Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places ____________________________

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

*(new show) May 20-Oct 21: “Found Outside,” projects by artists Joy Curtis, Ethan Greenbaum, Jason Clay Lewis, Saul Melman, Jessica Segall & Jean-Marc Superville Sovak, who have been working w/ salvaged materials & reclaimed objects, in museum’s two-acre sculpture garden, complement for collection of “Found” exhibits on view inside museum until June 10; May 20, opening reception & garden party, 2-5 pm, picnics encouraged, also guided walking tours of garden at 3 & 4.

Through June 10: “Found at The Aldrich,” 6 exhibitions by artists working with appropriated ideas & salvaged materials incl collections by Barrao, Jim Dingilian, Roy McMakin, Regina Silveira, Kathryn Spence & Xu Bing.

Avancé Esthétiques Day Spa, Sand Hill Plaza, 228 Main St South/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-270-8911.

Through May 31: “Art About Town: Avancé Esthétiques 2012,” works by members of The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN).

The Barn Gallery, 82 Rte 37 (Creative Corners), New Fairfield; 203-746-4502.

Through May 30: “Earth’s Treasures,” multi-media art by Paula Renee.

The Behnke Doherty Gallery, 6 Green Hill, Washington Depot; 860-868-1655.

*(new show) May 18-June 24: “Just Beneath The Surface,” “Grid Series” paintings by Michael Quad-land (works that appear deceptively simple by are complex, influenced by Abstract Expressionist Color Field painters of 1940s-50s), “Burst Series” sculpture by Brian Walters (recent works, continuing exploration of reclaimed material) & Shona Sculpture of Zimbabwe; May 19, opening reception, 4-7 pm.

Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533.

On main floor: *(new show) knitted cats & dogs by Newtown seamstress Luecella, & the books that have inspired them.

In Children’s Department (walls): Through May 31: works by students of The Children’s Adventure Center, Sandy Hook.

In Children’s Department (display cases): Through May 31: tigers of all shapes & sizes from the personal collection of Middle Gate student Hannah Ruhs.

Brookfield Museum & Historical Society, 165 Whisconier Rd (Rtes 133 & 25), Brookfield Center; 203-740-8140.

Through June 2: “Honoring Brookfield’s Fallen Military Heroes,” exhibit honoring 43 Brookfield residents who gave their lives during US military campaigns, from American Revolution though Enduring Freedom; May 27, exhibit will be open during & after Brookfield Memorial Day Parade.

Stone River Grille, 1 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook; 203-270-1200.

*show dates extended, new art added: Through May 30: “Art About Town,” works by Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) members Lee Brownell, Pam Danneman, Suzanne Molineaux, Adele Moros, Margaret Moss, Robert Rabinowitz Glen River Barbara Saltman, Marianne Scanlon, & Roberta Shea, Amy Skillen & Virginia Zic in The Hawley Warner Room (non-diners welcome to visit show any time restaurant is open).

Auditions, Juried Events     _________________

CT Family Day Youth Poster Design Contest, c/o Jacqueline Ford, CT DCF, 300 Church Street – 4th floor, Wallingford CT 06492; 860-550-6637, www.CTFamilyDay.org, www.newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.

May 25: Entries must be postmarked by this date for CT Family Day 2012 Posters Contest, competition open to CT students in grades K-12, showing what “family” means to them, use 8½ x 11-inch sheet of white paper, works must be original, include handprint(s) as overall theme of poster, try to keep ideas or activities simple, winners will be determined in elementary, middle & high school levels, winner’s works will be used for CT Family Day 2012 publicity, 2nd & 3rd place winners will receive family dinner gift certificates, visit either website above for full details & entry form (must be incl & signed by parent/guardian or teacher of entrant).

Newtown Youth & Family Services, 15 Berkshire Rd, Sandy Hook CT 06482; 203-270-4335, CFoster@NewtownYouthAndFamilyServices.org, www. newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.

May 23: Deadline for nominees for 2012 Outstanding Youth Awards, to be presented June 25 during NYFS annual meeting, 2-paragraph description of youth who has shown exemplary leadership skills, is good role model for their peers, is community oriented & demonstrates good character should be mailed or emailed to Candice Foster at above mailing or email address.

NUMC Fall Arts & Crafts Fair, at Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades La, Newtown; 203-426-2336.

