Antiques Shows______

Aug 30-31: Farmington Antiques Weekend, Farmington Polo Grounds, Farmington, 10 am-5 pm, adm $7 Sat (early buying 7 am, $25), $5 Sun, outdoors & under tents, 600± dealers from US & Europe, shipping available; 317-598-0019, (show phone) 860-677-7862.

Sept 6: Antiques In A Cow Pasture: One Day Antiques Show, 92 Canaan Rd/Rte 44, Salisbury, 10 am-4 pm rain or shine (early buying begins 8 am, $20), adm $6 adults, free ages 16 & under, 100+ dealers returning to grounds of Carrell Homestead for 3rd incarnation of a tradition resurrected by Frank Gaglio 3 years ago, refreshments, proceeds benefit Salisbury Visiting Nurses Assn; 845-876-0616.

Sept 7: Annual Westport Outdoor Antiques Show & Sale, Colonial Green, 244 Post Rd East, Westport, 10 am-4 pm (rain date Sept 22; early buying 9 am, $15), adm $5, 55+ dealers; 203-227-9234.

Sept 7: 31st Annual Antiques al Fresco, Bates-Scofield Homestead, Darien, 11 am-5 pm (early buying & opening of “Homestead Treasures” 10 am, $15), adm $5, 55 dealers; 508-674-9186.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St, Ridgefield. Hours: Tues-Thurs & Sat-Sun 1-5 pm, Fri 12-8 pm. Call 203-438-4519.

Through Aug 31, “A River Half Empty: Artists Engage Connecticut’s Environment,” collaborative exhibition between museum, CT Fund for the Environment (CFE), Weir Farm Trust & National Park Svc at Weir Farm w/ artists reflecting on some of the environmental concerns CFE has worked to address during its 25-year history, presented at Aldrich Museum & Weir Farm, artists incl Mara Adamitz Scrupe, Rachel Berwick, Adam Frelin, Lisa Kereszi, Frank Noelker, Sven Pählsson, Claudia Schmacke, Michelle Segre & Peter Waite.

Through Aug 31, “Elizabeth Demaray: The 2003 Aldrich Emerging Artist Award Recipient,” sculptures “that make profound connections between science, art & cultural assumptions” by conceptually based sculptor & winner of annual major award from Aldrich.

Through Sept 7, “Radius: Emerging Artists from Connecticut and Southeastern New York,” fifth annual exhibition offering exhibition space for artists who have not yet had a one-person show in an established gallery this year presents black & white photos by Mary Anne Haggerty, paintings by Andrew Prayzner, landscapes by Charlotte Schulz, mixed media abstract works by Rosalie Tisch & sculpture by Matthew Weber.

The Barnum Museum, 820 Main St, Bridgeport. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-4:30 pm, Sun 12-4:30 pm. Call 203-331-1104.

Through Aug 30 (exhibition dates extended), “Double Vision: The Circus Series,” black & white photos by the award-winning photographer Kimberly Gremillion featuring 8 dark, shadowy images of circus performers displayed on transparent screens & 25 printed enlargements.

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

*(new show) Sept 2-Oct 2, “New England Waterways,” recent work by David Dunlop featuring waterways of New England incl pcs finished following this summer’s trip to Maine; Sept 13, opening reception & artist’s talk, 4-6 pm.

Brookfield Historical Society, Rtes 133 & 25, Brookfield Center. Hours: 2nd & 4th Sat/month 12-4 pm, also by appt. Call 740-8140.

Through Aug 30, “From The Beginning,” items from museum’s collection of last 35 years, celebrating life of museum.

Burnham Library, Rte 133, Bridgewater. Hours: Tues 1-5 pm, Wed 9 am-6 pm, Thurs 9 am-5 pm, Sat 9 am-1 pm. Call 860-354-6937.

Through Aug 29, “A Collection of Works by Alain Picard,” fine pastel portraits & landscapes by local artist.

