Antiques Shows______

April 14-15: Vintage Clothing & Accessories, Textiles & Jewelry Show & Sale, Police Activities League (PAL) Building, 25 Hayestown Ave, Danbury, 10 am-5 pm both days, adm $6, 30 dealers from CT, NY & extended region; 914-273-4667.

April 28-29: Wilton Collectors Weekend, Wilton Heritage Museum, 224 Danbury Rd/Rte 7, Wilton, Sat 5-8 pm (cocktail reception w/ show dealers, call for adm info), Sun 10 am-5 pm (early buying 9 am, $25), adm $10, 85 dealers, also grand opening of “Made In CT: Toys for American Kids, 1850-2007” (society’s summer exhibition), brunch & refreshments available;

203-762-7257.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

The Barnum Museum, 820 Main St, Bridgeport. Hours: Tues-Wed, Fri-Sat 10 am-4:30 pm, Thurs 10 am-4:30 pm, Sun 12-4:30 pm.

Call 203-331-1104.

Permanent exhibits: “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; “P.T. Barnum: Bethel To Broadway To Bridgeport,” artifacts incl reproduction of Barnum’s Fejee Mermaid, souvenir pc of cake from Tom Thumb’s 1863 wedding & personal items from Barnum family; re-creation of library from Barnum’s first Bridgeport mansion Iranistan; “Baby Bridgeport,” preserved 6’8” 700-lb elephant, 2nd elephant born in captivity & 1st to be preserved; re-creation of drawing room from Harral-Wheeler mansion, considered one of most outstanding examples of Gothic Revival in America, ca 1847; “P.T. Barnum Presents the ‘Divine Jenny’ Lind,” artifacts from American tour of opera star reveals impact of Barnum-Lind collaboration on culture & society & Barnum’s promotional talents; 1,000-sq ft 3/4-inch scale model of five ring circus hand-carved by Meriden resident William Brinley w/ more than 3,000 miniature pcs; “General Tom Thumb,” original furniture, clothing & personal objects belonging to Barnum’s legendary protégé; and Pa-Ib, an Egyptian mummy documented by Egyptian priest as more than 2,500 yrs old.

Black Rock Art Center, 2838 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport. Hours: Wed-Sat 1-5 pm. Call 203-367-7917.

*(new show) April 14-May 30: “Migration,” assemblages, sculptures, collages & oil paintings by Lydia Viscardi and drawings in traditional Vietnamese techniques by Thuan Vu; April 14, opening reception, 4-7 pm.

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 first floor display cases — Through April 16: Olga Paproski’s collection of handmade Ukrainian Pysanki (Easter) eggs, also table setting for a traditional Ukrainian Pysanki celebration.

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

Through April 29: “Fiber Cartography: Mapping Imagination and Experience,” group exhibition w/ work by 11 artists (Jane Ingram Allen, Sally Darlison, Sallie Findlay, Linda Gass, Valerie Goodwin, Gale Jaimeson, Tamara Kostianovsky, Barbara Lee Smith, Emily Miah Stewart, Melinda Barta & Joanna Foslien) offers fiber art displaying wide scope of imagery, broad range of materials & techniques, all “firmly embedded w/ experiences, political views & personal visions to create inner landscapes & artistic concepts of ‘maps,’” curated by Liz Good (assistant editor, FiberArts magazine).

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

Through April 29: “Painterly Controversy: William Merritt Chase and Robert Henry,” major winter exhibition features 34 paintings from private lenders & museums across the country (incl Metropolitan Museum of Art, MFA/Houston, Hirschhorn & Sculpture Garden & others) by 2 of most admired American artists of popular turn-of-the-century era whose friendship & regard went from mutual admiration to mutual animosity, show meant to encourage exploration of decisive differences & startling similarities in the artists’ work.

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

Through April 7: “A Russian View,” new works by 4 contemporary female Russian artists.

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.

Discovery Museum, 4450 Park Ave, Bridgeport. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm & most Monday holidays (call ahead). Call 203-372-3521.

Through April 15: “Dick McEvoy: Seasons of the Year,” collection of acrylics by Newtown artist Dick McEvoy, as selected & curated by Wendy Kelly.

