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__ _____

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

Through Sept 28: “AKA – Object and Image,” works by the core members of AKA:92 – New York City-based group w/ Susan Kasson Sloan, Marjorie Simon, Biba Schutz and Ginny Whitney – & invited guests photographers & image makers, each of whom is connected in some way with at least one of the core members of AKA:92 –  Ron Boszko, Dan Estabrook, Sara Friedlander, Ralph Gabriner, Alison Howard-Levy, Irmari Nacht, Boo Poulin, Biba Schutz, Marjorie L. Simon, Susan Kasson Sloan and Ginny Whitney.

Featured Artist of the Month, special presentations in BCC Gift Shop:

Garden of Ideas Gallery, 647 North Salem Rd, Ridgefield. Hours: Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm. Call 203-431-9914.

Through Sept 28: “Small Things,” first gallery show of whimsical works by Sherri Doolittle Mulligan, who usually does marketing & promotion/graphic designs for major clients.

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

Through Oct 3: “Painting Is Soundless Poetry,” new oils on linen & canvas by Diane Pfister, offering evocative & dreamlike images.

Gunn Memorial Library & Museum, 5 Wykeham Rd, Washington Green. Hours: Thurs-Sat 10 am-4 pm, Sun 12-4 pm. Call 860-868-7756.

Through Oct 12: “The Fabric of Marriage: Wedding Dresses,” elaborate display of wedding gowns from the museum’s vintage clothing collection focuses on history of weddings & wedding dresses spanning late 19th-early 20th centuries, while tracing town’s history through the people who wore them.

Through Oct 12: “The Centennial of the Gunn Memorial Library,” high-light of history of the construction of library & museum building & celebration of its features incl Renaissance Revival period architecture, memorial reliefs, sculptures, stained glass windows, & mural by painter & Washington resident H. Siddons Mowbray.

Highstead Arboretum, 127 Lonetown Rd, Redding. Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm by appt only. Call 203-938-8809.

Through Oct 31: “Amphibians of the Eastern United States,” over 30 original works by members of Greater New York Guild of Natural Science Illustrators.

Kent Art Association, 21 South Main St/Rte 7, Kent. Hours: Thurs-Sun 12-4 pm. Call 860-927-3989.

Through Sept 28: “Elected Artists Show,” featuring 100+ paintings & sculpture by KAA members who have achieved Elected Artists status by participating in sev juried shows & meeting other criteria, incl many prize-winning artists from CT & surrounding states, also special selection of works by Ruth Newquist, NWS, who was Best of Show winner during KAA 2007 President’s Show.

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

Through Sept 23: approx 35 paintings by celebrated American artist Cleve Gray, many never before exhibited, incl selections from “Ceres” series (1960s-70s, following travels to Greece), “Hawaii” (early 1970s) & “Perne,” inspired by Yeats’s poem “Sailing to Byzantium”), also bronze sculpture & papier mache sculpture created during same eras.

Sculpture Barn (née Boyajian’s Sculpture Barn), 3 Milltown Rd (at Rte 39), New Fair-field. Hours: Wed-Sun 10 am-6 pm. Winter hours: Sat-Sun 11 am-5 pm & by appt. Call 746-6101.

Through Oct 4: “Assemblage: Pieces of Her,” celebration of women artists & their unique perspectives, featuring sculpture & collages of local artists Erin Walrath, Eleanor White & Natasha Cohen.

Seton Art Gallery, Dodd’s Hall, University of New Haven campus, 300 Boston Post Rd/Rte 1, West Haven. Hours: Tues-Thurs 1-5 pm, Fri 1-7 pm, Sat-Sun 12-3 pm. Call 203-481-4270.

Through Sept 26: “Where Heaven Made Fun,” work by Nathan Lewis incl his epic painting “Till We Find the Blessed Isles Where Our Friends Are Dwelling” & installation in response to that painting that incorporates a 16-ft boat, collection speaks to role of the US in the Middle East, the manipulation of religion in war, changing cultural roles of African-Americans & Arbas, man’s relationship w/ nature & the human quest for transcendence.

Sherman Library, 1 Sherman Center, Sherman. Hours: Tues-Fri 11 am-6 pm, Sat 10 am-4 pm. Call 860-354-2455.

