Antiques Shows______

March 18: 15th Annual Northwest Connecticut Antiques & Collectibles Show, Northwest Regional High School #7, Rte 44, Barkhamsted (Winsted), 9:30 am-4 pm, adm $5 (early buying 8:30 am, $10), proceeds to benefit New Hartford Lions Club & its charitable activities; 860-738-2207.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

The Barnum Museum, 820 Main St, Bridgeport. Hours: Tues-Wed, Fri-Sat 10 am-4:30 pm, Thurs 10 am-4:30 pm, Sun 12-4:30 pm.

Call 203-331-1104.

Permanent exhibits: “Grand Adventure: A Celebration of the American Spirit in Bridgeport,” permanent exhibit on museum’s 2nd floor provides in-depth exploration of Bridgeport’s 19th Century industrialization & urbanization w/ emphasis on P.T. Barnum’s role in the city’s growth; “P.T. Barnum: Bethel To Broadway To Bridgeport,” artifacts incl reproduction of Barnum’s Fejee Mermaid, souvenir pc of cake from Tom Thumb’s 1863 wedding & personal items from Barnum family; re-creation of library from Barnum’s first Bridgeport mansion Iranistan; “Baby Bridgeport,” preserved 6’8” 700-lb elephant, 2nd elephant born in captivity & 1st to be preserved; re-creation of drawing room from Harral-Wheeler mansion, considered one of most outstanding examples of Gothic Revival in America, ca 1847; “P.T. Barnum Presents the ‘Divine Jenny’ Lind,” artifacts from American tour of opera star reveals impact of Barnum-Lind collaboration on culture & society & Barnum’s promotional talents; 1,000-sq ft 3/4-inch scale model of five ring circus hand-carved by Meriden resident William Brinley w/ more than 3,000 miniature pcs; “General Tom Thumb,” original furniture, clothing & personal objects belonging to Barnum’s legendary protégé; and Pa-Ib, an Egyptian mummy documented by Egyptian priest as more than 2,500 yrs old.

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 March 30: “Human Nature: Eclectic Images by David Clark,” photographs & giclée prints by Southbury resident.

In first floor display cases — Through March 31: selections from William Armstrong’s collection of 200+ yo-yos, also brief history of the toy & other related memorabilia.

On library’s main floor — Through March 31: “Katrina Relief: Far From Finished,” photographs, mementos & notes from Newtown resident Shannon Hicks’ trip to Biloxi, Miss., in Oct-Nov 2006, when she joined relief efforts to help residents affected by the 2005 hurricanes Katrina & Rita.

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

Through March 18: “The Sound of Earth: Ceramic Musical Instruments,” handmade musical instruments made by 14 artists from clay, exhibition created & curated by Barry Hall.

*(new show) March 25-April 29: “Fiber Cartography: Mapping Imagination and Experience,” group exhibition w/ work by 11 artists (Jane Ingram Allen, Sally Darlison, Sallie Findlay, Linda Gass, Valerie Goodwin, Gale Jaimeson, Tamara Kostianovsky, Barbara Lee Smith, Emily Miah Stewart, Melinda Barta & Joanna Foslien) offers fiber art displaying wide scope of imagery, broad range of materials & techniques, all “firmly embedded w/ experiences, political views & personal visions to create inner landscapes & artistic concepts of ‘maps,’” curated by Liz Good (assistant editor, FiberArts magazine); March 25, opening reception 2-4 pm, Curator’s Talk at 3.

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

Through April 29: “Painterly Controversy: William Merritt Chase and Robert Henry,” major winter exhibition features 34 paintings from private lenders & museums across the country (incl Metropolitan Museum of Art, MFA/Houston, Hirschhorn & Sculpture Garden & others) by 2 of most admired American artists of popular turn-of-the-century era whose friendship & regard went from mutual admiration to mutual animosity, show meant to encourage exploration of decisive differences & startling similarities in the artists’ work.

Through May 27: “New Acquisitions: Photography from The Bruce Museum Collection,” approx 30 selections from collection of 100+ photographs by leading 20th Century photographers recently given to museum incl examples of soft-focus pictorialism, 20th Century modernism, photojournalism, Italian street photography of 1940s & 50s, & contemporary mixed media.

City Lights Gallery, 37 Markle Court, Bridgeport. Hours: Mon-Fri 10 am-5:30 pm, Sat 11 am-4 pm. Call 203-334-7748.

