Antiques Shows _________________________

Feb 7: 17th Annual Antiques & Collectibles Antiques Show, Naugatuck High School, 543 Rubber Ave, Naugatuck, 9 am-4 pm, $4, $2 children, 60+ dealers; 203-723-2588.

Feb 7: 44th Annual Tolland Historical Society Antiques Show, Tolland Middle School, Old Cathole Rd, Tolland, 10 am-4 pm (early buying 8:30 am, $15), adm $8, 65 exhibitor booths, lunch menu available, proceeds benefit historical society; 860-974-1875.

Art Exhibits, Museums Historic Places ___________________________

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

*(new show) Jan 31-March 14: “Chad Kleitsch: White Box — Photographs of the Unseen Museum,” photos taken during exhibition changes, views rarely seen by the public, incl The Aldrich, The Menil Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art, et al; Jan 31, exhibition reception, 3:30-5:30 pm.

*(new show) Jan 31-June 6: “Paying a Visit to Mary: 2008 Hall Curatorial Fellowship Exhibition,” work by both emerging & more established artists in a broad range of media incl performance, film, painting, sculpture & installation, all exploring a significant subject in current artistic practice: personal narrative & contemporary storytelling, curated by Maxine Kopsa (second recipient of the Hall Curatorial Fellowship); Jan 31, exhibition reception, 3:30-5:30 pm.

*(new show) Jan 31-June 6: “Jo Yarrington: Ocular Visions,” transformation of museum’s Leir Atrium to replicate a human eye through installation of floor-to-ceiling, full-color transparencies of photographs taken of the inside of the artist’s her eye; Jan 31, exhibition reception, 3:30-5:30 pm.

*(new show) Jan 31-June 13: “Tom Molloy,” recent sculptures, drawings & photographs created by the artist, who manipulates found materials & images “to explore the multivalency of symbols”; Jan 31,  “Creative Conversation: art and politics,” 2:30 pm, curator Joseph Wolin & artist Molloy will dialogue about Molloy’s work, which presents European perspective on America’s place in global politics & the economy.

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

In Olga Knoepke Meeting Room (lower meeting room) — Through Feb 27: images by members of Candlewood Camera Club; Jan 30, opening reception, 2-4 pm.

Ridgefield Guild of Artists, 34 Halpin Lane, Ridgefield; 203-438-8863

Through Feb 20: “Fresh Pics,” work by approx 50 contemporary artists from CT & surrounding states (incl DeAnn Prosia of Newtown) in painting, works on paper, photography & sculpture; Feb 6, “Resources & Opportunities for Artists,” 2 pm, panel discussion w/ reps from area art organizations & tour of exhibition (snow date Feb 7).

Auditions, Juried Events  _________________

WCSU Renaissance Festival, Western CT State Univ Westside Classroom Building Room 218, 43 Lake Ave Extension, Danbury. Call 203-888-6204.

Feb 6-7: Open auditions for spring festival to be held at Ives Concert Park, Sat 1-7 pm, Sun 12-6 pm, positions incl nobility, paupers, village characters, singers, squires, gate attendants, game & booth attendants, professional acts welcome, also need behind-the-scenes crew incl concessions, grounds crew, parking & general help. Call above phone # or visit thescrf.com for details.

Concerts, Musical Events________________

Jan 30: Monthly ballroom dance, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4070 Park Ave, Bridgeport, 7 pm-midnight, adm $17, singles & couples welcome, free dance lesson at 8, music provided by DJ Piers Stonehart, performance by Dimitrios & Maria Damalas (national professional Latin Ballroom Dancers, Greece) at 9, complimentary snacks; 203-374-7308.

Jan 31: 29th Greater Bridgeport Symphony Carlson-Horn Competition for Young Instrumentalists Finals, Arnold Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center at the University of Bridgeport, 84 Iranistan Ave, Bridgeport, free, public welcome; 203-576-0263.

