Antiques Shows _________________

Every Fri-Sun (year-round): Redwood Country Flea Market, 170 South Turnpike Rd, Wallingford, 6 am-2:30 pm, free adm & parking, 50-80 dealers; 203-269-3500.

Sundays (through Dec): Elephant’s Trunk Country Flea Market, Rte 7, New Milford, 7 am-2:30 pm (early buying 5:45 am, $20), adm $2, free ages 12 & under, leave pets home, vendors offer antiques, collectibles & misc, refreshments available; 508-896-1975.

Art Exhibits _____________________

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

Through May 24: “Frank Poor: Enon Cemetery Main Street Sculpture Project,” outdoor installation taking form of 19th Century cemetery from artist’s hometown in Woodstock, Ga.

Through May 24: “Kwang Young-Chun: The Soul – Journey to America,” largest freestanding paper sculpture to date (14+ ft & approx 650 lbs) by Korean artist who uses recycled pages of Korean books & medicine wrappers on mulberry paper.

Through May 31: “Dave Cole: Flags of the World,” American flag cut & resewn from official UN “Flags of the World” set.

Through May 31: “David Taylor: Frontier/Frontera,” photos & video works offering a real-time glimpse into the dynamics of the US-Mexico border.

Barn Hill Studio, Rte 110 at Barn Hill Rd, Monroe. Hours: Sat-Sun 1-4 pm. Call 268-4225.

*(new show) April 25-May 3: “Apple Blossom Festival Spring Art Show,” gifts, soaps, jewelry & ceramics by local artists; May 3, Maypole dancing, 12:30 pm, white attire requested.

Blue Z Coffee House, 127 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 364-0631.

Through May 2: “Source: Surrender,” recent works & interactive installation by Newtown artist Joanne Keane.

Brookfield Craft Center, 286 Whisconier Rd (Rte 25), Brookfield; 775-4526.

Through May 3: “Out of the Loop: Innovations in Hooking,” celebration of resurgence in American art form of rug hooking, guest curated by Sandy Hook fiber artist Liz Alpert Fay; April 26, gallery talk w/ curator, 10 am.

Featured Artist of the Month, special presentations in BCC Gift Shop: Through April 30: tapestries & other fiber works, woven paintings, collage & dimensional paper constructions by Paula Renee.

Discovery Museum and Planetarium, 4450 Park Ave, Bridgeport; 203-372-3521.

Through April 27: “Take Flight,” exploration of the creative process & fundamentals of flight incl hands-on build-your-own planes & rockets feature.

Good News Café & Gallery, 684 Main St/Rte 6, Woodbury; 203-266-4663.

Through May 11: “Common People in Uncommon Places,” black & white images by Southbury photographer Hy Charniak taken w/ Rollei he purchased after WWII, depicting people in more than 12 countries betw 1949-1997.

Gunn Memorial Library & Museum, 5 Wykeham Rd, Washington Green; 860-868-7756.

*(new show) April 26-Oct 31: “The Keepers of History: Scrapbooks and Albums,” scrapbooks from local residents & museum’s collection celebrate a quintessential shared American art form of time capsules of bygone people, places & times, also incl items from Jessica Helfand’s new book Scrapbooks: An American History; April 26, opening reception, 1-3 pm; May 2, National Scrapbooking Day, 9:30 am-3:30 pm, opportunity for everyone to work on scrapbook pages.

Through May 1: “Washington’s Emergency Services: A History of the Fire Department & Ambulance Association,” vintage photos & artifacts from FD & ambulance assn convey stories of brotherhood, tragedy & triumph.

Kent Art Association, 21 South Main St/Rte 7, Kent;

860-927-3989.

Through May 25: “Annual KAA Spring Juried Show,” 100+ works in oil, watercolor, pastels, graphics & sculpture by prize-winning local & regional artists; April 24, opening reception, 5-7 pm; April 25, awards reception, 2-4 pm (awards at 3).

Auditions, Juried Events ________

Shakesperience Productions, 117 Bank St, Waterbury. Call 203-574-2531.

April 25-26: Auditions for 5th Annual Shakespeare in Library Park, Sat 3-6 pm, Sun 6-8 pm, production of Twelfth Night has openings for Duke Orsino, Fabian & Antonio, also openings for 12 children ages 8-16 who have musical abilities, rehearsals to be June 7-17, performances will be July 18-20 & 25-27, visit ShakesperienceProductions.org or call above phone # for addti’l info.

