THE CALENDAR

New Years Eve Comedy Show Dec 31, 7:30pm & 10pm, Homan from Comedy Central’s Premium Blend headlines two shows on New Years Eve. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482-5233.

MUSIC: GENERAL EVENTS

Millikin University Choir Jan 09, 7pm, Nationally recognized choir under the direction of Dr. Bradley Holmes, professor of music and chair of Choral Studies. Central Baptist Church, 501 S. Fourth St.

DANCE

Lvs2dance.Party Jan 08, 7-11pm, Features west coast swing, cha cha, two-step, line dancing and more with Marilyn Ferry DJ. Prairie Land Dance Club, Matilda St, Illiopolis, 217-791-0840.

New Year’s Eve Salsa Nights Dec 31, 9pm-1:30am, Includes midnight toast, great party favors, music by Salsa 29 Productions - Julio. $8 or $12 per couple. Southside Pub, 3751 S. Sixth St, 217-529- 5511.

ART & ARCHITECTURE

Art is Not a Trifle Jan 07 -26, 10am-5pm Mon- Fri, 10am-3pm Sat, The Springfield Art Association and its Collections, 1914-1930. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St. 523-2631.

Gallery Opening for Kevin Veara and Toni Freesen Jan 08, 6-8pm, David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 243-9390.

January Gallery Hours Jan 09, 11, 16, 18, 1-3pm Sun and 4-6pm Tue, Exhibit is Kevin Veara, paintings/illustrations and Toni Freesen, acrylic paintings. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 243-9390.

Winter Solstice Art Show Dec 31, Jan 01-02, 07-09, 14- 15, 12-4pm Fri-Sun, Holiday season show in all mediums. Prairie Palette Art Gallery, on the square, Petersburg, 971-7431.

FILM & TELEVISION

The Secret in Their Eyes Jan 16, 18, 1pm and 4pm Sun, 7pm Tue, “The Secret in Their Eyes.” Argentinian federal justice agent writes a novel based on an old closed case hoping to find closure for case and love interest. $7. Springfield Art Association’s Molly Schlich 2011 Film Series. Parkway Pointe Cinema, 3025 Lindbergh Boulevard.

CHILDREN’S CORNER

Children’s Story Hour Day Dec 30, 9:30am, 11:30am and 1:30pm, Reservations required. 782-6776. Dana- Thomas House, 301 E. Lawrence.

The Whip Crackin’ Round-Up Jan 03, 9am-12pm and 1-4pm, Get a six-foot nylon whip, three hours personalized whip instruction with World Champion Whip Cracker Chris Camp and autographed t-shirt. E-mail [email protected]. (Also: Dec. 27, 10am-1pm and 2-5pm in Jacksonville.), Grace Lutheran Church, 714 East Capitol Ave, 217-891-1680.

SCIENCE

Evening Science Series Lecture Jan 12, 7-8:30pm, Finale to “L. Brent Kington: Mythic Metalsmith” exhibition. Dr. Jonathan Reyman, ISM Curator of Anthropology, presents “Heavy Metal: Brent Kington’s Toys and Akan Asante Goldweights.”, Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 782- 7386.

NATURE

Sangamon Valley Sierra Club Jan 01, 10am, Annual New Year Day Stone Soup Hike with warming fireplaces in Stone Shelter. Bring own eating utensils and snack to share or precooked ingredient for meat or vegetarian soup pots. Carpenter Park Nature Preserve, North Business Route 55. 698-0840.

LECTURES & MEETINGS

AWC Meeting Jan 12, 11:30am-1pm, Karen Sanders, LLCC Foundation Executive Director talks about event planning. RSVP by Jan. 7, [email protected]. Sangamo Club, 227 E. Adams St, 544-1793.

Afternoon Lecture Series: Music History Jan 04, 11, 18, 1:30-3:30pm, Jan-Mar, Trace symphonic music from its ancient beginnings to recently written pieces. $10 each session. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.

Historic Marbold Farmstead Association Jan 06, 6:30pm, ‘The Peoria Road Stage Coach Route" presented by Greg Laun after meeting. Free, open to public. Greenview Community Building. RSVP 968-5808 or 636-7114 or [email protected]. Greenview.

FAITH & PHILOSOPHY

Fast Away the Old Year Passes Jan 02, 10:30am, Rodd Whelpley presents ideas from writers such as Fitzgerald, Elliot and Faulkner on the concepts of beginnings, endings and the passage of time. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Rd, 585-9550. Unity’s Burning Bowl Ceremony Jan 02, 10am, Everyone literally sets fire to outdated and unneeded beliefs, thoughts and habits in this Sunday morning ritual. Unity of Springfield, 417 Cordelia, 217-523-5897.

SPORTS & FITNESS

Free Skating Clinic Jan 08, 9:45am-1:30pm, Springfield Figure Skating Club hosts free clinic including 30-minute skating lesson from professional skating coaches, demonstration and exhibition from skaters of various levels, refreshments, games, prizes, and free public skate for participants all part of U.S. Figure Skating’s “National Skating Month.” Nelson Center Ice Arena, Lincoln Park, 1601 N. Fifth St, 553-7708.

Harlem Globetrotters Jan 06, 7pm, 4 Times the Fun World Tour marks the 85th season of this fun, wholesome family entertainment. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800- 745-3000.

Midwest Speed Expo Jan 08-09, Awarding the Midwest Speed Driver of the Year Jan. 9 at approximately 1:30 p.m. Orr Building. 522- 1955. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave.