Straight Up Magazine May 2013

of Troubadour Dali ~ May Calendar of Events ~ Let There Be Peace by Piece on Earth Wild Friends in the Garden ~ Potential Kinetic ~ Copyright Law

Anatomy of an Art Show - Art on the Square ~ Interview with Jake Matthew Tierney

May 2013

#

10

Issue

May 2013

FREE

Serving Up Art, Music, and Culture for the Metro East’s Enjoyment

Kathy Gomric

StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

1

Inside Page Editors Word – May 2013

May 2013

Straight Up Magazine is here with its 10th edition ‘Serving Up Art, Music and Culture for the Metro-East’s Enjoyment’. St. Louis has its arts and entertainment magazines. The Metro East deserves its own. And here it is. It’s called Straight Up!!!

We are pleased to have Kathy Gomric grace this tenth edition cover! Kathy is passionate about her artwork. And her black and white drawings are perfect for Straight Up Magazine! See more Kathy Gomric in our Submissions section.

We thank our writers for their poignant features. We appreciate our fans who have submitted their works for publication. And “Likes” to all you followers on Facebook!!!

Straight Up loves you!!!!

The mission of Straight Up Magazine is to support local arts and artists and the businesses and organizations that support local arts and artists. Please feel free to contact us with ideas, comments, information, etc. that might assist us in our mission to serve you, the residents of the Metro-East.

WE WANT YOU! - All you artistic and creative types out there! You should contact us. Show us your work. Tell us of your craft and brief personal/artistic history. Submit any art form that you’d like. Perhaps, you can be one of our next published contributors or even a featured artist. See our “Wanted” poster in this edition for submission details.

Check out the Submissions Pages to see who’s featured this month. Next month, that could be you!!

Enjoy Str8 Up. Tell your friends. Send us your work. And visit our website at StraightUpMagazine.net. (You can scan our QRC on the cover.) You’ll see Straight Up Magazine at nearly 200 area distribution locations. And we’ll see you at the clubs, theatres and festivals all over the Metro-East.

The Editors thank you!!!

2

Str8Up Magazine

May Credits - Staff

Managing Editors: Dylan Seibert, Paul Seibert Content Editors: Dylan Seibert, Paul Seibert, Kate Collins Layout Design Artists: Mark Polege (MarkusDesignWorks.com), Michelle Reynolds Sales: Brenton Ebersole, Brian Gardner, Daniel Nygard, Paul Seibert Ad Artists: Michelle Reynolds, Shannon Davis, Wil Sullivan Wanted Poster: Michelle Reynolds Calendar: Dylan Seibert Website Design: Mark Polege (MarkusDesignWorks.com) Photography: Mark Polege

May Credits - Contributors

Cover Art: “ABodragon Tree” by Kathy Gomric (www.freewebs.com/ktbugg) Cover Logo: Josh Rowan (JoshuaRowan.com) Photography: Andy Crossett & Katie Tornatore Prinster (Troubadour Dali), Robyn L. Kirsch (Peace by Piece) Comics: Brian Gardner, De Robinson, Josh Rowan, Wil Sullivan Feature writers: Brenton Ebersole, Dylan Seibert, Mark Johnson, Robyn L. Kirsch

May Credits - Submissions

Brianne Harris – poetry, De Robinson – animated caricature Duane Henson – photography (DuaneHenson.com) Kathy Gomric – surrealistic fantasies (www.freewebs.com/ktbugg) All material in this publication is copyrighted to the individual contributors or Straight Up Magazine, LLC and may not be reproduced without written consent. We are very grateful to those who have submitted material to be considered for publication. However, the opinions and views of those contributing content to Straight Up do not necessarily reflect those of Str8 Up Magazine.

StraightUpMagazine.net

Table of Contents

May 2013

4 6 8 28 29 30 32 33 34

Str8 Up Magazine Distribution Locations: Belleville

10th Street Baking Co Abbey, The Acropolis Restaurant Almighty Tatoos Anthony’s Salon Antique House Bar & Grill At Home Computer Repair Bamboo Valley Buffet Bear Book & Candle Beatnik’s Belleville Public Library Belt Line Mart Big Reggie’s Blue Agave BP Hucks BP Hucks Bronx Zoo CeLeen Gallery Centerfield Bar and Grill Circa Conoco Phillips Effinger’s Garden Center Grappa Growlers Hair on Main Happy Hops Homebrew Hardees Harters Hobby House Hicks Bar-B-Que Holistic Journey Imo’s Pizza Katherine Frazier State Farm Kelso Auto Body Lindenwood Univ Local Lucy’s Lucinda’s Grill and Café Main Street Café Mary’s Hidden Treasures Max’s One Stop Melodic Rhythms Mom’s Soul Food MotoMart

My Vintage Addiction North Belt West Liquor Olympic Restaurant Plug N Play Computers Plum Local Schnucks Sears App and Hrdwe Shop N Save Shop N Save Simply Thrift Sips n Splatters St E’s Medical Arts Bldg Super 8 Motel SWIC Art Department SWIC Café TOCO Shop Towne & Country Mart Win Flowers & Gifts Your Choice Automotive YMCA East

Caseyville

America’s Best Inn & Suites First Western Inn Knollwood Retirement Quality Inn and Suites

Centreville

Terry’s Home & Garden

Collinsville

Collinsville Public Library Dean’s Farmers Market Spring Garden Restaurant Swing City Music

Edwardsville

Heroic Adventures Sacred Grounds SIUE Campus

Anatomy of an Art Show – Art on the Square Interview with Jake Matthew Tierney of Troubadour Dali May Calendar of Events Potential Kinetic Copyright Law Let There Be Peace by Piece on Earth Wild Friends in the Garden Comics Submissions

- Alestle Office - Arts and Issues Office - Arts and Sciences - Dunham Theatre - Lovejoy Library - Morris University Center

Freeburg

Fairview Heights

Highland

$1.98 Cleaners Best Western BP Hucks Casey’s Caseyville Twshp Bldg China King City Hall Drury Inn Express Medical Care Fortels Pizza Guitar Center Jacob’s Herb Shop Jonnie’s Pizza Hooters Hucks Lilly’s Gyro MotoMart New Arts Legacies Phillips 66 Gas Mart Public Library Quick Stop 2 Quiznos RaaQQa Food Mart Ramada Inn Randalls Wine & Spirits Sahara Hair Studio Schnucks Sheraton Four Points St Clair Bowl Sunshine Daydream Super 8 Motel Winchester Place Office VFW

BP Hucks Casey’s Tom’s

Granite City

Apple Tree Restaurant Great Clips Highland’s Tru-Buy

Lebanon

Fezziwig’s Marketplace Lebanon Visitors Center Legendary Creations Mama Gusto’s McKendree Hett Arts Center McKendree Holman Library MotoMart Whimsey Gifts

Mascoutah

All Mart Smoke Shop American Legion Bee Hollow Marketplace Boyce Hund & Assocs Casey’s General Store Dauber’s Pharmacy Han-Dee Mart LaQuinta Hotel & Suites McDonald’s Moore’s Family Restaurant Moto Mart Sax Hometown Store Scott Credit Union St E’s Medical Plaza Tom’s Supermarket Tony’s Place

StraightUpMagazine.net

O’Fallon

Baymont Inn Candlewood Suites Casey’s Casa Azteca Circle K CoffeeHouse Co & Salon Country Inn and Suites CVS Days Inn Drury Inn Extended Stay Gas Mart Hilton Garden Inn Lake Point Dental McDonald’s Memorial Healthcare Memorial Therapy O’Fallon City Hall O’Fallon Public Library RJs Computer Schnucks Settle Inn Shell St. E’s Medical Center Suburban Inn Subway Subway Vetta Sports Walgreens YMCA

Golden Corral St. Louis Bread Quizno’s Walgreens

Swansea

Big Time Beads Concept Shoe Repair CVS Schnucks Dobbs Gas Mart Tourism Bureua of IL South Wild Birds Unlimited

Troy

Inksane Asylum Troy Public Library ZX Fuel

Scott Air Force Base Ralph’s Barber Quick Mart Scott Elementary School Subway

Shiloh

Bank of Edwardsville Dierberg’s

Str8Up Magazine

3

Art

May 2013

Anatomy of an Art Show – Art on the Square

by Mark Johnson

The first sight of white tents along the sidewalks of downtown Belleville quickly reminds anyone who’s forgotten that Art on the Square is near. By Thursday night the team of volunteers has finished putting up the stages, the wine court, and everything else we’re used to seeing at the show.

After twelve years there’s a sense of clockwork regularity to Art on the Square. This year’s dates, May 17 through 19, approach with the same assurance of any other weekend. But behind the inevitability of our art show there are scores of volunteers working around the year to bring artists from around the world and to ensure that Belleville and Art on the Square are names known far beyond the county lines.

If we look at the show’s structure, there’s a clear anatomical triality: Head, Body, Heart. The head is comprised of the organizing committee members and Executive Director Patty Gregory, who plan, promote, and organize the show each year. The body is made up of the numerous volunteers – Art on the Square is run and produced entirely by volunteers – and the many sponsors who help make the show possible through their efforts and support. Lastly, the heart, the reason for having a fair at all, is both the artists and us, the people who come to Art on the Square each year. Let’s look at each in turn.

Head – It’s very easy to think to oneself, “Of course we have Art on the Square, why wouldn’t Belleville have a nationally-ranked art show each year?” But, obviously, the idea had to come from someone. That person is Patty Gregory.

“The reason I started this show was to promote the city of Belleville,” Gregory said. “I wanted to invite people to come and see what our community has to offer.”

From that seed Gregory sought the help of people she knew and had worked with previously. The final committee has remained mostly in tact since the start of the show.

“They’re all wonderful leaders in their own right, and we’ve been very successful because everyone works together so well,” Gregory said.

