Antiques Shows______

Saturdays (weekly to Oct 26): Bethlehem Flea Market, Bethlehem Fairgrounds, 384 Main St North/Rte 61, 6 am-1 pm, free adm & parking, 200 spaces will offer antiques & collectibles, plants & flowers, organic foods & farmer’s market, artisans & crafters, food, machinery & equipment & much more; 860-618-2940.

Sundays (through Dec): Elephant’s Trunk Country Flea Market, Rte 7, New Milford, 7 am-2:30 pm (early buying 5:45 am, $20), adm $2, free ages 12 & under, leave pets home, vendors offer antiques, collectibles & misc, refreshments available; 508-896-1975.

Sundays (through fall): 8th season Clinton Village Antiques & Collectibles Flea Market, 327 East Main St/Rte 1, Clinton; 860-669-3839.

Aug 9: 35th annual Antique Exhibit & Sale, on the green, Rte 1, Madison, 9 am-4 pm, adm $4 (early buying 8 am, $10), presented by The Exchange Club of Madison; 203-245-7139.

Aug 23: Madison Historical Society’s 37th annual Antiques Fair, on the green, Rte 1/Boston Post Rd, Madison, 9 am-4 pm rain or shine, adm $6, 90 dealers, catered food, no pets please; 203-245-4567.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St, Ridgefield. Hours: Tues-Sun 12-5 pm. Call 203-438-4519.

Through Aug 10: “Ester Partegas: The Invisible — Main Street Sculpture Project,” poetic transformation of building’s street-facing side recalls building’s original use as a general store.

Through Aug 31: “Gary Painter: Daydream Trap,” first solo exhibition of Painter’s work offers explorations of his sketchbooks & his paintings, which have yet to be put in critical perspective, by artist whose work has been featured in RAW magazine, television’s Pee Wee’s Playhouse & numerous other book projects.

Bethel Public Library, 189 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. Hours: Mon, Wed-Thurs 9:30 am-8 pm, Tues, Fri-Sat 9:30-5 pm (closed Sundays during summer). Call 794-8756.

Through Aug 20: “Dapper Dogs & Classy Cats,” original paintings by Richard Budman; Aug 20, reading & book signing by Mr Budman (author, The World’s Oldest Cat Blows the Whistle: A Sizzling Exposé!), 4-5 pm.

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

Through Aug 24: “Artists Who Care: Work For, By and About At-Risk Children,” works of art, all about children, in various media by artists from greater Bridgeport area incl Kelly Bigelow Becerra, Tony Bocchetta, Elizabeth Madden, Caitlin Dell & James Napoleon, also works by art therapy master’s students.

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

Featured Artist of the Month, special presentations in BCC Gift Shop: *(new show) Through Aug 31: ceramics by Steve Ernt, who specializes in raku firing process; Aug 10, artist’s reception (public invited), 2-4 pm.

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 1: “The Brookfield Attic,” summer exhibition shares some of more than 30,000 artifacts from museum’s permanent collection incl paintings, textiles, photos, handcrafts, Native American artifacts & info on early settlers, all which tell “rich & unique history of the town.”

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

Through Sept 7: “Reclaimed: Paintings from the Collection of Jacques Goudstikker,” approx 40 rarely seen Old Masters’ works & other paintings w/ emphasis on the importance of both the artworks & their historic restitution, representing the collection of Mr Goudstikker.

Fairfield Arts Council, 70 Sanford St, Fairfield. Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am-4 pm, Sat 1-4 pm. Call 203-319-1419.

Through Aug 14: “justbinnie,” encaustic paintings & monoprints by Binnie Birstein.

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

Through Aug 3: paintings of Andrew Chin, hanging wall sculptures by Carrie McGee & encaustic paintings by Kim Bernard.

Garden of Ideas Gallery, 647 North Salem Rd, Ridgefield. Hours: Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm. Call 203-431-9914.

Through Aug 31, “Recollection,” original art by Gail Lee incl monotype prints & paintings.