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

Through Aug 30, works by Linda Banks (caned wine holders), Karen Belcher (mosaic wine-theme coffee table), Christopher Brown (wrought iron w/ mahogany top wine rack) & Lisa Caron Hickey (ceramic hand painted wine stoppers, whimsical cheese platters).

Fine Line Art Gallery, 586 Main St South/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours: Thurs-Sun 11 am-5 pm. Call 266-0110.

Through Sept 22, “Beasts, Butterflies & Blossoms,” works by gallery artists.

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

*(new show) Through Oct 13, recent paintings by Frederick Velardi, who observes that color & shape are his primary subject matter; Aug 31, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

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.

Ruth A. Haas Library, 181 Main St (WCSU main campus), Danbury. Hours: Mon-Thurs 8 am-11 pm, Fri 8 am-4 pm, Sat 10 am-4 pm, Sun 1-9 pm. Call 837-9100.

Through Sept 19, “One Day/One Book,” celebration of Joyce’s most acclaimed work features rare editions of Ulysses treasured for their design, also commemorative stamps from Nat’l Postal Museum, Joyce’s death mask, first-edition volume of Ulysses, more.

Through Sept 28, “The Great Outdoors,” original works & giclee prints by Tom Cooke, Bob Crofut, Robert Ferrucci, Robert Giusti, Michael Patterson, John Spann, John Swatsley & Janine Wesselmann that offer impressionistic, realist, folk art & surrealist looks at each artist’s interpretation of the show’s theme.

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

*(new show) Sept 2-Oct 31, “a brush with destiny: paintings by Manabu Saito,” botanical art by the international known artist; Sept 21, artist’s reception (public welcome), 1-4 pm.

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

Through Aug 31, “Messengers: The Paintings of Joan LaRocca,” watercolor originals & limited edition signed & numbered giclee prints by Ms LaRocca characterized by Native American & dream imagery woven together, often featuring multiple layers of transparent images embedded within total design, accompanied by works of middle school students & faculty of Chippens Hill Middle School (in Bristol, where Ms LaRocca teaches).

Jeffrey Weiss Gallery, 2938 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport. Hours: Thurs-Sun 12-5 pm & by appt. Call 203-333-7733.

Through Sept 7, “Seen, Read, Dreamt,” 23 paintings & sculptures by Santa Fe-based artist Holly Wood; Aug 15, special preview, 5-7 pm; Aug 16, opening reception, 5-7 pm.

Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave/Rte 34, Derby. Call 734-2513.

*(new show) Sept 3-30, “Small World Portraits,” colorful & limited edition photos by professional photographer Don Garbera of “the small world which exists within the ‘wilds’ of backyards & woodlands.

Knights of Columbus Museum, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven. Hours: Labor Day to May 1, Wed-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm; May 2 to Labor Day, daily 10 am-5 pm. Call 203-772-2130.

Through Sept 11, “Attack On The World Trade Center,” memorial exhibition designed to memorialize the nearly 3,000 people killed on 9/11, to remember the families who lost loved ones, & present affects on CT residents.

Maritime Aquarium, 10 North Water St, Norwalk. Hours: daily 10 am-6 pm. Call 203-852-0700.

Through Sept 7, “The Robot Zoo,” interactive stations offer a chance to experience concepts & adaptations of robots incl giraffe, rhino under construction, 10-foot chameleon, 6-foot house fly, giant squid, & others.

Mattatuck Museum, 144 West Main St, Waterbury. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 203-753-0381.

Through Sept 18, “Picture Perfect: Images of Northwest Connecticut,” major loan exhibition of 33 paintings of northwest CT created by leading American artists betw 1790-1840 incl works of Cropsey, Ralph Earl, Homer Dodge martin, William Trost Richards, et al, plus related exhibits at historical societies at Litchfield Historical Society, Cornwall Library, Gunn Historical Museum, Kent Historical Society, Flanders Nature Center, Old Bethlehem Hist Society & New Milford Hist Society.

