Antiques Shows______

Saturdays (through mid-Dec): 38th Season Woodbury’s Famous Antiques & Flea Market, 787 Main St South (Rte 6, near Rte 64), Woodbury, 7 am-1 pm, 150± vendors each week; 203-263-2841.

Sundays (through Dec 11): Elephant’s Trunk Country Flea Market, Rte 7, New Milford, 7 am-2:30 pm (early buying 5:45 am, $20), adm $1; 508-896-1975.

April 23-24: Durham Firearm & Knife Show & Sale, Durham Fairgrounds, off Rte 17, Durham, Sat 9 am-5 pm, Sun 9 am-3 pm, 350 tables; 914-248-1000.

April 24: 2005 Automated Music Show, The Inn at Ethan Allen, Lake Avenue Ext, Danbury, 7 am-3 pm, adm $10 (free after 10:30 am), 20th anniv season continues w/ dealers presenting talking machines, Victrolas, music boxes, parts, etc; 330-325-7866.

April 30: Coventry Doll, Toy & Miniatures Show, Coventry High School, Rte 31, Coventry, 10 am-3 pm, adm $5, featuring collectible toys & antique dolls, more; 860-742-6359.

May 1: Antique/Arts & Crafts Expo, Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 10 am-4 pm, free adm, proceeds to benefit 2nd Annual Relay For Life of Newtown; 364-1882, 417-4860.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places__ _____

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St, Ridgefield. Hours: Tues-Thurs & Sat-Sun 1-5 pm, Fri 12-8 pm. Call 203-438-4519.

*(new show) May 1-Aug 7: “Contemporary Erotic Drawing,” drawings that follow traditions in Western & Eastern art & sensibilities, ranging from humorous, raunchy & abstract to fetishes, personal & intimate by 34 artists; May 1, opening reception, 4-6 pm.

*(new show) May 1-Oct 10: “Memento Mori (My Glass is Run),” installation by Mark Dion that takes the form of mock cemetery dedicated to significant American naturalists of 18th & 19th Centuries who has worked in greater Philadelphia area; May 1, opening reception, 4-6 pm.

*(new show) May 1-Oct 10: first solo museum exhibition by NYC-based artist Orly Genger is large-scale knit work that stretches from museum’s historic Old Hundred building across courtyard to new museum facility; May 1, opening reception, 4-6 pm.

*(new show) May 1-Oct 10: “Grabstein für RW,” video installation by Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist confronts boundaries of the states of the ghostly & the flesh; May 1, opening reception, 4-6 pm.

*(new show) May 1-Oct 10: “Main Street Sculpture Project: Liquid Ballistic,” sculpture by Roman de Salvo invites visitor interaction while contemplating historic significance of cannons & artist’s perceived function for different use; May 1, opening reception, 4-6 pm.

Through June 22: “Solitude and Focus: Recent Work by MacDowell Colony Fellows in the Visual Arts,” featuring works by 13 artists who participated in recent residencies at Peterborough, N.H., artists’ colony founded in 1907, to incl a cross-section of visual arts disciplines incl photography, painting, drawing, animation, sculpture, printmaking, video & installation.

Through June 22: “Alyson Shotz: Light, Sound, Space,” a solo exhibition of site-specific sculpture by Ms Shotz incl a shimmering wall of light consisting of 18,000 plastic oval Fresnel lenses measuring 38 ft L & over 14 ft H.

Through June 22: “Shannon Plumb: Behind the Curtain,” a series of super-8 short films by the artist Shannon Plumb, ranging from 3 to 8 minutes, each starring the artist dressed as diff characters & described as witty self-portraits.

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 (lower meeting room) — Through April 30: “Flagpole Photographers Camera Club’s Annual Members’ Exhibition,” photos in color, black & white and digitally created by members of Newtown’s photography club.

On library’s main floor — Through May 20: Earth Fragments,” new series of work by Newtown resident & artist Virginia Zic feature watercolor “portraits” of the earth’s surface.

Brookfield Historical Society, Rtes 133 & 25, Brookfield Center. Hours: Sat 12-4 pm, also by appt & by chance (when museum flag is displayed). Call 740-8140.

*(new show) April 23-May 1: “The Future Village District Area,” short-term exhibit offers architectural model of Brookfield Economic Development Commissions plans for the future.

