Books & Authors

Artist in Residence Apr 27, 2-4pm, SIU’s literary magazine, SCOPE Reading, Reception and Exhibit. Exhibit runs through May 3. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St, 217-524-0901.

National Poetry Month Celebration and Panel Discussion Apr 25, 7pm, Valerie Jean Johnson, Poetry Magazine managing editor. Panel discussion, “[Why] Does Poetry Matter?” Free. Brinkerhoff Home, 1500 N. Fifth St, 217-525-1420 ext. 295.

SCOPE Public Reception Apr 26, 12pm, Literary mag. SIU School of Medicine, 801 N. Rutledge, 545- 2155.

Spoken Word Pharmacy Open Apr 25, 7pm, Fourth Thursday of month, poetry, prose, song, stand-up and more. 6:30 p.m. sign-up. The Pharmacy, 401 South Grand Avenue West, 217-652- 3273.

Theater & Comedy Children of a Lesser God Apr 25-28, 7:30pm Apr 20, 25-27, 2pm

Apr 28, True story of deaf actress and her hearing husband. $7. Illinois College Sibert Theatre, McGaw Fine Arts Center, Jacksonville, 245-3471.

Comedian Tim Cavanagh Apr 26-27, 8pm Fri, 7:15pm and 9:30pm Sat, Famous for one-minute songs on Bob and Tom Show. $12.50. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482-5233.

Costuming Workshop May 04, 3-5pm, Designer behind Hoogland’s Cats and Man of La Mancha, Dave Shaw. Free. RSVP, hooglandeducation@gmail.com. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787. Les Liaisons Dangereuses May 03-04, 8pm, $12-$10. Mature themes. Advance tickets recommended, 217-786-2762. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, 217-786-2200.

Menopause The Musical Apr 29-30, 7:30pm, Musical parody set to classic tunes. $67, $57, $52. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6160, 800-207-6960. One Mic Comedy Show Apr 27-28, 8pm, A.G. White from N.Y. and Ballhead Phillips. $15. Jaycees Activity Center, 2525 S. 12th St. 679- 0069.

Proof Apr 26-28, May 03-05, 8pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sun, Springfi eld Theatre Centre presents story of mathematical genius and mental illness. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217- 523-2787.

Music: General Events Bells in Motion May 05, 4pm, Handbell concert. $10 at door. Douglas United Methodist Church, 501 S. Douglas Avenue.

Come Let Us Be Bold With Our Songs May 04, 2pm, David Tell, Native American Flutes. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, 603 S. Fifth St, 217- 524-0901. Elvis Gospel Sing May 03, 7pm, With Scott Wattles. Mary Bryant Home fundraiser. $10. 217- 791-1385. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 1 Bachrach Court, Decatur, 217-423- 6955.

Illinois Symphony Orchestra May 04, 8pm, Led by world-renowned guest conductor Stefan Sanderling. $50-$20. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6160, 800- 207-6960.

Instructional Jam Session May 04, 10am-12pm, Clayville, Route 125, Pleasant Plains, 626- 1024.

Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra May 04, 7:30pm, Season Finale concert with pianist Jade Simmons. $15. Tickets available at door. Illinois College Rammelkamp Chapel, 1101 W. College Ave, Jacksonville, 217- 245-1181. LLCC Recital Series Apr 28, 4pm, ‘88 Keys for 2,” piano duet recital by Maria Horv·th and Pei-I Wang. LLCC Trutter Center, 5250 Shepherd Road, 217-786-2200.

Larry Kirwan Apr 25-26, 7:30pm, Musician plays music of Stephen Foster. Acoustic. Admission. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St, 217-782-5764.

Songwriters Workshop Apr 27, 6-8pm, Mary Lemanski, “Getting a Song from Your Mind

to Market.” $5. Registration required at songsalive.org. The Pharmacy, 401 South Grand Avenue West, 217-652-3273.

Springfield Choral Society Apr 27, 7:30pm , “Ravishing Rachmaninoff,” a capella performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “All-Night Vigil.” $12. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 815 S. Sixth Street, (Also, Apr. 28, 4:30, St. Joseph’s Church, 700 E. Spruce St., Chatham) 787-4868 or 741-6798.