Through Sept 30: “A Sense of Peace,” oil paintings by self taught artist Barbara A. Comer, who has developed a painting style that reflects the harmony & peace of natural surroundings.

Visual Impact Gallery, 4 Eagle Rd (within Commerce Park), Danbury. Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 am-5:30 pm, weekends by appt. Call 790-9650.

Through Oct 31: original acrylic painting & limited edition archival prints by Robert Everding.

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 Sept 14: “Interspace: Line and Color,” oil paintings by Cat Balco, Power Boothe & Chris Durante

Through Sept 21: “Boundless Beauty,” explorations of contemporary themes of race, beauty & representation in different ways by Ana Mendieta, Howardena Pindell, Lorna Simpson & Carrie Mae Weems.

Washington Art Association, 4 Bryan Plaza, Rte 47, Washington Depot. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 860-868-2878.

In The Project Room: Through Sept 29: “Ground Control,” site-specific installation & digital prints by ALan Ruiz, a second year master’s degree candidate at Yale School of Art.

Yale Center For British Art, 1080 Chapel St (at High St), New Haven. Call 203-432-2800.

*(new show) Sept 18-Jan 4: “Benjamin West and The Venetian Secret,” both versions of West’s “Cicero Discovering the Tomb of Archimedes,” along w/ recent technical analysis, copies of the fake manuscript regarding “long-forgotten recipes … of Venetian High Renaissance techniques of oil painting,” & other works on paper pertaining to the 1795; Sept 17, “Venetian Color on Albion’s Shore: British Attitudes Toward Titian in the Late Eighteenth & Early Nineteenth Centuries,” 5:30 pm, lecture by Taft Museum of Art director Eroc Lee; Sept 19, “Benjamin West and The Venetian Secret,” 5:30 pm, conversation w/ Angus Trumble (curator of paintings & sculpture, YCBA) & Mark Aronson (chief paintings conservator, YCBA); Sept 20, “Benjamin West and the Venetian Secret” symposium, 9:30 am-12:30 pm; Sept 21, exhibition tour, 2 pm; Sept 23, Art in Context, 12:30 pm, conversation w/ Angus Trumble (curator of paintings & sculpture, YCBA) & Mark Aronson (chief paintings conservator, YCBA).

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, 182 Whisconier Road (Rte 25), Brookfield Center. Call 775-0023.

Sept 14-15: Auditions for Little Women the Musical (music by Jason Howland, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein, book by Allan Knee, based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel), Sun 7-9:30 pm open auditions, Mon 7-8 by appt only, callbacks will be Mon 8-9:30 pm, all roles open, director Alicia Dempster asks that all actors prepare 16 bars from Broadway musical showing your range, bring sheet music in your key, accompanist provided, production to run weekends Nov 7-22, call phone # above or send email to tbta@BrookfieldPlayhouse.org for inquiries.

Dance Etc, 117 Mt Pleasant Rd/Rte 6, Newtown. Call 426-8717.

Sept 13-14: Open auditions for 2nd annual production of Tis the Season Holiday Show, Sat 3 pm begins search for Frostys, reindeers, Santa babies, mini soldiers & penguins, all ages 3-8, Sun 2 pm begins auditions fro actors, vocal soloists, choir members, solo & group dancers ages 9-adult in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, lyrical & hip hop, role details online at TisTheSeason.com, performances to be Dec 5-7 at New Milford. High School.

Newtown Congregational Church Fall Fair, 14 West St, Newtown. Call 426-3496.

Sept 20: Vendors invited to rent space for fall fair, running 9 am-3 pm, spaces $35 each, indoor event (A/C hall), vendors offering art, jewelry, photography, prints, gift items, etc invited to contact Linda Manganaro at above phone # for details.

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

Sept 15-16: Auditions for traditional British panto performance of Puss in Boots, 7 pm children, 7:30 adults, director Paul Tocco & executive director Mary Poile remind actors that this will be panto, not pantomime, so there is music but show isn’t a musical, some singing, seeking people “not afraid to go over the top,” role available for most ages & backgrounds, visit Danbury.org/TownPlayers for full cast details, performances to be Nov 28-Dec 13 incl 2 mats, also seeking musicians, stage hands & tech crew.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

Sept 13: “An Enchanted Evening of music, dance, fashion & food,” New Milford, 6-8 pm, tickets $75, begin evening at Homeward Bound, 20 Bank St, w/ cocktails, hors d’oeuvres & fall fashion show, then walk to Fineline Theatre Arts, 66 Railroad St, for 7 pm performance by Elizabeth Parkinson & other dancers w/ live music by Sherman Chamber Ensemble & choreography by Cassandra Taylor of Momix; 860-350-0060.