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

Through Aug 22: “Signature Membership,” pastel paintings by CT Pastel Society Signature Members incl Melody Asbury, Julie Hopkins, Leslie Levy, et al.

Mattatuck Museum Art & History Center, 144 West Main St, Waterbury. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 203-753-0381.

Through Aug 10: “Merging Cultures: Latin American and Caribbean Art and Life in Connecticut,” presentation of work by diverse group of 12 CT-based artists whose work expresses how immigration affected their lives as newcomers to greater Waterbury region & how CT Latinos view their integration into community, curated by Ben Ortiz & featuring mixed media works by Diane Barcelo, photography by Pablo Delano, dominoes series “Dominonation” by Ernest Lopez, video installation by Carmen Lynch, photography by Marlo Marrero, works by Ricky Mestra, paintings by Dovian Montoya & Lisie Orjuela, mixed media sculpture by Victor Pacheco, photocollages by Debra Roinestad & photographs combined w/ objects exploring the Latina experience by Ruenitz.

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 Aug 25: “Roxbury and Beyond,” recent oil paintings by Karen Cashman, whose eye for composition & color are evident in the landscapes she creates on location in her home town of Roxbury along w/ visits to Maine, Italy & beyond.

Sculpture Barn (née Boyajian’s Sculpture Barn), 3 Milltown Rd (at Rte 39), New Fair-field. Hours: Wed-Sun 10 am-6 pm. Winter hours: Sat-Sun 11 am-5 pm & by appt. Call 746-6101.

Through Aug 23: “Evolution Constructed,” works by David Boyajian, Philip Heilman & Glenn Zweygardt, et al.

Sherman Library, 1 Sherman Center, Sherman. Hours: Tues-Fri 11 am-6 pm, Sat 10 am-4 pm. Call 860-354-2455.

Through Aug 25: “Connecticut, New York and Beyond,” photographic landscape images of Sherman, Roxbury, New Milford & beyond, also cityscapes of New York City, by former Sherman resident Harvey Forman.

Visual Impact Gallery, 4 Eagle Rd (within Commerce Park), Danbury. Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 am-5:30 pm, weekends by appt. Call 790-9650.

Through Aug 31: “Modern Dance Photography,” photographs by John Kane of Pilobolus dancers that celebrate modern dance & the beauty of the human form.

Washington Art Association, 4 Bryan Plaza, Rte 47, Washington Depot. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 860-868-2878.

Through Aug 10: “To Ultima Thule and Back,” stoneware sculpture by Louise W. King, photogravure/aquatint by Peter Bogardus &  oil paintings by Robert Andrew Parker.

In The Project Room: Through Aug 23: “Masque,” the work of Larry Hunt.

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

Through Aug 17: “Great British Watercolors from the Paul Mellon Collection at Yale Center for British Art,” more than 80 works spanning a center of British artistic production incl the emergence of watercolor painting in mid-18th Century to its flowering in early 19th Century, highlighting the diversity of British watercolor painting through figurative & landscape works by Gainsborough, Sandby, Cozens, Blake, Girtin, Turner & Constable, et al, organized as part of YCBA’s 30th anniv celebration in 2007; Aug 17, exhibition tour, 2 pm.

Through Aug 30: “Joseph Wright of Derby in Liverpool,” first major exhibition to examine the distinguished portraitist’s creative development in Liverpool at start of the city’s cultural renaissance & growing status as a major world port offers approx 80 works incl 40+ paintings & drawings by Wright, along w/ others by his circle of friends & pupils in Liverpool.

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 Sept 7: special presentation of van Gogh’s “Cypresses” & “The Starry Night: Visions of Saint-Rémy,” both on view for first time in New England.

Through Sept 7: “Everyday Monuments: The Photographs of Jerome Liebling,” 50=plus photos by the artist exploring themes incl social-documentary photos of people & places, poetic images of relicts & physical remnants of literary figures, also photos of mannequins & corpses.

