FINDLOCALBIZ

ANTIQUES

Abe’s Old Hat Antiques This is weird— an antiques store with real antiques dealers selling real antiques. Who the hell do they think they are? Downtown at 111 North Sixth Street. Tuesday-Saturday 11-5. 217-414-3320.

Birdsong Books & Vintage Eclectic mix of vintage clothes, linens, fabrics, an unusual book collection, ephemeral and other whimsical objects. Nostalgic atmosphere, old fashioned soda fountain, stained glass back bar. In historic Elkhart. Hours: Wednesday & Saturday 11:00am-4:00pm. 217-691-7966.

Horsefeathers Antiques & Gifts / Wild Hare Café A fun shopping and eating experience on historic Route 66! Open Tuesday- Sunday 10:00am-4:00pm. Located at 104 Governor Olgesby Street in Elkhart (Exit 115 off 1-55.) Call 217-947-2100 for more information. The Caraway Seed Antiques and gifts. Open Thursday and Friday 1:00-5:00pm & Saturday 10:00am-3:00pm. Courthouse square, Virginia, IL. 217-452-3349.

Widow at Windsor Antiques Experience the fun when shopping for a birthday, anniversary, shower, wedding, or holiday gift. Select from unique, whimsical, pristine or serendipitous treasures. Discover your statement piece at Fifth&Cook. Visit www.widowatwindsorantiques.com

BOOKS

Book Signing Join Prairie Archives for an afternoon with Secretary of State Police retired captain Ed Hammer, author of “One Hundred Percent Guilty: How an Insider Links the Death of Six Children to the Politics of Convicted Illinois Governor George Ryan.” EVENT INFORMATION: October 2, 2010 12:00pm -2:00pm Prairie Archives Books at 522 East Adams Street, Springfield, IL. (217) 522-9742 Also available on www.amazon.com

Books on the Square We buy and sell good, clean, collectible books. Three full buildings. General inventory specializing in history. Monday-Saturday. 153 East Jackson, Virden. 217-965-5443

Mystery Lovers Paradise Sly Fox Bookstore carries thousands of mystery titles by authors you won’t find anywhere else. Plus children/young adult titles, Illinois and Lincoln. On the west side of the square, Virden. Special orders welcome. M-F 10-5 Saturday 10-3. 217-965-3641. slyfox@royell.org

BUSINESS SERVICES

Capital Area Independent Business Alliance Join our nearly 140 members to encourage consumers to spend their money LOCAL FIRST. Details and membership info at www.IBuySpi.com

Steam Shine Seeing spots? Stain protection and proper care retains your carpet and upholsteryís beauty over years of regular use. Cleaning carpet, upholstery and area rugs. Call 217-789-2589. www.steamshine.net

Featured BIZ of the week

The Clothing Connection Looking for stylish designer clothes at affordable prices? The Clothing Connection carries distinctive consignments plus nearly new designer and name brand clothes such as Ralph Lauren, Jones New York, Express, Nine West and more! In store coupons are available for $10 off $50 worth of regular merchandise. Owned by Linda Hall- Lewis. 939 B Clocktower Drive, Springfield. Turn right at True Colors. Open 10:30-3:45 M-F & 10-4 on Saturdays. Consignments by appointment only. 217-787-5665.

GALLERIES

Martin Art Gallery & Studios Featuring one-of-a-kind modern/contemporary art including glass & metal, cabinet glass door knobs, vases, custom dishes, architectural pieces and more for home, office and gift giving. Visit the gallery Wednesday-Friday 11-6, Saturday 10-4, or by appointment. 1515 South Fifth (between South Grand and Laurel). 217-652-2873. www.edmartinart.com

Promote your local biz in print and online Call Nan for details - 753-1724

HOME SERVICES

Door Problems? Call Dave the Doorman for door repairs, installation and professional, quality service. Over 1,000 doors installed. Yes, I can do other types of remodeling, too! Call Dave at 217-628-1163.

