THE CALENDAR

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Calendar P.O. Box 5256 Springfield, IL 62705

Dates, times and locations are subject to last-minute changes, so we suggest calling before attending events.

Holiday Happenings Holiday Interfaith Breakfast Dec 25, 8:30am-12pm Thu. Temple B’rith Sholom, 1004 S. Fourth St., 525- 1360.

A Starlight Christmas Candlelight Tours Dec 26, 5-8pm Fri. C.H. Moore Homestead DeWitt County Museum, 219 E. Woodlawn St., Clinton, 217-935- 6066.

Carols at Noon Dec 26, 12-1pm Fri. Enjoy Christmas Carols played on the organ of Blessed Sacrament Church by Mark Gifford, Organist. Free to public. 217- 494-5209. Blessed Sacrament Church, 1725 S. Walnut Street, 528-7521.

First Night Dec 31, 1-4pm and 5-11:15pm.

Afternoon free activities for kids at Springfi eld High School. Evening music, dance and more at various downtown locations. Hosted by the Springfi eld Area Arts Council. springfi eldartsco.org.

Books & Authors Sherlock Holmes Society Meeting Jan 17, 9am Sat. Discussion of the Red-Headed League. Open to public. Free. Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 3111 S. Veteran’s Pkwy, 546-9440.

Theater & Comedy

Comedian Buzz Sutherland Dec. 31, Jan 2-3, 6pm Wed, 9:30pm Fri, 7:30pm Sat. Hilarious, hardworking, touring comic. A staple on the college circuit. Seen on Comedy Central and the Late Late shows. $50- $200 NYE. $13, 15. Donnie B’s Comedy Club, 625 E. Saint Joseph Street, 391- JOKE. Comedian James Ervin Berry Dec 26-27, 8pm Fri, 7:30pm Sat. Seen on BET and Comedy Central. A staple on college campuses all over the country. $13, $15. Donnie B’s Comedy Club, 625 E. Saint Joseph Street, 391-JOKE.

Comedian Richie Holiday Jan 9-10, 7:30pm Fri-Sat. A young, relatable, up-and-coming comedian. Seen on Comedy Central. $13, $15. Donnie B’s Comedy Club, 625 E. Saint Joseph Street, 391-JOKE.

Comedian Ryan Singer Dec 26-27, 31, 8-9:30pm Fri-Sat, 8-9:30pm Wed. Selected as one of “10 LA Comics to Watch” in 2014 by LA Weekly. $12.50 cash only at the club; buy online for + $1 per ticket. Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482-5233.

Dance

Old Fashioned Square and Round Dance Jan 11, 2:30-5:30pm Sun. Jim Davis, caller. Music by Judy, Fiddlin’ Phil Fry and Friends. $15 couple. 652-3499. Jacksonville Moose Lodge, Jacksonville.

Art & Architecture Best Gifts Exhibition/Sale Dec. 18-31, 12-7pm, Tue-Sun. Features a variety of original and handmade art. Prairie Art Alliance Gallery in the Hoogland, 420 S. Sixth St., 217-544- 2787.

Down from the Attic Exhibit Jan 9, 10am-3pm Mon-Sat. Explore curiosities from the Springfi eld Art Association’s attic that rarely see the light of day. Free to public. pringfi eld Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St., 217- 523-2631.

Children’s Corner

Family Game Night Dec. 29, 6-8pm Mon. Traditional board games, Wii video games, Winter Bingo. No registration, drop-ins welcome! Free. Rochester Public Library, 1 Community Drive, Rochester, 498-8454.

Satur-Play! - Winter Weather Experiment Dec 27, 11am-3pm Sat. For ages 3-10 and parents. Learn how temperatures, ice and salt work in this fun winter weather experiment. Free to public. 217- 782-5955. Illinois State Museum, 502 S. Spring St., 217-782-7386.

Science Paul Mickey Science Series Lecture Jan 14, 7-8:30pm Wed. “The Gray Fossil Site and Beyond.” Presented by Dr. Blaine Schubert, Director of the Center of Excellence in Paleontology, East Tennessee State University. Free to public. 217-785-0037. Illinois State Museum Research & Collections Center, 1011 E. Ash St., 785-0037.

Nature

Christmas Bird Count Jan 4, 1-3pm Sun.

Counting of birds. Volunteers needed to walk trails outside and indoor volunteers needed to count at feeders. Beginners welcome. Refreshments provided. Free to public. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave., 217-544-2473.

