, Southbury Volunteer Fire Dept’s Center Firehouse, Main St South/Rte 6, Southbury, Fri 12-7 pm, Sat 8 am-3 pm, proceeds benefit SVFD ladies auxiliary scholarship fund; 262-8138.

May 8: Annual Town & Country Garden Club of Newtown Plant Sale, The Inn at Newtown, 19 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 9 am-2 pm rain or shine, sale of flower baskets, member-grown perennials & other plants, proceeds benefit club’s civic activities.

May 8: Indoor-Outdoor Flea Market, Church of the Good Shepherd, Shepherd Lane (betw Post Rd & Rte 34), 8 am-2 pm rain or shine; 203-934-4446.

May 8: Western CT Orienteering Club Meet at Osbornedale State Park, Chatfield St, Derby, 10 am-noon, $6, beginner & intermediate level courses set up, instruction & compasses available; 860-658-7963.

May 8: 12th Annual Spring Auction, St Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 95 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, 6:30-8:30 pm, free adm, silent & live auctions, refreshments, door prizes; 784-2089.

May 9: “Surprises On The Path: Something Happened on the Way to Enlightenment,” Woodbury Yoga Center, 122 West Side Rd, Woodbury, 6:45 pm, free program by Tully Moss will be followed by group meditation & tea reception; 203-263-2254.

May 10: “Harriet Beecher Stowe: A First-Person Characterization,” C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7:30 pm, free program by Jane Sabatelli, who will personify & discuss one of the most important American women of 19th Century; 426-5937.

May 11: “Garden Ecology,” Brookfield Library, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield, 7:30 pm, free program (registration requested) by Pamela Weil (editor, Connecticut Gardening) on the definition of ecological gardening, how & why chemicals were developed, good vs bad bugs, & effective products & tools; 775-6241.

May 13: “History Bites: Town Ball on the Town Green,” Gunn Historical Museum, Washington Green, noon, free lecture by Bruce Reinholdt (curator, Gunn Museum) will concern rules, social etiquette & equipment of baseball, attendees will also be invited to play pick-up game, continues “4th annual History Bites” series, BYO light lunch (beverages & dessert provided); 860-868-7756.

May 13: “Brown vs Topeka Board of Education: Looking Back After Fifty Years,” Western CT State Univ Student Center, 181 White St, Danbury, 6:30-8 pm, free panel discussion to commemorate the landmark May 1954 Supreme Court ruling & its continued impact today; 837-8039, 837-8486.

May 15: 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 conversations in French, topics decided at beginning of program, BYO light refreshments, all levels of French speakers welcome; 203-263-4096, 262-0626.

May 15: First Congregational Church of Bethel BBQ, 46 Main St, Bethel, 5-7 pm rain or shine (indoors if rain), $12 adults, $6 ages 6-12, pork, chicken, hamburgers & hot dogs, salads, desserts & beverages, proceeds to benefit church’s programs & missions; 748-6112.

May 16: Musicals at Richter Luncheon & Silent Auction, Café on the Green, Aunt Hack Rd, Danbury, begins 12:30 pm, $35, hors d’oeuvres, gourmet luncheon (entrée choices salmon, chicken or pasta) & dessert, cash bar, musical entertainment showcasing Musical at Richter performers, silent auction of goods, services, items, gift certificates, etc will benefit the theater company; 748-6873.

May 16: Antiques Appraisal Fair, Teikyo Post Univ Drubner Center gymnasium, Rte 63, Waterbury, 1-4 pm, verbal appraisals $5/item, guest appraisers are Ethel Greenblatt, Phyllis Rawal & Bernie McManus, refreshments available, proceeds to benefit Hadassah Medical Organization; 203-757-8292.

May 16: “Hubble Space Telescope – From Earthly Beginnings through 14 Years in Space,” Brookfield Historical Society Museum, Rte 25 at 133, Brookfield Center, 2 pm, free slide lecture by Newtown resident & space telescope systems engineer Linda Abramowicz-Reed; 740-8140.

May 16: “Romancing the Past with Hats,” 1842 Second Meeting House, 40 Main St, Bethel, 2 pm, annual meeting & election of officers by Bethel Historical Society will be followed by special program presented by collector & re-enactor Penny Havard on the history of personal decoration ca 1765-1950, anyone w/ interesting hats of their own invited to bring hats to share, light refreshments; 743-5893.

May 16: Spring Psychic Fair, Maron Hotel (formerly Radisson), Mill Plain Rd, Danbury, 11 am-6 pm, free adm, area psychics, clairvoyants, astrologers, tarot & gemstone readers, vendors, energy balancer Jean Hacker; 470-1806.

May 18: “Gardening in Deer Country,” Brookfield Library, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield, 7:30 pm, free program (registration requested) by Vinnie Drzewucki (author, Gardening in Deer Country); 775-6241.

Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, 9 Main St/Rte 61, Bethlehem. Hours: MAY 2-OCT 28 Wed, Fri-Sun 11 am-4 pm. Call 203-266-7596.

1754 home of Bethlehem’s first minister complemented by outbuildings, 18th C apple orchard & 1915 formal parterre garden is open for summer tours (Wed, Fri-Sun 11 am-4 pm), adm $5 adults, $2 ages 18 & under.

