First Fridays Downtown Mar 02, 5-8pm, Every first Friday stroll, shop eat downtown. Exhibitions, live music, great deals and fun surprises. 544-1723. Downtown Springfield.

Gifted Learners Forum Mar 07, 6:30pm, Forum for educators and parents to discuss benefits of above-grade level testing as assessment and planning tool. 525-1420, ext. 289. Brinkerhoff Home, 1500 N. Fifth St. Illinois Horse Fair Mar 02-04, 1-7pm Fri, 9am- 7pm Sat, 9am-5pm , Vendors, breed and sport demos, stallion row and parade and more.

Coliseum. Admission. 529- 6503. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave.

Illinois Products Expo Mar 03-04, 10am-5pm Sat, 10am-4pm Sun, Over seventy Illinois companies providing free food samples and selling their products.

Orr Building. $5, kids 10 and under free. 524-3012. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave. Luau For Life Mar 03, 4pm, Wear your luau finest. Enjoy music, appetiz ers, a meal, games, contests and more. Relay For Life fundraiser. Jacksonville Knights of Columbus Hall, 320 East State, Jacksonville, 217- 473-7481.

Rochester Library Book Sale Mar 02-04, 9am-4pm Sat, 1- 4pm Sun, Opens Friday with Friends members only 6-8 p.m. Friends can also win a Nook Touch 4 p.m. on Sun. March 4. Rochester Community Room, 1 Community Dr, Rochester, 217-498-8454 .

Spfld. Model Railroad Club Train Fair Mar 11, 9am-4pm, Early Bird from 9-10 a.m. $10. Rest of day $5, kids 10 & under free. Orr Building. 801-7479. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave, 782-8886. Temporary Volunteers Sought April and May greeters for three hour shifts. 782-5507 or [email protected]. Illinois State Museum, 502 S.

Spring St. Veterans Events Mar 02-04, 3pm Fri, 11am Sat, 3pm Sun, Ice cream social Mar. 2. Veterans benefit seminar Mar. 3. Free patriotic movie Sunday, RSVP, 546- 5577. Montvale Estates, 2601 Montvale Drive.

Vigil for Peace Mar 03, 10, 12pm, Each Saturday at noon on corner of Sixth and Monroe, outside Federal Building. All are welcome. 544-3997. Downtown Springfield.

FOOD

CISFN Annual Meeting Mar 10, 5:30-8:30pm, “Wisdom and Inspiration From a Small Family Farm: A Chef Shares His Story,” Chef Chris Pandel, The Bristol and Balena, Chicago. Illinois Department of Agriculture, Administrative Building Auditorium, 801 Sangamon Ave, Gate 11, 217-782-4617.

St. Patrick’s Lunch Mar 11, 12-3pm, $10 donation for corned beef, cabbage, drink and dessert. Eat in, carry out. No reservations required. Brinkerhoff Home, 1500 N. Fifth St.

POLITICS

Drinking Coffee Liberally Mar 03, 10, 9am, Every Saturday. Have coffee, breakfast and conversation with fellow progressives. [email protected]. Edgar’s Coffee House, 2001 Wabash Ave.

Drinking Liberally Mar 01, 08, 6:30pm, Every Thursday, informal political discussion and socializing with fellow progressives. [email protected]. Bar None, 245 S. Fifth St.

Pre-primary Debate Mar 02, 09, 8-9am, 7:30 reception, Hear Illinois House candidates. Hosted by Citizens Club of Springfield. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.

HISTORY

Boy Scout Pilgrimage Badges Exhibit Mar 01-02, 05-09, 12-14, 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, From past 60 years. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 North Sixth St.

Boys in Blue Exhibit Mar 01-02, 05-09, 12-14, 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, New images and artifacts, including original Civil War battle flag. Free. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 North Sixth St.

Lech Walesa Exhibit Mar 01-03, 05, Graphics, video, text and artifacts of Walesa’s journey from work in shipyard to first democratically elected President of Poland. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St.

