Antiques Shows______

Saturdays (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.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

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

Through May 26: “Charlotte Schulz: An Insufficiency in Our Screens,” first solo museum exhibition by artist who participated in Aldrich’s 2003 Radius program features 2- & 3-dimension charcoal drawings that “invite the viewer to explore strange composite architectural spaces in which dreams blend w/ memory & reality.”

Through June 8: “James Prosek: Life & Death – A Visual Taxonomy,” latest work of the CT artist, falling during 300th anniv year of birth of Carl Linnaeus (father of modern taxonomy), incl works depicting 24+ species of birds where artist has replaced the names of birds w/ an alternate taxonomy based on geometric lines & shapes, showing the artist’s great love & respect for natural work while offering viewers an opportunity to consider the real & metaphorical significance of birds.

Through 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”; June 22, exhibition reception, 3-5 pm.

Barn Hill Studio & Gallery, Rte 110, Monroe. Hours: Fri-Sat 12-6. Call 268-4225.

Through June 8: “Breaking New Ground: Art from the Garden – A Spring Celebration of Women Painters,” featuring paintings by Barbara Bernstein & Beverly Branch, also garden sculpture by Joe DeMarco, watercolors by Florence Dohanos, photography by Lynn A. Traverse, paintings & sculpture by Julia Provey, photography by Edmond Ross, ceramic art by Linda Dohanos, and prints by Stevan Dohanos.

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 Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (lower meeting room) — Through May 31: “Wesley’s Little Masters,” works in various mediums by more than 150 students of the Sandy Hook-based school.

On library’s main floor — Through May 31: “The Regis Roman Leven Collection,” Limoges & Herend china pcs collected by the late Newtown resident & donated to library by her husband, Gary Leven, in his wife’s honor.

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 May 31: jewelry & paintings by Pat Gullet, who also teaches at BCC.

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.

Through 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.”

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.

Through June 30: “Six Star Legacy: The World War II Diorama Military Art of Combat Artist Richard Dana Kuchta.”

Through summer: found object sculpture on library’s front lawn incl totem pole constructed of old propane tanks, motorcycle riders formed from car parts & kinetic sculptures that move in the wind.

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.

Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury. Hours: Mon 12-7 pm, Wed 10 am-7 pm, Thurs-Fri 10 am-5 pm, Sat 10 am-2 pm. Call 860-350-2181.

Through May 12: “Private Labyrinths,” mixed media works on wood & masonite by Florin Ion Firimita.

Mocha Coffee House, 3 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook. Hours: Mon-Fri 6:30 am-9 pm, Sat 7:30 am-10 pm, Sun 9 am-7 pm. Call 364-9200.

Through May 31: handmade spirit dolls by local artist Paul Brinkman.

Savage Studio, 68 Mill Plain Rd, Danbury. Hours: Fri-Sun 12-6 pm. Call 743-3000.

Through May 10: “Mother’s Day Show,” ceramic flower vessels by Phyllis Savage incl massive wood fired vessels in deep earthy colors, ikebana pots, rough hewn wall hanging bud vases & graceful porcelain vases.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St, Hartford. Hours: Sat-Sun 10 am-5 pm, Tues-Fri 11 am-5 pm (open to 8 pm first Thurs/month). Call 860-278-2670, TDD 860-278-0294.

Through May 11: “Impressionists By The Sea,” exploration of the transformation of Normandy & Brittany coasts as depicted by French artists of 19th Century (incl Monet, Renoir & Manet), compared to works of predecessors (Corot, Courbet, Isabey, Jongkind & Whistler) & contemporaries allied w/ Paris Salon (Boudin, Daubigny & Pelouse), all arranged chronologically, also travel books & postcards of the period, **note: exhibition has addt’l $10 adm fee on top of regular museum adm (plus $3 adm added to all admissions April 24-27, during Fine Art & Flowers).

