An Art Affair Apr 14-15, 10am-5pm Sat, 11am-4pm Sun, Enjoy a juried invitational fine art show in an indoor environment. Orr building. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave, 652-2873.

Around Each Corner - Expressions in Color Apr 12-13, 17-20, 24-25, 10am- 2pm Tue-Fri, On display Apr. 3- May 18, vivid watercolor paintings by Illinois artist, Bret Steinhaus. Robert Morris Gallery, 607 E. Adams, 522-8977.

Call for Artists Deadline Apr. 13 for MacARTFest, fine art show June 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. MacArthur at South Grand. [email protected], 415-3447 or www.macartfest.com. MacArthur Boulevard Business Association.

Cosmos Apr 12-14, 17-21, 24-25, 10am- 5pm Tue-Fri, 10am-3pm Sun, April 6-May 12, George King, pastel; Michelle Smith, drawing. Reception April 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m. H.D. Smith Gallery, 420 S. Sixth St, 544-2787.

Country Treasures Craft Show Apr 21-22, 10am-5pm Sat, 10am-4pm Sun, Illinois building main floor. $2. 618-628-7878. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave.

Ed Martin Gallery Show Apr 12-15, 17-22, 24-25, 4-6pm Tue-Sat, 1-3pm Sun, Through April 28, New series and large scale work. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 217-423-3189.

Illinois Prairie Pastel Society Apr 12-14, 16-20, 10am-5pm, 10am-3pm Sat, Through Apr. 20. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St. Juried Student Art Show Apr 12-13, 16-20, 23-25, 10am- 5pm Mon-Fri, On exhibit through May 3. Awards reception Thursday, Apr. 12, at 5 p.m. 786- 4967. LLCC James S. Murray Gallery, Upper level, Menard Hall.

Personalities Paint Apr 21, 6-9pm, Paintings by local celebrities who are not artists. Live art auction and exhibition. $25. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St, 217-523-2631.

Photographer Amy Stein Apr 12, 16-19, 11am-6pm Mon- Thu, Through April 19, Internationally recognized NY photographer. UIS Visual Arts Gallery, HSB 201, One University Plaza, 217-206-6506.

Sangamon Watercolor Society Apr 14, 5:30-7:30pm, Dessert reception and exhibit free and open to public. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217- 523-2787.

Third Thursday Art Show Apr 19, 6pm-1am, Celebration of local skills. Brewhaus, 617 E. Washington St, 217-525-6399. (Also, 5pm-1am, Catch 22, 11 W. Old State Capitol Plaza, 522- 5732 and 10pm-3am, Stella Blue, 221 S. Fifth St, 789-8988.)

Tree Huggers - Decatur, IL Apr 12-25, Decatur Area Arts Council presents 14 creations by local artists, crafters and businesses. Through April 13, text or email your favorite to [email protected]. Decatur Central Park, Decatur.

FILM & TELEVISION Breaking the Bank Apr 16, 6pm, Dramatic footage from streets of D.C. at 2000 meeting of IMF and World Bank. UIS Brookens Auditorium, One University Plaza, 217-206-8328.

Springfield/Central Illinois Film Commission Meeting Apr 19, 7-9pm, 6pm dinner, Third Thursday of each month.

Free, but food purchase requested. 816-2117. Lake Pointe Grill, 1386 Toronto Rd.

CHILDREN’S CORNER

An American Ice Princess and Her Doll-Skating Event and Tea Party Apr 21, 1:30-3:30pm, Elegant desserts, get your doll’s hair done, get your nails done and more. Goodie bag and ice skates for your doll. Nelson Center Ice Arena, Lincoln Park, 1601 N. Fifth St, 638-6872.

Earth Day Apr 22, 12-5pm, Changes: Dynamic Illinois Environments exhibit. Pick up your search activities at front desk. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 782-5993.

Super Saturdays at the Museum Apr 14, 11am-3pm, “Crazy for Collage.” Recommended for ages 4-8. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 782-6044.

SCIENCE

Star Parties Apr 13, 20, 8-10pm, Popular free observatory (SE corner) learn and look. Canceled if cloudy. 206-8342. UIS Brookens Library, One University Plaza.

NATURE

Beginning Bonsai Presentation Apr 21, 10am-3pm, Bring brown bag lunch. $50, tree, pot and materials included. 243-9390. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville.

Celebrate Spring - Plant Sale Apr 21, 10am-4pm, Celebrate the season. Vegetable seedlings for purchase. Jubilee Farm, 6760 Old Jacksonville Rd, 787-6927.

Celebrate Spring - Plant Sale Apr 14, 10am-4pm, Celebrate the return of spring. Seedlings available for purchase. Jubilee Farm, 6760 Old Jacksonville Rd, 787- 6927.

