Books & Authors Nature Book Group Feb 14, 10:30am, Hour book discussion, Barbara Kingsolver’s “Flight Behavior.” Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave, 217-544-2473. Sherlock Holmes Society Feb 16, 9am, “Chapters I - VIII of The Hound of the Baskervilles.” Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 3111 S. Veteran’s Pkwy, 546-8387. Poetry Open Mic Feb 20, 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 Almost, Maine Feb 14-16, 21-24, 7:30pm Thu-Sat, 2pm Sun, Play about inhabitants of fictional town, and love as charming, devastating, sweet, unsatisfying, fulfilling, and most of all, unexpectedly hopeful. $7. Illinois College Icebox Theatre, Kirby Learning Center, Jacksonville, 245-3471.

Comedian Bob Jay Feb 15-16, 8pm Fri, 6pm and 8:15pm Sat, Man of 999 voices. $12.50. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482-5233. Comedian Dale Jones Feb 15-16, 7:30pm and 9:30pm , Machine-gun delivery with quick improvisations. $14-$16. Donnie B’s

Comedy Club, 625 E. Saint Joseph Street, 391-5653.

Flat Stanley, Jr. The Musical Feb 15-17, 7pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, Springfield Theatre Centre production. $8-$12. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.

Portuguese Rodeo Clown Company Feb 15-16, 8pm, Five-member cast puts on two-hour show they invent as they go. $15. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.

Shakespeare Program Feb 16, 2pm, Kevin Bry presents. Free. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 785-7960.

Shrek The Musical Feb 14, 7:30pm, Terrific score of 19 all-new songs, laughs, dancing and breathtaking scenery in this Broadway Series show. $58-$42. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217- 206-6160, 800-207-6960.

The Marvelous Wonderettes Feb 15-17, 22-24, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, Stars Sara Baltusevich, Elizabeth Eckert, Cassie Poe and Teri Wells. $18-$20. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 1-800-838-3006.

Music: General Events Campbell Brothers Feb 16, 8pm, Pedal and lap steel guitars, rhythm, electric guitars and gospel vocals.

$39, $25. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6160, 800- 207-6960. Chicago Bar Association Chorus Concert Feb 16, 7pm, Talented Chicago singers who also happen to be talented lawyers. $10, $15 family. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-785-9363.

Civil War Brass Band Concert Feb 16, 7pm, Springfield’s own presents concert of authentic Civil War music on period instruments. Free. Douglas United Methodist Church, 501 S. Douglas Avenue, 271-9100.

Peter Pan Feb 23, 1pm, 3pm and 6:30pm, Springfield Youth Performance Group presents three shows. $8-$12. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217- 523-2787.

Peterson Family Band Feb 15, 7pm, Bluegrass music with young family from Branson, MO. $5. West Side Christian Church, 2850 Cider Mill Lane, 217-529-2625. HS Variety Show Feb 23, 6:30pm, Jim Leach hosts night of song, comedy and dance. $5. Pleasant Plains High School, 2000 Championship Dr, Pleasant Plains, 787-7405, Patti Good. Prairie Grapevine Folklore Society Feb 19, 7:30pm, Springfield-area acoustic duo, Rachel Rambach and Matt with folk songs. $10-$5. Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Rd, 217-585-9550. Symphony Sweets Feb 24, 2:30pm, Broadway’s greatest love songs and dessert bar. Benefits Sangamon Valley Youth Symphony. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217- 523-2787.

Valentine Day Dinner Concert Feb 14, 6:30pm, Nathan Carls and the upStandard Citizens perform standard love songs. Gourmet dinner. $40. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523- 2787.

Dance Dance Feb 15, 22, 8-11pm, Feb. 1, Mike Lewis. Feb. 8 and 22, Kevin Turner Band. Feb. 15, Angel Brown Ensemble. $10. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 217- 546-9515. Mix-It-Up Un-Valentine Dance Feb 16, 7-11pm, Music with Variety, Dance 4 Fun, all types of dancers. $10. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 217-652-2128. St. Jude Valentine’s Dinner Dance Feb 16, 6pm-12am, Prime rib, chicken, drinks, DJ and dancing. $100 couple. Tickets by phone. Little Flower School, 900 Stevenson Drive, 217-341-2048.

Art & Architecture Congo/Women Portraits of War: Democratic Republic of Congo Art Exhibit Feb 15, 22, 6-8pm, Feb. 15, Student presentations, documentary screening of Nefarious. Feb. 22, student presentations, Oxfam film screening. Illinois College, McGaw Fine Arts Building, 1101 W. College Ave, Jacksonville. Gallery Exhibit Feb 18-23, 25-27, 8am-4pm Mon-Fri, Through Mar. 7, Michael Dixon’s “Shared Histories.” Artist talk Feb. 18, 4:30 p.m. room 2207. LLCC James S. Murray Gallery, Upper level, Menard Hall, 217-786-2219.

Gallery Exhibit Feb 14-17, 19-24, 4-6pm Tue- Sat, 1-3pm Sun, Through Feb. 24, Maeve Young Erickson’s encaustic paintings. David Strawn Art Gallery, 331 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 243-9390.