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

Through Sept 14, “Women’s Work,” group show by members of Women’s Caucus for Art explores theme of women’s work in various mediums (incl work by Bahijeh Mehri & Virginia Zic of Newtown); Aug 31, Artist Gallery Talk: Gloria Reunitz, 3 pm; Sept 7, M.G. Martin, 3 pm; Sept 14, Nina Bentley, 3 pm.

Silvermine Guild Arts Center, 1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan. Hours: Tues-Sat 11 am-5 pm, Sun 1-5 pm. Call 203-966-5617.

*(new shows) Five new shows opening Sept 7, details next week.

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

Through Sept 14, “Zarina Bhimji/MATRIX 150,” film installation by London-based artist who is among contemporary artists whose work addresses themes of memory, loss & vulnerability, bring presented for first time in US.

Through Oct 19, “Wallace Nutting and The Invention of Old America,” celebration of connoisseur who gathered Atheneum’s collection of early American furniture (the largest in the country) & Nutting’s legacy as a tastemaker, cultural critic, photographer & antiquarian; Sept 20, “The Moral Aesthetics of Craftsmanship, 11 am, lecture by Prof Edward S. Cooke, Jr (Yale Univ, prof of American decorative arts) will explore ideas of early 20th C society of Arts & Crafts & the role Nutting played in American Arts & Crafts Movement; Oct 25, “The Maine Event,” 11 am, Prof Carl Little (College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, Me., prof of art history) will talk about the unique role of Maine in the world of art incl influence on Frederic Church & Winslow Homer to Wyeth generations, Hartley, Marin, et al.

(Also through Oct 19: “Federal Dining Parlor,” satellite exhibit re-creating Nutting’s 1916 “Federal Dining Parlor,” at The Joseph Web House (part of Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum), in Wethersfield).

Through Oct 5, “Hooking: Folk Art To Fiber Art,” 21 hooked rugs drawn from museum collections & private lenders (incl award-winning rug artist Liz Alpert Fay of Sandy Hook), meant to complement Nutting exhibitions.

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

Through Aug 31, celebration of painting in oil w/ works by Joseph Byrne (haunting works), Deborah Kahn (abstract works by figuratively trained artist) & Colleen Randall (explorations of space & light).

*(new show) Sept 5-28, recent paintings by Cathy Osman, Loran Ritz & Marlene Rye, each of whom specializes in landscapes w/ their own personality; Sept 6, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Rd, Wilton. Hours: Wed-Sun 8:30 am-5 pm. Call 203-834-1896.

Through Aug 31, “A River Half Empty: Artists Engage Connecticut’s Environment,” collaborative exhibition between Aldrich Museum, CT Fund for the Environment (CFE), Weir Farm Trust & National Park Svc at Weir Farm w/ artists reflecting on some of the environmental concerns CFE has worked to address during its 25-year history, presented at Aldrich Museum & Weir Farm, artists incl Mara Adamitz Scrupe, Rachel Berwick, Adam Frelin, Lisa Kereszi, Frank Noelker, Sven Pählsson, Claudia Schmacke, Michelle Segre & Peter Waite.

White Silo Farm Winery & Gallery, 32 Rte 37, Sherman. Hours: Fri-Sun 11 am-5 pm. Call 860-355-0271.

Through Sept 7, batik paintings by Phyllis Boger, primarily plein-aire paintings by Diane Mesagno & multi-media works by Paula Renee.

Wilton Art Gallery & Framing, 379 Danbury Rd/Rte 7, Wilton. Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am-6 pm, Sat 9:30 am-5 pm, Sun by appt. Call 203-762-8311.

Through Sept 11, “Summer Series X2,” fine art prints & unique works by Claudia Mengel & Karen Vogel.

Yale Center For British Art, 1080 Chapel St (at High St), New Haven. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 203-432-2800.

