BOOKS & AUTHORS

Accepting Teen Poetry Submissions Accepting poetry/art from teens, grades 6-12, for international poetry anthology produced by Springfield Poets and Writers. adonisdesignspress.com.

Classics Book Group Feb 20, 12-1pm, Meets October through May in the Bicentennial Room. Confessions of Nat Turner by William Styron. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St, 217-753-4900.

Contemporary Fiction Group Feb 22, 6-7pm, Group discusses popular fiction and nonfiction meets fourth Wednesday of month in Carnegie Room South. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St.

Pondicherry Lodge/ Sherlock Holmes Society Feb 18, 9am, Edgar Allan Poe’s The Gold-Bug. Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 3111 S. Veteran’s Pkwy, 546-8387.

Rock-Wojcicki Book Signing Feb 29, 6-8pm, Former Senator Phil Rock and coauthor Ed Wojcicki, “Nobody Calls Just to Say Hello,” political memoirs of Senator Rock. Maldaner’s , 222 S. Sixth St, 414-7790.

Springfield Comic Book Convention Feb 19, 10am-4pm, Comic books, new and old, toys and related collectibles. Free and open to public. 309-657- 1599. Route 66 Hotel & Conference Center, 625 E. Saint Joseph St.

Writers Workshop Feb 16, 7pm, Second Thursday of the month at new artist coop. Open mic Feb. 23, 7pm. The Pharmacy, 401 South Grand Avenue West.

THEATER & COMEDY

Cirque du Soleil: Quidam Feb 16-19, 3:30pm Fri-Sat, 7:30pm Wed-Sat, 1pm and 5pm Sun. Eight amazing athletic performances that you won’t want to miss. $30-$95. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza.

Dear Edwina Junior Feb 16-18, Jacksonville Theatre Guild production about thirteen year-old who tackles world’s problems. 245-1402. Jacksonville Theatre Guild, 210 W. College Ave, Jacksonville.

Den of Thieves Feb 16-18, 23-25, 8pm, Welcome to the world of UNorganized crime. For mature audiences. $10. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence.

Heritage Feb 17-19, 24-26, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, Presentational style play set in late 1790s to 1860s, sharing stories of women that may have influenced Lincoln. $12-$18. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.

Poets in the Parlor Feb 25, 2pm, Don and Linda Schneider in ‘Diaries of Adam and Eve.’ Limited seating. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St, 217-524- 0901.

Roger & Hammerstein’s South Pacific Feb 27, 7:30pm, Breathtaking new production of based on 2008 Tony Award winning Lincoln Center Theater production. UIS Broadway Series. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6160, 800-207-6960.

True West Feb 24-26, Mar 1-3, 7:30pm, 2pm Sun, Character study of relationship between Austin, a screenwriter, and his older bully brother Lee. $17-$10. Tickets at Sangamon Auditorium ticket office or by phone 206-6613. UIS Studio Theatre, One University Plaza.

MUSIC: GENERAL EVENTS

Eilen Jewell with Pokey LaFarge Feb 24, 8pm, WUIS Bedrock 66 Live. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.

History of Blues Program Feb 19, 2-4pm, Fernando Jones, blues musician, presents history of the blues genre in narration and musically with his group, My Band. Free. bit.ly/ismblues12. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 782-5993.

Hot Jazz and Java Feb 26, 2-4pm, Decatur Area Arts Council offers unique musical experience with four local musicians and gourmet coffee and other delights. $20. Madden Arts Center, 125 N. Water St, Decatur, 217-423-3189.

Illinois Symphony Orchestra Feb 25, 8pm, “Ecstatic & Exotic.” Rei Hotoda, conductor, and critically-acclaimed harpist Bridget Kibbey. $6- $45. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6160, 800- 207-6960.

LLCC Recital Series Feb 19, 4pm, “Brass, Strings, and Double Reed Things,’Blackwater Strings and Brick House Brass. Free. 786-2319. LLCC Trutter Center, 5250 Shepherd Road, 217-786-2200.

MacMurray College Choir Pre-Tour Concert Feb 17, 7:30pm, MacMurray College Annie Merner Chapel , College Avenue and Clay St, Jacksonville.

Music Under the Dome Feb 26, 4pm, Illinois College Chamber Singers. Jacksonville Public Library, 201 West College Ave, Jacksonville, 243-5435.

