Antiques Shows __________________________

Dec 4-7: Antiquarius 2008: The Greenwich Antiques Show, Greenwich Civic Center, 90 Harding Rd, Old Greenwich, Fri 6:30-9:30 pm (preview party, $300/person, $500/couple, reservations required), Fri-Sat 11 am-6 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm, adm $15, 40+ dealers, Designer Day on Fri (call for details); 203-869-6899 x14.

Dec 6-7: Antiques Affair, Scofield Magnet Middle School, 641 Scofieldtown Rd, Stamford, Sat 11 am-5 pm, Sun 11 am-4 pm, adm $7, 65 booths, verbal painting appraisals (Sat 11-4, $5, by Gene Shannon/Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers); 914-273-4667, show phone 914-589-1355.

Dec 7: Wilton Holiday Antiques Show, Wilton High School Field House, 395 Danbury Rd/Rte 7, Wilton, 10 am-5 pm (early buying 9 am, $20), adm $10, 100± dealers, proceeds to John G. Corr Memorial Award Fund;

203-762-3525.

Dec 14: 23rd Antique Stocking Stuffers Show & Sale, Greenwich Civic Center, 90 Harding Rd, Old Greenwich, 10 am-5 pm, adm $7, 70 dealers, proceeds to benefit Friends of the Civic Center; 914-273-4667, show phone

203-637-4583.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places ____________________________

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St, Ridgefield;

203-438-4519.

Through Dec 7: Video A, continuous loop presents Jumping Nauman – The Exhibitions of Bruce Nauman in 2006 by Miguel Soares & 16 Possibilities for an 8 Minute Car Drive (Shelburne, Nova Scotia by Letha Wilson, both approaching the idea of “mapping” a landscape from radically different perspectives.

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

Through Jan 4: “Celebrate the Season,” museum’s period rooms decorated in elaborate 19th Century style demonstrating early trends & later elaborate ornaments became part of American tradition; Dec 6, Twenty-One Elephants Book Reading & Tale, 3 pm, author Phil Bildner will read his children’s book w/ ties to P.T. Barnum, reservations requested; Dec 13, Barnum Holiday Festival, 11 am-2 pm, “Celebrate the Season” gallery talk, 11 am, $7 adults, $5 students & seniors, $4 ages 4-17 (incl museum adm), led by Executive Director Kathleen Maher, then children’s crafts & caroling by Yule Tide Carolers at noon, also judging of Family Gingerbread House Creations entries.

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

In Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (lower meeting room) — *(new show) Dec 11-20: “NHS Art Portfolio Students,” works by the 13 Newtown High School seniors in Diane Dutchick’s college prep art course; Dec 14, opening reception, 2-4 pm.

Gregory James Gallery, 13 Main St (on the green), New Milford;

860-354-3436.

*(new show) Through Jan 17: “Small Treasures & More,” 8th annual holiday group exhibit features works by Thomas Adkins, James Coe, Rick Daskam, Ralph Della-Volpe, Robert Ferrucci, Vincent Giarrano, Christopher Magadini, Woldemar Neufeld, Alain Picard, Bill Rice, Danielle Wexler & Scott Zuckerman.

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

Through Dec 28: “The Brave and Valiant: The History of the Waterbury Fire Department,” historic photos, oral histories & memorabilia loaned by local firefighters & their families.

Morrison Gallery, Kent Village Barns, 8 Old Barn Rd (near Rte 7 at Rte 341), Kent; 860-927-4501.

*(new show) Dec 6-Jan 11: 15 new oils by New England artist Chris Armstrong featuring works on canvas, aluminum & panel; Dec 6, opening reception, 4-6 pm.

Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby; 734-2513.

Through Dec 21: “A Christmas Carol in Derby,” scenes from Dickens’ classic will be created within rooms of museum by volunteer members of local garden clubs; Dec 5, Twilight Tour, 4-6:30 pm.

Savage Studio, 93 Mill Plain Rd, Danbury. Call 743-3000.