Through Sept 7, “Behold, The Sea Itself,” celebration of important themes in British maritime art incl travel, trade & colonization, naval power & the sublimity of storm & shipwreck by British artists, writers & musicians; Aug 2, introductory tour of YCBA, 11 am; Aug 2, exhibition tour, noon.

Yale University Art Gallery, 1111 Chapel St at York, New Haven. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-6 pm. Masterpiece Tours of Permanent Collection every Sat 1:30 pm, Sun 3 pm. Call 203-432-0600.

Through Jan 4, “Curule: Ancient Design in American Federal Furniture,” exploration of ancient Greece & Roman sella curulis (Greek, folding stool) & how it inspired classical revival furniture in early 19th C incl chairs, sofas, settees & stools.

*(please note: as of May 18, all exhibitions & most programs are in adjacent Egerton Swartwout building; YUAG will be undergoing extensive renovations for two years.)

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Connecticut Poetry Society, PO Box 4053, Waterbury CT 06704-0053.

Dec 31: Deadline to receive entries for 2003 Wallace W. Winchell Poetry Contest, send SASE for full guidelines.

Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury. Call 748-1716.

Sept 19-20: Auditions for all dancing roles for Annual Nutcracker Ballet, area dancers invited to open auditions, all ages (ages 7 & up incl teens & adults) invited, most roles are for dancers w/ formal training, very few roles available for non-dancers, auditions & performances at Danbury High School, performances will be Dec 12-14, call for appt time, artistic director/choreographer is Arthur Fredric, co-director/choreographer is Lisa Denton, assoc director/choreographer is Bianca Johnson.

Oct 20: Applications must be postmarked for 2nd Annual Concerto Competition, open to student musicians within greater Danbury, up to senior year of high school by Sept, open to performers of all orchestral instruments, also piano & voice, winner will earn solo performance during Feb 2004 Danbury Symphony Orchestra concert, contact Nancy Sudik at music center for details.

Danbury Community Orchestra, Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury. Call 748-1716.

Openings in all string sections, also various wind & percussion sections, for amateur adult & teen group directed by guest conductor Christopher Hisey, group is preparing for Dec 7 concert to incl works of Rimsky-Korsakoff & Anderson, rehearsals are Wed eves, adm by audition, call for appt.

Danbury Concert Chorus, Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury. Call 748-1716.

Vacancies in all sections, no auditions, rehearsals are Tues eves, director is Richard Price, group is preparing for Nov 16 performance to incl work of Pinkham, also Song for Athene & O Magnum Mysterium, call music center for details.

Danbury Preparatory String Orchestra, Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury. Call 748-1716.

Openings for performers of violin, viola, cello & bass in intermediate-level string orchestra directed by Glen Lebetkin, rehearsals are Thus eves & begin mid-Sept.

Danbury Symphony Orchestra, Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury. Call 748-1716.

Openings for all string sections in group of experienced orchestral performers directed by David Katz, group is preparing for Nov 2 concert called “King of Instruments,” to incl works of Poulenc & Saint-Saens, rehearsals are Mon eves.

Fairfield County Chorale, Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave, Norwalk. Call 203-254-1333.

Sept 7: Open auditions for 2003-04 season, 3-5 & 7-9 pm, openings in all vocal parts, nothing to prepare, season’s music incl Honegger’s L’Une Cantique de Noel (w/ Fairfield County Children’s Choir), Handel’s Samson, Mozart’s Requiem & Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, weekly rehearsals Mon eves.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

Aug 30: Ballroom Dance featuring Dmitri & Svetlana Ostashkin (2002 champions, American Star Ball), Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Park Ave, Bridgeport, 7 pm-midnight, tickets $15, music provided by DJ George Smith, couples & singles welcome, dance lessons at 8 pm, performance by Ostashkins at 9:30, reservations suggested; 203-374-7308.

