Antiques Shows______

Jan 28-29: 2nd Annual Vintage Clothing, Jewelry & Textile Show & Sale, Sheraton Hotel, 2701 Summer St, Stamford, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $10 (free indoor parking), free ages 12 & under w/ adult, 70 available booths; 914-248-4646.

Jan 29: 40th Anniversary Tolland Antiques Show, Tolland High School, Old Cathole Rd, Tolland, 10 am-4 pm (early buying 8:30 am, adm $15), adm $5, 65 booths; 860-872-7716.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

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

*(new show) Jan 22-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; Jan 22, exhibition tour, 2 pm, to be led by Ms Opie; Jan 22, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

*(new show) Jan 22-June 18: “Killamanta Kutimusaq (To the Moon and Back),” sculpture, collage & video by Jennifer Zackin inspired by excursions to South America & the artist’s relationship w/ native Peruvians; Jan 22, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

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.

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) — Through Jan 31: “Waterborne,” 16 paintings by Beverly Branch, many featuring children at play in surf, sand & waves, few also depicting figures & landscapes of local interest.

In first floor display cases —Through Jan 31: jewelry dolls by Ivett Worrell.

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

Through Jan 29: “Small Scales IV: Miniature Rooms & Houses,” update of a favorite Bruce Museum exhibition offers some of the most professional & comprehensive examples – 38 rooms & houses – representing many types of miniatures, some works in half-inch & even quarter-inch scale.

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; Jan 22, “Life Below Zero,” $5, lecture by Prof Kenneth B. Storey, reservations requested.

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; Jan 12, opening reception, 5:30-8 pm.

Connecticut Historical Society, One Elizabeth St, Hartford. Call 860-236-5621.

Through Jan 22: “A Camera At War: World War II Photographs of The Pacific Theater by Arthur J. Kiely, Jr,” selections from the late West Hartford’s resident’s wartime work that vividly depict the struggle against Japan also celebrates the evolution of American battlefield photography.

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.

Fenn Gallery of Contemporary Art, 345 Main Street/Rte 6, Woodbury. Call 203-263-2821.

Through Jan 29: “Simple and Complex,” contemporary still life paintings in pastel & oil by Peter Seltzer, figurative sculpture “w/ a touch of whimsy” by Michael McLaughlin.

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 Jan 29: “Fifth Annual Christmas Tree Festival,” annual festival exhibit of 25 trees decorated w/ ornaments created by CT school children in grades K-5, this year’s theme is “The Nativity.”

Through Jan 29: “Christmas In Miniature: Crèches from Around the World,” examples of crèches from Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia & the US, incl 3rd Century gravestone of Severa (first recorded display of Nativity).

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

*(new show) Jan 20-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.

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.

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

Through Jan 30: “Gargantua The Great,” presentation of skeleton & photos of Gargantua, one of most famous circus attractions of all time.

Through spring (exhibition dates extended): “Landscape Under Siege: Invasive Plants of Connecticut,” botanically accurate watercolors by members of Greater New York chapter/Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, w/ identifying names & descriptions, highlight plants besieging the New England landscape.

River Glen Fine Arts Gallery, 3 Washington Ave/Rte 34, Sandy Hook. Hours: Tues 12-4 pm, Sat-Sun 11 am-4 pm. Call 270-1199.

Through Jan 29: “American Impressionists in France,” paintings by Frank Federico & Dick McEvoy done in Paris, Giverny & Provence.

Paintings by Rainie Crawford, Frank Federico, Leslie Lillien Levy, Dick McEvoy, Alain J. Picard & Peter Seltzer, sculpture by Sterett-Gittings Kelsey.

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

Through Feb 5: “Annual New Members’ Show,” works by 17 artists recently accepted into Guild.

Through Feb 5: “Sea Level,” works by Judith Orseck.

Through Feb 5: “Director’s Choice: Original Repetition,” works by 17 Guild artists recently on view at GE.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St, Hartford. 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.

*(new show) Jan 28-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; Jan 28, opening reception, 6-8 pm.

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

Through Jan 29: “Young Talent 2006,” annual celebration this year will incl abstract paintings by Kyle Bowman, landscape paintings by Brian Kierman, drawings and paintings by Jay Noble interior paintings by Jennifer O’Connell, figurative paintings by Amanda Rogers, still life paintings by Nicole Salva, & a graphic novel by Amber Scoon.

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.

