Antiques Shows______

Aug 26: 35th Madison Historical Society Antiques Fair, on the green, Rte 1, Madison, 9 am-1 pm rain or shine, adm $5, leave pets home; 203-245-0642.

Aug 26: Third Annual Old Avon Village Merchants Antiques Show, Old Avon Village, Main St/Rte 44, Avon, 9:30 am-4 pm (rain date Aug 27), free adm & parking, outdoor show presented by Old Avon Village Merchants Assn; 860-643-5353.

Aug 26-27: 50th Papermania: Antique Paper Show, Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $6 (senior citizens half price on Sunday), 160 exhibitors, free appraisals (Sun 11 am-2 pm); 860-563-9975, 860-529-2234.

Sept 2-3: Farmington Antiques Weekend, Farmington Polo Ground, 152 Town Farm Rd, Farmington, Sat 8 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-5 pm, adm $10 Sat (good both days), Sun $7, 400± dealers from across the country exhibiting outdoors under tents, shipping available, refreshments; 317-598-0019.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

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 Aug 31: new handmade model Budweiser wagons & Clydesdale horses by Newtown resident Willard Hemstra.

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

Through Oct 8: “Playtime: Toys For Adults,” works that are intended to be played w/ by grown-ups by Sarah Doremus, Yael Friedman, Mark Hartung, Kristin Lora, Felieke van der Leest, Miel-Margarita Paredes, Barbara Walter, Tom & Kathy Wegman, David & Roberta Williamson, w/ each work inviting interaction & a sense of wonder & joy, curated by Suzanne Ramljak.

Brookfield Museum & Historical Society, 165 Whisconier Rd (Rtes 133 & 25), Brookfield Center. Hours: Sat 12-4 pm, first Sun of month, by appt & chance. Call 740-8140.

Through Sept 4: “The Brookfield Landscape Past to Present,” antique musical instruments, museum artifacts, pictures & relevant items highlighting town’s history, also 7-ft long overview of new Super 7 Bypass extension & computer generated short video of its expected impact on Four Corners intersection.

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

*(new show) Aug 26-Oct 29: “Highlights from the Bruce Museum Art Collection,” culmination of series of shows over last 2 years featuring highlights from museum’s fine art collections offers 25 examples of important & popular paintings & sculptures from museum’s permanent collections incl most recent acquisitions.

Through Aug 27: “Best In Show: Dogs in Art from The Renaissance to The Present,” survey of the theme of the dog in western art from Renaissance to today w/ approx 50 “significant & provocative” paintings, sculpture & photos of dogs ever created, collection debuting at Bruce Museum before heading to Museum of Fine Arts/Houston in October.

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 Joward W. Shoemaker; Sept 12, Cruise Night, 5:30-8 pm, reduced adm to museum, prizes, family fun, refreshments, proceeds to benefit museum.

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

Through Sept 4: “Virginia Murray (1916-2005, Retrospective: A Life in Paint and Clay,” retrospective of the late Virginia Murray features selections from her richly diverse paintings, prints & ceramics over a professional career spanning seven decades.

Gregory James Gallery, 13 Main St (on the green), New Milford. Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am-6 pm, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun & eves by appt. Call 860-354-3436.

*(new show) Through Sept 30: “Art of The Housatonic,” 40+ works inspired by the Housatonic River by Emily Buchanan, Rick Daskam, Bill Farnsworth, Robert Ferrucci, Frank Federico, Craig Johns, Christopher Magadini, Edward Martinez, Woldemar Neufeld, Michael Patterson, Bill Rice, Anda Styler & Scott Zuckerman, partial proceeds from sales during show will benefit Housatonic Valley Assn; Aug 26, artists’ reception (public invited), 5-7 pm.

Highstead Arboretum, 127 Lonetown Rd, Redding. Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4 pm by appt only. Call 203-938-8809.

Through Aug 31: “Close-Up!” photos from bee’s eye view by CT artist & photographer Dave Presser, whose native botanical subjects focus on intense, close-up images that celebrate life in detail.

