Antiques Shows______

Feb 12: Antiques & Collectibles Show, Naugatuck High School, 543 Rubber Ave, Naugatuck, 9:30 am-4 pm, adm $3, 60+ dealers; 203-723-2588.

Feb 25-26: Orange Historical Society Antiques Show, High Plains Community Center, 525 Orange Center Rd, Orange, Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $4.50; 203-765-6465.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-4519.

Through March 12: “Karkhana: A Contemporary Collaboration,” works by 6 contemporary Pakistani artists – Aisha Khalid, Hasnat Mehmood, Muhammad Imran Qureshi, Nusra Latif Qureshi, Talha Rathore & Saira Wasim.

Through March 12: “Todd Hebert: 2005 Aldrich Emerging Artist Award Recipient.”

Through March 12: “Cyrilla Mozenter: More saints seen,” series of small-scale vessels made primarily from cream-colored felt.

Through March 12: “John Giglio: BlowHomes – A Main Street Sculpture Project,” site-specific soft sculpture is inflatable one-third scale replica of Victorian house that serves as front of Aldrich.

Through May 14: “Catherine Opie – The 2004 Larry Aldrich Award Winner: 1999 & In and Around Home,” images by the Los Angeles-based photographer offering tender portraits of her family plus sweeping landscapes of her 1999 road trip offering unique perspective on life in contemporary America.

The Barnum Museum, 820 Main St, Bridgeport. Call 203-331-1104.

Permanent exhibit: “Grand Adventure: A Celebration of the American Spirit in Bridgeport,” permanent exhibit on museum’s 2nd floor provides in-depth exploration of Bridgeport’s 19th Century industrialization & urbanization w/ emphasis on P.T. Barnum’s role in the city’s growth.

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 Feb 28: “Images of Nature,” photographs by Art Anderson, Bob Berthier & Frank Gardner.

Brookfield Craft Center, 286 Whisconier Rd (Rte 25), Brookfield. Call 775-4526.

Through March 26: “Bend-Twist-Wrap: Contemporary Work in Wire,” new sculpture by artists from across the country.

Bruce Museum of Arts & Sciences, One Museum Dr, Greenwich. Call 203-869-0376.

Through March 5: “Animals in Winter: Survival at Zero Degrees,” exploration of how animals deal w/ winter & cold is explored through 50+ specimens from museum’s animal mount collections, also touchable fur & hands-on activities for all ages.

Through April 23: “Ben Franklin’s Curious Mind,” original art & artifacts, also hands-on interactive displays based on Franklin’s inventions & achievements celebrate 300th birthday of one of country’s most dynamic, inventive & distinguished citizens; Feb 26, Family Day: Celebrating Ben Franklin, 1-4 pm, hands-on activities for all ages, demos incl Daniel Rosenberg & His Exploding Thunder House, also performance The Courage to Dream: The Amazing Life of Ben Franklin (at 3 pm, suitable for 1st grade & up), also free adm for anyone named Franklin (ID required); March 26, “Franklin The Musician,” 3 pm, lecture & performance by Ellen Cohn on songs Franklin wrote, songs he quoted in letters & how playing & singing in intimate settings helped foster some of his friendships.

City Lights Gallery, 37 Markle Court, Bridgeport. Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am-5:30 pm, Sat 11 am-4 pm, also by appt. Call 203-334-7748.

Through Feb 18: “Bridgeport: Past, Present & Future,” city will be the major theme of first exhibit of the year w/ works showing & by artists new & established to the city incl Eric Coleman, Doris B. Giammatteo, Suzanne Kachmar, Phil Levine, Andy Pinto, Nathaniel W. Plotkin, Rab Thornton, Lou Trapasso & Mary Witkowski.

Danbury Museum & Historical Society, 43 Main St, Danbury. Call 743-5200.

Through Feb: “Danbury: Floods of 1955,” 50th anniv commemorative exhibit depicting flooding of 1955 & changing face of city’s Main St as flood recovery necessitated demolition & replacement of key areas.

Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St, Danbury. Call 778-8337.

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

Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Rd (at corner of Center St), Easton. Call 261-0134.

Through Feb 28: “Landscapes To Love,” photographs by Heidi Schmitt Erspamer of predominantly New England scenes, ranging from macro lens studies of woodland plants to wide vistas of Long Island Sound & the Maine coast; Jan 28, artist’s reception (public invited), 12-3 pm.