Through April 7: “A Russian View,” new works by 4 contemporary female Russian artists.

Discovery Museum, 4450 Park Ave, Bridgeport. Hours: Tues-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm & most Monday holidays (call ahead). Call 203-372-3521.

Through April 15: “Dick McEvoy: Seasons of the Year,” collection of acrylics by Newtown artist Dick McEvoy, as selected & curated by Wendy Kelly.

Easton Public Library, 691 Morehouse Rd (at corner of Center St), Easton. Hours: Tues-Wed 10 am-8 pm, Thurs 10 am-6 pm, Sat 10 am-3 pm. Call 261-0134.

Through April 3: “The Art and Architecture of Bridgeport,” special exhibition in coordination w/ City Lights Gallery of Bridgeport features works by contemporary artists that encompass the old & new visions of Bridgeport incl pastels by Tom Brenner, watercolors by Christy Gallagher, Doris B. Giammatteo, Suzanne Kachmar & Joan Peters, acrylics by Andy Pinto, oils by Kevin Conklin, mixed media pcs by Phil Levin & photography by Israel Guibbory & Dom Mastrianni.

Good News Café & Gallery, 684 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours: Wed-Mon 11:30 am-10 pm. Call 203-266-4663.

Through March 26: “Sensate,” abstract paintings by Ellen Hackl Fagan explore “the rich tapestry of sensory interaction.”

Gregory James Gallery, 25 North Main St/Rte 7, Kent. Call 860-927-7133.

Through March 31: “Winter Show 2007,” group exhibit will offer works by regional artists incl Ralph Della-Volpe, Rainie Crawford, Joseph Grieco, Robert Ferrucci, Anda Styler & James Coe.

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

Through March 25: “The 40th Anniversary Exhibition,” selection of paintings, sculpture, prints & drawings created by professors & students since the opening of HMA/Burt Chenow Galleires incl works by Prof Emeritus David Kintzler, the late Mr Chernow, Mary Kintzler, Vince Baldassano, Tom Anastasio, Barbara Rothenberg, Alberta Cifolelli, John O’Connor, Michele Mackey & the filmmaker Sharon Greytek.

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

Through June  30: “All Across America: Adaptation, Ingenuity and Artistry,” cultural items incl pottery, beadwork, textiles & basketry illustrating the adaptation, ingenuity & creativity of North American tribes as they began to embrace new materials of European settlers incl cotton, glass, beads & metal.

Through June 30: “Written In Bone,” discover anatomical similarities between human & animal bones, basic bones that make up animal skeletons, how to tell is a bone was used as a tool or if it had disease & more.

Through June 30: “Weaponry,” traditional weaponry used by pre-contact North American Peoples incl bows, arrows & clubs, also recent innovations popular during “horse culture.”

Kent Art Association, 21 South Main St/Rte 7, Kent. Hours: Sat-Sun 12-4 pm. Call 860-927-3989.

Through March 17: “Twelfth Annual Secondary School Art Show,” works by students from regional secondary schools, public & private.

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 March 19: “Twins,” photographs by Lija Spalva Nollendorfs, who has been taking photos since childhood.

Through March 19: “Oculus To Carpus,” photographs by Cary Whittier taken w/ his “wrist camera” during past 6 years.

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

Through March 31: “Walk A Mile In My Shoes,” discarded shoes turned into works of art by 8th grade students of The Sherman School.

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

*(new show) March 18-April 19: “Guild Artist Group Show: Collaborations,” works by Guild artists, juried by Denise Markonish (curator, ArtSpace, New Haven); March 18, opening reception, 2-4 pm.

*(new show) March 18-April 19: “Director’s Choice: Series of Everything and Much, Much More,” selections by New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast; March 18, opening reception, 2-4 pm.

Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St, Hartford. Hours: Sat-Sun 10 am-5 pm, Wed-Fri 11 am-5 pm (open to 8 pm first Thurs/month). Call 860-278-2670, TDD 860-278-0294.