Through Sept 7: “From Any Angle: Photographs from the Collection of Doris Bry,” celebration of the collection of 200+ photos by the artist incl examples of wide range of styles & photographic media.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Apple Festival at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church, 175 Old Tannery Rd, Monroe. Call 268-4265.

Sept 6-7: Artists & craftspeople invited for annual Apple Festival, to be held on Mon-roe Green, Sat, Sept 6, 10 am-5 pm & Sun, Sept 7, 10 am-4 pm, contact Judy Hamilton in parish office (phone # above) for details.

Bridgewater Country Fair, Rte 133, Bridgewater. Call 860-354-4730.

Aug 8: Registration deadline for 2 or more entries for Needlework competition, entries to be delivered to fair Aug 14, 4-7 pm; visit BridgewaterFair.com for details.

Aug 13: Registration cut-off for Baking Contests (non-registered entries will also be accepted, but check-in will be speedier for those registered), Divisions as follow: Senior Baking – Lemon Poppy Seed Pound Cake, Jr Baking Entry – Chocolate Mint Dreams, State Sr Entry – Coconut Layer Cake, State Jr Entry –  Raspberry Jelly Roll; contact Forest or Jan Putnam for official recipe or registration, 860-354-5621.

Aug 14: Receiving for Litchfield Country Council of Fairs Contest, 4-7 pm, theme is Birdhouse in Agricultural Theme, open to all CT residents, youth & adult divisions, entry must be functional birdhouse w/ at least 75% natural materials, no larger than 18” W by 18” L x 18” H; contact Christine Schmidt for specifics, 860-379-0060.

Aug 14: Receiving for fair’s Art Show, 4-7 pm, 2-dimensional original art accepted for exhibition, oils, acrylics, pastels, watercolors, collage, drawings & original prints all welcome, no giclée prints, work must be framed, wired & ready to hang (children’s art does not have to be framed), pick-up will be Sun, Aug 17, betw 6-7 pm, contact Pamela Hochstetter (860-350-1121) for addti’l info.

Newtown Congregational Church Fall Fair, 14 West St, Newtown. Call 426-3496.

Sept 20: Vendors invited to rent space for fall fair, running 9 am-3 pm, spaces $35 each, indoor event (A/C hall), vendors offering art, jewelry, photography, prints, gift items, etc invited to contact Linda Manganaro at above phone # for details.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

Aug 8: Summer Concerts in the Courtyard: An Evening of Nostalgia, The Homesteads Assisted Living Community, 166 Mt Pleasant Rd/Rte 6, Newtown, 7 pm,  free performance by guitarist Susan Judge will cover music from the era of poodle skirts, refreshments served, reservations requested; 426-8118.

Aug 8: Thirzah Bendokas & Friends, Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown, 8 pm, special performance by cellist Thirzah Bendokas, with guest pianist, harpist, guitarist, violinist and dancers, will offer program ranging from classics to Disney favorites, donations will be accepted and forwarded to Bob Veillette, local journalist recovering from massive stroke; 203-824-3612.

Aug 8: Olu Dara at McLevy Green, corner Main & State St, Bridgeport, 6 pm, free concert of fusion music that begins w/ blues & adds elements of African, Caribbean, R&B & jazz will be first in 11th Annual Summer Sounds of the World Concert Series; 203-367-7917.

Aug 10: “All in The Golden Afternoon: Musical Word Paintings from Europe and the Americas,” Tobé Malawista & The Guastavino Trio at Sacred Heard Church, 910 Main St South (Rte 6 at Rte 172), Southbury, performance 4 pm, wine & cheese reception 3 pm, tickets $25 (reception & concert) & $15 (concert only), performance by celebrated soprano will feature new work written for trio & Ms Malawista on text of Edward Lear by the American composer Richard Pearson Thomas, all proceeds from ticket sales will benefit The Haitian Ministries in Norwich; 264-5071.

