Antiques Shows______

Every Fri-Sun (year-round): Redwood Country Flea Market, 170 South Turnpike Rd, Wallingford, 6 am-2:30 pm, free adm & parking, 50-80 dealers; 203-269-3500.

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.

Jan 1: Glastonbury Antiques & Collectibles Gala New Year’s Show, Glastonbury High School, Hubbard St, Glastonbury, 9 am-4:30 pm, adm $7, 130 dealers, from New England, NY & RI; 860-342-2540.

Jan 9-10: 57th Papermania Plus, XL Center, Asylum St, Hartford, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $7, senior citizens half-price on Sun, 160 exhibitors, appraisals (Sun 11-2); 860-563-9975, 860-529-2234.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

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

Through Jan 3: “Pretty Tough: Contemporary Storytelling,” fairy tale-like depictions by 10 women focusing on narrative representation & figuration incl discussions on warfare, the environment & female struggles in their work.

Through Jan 10: “Gerard Hemsworth: Hidden Agenda,” confrontational, disconcerting & provocative paintings by the British artist celebrating his first solo US exhibition.

Through Jan 10: “Tom Sachs: Cameras,” work by the CT-born photographer focusing exclusively on cameras.

Through Jan 17: “Edward Tufte: Seeing Around,” first major exhibition of Tufte’s sculpture, in museum’s garden, of rusting weathered pcs against new plantings of white pine, spruce, red cedar & bamboo.

Through Jan 17: “Bike Rides: The Exhibition,” exploration of the growing relevance of bicycles in contemporary art & culture.

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

Through Jan 10: “Celebrate the Season,” annual presentation of Victorian Christmas era decorations & trends throughout museum.

Blue Z Coffee House, 127 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-364-1003, 203-364-0631.

Through Dec 31: mixed media works by Jessica Gaddis, who finds inspiration in the natural world.

Brookfield Craft Center, 286 Whisconier Rd (Rte 25), Brookfield; 203-775-4526.

Brookfield Museum & Historical Society, 165 Whisconier Rd (Rtes 133 & 25), Brookfield Center; 740-8140.

Through March 31: “Toys,” Civil War & Victorian era dolls, collections of lead soldiers, vintage Disney toys, pre war games, 19th C child’s sewing machine, early Gilbert erector sets, vintage cowboy caps & pistols & much more for children of all ages.

Connecticut Historical Society, One Elizabeth St, Hartford; 860-236-5621.

Through Jan 27: “She Shoots… She Scores! Women’s Basketball in Connecticut,” memorabilia & footage from last century tracing the game since inception & correlation between women’s changing social & political roles paralleling game then to now, representing teams incl UConn Huskies, CT Sun, New England Blizzard, All American Red Heads, et al.

Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St, Danbury; 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.

Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Rd (at corner of Center St), Easton; 203-261-0134.

Through Dec 31: “The Katherine Amelia Frederic Papers,” collection covering unique slice of 105 years of American history salvaged from Capitol Hill carriage house & researched to uncover a family history, scanned, catalogued & preserved incl Christmas cards from 1920s & 30s, presented by Tony Neidenbach.

Fairfield Public Library, 1080 Old Post Rd, Fairfield; 203-256-3155.

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.

Through Dec 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.

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

Through Jan 13: “Narratives,” mixed media works by Fethi Meghelli & digital photo collages by Debra Roinestad.

Gunn Memorial Library & Museum, 5 Wykeham Rd, Washington Green; 860-868-7756.

Through Jan 17: “Christmas Through The Ages,” vintage toys & memorabilia in festive Victorian era, 1920s & 1950s settings, also dolls from past generations, Christmas trees from different eras & vintage dresses.

Knights of Columbus Museum, 1 State St, New Haven; 203-865-0400.

Through Jan 31: “Ninth Annual Christmas Tree Festival,” artificial trees decorated w/ handmade ornaments by 500 CT students in grades K-5.

Through Jan 31: “A Latino Christmas: Nativities of Latin America,” Nativity scenes, or crèches, from 16 Latin countries, 4 southwestern US states & Puerto Rico.

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

Through Feb 7: “F. Luis Mora and The Expression of Beauty,” 45+ works incl paintings, murals, drawings & preparatory studies by master painter (1874-1940) who made his home in Gaylordsville.

Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury; 860-350-2181.

Through Jan 4: “Making Faces,” portraits, self-portraits & whimsical constructions by Peter Steiner.

Mocha Coffee House, 3 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook; 203-364-9200.