Southbury Volunteer Firemen’s Assn Ladies Auxiliary Flea Market, at Center Firehouse, 461 Main St/Rte 6, Southbury. Call 262-1059.

May 16: Vendor spaces available for flea market-tag sale, running 7 am-2 pm, 10x8 ft indoor space or 25x30 ft outdoor spaces available $30 (indoor spaces must be prepaid), BYO table, proceeds to benefit fire dept & ladies auxiliary community projects, contact Brenda Weir at above phone # for details.

Concerts, Musical Events ________

April 25: Manhattan String Quartet at Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St/Rte 6 (WCSU campus), Danbury, 8 pm, tickets $25 adults, $15 students & seniors, program to incl works of Amy Beach, Laura Kaminsky & Joan Tower, pre-performance reception w/ composers Kaminsky & Tower; 837-8350,

837-8499.

April 26: Tom Callinan at Brookfield Library, 182 Whisconier Rd/Rte 25, Brookfield Center, 3 pm, free concert by folk singer, songwriter, sea chanteyman, multi-instrumentalist & first CT resident to be named State Troubadour; 775-6241 x104.

April 26: Westgate Trio at Danbury Music Centre, 256 Main St, Danbury, 8 pm, free performance by violinst Nicola White (concert mentor, Danbury Community Orchestra), violist Nick Revel & cellist Melissa Westgate, to incl works of Mozart, Beethoven & Dohnanyi; 748-1716.

May 2: NUMC Coffee House, 7:45-10:30 pm, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Road, adm $4 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see separate Misc listing), $5 otherwise, live bluegrass & folk music, refreshments, suitable for all ages; 426-9998.

May 3: Amore Trio at Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Rd/Rte 7, Wilton, 4 pm, free performance (reservations encouraged) will continue library’s Connecticut’s Own music series; 203-792-3950.

May 3: “A Musical Celebration of Spring,” South Britain Congregational Church, 693 South Britain Rd/Rte 172, South Britain, 4 pm, $25, performance by soprano Christina Holms, tenor Tadeusz Szlenkier, baritone David Pershall & mezzo soprano Emily Righter, program to incl operatic arias & Broadway selections w/ accompanist Douglas Dickson;

888-665-0533.

May 3: “A Nod to Hollywood,” Danbury Community Concert at Ives Concert Hall, Western CT State Univ, 181 White St/Rte 6, Danbury, 7 pm, free one-hour performance by 75-pc orchestra of auditioned teens & adults from greater Danbury will incl music from soundtracks of Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Lone Ranger, Apocalypse Now and Lord of the Rings, suitable for all ages; 748-1716.

Keeler Tavern Museum, 132 Main St/Rte 35, Ridgefield. Call 203-438-5485.

2008-09 Louise McKeon Chamber Music Concert Series, performances 3 pm, tickets $15 adults, $12 students & seniors, $10 ages 12 & under: April 26, RSO Brass Quintet.

 

For Kids & Families _______________

April 25: Foster Adoptive Mission (FAM) Families Festival: A Celebration of Multiculturalism in Foster Care and Adoption, Quassy Amusement Park, Rte 64, Middlebury, 12-6 pm, free adm to festival ($30/car up to 10 people), info about adopting & foster care in CT available, also foods from many cultures, music & dance performances, hair care demos & more;

203-706-0101.

May 2: Norwalk Symphony Orchestra: (Not) Just for Kids – Brass, Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Rd/Rte 7, Wilton,

2 pm, children ages 3-10 & families invited to experience hands-on participation w/ brass instruments; 203-762-3950.

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 29, Mother Goose on the Loose, 10 am, free 20-min award-winning early literacy program for ages 2 & under & parents, walk-ins welcome, weekly to May 13.

Family programs: May 10, Plays For Our Mothers, 3 pm, presentation by The Mask & Wig Players will incl creative fun, old-time radio melodrama & special gift for moms in honor of Mother’s Day.

Miscellaneous___________________

April 25: Team Up For Women fundraiser, The Homesteads at Newtown, 166 Mt Pleasant Rd/Rte 25, Newtown, 10 am-2 pm, free adm, chair massages, crafts from Stamping On Up, Pampered Chef goodies, Mary Kay makeovers & more, proceeds to benefit The Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation & Women’s Center of Greater Danbury; 426-8118.