Sept 14: Flutist Kim Collins & pianist Andrew Gordon at Pomperaug Woods Wilson Hall, 80 Heritage Rd, Southbury, 3 pm, free performance, reservations requested; 262-6555.

Sept 14: John Flynn at Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 4:30 pm, tickets $17.50/adv, $20/door, solo performance by singer-songwriter who has performed alongside Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Arlo Guthrie, et al, will incl plenty of guitar & harmonica work, light refreshments available; 270-9818.

Sept 14: The Martini Trio at Richter House, 100 Aunt Hack Rd, Danbury, 3 pm, free performance of country bluegrass 2 guitars & a mandolin; 798-2245.

Sept 20: The Flagpole Radio Café, Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7 pm, tickets $10 adults, $5 ages 13 & under, music by Daria Musk, Jim Allyn & band, also comedy, radio style vignettes & more; 364-0898.

Keeler Tavern Museum, 132 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-5485.

2008-09 Louise McKeon Chamber Music Concert Series, performances 3 pm, tickets $15 adults, $12 students & seniors, $10 ages 12 & under: Sept 14, The Axis Duo, violin & guitar.

Newtown Friends of Music, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown. Call 426-6470.

Concerts at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 3 pm, tickets $18, $16 seniors, free students in grades K-12 w/ ticket-holding adult, reception follows : Sept 21, St Petersburg String Quartet w/ guest cellist Roman Mekinulov, works of Schulhoff, Arensky & Schubert.

Films _________________

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

Sept 12-18: Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (PG-13), Fri-Sat 7 & 9:15 pm, Sun-Thrus 7 pm, mat Fri 4:30 pm, Sat-Sun 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies & The Performing Arts, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-5795.

Praxair Diversity Film Series, screenings 7:30 pm, $5: Sept 14, The Great Debaters.

For Kids & Families _________

Sept 21: Ives Family Fair, Ives Concert Park, Western CT State Univ westside campus, off Mill Plain Rd, Danbury, gates open 2 pm, family events & performances by local artists & community acts until 5:30, free; 837-9227.

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 13, live bird demo, 2-3:30 pm, $5 ($3 Audubon Center members); Sept 21, In Search of Wild Things, 2 pm (264-5098 x306).

Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies and The Performing Arts, 80 East Ridge Ave, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-5795.

Children’s series, tickets $15: Sept 20, You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, performances 2 & 5 pm.

Miscellaneous ___________

Fridays (1st & 3rd Fri/month until Oct 2): Black Rock Art Walks 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); 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.

Sundays (through Oct 26): Sandy Hook Village Farmers Market, 3-5 Glen Road, Sandy Hook, 9 am-1 pm, flowers, fruits & vegetables from local farmers, baked goods, nutritional seminars, monthly family activities, runs weekly until Oct 26; 426-2427.

Tuesdays (through mid-Oct): Sandy Hook Organic Farmers’ Market, behind St John’s Episcopal Church, Washington Ave/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 2-6 pm, local veggies & fruit, fresh baked goods, jams & handcrafted items, weekly activities for kids, also lectures & cooking; 313-9908.

Sept 12-13: Monroe Historical Society Annual Textile Sale, Beardsley Homestead, 31 Great Ring Rd, Monroe, Fri 2-6 pm (early bird adm 1 pm, $10), Sat 8 am-4 pm, free adm, new & vintage fabrics, quilting fabrics, rug hooking & braiding wools, decorator fabrics, buttons, patterns, trims & notions, yarn, craft supplies & much more; 268-5511, 261-8554.

Sept 13: “Total Joint Replacement – Past, Present and Future,” Newtown Senior Center, 14 Riverside Rd, Sandy Hook, 9:30 am, free presentation by Dr Ron Tietjen (chief of orthopedic surgery at Danbury Hospital) and Dr Robert T. Deveney (co-director, The Total Joint Replacement at Danbury Hospital) will continue VNA’s series of programs during its 90th anniv, light refreshments; 426-1035.