*(new show) April 23-Aug 31: “The Ironworks District,” artifacts, photos, hat-making tools & memorabilia highlighting the historic significance of town’s former industrial production center, which ran along Still River; April 23, opening reception, 12-4 pm; April 24, “The Brookfield Ironworks District,” 2 pm, free slide lecture by Marilyn Whittlesey (curator, Brookfield Hist Scty) on the historical significance of the area & its current importance.

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

*(new show) April 23-Nov 6: “Messenger Rocks from Space: Meteorites and Comets,” specimens, photos, videos & hands-on activities provide an overview of what meteorites & comets are, where they come from & what they tell us about our solar system neighborhood.

Through May 1: “Recent Acquisitions: Photography from the Permanent Collection,” approx 35 photos from over 400 recently given to the museum by 13 donors incl 19th & 20th Century vintage prints – portraiture, travel photography, Civil War photography, modernism & photo-journalism, abstract work & color photography

Kent Art Association, 21 South Main St/Rte 7, Kent. Hours: Thurs-Sun 1-5 pm. Call 860-927-3989.

Through April 24: “2005 KAA Members’ Art Show & Sale,” more than 100 paintings incl oils, watercolors & pastels, also graphics & sculpture in various mediums.

Mark Twain House & Museum Center, 351 Farmington Ave, Hartford. Hours: 9:30 am-5:30 pm (open to 8 pm first Thurs/month). Call 860-247-0998.

Through May 1: “Marks On Paper,” books read by Twain & his family, books the author used for research, margin notes & notes about the authors he disdained incl Jane Austen.

Miller Studio & Gallery, 495 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury. Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Mon-Tues by chance or appt. Call 203-263-3939.

Through May 5: “Life Imitated,” still lifes by Jean O’Brien & John Schieffer, each of whom has very different interpretations of the genre.

Morrison Gallery, 5 Maple St, Kent. Hours: Wed-Fri 10 am-5:30 pm, Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-4 pm. Call 860-927-4501.

*(new show) April 30-May 31: new still life & landscape paintings by Robert Lent; April 30, opening reception (featuring live music by The Joe Beck Duo), 2-5 pm.

Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave, New Haven. Hours: Mon-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm. Call 203-432-5050.

*(new show) Through Nov 30: “Landscape Under Siege: Invasive Plants of Connecticut,” watercolors & etchings by members of The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, coupled w/ specimens from museum’s botanical collections incl Yale University Herbarium; May 12, “New England’s Invasive Plants: A Gallery Talk,” 4-5:30 pm, free illustrated lecture by invasive plant expert Chris Mattrick will offer ID, natural history & ecology of common invasive species;

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

Through May 8, “New York Moments,” New York City-themed paintings by the Goshen-based artist Frank Federico.

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

The Silo Gallery, 44 Upland Rd, New Milford. Hours: Wed-Mon 10 am-5 pm. Call 860-355-0300.

Through May 8: “Quilts: The Fabric of Our Lives,” modern & traditional quilts, also wearable & textile art, by local & regional quilters (incl Karen Eckmeier, Newtown resident & long-arm machine quilter Mary Eddy/The Jelly Bean Quilter, Tobi Andrews, fabric artist Ellen Purdy, Krista Botsford, et al), also a quilt designed by students at John Pettiibone Elementary School of New Milford, plus several historic pcs loaned from New Milford Historical Society & Silo gallery director Jessica Stewart.

Walnut Hill Community Church, 156 Walnut Hill Rd, Bethel. Call 796-7373.

In The Vestibule Gallery — Through spring: paintings and photos by A.J. Picard.

In Fellowship Mall — Through spring: creative cross collages by regional artists & church members.

In The Hallway Gallery — Through spring: limited edition prints by church members.

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

Through April 24: “Members’ Show 2005,” works by developing artists & longstanding gallery-represented members, works incl drawings, paintings in oil, acrylic & watercolor, plus sculpture & pottery.

*(new show) April 30-May 22: “Against The Grain: Three Independents,” work by artists whose work is characterized by an individual approach to both form & content – paintings by Douglas Anderson, Robert Birmelin & Regina Granne; April 30, opening reception, 3-5 pm.

Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Rd, Wilton. Visitor Center Hours: winter hours (effective Nov 15) Thurs-Sun 9:30 am-5 pm. Call 203-834-1896.

Through May 1: “Artists At Weir Farm: The Woodlands of Branchville – Josette Urso,” oil paintings & black & white drawings by Ms Urso, who was inspired by Weir Farm’s landscape during her 2003 stint as an artist-in-residence.