Through Dec 31: decoupaged items filled (covered) w/ whimsy by Robert Rabinowitz & photo realistic paintings by Lee Brownell.

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

Through Jan 31: works by Hans Hoffmann & George McNeil.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 800 Main St, Hartford; 860-838-4055.

Through Jan 3: “The MATRIX Effect,” 26-min video by Christian Jankowski done in 2000 to celebrate 25th anniv of MATRIX project coupled w/ featured MATRIX artists Janine Antoni, John Baldessari, Dawoud Bey, Christo & Jeanne-Claude, Louise Lawler, Sol Le Witt, Glenn Ligon & Adrian Piper.

Washington Art Association, 4 Bryan Plaza, Rte 47, Washington Depot; 860-868-2878.

Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Rd, Wilton. Grounds are always open dawn through dusk; call for visitor center and gallery hours; 203-761-9945, 203-834-1896.

White Silo Farm & Winery, 32 Route 37 East Sherman; 860-355-0271.

Wisdom House/Marie Louise Trichet Gallery, 229 East Litchfield Rd, Litchfield; 860-567-3163.

Through Dec 31: “15th Anniversary Retrospective #3,” works by artists who have had solo shows in gallery since its 1994 opening incl Norell Gudaitis, Linda Hoffman, Barbara Wilk, Danielle Mailer, David Skora, Elizabeth MacDonald, Florin Firimita, Gus Moran, Inge Morath, Michael Sundra, Natasha Cohen, Susan Rood, Ruth Middleton & Warren Prindle.

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

Yale University Art Gallery, 1111 Chapel St at York, New Haven; 203-432-0600.

Through Jan 27: “Picasso and the Allure of Language,” 70 works in all media by Picasso, as well as select examples by fellow artist Georges Braque, also photos, letters, manuscripts & book projects by other artists & writers, revealing Picasso’s deep & multidimensional interest in writing & language & the many ways in which that transformed his work.

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

Town Players of New Canaan, The Powerhouse, Waveny Park, 681 South Ave/Rte 124, New Canaan. Call 203-536-5393.

Jan 4-5: Open auditions for its Conor McPherson’s The Weir, callbacks will be Jan 6, director Tim Cronin has roles for males in his 30s, 40s & 50s & female in her 30s, Irish accents used in play but not required for auditions, perusal scripts are available at the reference desk of New Canaan Library, performances will be Feb 26-March 13, contact Mr Cronin at above phone # for addt’l info.

 

Concerts, Musical Events ____

Dec 27: Fifth Annual Messiah Community Sing, Roxbury Congregational Church, 24 Church St/Rte 317, Roxbury, 4 pm, free (Schirmer scores, $15), community invited to join 4 soloists (Kimberlee Baron, soprano; Nicole Thorpe, alto; Sean Fallon, tenor & Corey Gaudreau, bass) & guest musicians Larry Deming & Kate O’Brien on violin, George Wetstone on Viola, Mary Costanza on cello, Charlie Van Kirk on Timpani, Kirk Dulaney on Trumpet & Sandy Kleisner on harpsichord & organ, all under direction of conductor Christopher Shay, for singing of Handel’s masterpiece; 860-355-0025.

Dec 30: 9th Annual Holiday Concert by Concert Society Chamber Orchestra, Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 8 pm, tickets $35 must be purchased or reserved in advance, program to incl works of Mendelssohn, Bach, Mozart, et al, with guest conductor William Boughton, soprano Maria Ferranta & bassoonist Wayne Hileman; 203-270-4335.

Newtown Friends of Music, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown; 203-426-6470.

Concerts at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 3 pm, tickets $20, free ages 5-14 w/ ticket-holding adult, reception follows performances: Feb 14, Paris Piano Trio, works of Mozart, Ravel & Schubert

Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Rd, Danbury; 203-268-8570.

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

For Kids & Families _________

Dec 29: “Teddy Bears, Toys & Tea,” Mattatuck Museum Arts & History Center, 144 West Main St, Waterbury, 1-3 pm, $5 ($4 museum members; adults free) children & teddy bears invited for scavenger hunt, tea party w/ snacks & storytelling by Rita Hughes, registration requested; 203-753-0381 x10.

Audubon Center at Bent of the River, 185 East Flat Hill Rd, Southbury; 203-264-5098.

Free programs unless noted, reservations requested, call if weather is questionable:

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 30, Beyond Candy Land: European Board Game Fun, 1-4 pm, ongoing games for ages 4 & up (adults/parents must stay w/ ages 4-10) w/ educator Eric Paradis.