Aug 11: CT Choral Society Summer Sing-In, Valley Presbyterian Church, 21 West Whisconier Rd, Brookfield, registration begins 7 pm, singing at 7:30, $7 covers use of music & refreshments, all area adult singers invited to join conductor Eric Dale Knapp & CCS members for selections from Fauré’s Requiem; 203-206-7186.

Aug 12: The Kerry Boys at Pomperaug Woods gazebo, 80 Heritage Rd, Southbury, complementary hot dogs & soda 5:30 pm, music begins at 6:30, free concert by Mark Jones & Pierce Campbell will incl Irish songs & folk music, bring chairs & blankets for seating, picnics welcome; 262-6555.

Aug 15: Patty Larkin at McLevy Green, corner Main & State St, Bridgeport, 6 pm, free concert of pop & folk inspired by 1960s sound will continue 11th Annual Summer Sounds of the World Concert Series, also opening set by Larissa DeLorenzo; 203-367-7917.

Ashlar of Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Rd, Newtown. Call 426-5847.

Summer Sounds Concert Series, 7 pm, free, bring chairs/blankets, call if rain predicted: Aug 13, The Galvanized Jazz Band, Dixieland style music.

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

Free concerts, Thurs 6:30 pm, Fri-Sat 7:30 start: Aug 8, Doug Wahlberg Band, rock originals & covers; Aug 9, Hat City Blues, blues, R&B, dance rock; Aug 14, CT Ballet & CityCenter Players, theater & dance; Aug 15, Vital Signs, classic rock; Aug 16, West Afrikan drumming;.

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

Summer Concert Series, Tues 6:30 pm (under pavilion if rain), free adm, bring chairs or blankets for seating: Aug 12, Eran Troy Danner, Texas-style blues w/ dash of classic rock & swing.

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

Performances 8 pm unless noted: Aug 8, John Hiatt & The Ageless Beauties, $72.50;  Aug 13, Bruce Hornsby, $82.50; Aug 22, Hal Ketchum and Aztec Two Step, $50; Aug 24, Steve Lukather, $40.

Films _________________

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

Summer Films Series, free, 1:30 pm: Aug 20, Once (R, 85 min).

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

Aug 8-14: Kitt Kittredge: An American Girl Mystery (G), mat daily 1 pm.

Aug 8-14: You Don’t Mess with the Zohan (PG-13), daily 7 & 9 pm, mat Fri-Sun 4 pm.

For Kids & Families _________

Aug 16: Native Trees Walk & Talk, Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 10-11:30 am, free but registration required by Aug 9, learn to ID native trees found in most backyards, play games that will make forest fun, create tree creatures using native leaves, all ages welcome; 734-2513.

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 13, PJ Story Time: The Boy Who Cried Wolf, 6:30 pm, puppet show & story time for ages 3-7, no registration required; Aug 14, Summer Crafts: Spinning, 3:30 pm (no charge but registration required), ages 6 & up invited to join Mrs LaPlante to make an anklet or bracelet.

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

Programs incl w/ zoo adm ($11 adults, $9 ages 3-11 & seniors, free ages 3 & under, group rates available): Through Aug 31, “Fly Me To The Zoo” bird shows, Sat-Sun 11 am, 1:30 & 3 pm, also Wed-Fri 11 am & 1:30 pm, non-traditional free flight birds combine natural behaviors w/ conservation message for all ages.

Summer program: through Aug 22, Animal Tales storytelling program, Mon-Fri 2 pm, stories & live animal presentations for children; through Aug 26, “Awesome Amphibians & Rowdy Reptiles” show, Mon-Tues 11 am & 1:30 pm, have a close encounter w/ some of nature’s most interesting & misunderstood animals through cool artifacts incl models & skulls, also live animals, free w/ zoo adm.

Miscellaneous ___________

Fridays (1st & 3rd Fri/month until Oct 2): Black Rock Art Walks 2008, Fairfield Ave (between Brewster St & Gilman St), Bridgeport, 6-9 pm, free twice-monthly presentation by area artists & craftspeople along sidewalks of Fairfield Ave (at Black Rock Art Center, 2838 Fairfield Ave, if rain); 203-366-3667.

