Antiques Shows______

Feb 14-15: 25th Anniv Westport Antiques Show, Bedford Middle School, 88 North Ave, Westport, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 11 am-5 pm, adm $8, 70+ booths, free parking, proceeds benefit Staples High School student radio station; 203-222-2259.

Feb 15: Antiques & Collectibles Show, Naugatuck High School, 543 Rubber Ave, Naugatuck, 9:30 am-4 pm (no early birds), adm $3, 60+ dealers; 203-723-2588.

Feb 22: 38th Annual Tolland Antiques Show, Tolland High School, Old Cathole Rd, Tolland, 10 am-4 pm (early buying 8:30, $15), adm $5, 70 exhibitors, proceeds benefit Tolland Hist Society; 860-872-7716.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

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 Koepkne Meeting Room (lower meeting room): *(new show) Feb 7-27, “Antique Tools,” recent paintings by Stephanie Adam.

On library’s main floor: Through Feb 29, “Cityscapes & Landscapes: Oils & Watercolors by Ruth Newquist,” SoHo street scenes & New England landscapes by the Newtown artist Ruth Newquist.

Burnham Library, Rte 133, Bridgewater. Hours: Tues 1-5 pm, Wed 9 am-6 pm, Thurs 9 am-5 pm, Sat 9 am-1 pm. Call 860-354-6937.

Through Jan 31, “Moss Mirrors,” original works featuring fabric scenes & mirrors by Newtown artist Margaret Moss.

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

*(new show) Through Feb 22, “Hearts & Flowers,” group show for winter blues w/ works by gallery members; Feb 7, opening reception, 12-5 pm.

Gallery of Contemporary Art at Sacred Heart Univ, 5151 Park Ave, Fairfield. Hours: Mon-Thurs 12-5 pm, Sun 1-4 pm. Call 203-365-7650.

Through March 4, “Uncommon Portraits, Uncommon Views,” curator Dr Deborah Frizzell has selected works by 4 ground-breaking contemporary artists to help viewers expand viewers’ perceptions of the limits of portraiture – works of June Ahrens, Ellen K. Levy, Debra Pearlman & Duston Spear; Feb 12, panel discussion, 7 pm, free, Dr Frizzell will lead panel discussion w/ all 4 featured artists.

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.

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

Through Feb 18, “Etchings, Watercolors & Oils: Robert Andrew Parker,” watercolor portraits by Mr Parker, also works in other mediums.

Museum of American Political Life at University of Hartford, 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford. Hours: Tues-Sun 10 am-5 pm. Call 860-768-4090.

*(new show) Feb 6-May 16, “American Originals: Treasures from The National Archives,” The Emancipation Proclamation, The Louisiana Purchase Treaty & The Civil Rights Act of 1964, also other documents that have been important during US history (note: special hours will allow public display of pages from Emancipation Proclamation – March 25, 9 am-4 pm; March 26 & 27, 9 am-8 pm; March 28, 9 am-4 pm).

*(new show) Feb 6-May 16, “Connecticut Originals,” complement to “American Originals” will present 80± items representing ideas (CT Charter, ESPN, etc), personalities (Prudence Crandall, Ella Grasso, Katharine Hepburn, Katharine Houghton Hepburn, et al) & inventions (Colt’s Revolver, interchangeable parts, telephone switchboard, etc) introduced by/in CT.

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

Through Feb 15, “Annual All Members’ Show,” featuring 1-2 works by each RGA member.

Sadelier, 69 West Wooster St, Danbury. Hours: Tues-Thurs, Sat 11 am-5 pm, Fri 11 am-6 pm, Mon by appt. Call 743-4830.

Through March 15, “Pieced Work,” felted wool pcs by Morna Crites-Moore: small square of wool felt embellished w/ needlework & antique buttons blur the line between folk art & fine art.