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 ____

Jan 20: Ballroom Dancing at Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sandpit Rd, Danbury, 7-10:30 pm (snow date Jan 22), adm $10, comp dessert & coffee, door prizes, cash bar; 748-1278.

Jan 21: “Northern Lights,” Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury, 8 pm, free concert by pianist Maxim Vladimiroff & soprano Dominique Hellsten will feature music from countries in the far north incl 2 songs composed by Mr Vladimiroff, a Russian native; 748-1716.

Jan 22: First Church Presents: Cellist Mary Costanza, First Congregational Church meeting House, 6 Kirby Rd (at Rte 47), Washington Green, 4 pm, adm $15, Ms Costanza will be assisted by pianist Ray Pierpont in performing works of J.S. Bach, Beethoven & Rachmaninov; 860-868-0569.

Jan 28: Monthly ballroom dance, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Park Ave, Bridgeport, 7 pm-midnight, adm $15, free lesson at 8 pm, performance by US 10-dance champions Gherman Mustuc & Iveta Lukosuite at 9:30, singles & couples welcome, complimentary snacks, reservations suggested; 203-374-7308.

Jan 30: 4FutureMusic at Western CT State University’s White Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 7:30 pm (snow date Jan 31), free concert by Afro-Peruvian group featuring some of Peru’s finest touring musicians will incl Afro-Peruvian traditional & jazz fusion music on trumpet, sax, guitar & percussion incl cajon, jajita & quijada vocals & zapateo dancing; 748-1131.

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.

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.

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 2-3, A Grimm Preview: Excerpts from Handel and Gretel, 7:30 pm, $12, performance by SaReel, featuring new choreography by Oris Cook & Faith Pilger, will offer excerpts from full production to preview this summer in NYC; 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 23, The Golden Angels Jazz Band (rescheduled from Nov), 1 pm, tickets $15 adults, $10 seniors, $7.50 students, performance by 9-mbr band will incl classic Dixieland, standard swing, blues & ragtime; Jan 28, Blue Oyster Cult, $60, Vervain opening.

Films _________________

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

Alliance Française Cinémathèque series, free, screenings 2 pm: Jan 29, Cyrano de Bergerac.

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

Jan 20-26: Dreamer (PG), Fri-Sat 7 & 9 pm, Sun-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.

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

Lost & Found Film Series, 7:30 pm screenings followed by guest speakers for Q&A, tickets $15 adults, $10 seniors, $7.59 students: Jan 20, screening of Off the Map followed by Q&A w/ Campbell Scott.

For Kids & Families _________

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

Children’s programs, free unless specified: Jan 25, Nutmeg Book Discussion, 6:30 pm, readers in grades 4-6 invited to discuss their favorite nominees, then vote for Newtown’s favorite.

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

 Jan 21, Johnny Peers & The Muttville Comix, performances at 11 am & 2 pm, tickets $15, unique circus acts coordinated by Mr Peers & performed by dogs who have been rescued from pounds, opening performance by comedienne Beautiful Marcia.

 

Miscellaneous ___________

Jan 21: WinterFest 2006, Tarrywile Park, 70 Southern Blvd, Danbury, 11 am-2 pm, dog sled demos, guided hike (starts at noon, will be 2-3 miles), winter camping & cooking demos, showshoeing & cross country skiing clinic, ice fishing info, fruitcake toss (1 pm), hot chocolate & campfire; 744-3130.

Jan 21: “Sugar Blues,” New Morning Natural & Organic Store, 738 Main St South/Rte 6, Woodbury, 2-3:15 pm, free lecture by holistic health counselor Nancy Finkenzeller will help attendees understand sugar cravings & why they occur, learn to gain control without willpower or deprivation, sample healthy treats, reservations requested; 203-263-4868.

Jan 21: Sock Hop & Spaghetti Supper at Woodbury United Methodist Church, 3 Church St (at corner Main St South/Rte 6), Woodbury, 4:45-7 pm, adm $8 adults, $7 seniors, $3 children, all you-can-eat spaghetti dinner (meatballs 50¢ each), also soda jerk serving ice cream floats, regular dessert selections, costumes & dancing encouraged; 203-263-4775.

Jan 21: CT ConTacts Singles Dance Party, Colonial Tavern, 24 Hawley Rd (off Rte 67), Oxford, 8 pm-1 am, adm $17, dinner & dessert buffets, dancing to DJ selections (Top 40, soft rock, recent oldies & requests), no bluejeans; 203-468-1144.