*(new show) Dec 5-24: “Studies in Form,” new works in porcelain & stoneware vases incl functional pcs & sculptures by Phyllis Savage.

Sculpture Barn, 3 Milltown Rd (at Rte 39), New Fairfield; 746-6101.

Through Dec 14: “Atelier V,” member artist show & sale featuring contemporary metal, stone & wood sculptures created on site under master sculptor David Boyajian.

Woodbury Antiques & Fine Art, 473 Main St South, Woodbury; 266-4753.

Through Dec 6: oils & watercolors by interpretive realist Marija Pavlovich McCarthy.

 

Auditions, Juried Events  _________________

Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield.

Dec 7-8: Open auditions for Paula Vogel’s How I Learned To Drive, Sun 6-8 pm, Mon 7-9 pm, details at RidgefieldTheaterBarn.org o contact director David Bass (DbassLegal@yahoo.com).

TheatreWorks New Milford, 5 Brookside Ave, New Milford. Ca,ll

860-350-6863.

Dec 8-9: Auditions for David Lindsay-Abaire’s Rabbit Hole, 7-9 pm, director Susan Pettibone has openings for 2 men (ages 17-45) & 3 women (ages 30-65) for opening production of 2009 season, professionals & amateurs welcome, readings will be from script, stipend available for all performers, technicians & directors, character breakdowns available at TheatreWorks.us, rehearsals to begin in Jan (usu Mon-Thurs eves), performances to be weekends Feb 20-March 14.

Concerts, Musical Events ______________

Dec 5: “Music Out on the Town – The Wind Ensemble of Western Connecticut,” at Naugatuck Valley Community College Mainstage Theatre, 750 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury, 7:30 pm, donations accepted, program to incl songs from South Pacific & Phantom of the Opera, selections from Carmen, works of Benny Goodman & Ray Charles, plus holiday classics, suitable for all ages (second performance Dec 7 in Woodbury); 426-6148.

Dec 5: CT Choral Society Chamber Singers & Naugatuck Valley Community College Gospel Choir at North Congregational Church, 11 Main St North/Rte 6 at Rte 47 (opposite Canfield Corner), Woodbury, 7:30 pm, donations accepted, a cappella performance by CCS Chamber Singers will incl traditional carols, also familiar & unusual holiday music, performance by Gospel Choir will offer carols & other selections in gospel style, reception to follow; 263-0788.

Dec 6: 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; 426-9998.

Dec 6: “Carnival To Country,” Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, Ridgefield High School, 700 N. Salem Ave, Ridgefield, 8 pm, $25-$50 ($15-$30 children), Music Director Gerald Steichen will lead program to incl Berlioz Le Carnaval Romain (Roman Carnival) & Strauss Concerto for Oboe w/ guest Dorothy S. Darlington (oboe) & Beethoven Symphony No. 6, Pastorale;

203-438-3889.

Dec 7: Newtown Choral Society Winter Concert, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 4 pm, $9, $7 seniors & ages 12 & under, performance of Rheinberger’s Der Stern von Bethlehem (The Star of Bethlehem), also songs of celebration from US & Europe; 426-4430.

Dec 7: Classical guitarist Daniel Hallford at Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, 2 pm, free performance of Spanish, Baroque & recently composed pcs; 794-8756 x4.

Dec 7: “Music Out on the Town – The Wind Ensemble of Western Connecticut,” at Woodbury Senior Center, 7 Old Mountain Rd (next to old town hall), Woodbury, 3 pm, donations accepted, program to incl songs from South Pacific & Phantom of the Opera, selections from Carmen, works of Benny Goodman & Ray Charles, plus holiday classics, suitable for all ages (second performance Dec 7 in Woodbury); 426-6148.

Dec 12: Christmas Concert by pianist Richard Deal, Newtown Bible Church, 35 Sugar St/Rte 302, Newtown, 7:30 pm, free concert will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, all welcome; 426-6484.