Pleasant Plains HS Variety Show Feb 25, 7pm, Piano, singing, guitar, comedy and dance by students. Also school instrumental groups, D.J. Schultz and Jim Leach hosts. Pleasant Plains High School, 2000 Championship Dr, Pleasant Plains, Patti 787-7405.

Prairie Grapevine Concert Feb 21, 7:30pm, Stringband Music and Song with the Sangamo Stemwinders. $10, $9 seniors, $5 students, $25 for family. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Rd, 217-585-9550.

Ryan Kuster Feb 25, 7:30pm, Prestigious Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera, Jacksonville’s own returns home to give recital of old and new songs. $15. 245- 3069. Illinois College Rammelkamp Chapel, 1101 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 217-245-3000.

Talent Among Us Competition Feb 18, 7pm, Local performers selected to compete for prizes with top prize performing with Jacksonville Symphony March 17. $10, $6. Illinois College Rammelkamp Chapel, 1101 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 217-245-3000.

DANCE

Ballet Folklorico de Antioquia, Colombia Feb 19, 7pm, Authentic music, ritualistic dance, and physical theater accentuated with brilliantly-colored and scintillating costumes. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6160, 800- 207-6960.

LVS2DNC.PARTY Feb 18, 7-11pm, Music with Variety, Dance 4 Fun, all types of dancers. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 217-652-2128.

Little Red Riding Hood Feb 25, 2pm and 6:30pm, Springfield Youth Performance Group. $11-$7. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.

Old Time Barn Dance Feb 25, 7-10pm, Ozzie Pearl calls variety of dances such as waltzes, two-steps. No experience necessary. $5. Reservations required. 732-8687. railsplitting.com. Lincoln Park District, 1400 Primm Rd, Lincoln, 732-8770.

P.O.L.K. of A. Dance Feb 19, 2-5:30pm, Larry Hallar - band. $10-$9. illinoischapterpolkofa.org. Riverton KC Hall, 401 S. Fourth St, Riverton.

Post Steppin Contest Feb 18, 9pm-3am, Show-off your steps. Food and ample parking available. American Legion Post 809, 1800 E. Capitol Avenue, 522-2110.

ART & ARCHITECTURE

Feb 23, 6:30-7:30pm, Presentation on Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance (national and local organizations).

Room B149. Memorial Medical Center, 701 N. First St, 414- 7368.

2nd Third Thursday Art Show Feb 16, 9pm-3am, New artists and musicians share their trade. Over age 21. Stella Blue, 221 S. Fifth St, 217-789- 8988.

3T: Where is the Love?! Feb 16, 6pm-12:45am, Art and music by locals. Free, over 21. Donations to Sangamon County Relay for Life Team, Cure Crusaders. Floyd’s Thirst Parlor, 210 S. Fifth St, 217-691-1301.

Beyond Words Feb 17-19, 24-26, 12-4pm-Fri-Sun, Through April 15, Best of the Best in Illinois art circles. Reception Feb. 17, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Prairie Palette Art Gallery, on the square, Petersburg, 632-3216.

Call for Entries Two ways to participate. Deadline April 1. Details and form at lincolnmemorialgarden.org. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr.

Call for Entry Art Exhibition Feb 16-18, 20-25, 27-29, Juried show featuring work of over 20 local artists. Chatham Area Public Library, 600 E. Spruce, Chatham.

Central Illinois Scholastic Exhibition Feb 16-17, 20-24, 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat, Through Feb. 25, gallery filled with artwork of 7-12th grade students from 21 Illinois counties. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St.

Esquisser Feb 16-17, 20-24, 27-29, 8am-4pm Mon-Fri, Figurative studies by local artists Joseph Ciaccio and Michael Baier. Reception Feb. 16, 5 p.m. LLCC James S. Murray Gallery, Upper level, Menard Hall.

Gallery Hours Feb 16-19, 21-26, 4-6pm Tue-Sat, 1- 3pm Sun, Jeff Coultas - Photography. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 243-9390.

Great Expectations Feb 24-25, 28-29, 10am-5pm Tue-Fri, 10am-3pm Sat, Katie Davis, painting, photography; Clyde Sims Jr. acrylic, oil. Reception Feb. 25. H.D. Smith Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St, 544-2787.

Images of Illinois Amateur Photography Contest Submissions being accepted for contest. All ages. Deadline Mar. 1. Details prairieart.org.

On and Of Paper: ISM Selections Feb 16-29, 8:30am-5pm Mon-Sat, 12- 5pm Sun, Through April 2012, exhibit of all things paper. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St.