Springfield Jazz Society’s Spring Brunch Apr 28, 12:30-3:30pm, Mainstream jazz and classic Big Band hits. Nathan Carls vocals with Rob Killam Quartet. Buffet. $20. Reservations required by Apr. 26, noon. 217-414-2955 tickets, 217-735-1275 credit card reservations. The Maple Club, 120 S. McLean, Lincoln, 217-735-1275.

Switchback Apr 26, 8pm, American music duo play Americana and Celtic music. Central Illinois Irish Step Dancers perform. $22-$20. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217- 523-2787.

Tatsuya Nakatani Duo, End Times Trio May 05, 6:30-9pm, Avantgarde jazz with contemporary percussionist who performs around the world. Donations accepted. The Pharmacy, 401 South Grand Avenue West, 217- 652-3273. Venice in Concert Apr 26, 8pm, California band mixing 70s rock ‘n rock with folk storytelling and more. $39. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 1-800-838-3006.

Dance A Ballroom Dance Apr 27, 7-11pm, Ballad lesson fi rst hour. $5. Prairie Land Dance Club, 650 Matilda St, Illiopolis, 428-1560. Dance Apr 26, 8-11pm, Mike Lewis Band. $10. VFW Post #755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, 217-546- 9515. Salsa Nights Apr 27, 9pm-12:45am, Last

Sat. of each month. $3. Abe’s Southside Cafe & Pub, 3751 S. Sixth St. 217-529-5511. The Sleeping Beauty Apr 27-28, 2pm Sat-Sun, Classic ballet performance by Springfi eld Ballet Company. $16-$26. Sangamon Auditorium, UIS, 1 University Plaza, 217-206-6160, 800- 207-6960.

Williamsville Jazz Dinner Dance Apr 27, 6-9:30pm, Hickory River Smokehouse dinner with Williamsville High School Jazz Band and Four Voices. $20. Williamsville Junior High Gym, 500 S. Walnut St. Williamsville, 217-544-3234.

Art & Architecture Art Installation - In the Middle Apr 25-27, 29-30, May 01-04, 06-08, 9am-8pm Mon-Thu, 9am-4pm Fri-Sat, Betsy Dollar, artist and SAA executive director, depicts many roles of a woman at midlife. Chatham Area Public Library, 600 E. Spruce, Chatham, 483-2713.

Artists Sought For MacArt Fest. Info and entry online. macartfest.com. Collective Exit Apr 25, 29-30, May 01-02, 06- 08, 11am-6pm, Exhibition of senior student artists. Reception May 2, 5:30 p.m. UIS Visual Arts Gallery, HSB 201, One University Plaza, 217-206-6506. Imagine’s Dining with the Arts Apr 30, 5:30-8:30pm, Fourcourse meal catered by Dr. Ugs Drugstore Cafe, art by Amanda Greive and gallery talk. $20. The Imagine Foundation At the Asa Talcott House, 859 Grove St, Jacksonville, 217-473-8725. Kitchens in Bloom Tour May 05, 12-4pm, Tour fi ve homes in the Washington Park area with Junior League of Springfi eld. $15-$20 at locations in town or 1400 Illini Road day of tour. Various locations, 544-5557.

Pied Piper Architectural Tour May 01, 5:30pm, Free professionally-guided architectural tour. Meets outside. 544-1723. Lincoln- Herndon Law Offi ce, 112 North Sixth St. SCOPE Art Exhibit, Open Mic Night Apr 26, 7pm, Literary magazine at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Charley’s Club at Cafe Andiamo, 206 S. Sixth St, 545-2155. Upper Story Tour May 02, 5-8pm, Self-guided tour of business, residential and historic buildings. $15- $8. downtownspringfi eld.org. Downtown Springfi eld.

Film & Television

Burn May 08, 7pm, Action-packed documentary about Detroit, told through eyes of Detroit fi refi ghters. Adult themes. The Legacy Theatre, 101 E. Lawrence, 1-800-838-3006. Food Patriots Movie Showing Apr 25, 6pm, Real stories and conversation about changing the way America eats, buys and thinks about food. Free. LLCC Trutter Center, 5250 Shepherd Road, 786-4993.