The initial design of the art show was to make it small and exclusive. From the start the show has only accepted around 105 artists, each of whom are selected by a blind jury. Limiting numbers increases competition by default – and so does prize money. Art on the Square presents monetized awards to winning artists each year, as well as supporting sales through their pre-purchase program, called Art Cash.

Art Cash has been a huge factor in Art on the Square’s quick ascension in art show rankings, which are based entirely upon sales. With around $90,000 in Art Cash sold before the show, which is all guaranteed sales for artists, Art on the Square has been able to attract artists worldwide to Belleville.

In addition to organizing pre-sales and other details, Gregory and her committee members spend much time planning potential new additions to the fair each year. The newest addition to the lineup has been the Living with Art Design Stage. There, local interior designers use pieces of art from the show and arrange them within a mocked up room, instructing the audi4

Str8Up Magazine

ence on the why’s and how’s along the way.

Beyond bringing new attractions to the show, Gregory and the committee have sought to expand Art on the Square’s impact throughout the year. By creating two programs, Sculpture in the City and artist-inresidence visits, they have extended art into the lives of people living in and around Belleville.

Sculpture in the City has installed over twenty sculptures across

Belleville since its inception, and includes an annual tour that takes tourers across the town to visit each. Program Director Dede Farquhar leads each tour, giving guests background information about how each piece was acquired, information about the artists and the works, as well as, at times, including additional information about how this piece draws inspiration from other artists, contextualizing it within the art world.

Art on the Square also sponsors many artist-in-residence programs, which bring artists admitted to each year’s fair to schools across three counties of the Metro-East and St. Louis. Additionally, through an “Arts Alive” grant from PNC Bank, Art on the Square has been able to sponsor Art Education Consultant Joe Carriel through the 2012-2013 semester at District

StraightUpMagazine.net

May 2013 201’s Bridges-Connections Extended Program, which serves students ages 18-22 with developmental disabilities.

“A big part of our decision to move forward with these artist-inresidence programs was that my background is in education, and many of my committee members were teachers as well,” Gregory said. “We knew that with budget cuts, a lot of the arts were being taken out of schools, and we wanted to try and remedy that.”

Even with so many things being added to the Art on the Square roster, it has, in some ways, gotten easier for her and the committee to keep everything running.

“The beauty of it is the fact that our committee has worked together for so long, we’re all friends and we help each other out, so in that respect it’s gotten easier over the years,” she said. “But, at the same time, we’re more and more involved in our different programs and outreach and with fundraising.”

Just as the head tells the body where to go, the head would never get anywhere without a body to take it there. Enter the volunteers and sponsors.

Body – Without a doubt, one of the biggest factors that makes Art on the Square possible is its volunteers. They fill roles from committee members to people who handle the selling of Art Cash, to the people who help set up the tents downtown each year. The logistics of that operation is handled by John Ruggeri.

Even with years of practice – he’s been in charge of logistics for eleven years – “Planning is an ongoing process, and planning the layout has to start in March each year,” he said.

In total, his team puts up about 150 tents for each fair, including the main stage, the design stage, the glass blowing tent and children’s area.

The artists themselves often provide and put up their own tents, but Ruggeri and his crew ensure that they follow the arrangement they’ve set out for them. The artists are arranged by media and, also, origin: artists from Illinois can be found on East Main, international artists on West Main, with everyone else in between, to the north and south of the fountain.

Without question, Art on the Square would hit a major roadblock, namely, traffic, if the City of Belleville wasn’t hugely cooperative with organizers. But that relationship extends beyond simply allowing the show to take place. The Belleville Police Department assigns extra officers for security during the fair, and that close relationship has lead Gregory to help arrange the purchase of a new canine officer for the department through the West Belleville Promotional Committee. Not one to miss a marketing opportunity, Gregory ensured that the pup would be named “Art”.

Beyond the Police Department, many city employees have found that becoming more involved in the show can be a very rewarding experience.

“We have a lot of city employees who come with their families to help with the set up, and we also have numerous students from Lindenwood University who come too,” Ruggeri said.

But, of course, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men wouldn’t matter without two more things.

Heart – An art show is nothing without two essential elements: artists and visitors. The show is designed to be a celebration of art, its impact

and the people who love and create it, as well as being a showcase for Belleville and its community. It seems like Gregory’s plan has worked.

When Israeli artist Yoram Gal was first invited to the show, his only thought of Illinois was that Illinois meant Chicago. When he learned that wasn’t the case with Art on the Square, he had no idea what to expect coming to a (then) relatively new show, only in its second year.

“When I first came here, I couldn’t believe it,” Gal said. “Volunteers were coming up and giving me drinks as I set up, people were excited to come up and buy paintings, and they were people from all walks of life, farmers, teachers. I had had no idea what to expect. It’s like Patty and her committee got up one day and decided that Belleville, out of thousands of small towns across the United States, was going to be home of one of the great art shows in America and then just made it happen.”

Hailing for just a ways down Main Street on the West End, local artist Susan Rogers has similar anecdotes about the experience of being in Art on the Square as an artist.

“There’s always a good feeling at the show. Everyone is always willing to help, and there are so many volunteers,” she said.

Those are important factors for the artists, since most people visiting the show probably don’t realize how much work it is for the artists themselves, especially on Friday night after setting up their tent.

“Friday, everyone works hard. We’re all exhausted after close. This work of traveling and doing these shows is as physically demanding as being in the army,” Gal said, who spent many years serving in the Israeli army.

But of course, there’s a reason for going through all of the effort.

“There’s so many good things about being in this show, but I would have to say people’s attitudes, that people seem to treat everyone with respect, is the best,” Rogers said.

Your experience of Art on the Square will be different than Yoram’s, Susan’s, John’s or Patty’s. And it should be, because for the rest of us living here, that weekend comes just as surely as any other, by design. Come and experience for yourself the phenomenon that is Art on the Square.

Photos courtesy of Art on the Square.

Arial view of Festival, Patty Gregory and Yoram Gal

StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

5

Music

May 2013

Interview with Jake Matthew Tierney of Troubadour Dali

by Dylan Seibert So for starters, let’s get your name: My name is Jake Matthew Tierney, Belleville native. I live out in St. Louis right now, but I still have my roots here.

Gotcha. So, tell me about me you and music: Well I started out as a child. I’ve always been a lover of music. My mum used to play me records while I was still in the womb. She’d sit right up against a stereo speaker and play me things like Donovan, Beethoven, Rubber Soul.. Started playing guitar at an early age, just about every male elder in my family plays guitar, so naturally that was the first instrument I picked up. I started getting into psychedelic rock as I got a little older, and eventually wound up playing in a psychedelic rock band, and that’s where I am now.

What’s the name of this band? Troubadour Dali How did the name come up? Well I wasn’t there when they named it so I’m not entirely sure, but obviously it’s a cross between a troubadour, like a medieval poet and songwriter.. and Dali – as in Salvador Dali – it’s kind of a mash-up of those two things.

They’ve been a band for about 7 or 8 years; I’ve been with them for about a year and a half now.

And how did you end up with the band? They were my favorite band in St. Louis and I started going to all of their shows. We naturally started hanging out after.. ya know.. seeing me so much, and then we started playing music together. And then they needed another guitar player and I was right there so, they asked me to join, and surely I did.

And who all else is in the band? Right now the band consists of…. we just got a fun new member, one of my old best friends Daniel Shaffer, he plays with us now. So there’s him, Andy Kahn, Drew Bailey on drums, and Ben Hinn is the front man, you could say, he’s the guy who formed the band, he sings and plays guitar.

What’s the best description of the sound? Oh, I always hate that question, it’s so hard.. I mean Left to right: Drew Bailey, Ben Hinn, Daniel Shaffer, Andy Kahn, Jake Tierney it’s modern psychedelic rock, it falls into the psych rock category. It’s kind of hard to explain psychedelic music in words sometimes. I like talking about music, but I’d rather listen to it.. or make it..

It’s pretty jangly and fun, a lot of it is pretty mellow, gazey and smooth, very curious-sounding music, I would say. Ben and I play 12 string electrics..

What other kinds of music do you like? I’ve always been a fan of folk music from all around the world. I feel it’s a good way of getting in touch with different cultures you really aren’t aware of or know about. So I like buying folk records from different countries.

I’ve been really into psychedelic music since I was a middle-teen – it’s a big favorite of mine. Whatever sounds good – whatever feels real to me.

Whatever has a good, real, genuine vibe to it, whether or not I really like it or enjoy it that much, so long as I know that it is real and honest, I dig it, you know? I also like random weird stuff..

As you were coming up in music, did you have major inspirations, people or bands, that you really looked up to and learned from? I was always a big Jimi Hendrix fan, which I’d imagine a lot of people are, but… yeah, Jimi Hendrix is a big one. He’s the one, I would say, who got me playing guitar again, cause there was a break when I didn’t play for a few years, for about 5 or 6 years.

6

Str8Up Magazine

StraightUpMagazine.net

May 2013

You said you started playing guitar young, like how young? Oh, well I mean, 5; But I was playing on the guitar and not playing guitar, know what I mean? I started taking lessons when I was about 9, and I didn’t really like those. And so, I quit taking lessons and just kind of stopped doing it. And then I started listening to psychedelic music, like I said, when I was around 16 – like Jimi Hendrix and the Doors all that stuff – and it really got me into wanting to be a part of the making of music rather than just listening to it. And so, I got back into playing.

What other instruments do you play? Whatever I can get my hands on.

Currently right now I have guitars, bass, drums, sitar, tamboura, tabla, melodica, keys, harmonica, random stuff. Whatever I can get my hands on.

Spoons – ya know? Anything I can make a sound with. I can’t play anything virtuoso-style, but I do have the ability to pick up anything I want and make a sound that I appreciate and that I like.