Sept 5: “An American Showcase: Music from Main Street to Broadway,” Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown, 7:30 pm, adm by donation, family concert by The Community Wind Ensemble of Western CT will feature easily recognized music of Big Bang, march, light classical & stage composers of American music history, proceeds to benefit NCC Building Fund; 426-6148, 426-9024.

Sept 6: NUMC Coffee House, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 7:45-10:30 pm, adm $3 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see details under Miscellaneous), $4 otherwise, live bluegrass & folk music, refreshments, suitable for all ages; 426-0617.

Sept 6: “After Dinner Opera,” Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury, 8 pm, sugg adm $10, performances by Danbury Opera regulars & dessert reception will close abbreviated season for opera company; 203-938-4136, 938-3930.

Sept 6: Rufus Wainwright at The Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, 8 pm, tickets $35, solo performance by celebrated singer-songwriter will highlight previous releases while celebrating upcoming release, Want One; 203-438-4519.

Sept 12-14: 9th Annual Greater Danbury Irish Festival, Ives Concert Park, WCSU westside campus, off Mill Plain Rd, Danbury, Fri 5-10:30 pm, Sat 11 am-10:30 pm, Sun 11 am-7 pm, adm $10 adults/day, $5 college students w/ ID, free ages 12 & under, live music by Tipperary Knights, Highland Rovers, Merry Ploughboys, more, also step dancers, ceili & set dancing, cultural exhibits, Irish imports, food & drink, souvenir tents, children’s activities & sporting demos; 730-8211.

CityCenter Danbury Green, Ives St & Patriot Dr, Danbury. Call 792-1711.

Summertime Festival 2003, Fri-Sat 7:30 pm, free: Sept 6, John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band (rain location: Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St); Sept 7, Catholic War Veterans Drum Corps, US Coast Guard Masters of Swing, finalé by Spam Brando.

The Homesteads at Newtown, 166 Mt Pleasant Rd/Rte 6, Newtown. Call 426-8118.

Summer 2003 Concerts in The Courtyard series, performances Tues 7 pm, free: Aug 29, Double Play, the only flute-tuba duo in the country; Sept 9, CT Bristol Old Tyme Fiddlers Club.

Sherman Chamber Ensemble. Call 860-355-6155.

Ensemble regulars are Eliot Bailen, cello; Susan Rotholz, flute; Jill Levy, violin; & Sarah Adams, viola.

Fri performances @St Andrew’s Church, Main St, Kent; Sat performances @Lake Mauweehoo Clubhouse, Sherman, tickets $20 adults, $15 students & seniors ($10 lawn seats available for Sat performances, free lawn seating for age 12 & under), series tickets $45: Aug 29-30, season finalé to incl Mendelssohn’s String Quartet in A Major, Opus 18, arrangement for flute & strings of Rossini’s “Overture” to Barber of Seville, also work of W.A. Mozart.

Films _________________

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

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

Aug 29-Sept 4: Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (PG-13), Fri-Sun, Tues-Thurs 7 & 9 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

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

Through Sept 1: Pulse: A STOMP Odyssey, screenings daily (call for schedule).

For Kids & Families _________

Aug 30: The 5th Annual SCE Bluegrass Jamboree, Lake Mauweehoo Clubhouse, Rte 37 at Leach Hollow Rd, Sherman, 2 pm, free children’s concert featuring virtuoso fiddler Paul Woodier & the Sherman Bluegrass All-Stars promises singalong fun for children & adults of all ages, presented by Sherman Chamber Ensemble; 860-355-5930.

Sept 6: Picture Perfect Treehouse Time, Mattatuck Museum, 144 West Main St, Waterbury, 1:30-4:30 pm, $25, children ages 8-12 invited to enjoy story telling, painting & creation of a Treehouse inspired by museum’s current exhibition, call for details, reservations; 203-753-0381.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Danbury Square, 15 Backus Ave, Danbury. Call 730-2733.