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

Through March 6: “Poetry in Color,” abstract oils on paper & canvas by Anne Hebebrand.

Housatonic Museum of Art/Burt Chernow Galleries at Housatonic Community College, 90 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport. Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 am-5:30 pm (until 7 on Thurs), Sat 9 am-3 pm, Sunday 12-4 pm. Call 203-332-5000.

Through March 10: “Rebecca Thompson: Solo,” works by Ms Thompson, winner of the 2005 HMA Annual Open Juried Art Show.

Through March 10: “Martha Cooper: Hip Hop Files,” photographs by Ms Cooper.

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

Through March 31: “The Hopkins Archaeological Site,” artifacts from one of the first prehistoric sites documented in Litchfield County, which indicate site was seasonal camp regularly used for thousands of years, ca 10,000-7,000 BC.

Through March 31: “Bear Dancers,” original Native American-inspired watercolors & prints by Connecticut artist & New York City native Joan La Rocca, whose inspiration comes from nature, the American Southwest & Native American spirituality.

Through March 31: “Southwestern Indian Pottery,” pottery spanning more than 1,000 years of Southwestern pottery development, focusing on Tewa & Keresan speaking peoples of Pueblo communities of presented New Mexico & Arizona.

Knights of Columbus Museum, 1 State St, New Haven, Wed-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm. Call 203-865-0400.

Through May 31: “Shrines,” gouache paintings by the CT-based artist Mary Billingsley, using dolls & handmade props, small architectural structures & houses to illustrate the life of Christ.

Mattatuck Museum, 144 West Main St, Waterbury. Call 203-753-0381.

Through March 20: “Connecticut Seen/Connecticut Scene,” paintings from CT’s premier mid-size museums incl Mattatuck, New Britain Museum of American Art, Florence Griswold Museum, Lyman Allyn Museum & Bruce Museum explores the evolving view of nature in 19th Century CT.

Miller Studio & Gallery, 495 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury. Call 203-263-3939.

Through March 30: “Winterludes,” group exhibit featuring works to warm the coldest winter days w/ paintings by Thomas C. Adkins, Ella Crampton-Knox, Pete Bergeron, Robert Crawford, Susan Falato, Robert Holden & Robert Kozora, new works will rotate into show at different times during 11-week presentation.

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.

*(new show) Feb 11-March 18: “Continuum,” recent oil paintings & collages by Kezia Hearn, reflecting the great variety of plant forms the artist finds in her garden; Feb 11, opening reception, 2-4 pm.

Moose Hill Gallery, 451 Moose Hill Rd, Monroe. Hours vary; call for schedule. Call 261-5578.

*(new show) Feb 10-28: “Art from The Heart,” original works in oil, pottery, sculpture, photography & more by members of For Art Sake; Feb 10, opening reception, 7-9 pm; Feb 11-12, opening weekend hours 12-4 pm, raffle basket, children’s craft table.

Northwest Corner Artisans (in Backcountry Outfitters complex), 8 Old Barn Rd, Kent. Hours: daily 10 am-5 pm. Call 860-927-3069.

Through Feb 28: “Not So Wild & Wooly,” myriad fine art & craft of animal friends incl works by Heidi Kelly (stained glass), Betty Ann Medeiros (watercolors & tiles), Marian Meigs (cut paper), Hank Meirowitz (donkey photography), Near North (Adirondack animals), Joan Palmer (watercolors), Karin Smith (photography), Elissa Weil (animals painted on barn wood) & Patricia Wilson (silver jewelry from impressions of horses’ teeth).

Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave, New Haven. Call 203-432-5050.

Through spring (exhibition dates extended): “Landscape Under Siege: Invasive Plants of Connecticut,” botanically accurate watercolors by members of Greater New York chapter/Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, w/ identifying names & descriptions, highlight plants besieging the New England landscape.

Sherman Library, 1 Sherman Center, Sherman. Call 860-354-2455.

Through Feb 26: “Faces and Places: photographs by Sam Lamhut & Art von Plachecki.”

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

Through April 9: “Restored To Life: Benjamin West’s ‘The Raising of Lazarus,’” presentation of major acquisition, which was commissioned as an altarpiece for England’s Winchester Cathedral in 1780, & complete timeline of its recent restoration.