April 25: Antiques Appraisal Day, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 12-4 pm, $10/item, photos of large items accepted, appraisals by Tucker Frey, Jack DeStories & Lincoln Sander, presented by & fundraiser for Newtown Historical Society; 426-5937.

April 25: CT Film Festival-Newtown, Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, screenings begin 1 pm, $7 per film, screenings of  The Flyboys (1 pm), four shorts (3:15), Monsters from The Id (4:45), Dislecksia: The Movie (6:30, then discussion & premiere party; separate tickets for party) and Brave New West (9:15); 426-9299.

April 25: 11th Annual Indoor Flea Market, Bake Sale & Raffle, North Congregational Church, 11 Main St North/Rte 6, Woodbury, 9 am-3 pm, 30+ vendors, proceeds to benefit missions, programs & projects within church; 263-2410.

April 25: 15th Annual Earth Day Celebration, New Morning Store, 738 Main St South, Woodbury, 11 am-4 pm rain or shine, free, food samples, kids activities, local & regional producers(incl many gluten-free companies incl Gilbert’s Gourmet Goodies from Sandy Hook), also live music 5:30-7 pm by Willie Nininger, Doug Mahard, The Offbeats, et al;

263-4868.

April 25 : “Slavery in Connecticut: Fortune’s Story – Fortune’s Walking Tour,” Mattatuck Museum, 144 West Main St, Waterbury, 1:30 pm, $10, 90-min walking tour will visit significant sites of CT slave whose skeleton is in museum’s permanent collection while discussing life & stories of Fortune & other early African American residents who suffered or achieved freedom; 203-753-0381 x10.

April 25: 24th Annual Goods & Services Auction, First Congregational Church, 46 Main St, Bethel, preview begins 5:30, auction 7 pm, 100+ items, refreshments available; 748-6112.

April 25: Annual Spring Auction, St Thomas’s Episcopal Church, 95 Greenwood Ave/Rte 302, Bethel, 6:30-8:30 pm, free adm, silent & live auctions, hors d’oeuvres, wine & cheese, coffee & dessert; 743-1494.

April 26: Spring Victorian Tea, St Peter’s Episcopal Church, Rte 111 (opposite green), Monroe, 12:30-3:30 pm, $15 adults, $12 children, tea, breads, sandwiches & desserts, presented by Episcopal Church Women & will benefit various charities, reservations requested; 268-4265.

April 26: “Garden Earth” by The English Lady, Minor Memorial Library, 23 South St, Roxbury, 3 pm, $5 donation suggested, program by Maureen Haseley-Jones, who designs landscapes that encourage people to create gardens that improve well-being & have positive effects on environment, Q&A & refreshments to follow; 860-350-2181.

April 26: “Healing with Scientific Certainty through the Christ,” Southbury Public Library, 100 Poverty Rd, Southbury, 3 pm, lecture by Christine Driessen, teacher & practitioner of Christian Science healing; 263-4964.

April 28: “In Praise of Nature,” C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 1 pm, public invited to join Garden Club of Newtown members for free program by poet, writer, biologist & field ornithologist Polly Brody; 270-1108.

April 28: “Making Paper Art,” Danbury Senior Center Elmwood Hall, 10 Elmwood Place, Danbury, 2 pm, free workshop w/ Dirk Fernandez for ages 50 & up will cover paper art decorations (not a paper doll class), bring scissors; 797-4686.

April 29: “The Ecological Importance of Sea Turtle Conservation,” Western CT State University Science Building Room 219, Osborne St at Dr James Roach Ave, Danbury, 4 pm, free lecture by WCSU Assistant Prof of Biological & Environmental Sciences Dr Theodora Pinou, who spent Aug 2008 w/ group of WCSU students, instructors from Wooster School & Univ of Guadalajara along Pacific coast of Mexico, initiating research study to track the migration of the Ridley turtle species native to the region, will conclude 2008-09 WCSU Research Seminar Series, reception to follow; 837-8793.

April 30: Spring Arts Celebration & Fundraiser — Wine Tasting & Photography Exhibit, Palace Theater, 165 Main St, Danbury, 5:30-8 pm, $45 (incl adm to full performance May 1 by Normal Theater, see listing in Theater), exhibit of portraits by award-winning photographer Laurie Klein, also photos by young artists she has mentored, plus show performances by Normal Theater, wine tastings & live music by Deja Blue led by Clark Eno; 300-2607.