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

Through Feb 8, “2004 New Members’ Exhibition,” works by Silvermine Guild members who were elected into membership during 2003 – ceramics by Frances Palmer, paintings by Kirill Doron, Linda Merk-Gould, Michael Manning & Justin Wiest, photography by Thomas Bernstein, Cynthia Guest & Alan Shulik, prints by Su Tamsett, sculpture by Sharon Kurland, ceramics & sculpture by Judy Henderson, drawings & mixed media installations by Sheila Hale, paintings & mixed media by Joan Ogden, photography & mixed media pcs by Yolanda Vasquez Petrocelli, and sculpture, mixed media & photography by Miggs Burroughs.

Through Feb 8, “Cloud Paintings,” oils on canvas by Hillary Burnett, “exquisitely rendered w/ an ethereal sensibility.”

Through Feb 8, “Digital Dialogue with bitforms, NYC,” digital works by Michael Rees & Michael Somoroff, on loan from NYC-based bitforms gallery.

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

*(new show) Feb 7-Sept 5,  “Robert Rauschenberg: Current Scenarios,” new & early work by the contemporary American master marking artist’s first major presence at Wadsworth in 40 years incl 18 works from new “Scenarios” series, 2 portfolios from 1970 “Currents” series, plus earlier works from public & private collections.

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) Feb 7-29, “Sculpture * Photography * Paintings,” ceramic “contemplation vessels” by Ann Mallory, sculpture by Joseph Siegel & photos by David Skora; Feb 7, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

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.

*(new show) Feb 12-May 24, “Richard Hamilton: Prints and Multiples, 1939-2002,” more than 150 prints & multiples, as selected by the artist, offering retrospective of his work from first foray into drypoint in 1939, through leading work during Pop Art movement & into current work w/ digital media, works from artist’s private collection & loaned from Kunstmuseum Winterthur, Switzerland; Feb 15, free exhibition tour, 2 pm; Feb 21, free exhibition tour, noon; Feb 24, “Art in Context: Richard Hamilton – A Retrospective,” 12:30 pm, free, by assoc curator prints & drawings Gillian Forrester; Feb 26, free exhibition tour, 11 am; Feb 29, free exhibition tour, 2 pm.

*(new show) Feb 12-May 9, “Just What Is It That Makes British Pop So Different, So Appealing?” exhibition meant to complement Hamilton show w/ works from YCBA’s collection incl prints, drawings, rare books & manuscripts to trace development of British Pop from original formation in mid 1950s to its “exuberant flowering” in 1960s w/ works by Blake, Hockney, McHale, Kitaj, Paolozzi, et al; Feb 19, free exhibition tour, 11 am; Feb 22, free exhibition tour, 2 pm; Feb 28, 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.

*(new show) Feb 10-Aug 15, “Stagestruck in America: Artists, Entertainers, and Audiences, 1906-1956”; Feb 12, “Stagestruck Play Reading: the painter and the playwright,” 5:30 pm, free reading of short comedy by playwright & artist Everett Shinn presented by students of Yale School of Drama; Feb 13-14, “Yale Cabaret and Stagestruck,” performances 8:30 & 11 pm (doors open 7 & 10 pm, at Yale Cabaret, 217 Park St), tickets $12 general adm, $10 students, cabaret show written to celebrate “Stagestuck” by students from Yale School of Drama (call 203-432-1566 for reservations).

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Bushnell Center for Performing Arts Promenade Gallery, 166 Capitol Ave, Hartford CT 06106-1621. Call 860-987-5929.

March 31: CT visual artists sought for 2004-05 season, contact Susan Finnegan at above # for application form & addt’l info, artists need to submit application, 10 slides, résumé & SASE.

Connecticut Poetry Society, PO Box 4053, Waterbury CT 06704-0053. Call 203-584-2857.

Feb 27: Deadline for entries in annual Lynn DeCaro Poetry Competition, no fee to enter, cash prizes ($75, $50, $25) for top 3 choices, open to CT high school students, all subject matter accepted, up to 3 poems can be entered, entries must be typed on white 8 ½ x 11-inch paper, call for full details or send SASE to address above.