Fridays (to Oct 24): Danbury Farmers’ Market, Kennedy Park, intersection Main, Kennedy & Elm Sts, Danbury, 11 am-4 pm, fresh produce, bread, farm eggs, bedding plants, shoreline shellfish & other products available weekly; 792-1711.

Saturdays (weekly to Oct 26): Bethlehem Flea Market, Bethlehem Fairgrounds, 384 Main St North/Rte 61, 6 am-1 pm, free adm & parking, 200 spaces will offer antiques & collectibles, plants & flowers, organic foods & farmer’s market, artisans & crafters, food, machinery & equipment & much more; 860-618-2940.

Sundays (through Oct 26): Sandy Hook Village Farmers Market, 3-5 Glen Road, Sandy Hook, 9 am-1 pm, flowers, fruits & vegetables from local farmers, baked goods, nutritional seminars, monthly family activities, runs weekly until Oct 26; 426-2427.

Tuesdays (through Sept 2): Cruise Nights at The Golden Age of Trucking Museum, 1101 Southford Rd/Rte 188, Middlebury, 5:30-8 pm, free, info booths,  BBQ, reduced adm to visit museum (cruise night events presented outdoors), special theme nights planned for June 24 (Cruisin’ Through Connecticut), July 22 (Beach Party, w/ volleyball, Frisbee, etc) & Aug 19 (Drive-In Night, w/ movies & popcorn), music provided by DJ, trophies & prizes to be awarded; 203-577-2181.

Tuesdays (through mid-Oct): Sandy Hook Organic Farmers’ Market, behind St John’s Episcopal Church, Washington Ave/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 2-6 pm, local veggies & fruit, fresh baked goods, jams & handcrafted items, weekly activities for kids, also lectures & cooking demos, continues weekly; 313-9908.

Aug 8: 7th annual Going Back in Time Classic Car Show & Sock Hop, Ashlar of Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 11 am-2 pm, free adm, display of classic & antique cars owned by members of The Classic Nights Car Club of Monroe, visitors invited to vote for People’s Choice Award, also Greyhound Rescue and Rehabilitation info area and dogs, plus refreshments, music by DJ; 426-5847.

Aug 8: “Whose Barn Is It Anyway?” at Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield, doors open at 7, performance at 8, tickets $20 ($15 tax deductible), improv comedy by The Role in the Hay Players, cabaret seating, BYO food & beverage; 203-431-9850.

Aug 8-10: 13th Keeler Tavern Museum Antiques & Treasures Sale, at the museum, 132 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield, Fri-Sat (early buying Fri 8-9 am, adm $10) 9 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm, sale of antiques, furniture & decorative accessories, museum also open for visits; 203-438-3166.

Aug 9: 2nd annual Danbury Railroad Day, Danbury Railway Museum, 120 White St, Danbury, 10 am-5 pm, adm $8 adults ($7 museum members), free ages 3 & under, ongoing educational activities & train rides, special celebration of restoration of circa 1920 Railway Post Office (RPO) Car will incl formal dedication ceremony (1:30) & one day stamp cancellations by USPS, RR history exhibits, operating layouts, model displays & more; 778-8337.

Aug 9-10: Litchfield County 4-H Fair, Goshen Fairgrounds, Rte 63, Goshen, 9 am-4 pm each day, free adm & parking, food for purchase, homeshow exhibits & animal shows both days, also Sat – horse show, dairy type show, beef show, dairy goat show, rabbit show, sheep show, dog show & legislators’ event in main ring (3 pm), Sun – dairy cattle showmanship, dog fun & agility classes, sheep obstacle course, dairy goat show, pet parade & premier showmanship contest, awards ceremony 3 pm.