Sept 13: Spay & Neuter Association of Newtown Tag Sale, 13 Berkshire Rd/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 10 am-2 pm (rain date Sept 27), gently used items, w/ all proceeds to benefit SNAN; 426-5730.

Sept 13: Family Pig Roast, Treadwell Park, Philo Curtiss Rd, Sandy Hook, 3-7 pm rain or shine,  donation $18 adults, $9 children, reservations suggested (limited number of tickets will be sold at gate), food prepared under direction of Chef Jay Gill, sponsored by Newtown Democratic Town Committee; 426-9624.

Sept 13: Chat & Scrap Scrapbooking Event, 312 Roosevelt Dr/Rte 34, Seymour, 9 am-5 pm, $45 (reservations by Sept 9), fundraiser to benefit CT Special Olympics will open w/ continental breakfast, experienced & beginner scrapbook enthusiasts welcome, reps from scrapbook suppliers will be on hand, lunch also provided; 203-380-9990 x604.

Sept 13: 3rd annual Brass City Brewfest, Library Park, Grand at Meadow St, Waterbury, 1-5 pm rain or shine, adm $30 adv, $35 day of, 250+ imported & domestic beers, also Belgian Tent (addt’l $10 fee), live music, door prizes, food, also classic car show (11 am-3 pm); 203-757-0701 x302.

Sept 13: Roast Beef Dinner at Bridgewater Grange Hall, Rte 133, Bridgewater, seatings at 5:30 & 6:30 pm, adm $12 adults, $5 ages 12 & under, dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes & gravy, vegetables, tossed salad, Jell-O molds, rolls, desserts & beverages; 860-354-2581.

Sept 13: “An Enchanted Evening of music, dance, fashion & food,” New Milford, 6-8 pm, tickets $75, begin evening at Homeward Bound, 20 Bank St, w/ cocktails, hors d’oeuvres & fall fashion show, then walk to Fineline Theatre Arts, 66 Railroad St, for 7 pm performance by Elizabeth Parkinson & other dancers w/ live music by Sherman Chamber Ensemble & choreography by Cassandra Taylor of Momix; 860-350-0060.

Sept 14: Western CT Hamfest, Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 8:30 am-12:30 pm, adm $6 adults, free ages 10 & under, ham radio equipment demos, computer gear, seminars, door prizes, refreshments, vendors, sponsored by Candlewood Amateur Radio Association (ARRL sanctioned); 775-1946, 203-938-4880.

Sept 14: Dessert Reception with Belle Simon, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 2 pm, free program by Mrs Simon will cover the history of, research done & patient care at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem, reception to follow, hosted by Greater Newtown chapter of Hadassah, reservations requested by Sept 8; 426-1505, 203-448-8616.

Sept 14: 34th Annual Cider & Donuts Arts and Crafts Fair, Huntington Green, Rte 108, Huntington, 10 am-4 pm rain or shine, free adm, vendors from throughout New England will offer jewelry, oil paintings, florals, painted folk art, candles, soaps, American Indian crafts, clothing, holiday décor & much more; 203-922-1779.

Sept 14: 2nd annual Wheels & Wings Vintage Cars & Planes Festival, Candlelight Farms Airfield, 5 Green Pond Rd, New Fairfield, 10 am-4 pm (show cars asked to be on site by 9 am; rescheduled from Sept 7), co-presented this year by Black Horse Garage & Housatonic Valley Region of American Antique Club of America/Housatonic Valley Region chapter; 203-330-9604.

Sept 14: 13th annual Colonial Fair, Glebe House Museum, Hollow Rd, Woodbury, 12-5 pm, adm $5 adults, free for children, ongoing demos of woodturning, blacksmithing, chair making, spinning, weaving & basket making, also cooking over hot coats, storyteller Joyce Marie Rayno, pony rides, craft vendors, children’s crafts incl candle making, quill writing & rope making, refreshments (for purchase), guided tours of Glebe House Museum & Hurd House Museum; 263-2855.

Sept 16: “Types, Frequency and Effectiveness of Responses to Unwanted Pursuit and Stalking,” University of New Haven Marvin K. Peterson Library, Boston Post Rd at Campbell Ave/Rte 122, New Haven, 3 pm, program by Dr Leila B. Dutton, associate prof in UNH Criminal Justice Dept; 203-479-4512.