Fenn Gallery of Contemporary Art, 345 Main Street/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours: Wed-Sun 12-5 pm. Call 203-263-2821.

Through May 13: “Pattern Play,” porcelain sculpture by Diana Chamberlain & oil paintings by Anne Hebebrand.

Golden Age of Trucking Museum, 1101 Southford Rd/Rte 188, Middlebury. Hours: Thurs-Sat 10 am-4 pm, Sun 12-4 pm. Call 203-577-2181.

Through April 15: “Trucks and More…,” watercolor paintings of vintage trucks by Howard W. Shoemaker; Sept 12, Cruise Night, 5:30-8 pm, reduced adm to museum, prizes, family fun, refreshments, proceeds to benefit museum.

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 June 30: “The Swiss Guard: Celebrating 500 Years of Papal Service,” artifacts from the worlds oldest military organization incl uniforms, armor, helmets, weapons, paintings, medals, flags & pennants, also the helmet of Charles Bourbon, who was killed while leading renegade army in 1527 sacking of Rome.

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.

Through April 30: “Illusions of Gossamer,” photographs by Lucy Sceery, w/ emphasis on netting-covered fields where artist has added chiffon “to enhance the tranquil beauty of her photos”.

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

Through May 6: “Alien Earths,” research & discovered related to age-old questions Where did we come from? Are we alone in universe? etc presented incl sounds heard from space, planets set in motion around a star, learn difference in density between planets, smell difference betw microbial colonies & more.

Sculpture Barn (formerly Boyajian’s Sculpture Barn), 3 Milltown Rd (at Rte 39), New Fairfield. Hours: Wed-Sun 10 am-6 pm. Call 746-6101.

Through April 22: “Creative Voice,” paintings, sculpture & works on paper incl photography & printmaking by faculty, undergraduate & graduate visual artists from Western CT State Univ, each of whom have been encouraged to create work outside the classroom & submit pcs that reflect their own creative voice; April 10, “Say It Like You See It,” 8 pm, adm $10 adults, $5 students (incl coffee & dessert), spoken word event in coffee house-like setting will have poetry, film, monologue & performance art, featured performer will be author Mary Bailey.

Silvermine Guild Arts Center, 1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan. Call 203-966-9700.

Through April 19: “Guild Artist Group Show: Collaborations,” works by Guild artists, juried by Denise Markonish (curator, ArtSpace, New Haven).

Through April 19: “Director’s Choice: Series of Everything and Much, Much More,” selections by New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast.

Through April 22: “Soul Food! African-American Cookery and Creativity,” art & artifacts examining integral crops to slave trade (rice & sugar), food icons ranging from the fictional Aunt Jemima & real-life Uncle Ben to fried chicken & watermelon, and celebrates the “soul-stirring & nourishing connections between culture, creativity & memory.”

Through Nov 18: “Picasso To Pop: Aspects of Modern Art,” approx 60 rarely-shown paintings, watercolors, drawings, collages & sculptures drawn from extensive museum holdings, charting the museum’s history of acquiring works by 20th Century innovators along w/ diversity & international reach of modern art incl pcs by Picasso, Klee, Tanguy, Galvan, Lichtenstein, Warhol, et al.

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

*(new show) April 12-May 27: “Painting the Landscape and Other Views,” work by Suzanne Chamlin incl current paintings & work from past, also drawings in ink & ink washes on paper; April 12, opening reception, 5-7 pm; April 18, Director’s Choice lecture, 12:30 pm, $5, Ms Chamlin will lead gallery talk & discuss her work.

White Silo Farm & Winery, 32 Rte 37 East, Sherman. Hours: Fri-Sun 11 am-5 pm. Call 860-355-0271.

*(new show) April 15-29: paintings in mixed media incl recent “Impressions of Nature” studies by Angelo Perrone, and contemporary abstract nature studies by John Basil Perrone; April 15, opening reception, 1-4 pm.

Wisdom House/Marie Louise Trichet Gallery, 229 East Litchfield Rd, Litchfield. Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am-4 pm. Call 860-567-3163.

Through April 14: “Short Stories: New Works of Florin Ion Firimita,” mixed media pieces on poplar panels or masonite.