Through April 30: “Rodin: A Magnificent Obsession, Sculpture from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation,” traveling exhibition of 62 bronzes drawn from one of world’s most comprehensive collections is first major exhibition in CT of works by the French master, ranging from earliest bust of his father to later studies of dancing figures, also features his most famous sculpture, “The Thinker.”

Walsh Art Gallery at Quick Center, Fairfield Univ, North Benson Rd, Fairfield. Hours: Tues-Sun 11 am-5 pm, Sun 12-4 pm. Call 203-254-4000 x2969.

Through March 4: works by Faith Ringgold incl brilliantly colored story quilts, oils, prints, tankas, works on paper, solft sculpture & 11 orig children’s book illustrations.

Washington Art Association, Bryant Plaza, Rte 47, Washington Depot. Call 860-868-2878.

Through Feb 26: works in collage by Flavia Bacarella, drawings by Bonner Cabot & assemblages by Mary Hawvermale.

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

Through April 23: “London: John Virtue,” approx 80 recent works by Mr Virtue, done during 2003-05, while he was assoc artist of The National Gallery, London, in which he focused on buildings, their relationships between structures & the overall topography of London; Feb 12, exhibition tour, free, 2 pm; Feb 18, exhibition tour, free, noon; Feb 19, “London’s River: The Thames in verse and prose,” 2 pm, free “verbal tapestry” from sev centuries of description of the city’s oldest thoroughfare, readings by members of Yale’s English Dept; Feb 21, “Art in Context: Venue No. 2,” 12:30 pm, free lecture by Gary Haller, meet in Entrance Court of Jonathan Edwards College, call for directions.

Yale University Art Gallery, 1111 Chapel St at York, New Haven. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-6 pm. Call 203-432-0600.

Through spring: “Private Faces of Public People: 1750-1900,” 29 portrait miniatures of notable Americans incl George Washington taken soon after his election as President & Capt James Lawrence, War or 1812 naval hero & commander of Chesapeake.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

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

Feb 20-21: Auditions for Lobby Hero, 7-9 pm, director Sonnie Osborne is seeking multi-racial cast of 3 men & 1 woman, all ages 20-40, for Kenneth Lonergan’s modern morality tale, readings will be from script, professionals & amateurs welcome, rehearsals to begin in March (usu Mon-Fri eves), performances will be weekends April 280May 14, visit TheatreWorks.us for cast breakdown & other details.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

Feb 17: Ballroom Dancing at Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sandpit Rd, Danbury, adm $10, cash bar, door prizes, coffee & dessert; 748-1278.

Feb 24-March 12: Broadway Bound at Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Rd, Danbury, tickets $35 adults, $25 students, performances Fri-Sat 5:30 (reception, then dinner at 6 & show at 8), Sun 12:30 pm (reception, dinner at 1, show at 3), revue of some of Broadway’s best musicals follows buffet dinner; 470-7528.

Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras, at Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203-459-4249, 203-452-0003.

Feb 12, GBYO Winter Concert, 3 pm, tickets $12 adults, $10 students & seniors, performances by String Orchestra (Mozart’s “Allegro” from Symphony in G Major), Concert Orchestra (works of Handel & Brahms), Symphony Orchestra (Mozart, also Tchaikovsky’s Waltz from Sleeping Beauty) & Principal Orchestra (Copland’s ”Quiet City,” w/ guest soloists Zebediah Upton on trumpet, John Hanulik, Jr on English horn).

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

Feb 12, WCSU Faculty Concert, noon, free performance by pianist Patricia Lutnes & saxophonist Dr Dan Goble will incl works of Brahms, Chopin, Scarlatti, C.P.E. Bach & Astor Piazzolla; Feb 24, WCSU Jazz Orchestra, 8 pm, free.

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, $18 adults, $16 seniors, free ages 5-14 w/ ticket-holding adult (subscriptions available), reception follows performances: Feb 12, pianist Katia Skanavi, program to incl Handel’s Chaconne, Liszt’s Tre sonetti di Petrarca & Vallee d’Obermann, Chopin’s Grande Polonaise Brillante & Rachmaninoff’s Etudes Tableaux, Opus 39.

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

Performances 8 pm unless noted: Feb 11, Roberta Flack Valentine’s Day Diamond & Champagne Fundraiser, evening begins 7 pm, $95 & $125, performance & pre-concert reception.

Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra. Call 203-438-3889.