Springfield Audubon Annual Meeting Jan 11, 2-4pm Sun. Greg Hunter will talk about the new Amboy Marsh Sanctuary. Potluck to follow. Free to public. 217-725- 7650. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave., 217- 544-2473. Stone Soup Hike Jan. 1, 10am-12pm, Thurs. Bring something hot to add to either a vegetarian or meateater soup pot and your own “table service”. Enjoy a hike through the nature preserve followed by warm soup afterwards. Sponsored by the Sangamon Valley Group of the Sierra Club. Free to public. Carpenter Park Nature Preserve Pavilion, Cabin Smoke Trail off North Business Route 55 (Peoria Road), Sherman, 217-544-1751.

Lectures & Meetings Beer School at Obed & Isaac’s Jan 3, 10-11am Sat. Tour brewery, learn about beer making, sample a few brews. Must be 21. Free. Pre-register at connshospitalitygroup.com. Obed & Isaacs, 500 S. Sixth St, 217-670-0627.

Chatham Jaycees Meeting

Jan 15, 8-9pm Thu. 217-414- 9637. VFW Post #4763, 501 W. Mulberry, Chatham, 217-483- 4613.

Coffee Cupping and Lecture Jan 3, 1-2pm Sat. Taste and learn about different coffees from the three growing regions in the Costa Grande Mountains of Mexico. Free to public. 217- 391-7587. Edgar’s Coffee House, 87 W. Plummer, Chatham, 217- 391-7628. GriefShare Winter Program Jan 6, 6:30pm Tue. Tuesdays. 13-week grief recovery seminar and support group. Information, 899-9418 or GriefShare.org. Trinity Lutheran School, 515 S. MacArthur, 217-787-2323. SCORE Breakfast Jan 15, 7-9am Thu. Learn how SCORE can help you start or grow a small business. Free, preregistration required. 217- 381-5143. LLCC Trutter Center, 5250 Shepherd Road, 217-786- 2200.

Sex Addicts Anonymous Dec 29, 7:30-8:30pm Mon. Twelve-step recovery group for those seeking freedom from addictive sexual behavior. Contact springfi eldsaa@gmail. com. Anonymity assured. Various locations. Springfield Civic Garden Club

Meeting Jan 5, 9-11:30am Mon. “Do- It-Yourself” theme. Members present their best gardening and home projects, inlcuding pinterest and DIY boards. Pinterest demonstration will follow. Free and open to public. 217-971-6888. Westminster Presbyterian Church, 533 S. Walnut Street, 217-522-4415. Springfield Parental Alienation Advocacy Group Meeting Jan 5, 6-8pm Mon. 217-793- 3586. Hilton Springfi eld, 700 E. Adams, 217-789-1530.

Stamp Collecting Club Jan 19, 7pm Mon. Meets third Monday of each month. 217- 546-5021. Carpenters Union Hall, 211 W Lawrence, 217- 528-7571.

Bulletin Board Backgammon Jan 21, 6pm Wed. Every Wed. Online, new and experienced players welcome. 622-9447. Capital Teletrack, 1766 Wabash Ave., 217-546-2111.

Catholic’s Divorce Survival

Guide program Jan 8, 15, 6:30-8pm Thu. St. Agnes Church, 245 N. Amos St., 217-793-1330.

DSI Annual Awards Dinner Jan 21, 5am Wed. Awards event honoring the individuals, businesses, organizations and projects that make downtown a great place to live and work. Cocktails, silent auction program. Mayor’s State of Downtown address. $60 per person; $480 for table of 8; $1250 for corporate sponsorship. 217-544-1723. Hilton Springfi eld, 700 E. Adams, 217-789-1530.

Springfield Ski Club Trivia Night Jan 16, 6pm Fri. 217-415- 7400. Knights of Columbus 364, 2200 S. Meadowbrook Road, 217-787-2360.

Women’s Personal Defense Seminar Jan 3, 10:30-11:30am Sat. Free course for women by Professor Mark Commean, Head Instructor and owner of Gracie Humaita. Scheels, 3801 South MacArthur, 217-726- 6330.

Health

Get Covered Sangamon County Jan 21-20, 9am-5pm Fri-Tue. Springfi eld Urban League, Inc., 1551 E. Madison Street, (217) 522-0407.

Sports & Fitness National Skate Month Event Jan 3, 9-11:30am Sat. Free skating lessons and demonstrations for all ages, including a hockey demo, followed by free skating until 1:30pm. Goodie bag for fi rst 50 registrants. Register at sfsc4u. com, Open to public. 217-206- 5526. Nelson Center Ice Arena, Lincoln Park, 1601 N. Fifth St., 217-525-2589.

Springfield Park District Lacrosse Jan 4, 6-9pm Sun. Capital City Lacrosse Team. $80 for 8 weeks of Sunday night play. Kids 13 and under from 6:00- 7:30pm. Kids 14 and over 7:30-9pm. 217-753-0700. Goals Indoor Sports, 3604 North Peoria Road, 217 789- GOAL.