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

Through Sept 6: “Dinosaur Island,” seven life-like robotic dinosaurs incl double-crested Dilophosaurus, Allosaurus, Stegosaurus, Ankylosaurus, et al (for younger visitors, sound is turned off even Sat-Sun 10-11 am), also message about conservation & extinction, plus simulated adventure ride “Dino Island II 3-D: Escape from Dino Island” (addt’l charge, riders must be at least 36” tall).

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

Through Sept 3: “From the Farm to The Front: Our Towns and The Revolutionary War,” the story of the Rev War in Waterbury region, at home & on the front, through objects & stories of those who lived through it, also focus on how area has celebrated its independence since war & how patriots served their new nation.

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 Sept 18: sculpture by Bob Keating.

Morrison Gallery, 5 Maple St, Kent. Hours: Wed-Fri 10 am-5:30 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am-5 pm. Call 860-927-4501.

*(new show) Sept 2-Oct 6: new oil paintings by abstract landscape painter Dennis Hartley; Sept 2, opening reception feat music by The Joe Beck Duo, 2-5 pm.

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

Through Aug 27: “Machu Picchu: Unveiling the Mystery of The Incas,” return of traveling exhibition that debuted at Peabody offers recent scientific findings, historic data, photos, computer stations & interactive elements that tell of origins & uses of famous archaeological site.

Permanent exhibit: “Torosaurus: a Peabody Dinosaur,” documents making of Torosaurus sculpture, a life-sized (2 stories tall) bronze statue now perched on granite base near Whitney Ave entrance, w/ interactive segments on dinosaur art & science.

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

Through Aug 31: “Summer Art Show & Sale,” contemporary watercolors & oils of noted artist Marilyn Mayer incl landscapes, bouquets & portraits, all proceeds from sale of her works will benefit library’s activities.

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

Through Aug 31: “father and son: the art of augustus and richard daggy,” works on loan from the estate of Emily Daggy Bogel.

Sloane-Stanley Museum & Kent Iron Furnace Site, Rte 7, Kent. Hours: Wed-Sun 10 am-4 pm. Call 860-927-3849.

Through Oct 29: 30 model barns created by Doug Logan, made of wood, plaster, cement & stone, based on images & descriptions from Eric Sloane’s The Age of Barns.

Southbury Public Library, 100 Poverty Rd (new location now open), Southbury. Summer hours: Mon, Wed & Fri 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Tues & Thurs 9:30 am-9 pm. Call 262-0626.

Through Aug 30: “Fibers and Fantasy,” handmade paper & pulp paintings by Anita Liebeskind incl “Brush Papers,” inspired by the artist’s African safari, plus papers embellished w/ silk embroideries inspired by recent trip to China.

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 Aug 27: “Eloquent Vistas: The Art of 19th Century American Landscape Photography from the George Eastman House Collection,” 78 photos of American landscape dating from 1840s to end of 19th Century incl works of Watkins, Bierstadt, Muybridge, et al

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

Through Aug 27: “Different Views,” paintings by Louise Hamlin, Walter Hatke & Richard Raiselis.

Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Rd, Wilton. Summer hours: Wed-Sun 8:30 am-5 pm. Call 203-834-1896.

Through Sept 23: “On Sight: Images of Nature – Landscapes and Stone,” pastel & oil panoramic landscape paintings, macroscopic drawings of stones & photos capturing the vastness of the American West & New England farmlands by Frances B. Ashforth.

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

Through Sept 4: “Wine, Women and Art,” fourth annual show of works by Diana Mesagno (pleine aire paintings, also carved garden figures & planters), Adele Moros (paintings incl miniatures) & Paula Renee (mixed media/collage pcs).

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

Through Dec 30: “In the Garden of Sophia,” combo of traditional oil on canvas painting, digital manipulation & laminated glass technology by Hugh O’Donnell shows process used to create new series of chapel windows for room dedicated to meditation & contemplation at Wisdom House Retreat & Conference Center.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

CT Commission on Culture & Tourism, One Financial Plaza, 755 Main St, Hartford. Call 860-256-2720.

