Calendar of events

Thursday, 18 June 2009 07:08

Through November 20

Drawing III: Flowers, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., New Canaan Nature Center. With the goal of developing participants’ artistic vision, this class teaches artists to create accurate representations using rhythm, balance and tonal contrasts. Call 1-800-322-NYBG or 718-817-8747 to register.

Through November 21

“The Wizard of Oz,” 7 p.m., November 19-21, New Canaan High School Auditorium. Dorothy drops into town in the underclassmen rendition of the classic musical. For details, call Caroline Turpin at 203-966-4889.

Through December 13

“Dem Bones, Dem Bones,” noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Carriage Barn Arts Center, Waveny Park. Sponsored by the New Canaan Society for the Arts, this art exhibition presents the theme of mortality from the sobering to the celebratory. For more information, call the gallery at 203-972-1895 or visit carriagebarn.org.

Through December 31

Birds & Nests exhibit, Audubon of Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich. New Canaan native Patricia Warfield exhibits 35 paintings, including in-flight depictions of starlings, sparrows, monk parakeets, morning doves, cardinals, robins, catbirds and woodpeckers. Members free; non-members, adults, $3 and children/seniors, $1.50. For more information, call 203-869-5272 or visit greenwich.audubon.org.

Through February 27, 2010

Gruelle family art, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. The New Canaan Historical Society. The society displays works from the Gruelle family of artists, including paintings and Works Project Administration murals by Justin Gruelle, based on Aesop’s fables and works and dolls by Johnny Gruelle, creator of Raggedy Ann and Andy. For more information, call 203-966-1776.

Thursday, November 19

Holiday Market, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Waveny House. Young Women’s League hosts 12th annual fund-raiser with 40 vendors selling goods for the holidays. For more information, visit ywlnewcanaan.org.

Thursday Evening Stroll, downtown. Amateur and professional singing groups fill the streets with music as stores remain open later than usual. Organized by the Chamber of Commerce.

The Actors Series: Marianne Sagebrecht, 7:30 p.m., New Canaan Library Plaut Room. This monthly meeting focuses on Sagebrecht’s “Baghdad Café.” Refreshments will be served. Free. For more information or to register, call 203-594-5003 or visit newcanaanlibrary.org.

Friday, November 20

New Canaan Sewing Group holiday sale, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Morrill Hall, St. Mark’s Church. The sale will offer one-of-a-kind, handcrafted gifts including needlepoint, embroidered linen, 18-inch doll clothes, knits for infants and toddlers, as well as holiday decorative items and gourmet foods. All proceeds go to local charities. Admission and parking are free. For more information, visit norwalkyouthsymphony.org.

Poe!, St. Luke’s Performing Arts Center stage, 377 North Wilton Road. St. Luke’s eighth grade students perform a selection of short stories, poems and retell works by classic American writer Edgar Allen Poe, from the narrator’s point of view. For more information, visit stlukesct.org/podium or call 203-966-5612.

Saturday, November 21

Author signing, noon to 2:30 p.m. Elm Street Books. Celebrated husband-and-wife team Wendell and Florence Minor read aloud and sign some of their children’s books. For more information, visit minorart.com.

Gypsy Rhapsody, 7 p.m. Stamford Marriott Hotel and Spa. A concert to benefit the Stamford Symphony. Proceeds support the symphony’s concerts and its education programs in public schools. New Canaan’s Penny Young co-chairs the event, and patrons include Andrew and Carole Clarkson and Tom Herbig, all of New Canaan. Call 203-325-1407, ext. 10, for tickets.

The Way-Back Machine, 9:30 p.m. Gates Restaurant & Bar, 10 Forest Street. Four musicians from Fairfield County play music of the 1960s and ’70s. More information may be found at sonicbids.com/waybackmachine.com

Poe!, St. Luke’s Performing Arts Center stage, 377 North Wilton Road. St. Luke’s eighth grade students perform a selection of short stories, poems and retell works by classic American writer Edgar Allen Poe, from the narrator’s point of view. For more information, visit stlukesct.org/podium or call 203-966-5612.

Sunday, November 22

Opening concert, 3 p.m. Norwalk Concert Hall located at 125 East Avenue, Norwalk. Five New Canaan residents join the Norwalk Youth Symphony in the opening concert of its 54th season. For more information, call 203-866-4100 or visit norwalkyouthsymphony.org.

