Central IL Singles and Couples Dance Dec 03, 8-11pm, Bobby Remack plays. Open to public. 546-9515. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road.

Central IL Singles & Couples Dance Dec 10, 8-11pm, Don Smith. $10. 546-9515. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road.

Country Dancing Dec 03, 08, 10, 15, 7-10pm Wed, 7-11pm Fri, Open dance Wed and Fri. www.pldc.org. Prairie Land Dance Club, Matilda St, Illiopolis, 791-0840.

West Coast Swing Dance Dec 08, 15, 6:45-9:30pm, Weekly dance. www.dancingdates.com. Aqua Club, 1 Club Area.

Lvs2dance Party Dec 04, 7-11pm, Features west

coast swing, cha cha, two step, line dancing and more. Prairie Land Dance Club, Matilda St, Illiopolis, 217-791-0840.

ART & ARCHITECTURE Divided Attention Opening Reception Dec 03, 5-7pm, Conceptual paintings and photographs by Adam Cullen and Justin Rebbe. Robert Morris Gallery, 607 E. Adams, 217-522-8977.

Fantastic Wearable Art Dec 02-04, 06-11, 13-15, 10am- 5:30pm Mon-Sat, Needle and nano felted wearable art from wool, alpaca, silk and cotton by Artist Terry Jones. The Blue Door Gallery, 214 South 6th St, 217- 753-0262.

Gallery Opening Dec 04, 6-8pm, Gallery opening for Chicago Photographer Marc Altman. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 243-9390.

Harold Gregor Visit Dec 04, 5-6:30pm, Prairie Art Alliance invites you to meet and dine with nationally recognized artist at reception followed by dinner & artist talk at Maldaner’s. $40. Reservations required. Prairie Art Alliance Gallery II, 221- 223 S. Sixth St, 217-544-2727.

L. Brent Kington: Mythic Metalsmith Dec 02-15, 8:30am-5pm Mon- Sat, 12-5pm Sun, Through Jan 12, Exhibit of southern Illinois artist whose artistic footprint on the world of metalsmithing and blacksmithing is profound with objects borrowed from private and museum collections. Free. 524-5744. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St.

Marc Altman Exhibit Dec 05, 07-12, 14-15, 1-3pm Sun, 4-6pm Tue-Sat, Through Dec 22, Chicago photographer works on display. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave,

Jacksonville, 243-9390.

Revelations Dec 03-04, 10-11, 10am-5pm Fri, 10am-3pm Sat, Through Dec 23, Featured artists are Jane Frey (oil), Gloria Josserand (ceramic/pastel/jewelry), Jerry Josserand (ceramics/jewelry). H.D. Smith Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St.

Shimmering Holiday Dec 02-04, 06-11, 13-15, 10am- 5pm Mon-Sat, Nov. through Dec. A mini gallery and great original art for your holiday shopping. Prairie Art Alliance Gallery II, 221- 223 S. Sixth St.

Unique Jewelry Exhibit Dec 02, 10am-5:30pm Mon-Sat, Featuring unique jewelry created with gold, silver, leather and gemstones by Leslie Smith. The Blue Door Gallery, 214 South 6th St, 217-753-0262.

Winter Solstice Art Show Dec 03-05, 10-12, 12-4pm Fri- Sun, Holiday season show in all mediums. Prairie Palette Art Gallery, on the square, Petersburg, 971-7431.

CHILDREN’S CORNER

Breakfast with Santa Dec 04, 8am-12pm, Eat breakfast, get picture with Santa, crafts, games, face painting, entertainment and more. Benefits In His Hands Orphans Outreach. Rochester Christian Church, 325 S. Walnut, Rochester, 381-6006.

Holiday Extravaganza Dec 04, 11, 12-2pm Sat , Dec. 4, 11 and 18 Holidaythemed fun includes scavenger hunt, Christmas light show and viewing your colored picture on the Sphere, a room-size globe of which there are only 50 in the world. National Museum of Surveying, Inc. 521 E. Washington, 217-523-3130.

Santa Events Dec 04, 8:30am, 10am, 6-8pm, Breakfast with Santa 8:30 a.m. Gingerbread House Workshop 10 a.m. Cookies with Santa 6-8 p.m. Must pre-register and pre-pay for all three events. Children’s Museum of Illinois, 55 South Country Club Rd, Decatur, 217- 423-KIDS.