Oct 20: Applications being accepted for vendors interested in participating in 7th annual juried event, to run 10 am-4 pm in school’s cafetorium, approx 35 spaces available, booths approx 9 x 12 ft, fees run from $90-$140, work must be handmade, applications available at http://numc.us/the-fair-2012, additional info available from Debbie Stakel at above phone #or thefair@numc.us.

Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield; 203-431-9850, www.RidgefieldTheaterBarn.org.

May 20-21: Open auditions for The Fair Sex, 7 pm, next work in theater’s Original Play Readings se-ries has openings for 5 women & 5 men, ages 30s-50s, actors will read sides from script, be prepared to stay if called to read multiple times and/or multiple roles, work by Patti Azzara (who will also direct) will be presented July 31, call or visit website for info incl full cast breakdown.

Concerts, Musical Events________________

May 19: Elisabeth von Trapp & Blue Train at Flagpole Radio Café, Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 7 pm, $25, $20 students & seniors, performance by granddaughter of Maria & Baron von Trapp, w/ musical partners Paul Asbell & Peter Riley, also Flagpole Radio Café Orchestra, Flagpole Shakespeare Repertory Theatre; 203-364-0898.

May 19: “I Hear America Singing” by Connecticut Master Chorale, St Rose of Lima Church, 40 Church Hill Road, Newtown, 8 pm, $20/adv, $25/door, performance by 55-voice professional caliber group w/ accompaniment by The CMC Orchestra; 203-743-0473.

May 20: Live music at Heaven Ice Cream, 10 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook, 2-4 pm free, family appropriate performance by Bob Williams, bring seating; 203-903-7277.

May 20: Swing Dancing at Coyote Maverick , 48 Newtown Rd/Rte 6, Danbury, dancing 5-8 pm (free lesson 4 pm), $10, beginner friendly, dancers of all ages & abilities welcome, hard/smooth soled (not rubber) shoes recommended, DJ will provide music (w/ focus on Benny Goodman music), door prizes, cash bar, restaurant open for business, hosted by The FairWestSwing Project; 203-340-0397.

May 23: Cancer Benefit: Piano & Vocals by David Kendall & Marissa Famiglietti, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St, Newtown, 7 pm, donations accepted, fundraiser for The Bosom Buddies, local team participating in 2012 Susan G. Komen Race For The Cure.

For Kids & Families _______________________

May 18: Seussical, Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen St, Newtown, 7 pm, $10 ages 13 & up, $5 for ages 5-12, performance by Sabrina’s Encore Productions presented by St Rose School; 203-426-5102.

May 18-19: Disney’s Beauty and The Beast, Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades La, Newtown, $7 (tickets at door), Fri 7 pm, Sat 6 pm, staged performances of musical by intermediate school students.

May 19: Kids’ Craft Table, Ice Cream Heaven, 10 Glen Rd/Rte 6, Sandy Hook, 3-5 pm, ages 5-10 invited to create Father’s Day craft, weekly program until June 16; 203-903-7277.

May 20:  Free screening of Red Tails, Edmond Town Hall Theatre, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 4 pm, 2012 feature film (rated PG-13) offers story of Tuskegee Airmen pilots of WWII w/ theme of overcoming adversity, in honor of Nat’l Foster Care Awareness Month; 203-207-5100.

May 20: Story Time & Pony Rides, Bradley-Hubbell House, 535 Black Rock Rd/Rte 58, Easton, 1-3 pm, $5 donation requested, program w/ children’s author & poet Patricia Hubbell at building that inspired many of her books & poems, also pony rides (for addt’l sm fee), hosted by Easton Historical Society; 203-581-0850.

May 24: Tour of Housatonic Valley Waldorf School classes, 1 Jacklin Rd, Newtown, 8:45 am, complementary tour of grade school classes in session, space limited, reservations required; 203-364-1113.

May 25: Friday Bingo Night, St Rose Gathering Hall, 46 Church Hill Rd, Newtown, doors open 5:45 pm, games begin 6:30,$17 incl all regular & most special games, baked goods & dinner items available; 203-426-5102.

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St, Newtown; 203-426-4533.

Children’s programs, free unless specified: May 21, Theatre Games, 4:30 pm, children in grades 2-3 invited to join acting teacher & director Twyla Hafermann-Kessler for short games & activities to build confidence & improve observation & listening skills, registration requested.

 

Miscellaneous ____________________________

May 18: “Hospice Medicare Benefit & Eligibility” presentation, Newtown Senior Center, 14 Riverside Rd, Sandy Hook, lunch at noon, program at 1, free presentation by Linda Pinckney (nurse liaison, Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western CT) will cover care, pain & symptom management and emotional & spiritual support available under Medicare Hospice Benefit, also criteria for benefit eligibility, reservations requested; 203-702-7400.