Have you been in other bands before this one? I played around in some of my friends’ bands, but never anything like Troubadour Dali. Never like in a real band that went out and actually played shows. This was a first one for me. Touring and stuff, all that, it was new to me.

Have you played shows solo before? Open mic.. I used to be an open mic warrior – go out like, ya know, 2 or 3 times a week, go to different open mics and play. So, yeah, I have.

That’s cool! And I understand that you guys have toured. Where all have you been? Last summer I saw the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico. So we went all over the country. My first tour with them was a shorter one. We went to Indianapolis, and then up through Chicago and Milwaukee, and some other little towns in between.

Next we went out to do a tour of the southeast, where we hit Tennessee, Nashville, Chattanooga, Knoxville. From there we went to North Carolina, for Asheville and Wilmington, which is right on the ocean, the Atlantic, a real nice place. And then we went back through Kentucky, and up to Chicago and back down.

Then we attacked the south where we played Texas; Austin, Houston, San Antonio. I know I am forgetting some in between, there are just so many cities, you start to forget them.

New Orleans was a heavy hitter and real fun place. And the big leg was this fall – we did the west - Colorado, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California then back thru New Mexico, Oklahoma, and back home – that was about a month long.

Did you have a favorite place to play? Yeah, I would say Seattle was my favorite by far – really cool town. That’s where Ben’s from actually, he’s native there, so it was really good for him to make it back there, and he could show us around all the cool stuff, which was a lot of fun. We played at this really cool place called the Comet. We played a great show, lot of really cool bands, lot of people showed up, good vibes, good after party.

You said something about a new album? Yeah, we’re taking a break from touring to hole up and work on an album so we have a new one to put out there for the tours to come this spring and summer (2013). We were planning on touring Europe but I think we are going to put that off till the next

year (2014) because everybody has to get their passports and it takes a lot of planning touring other countries, booking all those gigs, you know, we don’t really have a lot of support out there, or any for that matter, so we are going to save that for next summer – Do you have a name for the album? No, not yet, we’re going to save that for last. Kind of like naming a kid or something, I wouldn’t want to name it until after I saw it.

Who’s doing the recording? We are actually doing most of it ourselves this time. I wasn’t on the first two albums, but they always went and had it done in a nice studio and stuff. I think in the end, Ben wasn’t too happy with them because they have a kind of more polished sound. And the stuff we are getting into now, and our live sound, is much more raw, and so we wanted a more live-to-tape kinda sound, so we are gonna do it ourselves.

We just put together a pretty nice studio – Ben and I combined all our equipment. In the basement of his loft, they have these studio spaces for the artists to use, and so we set up down there and play and record most of it there. Most of it will be all live, full-band studio recordings, minimal overdubs and then probably have it sent off to be mastered someplace..

You guys have someone who’s going to produce it? Or is that part of what you do yourself? Ourselves, yeah! We are all fairly knowledgeable of the recording process, engineering and stuff. . We’ll be alright..

You said they have two other albums that you weren’t on. What are the names of those two albums? The first one is self-titled, I do believe.

And then there’s an EP which is a live recording on Euclid Records, which is our label. And the newest album came out in 2011, it’s called “Let’s Make It Right”.

Do you see your style as a band staying the same throughout the years or do you feel like that there are evolutionary changes in your style coming? The band has been changing constantly throughout the years, and so it is now. I don’t think any of the albums sound the same, which I like very much. I definitely see that we are evolving and creating new sounds and different styles to keep it fresh. That’s definitely one of our missions.

StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

7

May Calendar of Events

May 2013

May 1st (Wednesday) Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) – Karaoke Every Wed Effinger’s (Belleville) - A garden party and container gardening. 6 pm; Bring your pots or check out ours. Will provide free soil, fertilizer and advice. Make the Mess Here. Better yet is the complimentary wine and snacks we’ll be serving from our neighbor Don at the 10th Street Baking Company!

Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Jay N Waylon; 6:00pm; Must be 21 years old Grappa Growlers (Belleville) - Beer Tasting from 5pm-7pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Band - “Come Closer” - Reid Café; 11am Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - “Doug Brykit On Guitar” - Music Building Atrium 132; 12pm Pitcher’s Pub (Belleville) - Acoustic Asylum of Whiskey Dixon; 8pm-11:30pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Design The Skyline presented by The Beard Productions; with Phinehas , It Lies Within , TBA; 6:30pm; $12 advance, $13 day of show, $2 minor surcharge PSOP/SWIC Programs and Services for Older Persons (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 1:30 - 3 p.m.; Our instructor, Carol Schwartz, will show you new line dances and techniques each week.

This is a great group to dance with, so sliiiide on over. Cost is $2 per session.

Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic - 7pm – 11pm; with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner SWIC (Belleville) – Through May 8th: SWIC Student Show; An exhibition of artwork by SWIC art students.

The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Open Mic Night Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country With WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! Open 7pm-1am; - $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

May 2nd (Thursday) Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30 PM 1:30 AM Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Featherstone Drive; 7:00pm; Must be 21 years old Growler’s (Sunset Hills) - Pat Liston (of the Metro East); 7:30pm-10:30pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) – Class Act Karaoke Jacoby Arts Center (Alton) - Open Mic: Words; 6:30pm - 8:30pm; Literary artists ages 16 and up, including writers, poets, songwriters, playwrights, and actors, are invited to present on the East Room stage 8

Str8Up Magazine

9pm

Schatze’s (Belleville) – Bike Night with Live Music The Stagger…Again (Edwardsville) ¬- Kentucky Knife Fight;

SWIC (Belleville) – Guitar Ensemble; 7 p.m.

The Hett @ McKendree (Lebanon) - Jazz Ensembles Concert; 7:30 p.m The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Kentucky Knife Fight; 9 p.m Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons from 7:30 - 10 w/ Joyce Warren

May 3rd (Friday) Alton Sports Tap (Alton) - Take the Cake; 8pm Alton VFW (Alton) - DD Revival; The Riverbend’s most popular Oldies band will play your favorite songs from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s as well as country and a little of everything else at the Alton VFW Post 1308 from 7pm to 11pm. Food is served from 3pm–7pm.

Bee Hollow Market (Mascoutah) – Wine Tasting 4pm-7pm Bethalto United Methodist Church (Bethalto) - Don Francisco with Wendy Francisco & Mike Banta; 7pm; Free Admission / Freewill Offering Christ Church (Fairview Heights) - Carlos Whittaker; 6 pm.

Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz Cutter’s Bar & Grill (Belleville) - Stacy Collins; 9:30pm – 1:30am Fairmount Park (Collinsville) - Every Friday night at Fairmount is a Party at the Park! Join us for racing, live music, drink specials and more in this weekly summer tradition. Gates open at 6pm with race post time at 7:30pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Acoustic Asylum; 3:00pm; Planet Boogie; 8:00pm; Must be 21 years old Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) – Class Act Karaoke Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Lindenwood Auditorium (Belleville) - Hey Nineteen - a Steely Dan Tribute; Hosted by Mark Klose of KHITS96 with Special GuestJohn Cornell; 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM; Doors open at 6 pm; $15 per person, General Admission Mama Gusto’s (Lebanon) - Rogers and Nienhaus; 7pm - 11pm Milburn H.S. Auditorium (O’Fallon) - Musical Landscapes; Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra; 7:30 pm Pitcher’s Pub (Belleville) - Tim Session; 9pm-1am Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7:00-11:00 p.m.

Plum Local (Belleville) – Live Music; 8pm PSOP Center (Belleville) - Senior Celebration Schatze’s (Belleville) – Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Hollywood 5; 9:00 pm 1:00 am Tequila Mexican Restaurant (Freeburg) - Rusty Van Go; On the

StraightUpMagazine.net

May 2013 patio; 6pm-10pm The Hett @ McKendree (Lebanon) – Percussion Ensembles Concert; 7:30 p.m The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Live Music The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Brewer & Shipley; 8:00 pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Rockin’ Horse

May 4th (Saturday) Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Learn to Improvise with Eric Christensen; 11am – 1pm; This class will focus on the basics of improvisation including: team building, listening, agreement, character work and emotional reactions Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Gun & Knife Show Blue Agave (Belleville) - John Bartley Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Collinsville) – Storytelling; Sponsored by the University of Missouri - St. Louis and the 33rd Annual St. Louis Storytelling Festival. 2 p.m.

Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Karaoke Night Cutter’s Bar & Grill (Belleville) - Stacy Collins; 9:30pm – 1:30am Downtown (Belleville) - Old Town Farmers Market. Catch the morning’s pick of fresh, flavorful produce grown by local farmers.

Peruse the booths of local artisans for one-of-a-kind treasures. Shop outdoors while you get to know your local growers and run into friends or meet new ones! Open every Saturday, 7:30 am – Noon, May through November 16th, rain or shine. Corner of 1st and West Main Street Downtown (Lebanon) - May Market Evangelical United Church of Christ (Godfrey) “Remembering Broadway”; 3 pm; This concert by the Great Rivers Choral Society will feature songs from a variety of Broadway musicals that are sure to please a varied audiences both young and old and from every walk of life. Free.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Hoosier Daddy’s; 3:00pm; Planet Boogie; 8:00pm; Must be 21 years old First Baptist Church (Fairview Heights) - Kerrie Roberts; 7 p.m.

Glazebrook Park (Godfrey) - American Lung Association Asthma Walk; 10am, Meet, Greet & Register; No Fees!

Grafton Winery & Brewhaus (Grafton) - Comedy Night; Have a night of fun during Comedy Night. Tickets are $10 per person for the show. Dinner is available for $15 per person plus tax and gratuity.