Aug 10: “Work Practice, Zen Practice,” Woodbury Yoga Center, 122 West Side Rd, Woodbury, 7 pm, free program by Jordan Scheibel (Grinnell College student, Morris resident), will share summer experiences working & meditating at Green Gulch Farm & Zen Center in Sausalito, Calif., group meditation  & tea reception to follow; 263-2254.

Aug 14: Gustave Whitehead and the Flight of Number 21,” The Barnum Museum, 820 Main St, Bridgeport, 6 pm (museum will remain open until time of lecture), adm $7 adults, $5 seniors & college students, $4 ages 4-17, presentation by Andrew Kosch (director, Gustave Albin Whitehead Replica Team) on the topic of whether Whitehead beat the Wright brothers in accomplishing the first controlled, sustained airplane flight; 203-331-1106.

Aug 15: “Laugh To Help A Child,” The Amber Room Colonnade, Stacey Rd, Danbury, dinner 6:30 pm, tickets $50, performances by Johnny Lampert (headliner) & Sherry Davey, fundraiser will benefit The Child & Family Institute of Fairfield County; 792-7296.

Aug 15-17: 57th Bridgewater Country Fair, Bridgewater Fairgrounds, Rte 133, Bridgewater, Fri 4-11 pm, Sat 8 am-11 pm, Sun 8 am-6 pm, adm $8 adults, $5 seniors (Sat-Sun), free ages 12 & under, no pets on fairgrounds, midway, vendors, refreshments, trampoline shows daily, raffle (grand prize 2008 Jeep Wrangler), cake Bingo, live music, also Fri – Firemen’s Parade Fri 6:45, Sat – sheep & poultry judging, jr dairy & beef shows, jr poultry show, children’s pet parade, pedal tractor pull, border collie herding demos, antique tractor pull, pony pull, Sun – jr showmanship, ox judging, sheep fitting & showing, garden tractor pull, border collie herding demos; 860-354-4730, 860-354-1509.

Aug 16: 22nd Litchfield Grange Fair, Grange Hall, 435 Bantam Rd/Rte 202 (opposite Litchfield Inn), Litchfield, 9 am-2 pm, free adm & parking, competitive exhibits incl state adult & junior baking contest, exhibits in needlework, vegetables, fruit, flowers, canned goods & jellies, baked goods, crafts & collections, also bakery sales, book sale, tag sale & food; 860-633-7550 (CT State Grange office).

Aug 16: Native Trees Walk & Talk, Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 10-11:30 am, free but registration required by Aug 9, learn to ID native trees found in most backyards, play games that will make forest fun, create tree creatures using native leaves, all ages welcome; 734-2513.

Aug 16: 6th Annual Gardening Fair, Fairfield County Extension Center, 67 Stony Hill Rd/Rte 6, Bethel, 12:30-5 pm, free adm, gardening activities to incl presentations by gardening experts, info booths, master gardeners will answer questions & test soil samples, ongoing demos, free plant raffle, gently used gardening books sale, refreshments; 207-3262.

Aug 16: Victorian Tea at Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 2-3 pm, $5 (registration requested by Aug 13), learn about Victorian tea etiquette while drinking tea & nibbling on simple refreshments, attendees invited to dress in Victorian garb, also being offered Sept 20; 734-2513.

Aug 16: Ridgefield Art Walk, begins from Ballard Park, Main St/Rte 35 (betw Catoonah & Gilbert St), Ridgefield, 5:30-8:30 pm, dozens of artists will display & sell their art at park & in downtown Ridgefield stores & sidewalks, refreshments, program on “300 Years of Art in Ridgefield” (5:30 at park), demos of quilting, weaving & other crafts, raffle; 203-864-8944 (green Rocks inn).

Aug 17: 33rd Annual Auto Show & Swap Meet, Goshen Fairgrounds, Rte 63, Goshen, flea market begins 8 am, car show at 10, show vehicle registration $5 (plaques to first 300 entries), spectators $3, free ages 6 & under, presented by Litchfield Hills Historical Automobile Club; 860-482-4500.