SCSWCD Annual Tree Sale Apr 14-15, 8am-5pm Sat, 10am- 5pm Sun, Tech Town. 241-6635. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave.

Sangamon Valley Group, Sierra Club Apr 24, 6:30-8pm, “Hiking the English Lake Country: A Travelogue,” with Bruce Nims and Mark Sorensen. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St, 217-753- 4900.

Springfield Audubon Society Apr 19, 7-9pm, “The Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve,” Tharran Hobson, Illinois River Program Restoration Manager. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave, 217-544-2473.

The Wild Flowers of Logan County Apr 13, 5:30pm, Dinner lecture with David Schroder, retired science professor and master gardener. Reservations elkharthistoricalsociety.org. Wild Hare Cafe, 104 Governor Oglesby St, Elkhart, 947-2100.

Volunteer Work Day Apr 15, 1-3pm, Help us fight back the invasives. Tools provided. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave, 217- 544-2473.

Wildflower Sale Apr 14-15, 9am-4pm Sat, 1- 4pm Sun, Woodland wildflowers, trees and shrubs.

Experienced staff on-hand. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr.

Wildflower Weekends Apr 13-15, 20, Walks Sat. Apr. 14 and 21, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Reservations, elkharthistoricalsociety.org. student art exhibit and more. Elkhart.

ENVIRONMENT

ECCE Speakers Series Apr 25, 7pm, ‘Off Oil: Pioneering a Sustainable Business Model.’ John Bradford, innovations director for Interface America. UIS Brookens Auditorium, One University Plaza, 217-206-6073.

Jacksonville Earth Day Celebration Apr 20, 8am-2pm, Bring your recyclables to Lincoln Square, Salvation Army on hand to take reusables. Plants and trees available for sale. 245- 6121. Jacksonville.

Party for the Planet Apr 14, 10am-6pm, Learn how our actions impact the earth in our own backyards and beyond. Regular admission. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr, 585-1821.

LECTURES & MEETINGS

UIS Lunch and Learn Apr 19, 11:30am-1:30pm, ‘Illinois - Overhead and Underfoot.’ $20 lunch/program. Register at uiaa.org/uis. 206-7395. UIS Public Affairs Center (PAC), One University Plaza, 217-206-6073.

BULLETIN BOARD

Abate of Illinois Motorcycle Swap Meet and Show Apr 22, 10am-4pm, Exhibitors, vendors, parts and clothing, bike show, concessions and bar. $10. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800- 745-3000.

Bobcat Birthday Bash Apr 13, 6-7:30pm, Sign the cats’ card and watch them get treats. Cake for guests, party games for kids. $6.50, $4.50 kids. Reservations required by phone. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr, 585-1821.

Community Shred Event Apr 21, 10am-12pm, Case of non-perishable food or money donations for five boxes shredded free. localfirstspringfield.com. Salvation Army Parking Lot, Ninth and Washington.

Giant Flea Market Apr 15, 8:30am-4:30pm, Indoor market. $1.25, age 12 and under free with adult. Illinois Building. 529-6939. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave, 782-8886.

International Quarter Horse Show Apr 12-15, 8am-5pm, Coliseum. Free admission. 618-397-1388. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave.

PALS Wheelchair Basketball Benefit Apr 13, 7pm, Cheer on St. John’s Children’s Hospital staff, local celebrities and U of I Wheelchair Basketball team. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, 544-6464 x30200.

Red Cross Heroes Breakfast Apr 20, 8-10am, Honoring local individuals by local American Red Cross. Crowne Plaza, 3000 S. Dirksen Pkwy, 787-7602.

Secretaries Party Apr 18, 5pm-12am, Music by Hairbangers Ball, mechanical bull, double shot basketball, karaoke contest and more. $10. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800- 745-3000.

Spring Fling Apr 20, 7-9pm, Springfield Area Newcomers Club. $10 by Apr. 13. springfieldnewcomers.com. Sangamo Club, 227 E. Adams St, 544-1793.

Spring Lawn and Garden Sale Apr 14-15, 8am-5pm Sat, 9am- 4pm Sun, Learn all that’s new for spring. Exposition Building. Free. 528-3033. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave.

Springfield Ceramics and Crafts Club Exhibit Apr 20-21, 10am-2pm Fri-Sat, Also luncheon, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. $8. 787-0617. Springfield Ceramics and Crafts Club, 2626 S. Pasfield St.

Stop Workplace Drama Apr 13, 9-10:30am, With speaker/author Marlene Chism. $20- $30. Register gscc.org or by phone. The Chamber of Commerce, 1011 S. Second St, 217-525-1173.

Student Arts & Research Symposium Apr 12-13, 5:30-10pm Thu, 9am- 10pm Fri, Undergraduate and graduate students present short oral talks, poster presentations, art exhibitions and performances. Auditorium lobby. 206-7338.

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