Antiques Shows______

Feb 4-5: Antiques at The Mall Show & Sale, Eastbrook Malle, Rte 15, Mansfield, Sat 10 am-9 pm, Sun 12-5 pm, proceeds to benefit Windham Historical Society; 860-450-0525.

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

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

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

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

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

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

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

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

Black Rock Art Center, 2838 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203-367-7917.

Through Feb 11: “Artists Choose Artists,” works by Colleen L. Coleman, Rick Molina, Daniel Amazu Wasser & Cate Leach.

Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Hours: Mon-Thurs 10 am-8 pm, Fri 12-5 pm, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-5 pm. Call 426-4533.

In Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (lower meeting room) — *(new show) Feb 5-28: “Images of Nature,” photographs by Art Anderson, Bob Berthier & Frank Gardner; Feb 5, opening reception, 1-3 pm.

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

*(new show) Feb 5-March 26: “Bend-Twist-Wrap: Contemporary Work in Wire,” new sculpture by artists from across the country; Feb 5, opening reception, also gallery talk by curator Robert Dancik, 3 pm, free.

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

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

Through April 23: “Ben Franklin’s Curious Mind,” original art & artifacts, also hands-on interactive displays based on Franklin’s inventions & achievements celebrate 300th birthday of one of country’s most dynamic, inventive & distinguished citizens.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Golden Age of Trucking Museum, 1101 Southford Rd/Rte 188, Middlebury. Call 203-577-2181.

Through April 16: “Big Boys & Little Treasures,” new series of paintings by self-taught artist Kiki Michalek depicting classic trucks, also hand painted cigar boxes BY Ms Michalek featuring classic trucks.

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

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

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

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

*(new show) Through March 10: “Martha Cooper: Hip Hop Files,” photographs by Ms Cooper.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury. Hours: Mon 12-7 pm, Wed 10 am-7 pm, Thurs-Fri 10 am-5 pm, Sat 10 am-2 pm. Call 860-350-2181.

Through Feb 6: “Three Men, Three Journeys,” photography by Richard Denisevich, Michael Frohne & Jonathan Gordon, each of whom used his camera to chronicle his travels across US & around the world.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Through Feb 8: “Drawn From Memory,” works by 12 contemporary artists who are fascinated w/ the theme of memory, its nature & persistence, while wrestling w/ incongruities & issues of veracity & subjectivity of memory, ancestry & cultural heritage, nostalgia & loss, & construction of collective identity.

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

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

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

*(new show) Feb 4-26: works in collage by Flavia Bacarella, drawings by Bonner Cabot & assemblages by Mary Hawvermale; Feb 4, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

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

Through Feb 5 (exhibition dates extended): “The Worlds of Francis Wheatley,” highlights from YCBA’s rich holdings of Wheatley’s work in all genre & media incl oils, watercolors, drawings & prints.

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

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

Through summer: “American Paintings, Sculpture and Decorative Arts,” comprehensive selection of works from YUAG’s American art collection incl paintings by Edward Hopper & Thomas Hart Benton, also examples of furniture, turned wood, glass & pewter.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Newtown Choral Society, rehearsals at Newtown Middle School, Queen St, Newtown. Call 426-3769.

Openings for spring concert in May, director Mary Andreotta has openings for all voices, all ages (ages 8 & up; young singers must have parent accompaniment), weekly rehearsals Wed 7-9 pm, group welcomes area residents (not just Newtown residents) who enjoy singing, have desire to learn & to be challenged musically, spring concert will celebrate last 100 years of song.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

Feb 4: 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.

Feb 5: The Heritage Brass Quintet of US Military Academy Band, at Brookfield Library, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield Center, 3 pm, free performance by group formed in 1985 will incl musical styles from 16th Century to present, suitable for all ages, reception to follow; 775-6241 x104.

Feb 5: “Once Upon A Time – music and stories,” Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury, 3 pm, free concert by Danbury Symphony Orchestra will offer selections from West Side Story, Carmen, William Tell, also “Harry Potter,” “The Legend of John Henry,” etc, all geared toward younger listeners; 748-1716.

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

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

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

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

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

Concerts at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 3 pm, $18 adults, $16 seniors, free ages 5-14 w/ ticket-holding adult (subscriptions available), reception follows performances: Feb 12, pianist Katia Skanavi, program to incl Handel’s Chaconne, Liszt’s Tre sonetti di Petrarca & Vallee d’Obermann, Chopin’s Grande Polonaise Brillante & Rachmaninoff’s Etudes Tableaux, Opus 39.