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

*(new show) Through June 11: “Joseph Wright and The Spectacle of Science,” student-curated exhibition focuses on a mezzotint after Joseph Wright of Derbys, “A Philosopher Shewing an Experiment on the Airpump,” exploring way in which science functioned as part of social fabric of elite culture in 18th Century Britain.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

CT’s Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203-394-6563.

April 9: Deadline for delivery of student art for 9th Annual High School Wildlife Art Show & Contest, must arrived by 4 pm, all work must be original, hand-made creation in watercolor, acrylic, tempera, charcoal, pastel, chalk, colored pencil, graphite or pen & ink, NO photography or computer-generated work accepted, use wildlife as inspiration, judging will be April 21, winners notified by April 25, all accepted work must remain at zoo during run of show (April 21-May 19), winners will receive art store gift certificates.

Ridgefield Theater Barn, 14 Halpin Lane, Ridgefield. Call 203-431-9850.

April 9-10: Open auditions for Man of La Mancha, 7-10 pm both nights, director is Craig David Rosen (917-699-4045), performances will be weekends June 15-July 14 incl Sat matinees June 24 & July 1, contact director for full cast breakdown, visit TheaterBarn.org for directions to theater.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

April 7: NUMC Coffee House, 7:45–10:30 pm, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Road, adm $3 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see separate Misc listing), $4 otherwise, live bluegrass & folk music, refreshments, suitable for all ages; 426-9998.

April 11: Ann & Pete Sibley at Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Rd, Easton, 7 pm, free concert by duo from Jackson Hole, Wyo. (former Easton residents & high school sweethearts) will offer folk, bluegrass & traditional incl original works; 261-0134.

April 14: The Barefield Ceili Band at Wilton High School, 395 Danbury Rd/Rte 7, Wilton, 7:30 pm, tickets $15 adults, $10 students & children, ensemble of 14 All-Ireland Champion musicians (incl fiddlers, concertina, accordion, drums, flute & uileann pipe) & dancers direct from County Clare, Ireland, directed by Denis Liddy, will offer performance suitable for all ages; 203-431-4707 (Creative Connections).

April 15: Counterpoint at Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 4 pm, suggested donation $20, a cappella performance of choral music by Vermont-based professional chamber ensemble will incl performance by The Trinity Choristers (Trinity’s boys’ & girls’ choir) during 2 songs, gala reception to follow concert; 426-9070.

Danbury Concert Assn, WCSU/Ives Concert Hall, Fifth Ave at White St, Danbury. Call 748-0522.

Subscription $36 (good for all season), concerts 3 pm, $15 single ticket, students age 18 & under free, post-performance receptions w/ performers: April 21: pianist Gilles Vonsattel, performance by award-winning pianist will incl works of Bach, Brahms, Liszt, Ravel & Bartók.

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

Free concerts, 8 pm unless noted: April 15, WCSU Jazz Combos, **3 pm start, performances by The Siegel II Combo, The Ruffels Combo, The Scott Combo & The Begian I Combo; April 16, WCSU Percussion Ensemble concert, program to incl David Gillingham’s Concerto for Percussion Ensemble, “Unnecessary Roughness” by Kevin J. Isaacs, Symphony #1 by Anthony Cirone & “Z Conversion” by Minouru Miki.

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: April 29, St Petersburg String Quartet, program to incl works of Mendelssohn (Quartet in A minor, Opus 13), Shostakovich (Quartet #4 in D Major, Opus 83) & Tchaikovsky (String Quartet #1, Opus 11, D Major).

Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Rd, Danbury. Call 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.

Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield Univ, 1073 North Benson Rd, Fairfield. Call 203-254-4010, 877-ARTS-396 (877-278-7396).

Performances 8 pm unless noted: April 10, Jazz Ensemble Spring Concert, 7 & 8:30 pm, tickets $8 adults, $5 students, ensemble will be joined by jazz pianist Ray Kennedy for both performances, program to incl student work & arrangements; April 14, Glee Club 60th Anniversary Concert, $10 adults, $6 students, gala performance will feature sacred & secular music, world premier by American composer Gwyneth Walker (“Songs to the Lord of Peace”) & other works.