*(new show) Through Dec 9: “Faith and Fortune: Five Centuries of European Masterworks,” pcs from museum’s collections, drawing from fine & decorative arts of Renaissance through Neo-Classical & Romantic eras, showcasing approx 500 treasures (125+ paintings, exquisite objects made of bronze, silver, ivory, ceramics & glass, plus select sculptures); April 5, First Thursday, 5-8 pm, adm $5, gallery talks (“Piety & Propaganda” by Jean Cadogan & and “Art and Individualism” by Alden Gordon, 6 & 6:30 pm), live music by Jeff Pevar & Band (ongoing), screening of Volver (7:30); April 27, “Art & Display in the Baroque Age” gallery talk, noon, included w/ museum adm, presented by Linda H. Roth (curatorial chairman & Charles C. & Eleanor Lamont Cunningham Curator of European Decorative Arts); May 25, “Visions, Dreams & Ecstasies in Renaissance & Baroque Art” gallery talk, noon, incl w/ museum adm, presented by Anne Butler Rice (assoc museum educator for adult audiences).

Through March 25: “Crewel World,” bed furnishings & wall panels to smaller wool embroidered pcs incl a chasuble, toddler’s dress & a sampler dating from 17th to 19th Centuries.

Through April 22: “Soul Food! African-American Cookery and Creativity,” art & artifacts examining integral crops to slave trade (rice & sugar), food icons ranging from the fictional Aunt Jemima & real-life Uncle Ben to fried chicken & watermelon, and celebrates the “soul-stirring & nourishing connections between culture, creativity & memory.”

Wisdom House/Marie Louise Trichet Gallery, 229 East Litchfield Rd, Litchfield. Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am-4 pm. Call 860-567-3163.

Through April 14: “Short Stories: New Works of Florin Ion Firimita,” mixed media pieces on poplar panels or masonite.

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

Through April 1: “Howard Hodgkin: Paintings, 1992-2007,” nearly 50 works from private collections & museums in US & Great Britain ranging from small paintings that draw viewer into intimate encounters to large ones whose presence is often imposing by artist considered one of most important work in Britain today; March 17, exhibition tour, 2 pm; March 22, exhibition tour, 11 am.

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 April 1: “Jasper Johns: From Plate to Print,” presentation of an untitled 1999 intaglio print by Johns features working proofs, trial proofs & progressives leading up to final print, as well as 5 plates used in its creation, allowing rare opportunity to explore the artistic & mechanical process of printmaking while providing glimpse into the artist’s creative process incl his development of motifs, color choices & graphic enhancement.

Through April 1: “Making A Mark: Four Contemporary Artists in Print,” selection of prints from YUAG’s collection by Enrique Chagoya, Carroll Dunham, Jane Hammond & Kiki Smith, whose diversity gives an insider’s look into dialogue taking place in contemporary printmaking.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Brookfield Historical Society & Museum, Rte 133 at Rte 25, Brookfield Center. Call 740-8140.

April 2: Guest speaker needed to lead forum on “Civil War: The Battle of Gettysburg, Day One,” 7:30 pm, free public program will continue historical society’s ongoing Civil War lecture series, openings also available for May 7 (Gettysburg, Day 2), June 4 (Gettysburg, Day 3), Aug 6 (Battle of Vicksburg), Oct 1 (Battle of Chickamunga) & Nov 5 (Battle Above Clouds), leave message on historical society’s answering machine.

CT’s Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave, Bridgeport. Call 203-394-6563.

April 9: Deadline for delivery of student art for 9th Annual High School Wildlife Art Show & Contest, must arrived by 4 pm, all work must be original, hand-made creation in watercolor, acrylic, tempera, charcoal, pastel, chalk, colored pencil, graphite or pen & ink, NO photography or computer-generated work accepted, use wildlife as inspiration, judging will be April 21, winners notified by April 25, all accepted work must remain at zoo during run of show (April 21-May 19), winners will receive art store gift certificates.

Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts at Sacred Heart Univ, 5151 Park Ave, Fairfield.

March 24: Auditions for Charlotte’s Web, 12-5 pm, directors have roles for singers & non-singers for production to be staged in mid-May, singers should prepare 16-bar selection (accompanist provided), non-singers should prepare short monologue, visit EdgartonCenter.org or send email to LynchB2@SacredHeart.edu for addt’l info.

Kent Art Association, KAA Gallery, 21 South Main St/Rte 7, Kent. Call 860-927-3989.

March 24: Receiving for Kent Art Assn Representational Early Members’ Show & Sale, 10 am-2 pm, membership available at time of receiving ($30/individual), show fee $20 (for 1-2 works), show will feature representation works in oils, watercolors, pastels, graphics, acrylics & sculpture, all must be original, for sale, recently executed & not previously shown at KAA Gallery, for info or prospectus visit KentArt.org or call phone # above.

