691 Morehouse Road, Easton, CT 06612. Phone: 203-261-0175.

The Easton Arts Council's Annual Art Show will take place January 10 to February 26, 2012 in the Community Room of the Easton Library.  Entry fee $15.  Drop off art January 7th from 10AM to  1PM.  Artists photographers, sculptors, and artisans welcome.  Check the website for further information.

10 N. Water Street, South Norwalk, CT Phone: (203) 852-0700.

The exhibit features six sibling meerkats – three males, three females – born in the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Their exhibit offers the meerkats lots of opportunities for climbing, digging and exploring, with several feeding locations to keep them always on the alert for incoming crickets. And a viewing bubble lets visitors pop up right among the meerkats. Africa from Desert to Sea let's visitors explore the aquatic wonders of Africa and discover how the continent's fish – though much different from those in Long Island Sound – face similar environmental challenges.

1 Museum Drive., Greenwich, CT 06830. Phone: (203) 869-0376.

The exhibition celebrates the long history of personal adornment through jewelry and explores its impact on our culture and environment. The exhibit showcases exquisite jewelry from both local and international private collections which are displayed together with some of the Bruce Museum's most spectacular mineral and gem specimens.

2 East Wall Street, Norwalk, CT Phone: (203) 846-0525.

Oysters & Clams - A Norwalk Tradition, introduce visitors to the importance of Norwalk's oldest, continuous business; the advances the oystermen and clammers of Norwalk have made to the industry; the boats, equipment, and the men and companies who work year round to care for their crops.  Opening September 8 from 5 – 8 PM the Norwalk Museum exhibit will run through February 2012.

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.

1 Museum Drive., Greenwich, CT 06803. Phone: (203) 869-0376.

This exhibition will feature approximately forty etchings by Martin Lewis (1881-1962) from the collection of Dr. Dorrance Kelly of Connecticut. These fine art prints depict scenes of New York City and the Connecticut countryside dating from around 1916 up to the early 1950s. The prints of Martin Lewis are not as well known as those of his contemporaries, such as Edward Hopper. Lewis was a master printmaker in the intaglio processes including etching, aquatint, engraving, mezzotint, and dry point. The Bruce Museum exhibition will provide a brief biographical account of Martin Lewis and showcase some of the very best of his prints.

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.

51 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT 06880. Phone: 203-222-7070.

As part of its upcoming exhibition, "Toy Stories," the Westport Arts Center is hosting a toy design competition for children ages 5 – 14. Entries are due by Friday, February 10. Details on how to apply are available at www.westportartscenter.org "Kids can submit up to 3 designs on paper for fun-to-play-with objects—be it an educational toy, action figure, product to play with outdoors, stuffed animal, doll series, or animated mechanical robot," said Director of Education, Danielle Ogden. "We encourage a maximum level of creativity, fantasy, and imagination." Local educational toy-makers, Melissa & Doug, will serve as judges for the competition, doling out first, second, and third place prizes. The first place winner will have his/her toy design exhibited in the WAC Gallery for the last week of "Toy Stories," and will have a soft toy replicated by Child's Own Studio, a company specializing in custom-made soft toys. Second and third place winners will receive a toy gift basket, courtesy of Melissa & Doug, and all submissions will be displayed in a loop on a monitor in the WAC Gallery during the exhibition as well as the website.  "Toy Stories" runs January 27 – March 18.

41 Franklin Street, Stamford, CT 06901. Phone: 203-253-0404.

Franklin Street Works is very pleased to announce that it is extending the run of the exhibition, Slipstreams: Contemporary Artistic Practice and the Shaping of Time, through February 19, 2012. Curated by Terri C. Smith and Joseph Whitt, this group exhibition features artists who consider how time is shaped and made visible through performed acts, unique measuring systems, and other uncommon means. Works include videos, photographs, drawings and installations that range from the 1960s to today. Participating artists are: Pierre Bismuth, Tehching Hsieh, Tara Kelton, Anna Lundh, Samuel Rousseau, Stephen Sollins, Conrad Ventur, and Andy Warhol. Slipstreams aims to allow its audience a unique exploration of multiple ways in which time can be
visualized and reconfigured, prompting questions about how we perceive and maintain our innerimaginings of time. Franklin Street Works is located at 41 Franklin Street in downtown Stamford, Connecticut, nearthe UCONN campus and less than one hour from New York City via Metro North. Franklin Street Works is approximately one mile (a 15 minute walk) from the Stamford train station. On street parking is available on Franklin Street (metered until 6 pm except on Sunday), and paid parking is
available nearby in a lot on Franklin Street and in the Summer Street Garage (100 Summer Street), behind Target. For more information, please visit www.franklinstreetworks.org The art space and café are open to the public on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. with extended hours on Thursdays, 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Franklin Street
Works does not charge for admission during regular gallery hours.