Auditions, Juried Events  _____

Acting Up Theater Works, at The Portuguese Cultural Center (within Western CT Medical Center Complex), 65 Sandpit Rd, Danbury. Call 942-9303.

April 23-24: Open auditions for Once On This Island, 2-8 pm, openings for all major roles & chorus parts, prepare Broadway tune & bring sheet music, rehearsals to run June 27-Aug 4 (Mon-Thurs 6:30-9:30 pm), performances will be Aug 5 & 7, 12 & 14.

Congregational Church of New Fairfield, 20 Gillotti Rd, New Fairfield. Call 746-2865.

April 30-May 1: Auditions for 10th annual all-youth production, Sat 4-7 pm for ages 12-24, Sun 1-4 pm for ages 7-12, no experience necessary & no preparations needed for audition, children should be accompanied by at least 1 parent or guardian, director is Carl Anderson, performances will be weekends of July 29-Aug 7, send email to BetsyMusic@yahoo.com for details.

The Gallery at Kent Art Association, 21 South Main St/Rte 7, New Milford. Call 860-927-3989.

April 29-30: Receiving for Annual KAA Spring Art Exhibition, Fri 1-4 pm, Sat 10 am-1 pm, juried show open to all artists who work in oils, watercolors, pastels, graphics & sculpture, all works must be representational, show will run May 6-June 6, visit www.KentArt.org or call phone # above for details.

Newtown Children’s Music Talent Show, at Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 206-1962.

May 19: Auditions for area young adults for talent show to be performed on June 18, auditions begin at 5:30, acts can be singing, dancing and/or instrumental, music should be on CD (CD player will be provided), audition fee is $5, partial proceeds of fees & ticket sales day of show will benefit Town Hall Board of Managers’ efforts to replace seats in town hall’s theater, contact Cathy Urso for additional info.

Sherman Players, Rte 37 at 39 (behind firehouse), Sherman. Call 860-868-0292, 860-355-4394.

April 30 & May 7: Dance auditions for Footloose, *at Brookfield Center for the Performing Arts (994 Federal Rd/Rte 7, Brookfield), 4-7 pm, director Lanny Mitchell seeks male & female actors & dancers of ethnic diversity betw ages 17-50, be prepared to learn short routine, performances will be Fri-Sat July 8-Aug 13 (plus some Sun mats), contact producers Terry Hawley (first phone # above) or Steve Ross (second phone #) for more info.

May 1 & 8: Auditions for Footloose actors & singers, 3-7 pm, at playhouse, prepare song & bring sheet music, dancers & singers also needed for roles in chorus, callbacks May 15, see addt’l show details above.

Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St, Newtown. Call 203-438-8311.

April 28: Receiving for artists (incl non-members) for 35th Annual Juried Spring Art Show, 3-7 pm, regional artists invited to submit work in oil, watercolor, pastel, acrylics, graphics, mixed media, printmaking & sculpture (no photography) for spring show to run May 1-8 at library, SCAN membership is not necessary, awards ceremony & opening reception May 1 (2-4 pm), contact Will Doyle for full prospectus.

Concerts, Musical Events ____

April 22: Thoroughly Wicked Hairspray! by CT Gay Men’s Chorus, at WCSU’s Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St, Danbury, 8 pm, tickets $25-$30, classic & contemporary Broadway shows are “sliced, diced & dished” in CGMC’s spring 2005 production; 800-644-2462.

April 23: The Cadet Glee Club of the US Military Academy at West Point, at Golden Hill United Methodist Church, 210 Elm St (at corner of Elm St, Golden Hill St & Lafayette Square), Bridgeport, 7:30 pm, $10 donation (will pay expenses of bringing cadets to Bridgeport, any additional proceeds will benefit Habitat For Humanity, Center for Woman & Families, and glee club’s music fund), program of popular, classical & patriotic selections; 268-2837.

April 29: “French Impressions: The 25th Anniversary Concert of CT Choral Society,” St Peter’s Church, 104 Main St, Danbury, 8 pm, $18/advance, $20/door, performance by CCS will celebrate 25th anniv w/ program of Durufle’s Requiem, Poulenc’s Organ Concerto & Poulenc’s Litanies a la Vierge Noir (also pre-concert talk, 7:30); 800-555-5250.

April 30: Pilobolus TOO at Naugatuck Valley Community College’s Fine Arts Center, 750 Chase Pkwy, Waterbury, 8 pm, tickets $15 adults, $10 students, performance by duet troupe that is offshoot of Pilobolus will offer 6 dances incl scenes from The Empty Suitor, a humor pc set to “Sweet Georgia Brown” & “Femme Noire”; 203-575-8179.