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: Feb 4, “Blind Date” by The Bill Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, tickets $30-$40, performance to feature dance-theater collage w/ Chinese poetry, the Mexican national anthem, video images & set filled w/ geometric abstractions & surreal images, post-performance Q&A.

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

Performances 8 pm unless noted: Jan 28, Blue Oyster Cult, $60, Vervain opening; Feb 11, Roberta Flack Valentine’s Day Diamond & Champagne Fundraiser, begins 7 pm, $95 & $125, performance & pre-concert reception.

Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra. Call 203-438-3889.

Concerts at Ridgefield High School, 700 North Salem Rd/Rte 116, Ridgefield, 8 pm, tickets $15-$50: Feb 4, “Couples in Love,” program to incl Gershwin’s Lullaby, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy, vocal version (feat soprano Laura Heimes & tenor Tony Boutte), Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Mancini’s Moon River &  Gershwin’s Symphonic Suite from Porgy and Bess.

St Steven’s Episcopal Church, 315 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-3789.

2005-06 Sunday Afternoon Concert Series, performances 4 pm, sugg donation $10: Feb 12, New England Baroque Soloists, led by artistic director Doug Myers.

Films _________________

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

Independent Film Festival, free, screenings 7:30 pm: Feb 7, Le Grand Voyage.

Danbury Library, 170 Main St (at West), Danbury. Call 797-4533.

Independent Film Series, free, screenings at 2 pm: Feb 5, Wilby Wonderful.

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

Feb 3-9: Zathura (PG), Fri-Sun 7 & 9 pm, Mon-Thurs 7 pm, mat Fri 4:30 pm, Sat-Sun 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

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

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

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

10th Annual Festival of African Films, screenings Wed at noon, Fri 7 pm, free: Feb 8 & 10, double-feature of La Petite Vendeuse de Soleil (The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun), in Wolof w/ subtitles & You, Africa!, in Wolof & French w/ subtitles.

For Kids & Families _________

Feb 4: The Three Feathers, Housatonic Valley Waldorf School, 40 Dodgingtown Rd/Rte 302, Newtown, 10 am, free puppet play of Grimms’ fairy tale suitable for young children; 364-1113.

Feb 4: The Adventures of Curious George, at Kennedy High School, Highland Ave, Waterbury, 3 pm, tickets $7, play based on classic books about mischievous monkey will be performed by professional acting troupe TheatreWorks USA; 203-577-2377.

Feb 5: “Once Upon A Time – music and stories,” Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury, 3 pm, free concert by Danbury Symphony Orchestra will offer selections from West Side Story, Carmen, William Tell, also “Harry Potter,” “The Legend of John Henry,” etc, all geared toward younger listeners; 748-1716.

Feb 7: Stories & Craft for Black History Month, Danbury Public Library, 170 Main St, Danbury, 4 pm, free one-hour program for children in grades 3-5 will incl reading of Follow the Drinking Gourd, discussion of The Underground Railroad & creation of unity wreaths, registration required; 797-4528.

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

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

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

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

Young Adult programs, free unless specified: Feb 7, We Love Chocolate! workshop, 3-5 pm, $6 (due day of program, reservations required) students in grades 6 & up invited to make chocolate gifts to enjoy or give as gifts, led by Marie Walker, limited to 12 students; Feb 8, YA Book Talk, 4 pm, one-hour program for readers in grades 5-9 will focus on Eragon by Christopher Paolini.

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

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

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

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

Miscellaneous ___________

Feb 4: 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.

Feb 4: Dark Organic Chocolate Fondue, New Morning Store, 738 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury, 1-4 pm, free; 203-263-0673 x317.

Feb 5: Baseball Card & Sport Memorabilia Show, Ramada Inn, 225 Lordship Blvd, Stratford, 9:30 am-2:30 pm, adm $3, 99 CENTS ages 10 & under, special appearance by NY Jets legend Emerson Boozer, also dealers from 5 states w/ sports cards, vintage cards, new sets, wax boxes, autographs & more; 364-1209.

Feb 5: Super Bowl Party at Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Rd, Danbury, tickets $25 (snacks, hot & cold buffet 7 pm), door prizes & more, doors open 3:30 pm, kick-off is 6:30, seating limited (RSVP suggested); 470-7528.

Feb 7: Romance Book Sale, Danbury Public Library, 170 Main St, Danbury, 10 am-2 pm, gift-quality hard cover & paperback books by popular romance authors, also children’s books, videos & music CDs, prices will range from 50¢-$5;796-8061.