Free public programs: Sept 4, Planes, Trains & Automobiles Storytime, 11 am, readings of “moving” books incl Steve Augarde’s We’re Going on An Airplane!

Sherman Chamber Ensemble, at Lake Mauweehoo Clubhouse, Rte 37 at Leach Hollow Rd, Sherman. Call 860-355-5930.

SCE’s Children & Family Concert Series, performances 2 pm, free educational & entertaining programs that introduce young people to the delight of listening to & making live music: Aug 30, The 5th Annual SCE Bluegrass Jamboree, 2 pm, free children’s concert featuring virtuoso fiddler Paul Woodier & the Sherman Bluegrass All-Stars promises singalong fun for children & adults of all ages.

Miscellaneous ___________

Aug 30: Newtown Congregational Church Flea Market, Fairfield Hills soccer fields, Wassermann Way, Newtown, 9 am-4 pm, free adm, group event w/ tag sale, antiques, crafters, booths by local businesses & organizations, games & entertainment for children, refreshments, etc, fundraiser for church’s building/expansion project, rain date Aug 31 (or Sept 6 if necessary); 426-4174, 426-9024.

Aug 30: “Preserving Weir’s Farm,” Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Rd, Wilton, 11 am, registration required, one-hour walking tour leaving from site’s visitor center will explore national park as a landscape preserved for public to enjoy incl early preservationist movement, the roles of state & federal gov’t, & highlights of past & ongoing Nat’l Park Svc projects; 203-834-1896.

Aug 30: Ballroom Dance featuring Dmitri & Svetlana Ostashkin (2002 champions, American Star Ball), Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Park Ave, Bridgeport, 7 pm-midnight, tickets $15, music provided by DJ George Smith, couples & singles welcome, dance lessons at 8 pm, performance by Ostashkins at 9:30, reservations suggested; 203-374-7308.

Aug 30-31: Brookfield Craft Center’s Annual Student/Faculty Pottery Sale, at BCC, Rte 25 (just above Rte 7), Brookfield, 10 am-4 pm both days, free adm, hundreds of handmade pottery & sculptural clay items by BCC students & faculty members available for purchase, also demos by 20+ artists (Sun only, 1-4 pm); 775-4526.

Aug 30-Sept 1: 91st Annual Goshen Fair, Rte 63, Goshen, Sat-Sun 8 am-8 pm, Mon 8 am-6 pm, adm $6 adults, $4 seniors (*Sat only), free ages 12 & under, parking also free, entertainment, rides, games, exhibits, animals (Sat: draft horse show & tractor pull; Sun: woodcutting contest & horse draw; Mon: draught oxen draw, pork cook-off, woodcutting contest & antique tractor pull); 860-491-3655, www.GoshenFair.org.

Aug 30-Sept 3: 28th Annual Friends of Booth Library Labor Day Weekend Book Sale, Fairfield Hills at Bridgeport Hall, off Wassermann Way, Newtown, adm $10 (Sat only, free adm remainder of sale), books half price on Mon, $5/bag Tues, free Wed, used books in 75 categories, also audio & video offerings, refreshments, more; 426-4533.

Aug 31: Annual Brookfield Craft Center Open House, craft center, Rte 25 (just above Rte 7), Brookfield, 1-4 pm, free adm, explore historic campus w/ 5 building, meet artist-instructors, watch demos, galleries also open; 775-4526.

Sept 1: 42nd Annual Newtown Labor Day Parade, steps off 10 am from Soldiers & Sailors Monument on Main St, route follows Main St to Glover Ave & then across Queen St, parade marshals Roseanne Loring & Debbie Richardson will lead parade w/ theme “Newtown’s Faith in The Future” w/ regional marching bands, civic groups & organizations, politicians, floats, etc.

Sept 2: Sandy Hook Organic Farmer’s Market, parking area between St John’s Church and The Villa Restaurant, Washington Ave/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 9 am-1 pm, locally-grown organic fruits, vegetables, flowers, baked goods, breads, coffee, sandwich café, also pony rides, live entertainment, weekly (Tues) until Oct 21; 426-9938, 270-1820.

