Art Exhibits ______________________

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

Through Oct 31: photographs by Michael Florio.

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

On main floor: Through Oct 29: “Common Object, Uncommon View,” quilted creations by members of The Scrapbag Quilters.

In Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (lower meeting room): Through Oct 29: “Journey Within,” works by members of Authentic Voice, a Newtown based healing, meditative art group that has been meeting weekly for more than a decade.

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

Through Oct 24: “Brookfield Craft Center RE:Invention,” work by BCC faculty as center celebrates reopening & hope for future after closing in May.

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

Through Oct 31: “Our Vintage Wedding Gowns,” wedding gowns from museum’s collection offering a survey of fashion trends from Victorian era to late 20th Century.

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

Through Oct 24: “Renaissance in Pastel: The 17th Annual National Exhibition of the Pastel Society,” works in pastels by members of CT Pastel Society.

Through Oct 24: “Where Lies Beauty: The Josephine McMillen and Lois Livingston McMillen Exhibition,” work by 5 women artists — Mia Brownell, Leeah Joo, Susan Madsci, Eleanore Miller & Afarin Rahmanifar — who utilize & contest conventional notions of art-making in works that demonstrate how beauty remains relevant in post-modern art.

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

Through Oct 25: “A Look at the Past: Paintings from 1985-2010,” retrospective of paintings by interpretive realist Marija McCarthy, incl scenes of hills, homes, towns & distinctively attired people in Europe, the American West & New England.

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

Through Oct 24: recent landscape paintings & highly expressive pastels of horses by Norman Sunshine, also earlier pcs from the artist’s years in LA.

Newtown Municipal Center, Fairfield Hills campus (off Wasserman Way), 3 Primrose St, Newtown; 203-270-4201.

*(new show) Oct 17-Nov 12: “Newtown and Beyond,” more than 150 photos by members of Flagpole Photographers Camera Club featuring views of Newtown and members’ favorites; Oct 17, opening reception, 2-4 pm.

WCSU Higgins Hall, 181 White St (behind Fairfield Hall), Danbury; 203-837-8486, 860-868-2878.

*(new show) Oct 18-Nov 23: “Fifteen Artists, One Exhibition,” works by 15 regionally & nationally artists — Eric Aho, Ira Barkoff, Souby Boski, Charles Cajori, Lois Dodd, Philip Grausman, Barbara Grossman, Wolf Kahn, Nancy Lasar, Elizabeth MacDonald, Ann Mallory, Marija Pavlovich McCarthy, Ruth Miller, Judith Petrovich & Carl Weese — who have taught at Washington Art Assn; Oct 28, opening reception, 4-7 pm.

Auditions, Juried Events  __________

Stray Kats Theatre Company, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown; 203-514-2221.

Oct 27-28: Auditions for inaugural season, 7-9 pm each night, Union & non-union actors  if all types sought for monthly one-day productions of contemporary classics, old-time radio scripts & new works incl Kaufman’s Man Who Came To Dinner (Dec 10),  Rapp’s The Bickersons (Jan 14), new work TBA (Feb 11), Miller’s The Price (March 11), Fibber McGee & Molly (April 8) & Brown’s Our Lady of Allapattah, prepare 2 contrasting monologues from contemporary play to be read (not memorized) & not to exceed 3 min, contact Artistic Director Kate Katcher for addt’l info & (recommended) appointment at above phone # or info@StrayKatsTheatreCompany.org.

Concerts, Musical Events _______

Oct 17: “Patriots of Liberty” at Richter House, 100 Aunt Hack Rd, Danbury, 3 pm, free performance for adults & school age children by Patty Carver hosted by Richter Assn for the Arts; 203-798-2245.

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

Concerts at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 3 pm, tickets $20, free ages 5-14 w/ ticket-holding adult, reception follows performances: Oct 17, Escher String Quartet, works of Vivaldi & Boccherini, et al, also guest guitarist Jason Vieaux.

 

For Kids & Families ________________

Oct 16-31: Danbury Railway Museum’s Pumpkin Patch, 120 White St, Danbury, Sat 10 am-4 pm, Sun 12-4 pm, $9 (free age 2 & under), ride 1920s passenger coach or restored 1953 Rail Diesel Car to pumpkin patch within railyard, free pumpkin for each child, museum also open (& incl in adm); 203-778-8337.

Oct 23: Family Nature Walk at Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 10-11:30 am, free, peaceful walk to look for late fall foliage, blowing seeds & final birds heading south for winter; 203-734-2513.