Danbury Symphony Orchestra, at Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury CT 06810. Call 748-1716.

Feb 23: Postmark deadline for materials, greater Danbury composers who have written music for orchestra invited to submit symphonic works for possible readings by DSO, send résumé, copy of full score, one representative instrumental part, performance history of work (incl any readings or performances; preference will be given to unpublished works that have yet to receive professional performance) & recording (if poss) to DSO music director & conductor David Katz c/o music center.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

Feb 7: “Trinity Rocks the Town Hall: 1st Annual Dance Party Benefit,” Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7:30 pm-midnight, tickets $25/person, $40/couple, live music by classic rock band Fog, hot & cold hors d’oeuvres, proceeds will help defray costs for members of Trinity Episcopal Church’s Workcamp ’04; 270-9116.

Feb 7: NUMC Coffee House, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 7:45-10:30 pm, adm $3 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see details under Miscellaneous), $4 otherwise, live bluegrass & folk music, refreshments, suitable for all ages; 426-0617.

Feb 7: 66th Newtown Scholarship Assn Anniversary Ball, Candlewood Inn, Candlewood Lake Rd, Brookfield, 7 pm, tickets $100, major fundraiser for NSA incl open bar, hors d’oeuvres, performance by Newtown High School musicians, full sit-down dinner, silent auction & dancing to music of Third Shift; 426-7713.

Feb 8: Annual Danbury Music Centre Concert for Young People, WCSU’s Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 3 pm, free adm, performance by Danbury Symphony Orchestra will feature music for dance incl Bernstein’s for dance incl Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, guest ballet dancers Roddy Doble & Jessica Cipriano (both age 14) will perform to Strauss’ Emperor Waltz, 13-yr old guest pianist Remy Zhang will perform first movement of Schumann’s piano Concerto/A minor, also special demos of musicians on their instruments; 748-1716.

Feb 10: The Banchieri Choir & A Completely Different Note at Shepaug Valley Middle-High School, 159 South St, Danbury, 7 pm, tickets $10 adults, free for children, performance of 6-member a capella ensemble from Kodaly Academy (Banchieri Singers) & 10-member male group from UConn (CDN) w/ love for music & harmony & a wide repertoire, also performance by Shepaug Middle & High Schoo Choruses & Competition Choirs, sponsored by Shepaug Friends of Music; 860-210-7895, 860-868-6200.

Feb 10: Pianist Gayle Martin Henry at East Hill Woods auditorium, 611 East Hill Rd, Southbury, 7:15 pm, free performance by concert pianist will incl works of Mozart, Clementi, Schumann, Liszt, Wagner, Chopin, et al; 262-6161.

Feb 10: Pianist Frederic Chiu at WCSU’s Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 8 pm, tickets $15 adults, $10 students & seniors, all-Prokofiev program will be performed by “a pianistic genius”; 837-8356, 837-8486.

Feb 15: Regimental Brass Quintet of The USMA Band at Brookfield Library, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield Center, 3 pm, free performance will open library’s Winter-Spring 2004 Concert Series, reception w/ musicians follows performance; 775-6241 x104.

Hartford Symphony Orchestra, The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave, Hartford. Call 860-246-6807.

Feb 19, “Brahms the Romantic,” 7:30 pm, tickets $33 & $44, performance of Brahms’ Third Symphony & Mahler’s orchestration of Schubert’s “Death & The Maiden” quartet.

Ives Concert Hall at WCSU, White Hall, Fifth Ave & White St, Danbury. Call 837-8350.

Feb 10, pianist Frederic Chiu, 8 pm, tickets $15 adults, $10 students & seniors, internationally celebrated pianist will perform works of Prokofiev, sponsored by WCSU Keyboard Club.

Newtown Friends of Music, Newtown. Call 426-6470.