Shakespeare on the Sound, at Rowayton Arts Center, 145 Rowayton Ave AND Rowayton Methodist Church, 80 Rowayton Ave. Call 203-299-1300.

March 23: open call for roles in The Comedy of Errors, director & founding artistic director Ezra Barnes is seeking performers of all ethnic backgrounds, early auditions (2-5 pm at arts center) will be under sign-up format (members of Actors’ Equity Assn will receive priority, later auditions will be open (first-come first-served, 5:30-9 pm at church), have brief classical monologue prepared, photos & resumes may be submitted in unable to attend (send to Ezra Barnes c/o Shakespeare on the Sound, PO Box 15, Norwalk CT 06853), daytime rehearsals begin May 15, performances will be outdoors at Pinkney Park (June 14-30) & Roger Sherman Baldwin Park (July 5-7) in Greenwich,

Wilton Playshop, Lovers Lane, Wilton. Call 203-762-7629.

March 18-19: Auditions for A.R. Gurney’s Sylvia, director Ed Spires has roles for 2 men & 2 women, production will run weekends May 4-19.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

March 17: Community Coffeehouse, Community Meetinghouse, 7 Madison Ave, Danbury, 7:30-10:30 pm, free adm & refreshments (freewill donations accepted), performances by Boston-based female trio Maeve & singer-songwriter Shana Cassidy; 748-4972.

March 18: The Emunotes at Congregation B’nai Israel, 193 Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury, 2 pm, $5, performance by group of 11 girls ages 10-13 from Afula, Israel (Jewish Federation Partnership 2000 participant) will incl contemporary & traditional Israeli & Jewish music, also some children’s songs, optional luncheon precedes performance (call for details); 792-6161.

March 18: The Kerry Boys at Danbury Library, 170 Main St (at West), Danbury, 2:30 pm, free concert suitable for all ages will offer high-energy Irish music; 797-4505.

March 18: “Musical Illustrations” by Danbury Symphony Orchestra, at Western CT State University’s White Hall, White St at Fifth Ave, Danbury, 3 pm, free (donations accepted for Danbury Music Centre), DSO music director & conductor Ariel Rudiakov has created a program featuring music that paints a picture or tells a story incl Gershwin’s “American in Paris,” Debussy’s Afternoon of a Faun, “Overture” to Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers & sev dances from Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances; 748-1716.

March 20: 4th Annual Irish Jewish Mishmash: Love & Knishes Program, Walzer Family Jewish Community Campus, 444 Main St North, Southbury, $8 adults, $5.50 seniors, lunch at noon (kosher, of course), Irish music by CT State Troubadour Pierce Campbell, reservations ASAP; 267-3177 x105.

March 21: The Shamrogues at Nunnawauk Meadows Community Building, 3 Nunnawauk Rd, Newtown, 3:30 pm, free performance by members of The Traditional Irish Music Society, refreshments to follow; 426-5662.

March 23: Redstone Ridge concert, Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West St, Newtown, 7:30 pm, tickets $10, bluegrass, Americana and folk music performance by local award-winning acoustic string band; 426-9024.

March 24: 33rd Annual Fairfield County String Orchestra Music Festival, Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Rd/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 3 pm, tickets $5 adults, free ages 14 & under, performances by 3 string orchestras w/ total of 200+ Fairfield County (incl 9 Newtown students) middle & high school student musicians participating, presented by Fairfield Country String Teachers Association; 746-4311.

March 25: Twilight Hotel at Roots Music Coffeehouse, 345 Main St (former CityCenter Dance Factory space), Danbury, tickets $10/adv (online, RootsMusicCoffeehouse.com), $12/door, doors open 6:30 pm, open mic 7 pm, headliners at 8, performance by roots-based duo Dave Quanbury & Brandy Zdan; 798-7044, 994-1903.

Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra. Call 203-438-3889.

Concerts at Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Rd, Ridgefield, 8 pm, tickets $15-$50: March 17, “Beautiful Bach,” celebrating works of J.C. & J.S. Bach, guest violinist David Kim, guest conductor will be George Garrett Keast, program to incl J.C. Bach’s Symphony No. 2 in B Flat, Op. 18 & Symphony No. 1 in D, op. 3, J.S. Bach’s Violin Concerto No. 2 in E & Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G.