Sept 5-7: 79th Bethlehem Fair, Bethlehem Fairgrounds, Rte 61, Bethlehem, Fri 5-10 pm, Sat 8 am-10 pm, Sun 8 am-5:30 pm, adm $6 adults, $4 seniors (Sat-Sun), free ages 12 & under, free parking, rides, games, exhibits, refreshments, horse show, Hollerin’ Contest, much more; 203-266-5350.

Sept 6: 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 details under Concerts); 426-0617.

Sept 6: Western CT Orienteering Club meet, Tarrywile Park, Southern Blvd, Danbury, registration & starts 10 am-noon, $6, courses for beginner to expert levels, instruction available, participants will find their way across pre-set course using orienteering map & compass seeking flags at various land features; 860-658-7963.

Sept 6: Organic Garlic Market, at Flanders Nature Center, Flanders Rd at Church Hill Rd, Woodbury, 10 am-3 pm, tastings, seed available, natural products incl soaps, lip balm, natural bug repellent, more, presented by Sacred Organics Garlic Market; 203-263-3711.

Sept 6-7: Annual Apple Festival, St Peter’s Episcopal Church, 175 Old Tannery Rd (at Rte 111)/on the green, Monroe, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 11 am-4 pm, free adm, refreshments, The Country Kitchen (cookie walk, homemade pies & desserts), church cookbook, hardy mums, children’s games, raffle, more; 268-4265.

Sept 6-7: 52nd Annual Danbury Mineralogical Society Gem & Mineral Show, Danbury High School cafeteria, Clapboard Ridge Rd/Rte 39, Danbury, Sat 10 am-5:30 pm, Sun 10 am-5 pm, adm $3.50 adults, $2.50 seniors & students w/ ID, free for children 5 & under & Scouts in uniform, club displays of minerals, fossils, lapidary material & mining memorabilia, gold panning & grab bags for children, hourly door prizes, dealer tables, refreshments; 860-354-0296.

Sept 6-7: 17th Annual A Taste of Greater Danbury Festival, CityCenter Green, Ives St at Patriot Dr, Danbury, Sat 6-10:30 pm, Sun 12-7 pm, free adm, samplings (for small fee, most around $4) of specials from 12 area restaurants, also live music (John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band and Damn Glad on Sat, US Coast Guard Band Masters of Swing & Spam Brando on Sun), raffles, family activities, civic organization exhibits, more; 792-1711.

Sept 7: Stratford Baseball Card & Sport Memorabilia Show, Ramada Inn, 225 Lordship Blvd, Stratford, 9:30 am-3 pm, adm $3 adults, 99 cents ages 10 & under, special apperance by Yankees legend Stan Bahnsen (12-1 only), also dealers from 5 states w/ sport cards, vintage cards, new sets, wax boxes, memorabilia, autographs & related collectibles; 364-1209.

Sept 8: BookTalk meeting, Southbury Public Library, 561 Main St South/Rte 6, Southbury, 2 pm, newcomers welcome, monthly book group will discuss Dr Jerry Labriola’s Murders at Brent Institute, discussion will be led by the author; 264-1716, 262-6123.

Sept 9: Sandy Hook Organic Farmer’s Market, parking area between St John’s Church and The Villa Restaurant, Washington Ave/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 9 am-1 pm, locally-grown organic fruits, vegetables, flowers, baked goods, breads, coffee, sandwich café, also pony rides, live entertainment, weekly (Tues) until Oct 21; 426-9938, 270-1820.