Meet a Boy in Blue Mar 10, 11am, 1pm and 3pm, Second Saturday Feb. through May, meet costumed presenter and hear a presentation. Free. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza.

AUDITIONS

Theatre Auditions Mar 03, 5pm, Auditions for Tony award-winning musical, Spring Awakening for September performances. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 725-8367.

HEALTH

DBSA Central Illinois Mar 08, 7:30-8:30pm, Second and fourth Thursdays, support group for anyone affected by depression or bipolar disorder and family and friends. Memorial Medical Center, 701 N. First St, 414-7368.

DBSA Central Illinois Mar 06, 13, 6:30-8:30pm, Tuesdays. For those affected by mood disorder, friends/family. Fellowship Hall, lower level. First Christian Church, 700 S. Sixth St, 414-7368.

DBSA Central Illinois Mar 08, 6:30-8:30pm, Every second Thursday for anyone affected by depression or bipolar disorder, including friends and family. Room B149. Free. Memorial Medical Center, 701 N. First St, 414- 7368.

Drumming for Health Class Mar 10, 11am-12pm, First day of free four-week class on Saturdays for cancer patients. Simmons Cancer Institute, 315 W. Carpenter, 217-545-3837.

Jyoti (Light) Meditation Mar 02, 09, 5:30-6:30pm, Every Friday. Free and open to all. No experience necessary. Unity of Springfield, 417 Cordelia.

Meditation for Everyone Mar 06, 13, 7-8:15pm, Free meetings Mar. 6, 13, 20 to learn simple technique of Jyoti Meditation (light) with Sam Pletcher. Free and open to public. Heartland Metropolitan Community Church, 402 N Dawson St.

Reiki for Cancer Patients Mar 05, 12, By Appointment, Open to all cancer patients regardless of where they are treated. Register phone. Simmons Cancer Institute, 315 W. Carpenter, 217-545-5408.

Springfield Vegetarian Association Mar 07, 6:30pm, Video, “An Intense Plant Based Diet for Diabetic Management.” Free. Carnegie Room. 787-0014. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St, 217-753-4900.

FAITH & PHILOSOPHY

2012 World Day of Prayer Mar 02, 7:3pm, “Let Justice Prevail” sponsored by Church Women United in Springfield. 629-8881. Grace Lutheran Church, 714 East Capitol Ave, 217-891-1680.

Greater Springfield Interfaith Association Mar 06, 11:45am-1:30pm, Rev. Brian Kenney, pastor and Red Cross-trained chaplain, presents Disaster Preparedness. All welcome to GSIA general meeting. Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 2600 S. Fifth St, 523-7931.

Healing Crystal Bowl Meditation Mar 06, 6pm, Peggy Patty leads with healing sounds of Unity’s crystal bowls every first Thursday. Unity of Springfield, 417 Cordelia, 217- 523-5897.

Lenten Taize’ Prayer Service Mar 01, 7pm, Candlelight meditative prayer service combining choir and instruments. Christ the King Church, 1930 Barberry, 793-3933.

The Unbuilt Bridge Mar 04, 10:30am, Guest speaker Ms. Lynnda White, seminarian and intern speaks on multicultural and community work. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Rd, 585-9550.

SPORTS & FITNESS Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority 5K Walk/Run Mar 10, 8am-1pm, $20. Info, email [email protected]. Commodity Pavilion. 741- 8375. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave, 782-8886. GLVC Basketball Tournament Mar 01-04, Great Lakes Valley Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza.

Special Olympics Polar Plunge Mar 03, 10:30am registration, Law Enforcement Torch Run Polar Plunge with all proceeds to Special Olympics athletes. Register soill.org. Knights of Columbus Hall Council 4179, 141 N. Lakewood Dr, Chatham, 544-3023.

More events, more details in our online calendar at illinoistimes.com.

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