Sept 12: Deadline for applications (hand-delivered or postmarked) for FY 2007 Artist Fellowships, to allow artists to devote full attention to creation of new work & further their careers, applicants must be committed to their art form, have demonstrated history of professional activity in CT, must have lived at least 1 year in CT & currently be full-time resident, open this year to choreographers, poets, playwrights, fiction writers, composers & film/video artists, full program guidelines & applications available at CultureAndTourism.org or contact CCT program manager at phone # above or Tamara.Dimitri@ct.gov.

Newtown Community Flea Market, at Fairfield Hills, Wasserman Way, Newtown. Call 426-3496.

Sept 2-3: Vendors invited to participate, event will run 9 am-4 pm each day, dealer-set up begins 7 am, 10 x 20-fot spaces available – advance fees are $25/space ($45 for both days), $45 for 2 spaces/day ($85 for both days), $65 for 2 spaces/day ($125 for both days), add $5 if paying in cash day(s) of market, tables not provided, no electricity available, vendors of collectibles, antiques, crafts, tag sale items, clothing, jewelry, all welcome, also local businesses, contact Linda Manganaro (phone # above) for info.

35th Annual Oxford Arts & Crafts Show, at Oxford Center School, 462 Oxford Rd/Rte 67, Oxford. Call 203-888-7149.

Nov 4: Applications being accepted for annual show, will run 10 am-4 pm, juried show – all items must be handmade by crafter, no imports, food or kits; contact Catherine Helm at above phone # for details or application.

Wilton Playshop, Lovers Lane, Wilton.

Aug 27-28: Auditions for Neil Simon’s The Good Doctor, Sun 7 pm, Mon 7:30 pm, director Daniel Friedman has roles for 5 principal actors, all will play multiple roles & following age ranges are suggestions: need 1 male mid 30s-early 50s (to play writer, dentist, seducer & father of young man), male mid 20s- mid 40s (to play bureaucrat, sexton, cuckolded husband, policeman, bank assistant, young boy & former Army officer), female mid 20s-early 40s (to play bureaucrat’s wife, governess, cheating wife, audition girl & prostitute), male mid 40s-early 60s (to play general, man in the park, tramp, bank executive & former Navy officer) & female mid 40s-early 60s (to play general’s wife, mistress of the house, woman in the park & and obnoxious woman in the bank); production to open Oct 13, questions can be sent to casting@WiltonPlayshop.org, full details at WiltonPlayshop.org.

Winter Wonderland Craft Fair, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 268-1342.

Nov 19: Organizers for 3rd annual event are accepting applications, fair will run 10 am-3 pm (set-up opens at 7), handmade items by vendor only (no kits or mass produced items, no imports), 8 x 8-ft spaces $10, limited electrical spaces available (addt’l $10), jurying begins mid-summer, visit AvenueOfDesign.com (click on Winter Wonderland Fair) or call above phone # for full details.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

Aug 26: Ballroom dance at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Park Ave, Bridgeport, 7 pm-midnight, adm $15, singles & couples welcome, free dance lesson at 8, performance by Sergei Aliev & Stephanie Daniela Frey at 9:30, dance music provided by DJ, refreshments available; 203-374-7308.

Aug 27: Dixieland Jazz Party IV at Brookfield Library, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield Center, 4 pm, free concert will continue library’s Afternoons at The Arbor concert series w/ performance by concert & recording artists Randy Sandka & John Allred, who will be joined by Mark Shane, Murray Wall & Tom Melito, in program designed to entertain all ages, bring low chairs or blankets for seating, concert will move indoors if rain; 775-6241 x104.

Aug 28: CT Choral Society Sing-In, Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, registration 7 pm, singing begins 7:30, $7 fee incl use of sheet music & refreshments, singers of all backgrounds invited to join CCS members for informal celebration of Mozart’s 250th birthday by singing Ave Verum Corpus & Requiem; 203-206-7186.

