Antiques Shows______

Saturdays: Woodbury’s Famous Antiques & Flea Market, Rte 6 near Rte 64, Woodbury, 7 am-1 pm, 150± vendors each week, event runs weekly through mid-December; 203-263-2841.

Sundays (through Dec 19): Elephant’s Trunk Country Flea Market, Rte 7, New Milford, 7 am-2:30 pm (early buying 5:45 am, $20), adm $1.

June 25-27: 5th Annual Litchfield County Antiques Show 2004, Kent School, 1 Macedonia Rd, Kent, Fri 5:30-9:30 (preview party, call for details), Sat-Sun 10 am-5 pm, adm $10 (good for both days), 36± dealers, special “Walk & Talk Tour” w/ Bill Hosley (exec director, Antiquarian & Landmarks Society; Sat 11 am), proceeds benefit Greenwoods Counseling Services; 860-567-0300.

July 5: Special Edition of Elephant’s Trunk Country Flea Market, Rte 7, New Milford, 7 am-2:30 pm (early buying 5:45 am, $20), adm $1.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

The Barn Gallery, 82 Rte 37 (Creative Corners), New Fairfield.

Through June 30, oils & watercolors by Betty Christensen.

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 12-5 pm. Call 426-4533.

In Olga Knoepke Meeting Room: *(new show) July 1-31, “Place of Rest,” photographs & complementary poetry by John Ulatowski; July 11, opening reception, 2-4 pm.

Bruce Museum of Arts & Sciences, One Museum Dr, Greenwich. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-5 pm. Call 203-869-0376.

Through July 3, “New York Exposed: Photographs from The Daily News, Part II,” second of two-part exhibition (Part I ran Jan-April) will offer approx 50 images from newspaper’s archive featuring images taken between 1960-2000.

*(new show) July 3-Oct 17, “Through The Eyes of Magnum Photographers: Filming of The Misfits,” photos of film’s production documented by 9 photos from Magnum Photos agency – incl Henri Cartier-Bresson, Bruce Davidson, Elliot Erwitt, Cornell Capa & Inge Morath – incl shots of Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift, Eli Walker, director John Huston & playwright Arthur Miller.

Fine Line Art Gallery, 586 Main St South/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours: Thurs-Sun 11 am-5 pm. Call 203-266-0110.

Through June 30, “12 Years and Counting,” works by 15 award-winning gallery members sharing their visions of country landscapes, bountiful still lifes, animals w/ personality & figure paintings, also handcrafted pottery, jewelry & glass.

Gregory James Gallery, Bank Street Plaza, 27 Main St, New Milford. Hours: Tues-Fri 10 am-6 pm, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 11 am-4 pm.

Call 860-354-3436.

Through June 27, “Spring Art Show 2004,” works by gallery members incl Deborah Chabrian, Christopher Magadini, Edward Martinez, Alain Picard & Bill Rice, also returning artists Joseph Grieco & Anda Styler, plus new members Rick Daskam, Robert Ferrucci, Patrick Purcell & Danielle Wexler.

Grey Horse Gallery, 3 Washington Ave/Rte 34 (in old Masonic Temple, 1st floor; behind St John’s Episcopal Church), Sandy Hook. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-4 pm. Call 270-1199.

Permanent display of oils & pastels by Dick McEvoy.

Highstead Arboretum, 127 Lonetown Rd, Redding. Hours: Mon-Fri by appt. Call 938-8809.

Through June 30, “Native Wildflowers of the Northeast,” works by 27 artists ranging from silverpoint to traditional scientific renderings in watercolor of native wildflowers.

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

Through July 23, “Izzy the Frog in Lumina Land,” “experiential” exhibition w/ works by Joy Wulke, illumination by Jamie Burnett & soundscape by Istvan Peter B’Racz offers educational opportunity about earth’s fragile ecology, viewers view landscape of reflective ponds & illustrative stories to learn of evolution of human relationship w/ toads & frogs as symbols of transformation through myths, exhibit coincides w/ The Izzy Frog Festival at CT’s Beardsley Zoo (June 27) & multi-media event at Ballpark at Harbor Yard (July 16-17).