Children’s Corner Kids Good Grief Camp May 05, 12-4pm, Kids 6-12 who have lost a loved one. Led by licensed counselor with Hollywood the Healing Dog. Sponsored by Staab Funeral Home and Crossroads Counseling Center. $10. Erin’s Pavilion, Southwind Park, 4965 S. Second St, 483-1224.

Science Friday Night Star Parties Apr 26, 8-10pm, Fridays in April. Enter southeast corner, Brookens Library. Free. Weather question, 206-8342 at 7 p.m. or UIS Observatory on Twitter. University of Illinois at Springfi eld, 217-206-6073.

Star Program May 03, 7-10pm, Talk by Dr. John Martin followed by telescope gazing from 8-10 p.m. Free. Register by phone. Lincoln Memorial Garden, 2301 E. Lake Shore Dr, 217-529- 1111.

Nature Discovery After Dark Apr 26, 7-9pm, After hours guided tour. Admission. Preregistration required by phone.

Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr, 217-585-1821.

IDOA Earth Stewardship Day May 01, 9am-3pm, Free admission. Expo building, Illinois building and more. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave, 782-8886. Illinois Native Plant Society Plant Sale Apr 27, 9am-2pm, Purchase native Illinois prairie and woodland plants grown by INPS members. Pavilion. 243-6055. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave, 782-8886.

Just Be Day Apr 27, 10am-2pm, Enjoy just being on the land. Jubilee Farm, 6760 Old Jacksonville Rd, 217- 787-6927.

Environment Bottle Water vs. Tap Water Challenge and Seed Sprinkling Apr 26, 10-11:30am, Take the taste test. Can you tell the difference? Which is better for you? Participants get wildfl ower seeds. A. Lincoln Commons. 786-4616. Lincoln Land Community College, 5250 Shepherd Rd, 217-786-2200.

Earth Fair Apr 27, 10am-2pm, Free, all-ages event includes activities, information and music. 789- 2255. Union Square Park and Museum, 212 N. Six St..

Free Rain Garden Workshop Apr 29, 6-7:30pm Mon, Stacy James, Ph.D. Prairie Rivers Networks. Register at springfi eld-rain-garden. eventbrite.com/#, Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St, 344- 2371 x203.

Party for the Planet Apr 27, 10am-4pm, Animal programs, games, activities, crafts, repurpose/reuse sale and more. Regular admission. Henson Robinson Zoo, 1100 E. Lake Shore Dr, 217-585-1821.

Lectures & Meetings

UIS Lunch & Learn Apr 25, 11:30am-1:30pm, Chancellor Koch speaks and Prof Wheeler on public affairs reporting program. $20 buffet. Register online or 206-7395. UIS Public Affairs Center (PAC), One University Plaza, 217-206-6073.

Women Entrepreneurs - Central IL May 08, 5:30-7pm, “Caring for Ourselves.” $30-$22. Register by May 5, reservations@we-ci.org. 725-8500. Bella Milano, 4525 Wabash Ave, 217-547-0011.

Bulletin Board Backgammon Club May 01, 08, 6pm, Every Wed. with Sangamon Valley Backgammon Association. 622- 9447. Capital Teletrack, 1766 Wabash Ave, 217-546-2111.

Elkhart Artisan Craft Fair Apr 27-28, 10am-4pm, More than 20 booths with children’s items, jewelry, wood crafts, bags and totes, walking sticks and more. Elkhart, Elkhart.

Family FUNDay May 04, 9am-3pm, Lake Springfi eld Christian Assembly, 1674 Lick Creek Lane, Chatham, 217-529-2625. Family Fun Day May 04, 9am-12pm, Bounce house, storyteller, face painting, Ronald McDonald, recycling drive, shred event and more. Ronald McDonald House, 610 N. Seventh Street, 528-3314. Illinois Quarter Horse Assoc. Spring Show Apr 25-28, 7:30am-9:30pm, Coliseum. Free admission. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave, 782-8886.

Lincoln Funeral Coalition Fundraiser Apr 30, 7pm, 10th Illinois Cavalry Regiment and Regimental Band and re-enactors of 114th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. $50, $75 couples. http://lincolnfuneraltrain.org. Edwards Place, Springfi eld Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St..

