Books & Authors
Book Club
Jan 15, 7pm, Second Sunday at artists gallery and coop. The Pharmacy, 401 South Grand Avenue West. 652-3273.
Contemporary Fiction Group
Jan 25, 6-7pm, Group discusses popular fiction and nonfiction meets fourth Wednesday of month in Carnegie Room South. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St, 217-753-4900.
Paperback & Children’s Books Sale
Jan 14, 9am-2pm, Friends of Lincoln Library sale. $50 a book. Over-sized paperbacks $1. Carnegie Room. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St, 217-753-4900.
Pondicherry Lodge/Sherlock Holmes Society
Jan 21, 9-11am, Discussing The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe. Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 3111 S. Veteran’s Pkwy, 546-8387.
Writers Workshop Jan 12, 19, 7pm, Second Thursday of the month at new artist coop. The Pharmacy, 401 South Grand Avenue West. 652-3273. Spoken Word
Poetry Open Mic
Jan 18, 6-8pm, Bring poetry to read - or just sit back and listen. Springfield Poets & Writers. 725-9058. Robbie’s, 4 S. Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-528- 1901.
Theater & Comedy
Chess
Jan 13-15, 20-22, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, Based off book by Richard Nelson, complex rock opera about romantic rivalries, competitive gamesmanship, super power politics and international intrigues. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St. 523-2787.
Comedian Open Mic
Jan 18, 7pm, Register by 6:30 p.m. Free to public. The Doghouse, 2937 W. White Oaks Drive, 698-0918.
UIS Class Acts
Jan 13, 10am and 12:30pm, Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia presents Treasured Stories by Eric Carle. PreK- 2. Teachers, administrators and home school parents reserve tickets by phone. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6160, 800- 207-6960.
Music: General Events
Illinois Chamber Orchestra
Jan 20, 7:30pm, “Scintillating and Sophisticated.” Andrew Sewell, conductor, and Karina Canellakis, violin. St. Agnes Church, 245 N. Amos St, 217-793-1330.
Prairie Grapevine Folklore Society Concert
Jan 17, 7:30pm, The River Ramblers, Central Illinois favorite and one of the premiere bluegrass bands in Midwest. $10-$5 donation. 454-0178. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Rd, 217-585-9550.
Seeking Musicians Jan 17, Community members invited to join various bands and choruses that start practice in Jan. 206-6570.
University of Illinois at Springfield.
Todd Snider w/ Ashleigh Flynn Jan 14, 8pm, WUIS Bedrock 66 Series with Nashville singer/songwriter. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.
Dance
Ballroom Dance Jan 21, 7-11pm, Soup and Sandwich Potluck. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis, 217-428-1560.
Line Dance & Swing w/ DJ Marilyn Ferry Jan 12, 8-10pm, Every
Thursday open dancing. (Line dance lessons, 7-8 p.m.), The Doghouse, 2937 W. White Oaks Drive, 836-1438.
P.O.L.K. of A. Dance Jan 15, 2-5:30pm, Dynamic Duo - band. $10-$9. illinoischapterpolkofa.org. Riverton KC Hall, 401 S. Fourth St, Riverton.
The GROOVE WCS Dance Jan 14, 7-11pm, Steve Hendren, host and DJ. Lesson at 7 p.m. Dance 8 p.m. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis, 217-428-1560.
Warm Winter Wishes Dance Jan 20, 7-11pm, Open Country Dance. Collecting hats, gloves, scarves for needy. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis, 217-428-1560.
Art & Architecture
Gallery Hours Jan 15, 17, 22, 24, 4-6pm Tue- Sat, 1-3pm Sun, Sue Sommers Watercolors. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 243-9390.
On and Of Paper: ISM Selections Jan 12-25, 8:30am-5pm Mon- Sat, 12-5pm Sun, Through April 2012, exhibit of all things paper. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St.
Restoration and Conservation Exhibit Opening Jan 12-14, 16-21, 23-25, 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am- 3pm Sat, Through Jan. 27, Paintings and objects original to the Edwards family. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St, 523-2631.
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter Jan 13-14, 17-21, 24-25, 10am-5pm Tue-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat, through Feb. 1, Mary Miller, ceramics/painting; Sheri Ramsey, Pastel. Reception Jan. 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m. H.D. Smith Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St, 544- 2787.
The Pharmacy Studios Open House Jan 14, 5-9pm, Public invited to view two studio locations, meet artists and learn their processes through demos. The Pharmacy, 401 South Grand Avenue West, 217-652-3273.
Film & Television
African-American Cinema Series Jan 21, 2pm, Within Our Gates, 1920 78-minute silent film about schoolteacher’s struggle to keep a black Southern school from closing. Seating limited, free. Reservations required, 524-0901. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St.