Through July 23, “Places of The Spirit: Sacred Sites of the Adirondacks,” approx 40 photos by Barry Lobdell, Heather MacLeod, Romaine Orthwein & Shellburne Thurber, who responded to 2001 challenge of visually responding to sacred sites incl churches, synagogues, burial grounds & landscape sites of spirituality in New York’s Adirondack region.

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

*(new show) Through Aug 29, “Edward S. Curtis: Photographs from the Matus Collection,” 34 framed & 7 matted images by Edward S. Curtis, one of the most celebrated photographers of Native Peoples, loaned from collection of Bernard & Nancy Matus.

Through June 30, “Preserving the History of The Weantinock,” artifacts excavated from Bridgewater site where Western CT State University Field School have been set up to learn more about Native Peoples who lived in & around Lovers’ Leap, especially Weantinock Indians & their ancestors.

Through June 30, “Clothing & Textiles: A Celebration of the Ingenuity and Creativity of the Indigenous Peoples of North America,” clothing & textiles demonstrating various techniques used by Native Americans across the continent incl woven wearing blankets, Plains-style dresses, beaded & woven moccasins, beaded & quill worked accessories & more.

Through June 30, “Progression of Indigenous People’s Weaponry: Technology & Mythology,” condensed version of full exhibit back by popular demand incl bows, arrows, coup sticks & clubs.

Miller Studio & Gallery/Beaux Arts Gallery, 495 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Sun 12-4:30 pm. Call 203-263-3939.

Through July 3, “The Modern Landscape,” works of Judith Andrew, Joy Bristow, Robert Crawford, Fran Henry-Meehan, MaJo Keleshian, Annabelle Meacham, Katrina Schmidt-Rinke & Tom Yost.

New Britain Museum of American Art, 56 Lexington St, New Britain. Hours: Tues, Thurs-Fri & Sun 12-5 pm, Wed 12-7 pm, Sat 10 am-5 pm. Museum Highlights Tour offered each Sun at 2 pm. Call 860-229-0257.

Through July 3, “Burchfield & Marsh: Exaggerated Visions,” 60 watercolors, oil paintings & drawings, incl many by Marsh that have never been on public view.

New Canaan Historical Society, 13 Oenoke Ridge/Rte 124, New Canaan. Hours: Tues-Fri 10 am-4 pm, Sat 10 am-noon & 2-4pm.Call 203-966-1776.

Through July 31, “Silvermine Art Colony: The Knockers, The Silvermine Group of Artists, The Silvermine Guild,” Celebration of one of CT’s most important art colonies offers 50+ examples of works by early Silvermine Art Colony members, many on view for first time in 80+ years, incl paintings of D. Putnam Brinley, Charles Reiffel, Hamilton Hamilton, Bernhard Gutmann, Addison Millar, Edmund Ashe, Carl Schmitt, Helen Hamilton & Dorothy Byard, sculpture by Solon Borglum & jewelry by Emma Borglum.

Ridgefield Guild of Artists (RGA) Gallery, Halpin La, Ridgefield. Hours: Thurs-Sun 1-5 pm. Call 203-438-8863.

Through July 4, “Inner & Outer Landscapes,” interpretations of the landscape by 11 American & European artists, curated by RGA member Phil Demise Smith.

Silvermine Guild Arts Center, 1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan. Hours: Tues-Sat 11 am-5 pm, Sun 1-5 pm. Call 203-966-5617.

*(new show) June 18-July 18, “Assemblage, Collage & Construction,” juried show of works by Silvermine Guild artists as selected by collage artist Fred Otnes; June 30, Lunch Time at Silvermine gallery talk, noon.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St, Hartford. Hours: Tues-Sun 11 am-5 pm. Call 860-278-2670.