Concerts at Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Rd, Ridgefield, 8 pm, tickets $15-$50: March 18, “Classical Masters,” Haydn’s Symphony No. 2, J.S. Bach’s Piano Concerto in D minor (w/ guest pianist Michelle Kim) & Haydn’s Symphony #83 (The Hen).

Films _________________

Bethel Cinema, 269 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. Call 748-3355 (United Jewish Center).

Fourth Annual Free Film Festival, presented by the Robert S. Young Foundation of the United Jewish Center, free: Feb 19, Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust, noon.

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

Alliance Française Cinémathèque series, free, screenings 2 pm: Feb 26, Gigi.

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

Feb 10-16: The Producers (PG-13), Fri-Sat 7 & 9:20 pm, Sun-Thurs 7 pm, mat Sat 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

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

Through June 15: Bugs!, Mon-Fri 11 am, 1, 2 & 3 pm, Sat-Sun 1 & 3 pm; also double feature Fri-Sat 7 pm.

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

Lost & Found Film Series, 7:30 pm screenings followed by guest speakers for Q&A, tickets $15 adults, $10 seniors, $7.59 students: Feb 17, Murder in The First, w/ film’s director Marc Rocco as guest speaker, Q&A to be hosted by Morton Dean & Ira Joe Fisher.

Western CT State University in Student Center, 181 White St/Rte 6, Danbury. Call 837-8486.

10th Annual Festival of African Films, screenings Wed at noon, Fri 7 pm, free: Feb 10, double-feature of La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil (The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun), in Wolof w/ subtitles & You, Africa!, in Wolof & French w/ subtitles; Feb 15-16 (no Friday feature, Thurs show will be at 7 pm), Karmen Ge (Carmen), in French & Wolof w/ subtitles; Feb 22 & 24, Ndeysaan (Oh, Life!), in Lébou & Wolof w/ subtitles.

For Kids & Families _________

Feb 21: “Just For Kids,” The Mattatuck Museum Arts & History Center, 144 West Main St, Waterbury, 9 am-noon, $8 for museum members, $10 non-members, hands-on workshops for ages 6-11 w/ artist Beatriz Beckford will incl exploration of various media & viewing of museum’s current shows for inspiration, workshop also being offered Feb 22, registration requested; 203-753-0381 x10.

Feb 22: “Just For Kids” at Mattatuck Museum, 144 West Main St, Waterbury, 9 am-noon, $8 members, $10 non-members, see details under Feb 21; 203-753-0381 x10.

Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave/Rte 302, Bethel. Call 794-8756.

Feb 11, Harry Potter Book Discussion, 10 am, teens invited to attend 90-min book discussion concerning Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets.

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

Children’s programs, free unless specified: Feb 11, Valentine’s Day Craft Workshop, 1 pm, $3 materials fee (due at registration), ages 6 & up invited to join Marie Walker for craft workshop.

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

Goldilocks, through Feb 26, curtain Sat-Sun 12 & 2:30 pm, all seats $12.50; also (Sat) Feb 4 at 9:30 am; no 2:30 show (Sun) Feb 12.

Greater Bridgeport Youth Orchestras, at Klein Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203-459-4249.

Feb 12, GBYO Winter Concert, 3 pm, tickets $12 adults, $10 students & seniors, performances by String Orchestra (Mozart’s “Allegro” from Symphony in G Major), Concert Orchestra (works of Handel & Brahms), Symphony Orchestra (Mozart, also Tchaikovsky’s Waltz from Sleeping Beauty) & Principal Orchestra (Copland’s ”Quiet City,” w/ guest soloists Zebediah Upton on trumpet, John Hanulik, Jr on English horn).

Miscellaneous ___________

Feb 11: CT ConTacts Valentine Ball for Singles, Fireside Inn, 123 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown, 8 pm-1 am, adm $17 incl dinner & special Valentine’s dessert buffets, dancing to DJ selections (Top 40, soft rock, recent oldies & requests), jackets for men, dressy attire for women suggested; 203-468-1144.

Feb 11: Cupid’s Romance Book Sale, Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, 9 am-1 pm, romance books of all genres, paperbacks & hard covers available, prices will start at 50¢; 794-8756.

Feb 11: Planetarium Show & Telescope Viewing, WCSU Westside Observatory & Planetarium, Lake Ave Extension, Danbury, free, planetarium show 5 pm, then ongoing telescope viewing of Mars near Pleiades star cluster, Saturn, moon near full & winter sky; 837-8672.