Ridgefield Symphony Youth Orchestra, at East Ridge Middle School, 10 East Ridge Rd, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-3889.

April 1, RSYO & Ridgefield Symphony Junior Orchestra performance, 4 pm.

Films _________________

Danbury Library, 170 Main St (at West), Danbury. Call 797-4533.

Special program: March 31, screening of An Inconvenient Truth, 2 pm, remarks by Mayor Mark Boughton, screening will be followed by discussion led by environmental consultant Jack Kozuchowski.

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

March 16-22: Happy Feet (PG), Fri-Sat 7 & 9 pm, Sun-Thurs 7 pm, mat Sat-Sun 1 & 4 pm, Tues 1 pm, Wed-Thurs 2:30 pm.

March 29: special screening of To Kill a Mockingbird, 2 & 7:30 pm, tickets $5, evening screening will incl intro & post-screening discussion led by film historian Jack Leopold.

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

March 16-June 14: The Human Body, Mon-Fri 11 am, 1 & 3 pm; Sat-Sun, 11 am, 1, 3 & 4 pm.

Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel St, New Haven. Call 203-432-8842.

Art & Music Film Series, free screenings, 2 pm: March 17, Goldfinger (1964); March 24, A Hard Day’s Night (1964); March 29, The Bridge on the River Kwai, **screening at 7 pm.

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: March 24, Quilting Workshop, 10 am-noon, students age 11 & adults invited to make hand-pieces squares to be joined together for a friendship quilt to be auctioned later this year, no experience necessary; March 24, Wild Zoofari with Jim Knox, 3-4 pm, free program recommended for ages 6 & up will be led by Newtown resident, TV host & wildlife educator Jim Knox, who will have “a few friends from Beardsley Zoo” joining him.

Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts, at Sacred Heart Univ, 5151 Park Ave, Fairfield. Call 203-371-7908.

Productions by CT Family Theatre: A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings, through March 18, curtain , tickets $10-$18.

Miscellaneous ___________

March 17: Saturday Morning Bird Walk, Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave (off Rte 34), Derby, 9 am (will last up to 2 hours), guided hike along grounds of center will incl opportunities to observe birds in the wild & sharpen bird ID skills, walks also being offered April 21 & May 19; 734-2513.

March 17: Penny Auction at St Andrew’s Church, 247 New Milford Tpke/Rte 202, New Milford, doors open 11 am (no early bidding), 250+ items to bid on, refreshments available; 860-868-2275.

March 17: Annual Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner, Second Meeting House, 40 Main St, Bethel, continuous servings 5-8 pm, $15 adults, $10 ages 7-12, free ages 6 & under, all-you-can-eat dinner incl corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, etc, cash bar, raffles & door prizes all evening, presented by Bethel Historical Society & VFW Post 935; 748-6112.

March 17: Annul St Patrick’s Day Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner, Center Firehouse, 461 Main St South, Southbury, continuous servings 5-8 pm, $12 adults, $6 ages 12 & under, $5 senior citizens (**5-6 pm only), dinner of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, bread, beverage & desserts (alternative hot dog & potato chips dinner also available), take-out available; 262-0615.

March 17-18: The Garden Expo, Ludlowe High School, 785 Unquowa Rd, Fairfield, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 10 am-4 pm, adm $6 adults, $5 ages 62 & over, $4 ages 12 & under, largest garden show in Fairfield County will offer 75+ exhibitors, free lectures & demos, live plants, vendors, refreshments, proceeds to benefit Mill River Wetlands Committee River Lab program; 203-259-9999.

March 18: Spring Psychic Fair, Maron Hotel, 42 Lake Ave Extension/Mill Plain Rd, Danbury, 11 am-6 pm, free adm, area psychics, clairvoyants, astrologers, tarot & gemstone readers participating, also vendors; 470-1806.

March 19: “Smart Energy Solutions for Connecticut Citizens and Towns,” Brookfield Community Center, 100 Pocono Rd, Brookfield, 7:30 pm, free program will be highlight of monthly Sierra Club/Housatonic Valley Group meeting; 775-9644.