May 1: Tercentennial Piano Concert: Ryo Yanagitani, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, free concert (reservations required) by young, versatile, award-winning pianist will incl works of Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, et al, post-concert reception with musician; 270-8293.

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

May 3, “Broadway and Beyond: The WCSU Symphonic Band,” 8 pm, free concert will incl much-loved Broadway show tunes incl excerpts from Bernstein’s West Side Story, Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, and Elton John & Tim Rice’s The Lion King.

Films _________________

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

April 22-28: Downfall (R), daily 8:45 pm, mat Fri-Sun, Wed 3:45 pm; The Interpreter (PG-13), daily 7:05 & 9:35 pm, mat Fri 4 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 1:15 & 4 pm; Look At Me (PG-13), daily 7:20 & 9:45 pm, mat Fri 5 pm, Sat-Sun, Wed 12:30, 2:45 & 5 pm; Melinda & Melinda (PG-13), daily 8:55 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 3:30 pm; Millions (PG), daily 6:55 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1 pm; Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (G), daily 6:45 pm, mat Sat-Sun, Wed 1:45 pm.

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

April 22-27: National Treasure (PG), Fri-Sat 7 & 9:20 pm, Sun-Wed 7 pm, mat Fri-Sun 1 & 4:10 pm.

For Kids & Families _________

May 1: Girl Scout Camp Open House, Camp Candlewood, 29 Bogus Hill Rd, New Fairfield, 12:30-3 pm, girls entering grades 1-12 & their parents invited to visit Girl Scout Camp for tours & to meet staff, learn about summer offerings, families also welcome to bring picnic lunches & spend time on the grounds; 203-762-5557, 800-882-5661.

May 1: “She Loves You Yeah, Yeah, Yeah: Family Fun Day at Yale Center for British Art, 1080 Chapel St (at corner of High St), New Haven, 2-3 pm, free, members of New Haven Symphony Orchestra will lead interactive music program in YCBA’s galleries to demonstrate the importance of rhythm when playing a musical instrument & in the composition of paintings & sculpture, most suitable for ages 4-13; 203-432-2800.

May 2: Open House at Regional YMCA of Western CT, 12 Boughton St, Danbury, 2-5 pm, families invited to swim (swim diapers & rubber pants mandatory for children not yet or recently potty trained & all children must be joined by adults), Pikes swimming lesson for ages 3-6, magic show (2 pm), basketball, gymnastics, face painting, balloons, coloring contest, junior weight training, drawing for free family membership; 744-1000.

Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, 258 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-4519.

April 23, Right Brain Saturday, 10 am-noon, $25, monthly workshops (so different topics monthly) taught by local artists & museum educators allow children to experience artwork in the galleries & then apply the methods, concepts or ideas they see into their own projects, all materials provided.

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

Children’s programs, free unless specified: April 27, Nutmeg Book Discussion, 6:30 pm, one-hour discussion will focus on Made You Look by Diane Roberts.

Downtown Cabaret Children’s Theatre Co., 263 Golden Hill St, Bridgeport. Call 203-576-1636.

Pooh!, April 26-May 22, curtain Sat-Sun 12 & 2:30 pm, tickets $12.50.

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

Young Audience series, performances 1 & 3 pm, tickets $15 adults, $10 children: May 1, Junie B. Jones, 1 & 3 pm, tickets $12 adults, $10 children, new musical by TheatreWorks USA is based on 4 tales about the lovable grammar school heroine created by Barbara Park.

Miscellaneous ___________

April 23: 11th Annual New Morning Natural & Organic Earth Day Celebration, New Morning Store, Middle Quarter Mall, 738 Main St South/Rte 6, Woodbury, 11 am-4 pm, free adm, “Sustainable Agriculture” is theme of event w/ hundreds of exhibitors set up outdoors under tent & incl samples of latest & best in natural & organic foods, live music, games for children, holistic practitioners, local non-profit organizations & raffle; 203-263-0673.

April 24: Poetry Reading & Open Mic, The Hickory Stick Bookshop, 2 Green Hill Rd, Washington Depot, 2 pm, reading by Sondra Zeidenstein (from her collections incl Resistance & Family Reunion: Poems about Parenting Grownup Children) will be followed by open mic; 860-868-0525.