Through July 13: “Making A Splash: American Beach Fashions, 1850-1920,” complement to “Impressionists By The Sea” offers original costume items plus period photos & prints to explore fashions worn at American seaside during Victorian & Edwardian eras while exploring the roots of American bathing costumes in reform dress for water cures & private exercise, also exploration of beach as a setting for relaxation, public recreation & the promenading of latest fashions on the boardwalk.

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.

Through 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.”.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

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

Sept 6-7: Artists & craftspeople invited for annual Apple Festival, to be held on Monroe Green, Sat, Sept 6, 10 am-5 pm & Sun, Sept 7, 10 am-4 pm, contact Judy Hamilton in parish office (phone # above) for details.

Black Rock Art Walk, through International Performing Arts, Inc., Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203-366-3667.

Applications due for artists interested in Black Rock Art Walks 2008, 6-9 pm 1st & 3rd Fri/month, May 2-Oct 3 (no walk July 4), area artists & craftspeople set up works along sidewalks of Fairfield Ave (betw Brewster St & Gilman St), if rain event moves into Black Rock Art Center, contact Mary Lou Morong at phone # above, PaddleShell@yahoo.com or info@BlackRockArtWalk.org, or visit BlackRockArtWalk.org for details & application.

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.

Pomperaug Woods, 80 Heritage Rd, Southbury. Call 267-2899 x186.

June 7: Artists & crafters invited to exhibit & sell work for Senior Art Show & 20th Anniversary Celebration, 1-4 pm, original handmade work accepted, vendors must provide their own tents, call Becky Butler or Lisa Huebenthal  for info.

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

May 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,

Town Players of New Canaan, Powerhouse Performing Arts Center, Waveny Park, New Canaan. Call 914-953-2710.

May 19-21: Auditions to The Fantasticks, open auditions Mon-Tues, callbacks (if needed) Wed, all begin 7:30 pm, director Michael Day has openings for 6 men & 2 women of varying ages & voices for production based on book & lyrics by Tom Jones, music by Harvey Schmidt, w/ producers Lynne Bolton & Sheri Dean, music director Stan Wietrzychowski, for production to be staged weekends July 25-Aug 9 incl 2 Sunday mats, contact director at above phone # for details.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

May 10: “All Mozart, All Afternoon,” concert by Danbury Concert Chorus & Danbury Symphony Orchestra, at St James Church, 25 West St, Danbury, 8 pm, free performance by 75-voice concert chorus & 50-pc orchestra will perform Requiem in D minor, KV 626;  Missa Brevis in F Major, KV 192; & Overture to Don Giovanni, KV 527, w/ guest soloists Kerry Ryer-Parke (soprano), Kirsten Sollek (mezzo-soprano), James Ruff (tenor) & Keith Kibler (bass); 748-1716.

May 11: WCSU Symphony Orchestra Mother’s Day Brunch, Western CT State Univ Warner Hall, Fifth Ave (off White St/Rte 6), Danbury, 11 am, tickets $15 adults, $10 students, free for moms & listeners age 12 & under, brunch in Warner Hall to be followed by performance in Ives Concert Hall (within walking distance), reservations requested, concert to incl works of Ralph Vaughan Williams, Vivaldi, Saint-Saëns, Milhaud & Sibelius; 837-8486.

May 16-18: “Follies 2008… Step in Time!” Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport, performances Fri-Sat 7 pm, Sun 2 pm, tickets $18 adults, $16 students (group rates available for matinee), revue of numbers from Broadway shows w/ professional quality costuming, staging, musical directing, singing & acting, performed by high school students from across the region (incl 17 from Newtown); 203-259-1036.

May 17: CT Master Chorale Spring Concert, St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Rd, 8 pm, tickets $20/advance, $25/door, performance by 55-voice chorale will incl Orff’s Carmina Burana & Brahms’s Nänie, Chorale will be joined by soprano Louise Fauteux, countertenor Jeffrey Mandelbaum & baritone Dan Kempson, also Litchfield County Children’s Choir, & accompanied by CT Master Chorale Orchestra; 743-0473.