Concerts at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 3 pm, $15, free ages 5-14 w/ ticket-holding adult (subscriptions available), reception follows performances: Feb 22, The Pacific Quartet, works of Beethoven (Quartet in E-flat Major, Opus 74 “Harp”), Hindemuth (Quartet, Opus 22) & Mendelssohn (Quartet in D Major, Opus 44, #1).

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 6, pianist Yefim Bronfman (preceded by “Art To Heart” discussion w/ Laura Nash, PhD, director university’s classical music dept, 7 pm).

Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, Ridgefield High School, 700 North Salem Rd (Rte 116), Ridgefield. Call 203-438-3889.

Performances, 8 pm, tickets $25-$45 adults, $15-$25 ages 18 & under: Feb 7, “Music Treasures To Love,” guest pianist Pauline Yang will join RSO for works of Rossini (Overture to l’italiana in Algeri), Saint-Saëns (Piano Concerto #2) & Beethoven (Symphony #7).

Films _________________

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

Feb 6-12: 21 Grams (R), daily 6:40 & 9:25 pm, mat Fri 3:55 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 1:15 & 3:55 pm; Calendar Girls (PG-13), daily 6:55 & 9:15 pm, mat Fri 4:25 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 1:55 & 4:25 pm; Girl With A Pearl Earring (PG-13), daily 7:20 & 9:35 pm, mat Fri 5 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 12:40, 2:50 & 5 pm;  Monster (R), daily 7:05 & 9:45 pm, mat Fri 4:15 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 1:45 & 4:15 pm.

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

“Foreign Film Series: Newtown a la Cannes,” screenings 7:30 pm, free: Feb 12, Hop (from Belgium, in French & Dutch w/ English subtitles), also Sophia Coppolla’s short film Lick The Star.

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

Feb 2-12: The Missing (R), Fri, Mon-Thurs 7 pm, Sat-Sun, 7:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 & 4:30 pm.

Quick Center at Fairfield University, North Benson Rd, Fairfield. Call 203-254-4010.

Russian Film Series, screenings 7 pm, adm $7 ($30/series): Feb 9, Vanya on 42nd Street.

Western CT State University/Student Center, 181 White St (midtown campus), Danbury. Call 837-8486.

Through Feb 27, 8th Annual Festival of African Films: Feb 6, Daresalam (Let There Be Peace), 7:30 pm (in Arabic w/ subtitles); Feb 11, Faat Kine, 1 pm (in French & Wolof w/ subtitles); Feb 12, Faat Kine, 7:30 pm (see Feb 11); Feb 19, Ndeysaan (Oh, Life!), 1 pm (in Wolof w/ subtitles).

For Kids & Families _________

Feb 6: Kindergarten Friday at Monroe Public Library, 7 Fan Hill Rd, Monroe, 1:30 pm, free (registration requested/space limited), kindergarteners (or children age 5) invited to special program of games, stories & craft or video, continues first Fri/month into May; 452-5459.

Feb 7-8: Channel 3 Festival For Kids, CT Expo Center, 265 Reverend Moody Overpass, Hartford, 10 am-5 pm, adm $6 adults, $1 ages 12 & under, magicians & musical productions, costume characters, martial arts demos, prize wheel, face painting, educations & commercial exhibits, also 10 amusement rides (tickets $1 for rides, also $2 pony rides, 25¢ arcade games, w/ proceeds going to Channel 3 Kids Camp); 860-844-8461.

Feb 8: Annual Danbury Music Centre Concert for Young People, WCSU’s Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 3 pm, free adm, performance by Danbury Symphony Orchestra will feature music for dance incl Bernstein’s for dance incl Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, guest ballet dancers Roddy Doble & Jessica Cipriano (both age 14) will perform to Strauss’ Emperor Waltz, 13-yr old guest pianist Remy Zhang will perform first movement of Schumann’s piano Concerto/A minor, also special demos of musicians on their instruments; 748-1716.

