Antiques Shows __________________________

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.

Through Dec 6: Antiquarius 2009, Greenwich Civic Center, 90 Harding Rd, Old Greenwich, Fri-Sat 11 am-6 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm, adm $15, 40 exhibitors, presented by & benefit for The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich; 203-869-6889.

Dec 6: Wilton Holiday Antiques Show, Wilton High School Field House, 395 Danbury Rd/Rte 7, Wilton, 10 am-5 pm (early buying 9 am, $20 incl breakfast), $10, 100+ dealers, proceeds to benefit The John G. Corr Memorial Award Fund; 203-762-3525, 203-834-9607.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places ____________________________

The Galleries at The Fraser-Woods School, 173 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown. Gallery hours by appt only; 203-3390 x312. Hours for current show: Mon, Thurs-Fri 5-7 pm, Tues-Wed 10 am-1 pm, Sat-Sun 12-4 pm.

*(new show) Dec 5-30: “From The Inside Out: art of experience,” works by Katie Bassett-Valente, Christine Mitchell, Henry Mitchell, Joan Pollak, David Wrabel, Adam Kaplan, Bob Perucci, Christine Milo & Evan Valente, with funds raised through sales to benefit Kevin’s Community Center; Dec 6, curator’s reception, 11 am-2 pm, also “Art of Experience” gallery talk by Christine Mitchell, MA, 12:30 pm.

Koenig Frameworks and Art Gallery, 97 South Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-270-1887.

*(new show) Dec 4-24: “Your Town,” photos by state residents of CT cities & towns in color, black & white, film & digital that answer the question “What does your town look like through a camera lens?”; Dec 4, opening & awards reception, 6-9 pm.

Morrison Gallery, 5 Maple St, Kent; 860-927-4501.

*(new show) Dec 12-Jan 31: works by Hans Hoffmann & George McNeil.

Auditions, Juried Events  _________________

Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists, 30 Davis Hill Road, Weston CT 06883.

Jan 4: Submission deadline for 5th annual juried fine art portrait exhibition (“Faces of Winter 2010), to be presented Feb 5-March 6 at UConn Gallery in Stamford, Nelson Shanks will judge for cash & ribbon awards for painting, drawing & sculpture, send SASE to above address for details and prospectus or visit CSOPAorg.

Easton Arts Council, Easton. Call 203-261-0175.

Jan 10: Drop off for EAC’s Annual Art show, 10 am-1 pm, show will take place Jan 12-Feb 28 at Easton Library, $15 entry fee, interested artists, photographers, sculptors & artisans can download entry form at EastonArtsCouncil.org, addt’l info from artshow@eastonartscouncil.org or above phone #; entry forms also available at Easton, Fairfield, Trumbull, Bridgeport (Black Rock branch) Redding & Monroe libraries

Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield. Call 914-769-0189, 914-564-9330.

Dec 6-7: Open auditions for Eugene O’Neill’s Moon for the Misbegotten, 7 pm both nights, callbacks Dec 9 (also 7 pm), director is Maryann Arcoleo-Koltun, performances to be Fri-Sat eves March 12-April 10 w/ Sun mats March 21 & 28, contact director at either phone # above for character breakdowns, audition details & directions to the theater.

Concerts, Musical Events________________

Dec 4: CT Choral Society Chamber Singers and Naugatuck Valley Community College (NVCC) Gospel Choir at North Congregational Church, 11 Main St (at Rte 47), Woodbury, 7:30 pm, freewill offering, traditional Christmas carols & holiday music familiar & unusual by CCS, modern & classic gospel songs based on spirituals by NVCC Gospel Choir, reception to follow; 203-263-2410.

Dec 4-5: The Fairfield University Glee Club Presents “A Christmas Adventure: Sting & Coldplay Meet Benjamin Britten,” Fairfield Univeristy Quick Center, North Benson Rd, Fairfield, Fri 8 pm, Sat 2 pm, $10, $6 students; 877-ARTS-396 (278-7396), 203-254-4010.