Advanced reservations required, no cancellations and payment is due when you sign up. Call the Giftshop at (618) 786-3001 for more information or to sign up Grappa Growlers (Belleville) - Salsa Contest call for info Hard Road Theatre (Highland) - Kids Auditions for Aladdin Jr and Little Mermaid Jr; 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Heartland Prairie, North Side Of Gordon Moore Park (Alton) - Heartland Prairiefest; 10 am - 4 pm; Illinois is known unofficially as the “Prairie State” although most of the prairie has vanished. This festival

with exhibits, activities and entertainment related to nature education and life on the native prairie is being hosted by The Nature Institute at this unique site that features native grasses and wildflowers. Come and have some fun and see how Illinois once looked before European settlers turned the state into farmland. Free Jacoby Arts Center (Alton) - Miles Davis Jazz Festival; 5pm – 8pm. Enjoy an evening of jazz celebrating the music and life of one the true giants of jazz music - Miles Davis Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat - Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure - 2pm-6pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm PBC Cafe (Bethalto) - Maximum Exposure Photography Gallery Show; 5pm – 8pm; A one night event of local photographers.

Different styles and methods with a touch of something new. Meet and greet some of the metro east areas photographers. Works may be purchased; Free admission, open to the public Persimmon Ridge Winery (Barnhart) - Rogers and Nienhaus (of the Metro-East); 7pm-11pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karoke/DJ; 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton ) - Sweet Dirt; 5-9 p.m.

Pitcher’s Pub (Belleville) - Dynamic J’s; 9pm-1am Plum Local (Belleville) - Live Music; 8pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Battle For Pointfest:Grand Finals; Sponsored by Redwood Studios, 105.7 The Point, & Busch Beer; Featuring: Lye, River City Sound, CityAvenue, Mercury Descends, & TBA; 6pm; $6 advance, $8 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Schatze’s (Belleville) – Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Ship Of Fools; 9:00 pm - 1:00 am Skootr’s West (Freeburg) - Benefit for Abbey Shwaegel’s Global Expedition Trip to the Phillippines; Raffle, Silent Auction, Music by Clark Rowden 8pm-12am Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM SWIC (Belleville) – Creative Kids Art Class: “Fun with Shrinky Dinks,” 12:30 p.m.

The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) ¬- The Blu Skies; 10pm

StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

9

May Calendar of Events

May 2013

The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) – Tom Chapin Childrens Show; 3:00 pm The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Tom Chapin; 6:30 pm Tri-County Antique Club Grounds (Jersey County) - Annual Swap Meet & Flea Market; 7 am – dusk; Free Wild Country (Collinsville) - Rockin’ Horse Willoughby Heritage Farm (Collinsville) - Heritage Day; 11am - 2pm Wood River Moose Lodge (Wood River) - Tim Palermo Benefit; Tim was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma in September 2011. In an effort to ease the financial burden of the medical bills and the daily care needed, friends and family are hosting a benefit, a chicken and beer dance in his honor; $20 Per Person (in advance); $25 at the door

May 5th (Sunday) Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Gun & Knife Show Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - First Sunday of Every Month Jam 4pm-8pm Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Community Supported Garden at La Vista (Godfrey) - The Root Diggers; Noon Copper Dock Winery (Pocahontas) - Gabie McGarrah; 2pm6pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Hoosier Daddy’s; 2:00pm; Ultraviolets; 7:00pm; Must be 21 years old Gateway Center (Collinsville) – Anderson Hospital Baby Fair; Show Hours: 1pm-4pm FREE Admission Hard Road Theatre (Highland) - Kids Auditions for Aladdin Jr and Little Mermaid Jr; 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - VoicePlay (formerly 42Five); 3:00pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Acoustic Cats; 1:00-5:00 p.m.

Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke Seven (Belleville) - Pat Liston; 9pm-12am Silver Creek Saloon & Grill (Belleville) - Gypsy Jones; 6pm9pm Talahi Lodge at the Olin Nature Preserve (Godfrey) - Migratory Bird Walks; 8am-10:30am; Free Tequila Mexican Restaurant (Freeburg) - Rusty Van Go; On the patio; 6pm-10pm The Hett @ McKendree (Lebanon) - Saint Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra; 3:00 p.m.; FREE! The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Open Mic Night Tri-County Antique Club Grounds (Jersey County) - Annual Swap Meet & Flea Market; 7 am–dusk; Free Zapata’s Mexican Restaurant (Collinsville) - Lauren Marshall Band; 12pm–4pm

Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am-12pm Failoni’s (St. Louis) - Pat Liston (of the Metro East); 8pm-11pm LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pop’s (Sauget) - Twisted Insain; The Fixx Music Presents Dirty Adville, J-Sheets, Grimmace, Freaks R Us, Local Kings, Lil Hitta, Cash Reap, Kilo Cuzz, Lifted & Gifted; 7pm; $10 advance, $13 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke

May 8th (Wednesday) Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) – Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Scott And Karl; 6:00pm; Must be 21 years old Pitcher’s Pub (Belleville) - Acoustic Asylum of Whiskey Dixon; 8pm-11:30pm PSOP/SWIC Programs and Services for Older Persons (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 1:30 - 3 p.m.; Our instructor, Carol Schwartz, will show you new line dances and techniques each week. This is a great group to dance with, so sliiiide on over. Cost is $2 per session.

Robert E. Glazebrook Community Park (Godfrey) - Big Truck Day; 10am-1pm; Displays by the Godfrey Fire Protection District, Godfrey Street Department and many more will be available for children to view, touch and explore. All ages welcome. The event is free.

Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic - 7pm – 11pm; with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Open Mic Night Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country With WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! Open 7pm-1am; - $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

May 9th (Thursday)

Alton High School Auditorium - AHS Spring Orchestra

May 6th (Monday)

10

Str8Up Magazine

StraightUpMagazine.net

May 2013 Concert; 7:30pm-9pm; Free Admission Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karsaoke Dance Party; 9:30 PM 1:30 AM Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Radio Star; 7:00pm; Must be 21 years old Growler’s (Sunset Hills) - Pat Liston (of the Metro East); 7:3010:30 Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) – Class Act Karaoke Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - College For Life Drama Class 2013 May Performance; 9am in the Hatheway Hall Auditorium Looking Glass Playhouse (Lebanon) – Legally Blonde the Musical New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Annie Sloan 101; In taking Annie Sloan™Chalk Paint™ furniture refinishing class, you will learn the basics to creating art and beauty with this miracle paint. Master the art of using the range of beautiful colors and learn how to create a smooth, durable finish with Soft Wax. North Side of Gordon Moore Park (Alton) - Guided Prairie Walks; 6:30 pm; Enjoy an evening walk as a guide from the Nature Institute leads you through the Heartland Prairie at Gordon Moore Park.

The park hosts nine species of native prairie grasses and 150 prairie wildflowers that are native to Madison County and surrounding Illinois counties. If you want to see wildflowers this is a great place and time to visit. Free Plum Local (Belleville) - Rogers and Nienhaus; 7pm-1pm Schatze’s (Belleville) – Bike Night with Live Music Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - The Well Hungarians; 9:00 pm - 1:00 am The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Live Music The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Mid Life Vices; 7:00 pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons from 7:30 - 10 w/ Joyce Warren

Doit’s Village Inn (Pontoon Beach) - Rickie Lee Tanner; 9:30pm–1:30am Edwardsville Art Center (Edwardsville) – Through June 14th Main Gallery: Russell Wrankle/Ben Alvers & Painter to be Announced; Student Gallery: SIUE Students Fairmount Park (Collinsville) - Every Friday night at Fairmount is a Party at the Park! Join us for racing, live music, drink specials and more in this weekly summer tradition. Gates open at 6pm with race post time at 7:30pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Millennium; 8:00pm; Must be 21 years old First Unitarian Universalist Church of Alton (Alton) - Rummage Sale; 8am-1pm Hanger Grill (Chesterfield) ¬- Rogers and Nienhaus (of the Metro East); 8pm-12am Jacoby Art Center (Alton) - LCCC Faculty Art Exhibition; Through June 29 Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) – Class Act Karaoke Knights of Columbus (Bethalto) - Nightlife Band; performing Motown, classic rock and oldies; 7:30 PM - 11:30 PM Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) – Karaoke Looking Glass Playhouse (Lebanon) – Legally Blonde the Musical National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows (Belleville) - May Market – A Day of Shopping; 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Browse selections

May 10th (Friday) Abundant Life Community Church (Godfrey) - Family Fest; 6-10 pm; Carnival rides, Classic Car Show, Lots of Vendors. A great family event; Free Parking at Alton High School.

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Chase Me Up Farnsdale Avenue, Sil Vous Plait!; 7:30pm – 8:30pm; This international farce is a play within a play. Anything that could go wrong does go wrong, including broken props, missed sound cues, problems with the set, etc. There is a bit of audience participation prior to the start of Act II and “running” laughs for all.

Bee Hollow Market (Mascoutah) - Wine Tasting; 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Blue Agave (Belleville) - An Evening with The Defeated County; 9pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

11

May Calendar of Events

May 2013

provided by vendors from the St. Louis/Metro East area and find the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, graduations, weddings or any occasion.

Wine tasting provided by Eckert’s 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows (Belleville) Entertainment Events Inc. presents Late Nite Catechism; Show: 7:30 p.m.; Doors Open: 6:45 p.m.; Catechism classes are never as much fun or as hilarious - as when they are led by Sister in the international hit comedy Late Nite Catechism by Vicki Quade and Maripat Donovan.

This uproarious piece of theater takes audience members back - sometimes nostalgically, sometimes fearfully - to the children they once were. $30 per person; Discounted admission for groups of 12 people or more!; Drinks & Desserts available for purchase New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Friday Night Chocolate and Fun; Relax, Create and Enjoy. Looking for something new, fun and creative to do on a Friday night? You and a friend will enjoy a night of making glass beads in a flame. In just a few hours you can make a handful of colorful beads to take with you. If your friend is the craftier one, than you can just sit back and enjoy some chocolate and good conversation. Space is limited so sign up today. Maximum class size 5 pairs. Bring your mom, or a friend for a fun evening! Chocolate Provided!

Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7:00-11:00 p.m.

Plum Local (Belleville) – Live Music; 8pm Pop’s (Sauget) – Hurt presented by The Beard & 105.7 The Point; with Special Guest TBA, Smile Empty Soul, Mesoterra & SSS; 6:00pm; $10.57 advance, $15 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Rotten Apple (Godfrey) - Borderline Schatze’s (Belleville) – Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Live DJ; 9:00 pm - 1:00 am The Shanti (Soulard) – Pat Liston (of the Metro East); 9pm12am The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Live Music The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - The Bellamy Brothers; 8:00 pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - LOL

Christensen; 11am – 1pm; This class will focus on the basics of improvisation including: team building, listening, agreement, character work and emotional reactions Alton Sports Tap (Alton) - Phatfinger Blue Agave (Belleville) - The Rio Debut Chris’ River Market at Piasa Harbor (Godfrey) - Cabinfest Fundraiser; 10am-10pm; Fishing, Geo Caching, Live Music, Crafts, Hiking, Canoeing, Family Fun!; Live Music By The Dream Catcher Project, Typsy Gypsy And Blu Skies Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Karaoke Night Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Social Remedy; 9pm – 1am Doit’s Village Inn (Pontoon Beach) - Rickie Lee Tanner; 9:30pm – 1:30am Downtown (Belleville) - Old Town Farmers Market. Catch the morning’s pick of fresh, flavorful produce grown by local farmers.

Peruse the booths of local artisans for one-of-a-kind treasures. Shop outdoors while you get to know your local growers and run into friends or meet new ones! Open every Saturday, 7:30 am – Noon, May through November 16th, rain or shine. Corner of 1st and West Main Street Downtown (Edwardsville) - Land Of Goshen Community Market; 8am–12pm; Come experience the Land of Goshen Community Market! The Market is your best source for locally grown farm products, tasty baked goods, and wonderful art and gift ideas. The selection changes weekly so plan to visit more than once to fully appreciate the wide selection available. Live entertainment and free demonstrations add

May 11th (Saturday)

n va d A

Abundant Life Community Church (Godfrey) - Family Fest; 2-10 pm; Free Fireworks will be held at 9:15 pm; Carnival rides, Classic Car Show, Lots of Vendors. A great family event! Free Parking at Alton High School.

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Chase Me Up Farnsdale Avenue, Sil Vous Plait!; 7:30pm – 8:30pm; This international farce is a play within a play. Anything that could go wrong does go wrong, including broken props, missed sound cues, problems with the set, etc. There is a bit of audience participation prior to the start of Act II and “running” laughs for all.

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Learn to Improvise with Eric 12

Str8Up Magazine

StraightUpMagazine.net

ce

o dB

ok

ing d n Bi

y2 Ma

5th

May 2013 to the festive atmosphere. Free Eckert’s Farms (Belleville) - Strawberry Festival Farley’s Music Hall (Elsah) - Community Dance; 7pm-10pm; $6 a person or $15 a family Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Hoosier Daddy’s; 3:00pm; Millennium; 8:00pm; Must be 21 years old Gateway Grizzlies Ballpark (Sauget) - March for Babies; 10am2pm; Celebrate March of Dimes 75th anniversary with us!; Get your team together and walk to support the health of ALL babies. March for Babies is a fun, family friendly event and it’s for a great cause!

Gilbert Lake Division Parking Area (Jersey County) Migratory Bird Hike; 10am-12pm; Free Grappa Growlers (Belleville) - Food truck and Beer Tasting from 1pm-4pm Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat - Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure - 2pm-6pm Lewis & Clark State Historic Site (Hartford) - Lewis & Clark Departure Days; 10am-4pm; Come and commemorate the departure of the Lewis and Clark expedition from Camp River Dubois. View life as it was in 1803-1804 as the men prepared for their departure. Watch re-enactors portray life as members of the Corps of Discovery preparing for their epic trip west. On the grounds will be craft exhibitors demonstrating early American skills, woodworking, candle making, marching drills, cooking, and shooting demonstrations. Free Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) – Karaoke Looking Glass Playhouse (Lebanon) – Auditions for Children’s Show: Dear Edwina Looking Glass Playhouse (Lebanon) – Legally Blonde the Musical New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Intermediate Book Binding No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm PBC Photography and Creative Café (Bethalto) - Steve Acho; 7pm-9pm; Tickets are $10 advance $15 day of show; Beer/wine cash bar and concessions available Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karoke/DJ; 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton ) - Rev. Michael Jam Band; 5pm – 9pm Plum Local (Belleville) - Live Music; 8pm Resurrection Lutheran Church (Godfrey) - 2013 Tailgate Sale; 7am-1pm Ruebel Hotel (Grafton) - Karaoke Competiton; 7pm-11:30pm; Prizes given away at every show Schatze’s (Belleville) – Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Rough Ryders; 9:00 pm - 1:00 am Sit ‘N’ Bull Saloon (New Memphis) - Memorial Party and Chili/ Soup Cook-Off; Cook off runs from 2pm-6pm; Music by Clusterpluck (3pm-7pm), Stan Denton & The Wanted (8pm-12pm)

Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am The Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower (Hartford) - Birthday Bash; The Tower is turning 3 years old and staff and volunteers would like to welcome you to celebrate with them! The Tower has welcomed over 60,000 guests from all over the world and to show our appreciation, we are having tons of birthday fun for our visitors, including a bounce house, airbrush face painting, snow cones and more! All events are free and open to everyone!

The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Live Music The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Dogs of Society: A Tribute to Elton John; 8:00 pm The Weingarten (Belleville) - Herb Eberle; 2pm-5pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - LOL

May 12th (Sunday) Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Chase Me Up Farnsdale Avenue, Sil Vous Plait!; 7:30pm – 8:30pm; This international farce is a play within a play. Anything that could go wrong does go wrong, including broken props, missed sound cues, problems with the set, etc. There is a bit of audience participation prior to the start of Act II and “running” laughs for all.

Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Eckert’s Farms (Belleville) - Strawberry Festival Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Hoosier Daddy’s; 2:00pm; American Idle; 7:00pm; Must be 21 years old Hawg Pit (Grafton) - Rogers and Nienhaus; 1pm-5pm Lewis & Clark State Historic Site (Hartford) - Lewis & Clark Departure Days; 10am-4pm; Come and commemorate the departure of the Lewis and Clark expedition from Camp River Dubois. View life as it was in 1803-1804 as the men prepared for their departure. Watch re-enactors portray life as members of the Corps of Discovery preparing for their epic trip west. On the grounds will be craft exhibitors demonstrating early American skills, woodworking, candle making, marching drills, cooking, and shooting demonstrations. Free

StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

13

May Calendar of Events

May 2013

Looking Glass Playhouse (Lebanon) – Legally Blonde the Musical Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Matt Livasy Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Bike Night/Hush; Outdoor Event...Weather Permitting; 6:00 pm - 12:00 am Talahi Lodge at the Olin Nature Preserve (Godfrey) Migratory Bird Walks; 8am-10:30am; Free The Boathouse (St. Charles) ¬- Pat Liston (of the Metro East); 3pm-6pm The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Open Mic Night The Weingarten (Bellleville) - Graham Pagano; 2 p.m.

Villa Marie Winery (Maryville) - Gabie McGarrah; 3pm-7pm

May 13th (Monday) Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Chase Me Up Farnsdale Avenue, Sil Vous Plait!; 7:30pm – 8:30pm; This international farce is a play within a play. Anything that could go wrong does go wrong, including broken props, missed sound cues, problems with the set, etc. There is a bit of audience participation prior to the start of Act II and “running” laughs for all.

Alton VFW (Alton) - Mo’ Pleasure, Wings and Pizza; 4pm9pm; There is a $3 cover charge.

Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am-12pm Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke

May 14th (Tuesday) Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Chase Me Up Farnsdale Avenue, Sil Vous Plait!; 7:30pm – 8:30pm; This international farce is a play within a play. Anything that could go wrong does go wrong, including broken props, missed sound cues, problems with the set, etc. There is a bit of audience participation prior to the start of Act II and “running” laughs for all.

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East Road Ride; 6pm Blue Agave (Belleville) – Open Mic every Tues Gateway Center (Collinsville) – Collinsville Area Women’s Connection; 12:15 - 2:15pm Admission: $13 Pitcher’s Pub (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke

Sil Vous Plait!; 7:30pm – 8:30pm; This international farce is a play within a play. Anything that could go wrong does go wrong, including broken props, missed sound cues, problems with the set, etc. There is a bit of audience participation prior to the start of Act II and “running” laughs for all.

Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) – Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Jay N Waylon; 6:00pm; Must be 21 years old The Lincoln Theater (Belleville) - The NEW American Songbook; From Mike Williamson & Company; A musical journey from the 1950’s thru the end of the 20th Century; 1:30 PM Matinee; Group rate is still $15.00; Individuals - $17.00 Pitcher’s Pub (Belleville) - Acoustic Asylum of Whiskey Dixon; 8pm-11:30pm PSOP/SWIC Programs and Services for Older Persons (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 1:30 - 3 p.m.; Our instructor, Carol Schwartz, will show you new line dances and techniques each week. This is a great group to dance with, so sliiiide on over. Cost is $2 per session.

Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic - 7pm – 11pm; with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Bud Light Beach Blast; at Outdoor Patio; 7:00 pm - 1:00 am The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Open Mic Night Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country With WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! Open 7pm-1am; - $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

May 16th (Thursday) Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Chase Me Up Farnsdale Avenue, Sil Vous Plait!; 7:30pm – 8:30pm; This international farce is a play within a play. Anything that could go wrong does go wrong, including broken props, missed sound cues, problems with the set, etc. There is a bit of audience participation prior to the start of Act II and “running” laughs for all.