April 24: “Is It Time to Slow Down, Relax and Enjoy Life?” Woodbury Yoga Center, 122 West Side Rd, Woodbury, 6:45 pm, free presentation by WCC co-founder & executive director Janaki Pierson will concern how everyday demands from professional & personal lives can be trivial once one learns how to release those demands, group meditation & tea reception follows; 203-263-2254.

April 25: “Nature’s Healing Powers: A Look at Naturopathic Medicine,” St Rose School, 40 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, 7:30 pm, free presentation by naturopathic medicine doctor Vicki Crouse will concern naturopathic medicine & the doctors who work with it; 426-2572.

April 26: “Gardening To Encourage Birds,” C.H. Booth Library lower meeting room, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, free program by John Longstreth (director, Bent of the River Audubon Center in Southbury) will incl bird photos & explanation on how to create backyard habitats that will encourage birds, sponsored by The Garden Club of Newtown; 270-1108.

April 29-30: Southwest Conservation District Annual Plant Sale, Fairfield County Ag Center barn, 69 Stony Hill Rd.Rte 6, Bethel, Fri 10 am-4 pm, Sat 10 am-2 pm, variegated & fragrant shrubs, native shrubs for conservation habits, evergreen seedlings of white pine, white spruce, blue spruce & Douglas fir, also potted perennials, UConn master gardeners will be available for consultation; 203-269-7509.

April 30: CT ConTacts Singles Dance Party, Fireside Inn, 123 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown, 8 pm-1 am, Newtown, adm $15, dinner & dessert buffets, dancing to DJ selections (Top 40, soft rock, recent oldies & requests), “dress to impress” (no jeans); 203-468-1144.

April 30: 96th Annual CT Sheep, Wool & Fiber Festival, Tolland Agricultural Center, Rte 30 (near Rte 31 intersection), Vernon, 9 am-4 pm, free adm (parking $3/car), display of sheep breeds, 4H demos, sheep shearing & skirting demos, spinning for children, ox cart rides, vendors, border collies herding demos, Shepherds’ Café (refreshments incl CT-grown lamb dishes) & much more, full program at CTsheep.org; 860-684-2124.

April 30: Tea with The Victorian Lady at Center Fire House, 462 Oxford Rd/Rte 67, Oxford, begins at 2 pm, tickets $10, afternoon tea event will feature presentation by actress Kandie Carle, who wears & discusses layers of Victorian-era clothing & their uses, attendees welcome to bring their favorite tea cup, proceeds will benefit planned relocation & preservation of The Josiah Twitchell (Rowland) Homestead; 203-888-4519.

May 1: Antiques/Arts & Crafts Expo, Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 10 am-4 pm, free adm, to benefit Relay For Life of Newtown; 364-1882, 417-4860.

May 1: Book signing at Brookfield Library, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield Center, 2 pm, co-signing & lecture w/ Susan Murphy & ary Smolen, co-authors of Images of America: Candlewood Lake, lecture will detail fascinating aspects of the lake’s development along w/ its impact on communities that surround it; 740-8140.

May 2: BookTalk program, Southbury Public Library, 561 Main St South/Rte 6, Southbury, 2 pm, free, author Katherine Valentine will lead discussion of her book Grace Will Lead Me Home; 264-1716, 262-6123.

May 2: Open House at Regional YMCA of Western CT, 12 Boughton St, Danbury, 2-5 pm, families invited to swim (swim diapers & rubber pants mandatory for children not yet or recently potty trained & all children must be joined by adults), Pikes swimming lesson for ages 3-6, magic show (2 pm), basketball, gymnastics, face painting, balloons, coloring contest, junior weight training, drawing for free family membership; 744-1000.

May 2-7: “Trailblazers: The New Pathway for Film and Video,” Western CT State University’s Student Center Theater, 181 White St, Danbury, 7-9 pm (screenings will also run 12-2 pm at Bethel Cinema, 269 Greenwood Ave in Bethel), free open screenings of short films by independent & student film or video producers from New England & tri-state area, first festival by WCSU Communication Dept & Media Production Society; 837-8486.

Active Singles. Call 860-253-9782.

Hikes for singles ages 30s-50s held 1st & 3rd Sun/month, 9:30-11:30 am, free, hikes available in 4 difficulty levels, no dogs or children: April 24, Paugussett State Forest, Newtown.

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: April 25, adult nature walk, 8 am, $5, approx 2 hours; April 25, Invasive Plant Work Day, 1:30-3:30 pm, volunteers needed to help eliminate non-native invasive plants.

Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, 9 Main St/Rte 61, Bethlehem. Hours (May through late Oct only): 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: May 1, Annual Plant Sale, 10 am-4 pm, sale of perennials, trees & shrubs, many of which are propagated directly from the property’s plant collections; May 1, May Day Celebration, 1-4 pm, $2 suggested donation, music by New Haven Morris & Sword Dancers, The Reel Thing, Maypole dancing, story telling, nature walks & more.

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

Programs free unless noted: April 24, “The Ghosts of Versailles,” 5 pm, free lecture by Strother Purdy concerning the haunting 1901 experiences of two English ladies visiting Versailles, light refreshments will follow, presented by Alliance Française of Northwestern Connecticut; May 3, book discussion, 7:30 pm, concerning Peter P. Petersen’s Running on Empty: How the Democrats and the Republican Parties are Bankrupting Our Futures.

Flagpole Photographers, C.H. Booth Library meeting room, 25 Main St, Newtown. Call 364-1719, 426-0558.

Through April 30: “Flagpole Photographers Camera Club’s Annual Members’ Exhibition,” photos in color, black & white and digitally created by members of Newtown’s photography club.

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

April 30, “The Archaeology & Ethnology of Western Connecticut,” 10 am-5 pm, $10, presentation by Archaeological Society of CT (ASC); April 30, stone tool making demo, 11 am-3 pm, included w/ museum adm, ongoing demo by primitive technologist Jeff Kalin.

Newtown Hikers. Call 426-2897 or 788-1398 (Ester Nichols), 270-4340 (Newtown Parks & Rec).

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9 am, free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders as follows: April 23, hike or bike Harlem River Rail Trail, Amenia, N.Y. (Evelyn Schonberg, 426-0425); April 30, Westside Highway River Walk, New York City, all day hike and then dinner out (note: this program will meet at Edmond Town Hall at 8 am, then carpool to Brewster to take train; Sawsan Ali at 426-8911); May 7, Weir Farm, Ridgefield (Pat Callan, 264-2153).

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/meeting May 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, shop carries discounted items from local businesses & private donors incl clothing, sm home accessories & more.

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.

Programs at Brookfield Commons: May 6, Healing & Meditation Circle, 7:30 pm, special guest Raffaello DiMeglio will lead group;

May 5, “From UFOs to Jinn and Angels: A Spiritual Journey in The Paranormal,” at Fairfield County Agricultural Center, 67-69 Stony Hill Rd/Rte 6, Bethel, 7:30 pm, $30, lecture & workshop led by science educator Philip Imbrogno will explore the spiritual journey of a scientist & hist study into the paranormal.

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

Meetings 4th Wed/month, 1:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: April 27, watercolor demo by Pat Billeci.

Wednesday Night Poetry, Bethel Arts Junction, 5 Depot Place (in former railroad station), Bethel. Call 426-3388 (Faith Vicinanza), 270-6202 (Michael Seri), 748-2828 (BAJ).

Series presented ev Wed 7:30-10 pm (featured poets 8:30 pm, poetry workshop 9:15 pm), adm $1 ($3 if out-of-state or major guest poet), guest/featured poets as follows: April 27, croilot semexant (pronounced “Kwalo”; host: John Jeffrey); May 4, poetry, fiction & mathematical algorithms writer Jai Chakrabarti (host: Alice-Anne Harwood)

.

Theatre ______________

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

Hair, through May 22, curtain Fri 8 pm, Sat 8:30 pm, mat Sat-Sun 5:30 pm, tickets $38.50 & $42.50, discounts available for students & seniors (call for details).

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

Golf With Alan Shepard, through April 24, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Thurs, Sat-Sun 2 pm, call for ticket prices.

Anything Goes, May 5-June 5, curtain Thurs-Sat 8 pm, mat Thurs, Sat-Sun 2 pm, CALL FOR TICKET PRICES.

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

The Elephant Man, April 22-May 21, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat (May 8 only) Sun 2 pm, tickets $17.50; also (Thurs) April 21, senior citizens’ preview, free dress rehearsal open to all area seniors; (Thurs) April 28, Pay What You Want Night, 8 pm, name your ticket price.

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

70th anniversary season: The Amorous Ambassador, April 29-May 21, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (May 15 only) 2 pm, tickets $15 evening shows, $12 mat; note: April 29 is a benefit for Newtown Congregational Church’s Circle of Hope, all tickets $20, reception begins at 7:30, auction during intermission; May 6 will also be benefit evening (for different group), call for details..

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

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, but must be in sharp focus.