Santa at White Oaks Mall Dec 02-15, 12pm , Visit with Santa through Christmas Eve, December 24. White Oaks Mall, 2501 Wabash Ave, (217) 787- 0110.

Super Saturdays at the Museum Dec 11, 10am-4pm, “Winter WILDlife.” Fun, hands-on children’s activities for kids 4-8.

Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 782-6044.

SCIENCE

Evening Science Series Lecture Dec 08, 7-8:30pm, From Mound Builders to Stockyard Workers: The Archaeology of East St. Louis. Illinois State Museum Research & Collections Center, 1011 E. Ash St, 785-0037.

LECTURES & MEETINGS

Reading Group Meeting Dec 11, 9:30am, Second Saturday each month, join Middle-Earth Fellowship and discuss Tolkien, his works and major influences. All ages and degrees of knowledge welcome. [email protected], place jrrt in subject line. Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 3111 S. Veteran’s Pkwy.

Central Illinois Referral Network Dec 08, 15, 7:45am, Every Wed, Little over an hour gathering for referrals and new business opportunities discussion. The Real Estate Group, 3701 West Wabash Ave.

Eastside Pride and Springfield Social Club Happy Hour Dec 04, 5:30-9:30pm, Collecting new or slightly used coats and winter apparel. Chatham Alamo, 310 N. Main Plaza, Chatham.

NAWBO Meeting Dec 08, 5:30-7:30pm, Holiday Social and Silent Auction. $30- $22. Register by Dec. 3. [email protected]. Info, 725- 8500. Brandt Consolidated, 2935 S. Koke Mill Rd, 217-626-1123.

Snowmobilers Dec 15, 7:30pm, Central Illinois Ditch Riders, of the Illinois Association of Snowmobile Clubs, meets third Wednesday of each month. Bunkers, 220 Old Route 36, Illiopolis, 217-486-5100 .

Springfield Area Newcomer Holiday Luncheon Dec 14, 7pm, Meets third Tuesday of every other month, large variety of interest groups. springfieldnewcomers.com. Illini Country Club, 1601 S Illini Rd, 217-546-4614.

Springfield Civic Garden Club Dec 06, 9:15am, Decorating for the holidays. 787-0067. Westminster Presbyterian Church, Walnut St, (217) 522- 4415.

Springfield Vegetarian Association Dec 14, 6:30pm, Program film: “Understanding Cruelty.” Free and open to public. 787-0014. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St, 753-4900.

BULLETIN BOARD

Angel Tree: Mini O\’Beirne Crisis Nursery Dec 02-03, 06-10, 13-15, 9am- 5pm Mon-Fri, Through Dec. 22, Place donation under decorated Beanie Baby Bears tree and you can take a bear home. List of needed items online in our calendar. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 North Sixth St.

Charlie Parker Diner Food Drive Dec 02-03, Through December 3, drop off food for Central Illinois Foodbank. Charlie Parker’s, 700 North St.

Giant Flea Market Dec 12, 8:30am-4:30pm, Indoor market. $1.25, age 12 and under free with adult. Illinois Building. For more info call 529-6939. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave, 782-8886.

Springfield Urban League Anniversary Dinner Dec 03, 5:30pm social hour, 6:30 dinner, Keynote speakers are three doctors who made a pact as kids surviving in inner-city Newark without fathers to become physicians. Music by internationally-acclaimed vocalist Joan Collaso. $50. 789-0830, ext 100. Crowne Plaza, 3000 S. Dirksen Pkwy.

Youth Night Dec 10, 6-9pm, Second and fourth Friday of each month open mic, table games and a variety of other fun stuff. Holy Ground Coffeehouse, 304 W. Allen, (217) 306-2592.

POLITICS Drinking Coffee Liberally Dec 04, 9am, First and third Saturday. Have coffee, breakfast and conversation with fellow progressives. [email protected]. Trout Lily Cafe, 218 S. Sixth St.

UIS Ambassador Series Dec 07, 11:30am-1pm, His Excellency Alieu Momdou Ngum, Gambian Ambassador. Catered lunch by Augie’s Front Burner. $22, $20 in advance. Dove Conference Center, Prairie Heart Institute, 619 E. Mason St, 206-6058.

HISTORY

A Fair to Remember Exhibit Dec 02-03, 06-10, 13-15, 9am 5pm Mon-Fri, View for free, artifacts from various fairs around the country. presidentlincoln.org, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 North Sixth St.

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