May 15th (Wednesday) Alton High School Auditorium (Alton) - AHS Choral Pops Concert; 7pm–9pm Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Chase Me Up Farnsdale Avenue, 14

Str8Up Magazine

StraightUpMagazine.net

May 2013 Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30 PM 1:30 AM Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Collinsville) – Cahokia Archaeological Meeting; Program and meeting, 7:30 pm. Come at 6:30 pm to help wash artifacts Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz Downtown (Belleville) - Diva Night - Start at Rising Star. End at Big Daddy’s 618 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Farley’s Music Hall (Elsah) – Lecture; The Historic Elsah Foundation presents the Hosmer Williams Lecture featuring Esley Hamilton St. Louis County Historian, who will give a talk on Lucy Semple Ames, her connection to Elsah, and her entrepreneurship as a real estate developer in University City. Refreshments will be served after the talk.

Free.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Ultraviolets; 7:00pm; Must be 21 years old Growler’s (Sunset Hills) - Pat Liston (of the Metro East); 7:30pm-10:30pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) – Class Act Karaoke Looking Glass Playhouse (Lebanon) – Legally Blonde the Musical New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Legacy Box Pop’s (Sauget) – Opeth with Katatonia; 7pm; $25 advance, $28 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Schatze’s (Belleville) – Bike Night with Live Music Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - The Well Hungarians; 9:00 pm - 1:00 am The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Live Music Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons from 7:30 10 w/ Joyce Warren

May 17th (Friday) Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Chase Me Up Farnsdale Avenue, Sil Vous Plait!; 7:30pm – 8:30pm; This international farce is a play within a play. Anything that could go wrong does go wrong, including broken props, missed sound cues, problems with the set, etc. There is a bit of audience participation prior to the start of Act II and “running” laughs for all.

Bee Hollow Market (Mascoutah) - Wine Tasting & Spring Fest; 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM; Springfest is a Mascoutah Chamber of Commerce sponsored event. Fun for the whole family at Railway & Main 11am11pm.

Blue Agave (Belleville) - Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocketship Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) ¬- Rogers and Nienhaus; 8pm12am Downtown (Belleville) - Art on the Square Art Show Fairmount Park (Collinsville) - Every Friday night at Fairmount is a Party at the Park! Join us for racing, live music, drink

specials and more in this weekly summer tradition. Gates open at 6pm with race post time at 7:30pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – American Idle; 3:00pm; Radio Star; 8:00pm; Must be 21 years old Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) – Class Act Karaoke Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) – Karaoke Looking Glass Playhouse (Lebanon) – Legally Blonde the Musical Mama Gusto’s (Lebanon) - Pat Liston; 7pm-10pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7:00-11:00 p.m.

Pitcher’s Pub (Belleville) - Tim Session; 9pm-1am Plum Local (Belleville) – Live Music; 8pm Salem Community Theater (Salem) - 12 Angry Men; A 19-year-old man has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. It looks like an open-and-shut case—until one of the jurors begins opening the others’ eyes to the facts. The jurors’ final verdict and how they reached it—add up to a fine, mature piece of dramatic literature, with timeless—and timely—themes Schatze’s (Belleville) – Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Joe Dirt And The Dirty Boys; 9:00 pm - 1:00 am The Heavy Anchor (St. Louis) – The Bob Band (of the Metro East); 8:00pm The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Live Music The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Hot Club of Cowtown; 8:00 pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Rockin’ Horse

May 18th (Saturday) Alton Eagles on Broadway (Alton) - DD Revival Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Chase Me Up Farnsdale Avenue, Sil Vous Plait!; 7:30pm – 8:30pm; This international farce is a play within a play. Anything that could go wrong does go wrong, including broken props, missed sound cues, problems with the set, etc. There is a bit of audience participation prior to the start of Act II and “running” laughs for all.

Alton Sports Tap (Alton) - Nightlife Band Performing Motown, Classic Rock, And Oldies Audubon Center at Riverlands (West Alton) - Birds, Beer and Bluegrass; A “friend” raiser to benefit the Audubon Center at Riverlands. Featuring craft beers, bluegrass by The Local Gents, and a barbeque buffet.

Belle Clair Fairgrounds

StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

15

May Calendar of Events

May 2013

(Belleville) - Flea Market Big Stix (Breese) – Borderline Blue Agave (Belleville) - Billy and The Jets Burgard’s Tavern (Freeburg) - Sky High; 8:30pm–12:30pm Chez Marilyn (Alton) - The Blu Skies; 8pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Karaoke Night Downtown (Belleville) - Art on the Square Art Show Downtown (Belleville) - Old Town Farmers Market. Catch the morning’s pick of fresh, flavorful produce grown by local farmers.

Peruse the booths of local artisans for one-of-a-kind treasures. Shop outdoors while you get to know your local growers and run into friends or meet new ones! Open every Saturday, 7:30 am – Noon, May through November 16th, rain or shine. Corner of 1st and West Main Street Downtown (Edwardsville) - Land Of Goshen Community Market; 8 am–12pm; Come experience the Land of Goshen Community Market! The Market is your best source for locally grown farm products, tasty baked goods, and wonderful art and gift ideas. The selection changes weekly so plan to visit more than once to fully appreciate the wide selection available. Live entertainment and free demonstrations add to the festive atmosphere. Free Eckert’s Farms (Belleville) - Strawberry Festival Eckert’s Farms (Belleville) - Murder Mystery Dinner: The Comic Book Killer; In a world where Super Heroes and Super Villians clash….there’s no room for trouble. But that’s exactly what the evil Doctor Weevil is. Trouble! He’s out to cause problems any way he can!

He proves that there is no honor among thieves because he’s out to destroy both good and bad guys! But wait! Someone stops him! Who could it be? You? Show starts at 5:30, $40/person includes meal & entertainment.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Radio Star; 8:00pm; Must be 21 years old Grafton Winery & Brewhaus (Grafton) - Grafton Winery Blues Fest; 11am-10pm; Free Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Elvis Tribute Contest - 7:00pm; Special Guest Performance by 2009 Ultimate Elvis Champion Bill Cherry! There will be performances by up to 15 Contestants, Bill Cherry, Jeff Caldwell and Comedian Cathy Dilday... It’s going to be a great show and you won’t want to miss it !!; Promised Land seating: $30; Graceland seating: $25; General seating: $20; First prize $1000, 2nd Prize $500, 3rd Prize $200, Voice Competition $100; Contest Entry Fee: $30 Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat - Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure - 2pm-6pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) – Karaoke Looking Glass Playhouse (Lebanon) – Legally Blonde the Musical Meramec Jack’s (Valley Park) - Rogers and Nienhaus; 9pm1am New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Intermediate Book Binding No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm PBC Studios (Bethalto) - JD Blackfoot and friends; 7pm– 16

Str8Up Magazine

10pm; Come see the legend and friends live in concert; Small intimate venue; Beer/wine cash bar and concessions available; Tickets $35 advance $40 Day of show Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karoke/DJ; 9:00 PM - 2:00 am Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Outlaw Opry 5pm – 9pm Pitcher’s Pub (Belleville) - Steve Ewing Acoustic; 10pm Plum Local (Belleville) - Motown Madness; 7pm Pop’s (Sauget) – Hung Like A Martyr; Sponsored by Redwood Studios, 105.7 The Point, & Busch Beer; w/ Outcome Of Betrayal, Animated Dead, Wild Tiger Fighters, & Compelled To Destroy; 7pm; $5 advance, $7 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Salem Community Theater (Salem) - 12 Angry Men; A 19-yearold man has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. It looks like an open-and-shut case—until one of the jurors begins opening the others’ eyes to the facts. The jurors’ final verdict and how they reached it—add up to a fine, mature piece of dramatic literature, with timeless— and timely—themes Schatze’s (Belleville) – Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Social Remedy; 9:00 pm 1:00 am Skootr’s West (Freeburg) - Hot Flash Duo; 8pm Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday

StraightUpMagazine.net

May 2013 Morning East Side Road Ride; 7:00am The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Live Music The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - The Lettermen; 5:00 pm & 8:00 pm The Weingarten (Belleville) - Herb Eberle; 2pm-5pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Rockin’ Horse

May 19th (Sunday) Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Chase Me Up Farnsdale Avenue, Sil Vous Plait!; 7:30pm – 8:30pm; This international farce is a play within a play. Anything that could go wrong does go wrong, including broken props, missed sound cues, problems with the set, etc. There is a bit of audience participation prior to the start of Act II and “running” laughs for all.

Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Flea Market Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Collinsville) – Kids Day; Hands-on activities, crafts, games and dancing for kids of all ages. 11am - 4pm. Free.

Cleo’s (Edwardsville) - Pat Liston; 6:32pm-9:32pm Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Downtown (Belleville) - Art on the Square Art Show Eckert’s Farms (Belleville) - Strawberry Festival Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – American Idle; 2:00pm; Spin The Bottle; 7:00pm; Must be 21 years old Grafton Winery & Brewhaus (Grafton) - Grafton Winery Blues Fest; 12pm-7 pm; Free Looking Glass Playhouse (Lebanon) – Legally Blonde the Musical Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Brett Nafziger Plush (St. Louis) - Gypsy Jones (of the Metro East); 1pm Salem Community Theater (Salem) - 12 Angry Men; A 19-yearold man has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. It looks like an open-and-shut case—until one of the jurors begins opening the others’ eyes to the facts. The jurors’ final verdict and how they reached it—add up to a fine, mature piece of dramatic literature, with timeless— and timely—themes Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) – 18th Annual Cancer Benefit Ride; 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) – Bike Night/Hoosier Daddies; at Outdoor Patio; 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm St. Jacob Township Park (St. Jacob) - Strawberry Festival & Berry Bicycle Ride; 9am-4pm; Free The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Open Mic Night

May 20th (Monday)

EskiNO! Productions presents: 6:30pm; w/ Ghost In The Machine, Seven Year Nightmare, Sundays Tragedy, & Conquer As They Come; $8 advance, $10 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Salem Community Theater (Salem) - 12 Angry Men; A 19-year-old man has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. It looks like an open-and-shut case—until one of the jurors begins opening the others’ eyes to the facts. The jurors’ final verdict and how they reached it—add up to a fine, mature piece of dramatic literature, with timeless—and timely—themes Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke

May 21st (Tuesday) 6pm

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East Road Ride;

Blue Agave (Belleville) – Open Mic every Tues Pitcher’s Pub (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Pop’s (Sauget) – Yngwie Malmsteen; 7pm; with tbd; $25 advance, $25 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Salem Community Theater (Salem) - 12 Angry Men; A 19-year-old man has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. It looks like an open-and-shut case—until one of the jurors begins opening the others’ eyes to the facts. The jurors’ final verdict and how they reached it—add up to a fine, mature piece of dramatic literature, with timeless—and timely—themes Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke The Loading Dock (Grafton) - Tour The Nina & Pinta; 9am5pm; The Nina and Pinta, replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships will be open to the public for touring. Archaeology magazine has called the Nina, the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built.