Aug 29: Willie Nininger & John Kuhner at Pomperaug Woods, 80 Heritage Rd, Southbury, 6:30 pm, free outdoor concert of jazz, folk, country, Dixie & instrumental classics including The William Tell Overture and Stars & Stripes Forever  will conclude outdoor summer series, hot dogs & beverages will be served at 5:30, bring chairs/blankets for seating, indoors if rain; 262-6555.

Aug 30: Liz Carroll & John Doyle in concert, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7:30 pm, tickets $20 adults, $5 children, traditional Irish music concert by fiddler Carroll & guitarist Doyle, sponsored by Shamrock Traditional Irish Music Society (non-profit group); 203-254-1271.

Sept 2: 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.

Sept 3: Danbury Brass Band annual concert, Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Rd, Danbury, 3 pm, free outdoor concert (indoors if rain) conducted by Alan Raph will incl “Something New,” also premiere brass arrangements of selections from Rachmaninov’s Prelude in D minor, Haydn’s “Theme and Variations,” & Billy VerPlanck composition inspired by Secondhand Lions, plus special arrangements of Cole Porter’s “Night and Day” and “In the Still of the Night” feat vocalist Brandee Carol-Werner, bring blankets/chairs for seating; 744-5144.

Sept 10: “A Concert of Remembrance,” St Rose of Lima Church, 46 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, free (donations accepted), 6th annual choral festival by Music Ministry of St Rose will celebrate the legacy of W.A. Mozart & commemorate fifth anniversary of 9/11 events, soloists to incl organist Joseph Jacovino, vocalists Sharon Goodkowski & Bob Boncoddo, performance also offered Monday evening in Waterbury (see Sept 11 listing for location); 426-1014.

Booth Library Concert Series, at The Pleasance, 1 Main St at Sugar Street (Rte 302), Newtown. Call 426-4533.

Summer Concert Series, free, 7 pm, concerts move to library’s meeting room if rain (25 Main St): Sept 8, Golden Angels Jazz Band.

CityCenter Danbury, Danbury Green, Patriot Dr at Ives St, Danbury. Call 792-1711.

Summertime Festival 2006, free concerts suitable for all ages, 7:30 pm start: Aug 26, Connecticut Ballet.

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

ZooGrass Concert Series, 2 pm, incl w/ zoo adm ($9 adults, $7 seniors & ages 3-11, free ages 2 & under & zoo members): Aug 27, ZuZazz, acoustic string band whose members sing & play jump, boogie woogie, old time, cow jazz, hula blues & Tin Pan Alley tunes w/ eclectic arrangements of lively American roots compositions.

Gate House Coffee House, Rte 172 (in front of training school), Southbury. Call 586-2144 (Southbury Training School).

Aug 27, Dance-Picnic with Eight To The Bar, 3 pm, tickets $10, special concert (& season finale) will double as fundraiser for 2007 season, outdoors (bring chairs/blankets for seating, under pavilion if raining), refreshments available.

McLaughlin Vineyards, Albert’s Hill Rd, Sandy Hook. Hours: daily 11 am-5 pm. Call 426-1533.

Sunday Music Series, 1-4 pm, $10/adv, $12/day of: Aug 20, Garden Jazz.

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.

Films _________________

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

Aug 25-31: Cars (G), daily 7 & 9 pm, mat Fri-Tues 1 & 4 pm, Wed-Thurs 1 pm.

For Kids & Families _________

Sept 2: Family Art Adventures, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, 258 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, 12-4:30 pm, $7 adults, $4 seniors & college students, free members, K-12 teachers & ages 18 & under (includes museum adm), activities for all ages w/ theme connected to a current exhibition incl hands-on project in education center, also docent-led discussions in galleries; 203-438-4519.

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

Free programs unless noted, reservations requested, call if weather is questionable: Aug 24, live bird demo, refreshments & socializing begins 7:30 pm, program at 8, learn about lives & meet live raptors incl hawks & eagles.

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

Children’s programs, free unless specified: Aug 30, Nutmeg Book Discussion, 4 pm, one-hour talk about John H. Ritter’s The Boy Who Saved Baseball.