Sept 16: “Strategies for Reducing Deer Browse Damage,” Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 7:30 pm, suggested donation $4 adults, $2 students, Dr Jeffrey Ward (CT Agricultural Experimental Station, New Haven) will present 5-step strategy to limit deer browse damage in home gardens incl herd control, physical barriers, repellents & others; 734-2513.

Sept 17: “Lunch & Learn – Leg Pain: What can cause it and what can help?” Ashlar of Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Road, Newtown, free, lunch 12:30, program at 12:45, Janice Danyew (regional director of homecare, CT VNA) will discuss circulatory system & problems that can develop w/ leg circulation, how to lessen risks & more, reservations requested; 364-3113.

Sept 18: “A Taste For Art,” Housatonic Museum of Art, within Lafayette Hall at Housatonic Community College, 900 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport, noon, free, BYO lunch, event will begin w/ outdoor lunch & talk by Ann Chernow, wife of gallery’s founder, then gallery walk & talk through CT chapter of Women’s Caucus for Art exhibit on view; 203-332-5052.

Sept 18: “Bronze Stars of Valor: Civil War Heroes from the Nutmeg State,” The Barnum Museum, 820 Main St, Bridgeport, 6 pm, $7 adults, $5 seniors & college students, $4 ages 4-17, free ages 3 & under (fees incl museum adm), illustrated presentation by Bob Berthelson will concern the 30 CT residents honored during American Civil War w/ bronze Medal of Hnor for their heroic actions; 203-331-1104.

Sept 18: Science At Night: Exploring for Plants in Tropical Waterfalls,” Western CT State University Science Building, Osborne St at Dr James Roach Ave, Danbury, 7 pm, presentation by WCSU Prof of Biological & Environmental Sciences Dr Tom Philbrick will summarize his field studies of past 15+ yrs in Central & South America incl his discovery of species new to science & the extinction of others, conservation & integration of students into his research; 837-8773.

Sept 19: Comedy & Dinner at Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Rd, Danbury, tickets $30, buffet dinner 6:30-8 pm, performances by Rich Ramirez & Tina Giorgi follow at 8:30; 470-7528.

Sept 20: NCC Fall Fair, Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown, 9 am-3 pm, free adm, vendors will offer art, jewelry, photography, prints, gift items & more, also items from The Cornerstone (church’s mission & boutique), plus gift baskets, raffle items, Lucky Number table, refreshments, presentation by A Greater Gift (fair trade items incl handmade gifts, jewelry, housewares & more); 426-3496.

Sept 20: Benefit Tag Sale, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 45 South Main St, Newtown, 9 am-3 pm, all proceeds will benefit Kevin’s Community Center, cash donations also accepted for community center; 426-5679.

Sept 20: 15th Annual Great American Health Fair, Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen Street, Newtown, 10 am-2 pm, free adm, 55 exhibitors, 15 doctors testing, public safety demonstrations & much more; 270-4291.

Sept 20: Grapes of Wrath Mountain Bike Race, McLaughlin Vineyards, Alberts Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 11 am LeMans start, $50 entry fee, technical mountain fast track w/ hills & climbs, rocks, roots & “Bruce’s Bog,” $1,000 first place cash prize, also kids’ race, festival to follow; 426-1533.

Sept 20: The Flagpole Radio Café, Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7 pm, tickets $10 adults, $5 ages 13 & under, music by Daria Musk, Jim Allyn & band, also comedy, radio style vignettes & more, refreshments, monthly event being presented by Newtown Cultural Arts Commission; 364-0898.

Sept 20: Reenactment of Washington’s ride through Sherman, begins Veterans Field, 10 Rte 37, Sherman, 9 am-3 pm, reenactment by The Dragoons begins 10 am, Washington to arrive at noon, optional lunch ($50 adults, $35 children; reservations needed), displays & demos, music by The Sherman Fiddler; 860-350-3083.

Sept 20: Main Street Stroll, begins from & returns to Keeler Tavern Museum, 132 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, 10 am-4 pm, tickets $30/adv, $35 day of, part of Ridgefield 300th anniv celebration, event will offer tours of museum, 4 churches & sev homes; 203-438-5485.