Feb 4: First Thursday Jazz Series – Vocalist Dianne Mower, The Mattatuck Museum, 144 West Main St, Waterbury, 5:30-7:30 pm, $15, performance of live jazz by professional musician who has collaborated w/ Dave Brubeck, et al; 203-753-0381.

Feb 6: NUMC Coffee House, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 7:45-10:30 pm, adm $4 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see listing under Miscellaneous), $5 otherwise, live bluegrass & folk music, light refreshments; 203-426-9998.

Feb 6: Flagpole Radio Café, Edmond Town Hall theater, 45 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown, 7 pm, $15, headliner is jazz musician Phil Bowler, also performances by Jim Allyn, Rick Brodsky, Dick Neal, Chris Teskey, Barbara Gaines, Jennifer Rogers, David Wheeler & Martin Blanco.

Feb 7: “The Art of Flamenco Guitar: A Recital & Reception with Val Ramos,” The Mattatuck Museum & Arts History Center, 144 West Main St, Waterbury, 5:30-7:30 pm, $7 ($5 museum members), performance by CT resident & master flamenco guitarist will serve as complement to exhibit “Luis Mora (1874-1940) and The Expression of Beauty” & related reception; 203-753-0381 x10.

Newtown Friends of Music, at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown; 203-426-6470.

Concerts at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 3 pm, tickets $20, free ages 5-14 w/ ticket-holding adult, reception follows performances: Feb 14, Paris Piano Trio, works of Mozart, Ravel & Schubert.

Portuguese Cultural Center, 65 Sand Pit Rd, Danbury; 203-268-8570.

Weekly Ballroom Dancing, Wed 7-11 pm, adm $15 (incl buffet), music provided by DJ, free dance lesson (7:15-7:45 pm), cash bar, door prizes, singles, couples & beginners all welcome.

Ridgefield Playhouse for Movies & Performing Arts, 80 East Ridge Ave, Ridgefield; 203-438-5795.

Performances 8 pm unless noted: Jan 30, Beatlemania, $45; Feb 4, David Sanborn, $60.

 

For Kids & Families ______________________

C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-4533 (children’s dept 203-426-3851).

Children’s programs, free unless specified: Feb 4, Valentine Craft, 4 pm, $3 due at registration (done in person, no phone registrations), ages 6 & up invited to make Valentine Mouse Pin;

Young Adult programs, free unless specified: Feb 2, Creative Chocolates for Valentine’s Day, 3-5 pm, $6 supply fee due at program, students in grades 6 & up invited to make chocolate lollipops, peppermint bark, dipped pretzels, etc.

New Pond Farm, 101 Marchant Road, West Redding; 203-938-2117.

For Ages 4-5 & Adult (programs 1:15-2 pm, $8/child): Feb 2, Hibernation, honor Groundhog Day by learning the idea behind this winter holiday & how local animals survive the cold winter months; Feb 8, Woven Heart Baskets, join artist in residence Kris Holm to make woven heart baskets from recycled paper.

For Ages 6-12 (programs 4-5 pm, $10): Feb 8, Woven Heart Baskets, join artist in residence Kris Holm to make woven heart baskets from recycled paper.

Family Programs: Feb 6, Wildlife Tracking, 9 am-noon, join Primitive Skills Instructor Andy Dobos to learn about the wildlife through their tracks & signs they leave behind incl rabbits, squirrels & even owls, suitable for agese 8 & up w/ adult.

Miscellaneous ____________________________

Jan 31: Screening of HEART, The Congo Chronicles, The Watermark at East Hill, 611 East Hill Rd, Southbury, 2 pm, donations to benefit One Small Step (501c3), pre-screening performance of music from the film, post-screening talk-back w/ producer-director Jeffrey Luken Hartlage & director-composer Kenneth Lundquist Jr; 888-570-6659.