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

Programs incl w/ zoo adm ($8 adults, $6 ages 3-11 & seniors, free ages 3 & under, group rates available): Sept 2, Animal Enrichment Day, 12-3 pm, incl w/ zoo adm ($9 adults, $7 ages 3-11 & seniors), ongoing presentations will show how zookeepers keep animals mentally stimulated & physically active.

 

Miscellaneous ___________

Through Aug 26: St Jude Parish Italian Festival, on parish grounds, 707 Monroe Tpke/Rte 111, Monroe, Wed-Thurs 6-10:30 pm, Fri 6-11 pm, Sat 2-11 pm, free adm & parking, rides, games, entertainment & raffles; 261-6404.

Aug 26: Harmony Grange #92 Annual Agricultural Fair, Rte 111 at 110, Monroe, 9 am-3 pm, judged exhibits of sm animals, handmade items, vegetables, flowers, jellies & relishes, also shopping in Grandma’s Attic, lunch; 268-3480.

Aug 26: 4th Annual KAA Paint Out & Auction, The Gallery at Kent Art Assn, 21 Main St/Rte 7, Kent, preview 3 pm, auction begins 4 pm, free adm, auction of paintings done en plein aire in & around Kent earlier in the day will be auctioned as fundraiser for KAA; 860-927-3989.

Aug 26: CT ConTacts Patio Party for Singles, Colonial Tavern, 24 Hawley Rd (off Rte 67), Oxford, 8 pm-1 am, adm $17 incl buffet & dessert, dancing to DJ selections (Top 40, soft rock & requests), casual dress OK; 203-468-1144.

Aug 27: 29th Annual Ukrainian Festival, Paproski’s Tree Farm, 5 Hattertown Rd (off Rte 302), Newtown, free, begins 11 am w/ Celebration of Divine Liturgy, afternoon contnues w/ arts & crafts exhibits & sales, Ukrainian refreshments & pastry, homemade donuts, Ukrainian dancing & singing, games, hay rides, pony rides, petting zoo & more; 426-4017.

Aug 27: 74th Cannon Grange Agricultural Fair & Exposition, grange hall, 25 Cannon Rd (just off Rte 7), Wilton, 10 am-4 pm rain or shine, free adm, judged exhibits & competitions in baked goods, homegrown fruits & vegetables, flowers, crafts & more, also baked goods for sale, concessions, children’s games & contests for all ages, civic exhibits & more; 203-846-1840.

Aug 28: 4th Annual NJWC Golf Tournament, Whitney Farms, Monroe, registration opens 7:30 am, tee-off at 9, $150/golfer, 4-person scramble, lunch buffet, low gross & low new prizes, hole-in-one prize, hosted by Newtown Jr Women’s Club; 426-4917.

Aug 29: Sandy Hook Organic Farmers Market, behind St John’s Episcopal Church, 3 Washington Ave/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 2-6 pm, organic farmers, bakers, artists, jewelers, weavers & other vendors, children’s activities, market runs weekly through Oct 3; 270-1820.

Aug 30: Screening of The Mikado, Pomperaug Woods, 80 Heritage Rd, Southbury, 1 pm, free screening of Gilbert & Sullivan’s opera, filed live during Canada’s 1993 Stratford Festival will continue Southbury Senior Center’s Afternoon at the Opera series, refreshments to follow; 262-6557.

Aug 31: BNI/Newtown chapter meeting, at Franco’s Ristorante, 265 Federal Rd, Brookfield, 7-8:30 am, newcomers welcome, presentation by Tim Haas on “Insurance Underwriting Basics”; 743-4708.

Sept 2: 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.

Sept 2: Farewell to Summer Craft Festival, in field adjacent to Marisa’s Restaurant, 6540 Main St, Trumbull, 10 am-4 pm, 10 am-4 pm rain or shine, free adm, featuring area crafters, presented by Artisans Alliance; 261-2414.