May 18-19: Annual Tag Sale at Christ Church Quaker Farms ECW, 470 Quaker Farms Rd, Oxford, 9 am-2 pm; 203-888-4936.

May 18-20: Fourth Annual Celebration of Art, Naugatuck Historical Society, 195 Water St, Naugatuck, Fri 12-6 pm (Student Art Display, free), Sat 7-9 pm ($15, $10 members, works by CT artists, wine & cheese, live music, proceeds benefit historical society), Sun 1-4 pm (free), annual collection of works by artists across the state; 203-729-9039.

May 18-22: “South Pacific: A Small Standard Flower Show,” C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, Fri 12-5 pm, Sat 9:30 am-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm, Mon-Tues 9:30 am-8 pm, free, Small Standard Flower Show w/ design & horticulture divisions, presented by The Garden Club of Newtown; 203-426-4533.

May 19: Relay for Life Tag & Bake Sale, 7 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 8:30 am-2 pm, proceeds from this event, presented by Newtown Relay For Life team The Glo Glo Girls, will benefit American Cancer Society.

May 19: Newtown High School Gymnastics Team Car Wash, Berkshire Motors, 25 Berkshire Rd/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 9 am-2 pm, donations appreciated, members of team that was established as NHS varsity level competitors in 2011-12 will be washing vehicles in exchange for financial donations.

May 19: Trinity Tag Sale, Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 9 am-3 pm,  indoor event will raise funds for church’s J2A (youth group) 2012 Pilgrimage through sale of items donated by congregation & friends of the church; 203-426-9070, 203-733-2915.

May 19: Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps Open House, NVAC headquarters, 77 Main St, Newtown, 10 am-2 pm, meet members of Newtown’s Volunteer EMT Team, tour facility & ambulances,etc; 203-270-4380.

May 19: Comedy Night at Stone River Grille, 1 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook, doors open 7:30 pm, show at 8:30, $10, performances by Howie Mason & Tony Liberati; 203-270-1200.

May 19: Third Annual Pomperaug Valley Garden Club Plant Sale, 641 Main St South (Rte 6, just north of intersection w/ Rte 64), Woodbury, 9 am-1 pm, locally grown perennials, herbs, grasses, hostas, shrubs, native plants & rare & specialty plants, also gently used garden items, master gardeners available for questions, fundraiser for garden club; 203-263-3146.

May 19: Open House at Gurski Farmstead, Rte 133 (approx one-mile north of intersection with Rte 25, Brookfield, 10 am-4 pm, free, hands-on blacksmithing demos, working exhibit of antique farm machinery & tours of Brookfield’s second oldest burial ground (Merwin Brook Cemetery), hosted by Brookfield Museum & Historical Society; 203-740-8140.

May 19: Second Annual “What’s It Worth?” at Woodbury Senior/Community Center, 265 Main St South/Rte 6, Woodbury, 5-8 pm, $20 incl 1 verbal appraisal (addt’l items $5/appraisal, as time permits) by Bernie McManus (Bernie McManus Appraisals) & Mitchell Borenstein (Applebrook Auctions, Applebrook at Home), also hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer & soft drinks, silent auction, proceeds to benefit Nonnewaug High School Ella Grasso Scholarship Fund; 203-263-5372, 203-263-6755.

May 19-20: Spring Plant & Flower and Gently Used Book Sale, Sacred Heart Church School gym, 17 Cottage St, Danbury, Sat 9 am-6 pm, Sun 8 am-1 pm, perennials, annuals, bedding & vegetable plants, gently used books, also audio books; 203-748-9029.

May 20: Open House & Antique Cars Display, The Matthew Curtiss House, 44 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 12-4 pm, free, display of 1926 Model T & 1930 Model A, docent led tours; 203-426-5937.

May 20: GreenSpring Country Fair, Trumbull AgriScience & Biotechnology Center, 536 Daniels Farm Rd, Trumbull, 11 am-8 pm, $7 adults, $5 children, opening ceremony by 2nd Co Gov’s Horse Guard (2GHG), demos by farmers on cow milking, sheep sheering, ice cream making & more, also antique tractor & car exhibits, petting zoo, planting ceremony by American Indian tribe, hands-on activities, food, vendors &  more, presented by Trumbull Nature & Arts Center; 203-372-0800.