Dec 5: Phoenix Performing Arts: Chinese Dances & Instruments, Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Rd, Newtown, 2 pm, $8/advance, $10/door, $7 seniors, $5 children, program re-creates multi-ethnic dances, folk music & more; 203-206-7671.

Dec 5: NUMC Coffee House, 7:45-10:30 pm, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Road, adm $4 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see separate Misc listing), $5 otherwise, live bluegrass & folk music, refreshments, suitable for all ages; 203-426-9998.

Dec 5: Flagpole Radio Café, Edmond Town Hall auditorium, 45 Main St, Newtown, 7 pm, $15, The Yale Whiffenpoofs headlining, also dobro performer Stacy Phillips, The Flagpole Café Players & Radio Café Orchestra, et al.

Dec 5: “Sin City Santas” by The CT Gay Men’s Chorus, Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Ave, Ridgefield, 8 pm, $30 & $35, original production of uproarious holiday musical celebration, also being presented in New Haven (Dec 12) & Hartford (Dec 13); 800-644-2462.

Dec 5: Waterbury Chorale’s Christmas at the Palace, 100 East Main St, Waterbury, 8 pm, $25-$40, Chorale’s talented singers will be joined by Waterbury Chorale Festival Orchestra & classical American vocalists Daniel & Heather Narducci for holiday selections; 203-755-4700.

Dec 5-6: The Nutcracker at Westover School Performing Arts Center, 1255 Middlebury Rd, Middlebury, Sat 6:30 pm, Sun 2 pm, $20, $15 seniors & ages 12 & under, full production w/ Brass City Ballet will celebrate the holidays with a family tradition; 203-598-0186.

Dec 6: Newtown Choral Society Winter Concert, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St, Newtown, 4 pm, $10, $8 seniors & age 12 & under, Mary Andreotta will direct group in Stroope’s American Christmas, also excerpts from The Polar Express.

Dec 6: Benefit concert for Bridgewater Congregational Church, 10 Clapboard Rd, Bridgewater, 3 pm, $10, $25 families, vocalists from The Christina Rovics Vocal Studio will perform songs from Annie, Wicked, The Secret Garden, A Chorus Line, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Chicago & Wild Party; 860-354-8283.

Dec 6: Danbury Community Orchestra at WCSU White Hall/Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 3 pm, free performance by 80-member adult & teen orchestra to incl works of Beethoven, Leroy Anderson, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, et al; 203-748-1716.

Dec 6: Town-Wide Christmas Sing, Veterans Field, Saw Mill Rd, Sherman, 5 pm at Town Gazebo, hot cocoa & cookie provided, hosted by The Sherman Church; 860-354-6114.

Dec 9: NVCC Jazz Ensemble Pre-Holiday Winter Concert, Naugatuck Valley Community College Mainstage Theater of Fine Arts Center, 750 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury, $5 suggested donation, program to incl holiday classics, swinging jazz & Dixieland combo; 203-575-8039.

Dec 11: “Candlelight & Carols” by The CT Choral Society, Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main St, Newtown, 8 pm, $20, $10 ages 18 & under, works of Pinkham, Mendelssohn & Rutter, also traditional carols & original works; 203-206-7186.

For Kids & Families _______________________

Dec 4: The Nutcracker at Westover School Performing Arts Center, 1255 Middlebury Rd, Middlebury, 9:45 & 11:30 am, $6, special abridged version by Brass City Ballet incl audience interaction; 203-598-0186.

Dec 5: Holiday Fest at The Barnum Museum, 820 Main St, Bridgeport, 1-3 pm, $4-$7 (regular museum adm), celebrate the season w/ crafts (victorian ornaments & holiday cards), caroling, hot cocoa & cookies, gingerbread contest; 203-331-1104.