Lawn and Garden Garden tilling and grass seeding, gutter cleaning, shrub and tree trimming, lawn mowing, brush removal, landscaping. Black dirt delivered. Brush weed lots, mowed down. Serving Springfield and surrounding areas. 217-741-1340.

Uninvited Guests? Planning today will keep insects and rodents away! Call about a maintenance program for home or office. Emergency services available. Environmentally friendly. Adams Pest Control 217-544-2122.

RETAIL STORES

Clothing Connection Womens’ upscale consignments. Nearly new & designer brand name clothes. 939 B Clocktower Drive, Springfield. Turn right at True Colors. Open 10:30-3:45 M-F & 10-4 Saturdays. Consignments by appointment 217-787-5665.

Fresh is best! Robert’s Seafood Market offers the largest variety of fresh seafood, guaranteed! Seafood, meats, fine desserts, breads, soups and wine for any occasion. 1615 West Jefferson Street, 217-546-3089. www.robertsseafoodmarket.com

Park Avenue Market Clearance: 8-inch Hardy Mums $3.98 each; 14-inch Monster Mums $18.95 or 3 for $45. Pumpkins, Squash, Gourds, Corn Stalks. Illinois Apples: Galas, Gold Delicious, Jonathan, Granny Smith and Honey Crisp. Park Avenue Market. 3102 South Park Avenue. Just South of Wabash. Monday-Saturday 8:00-6:30 & Sunday 10-5. 217-787-8140.

The Copper Rooster Where small town style meets urban chic, a vintage masterpiece! Unique jewelry inspired by anything and everything. Antique radios, jukeboxes, and treasures. Historic Elkhart. Fridays and Saturdays 10-4.

AMY ALKON

THEADVICEGODDESS

Wife of the party

My wife has a big family, getting bigger all the time. Not only do they celebrate numerous holidays, but they have birthday parties for everyone (adults and little children). This averages out to about two gatherings a month. While we were dating, she said not to feel obligated to attend family events that didn’t appeal to me, but now she’s very upset if I want to do something else. — Overbooked

Some people get fat after marriage; some people get family. There’s been some event attendance bait and switch here. While you were dating, it was “Don’t feel obligated,” now it’s “Don’t think you have a choice.” There needs to be some point of compromise between your wife’s family culture and your happiness. Maybe you show up for major holidays and events (as much as you’d rather be fishing, golfing, or dead), but maybe the 5-year-old’s birthday can still be a happy affair without you suffering through it. Then again, consider whether the potential aftermath is worse — going to pick up your wife and having the birthday boy present you with a set of oddly shaped balloon animals: “This one’s you, Uncle Charlie, escaping out our bathroom window, and this one’s Aunt Gloria, refusing to have sex with you ever again.”

Sloshed in translation

I’m a man who was deeply disturbed by your advice for “Not A Player” to “get some drinks in a girl” as a way to make moves on her. For my job, I took a class on preventing sexual assault, and learned that most sexual assaults include alcohol use by the assailant or victim. Your advice normalized the calculated use of alcohol in dating. I’m hoping you’ll rethink this and run a correction. — Frustrated Reader

I wrote, “Get some drinks in a girl, then casually touch her arm a few times,” not “casually rape her in the alley.” The guy signed himself “Not A Player” because he has all the mojo of a lost kitten. My worry wasn’t that he’d date rape the girl, but that he’d end the evening by giving her a little wave and running away. Yes, alcohol is often involved in sexual assaults. A knife can be used to cut an apple or mug your granny. People don’t do bad things because they have access to a particular substance or implement, but because they’re people who do bad things. I didn’t invent the use of alcohol in dating, and I don’t write as if people reading me are stupid. Countless people drink on dates every day without any need for prosecutor involvement. They do exactly what this guy needs to do: Have a couple beers with a girl so he’ll have the guts to kiss her, and so she’ll be relaxed enough to be kissed (and by “relaxed” I mean so she’s giggly, not so she’s unconscious).

Got a problem? Write Amy Alkon, 171 Pier Ave, No. 280, Santa Monica, CA 90405 or e-mail her at AdviceAmy@aol.com (www.advicegoddess.com). © Copyright 2009 Amy Alkon