(Nails & Toes Too)

Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am–12pm Pop’s (Sauget) – Nine Left Dead; The Beard Productions &

234-4927

221 East Main Belleville, IL This space is too little for such BIG SPECIALS!!

Visit us on Facebook to see them (save this ad)

StraightUpMagazine.net

May 22nd (Wednesday) Str8Up Magazine

17

May Calendar of Events

18

Str8Up Magazine

May 2013

StraightUpMagazine.net

May 2013 more in this weekly summer tradition. Gates open at 6pm with race post time at 7:30pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Live music Wed-Sun; Must be 21 years old Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) – Class Act Karaoke Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) – Karaoke Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7:00-11:00 p.m.

Plum Local (Belleville) – Live Music; 8pm Salem Community Theater (Salem) - 12 Angry Men; A 19-yearold man has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. It looks like an open-and-shut case—until one of the jurors begins opening the others’ eyes to the facts. The jurors’ final verdict and how they reached it—add up to a fine, mature piece of dramatic literature, with timeless— and timely—themes Schatze’s (Belleville) – Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Champagne Fixx; 9:00 pm 1:00 am Smitty’s (Chesterfield) - Rogers and Nienhaus; 9pm-1am SWIC (Belleville) – Exhibit runs through June 21st; Laura Strand, Mary C. Nasser, & Jack Decoteau Talahi Lodge at the Olin Nature Preserve (Godfrey) - Moonlight Hike; 7:30pm; Join The Nature Institute members and friends and take a leisurely moonlit hike through the Mississippi Sanctuary, a 37-acre area of grand vistas and spectacular scenery, including waterfalls and wildlife. Terrain is light to moderate and the hike is about an hour long.

Free The Loading Dock (Grafton) - Tour The Nina & Pinta; 9am5pm; The Nina and Pinta, replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships will be open to the public for touring. Archaeology magazine has called the Nina, the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built.

The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Live Music The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - David Lindley; 8:00 pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Rockin’ Horse

Market; 8am–12pm; Come experience the Land of Goshen Community Market! The Market is your best source for locally grown farm products, tasty baked goods, and wonderful art and gift ideas. The selection changes weekly so plan to visit more than once to fully appreciate the wide selection available. Live entertainment and free demonstrations add to the festive atmosphere. Free Eckert’s Farms (Belleville) - Memorial Day Festival Eckert’s Farms (Belleville) - Summer Concert Fest; 7pm - 9pm; FREE; Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a beautiful evening with family and friends. If it rains, the concert will be canceled.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Live music Wed-Sun; Must be 21 years old Grafton Boatworks (Grafton) - Grafton Riverside Flea Market; 9am-5pm; Free Jacoby Arts Center (Alton) - Principia College Jazz Duo; 7pm9pm (Doors open at 6pm) Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat - Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure - 2pm-6pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) – Karaoke Metcalf Student Experimental Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - Cougar Theater Company presents Witches, Stitches, Rings and Things; 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM & 7:00 PM - 7:50 PM New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) – Michael Hickman

May 25th (Saturday) Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Collinsville) – Nature/ Culture Hike; 3-mile hike through archaeological & natural areas of the site. 9:30am - 1:00pm. Free.

Chandler Hill Winery (Defiance MO) - Liston and Modin; 1pm-4pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Karaoke Night Downtown (Belleville) - Old Town Farmers Market. Catch the morning’s pick of fresh, flavorful produce grown by local farmers.

Peruse the booths of local artisans for one-of-a-kind treasures. Shop outdoors while you get to know your local growers and run into friends or meet new ones! Open every Saturday, 7:30 am – Noon, May through November 16th, rain or shine. Corner of 1st and West Main Street Downtown (Edwardsville) - Land Of Goshen Community

St Louis Landscape Drawing

StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

19

May Calendar of Events

May 2013

New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Advanced Book Binding No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karoke/DJ; 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton ) - Thrill Factor Pitcher’s Pub (Belleville) - Dynamic J’s; 9pm-1am Plum Local (Belleville) - Live Music; 8pm Ruebel Hotel (Grafton) - Karaoke Competiton; 7pm-11:30pm; Prizes given away at every show Salem Community Theater (Salem) - 12 Angry Men; A 19-year-old man has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. It looks like an open-and-shut case—until one of the jurors begins opening the others’ eyes to the facts. The jurors’ final verdict and how they reached it—add up to a fine, mature piece of dramatic literature, with timeless—and timely—themes Schatze’s (Belleville) – Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Out Of Focus; 9:00 pm - 1:00 am Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am The Loading Dock (Grafton) - Tour The Nina & Pinta; 9am5pm; The Nina and Pinta, replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships will be open to the public for touring. Archaeology magazine has called the Nina, the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built.

The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Live Music Wild Country (Collinsville) - Rockin’ Horse

May 27th (Monday) Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am–12pm Downtown (Alton) - Alton Memorial Day Parade; 10am; This annual Memorial Day Parade in Upper Alton, running continuously since 1868, honors the contributions of local veterans. Free.

Downtown (Belleville) - Memorial Day Parade Eckert’s Farms (Belleville) - Memorial Day Festival Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke The Loading Dock (Grafton) - Tour The Nina & Pinta; 9am5pm; The Nina and Pinta, replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships will be open to the public for touring. Archaeology magazine has called the Nina, the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built.

May 28th (Tuesday) 6pm

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East Road Ride; Blue Agave (Belleville) – Open Mic every Tues Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke

May 26th (Sunday) Buxton’s Restaurant & Bar (Beckmeyer) - Jamie Nattier & Travis Holtz; 2pm–6pm Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Eckert’s Farms (Belleville) - Memorial Day Festival Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Live music Wed-Sun; Must be 21 years old Grafton Boatworks (Grafton) - Grafton Riverside Flea Market; 9am-5pm; Free Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Tim Buck Two Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Bike Night/Gypsy Jones; at Outdoor Patio; 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm The Loading Dock (Grafton) - Tour The Nina & Pinta; 9am5pm; The Nina and Pinta, replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships will be open to the public for touring. Archaeology magazine has called the Nina, the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built.

The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Open Mic Night 20

Str8Up Magazine

StraightUpMagazine.net

May 2013 May 29th (Wednesday) Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Adam’s Auction Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) – Karaoke Every Wed Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - Xfest presents Pacific Performance Projects East - “Flight”; 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM; FLIGHT is based on the intersection of technology, history and art: the early days of powered flight, pioneering women fliers of the time, the eve of The Great War, and Chekhov’s The Seagull. Set in a suburb of Paris in 1913, this theatrical piece revolves around the onstge assembly of a three-quarter sized Bleriot XI monoplane.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Live music Wed-Sun; Must be 21 years old PSOP/SWIC Programs and Services for Older Persons (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 1:30 - 3 p.m.; Our instructor, Carol Schwartz, will show you new line dances and techniques each week. This is a great group to dance with, so sliiiide on over. Cost is $2 per session.

Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic - 7pm – 11pm; with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Bud Light Beach Blast; at Outdoor Patio; 7:00 am - 2:00 am The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Open Mic Night Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country With WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! Open 7pm-1am; - $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

May 30th (Thursday) Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30 PM 1:30 AM Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Live music Wed-Sun; Must be 21 years old Great River Road (IL-3) and Clifton Terrace Road on the River (Godfrey) - Water Ski Show; 7 pm weather permitting Growler’s (Sunset Hills) - Pat Liston (of the Metro East); 7:30pm-10:30pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) – Class Act Karaoke PSOP/SWIC Programs and Services for Older Persons (Belleville) - Among the Amish in Arcola; 7:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Immerse yourself in Amish culture to get a glimpse of what it would be like to live in a different world.

Schatze’s (Belleville) – Bike Night with Live Music The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Live Music Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons from 7:30 10 w/ Joyce Warren

StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

21

May Calendar of Events

May 2013

May 31st (Friday) Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz Doc Holiday’s Saloon and Eatery (Cottage Hills) – Borderline; 9pm-1am; No Cover. 21+ only Downtown (Belleville) - Shriners Parade Eckert’s Farms (Belleville) - Summer Concert Fest; 7pm - 9pm; FREE; Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a beautiful evening with family and friends. If it rains, the concert will be canceled.

Fairmount Park (Collinsville) - Every Friday night at Fairmount is a Party at the Park! Join us for racing, live music, drink specials and more in this weekly summer tradition. Gates open at 6pm with race post time at 7:30pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Live music Wed-Sun; Must be 21 years old Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) – Class Act Karaoke Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) – Karaoke Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7:00-11:00 p.m.