Feb 11-12: Western New England Home Show, WCSU’s O’Neill Athletic & Convocation Center (westside campus), Lake Avenue Extension, Danbury, 11 am-6 pm, adm $6 adults, $5 seniors ($1 off for anyone bringing donation for The Giving Pantry), product displays by home improvement companies,  info available; 860-563-2111.

Feb 13: “Prudence Crandall, Voice of Conviction,” C.H. Booth Library lower meeting room, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7:30 pm, free one-woman play by Donna Dufresne interprets the life of the woman who opened the first academy for “Young Missus of color” in New England, sponsored by Newtown Historical Society; 426-5937.

Feb 13: Housatonic Valley Paddlers Club meeting, Brookfield Community Center, 100 Pocono Rd, Brookfield, 7 pm, free (non-members & newcomers welcome), “Saving America’s Lighthouses” presentation by Rick Koehler will incl brief history of lighthouses in New England, photos, replicas, lenses & more; 263-3281.

Feb 14: “The Impact of Satellite Radio,” Western CT State University White Hall Room 209, 181 White St/Rte 6, Danbury, 5:25 pm, free discussion by radio professional Tom Zarecki on the impact of XM & Sirius satellite radio networks; 860-210-2146 x129.

Feb 14: CT Catholic Singles Valentine’s Dinner Dance, Roberto’s Restaurant, 505 Main St/Rte 25, Monroe, 6:30 pm, $30 incl hot buffet, dessert & coffee, dancing to DJ selections, all welcome; 261-2414.

Feb 16: Telescope Viewing, Western CT State University Westside Observatory & Planetarium, Lake Ave Extension, Danbury, 6:30 pm, free viewing of Mars near Pleiades star cluster, Saturn & winter sky; 837-8672.

Feb 16: “Bird Stories, Friendship & Memories” at Western CT Bird Club meeting, Woodbury Public Library, 269 Main St South/Rte 6, Woodbury, social gathering at 6:30 pm, meeting begins at 7, public invited to join members for swapping bird stories, informal evening of bird talk & anecdotes, also slides by Larry Fischer, used & rare bird books & more; 426-3901, 860-354-8417.

Feb 18: Indoor Flea Market, The Church of the Good Shepherd, 680 Racebrook Rd, Orange, 8 am-2 pm; 203-934-4446.

Feb 18: CT ConTacts Singles Dance Party at Colonial Tavern, Hawley Rd (off Rte 67), Oxford, 8 pm-1 am, adm $17 incl dinner & dessert buffets, dancing to DJ selections (Top 40, soft rock, recent oldies & requests), dress to impress (no jeans); 203-468-1144.

Feb 20: Housatonic Valley group/The Sierra Club meeting, at Brookfield Community Center, 100 Pocono Rd, Brookfield, 7:30 pm, free & open to non-members, screening of The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and The Collape of The American Dream; 775-9644.

Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. Call 794-8756.

Free public programs: Feb 13, “Chocolate Dessert Demo & Tasting,” 7 pm, free program (registration required) by Reudi Hauser will offer ideas for delicious desserts to be made at home.

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

Programs free unless noted: Feb 11, Basic Computing, 9 am-noon, free (registration needed), hands-on workshop designed for true beginner will focus on keyboard, shortcuts, mouse use & more; Feb 13, Daytime Book Group, 1 pm, discussion of The Human Stain by Philip Roth, newcomers welcome; Feb 18, Digital Photography Basics, 10-11:30 am.

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

Meetings 3rd Thurs/month, 7:30 pm, non-members always welcome: next meeting Feb 16, mat cutting presentation by Karen Kensek, also presentation by Trish Dardine (MyOwnTown.us, as tool for marketing photographic prints).

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

Feb 11, Wolf Talk, 1 pm, $8 (reservations suggested), Michael & Amy LeBlanc will lead one-hour program w/ interesting facts about wolves, live male & female timber wolves will be on site.

Kismet, programs at Bethel Arts Junction, 5 Depot Place, Bethel. Call 748-3125, 426-9448.

Dinner programs 4th Sat/month, 7-10 pm, $15 & bring dish to share, RSVP requested: Feb 25, Harvey Cushing will lead discussion on “Growing an Earth-Friendly Garden Using Simple Methods to Make Gardens Easier & Self-Sustaining,” program will be lead-in to organic garden space to be available this summer.