Dec 12: “Candlelight and Carols” by CT Choral Society, Trinity Episcopal Church, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 8 pm, $20, holiday concert by 60-voice chorus will include works of Tomas Luis de Victoria and Morten Lauridsen, Britten, Rutter, and other holiday selections, also Dec 14 in Woodbury; 203-206-7186.

Dec 14: “A Holiday Broadway Celebration,” Edmond Town Hall theater, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 6:30 pm, $12 adults, $10 students & seniors, performance by students & staff of Sabrina’s Encore Productions LLC, with guest singers from Newtown High School, will double as fundraiser for theater; 304-1236.

For Kids & Families _______________________

Dec 6: Breakfast with Santa & Mrs Claus, Newtown Middle School cafeteria, Queen St, Newtown, 9-11 am, free breakfast, Mad Science show, crafts & more fun, hosted by Newtown Parks & Rec; 270-4340.

Dec 13: Photos with Santa Fundraiser, The Magic Garden, 6 Queen St, Newtown, 11 am-4 pm, $10, professional photographer Cynthia McIntyre will create 5x7 photos of children with Santa, all proceeds to benefit Newtown Youth & Family Services; 364-1592.

 

Miscellaneous ____________________________

Through Dec 21: “A Christmas Carol” at Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, Thurs-Sun 10 am-4 pm, each room of museum decorated by local garden clubs following A Christmas Carol theme, guided tours available, Twilight Tours (Dec 5, 12 & 19, 4-6:30 pm); 734-2513.

Through Dec 22: Folk Art Santas, Navone Studios, 165 Hanover Rd, Newtown, weekends, also weekdays after 5, by appt only, new selection of hand carved & painted folk art sants for viewing & purchase; 426-2927.

Dec 5: Ridgefield Holiday Tree Lighting, Ridgefield Town Hall, 400 Main St/Rte 35, call for start time, visits from Santa & Mrs Claus, caroling & holiday treats; 203-431-2774.

Dec 5: Twilight Tour of Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 4-6:30 pm, tours of museum, lit by candlelight, decorated by local garden clubs for holidays following A Christmas Carol theme (also Dec 12 & 19); 734-2513.

Dec 5: Holiday Cocktail Party & Open House, Glebe House Museum, 49 Hollow Rd, Woodbury, 5:30-7:30 pm, $25, museum decorated for 18th Century Christmas (& all decorations for sale), Holiday Gift Shoppe, wine tastings, silent auction, live music (open house continues Sat 10 am-3 pm, free adm); 263-2855.

Dec 5-6: Green Holiday at Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, 9 Main St North (Rte 61 at 132), Bethlehem, Fri 6-9 pm, Sat 10 am-4 pm, children invited for green holiday craft activity, botanical art by Betsy Rogers-Knox, also holiday shopping in gift shop (20% off all purchases), donations for local food bank requested, house will NOT be open for tours; 266-7596.

Dec 5-6: 28th Annual Christmas Town Festival, Bethlehem Center, Rte 61 at 132, Fri 5-10 pm, Sat 10 am-4 pm, tree lighting w/ Santa (Fri 6 pm), then photos w/ Santa, ongoing live music, hayrides, author-illustrator Billy Steers (Sat), Santa’s Workshop, hand cancellations at post office, pewter ornaments & more, shuttle bus service to & from fairgrounds on Rte 61 (parking in festival area by permit only); 266-5557.

Dec 5-7: “A Holiday Gathering at Home,” 4 Old Green Rd, Sandy Hook, Fri 12-9 pm, Sat 9 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, handmade gifts & collectibles for the holidays by 20-plus artisans; 270-9461.

Dec 5-7: St Rose of Lima Christmas Boutique, St Rose Parish Hall, 46 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, Fri 6:30-10 pm (adm $5, wine & appetizers, live entertainment; no adm remainder of weekend), Sat 10 am-7 pm, Sun 8 am-2 pm, boutique w/ Santas, holiday jewelry, nativity sets, gifts for teachers & friends, ornaments, Irish booth, Russian booth & more, also Candy Cane Café (Sat-Sun); 426-0109.