Through July 3, “Fresh Faces: Youth in African-American Art,” fine art, photography & commercial art from mid 19th Century to present insights into society’s changing perceptions of youth from infancy through adolescence, and also of African-American identity.

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

*(new show) June 26-July 31, works by collage artist Joy Floyd, sculpture by Eli Noyes & ink on paper drawings by Augusta Talbot; June 26, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

In Upstairs Gallery: Through June 30, fine miniature pressed flower collages by Ljiljana (“Lily”) StejicVukovic.

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

*(new show) June 26-July 11, figure drawings & paintings by Marsha Doran, monoprints by Sonja Kalter Glassman, wood carved bowls by Michael Kern, landscapes & human figure studies by Nathan Meyer; June 27, opening reception, 1-3 pm.

Wilton Art Gallery & Framing, 379 Danbury Rd/Rte 7, Wilton. Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am-6 pm, Sat 9:30 am-5 pm, Sun by appt. Call 203-762-8311.

Through July 30, “Natural Reflections: recent works by Amy Foster & Roger Hendricks,” oil paintings & sculpture by local artist & teacher Ms Foster & nationally acclaimed artist Mr Hendricks.

Wooster Community Art Center, 73 Miry Brook Rd, Danbury. Gallery hours: M-F 9:30 am-6:30 pm. Call 744-4825.

Through July 31, paintings by Earl Hamilton, who uses his works to communicate basic human emotions or conditions.

Yale Center For British Art, 1080 Chapel St (at High St), New Haven. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 203-432-2800.

Through Aug 8, “Ocean Flowers: Impressions from Nature in The Victorian Era,” groundbreaking exhibition traces the development of early photography (& artistic processes of 19th Century) in context of natural history illustration via 300+ illustrations incl graphic media, conventional drawings, “nature prints” (direct imprints from plants), hand colored prints, mounted specimens & “photogenic drawings” (photos made without a camera); June 26, free exhibition tour, noon; July 4, free exhibition tour, noon.

Through Aug 22, “The Art of James Ward,” retrospective of one of finest animal, portrait & landscape painters of Regency England, drawn from YCBA’s collections of paintings, drawings, prints & manuscripts, offers viewers a rare opportunity to become acquainted w/ key works of the artist; July 3, free exhibition tour, noon.

Yale University Art Gallery, 1111 Chapel St at York, New Haven. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-6 pm. Masterpiece Tours of Permanent Collection every Sat 1:30 pm, Sun 3 pm. Call 203-432-0600.

Through June 30, “The Gems of Brazil,” 16 of the 20 paintings of hummingbirds by the American artist Martin Johnson Heade intended as illustrations for lavish book of same name, on loan from Manoogian Collection.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

CT Master Chorale, South Britain. Call 775-2602.

Opening on bass section for 2004-05 season, rehearsals Tues eves in South Britain, rehearsals for new season will begin Sept 7, visit www.CMChorale.org for details, call # above for appt.

Diaz Memorial Video Festival, c/o Charter Communications, 11 Commerce Rd, Newtown. Call 860-350-4630, 860-354-8930.

Sept 15: Videos due for festival, awards in 2 age groups (students/ages 14-18 & adult), contact Charter for full competition details, winners will be announced in Nov, non-winning entries from last year may be resubmitted.

Town Players of Newtown, Orchard Hill Rd, Newtown. Call 270-9144.

July 5-6: Auditions for Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Mon-Tues 7:30-9:30 pm, director Larry Kinnear seeks actors betw ages 45-55 for George & Martha, & actors betw ages 25-30 for Nick & Honey, production will be weekends Aug 27-Sept 11 incl 2 Sun mats.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

June 26: Performance by jazz pianist Jack O’Neil, The Homesteads at Newtown, 166 Mt Pleasant Rd/Rte 6, Newtown, 2-4 pm (part of open house running 10 am-4 pm; optional brunch begins at 11 am, $10 & reservations required), no RSVP needed for concert or open house/tours; 426-8118.