May 23: Veterans Picnic, Masonicare at Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Rd, Newtown, 12-1:45 pm, free, pre-Memorial Day picnic/BBQ for area veterans & their families, live patriotic music by Salvador Salgado, wreath laying ceremony 1:45 pm, reservations requested; 888-679-9997.

May 23: Screening of Ponyo, Newtown High School Lecture Hall, 12 Berkshire Rd/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 6 pm, free screening of anime movie that is a Japanese spin on The Little Mermaid hosted by New-town International Center for Education (NICE), refreshments available.

May 23: Newtown Relay For Life 2012 Informational Meeting, Newtown High School cafetorium, 12 Berkshire Rd/Rte 34, Sandy Hook, 7 pm, informational session for 12-hour non-competition event returning June 1-2 that will again raise funds for American Cancer Society, learn about volunteer opportunities, how to form teams and raise funds, etc, all welcome; www.RelayForLife.org/NewtownCT.

May 23: “How To Find Relatives In The 1940 Census,” C.H. Booth Library lower meeting room, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7 pm, free, program by professional researcher Toni McKeen hosted by Newtown Genealogy Club (of which Ms MsKeen is also a member); 203-426-3981.

May 24: “An Introduction to Japan,” Newtown High School , 12 Berkshire Rd, Sandy Hook, 3:30 pm, free, origami, pop culture & conversational introductions, hosted by Newtown International Center for Education (NICE).

May 26: 12th Annual Great Pootatuck Duck Race, 5 Glen Rd, Sandy Hook, 10 am-2:30 pm, dozens of local organizations & businesses will have booths set up, ongoing live entertainment, etc, ticket-holders have chance at 20 prizes incl $2,000 grand prize, $5 tickets; 203-426-1222.

May 26: Veterans Honor Garden Dedication, Newtown Youth Academy, 4 Primrose St, Newtown, 11 am-1 pm, formal dedication of garden that will honor all branches of US Armed Forces; 203-426-0088.

May 26: Glass Bead Demo, A Bead of Roses, 274 South Main St/Rte 25 (Plaza South), Newtown, 1 pm, free, 90-min program by Dawn Lombard (optional workshop to follow, $25, reservations); 203-304-9264.

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533.

May 18-22, “South Pacific: A Small Standard Flower Show,” show presented by The Garden Club of Newtown, w/ design & horticulture divisions,  judged by Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut; May 19, Meet The Authors: Elizabeth Hoban & Lt Col Henry Supchak, 2 pm, authors of recently released The Final Mission: A Boy, A Pilot and A World At War, also musical performance by Newtown resident Jim Allyn in honor of Lt Col Supchak.

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-2475.

FILM: May 20: free screening of Red Tails (PG-13), 4 pm, see listing under For Kids & Families for details.

May 20-23: Red Tails (PG-13), Sun-Wed 7 pm, mat Sun 1 & 4 pm (see note above about 4 pm show), Tues 1 pm.

Newtown Hikers; 203-788-1398 (Ester Nichols), 203-270-4340 (Parks & Rec).

Hikes leave from Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 9 am, free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes: May 19, High Rock Park, Beacon Falls (Tim Hanbury, 203-888-3025); May 26, Meeker Swamp, New Preston (Cassie Brown, 203-313-7161).

Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, Inc. (SCAN), Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-6654.

Programs 4th Wed/month, 1:30 pm, public welcome, artist demonstrations, refreshments: May 23, Joan Jardine, landscape oil w/ palette knife.

Theatre    _________________________________

Town Players of Newtown, at The Little Theatre, 18 Orchard Hill Rd, Newtown; 203-270-9144.

Through May 26: Dial M For Murder, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun (May 20) 2 pm, tickets $20 Fri-Sat, $15 mat, $10 ages 10 & under.

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EXPANDED CALENDAR ONLINE

Want to know about more regional events? Find an expanded edition of this calendar online at www.NewtownBee.com. Click on the Features tab and look for Enjoy Calendar: a regional calendar of events.

 

Shannon Hicks is the calendar editor for The Newtown Bee. To submit an item for the Enjoy Calendar, send her an email at shannon@thebee.com no later than Tuesday at 5 pm for each week’s calendar. For the Community Calendar (Newtown events, which can be found on page A-2 each week), emails must be received no later than 5 pm Wednesday. For additional information contact Miss Hicks at The Newtown Bee, 203-426-3141.