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

Performances 8 pm unless noted: April 13, John Scofield Trio, tickets $55 & $60; April 21, The Dazzling Dollar Store Divas by CT Gay Men’s Chorus, tickets $30 & $35 call 800-644-2462 for tickets & info, spring musical by CGMC will offer original songs in production “like A Chorus Line meets A Night in the Museum,” performances also scheduled in Norwalk (April 29), Hartford (May 12) & New Haven (May 19).

Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra. Call 203-438-3889.

Concerts at Ridgefield High School, 700 North Salem Rd/Rte 116, Ridgefield, 8 pm, tickets $15-$50: April 14, “Brahms Blockbusters,” guest pianist Michelle Kim, program to incl Hungarian Dance No. 1 in G minor, Piano Concerto No. 2 in B Flat & Symphony No. 4 in E minor.

Wooster Jazz Society, Wooster School, 1 Miry Brook Rd, Danbury. Call 830-3963, 830-3964.

2006-07 series, tickets $35 (members $30), students free, concerts 8 pm: April 14, The George King, Jr Group.

Films _________________

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

Independent Film Festival, free, screenings 7:30 pm: April 17, Monster Thursday.

Discovery Museum, 4450 Park Ave, Bridgeport. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm & most Monday holidays (call ahead). Call 203-372-3521.

Planetarium shows: Rock on Mars! Mon-Fri 3:30 pm, Sat-Sun 1 & 3 pm, designed for ages 8 & up; Wonderful Sky, Mon-Fri 1 pm, Sat-Sun 2 pm, designed for ages 7 & under.

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

April 6-11: Charlotte’s Web (PG), Fri-Sat 7 & 9 pm, Mon 7:15 pm, Tues-Wed 7 pm, mat Fri-Sat 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

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

Through June 14: The Human Body, Mon-Fri 11 am, 1 & 3 pm; Sat-Sun, 11 am, 1, 3 & 4 pm; Ocean Wonderland; daily 2 pm; Whales, daily at noon.

Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel St, New Haven. Call 203-432-8842.

Art & Music Film Series, free screenings, 2 pm: April 7, The Skull (1965); April 14, O Lucky Man! (1973), **screening begins at 1:30.

For Kids & Families _________

April 7: Easter Eggstravaganza & Breakfast, Congregational Church of Easton, Center Rd at Westport Rd, Easton, 8:30-11 am (early bird “Time with The Times,” 8 am, adm $4), adm $6 adults, $5 children, Easter egg dyeing, games, crafts & other activities, pancake breakfast, spring boutique, all welcome; 261-2527.

April 14: Earth Art for Kids, Flanders Nature Center, Flanders at Church Hill Rd, Woodbury, 10 am-12:30 pm, $15 members, $20 non-members, program for help budding artists develop drawing & paintings skills while developing lifelong love of art & nature, dress for messes, program to incl outdoor hiking & working on art using wet & dry mediums, reservations required; 203-263-3711.

April 14: Family Day at Litchfield History Museum, 7 South St, Litchfield, 12-4 pm, free adm, ongoing demos of Colonial carpentry & woodworking techniques by Jim Vibert, stenciling by Paula Walton, screenings of Craig Farrow doing hand tool cabinetry, also performances, presentation of “Preserving Craftsmanship: Contemporary Litchfield County Furniture Makers” exhibition, children’s activities & more; 860-567-4501.

April 18: Identification Day at Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave, New Haven, 10:30 am-2:30 pm, experts will be on hand to ID visitor finds incl pottery, feathers, minerals, bones, insects or flowers; 203-432-5050.

April 19: “Lobsters and Lyme: Biodiversity and Global Change in Connecticut,” Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave, New Haven, 10 am-3:30 pm, free adm, ongoing events & special lectures will focus on several seemingly unrelated topics which are ultimately connected by common theme of global change, ongoing games & crafts for kids, also ongoing demos of technologies to reduce global warming incl model windmills & model fuel cell-powered cars, puppet show (“Roxi’s Incredible Insect Adventure” by Betty Baisden, 11 am), keynote address on Long Island Sound lobster die-off, West Nice Virus & Lyme Diesease (12:30), tick-proofing your yard program (1:30) & “Lyme Disease: Clinical Research Issues” (2:30); 203-432-5050.