Graphic Design Group Show Feb 15, 5-7pm, Millikin students mixed media work on display, student portfolios and artist meet and greet. Blue Connection, 117 N. Water St, Decatur, 217-428- 0112. Group Exhibition Feb 14-27, 8am-9pm Mon-Thu, 8am-4pm Fri, 12, Through Mar. 6, local artists explore technology in our lives. Charles E. Becker Library, Benedictine University at Springfield, 1500 North Fifth St.

Film & Television At the River I Stand Feb 20, 6:30pm, Documentary on 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers strike and Dr. Martin Luther King assassination. Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St, 217- 753-4900.

Molly Schlich Film Series Feb 24, 26, 1 and 4pm Sun, 7pm Tue, “Safety Not Guaranteed.” $8-$4. AMC Parkway 8, 3025 Lindbergh Boulevard, 523-2631.

Sing Your Song: Harry Belafonte Feb 19, 7pm, Free Liberty Brew & View screening of the new documentary. Capital City Bar & Grill, 3149 S. Dirksen Pkwy, 529-8580.

Children’s Corner

KidsFest Feb 16, 10am-4pm, Games, activities, crafts, entertainment and more. $3, kids 3 and under free. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800-745-3000. Poetry Hour Feb 16, 10am, Monthly reading to entertain and educate. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St, 217-524-0901. Kids Klub- Presidential Journey Feb 18, 6-7pm, Answer clues to find out something new about U.S. Presidents on display. Meet in Training Center. Scheels, 3801 South MacArthur , 217-726-6330.

Nature Great Backyard Bird Count Feb 16, 9:30am-12pm, No bird ID experience necessary. Indoor activities for children planned. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave, 217-544- 2473.

Maple Syrup Time Feb 16-17, 23-24, 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, 217-529-1111.

Winter Botany Workshop Feb 16, 1-3pm, Fran Harty, The Nature Conservancy, “Seven Step Program for Identifying a Twig in Winter.” Free. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave, 217-544-2473.

Environment

Composting Symposium Feb 20, 12pm, Learn from experts, focus on small and large scale composting. $25 before Feb. 5. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, 786- 2407.

Bulletin Board Abate of Illinois Motorcycle Show Feb 17, 10am-4pm, $10 admission. Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 800-745-3000.

African-American History Month Bookfair Feb 16, 11am-4pm, Historic site volunteers read stories and help kids make bookmarks. Old State Capitol Chorale, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 3111 S. Veteran’s Pkwy, 546- 9440.

Association of Information Technology Professionals Feb 19, 5:30pm 8pm, “Technology in Project Management,” Mike Cordum, PMP. $18. Brickhouse Grill and Pub, 3136 W Iles Ave, 628-3697.

Fifth Annual Black History Ball Feb 23, 6-11pm, Dinner, live entertainment, DJ, vendors and awards. 502-3701. Northfield Inn Suites & Conference Center, 3280 Northfield Dr.

Flirting for Disaster Feb 21, 6-10pm, Fundraiser with unlimited hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine, Still Kick’n band, wine wall. $40, il-redcross.org. Erin’s Pavilion, Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St, 787-7602 x 231.

Giant Flea Market Feb 17, 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.

Singing Valentines Feb 14, 9am-9pm, For your sweetie, a rose and two songs sung by a tuxedoed quartet from Land of Lincoln Chorus. Order online or by phone. 217-953- 0225.

Springfield Christian Women’s Connection Feb 20, 11am-12:45pm, Tom McSwiggin’s Africa trip and Frank Straub talks about choices. Register by Feb. 15. $12. 787- 8246. Northfield Inn Suites & Conference Center, 3280 Northfield Dr, 787-8246. Slow Food Springfield Chili Supper Feb 24, 5pm, Eat chili and learn Springfield’s chili history.

$16. Register by Feb. 18, ann. [email protected]. Cafe Moxo, 411 E. Adams St, 691- 5035.

Sugar and Spice Chili Supper Feb 17, 3-8pm, Chili, entertainment and more. $7-$5. 793-2206 ext. 153. Knights of Columbus Hall Council 364, 2200 S. Meadowbrook Rd.

Politics Monitoring Governance and Human Rights in Gambia Feb 20, 7pm, Dr. Alieu Taal, senior faculty member, University of The Gambia. Free. UIS Brookens Auditorium, One University Plaza, 217-206-8507.

History Black History Month Feb 20, 12-1pm, “The March on Washington,” Dr. Wesley Robinson-McNeese. Food samples, artifacts display. Pearson Museum, second floor. SIU School

of Medicine, 801 N. Rutledge, 217-545-7334.

Civil War Fashion Show Feb 23, 2pm, Informative show of Civil War-era clothing. Tea and treats to follow. $15, $5 kids. Springfield Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St, 217-523-2631.

Auditions Auditions Workshop Feb 16, 10am kids, 1pm adults, Learn how to register and prepare for Muni auditions. TheMuni.org. 793-MUNI. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523- 2787. Springfield PrideFest Acoustic/ Solo Performers Feb 23, 7pm, 6:15 musicians check-in, Play two-three songs, bring CD if no instrument. Forms on website phoenixcenterspringfi eld.org. Info springfi eldpridefestent@ yahoo.com. Crows Mill Pub, 1220 Toronto Road, 217-529- 2769 .

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

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