UIS Spring Showcase Concert Apr 27, 7:30pm, Features UIS Chorus, Band and Chamber Ensemble. UIS Studio Theatre, One University Plaza, 217-206- 6160.

University of Illinois- Springfield Chorus Apr 29, 4pm, Free concert featuring range of styles and languages with focus on contemporary composers. LLCC Trutter Center, 5250 Shepherd Road, 217-786-2200.

Dance All About Dance w/DJ Marilyn Ferry Apr 19, 26, 7-10pm, Every Thursday open dancing. (Line dance lessons, 7-8 p.m.), The Doghouse, 2937 W. White Oaks Drive, 836-1438.

Dances Apr 20-21, 25, 7pm Fri-Sat, 8pm Wed, All dancers welcome. Open country (Fri. and Wed.), ballroom (Sat.), 428-1560. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis.

Mix It Up Dance Party Apr 21, 7-11pm, Music with Variety, Dance 4 Fun, all types of dancers. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 217-652- 2128.

Pilobolus Apr 29, 7pm, Extraordinary dance company with a body of over 100 choreographic works. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6160, 800-207-6960.

Salsa Nights Apr 28, 9pm-12:30am, Last Sat. of each month. $3. Abe’s Southside Cafe & Pub, 3751 S. Sixth St.

Senior Adult Musical Program Apr 29, 3-5:30pm, Night of free musical entertainment and dance for those 55 and older. Rochester Junior High School, Route 29, Rochester, 217-498- 7179.

Two Step West Coast Swing w/ DJ Marilyn Ferry Apr 23, 30, 7-9pm, Mondays, Line and Swing Dancing with lessons. Parquet Room, RTUC. Millikin University, 1184 W. Main St, Decatur, 836-1438.

Art & Architecture

3T: Fluffy Floppy Bunnies! (And the Golden Egg) Apr 19, 6pm-12:45am, Art by local talent on exhibit and for sale, music. Free. Floyd’s Thirst Parlor, 210 S. Fifth St, 522- 2020.

Amateur Photography Contest Deadline April 20 for May display. Call or stop by for entry form. 12-4pm Mon-Fri, 12-5pm Sat-Sun, Through May 20, see winners in this annual competition. Washington Park Botanical Garden, 1740 W. Fayette Ave.

Around Each Corner - Expressions in Color Apr 19-20, 24-27, May 01-02, 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.

Art in the Garden Apr 28, 9am-3pm, 4-6pm reception, Celebrate central Illinois’ diversity of talent in juried exhibition along Garden’s trails. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr, 217- 529-1111.

Artist in Residence Apr 28, May 01-11, 10am-4pm Tue-Sat, Exhibit of winning poetry, prose, and artwork from SIU School of Medicine SCOPE literary magazine. (Opening presentation Apr. 28, 2 p.m.), Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St.

Chocolates & Champagne on the Square Apr 27, 6-8pm, Sales drive for art gallery plus Soujourn fundraiser. Bring donations, food, blankets, toiletries, etc. Music by Micah Walk. Free. Prairie Art Alliance Gallery II, 2 S. Old State Capitol Plaza, 544-2727.

Cosmos Apr 19-21, 24-28, May 01-02, 10am-5pm Tue-Fri, 10am-3pm Sun, April 6-May 12, George King, pastel; Michelle Smith, drawing. 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 19-22, 24-28, 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.

Gallery Hours Apr 19-22, 24-27, 4-6pm Tue- Sat, 1-3pm Sun, Kelly Eddington - Watercolors. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 243-9390.

Illinois Prairie Pastel Society Apr 19-20, 10am-5pm, 10am- 3pm Sat, Through Apr. 20. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St.

Juried Student Art Show Apr 19-20, 23-27, 30, May 01- 02, 10am-5pm Mon-Fri, On exhibit through May 3. 786- 4967. LLCC James S. Murray Gallery, Upper level, Menard Hall.

Lincoln Garden Juried Art Exhibition Apr 25-29, May 01-02, 10am- 4pm Tue-Sat and 1-4pm Sun, Variety of media donated by area artists to benefit the Garden. Art available through purchase in silent auction. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr, 529-1111.

On and Of Paper: ISM Selections Apr 19-28, 8:30am-5pm Mon- Sat, 12-5pm Sun, Through April 2012, exhibit of all things paper. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St.

Personalities Paint Apr 21, 6-9pm, Artwork 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 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 Meeting Apr 26, 7pm, Fourth Thursday of month in third floor boardroom. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St.

Third Thursday Art Show Apr 19, 6pm-1am, Celebration of local skills. Brewhaus, 617 E. Washington St, 217-525-6399.

Third Thursday Art Show Apr 19, 5pm-1am, Hors d’oeuvres provided and spirits available. Top floor. Catch 22, 11 W. Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-522- 5732.