May 17: “Round the World in Tales & Tunes,” Danbury Library, 170 Main St (at West St), Danbury, 11 am, free performance by national award-winning singer, storyteller & instrumentalist Mary Jo Maichack perfect for preschoolers & up, no registration needed; 797-4528.

May 17: 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 18: Jupiter Symphony Chamber Players, Heritage Village’s Sarah Cooke Hall, 466 Heritage Village, Southbury, 3 pm, suggested donation $15, performance by celebrated ensemble that incl piano, violin, viola, cello & clarinet will continue Heritage Concert Society’s 2007-08 season; 264-1102, 262-6510.

May 18: 18th Annual Rites of Spring Dance Festival, Town Hall Green, 56 Norfield Rd, Weston, 3 pm, free celebration will showcase Margaret Bisceglie’s Young People’s Creatie Dance Group, also special guests Nancy Meehan Dance Company (featuring Newtown dancer Kate Taylor) performing “From All Sides, Parts I & II,” rain located is Weston Intermediate School, 95 School Rd.

May 18: Dinner & Show starring Elena Lentini, Elks Hall, 346 Main St, Danbury, doors open 4:30 pm, tickets $50 adults, $25 ages 12 & under, headlining performance by Elena Lentini of NYC, also performances by Riskallah Riyad & The Riskallah Riyad Dance Co., full buffet dinner & desserts, reservations by May 10; 267-1677.

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

Free concerts, 8 pm unless noted: May 7, WCSU Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble Concert, 3 pm, performance celebrating 10th anniv of Prof of Music Dr Fernando Jimenez’s first concert at WCSU will incl works of Ticheli, Copland, Mozart & Mozart, donations accepted & will benefit WCSU Music Dept; May 11, WCSU Orchestra, 3 pm (optional brunch precedes performance, begins 11 am, in nearby Warner Hall, tickets $15 adults, $10 students, free for moms & listeners age 12 & under; call 837-8486), free Mother’s Day concert will incl works of Ralph Vaughan Williams, Vivaldi, Saint-Saëns, Milhaud & Sibelius, donations accepted for WCSU Music Dept.

Norwalk Youth Symphony, Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave, Norwalk. Call 203-866-4100.

May 11, Annual Spring Concert, 3 pm, tickets $15 adults, $8 students & seniors, for for potential members & their families, music teachers & ages 5 & under, final concert of 52nd season will incl performances by Principal Orchestra (Shostakovich’s Overture Festivo, Op. 96; 3rd movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op.64 feat Andrew Monk, Dvorak’s  Nottorno for String Orchestra, Op.40 & Respighi’s Pini di Roma (The Pines of Rome), Symphonic Poem for Orchestra), Prelude Orchestra (Greensleeves “Hopak” from Moussorgsky’s The Fair at Sorochinsk & 1st movement of J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3), Philharmonia Orchestra (Symphonic Suite from Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by Shore, selections from The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Weber & Summon the Heroes by John Williams) & Concert Orchestra (Rimsky-Korsakoff’s The Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36 & selections from Rodger’s The Sound of Music).

Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Rd, Danbury. Call 268-8570.

Weekly Ballroom Dancing, Wed 7-11 pm, adm $15 (incl buffet), music provided by DJ, free dance lesson (7:15-7:45 pm), cash bar, door prizes, singles, couples & beginners all welcome.

Roots Music Coffeehouse, at Common Ground Annex dance studio (former CityCenter Dance Factory space), 345 Main St, Danbury. Call 417-9607.

Doors open 7:30 pm, open mic at 8, featured performer at 9, suggested donation $10/adv, $12/door: May 10, Clearwater Song Circle: Mel and Vinnie headlining, Great Blue opening.

Films _________________

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

Global Warming: Fact or Fiction? screenings 7 pm: May 13, Dimming the Sun; May 27, Kilowatt Ours.

Danbury Library, 170 Main St (at West), Danbury. Call 797-4533.

Teen Movie Night series, for students in grades 6-12, 7 pm, free but adv reservations & permission slips required (call teen librarian, 797-4528): May 17, I Am Legend (PG-13).

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.