March 20: BNI/Brookfield chapter meeting, Franco’s Ristorante, 265 Federal Rd, Brookfield, 7-8:30 am, non-members welcome, presentation on “Supplemental Health Benefits Through AFLAC” by AFLAC rep Harold Paez; 794-1114.

March 20: “Invasion of Alien Insects,” Kellogg Environmental Center, 500 Hawthorne Ave (off Rte 34), Derby, 7:30 pm, donation $4 adults, $2 students (free for members of Naugatuck Balley Audubon Society), slide presentation by Dr Chris Maier (scientist at Dept of Entomology at CT Agricultural Experiment Station) will concern non-native insects in CT, reservations requested; 734-

March 23: Friday Night Fish Fry, St Rose Parish Hall, 46 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, 5-8 pm, $8 adults, $4 children, $30 family (maximum, eat-in only), fresh fried tilapia, fries & cole slaw, take-out available; 270-8787.

March 23: H.O.R.S.E. of Connecticut Spaghetti Dinner, Knights of Columbus Hall, Buckingham Rd/Rte 202, New Milford, 6-9 pm (snow date March 30), $6 adults, $3 ages 12 & under; 860-868-1960.

March 24: Madly Marvelous Mardi Gras ‘07: Annual Newtown Youth Services & Family Counseling Center Dinner Dance & Auction, The Stone Barn at Whitney Farms Golf Course, 175 Shelton Rd/Rte 110, Shelton, begins 7 pm, tickets $50, fundrasier for 2 agencies that have been improving the quality of life in greater Newtown area for 25 years & will merge by July 1; 270-4335.

March 25: Author program at Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury, Roxbury, 4 pm, free program by George Feifer (Roxbury resident & author of Breaking Open Japan, the story of Commodore Perry’s ground-breaking voyage to Japan in 1853); 860-350-2181.

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: March 18, at Daniels Farm Rd, Monroe.

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

Programs free unless noted: March 22, “Rain Gardens and Green Yards,” 7:30 pm, presentation by Dan Holmes (Holmes Fine Gardens) & landscape architect Sarah Middeleer on rain gardens, buffer plantings, buffer plantings & how they can protect water supply while providing wildlife habitat (call Sally O’Neil, 426-2607, for info); March 24, International Club of Newtown program w/ guest cartoonist & author Dana Fradon, 7:30 pm (call 426-4595 for reservations, details).

Danbury BNI Trailblazers, meetings at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Clapboard Ridge Rd, Danbury. Call 797-1122.

Group meets Wednesdays, 8-9:30 am, members network & help build businesses, all visitors welcome, contact Mark Vendetti at above phone # for details.

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

March 17, Maple Sugaring Festival, 11 am-3 pm, join IAIS staff & Jim Dina for ongoing demonstrations, pancakes w/ local maple syrup, also games & crafts for children (1-3 pm).

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: March 17, White Memorial, Litchfield (leader Jim Steck, 845-621-5559); March 24, Appalachian Trail along Housatonic River in Kent (leader 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 27 to March 14 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.

Programs 4th Wed/month, 1:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: March 28, acrylic landscape program by James Grabowski.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), 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.

Treehouse Comedy Productions.

Shows at The New Sorrento, 32 Newtown Rd, Danbury (call 744-5575), shows 9:30 & tickets $15 unless noted: March 17, Max Dolcelli headlining, Mike Burton & Clayton Fletcher opening; March 22, Dom Irrera headlining, Vincent McElhone opening, showtime 8 pm, tickets $19.50; March 24, headliner TBA, Monty Hoffman & Scott Papicuri opening.

Theatre ______________

Brookfield Theatre for the Arts, Brookfield Playhouse, 182 Whisconier Rd (Rte 25, behind library), Brookfield Center. Call 775-0023.

The Diviners, through March 24, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (March 18 only) 2 pm, tickets $20.

Seven Angels Theatre, Hamilton Park Pavilion, Plank Rd, Waterbury. Call 203-757-4676.

Viagara Falls, through April 15, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Thurs, Sat-Sun 2 pm, tickets $27-$45; March 17, opening night & post-performance reception; March 22, Beer & Pizza Night; March 24, Mimosa Matinee.

TheatreWorks New Milford, 5 Brookside Ave, New Milford. Call 860-350-6863.

Dog Sees God, through March 17, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (March 11 only) 2 pm, tickets $18.50, NOTE: play is recommended for mature audiences.

 

*******************

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, Associate Editor, Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 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.