Jan 21-29: Annual SCAN Color in January Show & Sale, Lexington Gardens, 32 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, 10 am-5 pm daily, free adm, presentation of more than 200 works in oils, watercolors, pastels & graphics representing 100+ artist members of Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, opening reception Jan 21 (2-4 pm), free demos each Sat-Sun 12:30 (Jan 21, pastel by Melody Asbury; Jan 23, oil landscape by Ruth Newquist; Jan 28, painting with watercolor by Cal Martin; Jan 29, acrylic portrait from life model by Beverly Branch); 798-7439.

Jan 22: CT Catholic Singles Winter Brunch & Dance, Fireside Inn, 123 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown, 11 am-3 pm, $25, all welcome; 261-2414.

Jan 23: Nighttime BookTalk discussion at Danbury Public Library, 170 Main St, Danbury, 6:30 pm, free two-hour program will concert 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia, newcomers welcome; 797-4527.

Jan 24: “Planning Your Paradise: Envisioning and Troubleshooting Your Garden,” C.H. Booth Library lower meeting room, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 1 pm, free program by award-winning journalist & photographer Virginia Small will be hosted by Garden Club of Newtown; 270-1108.

Jan 27: CT ConTacts Singles Dance Party, Fireside Inn, 123 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown, 8 pm-1 am, adm $17, dinner & dessert buffets, dancing to DJ selections (Top 40, soft rock, recent oldies & requests); 203-468-1144.

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

Programs free unless noted: Jan 22, poetry reading by Don Singer, 3 pm, Newtown resident will read from his book Pain Suffering Hope, reception to follow; Jan 28, computer class for intermediates, 9 am-noon, $10 supply fee; Jan 31, author talk & book signing, 7:30 pm, program by David Shugarts (Secrets of The Widow’s Son: The Mysteries Surrounding the Sequel to The Da Vinci Code); Feb 7, Non-Fiction Book Group, 1 pm, discussion of Peter Bergen’s Holy War Inc, newcomers welcome.

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

Jan 28, Winter Walk, 12-2 pm, $8, survivalist Jamie Leffler will lead program to ID tracks & offr basic survival skills useful during winter months.

Kismet, programs at Bethel Arts Junction, 5 Depot Place, Bethel. Call 748-3125, 426-9448.

Dinner programs 4th Sat/month, 7-10 pm, potluck dinners (bring dish to share), RSVP requested: Jan 28, guest speaker Maia will discuss shamanism.

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: Jan 21, Cranberry Mountain dirt road hike, Patterson, N.Y. (Liz Cowen, 845-878-6104); Jan 28, Huntington State Park, Weston (Evelyn Schonberg, 426-0425); Feb 4, dirt road hike along Housatonic River, Salisbury (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, 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.

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

Jan 21-29, Annual SCAN Color in January Show & Sale, at Lexington Gardens, 32 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, 10 am-5 pm daily, free adm, presentation of more than 200 works in oils, watercolors, pastels & graphics representing 100+ artist members of Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, opening reception Jan 21 (2-4 pm), free demos each Sat-Sun 12:30 (Jan 21, pastel by Melody Asbury; Jan 23, oil landscape by Ruth Newquist; Jan 28, painting with watercolor by Cal Martin; Jan 29, acrylic portrait from life model by Beverly Branch); 798-7439 (show chair Garry Thomas).

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): Jan 21, The Steve D’Agostino Band, 8:30-11:30 pm; Jan 28, The Harold Zeno Orchestra w/ Walter Andrus, 8 pm, then Anthem Reggae Band, 10:30 pm; 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: Jan 21, co-headliners Melvin George & Billy Winn, opening set by Joey Novick; Jan 28, headliner Joe Matarese, opening sets by Steve Lazarus & Mike Burton.

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: Jan 25, the performance troupe Shijn; Feb 1, open mic featuring “I Write the Songs” theme; Feb 8, open mic featuring spring poems theme.

Theatre ______________

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.

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, Feb 1-19,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.

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 25, Senior Reception, 1 pm, reception w/ members of creative team, light refreshments; Jan 27, Talk Back, post-show Q&A w/ cast & crew members; Jan 28, open captioning on mat performance; also Jan 28, Talk Back, post-matinee Q&A w/ cast & crew members; Feb 4, mat 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.