Dec 6-20: Vintage Train Rides to Visit Santa, Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St, Danbury, Sat-Sun 12-4:30 pm (last ride departs 3:30), $8, short ride on restired 1953 New Haven RR RDC car to visit Santa, Mrs Claus & elves in Toyland, gift for each child, museum also open; 203-778-8337.

Dec 6: Santa & Mrs. Claus at The Golden Age of Trucking Museum, 1101 Southford Rd/Rte 188, Middlebury, 1-3 pm, $7, $5 children, $20 max/family, Mr & Mrs Claus will arrive in antique truck w/ gift for each child, photos w/ Santa, holiday craft making, cookies & caroling; 203-577-2181.

Dec 9: Holiday Decorating Day at Bethel Library Bethel, 189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, 10:30 am-5 pm, all ages (age 7 & under must be w/ parent/guardian) to decorate ornaments & other decorations to take home, coloring & activity pages also available, wear red or green for holiday prize; 203-794-8756.

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533 (children’s dept 203-426-3851).

Children’s programs, free unless specified: Dec 10, Holiday Sing-Along with Francine Wheeler, 10 am, ages 2-6 & parents invited to join profes-sional singer & music educator; Dec 12, Gingerbread House Workshop, 2 pm, $3 due at registration, ages 4-10 invited to create gra-ham cracker house w/ royal icing & candy decorations, parents need to remain w/ kids during work-shop; Dec 13, “The Reluctant Dragon” by Lionheart Puppet Company, 2 pm, puppet show for ages 4+

Downtown Cabaret Children’s Theatre Co., 263 Golden Hill St, Bridgeport; 203-576-1636, 203-575-1634.

The Knight Before Christmas: A Children’s Musical, through Dec 30, curtain Sat-Sun 12 & 2:30 pm (also Dec 30, 12 & 5:30 pm), tickets $15.50.

Miscellaneous ___________________________

Dec 4-5: 8th Annual Festival of Trees, Gunn Memorial Library & Museum, 5 Wykeham Rd (at Rte 47), Washington Green, Fri 5-7 pm ($12, $20 couple; cocktails, trees available for purchase, raffles & entertainment), Sat 10 am-2 pm (free viewing of trees), proceeds to benefit library & museum; 860-868-7586.

Dec 4-5: Friends of The Ridgefield Library Holiday Boutique, 472 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, Fri 6-10 pm, Sat 9 am-4 pm, nearly new & gift quality books incl coffee table, children’s books & more; 203-983-8093.

Dec 5: Newtown Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast, Edmond Town Hall Alexandria Room, 45 Main St, Newtown, 8 am-1 pm, $7, $3 for ages 10 & under, all you can eat fundraiser.

Dec 5: Garden Club of Newtown Holiday Greens Sale, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St, Newtown, 9 am-1 pm, wreaths, swags, table arrangements, etc made by members of club, also gardening books & color wheels by Sydney Eddison; 203-270-1108.

Dec 5: NUMC Monthly Pasta Dinner, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 5-7:30 pm, adm $9 adults, $8 seniors, $3.50 children, full spaghetti dinner incl salad, desserts, and soft drinks/coffee raises funds each month for church, all welcome, coffee house/musical event follows (see separate Concerts listing); 203-426-9998.

Dec 5: St Peter’s Holiday Fair, St Peter’s Episcopal Church, 175 Old Tannery Rd (at Rte 111), Monroe, 9 am-3 pm, Grandma’s Attic (glassware, knickknacks, etc), Christmas decorations & ornaments, children’s toys, books, games, Chinee Auction, cookie walk & more, also lunch (11:30-2:30); 203-268-4265.

Dec 5: Sherman Church Christmas Bazaar, 6 Church Rd, Sherman, 9 am-3 pm, decorations w/ fresh greens made by church members, crafts, baked goods & beef barley soup w/ lunch; 860-354-6114.

Dec 5: Harmony Grange #92 Christmas Fair, Rte 11- at 111, Monroe, 0 am-3 pm; 203-268-3480.