Make A Splash Apr 25, 7-9pm, Info about getting public water in rural Rochester, New City, Pawnee, Chatham, New Berlin and Christian County. Hosted by SangChris Water Alliance Cooperative NFP. Sugar Creek United Methodist Church, 1022 New City Rd, Chatham, 488- 6329.

Policy Breakfast Apr 26, 7:30am coffee, 8am program, Dr. Don Johnson, Chief Economist, Caterpillar. Hoogland Center for the Arts, 420 S. Sixth St, 217-523-2787.

Sparkle and Shine Apr 26, 6-8pm, Ladies night out with chocolates, champagne, music, silent auction, raffl e, grab bags and more to benefi t PAA and Sojourn. $5. Prairie Art Alliance Gallery II, 2 S. Old State Capitol Plaza, 217-544-2727.

Spring Fling Craft and Vendor Show Apr 27, 10am-3pm, More than 30 crafters and vendors. Cats and dogs for adoption from Sangamon County Animal Control. Town & Country Shopping Center, 2403 S. Macarthur Blvd. St. Judes Kentucky Derby Party Apr 27, 7pm, Benefi ting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. $75, $125 couples. Panther Creek Country Club, 3001 Panther Creek Dr, 800-713- 8223.

Food Charlie Wells Memorial Fly-In /Drive-In Pancake & Sausage Breakfast Apr 27-28, 7am-12pm, Model airplane exhibit and airplane rides may be available for $20 donation. $7-$4. Landmark Aviation. Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, J. David Jones Parkway, 217-788-9200.

Nearly High Tea: Down on the Farm May 05, 2-4pm, Must register by May 1. $50. Jubilee Farm, 6760 Old Jacksonville Rd, 217-787- 6927.

Politics American Higher Education Policy in Postwar Iraq Apr 25, 7pm, Dr. Jonathan Loopstra, historian and Capital University professor who spent years teaching in Iraq talks about experiences of Iraqi youth today. UIS Brookens Auditorium, One University Plaza, 217-206- 8507.

Illinois Redistricting Symposium Apr 30, 8:30am-3:15pm, Register at illinoisredistricting. eventbrite.com. Free. The Inn at 835, 835 S. Second St.

History

Abraham Lincoln Boy Scout Annual Pilgrimage Apr 28, 12pm, Laying wreaths at Illinois WWII, Korean and Vietnam Memorials, followed by ceremony and parade from Lincoln Tomb to Old State Capitol plaza. Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site, 1500 Monument Ave, 782-2717.

Battle of Chancellorsville May 02, 7pm, Dr. Mark DePue, historian and director of library’s Oral History Program. Free. Reservations required. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 212 N. Sixth St, 217-782-5764. Decatur Genealogical Society Dinner Meeting Apr 28, 1-4pm, Cherokee Indian Trail of Tears. Don Chamberlain of Decatur, Ill. Free. Decatur Genealogical Society & Library, 1255 W. South Side Drive, Decatur, 217-429-0135.

Illinois History Expo May 02, 9am-2:30pm, Prairie Capital Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, 217- 782-2891. Latino Experience in the Land of Lincoln Apr 28, 1-5pm, Roundtable, refreshments, El Nuevo Trio Acapulco performs corridos. Free. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 North Sixth St, 217-558-8844.

The Forgotten War Apr 27, 2pm, David Shulke, retired Navy veteran. Korean War National Museum Denis J. Healy Freedom Center, 9 South Old State Capitol Plaza, 217- 523-7230.

Faith & Philosophy Governor’s Prayer Breakfast May 02, 7:30am, Dr. Tom Jones, ambassador-at-large, Habitat for Humanity International. $20. 206-7642 by April 26. Crowne Plaza, 3000 S. Dirksen Pkwy.

Sports & Fitness Critical Mass Bicycle Ride Apr 26, 6-7pm, Casual paced, safe bicycle ride around downtown Springfi eld. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza, 638-9523.

Safe Family Saturday Apr 27, 10am-2pm, American Red Cross and St-John’s Children’s Hospital free bike helmets give-away. Games, prizes, food, $500 gift card winner. Scheels, 3801 South MacArthur , 217-726-6330.