Dec 6: Garden Club of Newtown Annual Greens Sale, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 9 am-1 pm, wreaths, boxwood trees & arrangements by members of garden club, also club cookbooks;

270-1108.

Dec 6: 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); 426-9998.

Dec 6: Saturday Morning Bird Walk, Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave (off Rte 34), Derby, meet in parking lot by 9 am, casual walk will search for local birds, observe birds in the wild, sharpen bird ID skills and/or offer casual Saturday am walk, may last up to 2 hours depending on conditions; 734-2513.

Dec 6: Country Church Christmas Fair, Roxbury Congregational Church, 24 Church St, Roxbury, 9 am-2 pm, decorative arts & crafts, luncheon café & home baked goods, Christmas plants, visits w/ Santa, hand-sewn quilt raffle, silent auction, gift baskets & more; 860-355-1978.

Dec 6: Sherman Church Annual Christmas Bazaar, church’s Fellowship Hall, 6 Church Rd, Sherman, 9 am-3 pm, fresh arrangements of greens, gift items for children, homemade crafts & baked goods; 860-354-6114.

Dec 6: Christmas Fair at Harmony Grange #92, Rte 110 at Rte 111, Monroe, 9 am-3 pm, baked goods, crafters, basket raffle, straw table, Grandma’s Attic & lunch; 203-929-3171.

Dec 6: St Mary School Annual Christmas Gala & Craft Fair, at the school, 24 Dodgingtown Rd/Rte 302, Bethel, 9 am-4 pm, photos w/ Santa, shopping, gingerbread house craft making.

Dec 6: Annual Christmas Fair, St Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church, 6948 Main St, Trumbull, 9 am-6 pm, vendors, crafts, Chinese Auction, food, door prizes, baked goods; 261-9346.

Dec 6: A Glebe House Holiday, Glebe House Museum, 49 Hollow Rd/Rte 317, Woodbury, 10 am-3 pm, vignettes of Colonial Woodbury residents preparing for holidays as would have been done 230 years ago, mulled cider & Yum Yum Bread served; 263-2855.

Dec 6: St Peter’s Holly Fair, Parish Hall, Rte 111 at town green, Monroe, 10 am-4 pm, crafters & other vendors, luncheon, baked goods, auction, children’s craft tables, Grandma’s Attic & more; 268-4265.

Dec 6: Annual Holiday Boutique & Cookie Walk, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury, 24 Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury, 10 am-4 pm, homemade cookies by the pound, knits, jewelry, crafts, coffee & lunch; 798-1994.

Dec 6: Annual Easton House Tour, 10:30 am-3 pm, $30, access to 6 private homes, catered lunch available ($10), also cookies at Bradley Hubbell House, holiday sale at Easton Library; 261-0134.

Dec 6: Annual December Winter Walk, Putnam Park, Rte 58 at 107, Redding, 11 am, free walk led by Dan Cruson will cover history of Continental Army soldiers who camped at park during winter 1778-79, also members 5th CT Regiment will read jounal entries, new displays in Visitors Center & Museum (will be open for program only); 203-938-2285.

Dec 6: “A Closer Look at Orion the Hunter,” Western CT State Univ Observatory & Planetarium, Lake Ave Extension, Danbury, free, planetarium shows 3 & 5 pm, then observatory viewing 6-8 pm to view the moon & outer planets; 837-8672 (Observatory), 837-8486 (Office of Public Relations).

Dec 6: Christmas on The Green, Rte 188 (opposite Westover School), Middlebury, begins 4 pm, tree lighting ceremony & carol sing, family entertainment & hot chocolate follows at nearby Shepardson Center, also visits with Santa; 203-758-2439.