Dec 5: St Jude Parish Christmas Fair, Rte 111, Monroe, 10 am-4 pm (snow date Sun, Dec 6, 1-5 pm), crafters & artisans, Chinese auction, quilt raffle, children’s games & childcare, wreaths, lunch & baked goods; 203-261-6404.

Dec 5: Annual Easton Holiday House Tour, Easton, 10:30 am-3 pm, $30, $15 ages 7-15 w/ adult accompaniment, 6 private homes decorated for holidays, wreaths for sale at Adams School House, lunch at Easton Public Library (691 Morehouse Rd, $10, catered by Panino’s), artisans offering goods for sale, proceeds benefit library; 203-261-0134.

Dec 5: Annual Pot Roast Dinner, First Congregational Church of Bethel, 46 Main St, Bethel, 6-7:30 pm, $15, $7.50 ages 6-12, free age 5 & under, full dinner incl homemade desserts, also performance by First Congregational Church Choir incl Joseph Martin’s new cantata The Mystery and the Majesty; 203-748-6112, 203-794-0937.

Dec 5-6: Christmas Festival & Craft Bazaar, St Joseph Catholic School, Rte 25 at Rte 133, Brookfield Center, Sat 9 am-4 pm, Sun 8:30 am-2 pm, free adm, shopping, children’s games, Santa, raffles & food; 203-775-2774.

Dec 5-12: Annual Gingerbread Village & Christmas Bazaar, St George’s Church, Tucker Hill Rd, Middlebury, Sat (Dec 5) 10 am-7 pm, Sun (Dec 6) 12-7 pm, Mon-Fri (Dec 7-11) 2-4 & 6-8 pm, Sat (Dec 12) 10 am-4 pm, free adm, 50+ gingerbread buildings, also horse & sleigh teams, ponds, boats, sledders, all dressed in Christmas colors & holiday splendor; 203-758-9557.

Dec 6: 24th Annual Holiday Festival, Main St, Newtown, 11 am-5 pm, $15, $25/family (2 adults & 2 children to age 12; addt’l child $5/each), arts & crafts show, Victorian Tea, Nutcracker ballet, Festival of Trees, gingerbread house contest, children’s activities, photos w/ Santa, tours of historic homes decorated by local designers for the holidays; 203-426-8103.

Dec 6: Holiday House Tour, Matthew Curtiss House, 44 Main St, Newtown, 12-4 pm, free, weaving demo by Rebecca Arkenberg, who will tell story of 18th Century weaver Silas Burtan; 203-426-5937.

Dec 6: Solstice & Holiday Celebration, Ansonia Nature & Recreation Center, 10 Deerfield La, Ansonia, 1-4 pm, free, crafts & music, hot cider & refreshments; 203-763-1053.

Dec 6: “Writing a Personal Prayer,” Woodbury Yoga Center, 122 West Side Rd, Woodbury, 7 pm, free program by Kathy Kass will be followed by group meditation (free instruction available) & tea reception; 203-263-2254.

Dec 9: “Genealogy Tips, Tricks & Websites,” C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St, Newtown, 7 pm, free, informal roundtable discussion hosted by The Genealogy Club of Newtown, all welcome; 203-270-7887.

Dec 9: Home for the Holidays Wine & Cooking Event, The Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, 7:30 pm, $15, learn the art of cooking a holiday meal that tastes great & doesn’t add extra pounds during holiday season, sample each course paired w/ wine, presented by Danbury Hospital; 203-438-5795.

Dec 12: Saturday Morning Bird Walk, Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 9 am, all levels of bird watchers invited to join volunteer Maria Stockmal for relaxing pace in search of local birds, may run 2 hours; 203-734-2513.

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533.

Dec 9, “Genealogy Tips, Tricks & Websites,” 7 pm, informal roundtable discussion hosted by The Genealogy Club of Newtown; Dec 10, Introduction To Beading, 7 pm, $18 supply fee due at registration.