Print Americas, 2 to 4 p.m. Silvermine Galleries. The 26th Print Triennial, a juried competition/exhibition, features contemporary prints by established and emerging artists. Print Americas has expanded its scope to include entries from Canada, Latin America and throughout the United States. This year’s juror is Jacob Lewis, director of Pace Prints in the Chelsea section of New York City. For more information, call 203-966-9700, ext. 20, or visit silvermineart.org.

“European Get-A-Way!,” 4 p.m. 274 Middlesex Road, Darien. New Canaan residents Carole Clarkson and Kathy Edwards perform with the Darien Community Association Duo-Pianists in a concert “European Get-A-Way!” Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling 203-655-9050.

“The Sellout,” 5 p.m. New Canaan Library. Critically acclaimed investigative reporter Charles Gasparino talks about his book “The Sellout, How Three Decades of Wall Street Greed and Government Mismanagement Destroyed the Global Financial System.” The talk will be moderated by New Canaan resident Michael Holland, chairman of the private investment firm Holland & Company and a regular on financial television programs. For more information, call 203-594-5003 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Monday, November 23

“Authors on Stage” series, 7:30 p.m. Adrian Lamb Room, New Canaan Library. Julian Padowicz, author of “A Ship in the Harbor,” discusses his new book as part of the series. His latest book continues from where his 2006 memoir, “Mother and Me: Escape from Warsaw 1939,” left off. Registration is recommended by calling 203-594-5040, e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by clicking on the program registration link on newcanaanlibrary.org.

Saturday, November 28

Thanksgiving nature walk, 10:30 a.m. to noon. New Canaan Nature Center. Families and friends are invited to partake in the center’s walk through the 40-acre property and “Pick ‘em up Pigskin,” family flag football. The walk concludes with hot cider at the “Sugar House.” For members, free and non-members $5 per family. Visit NewCanaanNature.org or call 203-966-9577 for more information.

December 2 to January 13, 2010

Drawing II: Plants, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., New Canaan Nature Center. Apply the skills learned in Drawing I to the subject of plants, learning to delineate stems, leaves, branches and root systems. Call 1-800-322-NYBG or 718-817-8747 to register.

December 2-9

After-school workshops, 4 to 5:30 p.m., New Canaan Historical Society. The society hosts after-school workshops for six- to 11-year-olds, where children will learn history, make a colonial-inspired craft and play games. For reservations and more information, call 203-966-1776.

Wednesday, December 2

After-school workshop, 4 to 5:30 p.m. New Canaan Historical Society. Children learn how to make their own tin-punched project. Call 203-966-1776 for reservations or visit nchistory.org.

Ablechild gala, 7 p.m. Venture Portrait Studio, 48 West Putnam Avenue, Greenwich. Ablechild, a nonprofit national parents’ rights organization, is hosting a fund-raising gala to protect full informed consent and educate the public on the United States Department of Health and Human Services MedWatch program.

Friday, December 4

Holiday Stroll, 5:30 to 8 p.m., downtown. The fifth annual event features Santa, shopping, music and strolling characters.

Homes for the Holidays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. house tour, 6 to 9 p.m. lights tour. Presented by the New Canaan Newcomers Club, this tour features five homes festively decorated by professional designers. When the sun goes down, take in the glittering lights on the trolley-guided holiday lights tour. Tickets are available at ncholidayhousetour.com. For more information, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Holiday Spectacular, 7:30 p.m. Darien High School Auditorium. The family show is presented by The Walter Schalk School of Dance and People’s United Bank, featuring a New Canaan cast. All proceeds go to The Walter Schalk Scholarship Fund for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for students, and are available at the door or at People’s United Bank (203-966-3630); The Dance Corner Plus (203-966-2972), and The Walter Schalk School of Dance (203-762-7508).

Saturday, December 5

Holiday Spectacular, noon and 4 p.m. Darien High School Auditorium. The family show is presented by The Walter Schalk School of Dance and People’s United Bank, featuring a New Canaan cast. All proceeds go to The Walter Schalk Scholarship Fund for the Performing Arts. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for students, and are available at the door or at People’s United Bank (203-966-3630); The Dance Corner Plus (203-966-2972), and The Walter Schalk School of Dance (203-762-7508).