Dec 6: Southbury Tree Lighting at green between town hall and Southbury Public Library, 501 Main St South, tree lighting 5 pm, also music; 262-0647 or 262-0657.

Dec 6: 3rd Annual Brookfield Holiday Tree Lighting, Town Hall, Rte 25 at 133, Brookfield Center, begins 5 pm with caroling, refreshments & photos with Santa, rain/show date Dec 7; 775-7310.

Dec 6: Annual Christmas Tree Lighting, Roxbury Town Hall, 29 North St, 6 pm, to be followed by Festival of Trees in Senior Center (7 South St);

860-354-9938.

Dec 6-7: Christmas Festival & Craft Bazaar, Saint Joseph Catholic School, Rte 25 at Rte 133, Brookfield Center, Sat 9 am-4 pm, Sun 8:30 am-2 pm (snow dates Dec 13-14), 30-plus craft vendors, food, children’s games, raffles, Santa; 775-2774.

Dec 6-7: New Fairfield-Sherman Animal Welfare Society Craft Fair Hoiday Boutique, Company A Firehouse, Rte 39, New Fairfield, Sat 9 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-2 pm, designer wreaths, theme decorated tabletop trees, lighted pinecone baskets, dining room table centerpieces, raffle, visit & photos w/ Santa (Sat 1-4), proceeds to benefit New Fairfield animal shelter;

877-551-4829.

Dec 6-13: 41st Annual Gingerbread Village & Bazaar, St George’s Church, Tucker Hill Rd, Middlebury, Sat (Dec 6) 10 am-7 pm (lunch 11:30 am-2 pm), Sun 12-7 pm, Mon-Fri 2-4 & 6-8 pm, Sat (Dec 13) 10 am4 pm, free adm, tableau to incl 57+ houses, 100+ snowmen, 30 gingerbread citizens, children, sledding, trees & other holiday items, all created by members of church; 203-758-9557.

Dec 7: 23rd Annual Holiday Festival, Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 11 am-5 pm, $15, $25 family (one adult & up to 4 children), $5 ballet or play only, tours of 4 historic Main St homes, gingerbread house contest, photos w/ Santa, crafts, Festival of Trees, Victorian Tea, Holiday Boutique, Holiday Fair (Hawley School, 10 am-2 pm), Nutcracker Suite (12 & 1:30 pm), service of Lessons & Carols (Trinity, 2 pm), original play ‘Twas (4 & 5:30) & more, presented by & fundraiser for Newtown Youth & Family Services; 270-4335.

Dec 7: Same Love, Same Rights®  LGBTQ Wedding & Family Expo, Courtyard Marriot, 780 Bridgeport Ave, Shelton, 12:30-3:30 pm, free, 40+ wedding vendors incl coordinators, officiants, invitation companies, jewelrs, DJs & entertainment companies, travel agents, et al, will help bridge gay couples w/ resources needed for their dream wedding, advocates & allies welcome; 866-251-1564 (Rainbow Wedding Network), 203-929-1500 (hotel, for directions only).

Dec 9: “Life, Language and the Pursuit of Happiness – Ernest Hemingway, Alive!” at Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel, 7 pm, one-man show by Richard W. Clark will bring legendary write & sportsman alive in dynamic one-man show; 794-8756 x4.

Dec 13: Amahl and the Night Visitors, Edmond Town Hall theater, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, , curtain 8 pm, tickets $12, $8 seniors & students (age 14 & under), full production by WCSU Opera Ensemble, suitable for all ages, all proceeds to benefit Edmond Town Hall Theater Fund; 364-9844.

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

(FILM) Dec 5-11: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (PG-13), Fri-Sat 7 & 9 pm, Sun 7:30 pm, Mon-Thurs 7 pm, mat Tues 1 pm.

Institute for American Indian Studies, 38 Curtis Rd, Washington. Call

860-868-0518.

Dec 6-14, Indian Market, Sat-Sun 12-4 pm, gourds, pottery, jewelry, rattles & more by local Native American crafters, jewelers & artists.