May 2-7: Walt Disney’s College Road Trip (G), Fri-Sat 7 & 9 pm, Sun-Wed 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

For Kids & Families _________

May 17: Book Signing at Linda’s Story Time, 447 Monroe Tpke/Rte 111, Monroe, 11 am-1 pm, Trumbull author Tony Abbott will be presenting a story time & signing copies of his newest novel, The Postcard; 459-1579.

Danbury Public Library, 170 Main St, Danbury. Call 797-4505 (Junior Dept, 797-4528).

May 10, Baby & Me drop-in story time, 10:30-11:15 am, rhymes, songs & stories for babies 3-23 months & parent of caregiver, no registration needed; May 10, “I Love My Mommy: Mother’s Day Stories & Crafts,” 2:30-3:30 pm, children ages 5-8 invited, registration required (call 797-4285); May 17, “Round the World in Tales & Tunes,” 11 am, free performance by national award-winning singer, storyteller & instrumentalist Mary Jo Maichack perfect for preschoolers & up, no registration needed.

Teen Movie Night series, for students in grades 6-12, 7 pm, free but adv reservations & permission slips required (call teen librarian, 797-4528): May 17, I Am Legend (PG-13).

Norwalk Youth Symphony, Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave, Norwalk. Call 203-866-4100.

May 11, Annual Spring Concert, 3 pm, tickets $15 adults, $8 students & seniors, for for potential members & their families, music teachers & ages 5 & under, final concert of 52nd season will incl performances by Principal Orchestra (Shostakovich’s Overture Festivo, Op. 96; 3rd movement of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op.64 feat Andrew Monk, Dvorak’s  Nottorno for String Orchestra, Op.40 & Respighi’s Pini di Roma (The Pines of Rome), Symphonic Poem for Orchestra), Prelude Orchestra (Greensleeves “Hopak” from Moussorgsky’s The Fair at Sorochinsk & 1st movement of J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3), Philharmonia Orchestra (Symphonic Suite from Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring by Shore, selections from The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Weber & Summon the Heroes by John Williams) & Concert Orchestra (Rimsky-Korsakoff’s The Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36 & selections from Rodger’s The Sound of Music).

 

Miscellaneous ___________

Fridays (1st & 3rd Fri/month until Oct 2; no Walk on July 4): First Black Rock Art Walk of 2008, Fairfield Ave (between Brewster St & Gilman St), Bridgeport, 6-9 pm, free twice-monthly presentation by area artists & craftspeople along sidewalks of Fairfield Ave (at Black Rock Art Center, 2838 Fairfield Ave, if rain), opening night will incl judging for Best in Show, also first place & runner-up categories to be awarded all season; 203-366-3667.

Saturdays (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.

May 10: 11th Annual Town and Country Garden Club Plant Sale, The Inn at Newtown, 19 Main St, Newtown, 10 am-2 pm, perennials, bushes, vines, small trees & more will be offered for purchase by local garden club; 426-5359.

May 10: Alliance Française of NW CT Café-Conversation, Southbury Public Library, 100 Poverty Rd, Southbury, 10 am-noon, free program will feature conversation in French on current events, all levels of French speakers welcome to participate (or listen), call if bad weather; 262-0626.

May 10: Benefit Wine Tasting, Monroe Dance Academy, 838 Main St, Monroe, 6:30-8:30 pm, tickets $25, event will feature wines & hors d’oeuvres, proceeds to benefit Dancers Responding to AIDS; 268-1200.

May 10-18: “Art in The House,” The Bradley Hubbell House, 535 Black Rock Tpke, Easton, Sat-Sun 10 am-5 pm, free adm, juried exhibition of 52 works by artists from 15 CT towns & one neighboring state as selected by juror Virginia Zic, proceeds from sale of art & sculpture will benefit Bradley Hubbell House Restoration Fund; 374-0705.

May 11: “Celebrating the Divine Feminine,” Woodbury Yoga Center, 122 West Side Rd, Woodbury, 6:45 pm, free meditation program led by yoga center teacher JoAnn Livolsi will be followed by group meditation (free instruction available) & informal tea reception; 263-2254.