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533 (children’s dept 203-426-3851).

Children’s programs, free unless specified: Oct 20, Art Experiences: Picture Book Collages, 4 pm, $3 materials fee due at program, ages 8-10 can join artist & educator Randi Rote to create collages in style of Leo Lionni, registration requested; Oct 21, “Science Fun: Icky Science,” 4 pm, $3 materials fee due at program, ages 7-10 invited to join educator Bonnie Shugrue, registration requested.

Young Adult programs, free unless specified: Oct 24, “Ghosts Among Us,” 3 pm, an original Halloween show by The Mask & Wig Players (young thespians, grades 6-12).

Miscellaneous _____________________

Oct 15-18: Friends of Ridgefield Library Annual Big Fall Book Sale, behind Ridgefield Library (in parking lot of former bank building), 472 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, Fri 12-5 pm (early buying 9 am-noon, $10; free adm remainder of sale), Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm, Mon 10 am-5 pm, 30,000+ books, also CDs & books on tape; 203-431-8766.

Oct 16: Guided Nature Hike, Holcombe Hill Preserve, 55 Great Hill Rd, Newtown, 10 am, free & open to all levels (family participation encouraged), guided hike led by member(s) of Newtown Forest Association to one of town’s highest elevations, 1-2 hours long, wear proper clothing & footwear, BYO water & food; 203-270-3650.

Oct 16: Fall Arts & Crafts Fair, Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades La, Newtown, 10 am-4 pm, free adm, 32 professional crafters, silent auction, AMBER Alert registration, food & baked goods, theme baskets & more, presented by & major fundraiser for Newtown United Methodist Church; 203-426-9998.

Oct 16: “In Search of Squirrels,” Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 10-11:30 am, free, learn about squirrels & chipmunks & their importance to the environment while walking & looking for tree & ground squirrels; 203-734-2513.

Oct 16: 32nd Annual Monroe Elementary Great Pumpkin Fair, 375 Old Newtown Rd/Monroe Tpke, Monroe, 10 am-4 pm, games, moonbounce, pony rides, food, vendors; 203-268-2638

Oct 16: Fall Foliage Walk at Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Rd, Wilton, 10 am-noon, free (registration required) hike along trails led by National Park Service Horticulturist Greg Waters will incl info about leaf colors & IDs on colorful trees & shrubs, wear sturdy walking shoes, bring water; 203-544-9829.

Oct 16: Beer Tasting, St Peter’s Episcopal Church, 175 Old Tannery Rd (Rte 111), Monroe, 6-8 pm, $15, $25/couple, beer tastings coupled w/ hors d’oeuvres, keepsake glass for each attendee, hosted by church’s Men’s Club; 203-268-4265.

Oct 16-17: CT Orchid Society Harvest Show & Sale, Van Wilgen’s Garden Center, 51 Valley Rd, North Branford, Sat 8 am-5 pm, Sun 8 am-4 pm, $5, internationally recognized plant vendors, orchid art, apparel & supplies, expert panel of lecturers, Junior Orchid Growers booth, educational booths, raffles & more; 203-488-2110.

Oct 17: Cut-A-Thon, Klickers Hair Studio, 147 Mt Pleasant Rd, Newtown, 11 am-4 pm, $15 haircuts, all proceeds donated to The National Breast Cancer Foundation, light refreshments, raffle; 203-426-5336.

Oct 17: Open House & Living History Demonstration, Matthew Curtiss House, 44 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 12-4 pm, free, presentation of antique bicycles by Jim Spillane III, also tours of historical society’s museum by docents; 203-426-5937.

Oct 18: “Varian Fry: The American Oscar Schindler,” Danbury Library, 170 Main St (at West St), Danbury, 1 pm, $8, program by Newtown resident Rita Frost will incl screening of Assignment Rescue & talk about the CT hero who saved more than 2,000 refugees in Vichy, France, during WWII; 203-426-8787, 203-797-4505.

Oct 19: Newtown Toastmasters meeting, Edmond Town Hall Old Court Room, 45 Main St, Newtown (note different location than usual for this group), 7 pm, guests welcome; 203-313-5507.

Oct 19: Carnivorous Plants: Monstrosities of Mother Nature,” Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 7:30 pm, sugg donation $4, $2 students & children, program by Bill Matthews (New England Carnivorous Plant Society) on “these fantastic monstrosities of nature that lure, catch & digest insects,” 203-734-9325.