April 30: Green Fair at Housatonic Community College Lafayette Hall, 900 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport, 10 am-2 pm, free, reps from businesses, environmental & grassroots organizations & issues they’re involved with; 203-332-5058.

May 2: NUMC Monthly Pasta Dinner, Newtown United Methodist Church’s Rauner Hall, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 5-7:30 pm, adm $9 adults, $8 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 separate Concerts listing); 426-9998.

May 2: Cars & Tours at Kellogg Environmental Center & Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Ave, Derby, 10 am-2 pm, donations welcome, classic & contemporary cars (from Model Ts to solar cars), model solar car demos, “The History of Canals & The Development of Roads from Native American Pathways” program (10:30 am), demos & displays, also tours of property (until 4); 734-2513.

May 2: “Dare to dream, prepare the dream and share the dream,” Palace Theater, 165 Main St, Danbury, 2-4 pm, free workshop w/ photographer Laurie Klein will discuss the importance of mentoring & being mentored for aspiring photographers; 300-2607.

Danbury Library, 170 Main St, Danbury. Call 797-4505.

Reel Justice: Great Courtroom Dramas, free screenings 2 pm, free, lecture notes, discussion & refreshments follow: May 3, A Cry in the Dark (1988).

Independent Film Series, free screenings, refreshments & discussion follow: April 26, A Simple Curve (Canada, 2005).

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown.

Call 426-2475.

Special Events: May 2, Cinco de Mayo Comedy Celebration, 8:30 pm, $17.50-$30, comedy performances by Andres Fernandez, Rich Ramirez & Mark DeMayo, sponsored by Treehouse Comedy (call 268-5857).

(FILM) April 24 & 26: Paul Blart: Mall Cop (PG), Fri 7 & 9 pm, mat Fri 4:30 pm, Sun 1 pm.

April 25: CT Film Festival-Newtown, screenings begin 1 pm, $7/film:  The Flyboys (1 pm), four shorts (3:15), Monsters from The Id (4:45), Dislecksia: The Movie (6:30, then discussion & premiere party; separate tickets for party) and Brave New West (9:15); 426-9299.

April 26-29: The Wrestler (R), Sun-Wed 7 pm, mat Sun 4 pm, Tues 1 pm.

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

Weekly games, Sat 1-5 pm, drop-in chess open to all skill levels, sets & boards provided, hosted by US Chess Federation expert Glenn Budzinski.

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 am (spring & fall start), free , all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders (in parentheses) as follows: April 25, Central Park, NYC, all day hike, dinner out (Nancy Ziegler, 732-2618); May 2, Pratt Center, New Milford (Pat Callan, 264-2153).

Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, Inc. (SCAN), Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown. Call 426-6654 or 798-0560.

April 25-May 3, 39th Annual Spring Juried Art Show, at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St. Newtown, Sat 9:30 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm, Mon-Thurs 9:30 am-8 pm, Fri 11 am-5 pm, opening reception & awards ceremony April 26 (2-4 pm), works in oil, watercolor, acrylic, pastel, graphics, mixed media, prints & sculpture by SCAN members.

Theatre __________________________

May 1: Normal Theater at The Palace Theater, 165 Main St, Danbury, doors 7 pm, performance at 8, $10, ensemble piece by local theater group, part of Housatonic Valley Cultural Alliance’s Spring Arts Celebration & Fundrasier; 300-2607.

May 3: The Funny Stages at Playhouse on the Green, 177 State St, Bridgeport, 7 pm, $10 (cash only, pay at door), improv comedy by members of New Haven Theater Company; 866-811-4111.

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

Harvey, May 1-16, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (May 10 only) 2 pm, tickets $20.

Long Wharf Theatre, 222 Sargent Dr, New Haven. Call

203-787-4282.

The Old Man and the Sea, through April 26, curtain Tues-Sat 8 pm, Sun, Tues-Wed 7 pm, mat Sat 3 pm, Sun, Wed 2 pm, tickets $32-$62.

Town Players of Newtown, at The Little Theatre, Orchard Hill Rd, Newtown. Call 270-9144.

Caught in the Net, May 1-17, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (May 10 & 17) 1 pm, tickets $18 eves, $15 mats; May 1, benefit performance, call for ticket details & reservations; May 8, benefit performance for Newtown Congregational Church, tickets $20, wine & cheese at 7:30, silent auction during intermission.

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.