May 12: “The Multi-Dimensional Ronald Reagan,” C.H. Booth Library community room, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7:30 pm, free program by retired high school history teacher will cover the life of the late President from college days through Hollywood to becoming The Great Communicator & Reaganomics, hosted by Newtown Historical Society; 426-5937.

May 13: MFA Lecture Series: Susanna Coffey, Western CT State Univ White Hall Viewing Room 1, 181 White St, Danbury, 11 am, free lecture by Mr Coffey will continue spring series of lectures by leading contemporary fine artists sponsored by school’s Master of Fine Arts program; 837-8881.

May 14: “Living with Diabetes,” Ashlar of Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, lunch at noon, program at 12:30, free, presentation by Dr Howard Kaplan (board-certified in internal medicine, hospice & palliative care), reservations requested; 364-3113.

May 14: “Jazzing Up The Garden with Color and Contrast,” Newtown Senior Center, 14 Riverside Rd, Sandy Hook, 7 pm, free program by author & landscape designer Karen Bussolini (co-author, Elegant Silvers: Plants for Every Garden) will cover best plant candidates for range of growing & design needs, hosted by Town & Country Garden Club of Newtown; 426-5359.

May 14: Verbal critiques by Anda Styler, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7:30 pm, free program hosted by The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) will have painter Anda Styler offer critique of SCAN member paintings using acetate overlays to show specific changes; 426-6654.

May 14: Telescope Viewing, Western CT State Univ Science Building Observatory (main campus), Osborne St at Dr James Roach Ave, Danbury, 1-3 pm, free, special viewings of sun w/ solar-filtered telescopes; 837-8672.

May 15: “Am I Better Prepared Than My Parents?” Ashlar of Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, dinner 6 pm, program at 6:30, free (reservations requested) presentation by Barbara Reynolds on estate planning incl asset protection, legal documents, Title 19 & more; 364-3113.

May 15: Container Gardening workshop at The Glebe House Museum, Hollow Rd, Woodbury, 5:30 pm, $26 ($21 members; registration required for all), enjoy wine & cheese while learning some of best methods for planting Gertrude Jekyll-style planter incl what works best together & newest plants for CT containers, led by NY Botanical Garden designer & teacher Jane Brook Barba, suitable for all levels of gardeners; 263-2855.

May 15: “Travel: A Prescription For Adventure,” Mattatuck Museum Arts & History Center, 144 West Main St, Waterbury, 5:30 pm, free presentation by Dr Peter Jacoby & Paul Largay (“Dr Travel”) will incl stories & photos from their recent African safari, also presentation by Largay Travel specialists outlining museum’s 2008-09 travel calendar; 203-753-0381 x10.

May 15-18: 32nd Annual St Mary’s Carnival, on church grounds (first time in church & carnival’s history), 26 Dodgingtown Rd/Rte 302, Bethel, Thurs-Fri 6-10 pm, Sat 4–11 pm, Sun 12:30–6 pm, ride-all-day bracelets available for Thurs or Sun ($20/adv, $25 at carnival), also Bingo (Fri-Sat in Parish hall, 6-10 pm, ages 15 & under must be accompanied); 744-5777.   

May 16: Comedy Dinner at Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Rd, Danbury, tickets $25, buffet dinner will run 6:30-8 pm (dinner incl dessert & coffee; cash bar available), performances then follow by Lenny Marcus & Tom Van Horn, reservations required; 470-7528.

May 17: Newtown Artisan Market, Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades La, Newtown, 10 am-4 pm rain or shine, adm $5, 35+ area artisans and crafters will display wares & offer demonstrations of crafts, proceeds to benefit Newtown Youth & Family Services; 270-4335, 270-9461.