Sept 2: CT ConTacts Singles Dance Party, Colonial Tavern, 24 Hawley Rd (off Rte 67), Oxford, 8 pm-1 am, adm $17 incl buffet & dessert, dancing to DJ selections (soft rock & Top 40), casual attire OK; 203-468-1144.

Sept 2-3: Newtown Community Flea Market, Fairfield Hills campus, off Wassermann Way, Newtown, 9 am-4 pm, free adm, vendors, food, sponsored by & benefit for Newtown Congregational Church; 426-4174.

Sept 3: BCC Open House & Annual Student-Faculty Pottery Sale, Brookfield Craft Center, 286 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield, 1-4 pm, free adm, ongoing demos by 30-plus local artists in woodturning, ceramics on the wheel, loom weaving, woodworking, jewelry making, blacksmithing & much more, also annual sale of ceramic tableware items created by BCC students & faculty; 775-4526.

Sept 3-4: 9th Annual New England Jewishfest, Quassy Amusement Park, Rte 64, Middlebury, 11 am-7:15 pm, adm $15/one-day pass in adv ($20/gate) or $25/two-day pass in adv ($30 at gate), free ages 2 & under & senior citizens w/ AARP cards, celebration of the best in klezmer, jass & kabbalah music, also art, judaica & folklore, all from/by artisans from across New England, tickets also provide access to amusement park’s rides; 800-297-6864.

Sept 5: Sandy Hook Organic Farmers Market, behind St John’s Episcopal Church, 3 Washington Ave/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 2-6 pm, organic farmers, bakers, artists, jewelers, weavers & other vendors, children’s activities, market runs weekly through Oct 3; 270-1820.

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

Programs free unless noted, reservations requested, call if weather is questionable, leave pets home: Aug 26, Wonders of The Milky Way, meet 7:45 pm at parking lot to carpool to observation site, Audubon Center & Astronomical Society of New Haven will lead participants in exploring many wonders of night-time sky incl quick views of setting crescent mon & Jupiter, stars & star-forming regions of Milky Way, also Uranus & Neptune, cover any flashlights w/ red cellophane, program cancelled if cloudy or raining (call in adv if questionable).

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 Marisa’s Ristorante, 6540 Main St, Trumbull (call 459-4225), tickets $10 unless noted, comedy shows start 10 pm, live music starts at 6 (unless noted; no cover charge unless stated): Aug 27, Bonnie McFarlane & Rich Vos co-headlining, showtime 7:30, tickets $19.50 (special outdoor show, under tent on patio).

Trinity Productions workshops, 24 Alpine Circle, Sandy Hook, or Brookfield Commons, 246 Federal Rd (Suite C-23A), Brookfield (call for location), or by appt, or in-home by appt. Call 426-9448.

Workshops at Fairfield County Agricultural Center (white building in rear), 67-69 Stony Hill Rd/Rte 6, Bethel: Aug 26, Kismet dinner discussion group, 7-9 pm, $15, bring dish to share.

Wednesday Night Poetry, 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: Aug 30, Marty McConnell; Sept 6, Labor Day Themed Open Mic Night.

Theatre ______________

Goodspeed Opera House, Rte 82, East Haddam. Call 860-873-8668.

Pippin, through Sept 29 (production extended), curtain Fri 8, Sat 8:30 pm, Sun 6:30 pm, Wed-Thurs 7:30 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun & Wed 2 pm.

The Pirates of Penzance, Oct 6-Dec 10, curtain Fri 8, Sat 8:30 pm, Sun 6:30 pm, Wed-Thurs 7:30 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun & Wed 2 pm.

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

Menopause The Musical, through Sept 17, curtain Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun 5:30 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun 2 pm, also Wed (Sept 6) 2 pm, tickets $49.50, group discounts available.

On Stage II: Late Nite Catechism, through Aug 26, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 2 pm, tickets $25 (group rates available).

Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Ave, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-5795.

Grease, Aug 25-27, curtain Fri 8 pm, Sun 5 pm, tickets $15, performances by students & counselors of Times Square Theater Group.

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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.