Young Adult programs, free unless specified:

Family programs:

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 ___________

Jan 3: Screening of Eccentricities of a Nightingale, Ridgefield Library, 472 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, 2 pm, screening of adaptation of Tennessee Williams play will also serve as prelude to new playwright discussion group hosted by Ridgefield Theater Barn (begins Jan 6, see separate listing); 203-431-9850, 203-438-2282.

Jan 6: “Night of the Lyrical Playwright/Great Playwrights Series: Tennessee Williams,” Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield, 7:30 pm, $5, reading of Williams’s Eccentricities of a Nightingale followed by discussion, light refreshments; 203-431-9850.

Jan 9: “Whose Barn Is It Anyway?” at Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield, 8 pm, $22, comedy improv by theater’s Role in the Hay Players, cabaret seating; 203-431-9850.

Active Singles. Call 203-271-2125, 860-489-9611.

Singles hikes, 9 am, 4 skill levels available, no dogs or kids – events are for adults, optional lunch follows each hike:

Audubon Center at Bent of the River, 185 East Flat Hill Rd, Southbury; 203-264-5098.

Free programs unless noted, reservations requested, call if weather is questionable:

Ballroom Dinner Dance, Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Rd, Danbury; 203-268-8570.

Every Wed 7-11 pm, $15, singles & couples welcome, dance lesson, buffet dinner & cash bar available.

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

Jan 13, memoir discussion series, 7:30 pm, Places in Between by Rory Stewart; Jan 27, memoir discussion series, 7:30 pm, Girls of Tender Age  by Mary-Ann Tirone Smith; Feb 10, The Colored People by Henry Louis Gates Jr; Feb 24, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris.

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-2475. Film Saturday, December 26 through Thursday, December 31, “Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs,” (PG) Show times Saturday through Wednesday, 7 and 9 pm. NO Thursday evening show. MATINEES Saturday, December 26 through Thursday, December 31, 1 and 4 pm. CLOSED New Year’s Day.

Flagpole Camera Club, C.H. Booth Library lower meeting room, 25 Main St, Newtown; 203-426-2316.

Meetings 3rd Thurs/month, 7:30 pm, non-members always welcome:

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

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 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:

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.

Shepaug Eagle Observation Area, Shepaug Housatonic Hydroelectric Station, River Rd, Southbury; 800-368-8954 (reservations line open Tues-Fri 9 am-3 pm). Seasonal: Observation area open Dec 26 to March 7 only, Wed, Sat-Sun 9 am-1 pm, free adm but reservations absolutely required (reservations line now open.

Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, Inc. (SCAN), Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-6654 or 203-798-0560.

Programs 2nd Wed/month, 7:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments:

Programs 4th Wed/month, 1:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments:

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-6224 (ask for Betty) or 203-264-3728 (ask for Krista).

Non-profit weight loss support group meets every Mon 6:30-7:30 pm (weigh-ins 5:45-6:15, meetings 6:30-7:30), meetings $2/week, membership $24/year.

Tarrywile Park, 70 Southern Blvd, Danbury; 203-744-3130.

Guided hikes, free, cancelled if heavy rain, wear rugged, sturdy shoes, bring water & light snack, pre-registration requested:

Treehouse Comedy Productions. Call 203-702-7577.

Shows at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown:

Shows at Harborside Bar & Grille, 946 Ferry Blvd, Stratford, 9 pm, $15 unless noted: Dec 31, Rich Vos & Bonnie McFarlane, Mitchell “The Area Code Guy” Walters hosting, 8 pm ($20.10) & 10 pm ($34.95 incl party favors, balloon drops, champagne & dancing after the show).

Shows at The Holiday Inn, 80 Newtown Rd, Danbury: Jan 2, Rich Vos headlining, Bonnie McFarlane opening, 9 pm, $19.50; Jan 8, Gallagher, 8 pm, $30.

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 30, special event at WestConn Alumni Hall, 180 White St, Danbury, 45 min open mic followed by featured poet Daniel Nesters; Jan 6, Haiku Slam Night.

Theatre ______________

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

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:

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

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

Season’s Greetings, through 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.

WCSU Opera, at Western CT State University’s White Hall/Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St/Rte 6, Danbury; 203-837-8350, 203-837-8499.

Western CT State University’s Berkshire Theater, Osborne St, Danbury; 203-837-8732.

Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport; 203-227-4177.

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