Candlelight Christmas, 4 p.m., Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Chappaqua, N.Y. Charis Chamber Voices, of which former New Canaan High School Vocal Music Director Arthur Sjogren is artistic director, performs works by Mendelssohn, Holst, Saint-Saens and Handel, as well as Christmas motets by Pierre Villette, carols from Scandinavia and two seasonal favorites to which the audience may sing along. For audition appointments and tickets, call 914-931-6575 or visit CharisVocals.com.

Silvermine holiday fund-raiser, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gifts created by students and faculty of the School of Art are featured, including ceramics, prints, photography, sculptures, and wearable art such as jewelry, scarves and handbags. The fund-raising event also features original artwork created by the Silvermine faculty members. For more information, call 203-966-6688, ext. 2, or visit silvermineart.org.

Sunday, December 6

Candlelight Christmas, 4 p.m., Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Chappaqua, N.Y. Charis Chamber Voices, of which former New Canaan High School Vocal Music Director Arthur Sjogren is artistic director, performs works by Mendelssohn, Holst, Saint-Saens and Handel, as well as Christmas motets by Pierre Villette, carols from Scandinavia and two seasonal favorites to which the audience may sing along. For audition appointments and tickets, call 914-931-6575 or visit CharisVocals.com.

Silvermine holiday fund-raiser, 1 to 5 p.m. Gifts created by students and faculty of the School of Art are featured, including ceramics, prints, photography, sculptures, and wearable art such as jewelry, scarves and handbags. The fund-raising event also features original artwork created by the Silvermine faculty members. For more information, call 203-966-6688, ext. 2, or visit silvermineart.org.

Wednesday, December 9

After-school workshop, 4 to 5:30 p.m. New Canaan Historical Society. The workshop will focus on holiday decorations as children will bake and make crafts to bring home and enjoy with their families. Call 203-966-1776 for reservations or visit nchistory.org.

Sunday, December 13

‘Winter Yule,’ 4 p.m. St. Paul’s on the Green, 60 East Avenue in Norwalk. Three singers from New Canaan perform with the Southern Connecticut Camerata, formerly The Westport Madrigal Singers, in its 54th winter concert. For more information, visit southernconnecticutcamerata.org or call 203-938-8756.

Saturday, January 30

Winter Blast 2, 7 to 10:30 p.m. Waveny mansion. The Outback Teen Center hosts a fund-raising gala, with cocktails, dinner, live music and silent/live auctions. Proceeds support the center’s activities. Tickets are $125 per person. For more information, visit ncoutbacktc.com or call 203-594-3074.

Thursday, January 21

The Actors Series: Cate Blanchett, 7:30 p.m., New Canaan Library Plaut Room. This monthly meeting focuses on Blanchett’s “Coffee and Cigarettes.” Refreshments will be served. Free. For more information or to register, call 203-594-5003 or visit newcanaanlibrary.org.

Sunday, February 21

Lecture series, 4:30 p.m., Silvermine Guild Arts Center. David Dunlop, Silvermine Guild artist and School of Art faculty member, continues his four-part lecture series with a discussion of how artists and scientists influence each other. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, call 203-966-6668, ext. 2, or visit silvermineart.org.

March 11-13

‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood,’ New Canaan High School Auditorium. It is up to the audience to decide what happened to Edwin Drood on a stormy Christmas Eve, in this musical based on Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel.

Sunday, March 21

Lecture series, 4:30 p.m., Silvermine Guild Arts Center. David Dunlop, Silvermine Guild artist and School of Art faculty member, concludes his four-part lecture series with a discussion of how past artists conveyed the sensation of time and how future artists will present it in light of new discoveries in neuroscience and philosophy. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, call 203-966-6668, ext. 2, or visit silvermineart.org.

Sunday, April 18

Waveny Chamber concert, Waveny Carriage Barn. The Borealis String Quartet performs. For more information, call 966-5976.

April 29 to May 1

21st annual drama festival, New Canaan High School Auditorium. This annual festival features original monologues and short plays written, directed and performed by NCHS students.

Sunday, May 23

Waveny Chamber concert, Waveny Carriage Barn. The St. Petersburg Quartet performs. For more information, call 203-966-5976.