Sept 20: Victorian Tea at Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 2-3 pm, $5 (registration requested by Sept 17), learn about Victorian tea etiquette while drinking tea & nibbling on simple refreshments, attendees invited to dress in Victorian garb; 734-2513.

Sept 24: “The Vision of Two Leaders: Improving Our Health and Wellness for the Future,” Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades La, Newtown, 7 pm (reception 6 pm), short presentations by Dr John Murphy (Danbury Hospital) & Susan L. Davis, RN, EdD (president & CEO, St Vincent’s Medical Center & St Vincent’s Health Services) on the future of health & wellness care, suggestions on improving quality of life, then Q&A session; 364-3127 (Ashlar of Newtown).

Sept 25: Newtown Newcomers & Neighbors Annual Kick-Off & Open House, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St, Newtown, 5-8 pm, meet members & learn about club events & happenings, crafts for kids (5:30-7 pm), refreshments;

203-526-8998.

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: Sept 13, live bird demo, 2-3:30 pm, $5 ($3 Audubon Center members); Sept 17, Fall Flight Birding Walk, 11 am, $5 ($3 Audubon members; registration requested); Sept 17, Wildflower Walk, 11:30 am, $5 ($3 Audubon center members; registration requested).

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

Sept 18, Evening Book Group, 7:30 pm, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin, all welcome.

Flagpole Photographers, C.H. Booth Library lower meeting room, 25 Main St, Newtown. Call 270-8576, 270-9469.

Meetings 3rd Thurs/month, 7:30 pm, non-members always welcome: Sept 18, first meeting of new season will have members slide competition in “Nature” & “Open.”

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

Sept 14, “Flower Essences” workshop, 1-2:30 pm, $15 ($12 IAIS members) plus $3 materials fee, join herbalist & flower essence practitioner Lauren “Lupo” Connell to learn about flower essences & their uses, will incl time in museum’s Healing Plants Garden.

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 & fall start), free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders (in parentheses) as follows: Sept 13, two-part hike along Zoar Trail in Paugussett State Forest, Newtown, first part easy (leader Rita Qubick, 268-4119), second part strenuous (leader Molly Schleiss, 312-0770); Sept 20, Bash Bish Falls, Copake Falls, N.Y., difficult, all day hike, then dinner out at Four Ero’s (leader Ildiko Gramling, 263-0086).

Newtown VNA Thrift Shop, Edmond Town Hall (lower level), 45 Main Street, New-town. 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.

Treehouse Comedy Productions.

Shows at The New Sorrento, 32 Newtown Rd, Danbury (call 744-5575), shows 9 pm & tickets $15 unless noted: Sept 13, Bob Gautreau headlining, w/ Tom Daddario & Sharon Simon opening; Sept 20, Carole Montgomery headlining, Mike Burton & Michael Young Cho opening.

Theatre ______________

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

Spoon River Anthology, Sept 12-27, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (Sept 21 only) 2 pm, tickets $20; Dinner & Show Package $45, incl dinner at Bailey’s Backyard, call box office for details & reservations.

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

She Loves You, through Sept 21, curtain Fri (Aug 15) 7:30 pm (opening night only), then Fri-Sat 5:30 & 8:30 pm, also Thurs (Aug 21 & 28 only) 7:30 pm, mat Sun 2:30 & 5:30 pm, tickets $35.

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

Half a Sixpence, through Sept 19, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, Sun 6:30 pm (occasionally, call to confirm schedule), Wed-Thurs 7:30 pm, mat Sat 3 pm, Sun & Wed 2 pm (also some Thursdays, call for schedule), tickets $26-$68, student rush & children’s discounts available.

Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield. Call 203-431-9850.

The House of Blue Leaves, through Sept 27, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (Sept 14 & 21) 5 pm, tickets $22-$24.

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

Tea at Five, Sept 12-20, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (Sept 14 only) 2 pm, tickets $15; Sept 12, opening night gala, 7 pm.

TheaterWorks Hartford, 233 Pearl St, Hartford. Call 860-527-7838.

No Child Left Behind, through Oct 12, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, Tues-Thurs 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm, tickets $37-$57.

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

The Turn of the Screw, Sept 12-27, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm, tickets $18 eves, $15 mats.

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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.