Summer In The French-Italian Riviera Feb 16-17, 21-24, 28-29, 10am-2pm Tue-Fri, Through March 30, photo exhibit by students who studied abroad. Robert Morris Gallery, 607 E. Adams, 522-8977.

That’s Love, Baby - Allison Lacher Feb 16, 20-23, 27-29, 11am-6pm Mon- Thu, Feb 2-Mar 8, sculptural and installation-based works by UIS Professor of Visual Arts and Gallery Manager. UIS Visual Arts Gallery, HSB 201, One University Plaza, 217-206-6506.

FILM & TELEVISION

Life and Debt Feb 20, 6pm, PAPS series and discussion. Jamaicans whose existence is profoundly impacted by U.S. and foreign economic agendas. 206-8328. UIS Brookens Auditorium, One University Plaza, 217-206-6073.

Love and Valor Feb 25, 1pm and 7pm, Love story and chronicle of Civil War. Great, great grandson of characters, Charles Larimer shares experiences writing the book and making film. $5, $3. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St, 217-523- 2631.

Molly Schlich Film Series Feb 19, 21, 1pm and 4pm Sun, 7pm Tue, American film, “Beginners,” directed by Mike Mills. $8- $4. AMC Parkway 8, 3025 Lindbergh Boulevard.

Springfield/Central Illinois Film Commission Meeting Feb 16, 7-9pm, 6pm dinner, Third Thursday of each month. Free, but food purchase requested. 816-2117. Lake Pointe Grill, 1386 Toronto Rd.

Unnatural Causes Feb 23, 6:30pm, Pax Christi Springfield screens film on how construct “race” negatively affects health outcomes for people of color. 698-9045. Sacred Heart Convent, 1237 W. Monroe Street, 217- 787-0481.

CHILDREN’S CORNER

Celebrate Cultural Diversity Feb 25, 11am-3pm, Learn about heritage and traditions of world cultures through hands-on crafts, international displays, live performances and more. 782-5993. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 782-5993.

Kids in the Kitchen Feb 25, 10-11:30am, Junior League of Springfield’s free nutrition and fitness event for ages 5-12 and their parents. Pre-registration required online or by phone. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, 544-5557.

Touch a Truck Story Time Feb 22, 4pm, Chance to get up close and personal with a garbage truck. Jacksonville Public Library, 201 West College Ave, Jacksonville, 243-5435.

NATURE

Great Backyard Bird Count Feb 18, 9am-12pm, No bird ID experience necessary. Stop in anytime during morning for national event. www.birdsource.org. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave, 217-544- 2473.

Maple Syrup Time Feb 18-19, 25-26, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm, Public demos four weekends in Feb. and March. Dress warm. Begins with brief orientation in Nature Center. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr.

LECTURES & MEETINGS

Citizens Club of Springfield Policy Breakfast Feb 24, 7:30am coffee, 8am program, “Increasing our Tourism and Convention Dollars.” Club room on third floor. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.

ECCE Speakers Series Feb 23, 7pm, ‘Hair Raising Women: The Politics of Good Hair in Black America’ Dr. De Anna J. Reese of California State University. Feb 24, 7pm, ‘Bridging the Generations: Foot Soldier for Civil Rights,’ civil rights leader and author Thomas Armstrong. UIS Brookens Auditorium, One University Plaza, 217- 206-6073.

Education Summit Feb 25, 8:30am-2pm, Addressing the needs of children in District 186. Breakfast, lunch and childcare provided. Registration required at faithcoalitionil.org or 544-2297. Union Baptist Church, 1405 E. Monroe St, 753-4379.

Military Order of the Purple Heart Feb 22, 6:30pm, Drive for free lifelong membership for any recipient or surviving spouse. Original or copy of DD214. Free beer, soda and snacks. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 652- 7986 .

Power of Women’s Vote in 2012 Elections Feb 16, 7pm, Learn about the role and experiences of women seeking public office from panel of current public officials. American Lung Association, 3000 Kelly Lane, 652-1966.

Black History Month Activities Feb 21, 6:30pm, Marc Nivet, Ed.D. gives presentation about diversity in health care. SIU School of Medicine, 801 N. Rutledge, 217-545-7334.

Sangamon Valley Group of Sierra Club Feb 28, 6pm, Film - ”Dirty Business: Clean Coal and the Battle for our Energy Future.” Carnegie Room. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St.

Sleep Disturbances and Mood Disorders

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