Special Events: May 8, Annual Plant Sale, 10 am-3 pm, perennials, trees & shrubs propagated from historic plants in circa 1915 Ferriday garden.

Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave **temporarily at 137 Greenwood Ave (in building w/ Hauser Chocolate), Bethel. Call 794-8756.

Free public programs: May 11, book discussion, 7 pm, focusing on Ruth Reichl’s Tender at the Bone: Growing Up at The Table.

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

Programs free unless noted: May 10, book discussion, 1 pm, Anita Brookner’s The Debut; May 13, Author Program: Wally Wood, 7:30 pm, discussion by author of The Relationship Edge in Business (co-authored w/ Jerry Acuff) about his book & ways to build business relationships w/ customers, colleagues & bosses; May 15, beginner’s computer class, 9 am-noon, free, registration required; May 16, Author Program: Norah Pollard, 3 pm, poetry reading by author/poet Norah Pollard (daughter of Seabiscuit jockey John “Red” Pollard) from her book Leaning In; May 18, Author Program: Justin Scott (rescheduled from March 16), 7 pm, author of Ben Abbott series & adaptation of Treasure Island will discuss his work.

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: May 21, “Live It, Then Paint It,” slide program by Woodbury-based award-winning painter Melody Asbury.

Early Morning Bird Walks, Sundays in May, 7 am, free guided walks (led by members of Western CT Bird Club) through fields & forests in search of varieties of birds that call Van Vleck Sanctuary their home.

Botany Bound, Sundays in May, 1 pm, free guided walks along Flanders’ Botany Trail.

Misc programs: May 14, Stargazing Group, 8 pm, $8, join local naturalist & astronomer Deron Ash for ongoing series about the night sky, call if bad weather, registration required.

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

May 16, “Native Wild Edibles,” 1-3:30 pm, $10, field walk w/ E. Barrie Kavasch will use her book Native Harvests as study source, dress for hiking.

New Pond Farm, 101 Marchant Rd, West Redding. Call 203-938-2117.

Adult Programs: May 8, Early Morning Bird Walk, 6:30 am, $10, start the day identifying & viewing various birds of farm, bring binoculars.

Special Events: May 8, “Wolf Talk” program, 11-12 & 1-2 pm, $12, visit w/ Michael & Amy LeBlanc of Wolf Talk & a timber wolf to dispel myths & learn about the important role wolves play in the environment; May 15, Annual Founder’s May Fair, 1-4 pm (rain date May 16), free adm (small fees for craft-making), Maypole dancing, sheep shearing & fleece spinning demos, storytelling, hayrides, draft horses, more, also special program (3 pm) by Hope Douglas (Wind over Wings) w/ live Golden Eagle, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Turkey Vulture & Peregrine Falcon, **leave all dogs home** (per farm).

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: May 8, Mine Hill Preserve, Roxbury, leader is Len Patti (426-3632); May 15, Bennetts Farm, Pine Mountain, Ridgefield, leader is David Wesley (203-438-1459); May 22, Bushkill Falls, Penn., all day hike, entrance fee, very picturesque, dinner is optional, leader is Morie Colburn (203-937-8067).

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.

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 12, watercolor program by Barbara Goodspeed.

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.

Wednesday Night Poetry, Bethel Arts Junction, 5 Depot Place (in former railroad station), Bethel. Call 426-3388 (Faith Vicinanza), 270-6202 (Michael Seri), 748-2828 (BAJ).

Series presented ev Wed 7:30-10 pm (featured poets 8:30 pm, poetry workshop 9:15 pm), adm $1 ($3 if out-of-state or major guest poet), guest/featured poets as follows: May 12, Dick Allen; May 19, Robert Cording.

Theatre ______________

Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, Brookfield Playhouse, Rte 25, Brookfield Center. Call 775-0023.

The Fantasticks, through May 8, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, tickets $15.

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

A Funny Thing Happened on The Way To The Forum, through May 9, curtain Fri 8 pm, Sat 5:30 & 8:30 pm, Sun 5:30 pm, tickets $34.50-$42.50.

Goodspeed Opera House, Rte 82, East Haddam. Call 860-873-8668.

Call Me Madam, through July 3, curtain Wed-Thurs 7:30 pm, Fri 8 pm, Sat 8:30 pm, Sun 6:30 pm, mat Wed & Sun 2 pm, Sat 4 pm, tickets $22-$51 (student rush tickets available, call for info).

Immaculate High School Fine & Performing Arts Program, at IHS, 73 Southern Blvd, Danbury. Call 744-1510.

Footloose, May 7-8, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, tickets $7.50 adults, $5 students.

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

Hamlet, through May 23, curtain Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun & Tues 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm, tickets $38-$55.

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

Route 66, through June 6, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Thurs, Sat-Sun 2 pm, tickets $24-$38.50.

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

A View from The Bridge, through May 8, 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 Beauty Queen of Leenane, through May 22, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (May 9 only) 2 pm, tickets $15.

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

Don’t Dress for Dinner, May 7-29, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (May 23 only) 2 pm, tickets $15 ($12 matinee); note: May 7 performance will be fundraiser for Newtown Congregational Church, all tickets $20.

Wilton Playshop, 15 Lovers La (behind congregational church), Wilton. Call 762-7629.

Moon Over Buffalo, through May 15, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, call for ticket info.

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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.