Feb 13: “Design A Bird Feeder,” Monroe Public Library, 7 Fan Hill Rd, Monroe, 1 pm, free (registration required/space limited), ages 8 & up invited to program by Kellogg Environmental Center environmental educator Roger Lawson about how birds survive winter in CT, adaptations & behaviors, then build bird feeder from household materials; 452-5459.

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

Free public programs: Feb 8, reading & book signing w/ children’s book author Rose-Marie Provencher, ages 3-10 will enjoy new picture book Slithery Jake; Feb 12, Valentine Storytime, 11 am, books about animals & fun picture books incl Critter Love by Kate Spohn; Feb 15, Winnie the Pooh Tea Party & Character Visit, 3 pm (registration required), ages 2-6 invited to tea party w/ A.A. Milne’s loveable bear.

New Pond Farm, 101 Marchant Rd, West Redding. Call 203-938-2117.

4 & 5-Year Olds w/ parents, $8 unless noted: Feb 12, Animals in Winter, 10-11 am, view mounted specimens & meet live animals to learn about hibernators, cat-nappers & active winter animals of CT; Feb 14, Valentine’s Day Crafts, 10-11 am, take-home creations to keep or give.

6-12-Year Olds, $8 unless noted: Feb 9, Own Hour, 4 pm, learn about owls, meet resident Barn Owl & then dissect an owl pellet; Feb 14, Valentine’s Day Gifts, 1:30-3 pm, $10, make gifts to give to your Valentine; Feb 26, Follow Those Tracks! 4-5 pm, dress for outdoors, look for tracks of active winter animals, canceled if no snow.

Playhouse on The Green (formerly Polka Dot Playhouse), 177 State St, Bridgeport. Call 203-333-3666.

Polka Dot Kids Theatre Series, monthly series w/ guest performers, shows at 10 am & noon, tickets $12, series tickets & group discounts available: Feb 7, Bubblemania, unique program by Casey Carle combines artistic skills, visual comedy, quick wit, swing music & 25-foot square bubbles & bubble sculptures.

Quick Center for the Arts/Fairfield Univ, 1073 North Benson Rd, Fairfield. Call 203-254-4010.

Young Audience series, performances 1 & 3 pm, tickets $12 adults, $10 children: Feb 8, Under The Sea with Silly Jellyfish, performed by Hudson Vagabond Puppets, for grades K-5.

Miscellaneous ___________

Feb 6: Newtown Singles “Meet & Mingle” event, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7-9 pm; 261-4210.

Feb 6: Annual Card/Game Dessert Party at St Thomas’ Episcopal Church, 95 Greenwood Ave/Rte 302, Bethel, begins 7:30 pm (snow date Feb 7), adm $5, BYO cards and/or board games, public invited to join others for evening of old-fashioned fun, light refreshments available, proceeds will benefit church’s mission outreach; 792-0197, 743-1494.

Feb 6: CT Contacts Singles Dance Party, Anthony’s Lake Club, West Kenosia Ave, Danbury, 8 pm-1 am, $15, dinner & dessert buffets, soft drinks, “dress to impress”/no jeans, dancing to DJ selections; 203-468-1144.

Feb 7: NUMC Monthly Pasta Dinner, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 5-7:30 pm, adm $8 adults, $7 seniors, $3.50 children, full spaghetti dinner incl salad, desserts, and soft drinks/coffee raises funds each month for church, all welcome, coffee house/musical event follows (see details under Concerts); 426-0617.

Feb 7: 66th Newtown Scholarship Assn Anniversary Ball, Candlewood Inn, Candlewood Lake Rd, Brookfield, 7 pm, tickets $100, major fundraiser for NSA incl open bar, hors d’oeuvres, performance by Newtown High School musicians, full sit-down dinner, silent auction & dancing to music of Third Shift; 426-7713.