Active Singles. Call 860-253-9782, 860-489-9611.

Hikes for singles ages 30s-50s held 1st & 3rd Sun/month, hikes 9:30-11:30 am, free, hikes available in 4 difficulty levels, no dogs or children: Aug 17, hikes at Squantz Pond, New Fairfield.

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

Through Aug 31: Weekend Village Interpreter summer program, Sat-Sun 12-4 pm, interpreters will demo traditional activities & lifeways skills, diff interpreters & subjects each weekend.

Aug 16, Artifact Identification Day, 12-4 pm, incl w/ museum adm ($5 adults, $4.50 seniors, $3 children), bring artifacts or mystery Native American cultural items for ID by Director of Research & Collections Dr Lucianne Lavin, limit 12 items/person.

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

Weekly games, Sat 1-5 pm, drop-in chess open to all skill levels, sets & boards pro-vided, hosted by US Chess Federation expert Glenn Budzinski.

Newtown VNA Thrift Shop, Edmond Town Hall (lower level), 45 Main Street, New-town. 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 or 798-0560.

Programs 2nd Wed/month, 7:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: Aug 13, demo by James Grabowski on painting an acrylic beach scene.

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

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 9, Robert Kelly, showtime 8:30, tickets $19.50, also John Hinton & 3rd act TBA.

Shows at The New Sorrento, 32 Newtown Rd, Danbury (call 744-5575), shows 9 pm & tickets $15 unless noted: Aug 9, Al Lubel & Sheila Kay co-headlining, tickets $17.50, w/ Bob Luparillo opening; Aug 16, Johnny Rizzo w/ Bill Keller & 3rd act TBA, tickets $17.50.

Shows at Rob Roy’s Grille & Bar (formerly Ocean Grille), 464 Boston Post Rd, Orange (call 203-795-4588), show at 10 pm & tickets $15 unless noted: Aug 9, Goumba Johnny w/ Keith Anthony & Donny Salvo opening, showtime 9:30, tickets $19.50; Aug 16, The Improv Comedy of Some Assembly Required featuring Scott Baker & Al Isaacs, showtime 9 pm, tickets $17.50, also sets by Gary Ewing & Eric Rivera.

Theatre ______________

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

She Loves You, Aug 15-Sept 21, curtain Fri (Aug 15) 7:30 pm (opening night only), then Fri-Sat 5:30 & 8:30 pm, also Thurs (Aug 21 & 28 only) 7:30 pm, mat Sun 2:30 & 5:30 pm, tickets $35.

The Gary-The Olivia Theatre at Abbey of Regina Laudis, Flanders Rd, Bethlehem. Call 203-273-5669.

West Side Story, through Aug 10, curtain Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, mat Sun 2:30 pm, tickets $15.

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

SummerStage: Wishful Drinking, through Aug 17, curtain Tues-Thurs 7:30 pm, Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 3 pm, call for ticket details.

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

Altar Boyz, through Sept 13, curtain Tues-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 3 pm, Sun 2 pm, tickets $36-$46.

On Stage II: Late Nite Catechism, through Sept 13, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 3 pm, tickets $20-$25.

Musicals At Richter, Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Rd, Danbury. Call 748-6873.

The Music Man, through Aug 16, curtain Thurs-Sun 8:30 pm (grounds open 7:15 for picnics), tickets $21 adults, $16 seniors, $13 students (season tickets $54, $39 & $33 respectively), group discounts available.

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

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), Aug 9, 2 pm, free (reservations required; tickets to be held until 1:30), pre-show offering of food & goodies by local restaurants.

Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield. Call 203-431-9850.

Aug 8, “Whose Barn Is It Anyway?” doors open at 7, performance at 8, tickets $20 ($15 tax deductible), improv comedy by The Role in the Hay Players, cabaret seating, BYO food & beverage.

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

Pygmalion, Aug 8-30, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (Aug 17) 2 pm, tickets $15; Aug 8, opening night gala, 7 pm.

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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.