June 26: Ballroom dance at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Park Ave, Bridgeport, 7 pm-midnight, adm $15, dance lesson at 8, performance featuring American ballroom stars Steven Dougherty & Eulia Baranovsky at 9:30, refreshments available, singles & couples welcome; 203-374-7308.

June 26: Greater Bridgeport Symphony Pops Concert at Fairfield Univ, North Benson Rd, Fairfield, 8 pm (rain date June 27), free adm, program will offer Pops favorites for entire family, guest soprano Elly Erickson (also pre-concert program by Moxie, 7-pc band that performs new arrangements of swing tunes, begins 6:30), BYO chairs/blankets for seats, picnics OK, no pets allowed on campus; 203-576-0263.

June 27: “4th Annual Evening of Song,” First Congregational Church, on the green/Rte 47, Washington Green, 5 pm, adm by donation, musical theater, classical art songs, arias & duets of Offenbach, Poulenc & Schumann performed by sopranos Alecia Adams & Susan Mullins, mezzo-soprano Nathalie Keller, tenoe David Behnke, baritone & bassoonist Wayne Hileman & pianist Sharon Abner; 860-868-0569, 860-927-3879.

June 28: CT Choral Society Sing-In, Trinity Episcopal Church, 30 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, registration begins at 7 pm, singing at 7:30, $7 incl sheet music & refreshments, CCS members invite any interested choral singers to join them for an evening of singing Mozart, Bach and Brahms; 800-555-5250.

June 29: Tumbleweeds at The Village at Brookfield Common, 246A Federal Rd, Brookfield, 6:45 pm, free concert of country western on vocals & guitar; 775-8696.

July 6: The Golden Angels Band at Ashlar of Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Rd/Rte 6, Newtown, 7 pm, free performance of old-time jazz favorites continues 18th Annual Summer Sounds concert series, all welcome, bring blankets/seating; 426-5847.

July 6: The Jim Scianna Trio at The Homesteads at Newtown, 166 Mt Pleasant Rd/Rte 6, Newtown, 7 pm, free concert will continue Homesteads’ Free N’ Easy Summer Concert Series, light refreshments and seating provided, indoors if rain, RSVP requested; 426-8118.

Ballard Park, Main St/Rte 35 at Gilbert St, Ridgefield. Call 203-431-2760.

CHIRP 2004 (Concert Happenings In Ridgefield’s Parks), 7-9 pm, free, picnics welcome (rain location East Ridge Middle School): June 29, Pharaoh’s Daughter, a Middle Eastern-flavored folk rock confabulation w/ eastern European overtones; July 6, Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem, swing, bluegrass & more.

Fireside Inn, 123 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 426-7001.

Ballroom, Latin & Swing Dance Party, every Wed 7-11 pm, $12, singles & couples welcome for free dance lessons (7:30), buffet dinner (8), open dancing to DJ selections, dressy attire (no jeans).

Gate House Coffee House, Rte 172, Southbury. Call 586-2144 (Southbury Training School).

Summer Concert Series, Tues 6:30 pm (under pavilion if rain), free adm: June 29, Timmy Maia featuring F.U. Jazz Boy, rhythm & blues band; July 6, In Harmony, 40s & 50s doo-wop music w/ rich harmonies.

Ives Concert Park, WCSU westside campus, University Blvd, Danbury. Call 837-9226 (or TicketMaster, 744-8100).

2004 Summer Concert Series, shows 7:30 unless noted, all shows rain or shine, children’s lawn tickets $12 (ages 2 & under free/lawn), all tickets $3 higher day of show: June 27, Hootie & the Blowfish, tickets $41 & $56 reserved, $26 adult lawn; July 4, Annual Pops & Fireworks Concert: Hartford Symphony Orchestra w/ Conductor Gerald Steichen, tickets $36 reserved, $21 adult lawn, tickets $41 & $56 reserved, $26 adult lawn.