Feb 7: “Trinity Rocks the Town Hall: 1st Annual Dance Party Benefit,” Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7:30 pm-midnight, tickets $25/person, $40/couple, live music by classic rock band Fog, hot & cold hors d’oeuvres, proceeds will help defray costs for members of Trinity Episcopal Church’s Workcamp ’04; 270-9116.

Feb 7: Café Conversation, Southbury Public Library, 561 Main St South/Rte 6, Southbury, 10 am-noon, free, public invited to join members of Alliance Française of Northwestern CT for conversations in French, topics decided at beginning of program, BYO light refreshments, all levels of French speakers welcome; 203-263-4096, 262-0626.

Feb 7: AFL Public Adoption for Kittens & Cats, VFW Hall, Lakeside Rd, Southbury, 11 am-3 pm, public invited to meet & (hopefully) adopt kittens & cats of various sizes, ages & colors being cared for by volunteer, non-profit group Animals For Life, info on group also available; 267-6777.

Feb 7: Benefit Valentine’s Day Chicken BBQ & Square Dance, Roxbury Town Hall, Rte 67, Roxbury, dinner 6 pm, dance will run 7-11 pm (family hour at 7), $15 dinner & dance, $10 dance only, $5 ages 12 & under (incl dinner), full dinner followed by dance w/ live music by Country Spice & calling by expert caller Culver Griffin, proceeds to benefit Roxbury Relief Fund & Kondwa Day Care Center (Zambia, Africa); 860-355-9020.

Feb 7: The King of Hearts: A Madrigal Dinner, Valley Presbyterian Church, 21 West Whisconier Rd, Brookfield, 6:30 pm, tickets $18 adults, $9 ages 7-17, entertainment by choir, players & soloists, madrigals by Weelkes, Morley, et al, dinner choices are salmon or Cornish fowle; 775-2624.

Feb 9: “Facing Mr Edison’s Music,” C.H. Booth Library community room, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7:30 pm, free, collector Joan Lubus will discuss Thomas Edison’s many patents incl his Diamond Disc records & phonograph, sponsored by Newtown Hist Scty; 426-5937.

Feb 10: Cartoonist & illustrator Randall Enos at WCSU White Hall Viewing Room 25, 181 White St, Danbury, 11 am, free lecture by major artist is open to public, part of WCSU’s master of fine arts slide lecture series; 837-8410.

Feb 11: “Edible Landscaping & Herbs,” Newtown Senior Center, Riverside Rd, Sandy Hook, 7:30 pm, free program by organic farmer, author & environmental artist Bill Duesing (owner, Old Solar Farm, Oxford), sponsored by Town & Country Garden Club of Newtown; 426-5359.

Feb 13: Frank McCourt at The Meeting House, on the green/Rte 47, Washington Green, 7 pm, free (reservations necessary, limited seating), internationally celebrated author will continue The Gunnery School’s 2003-04 Distinguished Author Series; 860-868-7334 x251.

Feb 14: CT chapter/Romance Writers of America meeting, Southbury Public Library, 561 Main St/Rte 6, Southbury, 11 am, open to non-members, local chapter of RWA meeting will include guest speaker Joanna Novins (CT resident, CTRWA member & Berkley/Jove author); 860-445-7167.

Feb 14: Valentine’s Day Planetarium Show & Telescope Viewing, WCSU Westside Observatory, Lake Ave Extension, Danbury, 6 pm, screening of planetarium show will be followed at 7 by telescope viewing of alignment of Venus, Mars & Saturn; 837-8672.

Feb 18: Housatonic Valley Paddlers Club meeting, CL&P Service Center, Barnabas Rd, Newtown, 7 pm, free & open to non-members, program by Michele Sorenson (certified ACA instructor) on paddling techniques & safety; 203-263-3281.