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

Free programs unless noted, reservations requested, call if weather is questionable: Sept 3, Weekly Adult Nature Walk, 9 am (changed recently from Tues to Wed mornings), $5, center staff member/naturalist will lead leisurely-paced walk to explore meadows for wildflowers, dragonflies & butterflies or forests for ferns & mushrooms, meet at Welcome Kiosk; Sept 6, Fungi Walk, 10 am, $5, three-hour foray led by nature expert Bill Yule will seek out the numerous varieties of mushrooms found in forest incl toadstool mushrooms, also fancy corals, shelf & jelly fungi; Sept 7, Sunday at Bent of the River, 2-4 pm, $5, families & anyone interested in nature encouraged to join walk designed for all ages to look at butterflies, flowers or life in Pomperaug River.

Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Danbury Square, 15 Backus Ave, Danbury. Call 730-2733.

Free public programs: Sept 3, Truth & Lies Writing Workshop, 7:30, writers of non-fiction (Truth) & fiction (Lies) invited to offer & hear feedback from fellow writers during group that meets 1st & 3rd Wed/month; Sept 7, book signing & discussion w/ author Lauren Baratz-Logsted (The Thin Pink Line), 3:30 pm.

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

Free public programs: Sept 9, “Creating The Self” book series begins, 7 pm, discussion of Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer.

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

Programs free unless noted: Sept 8, Daytime Book Group, 1 pm, discussion of Vann Martel’s The Life of Pi; Sept 9, Daytime Non-Fiction Book Group, 1 pm, discussion of Laura Hillenbrand’s Seabiscuit.

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: Sept 6, Sam’s Point, New York, start time 8 am, all day hike w/ optional dinner out (Tim Hanbury, 203-888-3025); Sept 13, Carmel, N.Y. Rail Trail, hike or bike (Nancy Ziegler, 203-732-2618); Sept 20, Tarrywile Park, Danbury (Jo Tolg, 264-2308)..

Newtown Singles, meetings at Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 261-4210.

Monthly “Meet & Mingle” events, 7-9 pm: Next meeting Sept 5.

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.

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.

Tarrywile Park & Mansion, 70 Southern Blvd, Danbury. Call 744-3130.

Aug 30, Beginners’ Hike, 8 am, free, 45 min hike over easy terrain & at easy pace, bring water, pre-registration required (group size limited); Aug 30, Intermediate Hike, Intermediate Hike, 8:45 am, 2½-hour hike over moderate terrain & at steady pace (recommended for ages 12 & over), water & small snack recommended, pre-registration required (group size limited); Aug 31, Difficult Hike, 8 am, 4½-hour hike over difficult terrain & at steady pace (recommended for ages 12 & over), lunch stop, bring water, pre-registration required (group size limited).

Theatre ______________

Brookfield Theatre for the Arts (formerly Country Players of Brookfield), Brookfield Playhouse, Rte 25, Brookfield Center.

The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Sept 5-27, curtain Thurs (Sept 18 only), Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (Sept 14 only) 2 pm, tickets $15;

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

Meshuggah-Nuns! through Oct 19, curtain Fri 8 pm, Sat 5:30 & 8:30 pm, Sun 5:30 pm, tickets $34-$42, senior discounts ($25, 5:30 shows), group & rush discounts also available.

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

Very Good Eddie, through Oct 4, curtain Fri 8 pm, Sat 8:30 pm, Sun 6:30 pm, Wed-Thurs 7:30 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun & Wed 2 pm, tickets $22-$55.

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

SummerStage 2003: Say Goodnight Gracie: The Life, Laughter and Love of George Burns and Gracie Allen, Sept 2-20, call for curtain schedule; Sept 2, Pay What You Can performance, 7 pm; half-price rush tickets available 30 min before curtain.

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

West Side Story, through Aug 30, curtain Fri (Aug 1 & 29 only) & Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 3 pm, tickets $18 adults, $16 seniors & students.

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

Lives of The Saints (David Ives one-acts), Sept 5-27, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (Sept 21 only) 2 pm, tickets $12 evening shows, $10 mat; production will offer Ives’ The Mystery at Twicknam Vicarage, Captive Audience & Lives of The Saints.

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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.