Feb 6: “Civil War Lectures: The Battle of Shiloh,” Brookfield Historical Society Museum, Rte 25 at 133, Brookfield Center, 7 pm, free lecture by historical society board member Peter Cronin will look at one of costliest battles of Civil War; 740-8140.

Feb 7: “The History of Illustration” art slide lecture, Western CT State University White Hall Viewing Room 1, 181 White St/Rte 6, Danbury, 11 am, free lecture by the illustrator Walt Reed (founder, Illustration House); 837-8486

Feb 8: The Genealogy Club of Newtown meeting, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7 pm, free & open to anyone with an interest in genealogy, presentation by Penny Hartzell and Erin Nikitchyuk on how to best utilize courthouse & land records for research; 426-3889.

Feb 8: “Native Plants for Birds and Butterflies,” Newtown Senior Center (multi-purpose building), Riverside Rd, Sandy Hook, 7:30 pm, free presentation by Bent of the River Audubon Center director John Longstreth will cover making backyards friendlier for native plants and wildlife, also discussion of invasive plants, the needs of birds and more, sponsored by Town & Country Garden Club of Newtown; 264-5098.

Feb 8: Nutmeg Quilters Guild open meeting, Ridgefield Recreation Center, 316 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, 7 pm, free & open to non-members, quilters will work on their projects & community service quilts, also preview March’s Block of The Month; 203-834-2208.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Programs free unless noted: Feb 7, Non-Fiction Book Group, 1 pm, discussion of Peter Bergen’s Holy War Inc, newcomers welcome; Feb 9, author program, 7:30 pm, Cathryn Prince will discuss her new military book Shot From The Sky: American POWs in Switzerland, discussion to follow, also light refreshments; Feb 11, Basic Computing, 9 am-noon, free (registration needed), hands-on workshop designed for true beginner will focus on keyboard, shortcuts, mouse use & more.

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

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

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

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

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

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9:30 am (later start during winter season), free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders as follows: Feb 4, dirt road hike along Housatonic River, Salisbury (Rita Qubick, 268-4119); Feb 11, NY City to China Town & Little Italy w/ leader Molly Schleis (748 5202), plan on all day w/ train ride into city & dinner out, depart Newtown 10:30 am, bring lunch to eat on train, arrive 12:35 pm, estimated cost for train & dinner $45 (adults) or $33 (seniors).

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.

Shepaug Eagle Observation Area, Shepaug Housatonic Hydroelectric Station, River Rd, Southbury. Call (Tues-Fri 9 am-3 pm) 800-368-8954.

Seasonal: Observation area open Dec 28 to March 17 only, Wed, Sat-Sun 9 am-1 pm, free adm but reservations absolutely required.

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): Feb 3, co-headliners Peter Bales & Monty Hoffman, showtime 9:45 pm, tickets $10.

Shows at The New Sorrento, 32 Newtown Rd, Danbury, 9:30 pm, first act, featured act & headliners as follows, tickets $15 unless noted:

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

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

Theatre ______________

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

Nunsense A-Men!, Feb 3-March 12, curtain Fri 8 pm, Sat 5:30 & 8:30 pm, Sun 8:30 pm, tickets $10-$30, discounts for seniors, students & groups, rush tickets ($25) 1 hour before curtain if available.

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

Private Lives, through Feb 5, curtain Sun, Tues-Wed 7 pm, Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun & Wed 2 pm, Sat 3 pm, tickets $20-$60, student, senior & group discounts available.

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

Laughter on The 23rd Floor, Feb 9-March 5, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Thurs, Sat-Sun 2 pm, call for ticket prices; Feb 11, Opening Night & Reception; Feb 16, Beer & Pizza Night.

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

The Value of Names, Feb 3-18, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm, tickets $16 adults, $15 seniors & students.

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

National Pastime, through Feb 19,curtain Tues-Sat 8 pm, also Sun 7 pm, also first Tues (Feb 7) 7 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun 2 pm, tickets $21-$34; Feb 5, Conversation Club, post-mat discussion w/ actors & directors; Feb 7, Art vs Life, A Deeper Look, post-performance discussion of play’s issues.

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

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

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

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

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Events that appear by date have Newtown items listed first, with additional events listed by their start time. At the time of printing, the information here is accurate as presented; a call ahead is always a good idea to be safe.

 

DEADLINE INFORMATION

Press releases for the Enjoy calendar of events or the Enjoy section must be received by MONDAY NOON for publication in that week’s edition of The Newtown Bee. Send to the attention of Shannon Hicks, Arts Editor, Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown 06470, or to shannon@thebee.com. Photos are welcome and can be black & white or color, but must be in sharp focus. Please call for specs if you plan to email digital photo files.