May 17: “The Strange Death of Napoleon Bonaparte,” Southbury Public Library’s Brown & Kingsley Room, 100 Poverty Rd, Southbury, annual meeting of Alliance Française of NW CT will begin w/ breakfast meeting at 10 am ($10 non-members, reservations requested), meeting & essay prize distribution at 10:30, then lecture by Jerry Labriola, MD, at 11 will cover forensic science, fictional crime, true crime & cases still in the news incl OJ Simpson & JFK, based on studies done for his latest novel; 262-0626.

May 17: Author Program: Caroline Morrison Garrett at Bethel Historical Society, 40 Main St, bethel, 2 pm, free presentation by author (& Bethel native) of Short Skirts and Snappy Salutes – A Woman’s Memoir of the WWII Years, also display of Ms Garrett’s Army uniform & WWI uniform worn by her father, Garfield Morrison, partial proceeds from day of program book sales will benefit historical society; 743-5893.

May 18: “Water Weeds Workshop: Invasive Aquatic Plants,” Edmond Town Hall lower meeting room, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 2 pm, free slide presentation by Roslyn Selsky (CT Agricultural Experiment Station) will introduce water plants that have become invasive locally, w/ live specimens, and practical ways to control, reservations requested; 270-4350.

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: May 11, Early Bird Walk, 8 am, free one-hour walk w/ bird expert Donna-Rose Smith.

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

May 12, Daytime Book Discussion, 1 pm, discussion of Elizabeth Strout’s Amy and Isabelle, newcomers/drop-ins always welcome; May 13, Friends of Booth Library annual meeting, 10 am.

Danbury BNI Trailblazers, meetings at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury. Call 797-1122.

Group meets Wednesdays, 8-9:30 am, members network & help build businesses, all visitors welcome, contact Mark Vendetti at above phone # for details.

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

May 10, “An Introduction to Flower Essences,” 1-2:30 pm, $15 ($12 IAIS members; CT educators can earn 0.15 CEUs), introductory workshop by herbalist & flower essence practitioner Lupo Connell will incl history of flower essences, how they wrok in the body & the use of essence therapy for people, pets & plants; May 18, Artifact ID Day, 12-2 pm, included w/ museum adm ($5 adults, $4.50 seniors, $3 children), IAIS Director of Research & Collections Dr Lucianne lavin will offer IDs on unidentified Indian stones & cultural items, no more than 12/person please; May 18, “Military Archaeology & Why the Revolutionary War is Important to 21st Century Americans,” 3 pm, $5 (free for members Litchfield Hills Archaeology Club), Dr Laurie Weinstein (Wetern CT State Univ) will present new info discovered during her investigation of Revolutionary War encampement in western Connecticut, aided by co-director Dr Bethany Morrison.

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: May 10, Bee Brook, Washington (leader Tim Hanbury, 203-888-3025); May 17, Muskoot Farm Trail, Somers, N.Y. (leader Jim Steck, 845-621-5559); May 24, Steep Rock, Washington (leader Pat Callan, 264-2153).

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.

Treehouse Comedy Productions.

Shows at The New Sorrento, 32 Newtown Rd, Danbury (call 744-5575), shows 9 pm & tickets $15 unless noted: May 10, RC Smith headlining, Brian Kiley & James Oaks opening; May 17, Badda Boom Badda Bing, showtime 10 pm, tickets $22, special celebrity comedy event will feature Dom Irrera opening, Perry Gardner opening; May 24, Max Dolcelli headlining, Carl Yard & Peter Vouras opening.

Theatre ______________

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

Carousel, May 7-June 1, call for ticket & curtain details; May 17, Pre-Play Introduction, 2 pm, artistic staff will lead discussion emphasizing secrets & challenges of creating process during making of Carousel; May 20, Audience Exchange, post-performance opportunity to meet members of acting company & artistic staff.

Newtown High School Drama Dept, 12 Berkshire Rd/Rte 34, Sandy Hook. Call 426-7983.

Working, May 9-11, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm, tickets $10.

TheaterWorks Hartford, 233 Pearl St, Hartford. Call 860-567-7838.

Blackbird, through May 11, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun (May 4 & 11), Tues-Thurs 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm, tickets $37-$57.

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

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

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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.