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

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9:30 am (later start during winter season), free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders as follows: Feb 11, NY City to China Town & Little Italy w/ leader Molly Schleis (748 5202), plan on all day w/ train ride into city & dinner out, depart Newtown 10:30 am, bring lunch to eat on train, arrive 12:35 pm, estimated cost for train & dinner $45 (adults) or $33 (seniors); Feb 18, Ragged Mountain, New Britain (Dale Rupert, 794-9350).

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.

Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, Inc. (SCAN), Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 426-6654.

Meetings 4th Wed/month, 1:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: Feb 22, presentation by sculptor Mary Lou Alberetti.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), 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.

Treehouse Comedy Productions.

Shows at The New Sorrento, 32 Newtown Rd, Danbury, 9:30 pm, tickets $15 unless noted: Feb 11, headliner Mitchell Walters (“The Area Code Guy”), opening sets by Peter Bales & Rich Walker; Feb 18, headliner Bob Nelson, special guest Peter Pitofsky, tickets $19.50.

Wednesday Night Poetry, NEW LOCATION: at Molten Java, 102 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. Call 426-3388 (Faith Vicinanza), 739-0313 (Molten Java).

Series presented ev Wed 7:30-10 pm (featured poets 8:30 pm, poetry workshop 9:15 pm), adm $1 ($3 requested if out-of-state or major guest poet), guest/featured poets as follows: Feb 15, 4th Annual Erotic Poetry Open Mic, leave the kids home (remember: erotic poetry, not porn!).

Theatre ______________

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

Nunsense A-Men!, through March 12, curtain Fri 8 pm, Sat 5:30 & 8:30 pm, Sun 5:30 pm, tickets $10-$30, discounts for seniors, students & groups, rush tickets ($25) 1 hour before curtain if available.

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

After the Quake (world premiere), Feb 22-March 19, curtain Sun, Tues-Wed 7 pm, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun & Wed 2 pm, Sat 3 pm, tickets $20-$60, student, senior & group discounts available.

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

Lend Me A Tenor, Feb 24-March 24, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (March 5 only) 2 pm, tickets $20 adults, $17 seniors & students; also (Thurs) March 23, 8 pm.

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

Laughter on The 23rd Floor, through March 5, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Thurs, Sat-Sun 2 pm, call for ticket prices; Feb 11, Opening Night & Reception; Feb 16, Beer & Pizza Night; Feb 24, Dessert Night; March 3, Wine & Martini Night.

Square One Theatre Company, Stratford Theatre, 2422 Main St, Stratford. Call 203-375-8778.

The Value of Names, through Feb 18, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm, tickets $16 adults, $15 seniors & students.

Stamford TheatreWorks, 200 Strawberry Hill Ave (on Sacred Heart campus), Stamford. Call 203-359-4414.

National Pastime, through Feb 19,curtain Tues-Sat 8 pm, also Sun 7 pm, also first Tues (Feb 7) 7 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun 2 pm, tickets $21-$34.

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

The Last Five Years, Feb 17-March 18, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (March 5 only) 2 pm, tickets $20; (Thurs) Feb 16, dress rehearsals, area seniors welcome free of charge; Feb 23, Pay-What-You-Want Night, 8 pm, name your ticket price.

UConn Waterbury, 99 East Main St, Waterbury. Call 203-236-9801.

The Vagina Monologues, Feb 10-12, curtain Fri-Sat 7 pm, Sun 2 pm, tickets $10, proceeds from performance in association w/ V-Day 2006 College Campaign will benefit Safe Haven of Greater Waterbury.

Western CT State University’s Berkshire Theater, Osborne St, Danbury. Call 837-8732.

As You Like It, March 2-11, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, tickets $18 adults, $15 seniors & students.

Wilton Playshop, 15 Lover’s Lane (off Rte 33), Wilton. Call 203-762-7629.

Dinner With Friends, Feb 10-25, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (Feb 19 only) 2 pm, tickets $18 adults, $15 students & seniors.

Yale Repertory Theatre, 1120 Chapel St (at corner of York), New Haven. Call 203-432-1234.

The People Next Door, through Feb 4, curtain Fri-Sat, Tues-Thurs 8 pm, mat some Sat & Wed (call for schedule), tickets $30-$50; Jan 27, Talk Back, post-show Q&A w/ cast & crew members; Feb 4, matinee will be audio described.

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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, 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, but must be in sharp focus. Please call for specs if you plan to email digital photo files.