April 20: Earth Day at Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave, New Haven, 10:30 am-2:30 pm, local organizations will share info on their efforts & simple actions anyone can do to protect the earth, visitors also encouraged to plant tree seeds & take home to nurture; 203-432-5050.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203-394-6565.

Programs incl w/ zoo adm ($9 adults, $7 ages 3-11 & seniors, free ages 3 & under, group rates available): April 10 (10:30 and 1 p.m. sessions), Zoo Tots: Talk Like The Animals (How Animals Communicate), sessions at 10:30 am & 1 pm, $15/child ($10 members; registration required for all), 45-min program for children 18 months to three years, who are accompanied by an adult, may includes stories, activities, crafts & live animals; April 14, “Bubblemania” with Casey Carle, 11 am, included w/ zoo adm, award-winning soap bubble artist Casey Carle creates an event with visual comedy, quick wit, music, audience participation, amazing soap bubble presentations & laughs for all ages; April 14, Pet Awareness Day, 12-3 pm, sev animal adoption & animal rescue organizations (incl Best Friends Pet Care, Pups Without Partners, Tails of Joy, Critter Connection, et al) will have presentations on pet care & safety, also kids’ crafts & other surprises; April 16-20, April Adventures, 9 am-12:30 pm each day, $35/day ($30 zoo members), $150/week ($125 members), ages 6-11 invited for daily Zookeeper talks, behind-the-scenes tours, animal encounters, crafts, games & other activities, call or visit BeardsleyZoo.org for schedule & details, pre-registration required; April 16–20, Backyard Beasts, 2 pm each day, interactive 45-min programs for kindergarten & elementary-age children & parent/guardian may incl live animal, animal stories & animal facts (diff animal featured each day) presentations in Professor Beardsley’s Research Station.

 

Miscellaneous ___________

April 7: NUMC Monthly Pasta Dinner, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 5-7:30 pm, adm $8 adults, $7 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.

April 7: Signs of Spring Walk & Talk, Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 10-11:30 am, free program w/ staff of environmental center will have participants search for sights & sounds of new season incl looking for returning birds, awakening frogs, emerging pond life & more, conditions may be muddy – dress accordingly; 734-2513.

April 7: WCSU planetarium show & telescope viewing, Western CT State University Westside Observatory, off Lake Ave Extension, Danbury, free screening of “Stars Of Spring” 7:30-8:30 pm, then viewings (also free) of night sky through university’s 20” Ritchey-Chretien reflector telescope will run 8:30-10:30 pm, call if cloudy or inclement weather; 837-8372.

April 8: “Celebrating Our Divine Nature: Daily Practices for Peace and Healing,” Woodbury Yoga Center, 122 West Side Rd, Woodbury, 7 pm, free program will be hosted by yoga center co-founder Janaki Pierson, optional group meditation to follow (free instruction available), tea reception will conclude evening; 263-2254.

April 9: Housatonic Valley Paddlers Club meeting, Brookfield Community Center, 100 Pocono Rd, Brookfield, 7 pm, non-members welcome, Bernie Cohn will lead planning session for 2007 season; 203-263-3281.

April 10: NewtownREADS BookTalk, Newtown Senior Center, 14 Riverside Rd, Sandy Hook, 1 pm, free discussion of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird will continue town-wide Mockingbird-related series; 426-4533 (Booth Library for details).

April 12: “How and Why Science Makes the News” lecture, Western CT State Univ Science Building Room 125 (midtown campus), Osborne St at Dr James Roach Ave, Danbury, 7 pm, free lecture by NY Times senior science writer Cornelia Dean will cover what makes science “newsworthy” & why some science stories make the morning newspaper nor evening news; 837-9365.

April 12: “RX For Fashion,” Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Rd, Danbury, 6:30 pm, tickets $125, dinner by Bernard’s, fashion show featuring 24 members Danbury Hospital-affiliated “supermodels” (hospital leadership, clinical operations staff & Associate Board of Development Fund) will feature wardrobe from Lord & Taylor, proceeds will benefit Caroline’s Room at Danbury Hospital; 797-7227.

April 12: WCSU planetarium show & telescope viewing, Western CT State University Westside Observatory, off Lake Ave Extension, Danbury, free screening of “Stars Of Spring” 7:30-8:30 pm, then viewings (also free) of night sky through university’s 20” Ritchey-Chretien reflector telescope will run 8:30-10:30 pm, call if cloudy or inclement weather; 837-8372.