Merryall Center for the Arts, Chapel Hill Rd (off Merryall Rd), New Milford. Call 860-354-7264.

Performances 8:30 pm (unless noted), tickets $15, season tickets available: June 26, Tritonis with Joel Brown, world renowned musician Joel Brown w/ unique flute, guitar & cello trio.

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

“Garden Jazz,” Sun through Oct 10, 1-4 pm rain or shine, $10 (reservations a must), enjoy intimate jazz performance & wine tastings in garden overlooking vineyards, non-alcoholic drinks also available.

Films _________________

Bethel Cinema, 269 Greenwood Ave, Bethel. Call 778-2100.

June 25-July 1: Fahrenheit 9/11 (R), daily 4, 4:50, 6:40, 7:20, 9:20 & 9:45 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 12:10, 1:20 & 2:30 pm; Napoleon Dynamite (R), daily 5, 7:05 & 9:10 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1 & 3 pm; The Terminal (PG-13), daily 4:10, 6:50 & 9:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:30 pm.

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

June 25-July 1: Hidalgo (PG-13), daily 8 pm, mat daily 2:30 pm; Home on The Range (PG), daily 6 pm, mat daily noon.

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

Through June 30: The Living Sea, Mon-Fri 12 & 2 pm, Sat-Sun, 12, 2 & 4 pm.

Through Oct 7: Dolphins, daily 1 & 3 pm, also Fri-Sat 7 pm as double feature w/ Legend of Loch Lomond.

Through Oct 7: Legend of Loch Lomond, Fri-Sat 7 pm as part of double feature w/ Dolphins.

For Kids & Families _________

Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Danbury Square, 15 Backus Ave, Danbury. Call 730-2733.

Free public programs: June 26, Summer Vacation Storytime, summer fun w/ Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah! by Allan Sherman & Lou Busch & other fun books about summertime activities.

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

Children’s programs, free unless specified: June 30, “Bubblemania,” 10:30 am, one-hour performance by Casey Carle will coincide w/ children’s book sale (begins at 9 am), program at Reed Intermediate School, Trades La.

Young Adult programs, free unless specified: June 29, “Manga!” 2-3:30 pm, ages 10 & up invited to work w/ illustrator Christopher Hart on original drawings, BYO sketch pad & pencils, bring original artwork for critique if interested; June 30, Young Adult Book Discussion, 4 pm, readers in grades 5-8 invited to discuss Ann M. Martin’s Belle Teal; July 6, “Light Delights: Summer Snacks the Natural Way,” 1-2:30 pm, $5 (payable at sign-up), ages 10 & up invited to learn recipes for chappatis, pizza, fruit smoothies & dipped pretzels from Nancy Crevier, limited to 12 participants.

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

Programs included w/ zoo adm ($8 adults, $6 ages 3-11 & seniors, free ages 3 & under, group rates available): June 27, Izzy The Frog, 10 am-3 pm, included w/ zoo admission, frog-related stories, craft activities & ecological presentations by zoo director Gregg Dancho, all concerning the importance of frogs as related to the health of the environment.

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

Summer Series for Children, performances 11 am & 2 pm, tickets $15: June 28, Hobey Ford & The Golden Rod Puppets, cultural folk tales in puppetry.

Miscellaneous ___________

June 25: 5th Annual New Morning Store Ice Cream Social, Middle Quarter Mall, 738 Main St South/Rte 6, Woodbury, 5-8 pm, $5 donation allows visitors to make sundaes w/ all-organic ingredients, 100 percent of proceeds will go to Save Haven (New Morning will also be matching all donations), donations of household supplies, personal care & paper products also being accepted for Safe Haven; 203-263-4868.

June 26: Open House, Brunch & Concert at The Homesteads at Newtown, 166 Mt Pleasant Rd/Rte 6, Newtown, brunch at 11 ($10 & RSVP required; proceeds to benefit CT Alzheimer’s Assn), open house & tours ongoing 10 am-4 pm (no reservations required), performance from 2-4 pm by jazz pianist Jack O’Neill; 426-8118.