Oct 21: Flagpole Photographers Camera Club meeting & program, C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St, Newtown, 7:30 pm, free, guests & nonmembers welcome, program on photojournalism to be presented by Newtown Bee Associate Editor John Voket; 203-426-2316, 203-270-9469.

Oct 22-24: Annual Harvest Fair, Newtown Senior Center, 14 Riverside Rd, Sandy Hook, Fri-Sat 9 am-4 pm, Sun 9 am-noon, gift baskets, quilts, seasonal (Halloween to Christmas) items, clothing & more, all created by Senior Center members, event continues to October 24; 203-270-4310.

Oct 22-24: SCAN Fall Art Show & Sale, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St, Newtown, 10 am-5 pm daily (also opening reception Fri, 6-8 pm), original works by members of The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown; 203-261-4496.

Oct 23: Annual Fall Fair & Tag Sale, Christ the King Lutheran Church, 85 Mt Pleasant Rd, Newtown, 9 am-3 pm, giant tag sale, food & baked goods, crafts, gift baskets; 203-426-6300.

Oct 23: Family Bingo, St Rose Gathering Hall, 46 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, doors open at 6 pm, games begin at 7, $5 (12 regular games) or $10 (12 games, 4 specials & 1 bonus), refreshments available; 203-426-1014, 203-426-4502.

Oct 23: Perfect Pairs: The Artful Bras Show, Edmond Town Hall Alexandria Room, 45 Main St, Newtown, 7-10 pm, $25, fundraiser for Ann’s Place/The Home of I Can will include exhibition & auction of “artful bras” (creatively decorated brassieres), also fashion show, live music, refreshments & more; 203-426-2226, 203-740-2733, 203-426-5283.

Oct 24: Fall Marketplace, Edmond Town Hall Alexandria Room, 45 Main St, Newtown, 10 am-3 pm, $5, free ages 16 & under, final exhibition of Artful Bras (see October 23 listing), arts & crafts by local artisans, complimentary light refreshments; 203-426-2226, 203-740-2733.

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-2475.

(FILM) Oct 15-21: Salt (PG-13), Fri-Sat 7 & 9 pm, Sun-Mon, Wed-Thurs 7 pm, mat Sat 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

Newtown Hikers. Call 203-788-1398 (Ester Nichols), 203-270-4340 (Newtown Parks & Rec).

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9 am (spring & fall start), free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders (in parentheses) as follows: Oct 16, Tarrywile Park, Danbury, Orange Trail, moderate hike (Sally Cox, 203-426-9903 or 203-830-9032).

Sandy Hook Organic Farmers’ Market, at Fairfield Hills campus, Primrose St, Newtown; 203-313-9908.

Weekly event runs Tuesdays, to mid Oct, 2-6 pm, featuring local food & craft vendors w/ fruits, vegetables, jams, baked goods, cut flowers, eggs & more.

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

Oct 22-24, SCAN Fall Art Show & Sale, 10 am-5 pm daily (also opening reception Fri, 6-8 pm), original works by members of SCAN (call 203-261-4496 for show details).

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

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

Wednesday Night Poetry Series, new location: at The Garage (Newtown teen center), 53 Church Hill Rd, Newtown. Call 203-426-6242, 203-364-0631.

Open mic 7:30 pm, featured poet at 8:45, poetry editing workshop follows: Oct 20, The Duende Project: Tony Brown & Faro.; Oct 27, Monica Youn, from NYC, &  Halloween Bash.

Theatre ___________________________

Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield Center; 203-775-0023.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, through Oct 16, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, $20, $15 students w/ ID.

Sherman Players, Sherman Playhouse, Rte 37 at 39 (behind firehouse), Sherman; 860-354-3622.

Dancing at Lughnasa, through Oct 16, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, call for ticket prices.

Town Players of Newtown, at The Little Theatre, 18 Orchard Hill Rd, Newtown; 203-270-9144.

Whodunnit, through Oct 24, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2, tickets $20; note: play contains some adult content not suitable for children; ALSO, Oct 16 performance is a benefit, contact box office for details.

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

The Diary of Anne Frank, through Oct 30, contact theater for curtain details, tickets $35-$55 ($65 opening night incl pot-performance reception).

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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 Enjoy must be received by MONDAY NOON for publication in that week’s edition of The Newtown Bee. Send to Associate Editor Shannon Hicks, Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or shannon@thebee.com.