Jan 31: “Simple Yogic Breathing for Calming Mind & Heart,” Woodbury Yoga Center, 122 West Side, Rd, Woodbury, 7 pm, free program by certified yoga instructor Vin D’Alessio will be followed by group meditation (free instruction available) & tea reception; 203-263-2254.

Feb 6: NUMC Monthly Pasta Dinner, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Rd, Sandy Hook, 5-7:30 pm, $9 adults, $8 seniors, $3.50 children, optional coffee house w/ live music follows (see listing under Concerts); 203-426-9998.

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

Feb 2, Nonfiction Book Discussion, 1 pm, Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama, newcomers welcome; Feb 8, Daytime Book Discussion, 1 pm, The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows, newcomers welcome.

Danbury Library, 170 Main St, Danbury; 203-797-4505.

Jan 30, Talking Taxes: Job Loss Benefits & Tax Planning, 10:30 am, free one-hour program.

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

(FILM) Feb 1-4: Fantastic Mr Fox (PG), daily 7 pm, mat Tues 1 pm.

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

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

Hikes leave from lower lot @Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown, 10 am (winter start time), free, all welcome (children must be accompanied), bring bag lunch/beverage, wear sturdy shoes, destinations & leaders (in parentheses) as follows: Jan 30, Twin Brooks Park, Trumbull (leader Irene Juthnas, 203-268-2254); Feb 6, Oxford Bridal Trail, Oxford (leader Candace Yuen, 203-262-8328).

Newtown VNA Thrift Shop, Edmond Town Hall (lower level, use rear parking lot), 45 Main Street, Newtown; 203-270-4377.

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; 800-368-8954 (reservations line open Tues-Fri 9 am-3 pm).

Seasonal: Observation area open to March 7 only, Wed, Sat-Sun 9 am-1 pm, free adm but reservations required.

Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, Inc. (SCAN), Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main St/Rte 25, Newtown; 203-426-6654 or 203-798-0560.

Through Jan 31, Color in January Annual Show & Sale, at Lexington Gardens, 32 Church Hill Road, daily 10 am-4 pm, non-juried show of works by SCAN members, opening reception Jan 23 (2-4 pm), artist demos each Sat-Sun 12:30 (Jan 30, pastel landscape by Alain Picard; Jan 31, acrylic portrait by Beverly Branch).

Wednesday Night Poetry Series, at The Blue Z Coffee House, 127 South Main St, Newtown. Call 203-426-6242, 203-364-0631.

Open mic 7:30, featured poet follows: Feb 3, Colin Haskins; Feb 10, Annual Exotic, Neurotic, Erotic Open Mic Night.

Theatre ______  ____________________________

Jan 29-Feb 6: A Night of One-Acts… an introduction to modern playwright David Ives, Ridgefield Theater Barn, 37 Halpin La, Ridgefield, doors open at 7, performances Fri-Sat 8 pm, $20, cabaret seating, BYO food & drink, for mature audiences; 203-431-9850.

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

“A Night of One-Acts… an introduction to modern playwright David Ives,” Jan 30-Feb 6, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, tickets $20 (performances of Sure Thing, The Philadelphia, A Singular Kind of Guy, English Made Simple & Time Flies).

Sabrina’s Encore Productions, performances at Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main St, Newtown. Call 203-304-1235 x0.

The Jungle Book, Jan 30, curtain 2 pm, tickets $8-$10.

Annie Junior, Jan 31, curtain 2 pm, tickets $10-$15.

13, Jan 28-29, curtain Thurs 7:30 pm, Fri 8 pm, tickets $15-21.

Smokey Joe’s Café, Jan 30-31, curtain Sat 8 pm, Sun 7:30 pm, tickets $15-$23.50.

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

Song Man, Dance Man, Jan 29-31, curtain Fri-Sat 8 pm, mat Sun 2 pm, call for ticket details & reservations.

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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 203-426-3141 for specs if you plan to email digital photo files.