June 26: Monroe Historical Society Tag Sale, Old Schoolhouse, Wheeler Rd at Old Tannery (one block from green), Monroe, 9 am-1 pm, proceeds will benefit historical society buildings upkeep, schoolhouse will be open for tours during tag sale, tag sale returns June 26 (same hours); 268-5511.

June 26: Annual Summer BBQ & Bake Sale, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 17 Roberts Ave (at Eighth Ave), Danbury, 10 am-1 pm, homemade pierogies, baked goods, kielbasa, also crafts imported from Russia, jewelry, lunch available & more; 748-0671.

June 26: 57th Annual St Paul’s Episcopal Church Fair, 294 Main St South/Rte 6, Woodbury, 10 am-4 pm, annual event offers book sale, pottery barn, petting zoo & children’s games, refreshments, white elephant, raffles (hand-crafted quilt & heirloom dollhouse), special performance by CT Chamber Singers at 11 am, more; 203-263-0804.

June 26: Open Turret Day at Military Museum of Southern New England, 125 Park Ave, Danbury, 10 am-5 pm, wear shows & clothing appropriate for climbing into museum’s collection of military vehicles (which are not usually open to the public), rain date June 27; 790-9277.

June 26-27: Friends of Roxbury Library Annual Book Sale, Hodge Memorial Library & Museum, Rte 67, Roxbury, Sat (early buying 8:30 am, $5) 9 am-2 pm, Sun 12-3 pm, proceeds will directly benefit library; 860-350-2181.

June 27: 29th Annual Housatonic Valley Region Antique Automobile Club of America Antique & Classic Car Show & Flea Market, Bridgewater Fairgrounds, Rte 133, Bridgewater, 9 am-3 pm rain or shine, adm $3 adults, $1 ages 7-12, free ages 7 & under & seniors, cars in 28 categories incl special interest, noteworthy & collectible cars, hot rod & custom cars, Car Corral (antique & collectible cars), etc, also displays by local auto dealers of new cars of special interest, flea market, refreshments, etc; 775-4719.

June 27: Open Garden Day at Three Rivers Farm, 694 Skyline Ridge Rd, Bridgewater, 1-4 pm, adm $5, tours of garden that was designed in 1921 by Beatrix Farrand & then refurbished beginning 1992 by current property owner Promisek Inc; 860-354-1788.

June 29: “Love and Knishes: Willie Nininger,” Walzer Family Jewish Community campus, 444 Main St North, Southbury, $5.50, al fresco lunch at noon, program at 1 pm by singer & songwriter Willie Nininger, reservations by June 24 (note: if rain, program will move to United Church of Christ, 283 Main St North); 267-3177 x105.

July 3: Free Comic Book Day, Cave Comics, 57 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, 11 am-7 pm, Newtown’s dedicated comic book shop will join w/ thousands of shops around the world to celebrate the unique American artform w/ comic book giveaways; 426-4346.

July 3: CT ConTacts 4th of July Eve Patio Party for Singles, Colonial Tavern, Rte 67, Oxford, 8 pm-1 am, adm $15 incl picnic buffet, coffee & ice cream buffet, dancing to DJ selections, casual attire OK; 203-468-1144.

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

Programs: July 7, Brown Bag Tour, 11 am-1 pm, $7, docent-led tour of current exhibitions & recently expanded museum, then discussions w/ fellow participants & curator, BYO lunch (museum will provide soft drinks & dessert).

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, leave pets home:

Alliance Française of Northwestern CT French Literary Mornings, July 3, 10 am-noon, free & open to anyone interested in speaking and/or learning French, classic French short stories by Voltaire, Balzac, Flaubert, Beldelaire, Maupassant, et al, will be discussed, bring folding chair & bug spray (programs in barn if bad weather).

Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, 9 Main St/Rte 61, Bethlehem. Hours: MAY 2-OCT 28 Wed, Fri-Sun 11 am-4 pm. Call 203-266-7596.

1754 home of Bethlehem’s first minister complemented by outbuildings, 18th C apple orchard & 1915 formal parterre garden is open for summer tours (Wed, Fri-Sun 11 am-4 pm), adm $5 adults, $2 ages 18 & under.

Special Events: June 27, Historic Garden Walk Series: Cut Flower Walk, 3 pm, $5, investigate which flowers in B-F’s gardens make best cut flower arrangements w/ museum guide & Federated Garden Club judge Sophie Kelly.

Devil’s Den Preserve, 33 Pent Rd, Weston. Call 226-4991.

All events free, no pets (even on leashes), reservations required: June 26, Summer Tracking Workshop, 10-11:30 am, $5 fee for this program, staff from New Canaan Nature Center staff will share tricks of the tracking trade & lead search for tracks, scat & other animal signs, also discussion of the ecology of common CT, recommended for ages 6 & up.

Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave/Rte 34, Derby. Call 734-2513.

Tuesday Morning Bird Walks, July & Aug 7-9 am, Sept 7:30-9:30 am, free programs led by avid birder Jay Connolly: next program July 3.

Kismet, programs at Bethel Arts Junction, 5 Depot Place, Bethel. Call 748-3125.

Dinner programs 4th Sat/month, $35/adv, $40/door, reservations required: June 26, Stony Hill Inn, Rte 6, Bethel/Stony Hill.

Newtown Hikers. Call 426-2897, 270-4340.

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9 am, free, all welcome, bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders as follows: June 26, end of year weekend in New Hampshire, reservations required, leader is Rita Qubick (268-4119).

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 (separate door for thrift shop), shop carries discounted items from local businesses & private donors incl clothing & sm home accessories, etc.

Sacred Grounds/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 to communicate w/ angels, God, deceased or living by guidance, 2nd & 4th Sat/month in Sandy Hook, 1-3 pm, $40, call for details.

Programs at Brookfield Commons: June 29, “Expressing Your Spirituality Through Art,” 7:30-9:30 pm, registration required, workshop for artists & non-artists will be led by New Mexico-based artist Barbara Besser, bring journal, markers or pens, some materials provided; July 2, spiritual art demo, 7:30-9:30 pm, $10 donation, drawing session led by New Mexico-based artist Barbara Besser.

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

Non-profit weight loss support group meets every Mon 6-8 pm (weigh-ins 6-6:45, meetings 7-8), meetings $2/week, membership $20/year.

Theatre ______________

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

Idols of The King, through Aug 1, curtain Fri 8 pm, Sat 5:30 & 8:30 pm, Sun 5:30 pm, tickets $32.50 & $42.50, student, senior & group discounts available.

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

Call Me Madam, through July 3, curtain Wed-Thurs 7:30 pm, Fri 8 pm, Sat 8:30 pm, Sun 6:30 pm, mat Wed & Sun 2 pm, Sat 4 pm, tickets $22-$51 (student rush tickets available, call for info).

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

Mainstage performances: Hello, Dolly! through July 3, curtain Fri-Sun 8:30 pm (grounds open 7:15), tickets $18 adults, $15 seniors, $12 students & children (group rates available; chair rentals available w/ advance reservation); July 1, rain date if needed.

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

A Chorus Line, through July 17, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 3 pm, tickets $18 adults, $16 seniors & students.

Town Players of Newtown, Little Theatre, theatre is on Orchard Hill Rd (mailing address is PO Box 211), Newtown. Call 270-9144.

Tartuffe, July 2-24 (replaced previously scheduled The Merry Wives of Windsor), curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (July 18 only) 2 pm, tickets $15 eves, $12 mat.

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Events that appear by date have Newtown events 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 prints; please call for details concerning photo files to be emailed.