Feb 18: “Hiking in The Astonishing Biodiversity of Madagascar,” Appalachian Mountain Club meeting (non-members welcome), Fairfield County Agriculture Center, Rte 6, Stony Hill section of Bethel, refreshments at 6:30 pm, slide program at 7:30 by Martin Torresquintero on the island’s biodiversity, architecture, legends & more, questions & discussion to follow; 426-8949, 203-438-2978.

Feb 18: “Open Visions Forum: Fareed Zakaria,” Fairfield Univ Quick Center, North Benson Rd, Fairfield, 7:30 pm, tickets $22 (discounts for students & seniors), editor of Newsweek International will speak as part of annual lecture series; 203-254-4000 x2726.

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: Feb 8, Sunday Afternoon at The Bent, 2-4 pm, moderate hiking (or snowshoeing & cross-country skiing, weather permitting), then visit the barn for hot cocoa & coffee; Feb 11, Adult Nature Walk, 9 am, $5, join a staff naturalist for leisurely hike focusing on sanctuary’s rich natural history, bring snowshoes if weather permits & binoculars.

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

Programs free unless noted: Feb 9, book discussion, 1 pm, The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemmingway; Feb 11, Do-Ahead Chinese Party, 1 pm (rescheduled from Jan 27), free but registration required (space limited), join Norma Chang to learn stress-free entertainment tips & sample great authentic recipes; Feb 12, Foreign Film Series: Newtown a la Cannes, 7:30 pm, screening of Hop (from Belgium, in French & Dutch w/ English subtitles); Feb 19, Evening Book Club, 7:30 pm, discussion of Dai Sijie’s Balzac and The Little Chinese Seamstress, newcomers welcome.

Flagpole Photographers, C.H. Booth Library meeting room, 25 Main St, Newtown. Call 270-1943, 426-0558.

Meetings 3rd Thurs/month, 7:30 pm, non-members always welcome: next meeting Feb 19.

McLaughlin Vineyards, Albert’s Hill Rd, Sandy Hook. Call 426-1533.

Through Feb 28 (programs on Saturdays; also Sun, Feb 15, 22 & 29), “Wine, Food & Eagles” series, $50 (plus tips & gratuity, reservations mandatory), spend morning watching eagles at Bald Eagle Observatory in Southbury, take private tour of vineyard & then lunch at Compass (Main St South, Newtown).

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: Feb 7, Fairfield Hills property & Governor’s Horse Guard Barn (Ester Nichols, 426-2897); Feb 14, #6 Reservoir, West Hartford (Idilko Gramling, 203-263-0086).

Newtown Singles, meetings at Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 261-4210.

Monthly “Meet & Mingle” events, 7-9 pm: Next program Feb 6.

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.

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

Meetings 2nd Wed/month, 7:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: Feb 11, critique session led by Janine Wesselmann.

Meetings 4th Wed/month, 1:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: Feb 25, watercolor program by Richard Ochs.

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 ______________

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

The Long Christmas Ride Home, through Feb 15, curtain Wed-Sat 8 pm, Sun & Tues 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 2 pm, tickets ($30-$40 during previews) $38-$55.

On Stage II: (Stage II) The Story, through March 14 (previews to Feb 10, opening night Feb 11), curtain Tues & Sun 7 pm, Wed-Sat 8 pm, mat Wed, Sat-Sun 2 pm, tickets $40 & $55, call about discount offers; Feb 22, Sunday Symposium, post-matinee discussion; Feb 17, Feb 24, March 2, 9, Meet-the-Artists, post-evening performance talkbacks w/ members of the company; Feb 18, 19, 25, 26, March 3, 4, 10, 11, Audience Chats, post performance discussions.

Playhouse on The Green (formerly Polka Dot Playhouse), 177 State St, Bridgeport. Call 203-333-3666.

Yellowman, through Feb 29, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun 2 pm, tickets $25-$35, group rates available.

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

Crumbs from the Table of Joy, through Feb 15, curtain Tues-Sat 8 pm, mat Sat 4 pm, Sun 2 pm, tickets $20-$33, student & senior discounts.

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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.