Third Thursday Art Show Apr 19, 10pm-3am, After the other Third Thursday art shows, swing down the late night and see more amazing work. Stella Blue, 221 S. Fifth St, 217-789- 8988.

Tree Huggers - Decatur, IL Apr 19-30, May 01-02, Decatur Area Arts Council presents 14 creations by local artists, crafters and businesses. Decatur Central Park, Decatur.

UIS Senior Student Exhibition Apr 30, May 01-02, 11am-6pm Mon-Thu, Reception May 3, 5:30-8 p.m. UIS Visual Arts Gallery, HSB 201, One University Plaza.

Film & Television

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.

Bike Rodeo Apr 21, 10am-12pm, Children through fourth grade. Free goodies, bike inspection, enter to win bike. Parking lot. Chatham Elementary School, Chatham.

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.

Jim Gill Family Concert Apr 26, 6:30-7:30pm, Free interactive family event. LLCC Child Development Center hosts pre show activity at 6 p.m. Space limited. Tickets at Student Life Office, Menard Hall. 786-2241. LLCC Trutter Center, 5250 Shepherd Road, 217-786-2200.

Save the Frogs Day Apr 28, 9:30am-5pm, Learn about Illinois amphibians as you search for froggy facts and earn a Save the Frogs sticker. Free. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St, 782-5993.

Science Star Parties Apr 20, 27, 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.

Bird Hikes Apr 21, 28, 8am, Five Saturdays through May 19, join bird expert Kevin Veara who leads birders of all skill levels. Free. Meets at Nature Center. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr.

Bird Walks Apr 28, 9am and 1pm, Two walks let by Rhetta Jack, former ornithologist, Illinois Natural History Survey. Leaving downtown, Governor Oglesby St. $7.50. Limited registration. elkharthistoricalsociety.org. Elkhart.

Birds of Elkhart Hill Apr 27, 5:30pm, Dinner lecture by Elkhart Historical Society. Rhetta Jacks talks about migratory and permanent birds. Register elkharthistoricalsociety.org. 947-2046. Wild Hare Cafe, 104 Governor Oglesby St, Elkhart, 947-2100.

Blossom Time Hikes Apr 22, 29, 2pm, Three Sundays through Apr. 29, join one of garden’s naturalists and discover spring wildflowers. Free. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr.

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 28, 10am-4pm, Celebrate the season. Vegetable seedlings for purchase. Jubilee Farm, 6760 Old Jacksonville Rd, 787-6927.

Discovery After Dark Apr 20, 27, 7-9pm, After hours guided tour. $5.50-$3:50. ($6.50- $4.50 non-residents.) Pre-registration required by phone.

Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr.

Flower Planting at Lincoln Park Apr 21, 9-11am, Weather permitting, join Friends of Lincoln Park/LP Neighborhood Association at lagoon to plant perennial flowers. Bring spades, hand trowels, gloves. 725-5065. Lincoln Park, Fifth St and Sangamon Ave, 217-544-1751.

Friends of Sangamon River Volunteer Work Day Apr 21, 10am, Seeding, invasives cutting/removal. Tools provided. Washington Park, South Grand and MacArthur, 217-753- 6225.

IL Native Plant Society Plant Sale Apr 28, 9am-2pm, Diverse selection of native plants, trees and shrubs. Commodity Pavilion. 243-6055. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave, 782-8886.

Land of Lincoln Water Gardening Society Apr 26, 6:30pm, ‘Birds at the Pond,’ Wade Kammin of Wild Birds Unlimited. www.llwgs.org. Douglas United Methodist Church, 501 S. Douglas Avenue.

Land, Water, Life-Protecting Our Future Apr 20, 6pm, Friends of the Sangamon Valley fundraiser. Speaker Alley Ringhausen, Great River Land Trust executive director. Seasonal appetizers and silent auction with some awesome gifts. $50, $75 couples.

Limited number of tickets available at door. 525-1410.

Maldaner’s , 222 S. Sixth St, 217-522-4313.

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.

Wed. Morning Pickup Party Apr 25, 9-10am, Weather permitting, help pick up trash. Garbage bags and long handled pickers provided. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave.

Wildflower Weekends Apr 20, (Walks 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Reservations, elkharthistoricalsociety.org.) student art exhibit and more. Elkhart.

Environment Community Recycling Event Apr 21, 9am-12pm, GHS Key Club sponsors drop off in west parking lot. Separate - books, old cell phones, aluminum cans, blankets and pillows, clothes, shoes, eye glasses, sunglasses, hearing aids, computer accessories and computers (working and nonworking), faxes and copiers, kitchenware, electronics, small appliances, decor, wire hangers, used/broken crayons, paper, paper bags, glass (clear and colored), plastics, aerosol cans, old medicine, recyclable batteries, cardboard, packing peanuts, bubble wrap. 483- 2424. Glenwood High School, 1501 Plummer Boulevard, Chatham, 483-2424.

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