Calendar of events

Thursday, 18 June 2009 07:08

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.

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.

Tuesday, December 1

Green Book Club meeting, 7:30 p.m. The New Canaan Nature Center. “Desert Solitaire,” by Edward Abbey, will be discussed at the next Green Book Club meeting. Meetings take place monthly at the nature center and are open to all. The book club will focus on books related to nature and the environment. For more information, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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.

Thursday, December 3

Nurturing Nature open house, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. The New Canaan Nature Center. Children 18 months to three years old are invited to explore and discover the natural world. The Nurturing Nature open house allows children to meet the instructor and sample a class. Call 203-966-9577, ext. 10, to register for 2009-10 sessions.

Author Norb Vonnegut, 7:30 p.m. The New Canaan Library. Former stockbroker Norb Vonnegut presents his financial book thriller “Top Producer.” Event co-sponsor Elm Street Books will have copies of the book available for purchase and signing. For more information, call 204-594-5003 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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.

Saturday, December 12

Winter Wonderland, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The New Canaan Nature Center. Festive activities include holiday-themed stories, crafts and a model train display depicting downtown New Canaan. A winter trail walk and annual recycled toy sale will also be offered. Members, $5 per child; non-members, $8 per child. Visit NewCanaanNature.org, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 203-966-9577 for information.

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, December 19

Holiday Drop & Shop!, 1 to 4 p.m. The New Canaan Nature Center. Kids are invited to enjoy an afternoon at the Nature Center, exploring the outdoors with a team of environmental educators. Children will collect natural materials to create special holiday gifts, meet animals and enjoy a holiday snack. Appropriate for ages three to 10 years old, and kids must be potty trained. Members, $25 per child; non-members, $30. Visit NewCanaanNature.org, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 203-966-9577 for information.

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.