39 Strickland Road, Cos Cob, CT 06807. Phone: 203-869-6899.

Opening September 14, 2011 and running through August 26, 2012 the Greenwich Historical Society will feature an exhibit--Everyday Heroes--Greenwich First Responders.  An exhibition that chronicles the story of Greenwich's fire, police and emergency medical service workers and explores the values underlying civic service, collaboration and acts of heroism by ordinary men and women who face the prospect of being called upon to risk their lives each day.  Exhibition hours: Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 4PM.  Adults: $10, Seniors and Students: $8, Members and Children under six: Free.  Check the website for further event related porgrams.

370 Beach Road, Fairfield, CT Phone: (203) 259-1598 .

Bravo! A Century of Theatre in Fairfield County showcases the legacy of performing arts in our community as well as the many famous actors, directors and designers who have made this region a powerhouse  of American theatre.This very visual exhibition that will include a  wide selection of costumes as well as props; and actress Katharine Hepburn's throne from the American Shakespeare Festival Theatre's 1960 performance of Cleopatra.  And that's just a taste of what Bravo! offers.  The famous White Barn Theatre which was set on Lucille Lortel's estate in Westport is another highlight.

4450 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604. Phone: 203-372-3521.

"Contraptions A to Z" is a unique hands-on exhibit that combines art, history, science, music, literature, and language. It reveals the fascinating mechanisms that are often hidden in black boxes with a playful, humorous approach. 26 interactive mechanical devices combine to create Contraptions A to Z. Each literally embodies a different letter of the alphabet. Individual interactive exhibits include Antique Apple Peelers, the Berserko Ball Bouncer, Cuckoo Cuckoo Clock, the Drum Machine (the exhibit's centerpiece), the Emu's Egg Engulf the Egg Scale, the Frog Flinging Frypan Flips Flapjacks Faultlessly, Gear Gizmos, and the rest of the alphabet, from Nervous Nelly to Quackers Quizzing Don Quixote on his Quest, all the way to the Zebras Zooming Zanily in a Zooetrope! Quality Time! Quality Fun! EXPANDED WINTER HOURS The Discovery Museum and Planetarium will now open 10 a.m. on Sundays rather than Noon.  Until further notice, the new schedule is 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday; closed Mondays except for select holidays and school vacations.

1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan, CT 06840. Phone: 203-966-9700.

January 8th through March 4th, 2012 Jak Kovatch has been working on a series of mixed media paintings, combining ink etching with oil painting technique, on printmaking or water color papers. His new exhibit will explore this on-going series in multimedia works which includes paintings, sculptures and works on paper created by the artist.

1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan, CT 06840. Phone: 203-966-9700.

January 8th through March 4th, 2012 An exhibit by the multidisciplinary Silvermine Guild Artist focusing on images of her six children and husband as her subject. The selection of work ranges from printmaking and pastel to painting. Through the use of a variety of mixed media, the artist presents portrait and landscapes that relate to family, place, memory and relationships.

1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan, CT 06840. Phone: 203-966-9700.

January 8th through March 4th, 2012. Silvermine Arts Center turns 90 this year and the celebration begins with a special exhibit featuring the work of the arts center's founder, sculptor Solo Borglum.

1037 Silvermine Road, New Canaan, CT Phone: 203-966-9700.

Jan.8, 2012  2 pm to 4 pm - Opening Reception – New Exhibits. Director's Choice: Jak Kovatch - Jak Kovatch has been working on a series of mixed media paintings, combining ink etching with oil painting technique, on printmaking or water color papers. His new exhibit will explore this on-going series in multimedia works which includes paintings, sculptures and works on paper created by the artist.  Grace Shanley: "Circle of Life – Then and Now" An exhibit by the multidisciplinary Silvermine Guild Artist focusing on images of her six children and husband as her subject.  The selection of work ranges from printmaking and pastel to painting. Through the use of a variety of mixed media, the artist presents portrait and landscapes that relate to family, place, memory and relationships.   New Members Show An exhibit showcasing 12 new Guild Members inducted in the spring and fall of 2011.

303 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850. Phone: 203-899-0606.

Stepping Stones Museum for Children Exhibit:  Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action will run through April 29, 2012.The traveling exhibit features four interactive adventure scenes and an "action star training center" where children can explore kung fu, surfing, snowboarding and other high-appeal physical activities—all designed to build strength, balance, coordination and endurance. Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action™ was created by the Minnesota Children's Museum. General Mills is the national sponsor of Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action. Traveling exhibits at Stepping Stones are presented locally by the Xerox Foundation. Admission to the museum: $15 Adults/Children. $10 Seniors. Children under 1 year free. Check the website for further information.

39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford, CT 06903. Phone: 203.322.1646.

What do the telephone, the Ferris Wheel, a 28,000-pound typewriter, and nylon stockings have in common? They were just a few of the thousands of products, curiosities, and inventions that made their debut at one of 17 World's Fairs that took place on America soil between 1853 and 1982. Visitors will enjoy more than 125 objects, photographs, and ephemera that detail progress, promotion, and public response.The Galleries are open, Monday - Saturday 9 am - 5 pm; Sundays 11am - 5 pm. Members: FREE Non-Members: FREE with gate admission. For more information call 203.322.1646, e-mail info@stamfordmuseum.org, or visit www.stamfordmuseum.org * * * * * Stamford Museum & Nature Center is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of art, the natural and agricultural sciences, and history. The Museum is a vital cultural and educational resource for the community, and a focal point for family activity through exhibitions, educational programs and special events.

1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824. Phone: 203-254-4000.

Artist Sylvia Wald will be featured in an exhibit at the Thomas J. Walsh Art Gallery at Fairfield University's Quick Center from January 19 to March 18, 2012.  Sylvia Wald's 70 year career covers a vast range of media, techniques and imagery.  While her earliest significant works can be related to the Depression-era style of social realist painting, Wald became known for her innovative printmaking in the 1040s and 1950s.  Later, Wald turned to sculpture, constructing imaginative assemblages from unlikely materials-industrial wire and metal mesh to bamboo and driftwood.  Gallery Hours:  Tues-Saturday 11AM to 5PM and Sunday 12 to 4PM. Closed Monday.  Free admission.