April 14: Saturday Seminar: The History of The Danbury Racearena, at The Golden Age of Trucking Museum, 1101 Southford Rd/Rte 188, Middlebury, 11 am-3 pm, adults $8, $5 ages 3-16 & handicapped guests, $7 seniors, $20 family (2 adults & children under 16), free ages 2 & under & members, guest speaker Kevin Brown (owner & restorer, Jimmy Smith’s 1936 Ford 3-window Coupe) will offer video presentation on Danbury Racearena, 3 restored cars on display, original drivers attending, lunch provided; 203-577-2181.

April 14: Naugatuck Historical Society Museum Grand Reopening Celebration, 195 Water St (old RR station), Naugatuck, 6-9 pm, $10 donation suggested, musical entertainment, refreshments, silent auction to raise funds for museum & society’s continued work; 203-729-9039.

April 15: Mountain Lauren Artisans Make Your Own Rubber Stamp workshop, Southbury Public Library, 100 Poverty Rd, Southbury, 12:30 pm, call for list of needed supplies; 746-5280.

April 15: “J.J. Audubon – His Life, His Art & Collecting His Work,” Keeler Tavern Museum, 132 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, 2-4 pm, $10, lecture by longtime Audubon admirer & collector Joel Third will offer examples from his 15-plus year collection of Audubon originals & reproductions incl original Havel & new watercolor reproduction released to coincide w/ current New-York Historical Society Audubon exhibition; 203-438-5485.

April 15: “Cultivating Your Child’s Spiritual Center,” Woodbury Yoga Center, 122 West Side Rd, Woodbury, 7 pm, free program by Barbara Baron will be followed by group meditation (free instruction available) & tea reception; 203-263-2254.

April 18: “Local Involvement in The Revolutionary War,” Brookfield Historical Society Museum, Rte 133 at Rte 25, Brookfield Center, 7:30 pm, free presentation by Revolutionary War reenactor Silvin Gleissner (in costume) will cover the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons, their Swinter encampment at what is now Putnam Park, & missions, battles & skirmishes they were involved in, Q&A to follow, also light refreshments; 775-3934.

April 18: “Bird Brains,” Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 7:30 pm, $4 adults, $2 students (free for members Naugatuck Valley Audubon Society,” program by Wings Over Wind will introduce 4 birds & discuss their surprising levels of intelligence; 734-2513.

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

Programs free unless noted: April 9, Daytime Book Discussion, 1 pm, Arabian Jazz by Diana Abu-Jaber, newcomers welcome.

Danbury BNI Trailblazers, meetings at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury. Call 797-1122.

Group meets Wednesdays, 8-9:30 am, members network & help build businesses, all visitors welcome, contact Mark Vendetti at above phone # for details.

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: April 7, Sweetcake Mt. Preserve, New Fairfield (leader is Molly Schleis, telephone 914-766-4546); April 14, Sunny Valley Preserve, Bridgewater (Evelyn Schonberg, 426-0425); April 21, Minnewaska State Park, New Paltz, N.Y., all day hike, dinner out (Tim Hanbury, 203-888-3025).

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.

Programs 2nd Wed/month, 7:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: April 11, watercolor portrait demo by Janice Baragwanath.

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.

Theatre ______________

Hartford Stage, 50 Church St, Hartford. Call 860-527-5151.

I Am My Own Wife, April 12-May 13, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, Tues-Thurs 7:30 pm (also Sun, April 15 & 29, May 6), mat Sat (April 14 & 21 only)-Sun 2 pm, tickets $22-$57.

Kent Community Players, Kent Community House, Rte 7, Kent. Call 860-364-0971.

The Cripple of Inishman, April 13-28, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, tickets $15.

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

Viagara Falls, through April 15, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Thurs, Sat-Sun 2 pm, tickets $27-$45; March 30, Dessert Night; April 13, Wine & Martini Night.

Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court (off Rte 1), Westport. Call 203-227-4177.

All About Us, April 10-28 (previews April 10-13; opening night April 14), curtain Tues-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun 3 pm, tickets $35-$65 (previews $30-$50).

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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.