, join artist & jewelry maker Pat Martin for 2-hour workshop to create unleaded pewter watch.

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-2475.

(FILM) Dec 6-10: The Invention of Lying (PG-13), Sun-Thurs 7 pm, mat Tues 1 pm.

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

Through Dec 20: Annual Holiday Indian Market, Sat-Sun 12-4 pm, discounts on many items suitable for gift giving.

Mattatuck Museum Arts & History Center, 144 West Main St, Waterbury; 203-753-0381.

Global Lens 2009 Films series, 2 pm, $5, $4 seniors: Dec 6, Those Three (Iran, 2007); Dec 13, What a Wonderful World (Morocco, 2006).

Newtown Hikers. Call 203-788-1398 (Ester Nichols), 203-270-4340 (Newtown Parks & Rec).

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 10 am (winter start time), free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders (in parentheses) as follows: Dec 5, Pier Point State Park, Ridgefield (Minnie Ingdarda, 203-801-8343); Dec 12, Richter Park, Danbury (Eloise Muller, 740-8957), short hike followed by pot luck luncheon coordinated by Susan Gabriele (call her for food coordination, 775-8236).

Newtown VNA Thrift Shop, Edmond Town Hall (lower level, use rear parking lot), 45 Main Street, Newtown; 203-270-4377.

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. Call 203-702-7577.

Shows at The Holiday Inn, 80 Newtown Rd, Danbury: Dec 5, Nick DiPaolo headlining, Scott Paparcuri & Dougie Phillips opening, 9 pm, $19.50; Dec 12, Coach Tom Whiteley headlining, Chris Dubail & John Ivarone opening, 9 pm, $15.

Wednesday Night Poetry Series, at The Blue Z Coffee House, 127 South Main St, Newtown. Call 203-426-6242, 203-364-0631.

Open mic 7:30, featured poet follows: Dec 9, Elizabeth Thomas; Dec 16, Grinch Night & workshop, starting 7 pm, open mic theme will be Grinch Nght, workshop to follow.

THEATER

Dec 17: A Christmas Memory, Edmond Town Hall Alexandria Room, 45 Main St, Newtown, 12-1:30 pm, $30, performance by Play With Your Food of Truman Capote short story will be preceded by catered lunch, followed by discussion w/ actors; 203-364-9844.

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

It’s A Wonderful Life Radio Play, Dec 4-13, curtain Fri 7:30 pm, Sat 5:30 & 8:30, Sun 5:30 pm, $25.

Fairy Tale Theater, at Wooster School, 91 Miry Brook Rd, Danbury; 203-748-6873.

Play series for ages 3-12, part of Musicals at Richter offerings, offers shows Sat 11 am (grounds open 10:30), adm $5:

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

Have You Seen Us?, through Dec 20, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Sun, Tues-Wed 7 pm, mat Sat 3 pm, Sun & Wed 2 pm, call for ticket details.

On Stage II: Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold, through Dec 20, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, Tues-Wed 7 pm, mat Sat 3 pm, Sun & Wed 2 pm, tickets $28.

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

Godspell, through Dec 12, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (Dec 6) 2 pm, tickets $26, $22 students & seniors.

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

See Dick, through Dec 15, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, 2 pm, tickets $20.

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

Shakespeare’s R&J, through Dec 20, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, Tues-Thurs & some Sun (call for schedule) 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2:30 pm, tickets $38-$60, $12 student rush tickets at show w/ valid ID.

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

Season’s Greetings, Dec 4-Jan 2, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm, tickets $20 Dec 13 & 20 shows are sold out; Dec 31, New Year’s Eve gala, $50.

Town Players of Newtown, at The Little Theatre, Orchard Hill Rd, Newtown; 203-270-9144.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (adapted by Christopher Schario), through Dec 6, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm, tickets $18 eves, $15 mat.

*******************

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 203-426-3141 for specs if you plan to email digital photo files.