Plum Local (Belleville) – Live Music; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) – Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Whiskey Dixon; 9:00 pm 1:00 am The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Live Music The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Younger Than Yesterday; 8:00 pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Hicktown

June 1st (Saturday) Alton Riverfront Amphitheater (Alton) - Tour De Cure Bike Ride; Check-In Time begins at 6am; Longer rides start at 7am with the shorter rides starting at 10am; Join hundreds of cyclists in this fund raising event for the American Diabetes Association. Travel along the Great River Road, flat & moderately hilly country roads on routes of 16, 30, 50, and 100 miles crossing ferries and bridges. There will be support vehicles patrolling the routes and stocked rest stops every 9 to 12 miles.

Following the ride all cyclists enjoy complimentary lunch, live music and free admission into Raging Rivers Water Park!

Bee Hollow Market (Mascoutah) - Wine Tasting; 11:00 AM 2:00 PM; In conjunction with Ice Cream Social Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Shriners Circus Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Karaoke Night Downtown (Belleville) - Shriners Parade Downtown (Belleville) - Old Town Farmers Market. Catch the morning’s pick of fresh, flavorful produce grown by local farmers.

Peruse the booths of local artisans for one-of-a-kind treasures. Shop outdoors while you get to know your local growers and run into friends or meet new ones! Open every Saturday, 7:30 am – Noon, May through 22

Str8Up Magazine

November 16th, rain or shine. Corner of 1st and West Main Street Downtown (Edwardsville) - Land Of Goshen Community Market; 8am–12pm; Come experience the Land of Goshen Community Market! The Market is your best source for locally grown farm products, tasty baked goods, and wonderful art and gift ideas. The selection changes weekly so plan to visit more than once to fully appreciate the wide selection available. Live entertainment and free demonstrations add to the festive atmosphere. Free Downtown (Lebanon) - City Wide Yard Sale Downtown (Lebanon) - Garden Tour Downtown (Lebanon) - Merchant Sidewalk Sale Downtown (Mascoutah) – Ice Cream Social & Volksmarch; 12:00 PM; Annual event sponsored by the Mascoutah Chamber of Commerce. Sample free Ice Cream treats from participating merchants.

Great family event.

Eckert’s Farms (Belleville) - Summer Concert Fest; 7pm - 9pm; FREE; Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a beautiful evening with family and friends. If it rains, the concert will be canceled.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Live music Wed-Sun; Must be 21 years old Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat - Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure - 2pm-6pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) – Karaoke No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karoke/DJ; 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Gentleman Bandits Plum Local (Belleville) - Live Music; 8pm Pop’s (Sauget) – Limp Bizkit; 105.7 The Point presents; 8pm; with tbd; $30 advance, $30 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Schatze’s (Belleville) – Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Smitty’s at the Marina (New Athens) - Benefit for Tracy Yon; 10am; Music by Silverback 7pm Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday

StraightUpMagazine.net

May 2013 Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Live Music Wild Country (Collinsville) - Hicktown

June 2nd (Sunday) Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) – Shriners Circus Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Doll, Toy & Mini Show Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - First Sunday of Every Month Jam 4pm-8pm Downtown (Belleville) - Shriners Parade Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Live music Wed-Sun; Must be 21 years old Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Typsy Gypsy Pop’s (Sauget) – Alkaline Trio with Bayside, Off With Their Heads; 105.7 The Point & Judy Productions welcome; 6:30pm; $20 advance, $24 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Open Mic Night

June 3rd (Monday) Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Drama Camp at ALT; 12:30pm – 2:30pm; The Creative Dance Studio presents Drama Camp at ALT (ages 9-16), Tuition is $75.

Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am– 12pm Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke The Governor French Academy Gallery (Belleville) – Gateway East Artist Guild Show

June 4th (Tuesday) Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Drama Camp at ALT; 12:30pm – 2:30pm; The Creative Dance Studio presents Drama Camp at ALT (ages 9-16), Tuition is $75.

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East Road Ride; 6pm Blue Agave (Belleville) – Open Mic every Tues Pitcher’s Pub (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) – Karaoke

June 5th (Wednesday) Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Drama Camp at ALT; 12:30pm – 2:30pm; The Creative Dance Studio presents Drama Camp at ALT (ages 9-16), Tuition is $75.

Chez Marilyn (Alton) - Rogers and Nienhaus; 7pm-10pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night

Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) – Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Live music Wed-Sun; Must be 21 years old PSOP/SWIC Programs and Services for Older Persons (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 1:30 - 3 p.m.; Our instructor, Carol Schwartz, will show you new line dances and techniques each week.

This is a great group to dance with, so sliiiide on over. Cost is $2 per session.

Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic - 7pm – 11pm; with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Open Mic Night Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country With WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! Open 7pm-1am; - $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

June 6th (Thursday) Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Drama Camp at ALT; 12:30pm – 2:30pm; The Creative Dance Studio presents Drama Camp at ALT (ages 9-16), Tuition is $75.

Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30 PM 1:30 AM Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) – Live music Wed-Sun; Must be 21 years old Great River Road (IL-3) and Clifton Terrace Road on the River (Godfrey) - Water Ski Show; 7 pm weather permitting Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) – Class Act Karaoke Riverview Park (Alton) - Free Concert; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) – Bike Night with Live Music The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) – Live Music The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Satisfaction - Tribute to The Rolling Stones; 8:00 pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons from 7:30 10 w/ Joyce Warren

June 7th (Friday) Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Drama Camp at ALT; 12:30pm – 2:30pm; The Creative Dance Studio presents Drama Camp at ALT (ages 9-16), Tuition is $75.

Riverview Park (Alton) - Free Concert; 8pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) – Live Jazz Eckert’s Farms (Belleville) - Summer Concert Fest; 7pm - 9pm; FREE; Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a beautiful evening with family and friends. If it rains, the concert will be canceled.

Fairmount Park (Collinsville) - Every Friday night at Fairmount is a Party at the Park! Join us for racing, live music, drink

StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

23

Music

May 2013

Potential Kinetic

by Daniel Nygard

The idea of building a music studio powered by wind and solar energy is not only innovative; it is that idea that is the driving force and reason that Renew Audio is here today. Renew Audio was started in 2001 by Alex Jones.

Alex’s first memorable exposure to music was as a child, when his parents would create music with and for him. When Alex was 16 he borrowed $500 dollars from his mom and bought his first set of turntables. He taught himself how to be a disk jockey by practicing and learning what he could from his peers. It only took a year for word to get around that he was a DJ and was offered his first gig to perform and play music for a local church youth group party. The pay for the gig was $200. For a high schooler 15 years ago, $200 for two hours work was a huge payday. And it only got better from there.

After graduation from Lebanon High school in 2001, Alex started attending Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville. He began taking classes in the school’s music department as well as general classes. It is around this time that the idea of Renew Audio starting moving forward. Alex wanted a name that was short and memorable, as well as symmetrical. Throwing around ideas for a while, the name Renew Audio was finally born. “Audio by definition means ‘to hear’. I wanted to renew how people heard things in music, my music,” Alex explained to me. Renew Audio became official in 2003, as well as Mr. Jones’ Pro Tools Certification. Alex attained an Associates in Arts degree in 2005, and then took the opportunity to go to The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Science in Arizona from 2005-2006. There he received his Fine Arts Music Performance Degree.

All the while, Alex collected vinyl records to build his vast array of artists and genres in his collection. A pretty impressive “home” studio had been designed over the years as well to work on his art. Plenty of equipment can be found in his studio, mostly organized and arranged and ready for a jam or recording session. Alex has recorded numerous local artists in his home studio, often ready and willing to “throw down” in the studio and make some quality tracks with people.

Ever since he can remember, Alex has experimented with various musical instruments, developing and expressing his musical influences and talents. What can you find in his disc changer today? Names like JD McPherson, Tori Amos, Dust Brothers Fight Club soundtrack, Deftones, Bruno Mars, and PlastickMan. A wide variety of artists demonstrates the open mind that enhances his creativity and openness to others arts.

Currently, Alex works at Clayton Studios in Missouri; he’s been there since July of 2006. In January of 2012, Alex landed a very impressive job at The Extreme Institute by Nelly (that’s right: Nelly) in St. Louis. The Institute is an extension of Vatterot College. Here, Alex teaches students the art of music production. Being a part of such a huge movement and innovative form of education only begins to express who Alex Jones is, and what he is about.

When I asked Alex Jones what was the most influential thing in his life, this was his answer: “There’s a place called Hawn State Park in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. A beautiful place filled with tons of things to do from camping to biking, hiking, swimming, fishing, and even historic site tours. But my favorite part is going deep into the park to an area called Whispering Pines and I lay down on the ground and listen to the wind blow through the trees. I clear my mind and close my eyes and lay completely still until I hear and see nothing. Then you can hear it coming, the wind whistling through the trees. Nature’s symphony, it’s beautiful, peaceful, and influential.” One of his favorite places on earth is just a couple of hours away.

Only time will tell what will happen with Renew Audio, but I will tell you one thing, I will be there when it happens. Not only am I a friend of Alex Jones, but I am a fan. I admire him for his initiative, his work ethic, his music, and also because of his innovative ideals. Make no mistake. Whether it be with Renew Audio or one of his other projects, Alex Jones will be at the forefront of the new age of music and how people will experience it. I will be waiting and watching. Facebook.com/pages/Renew-Audio/158035437541898

24

Str8Up Magazine

StraightUpMagazine.net

The Arts

May 2013

Copyright Law Copyright law can be viewed as both a benefit and a burden for artists. On the one hand, it protects artists’ works from those who might like to copy them and allows them to profit from their creativity, while on the other hand it prevents working artists from incorporating aspects of existing works into their art. Regardless of what you think of copyright law, artists and art appreciators stand to benefit by knowing a few things about the law.

What does it protect?

Copyright law is basically a code of laws designed to protect creative expression. The theory behind copyright law is that if we don’t protect artists’ works from rampant reproduction, artists will have less incentive to create. In the digital era, where content made available online is readily copied and distributed ad infinitum, copyright law is perhaps more necessary than ever before for artists aiming to combat the illicit copying of their works.

How do I acquire copyright?

Once upon a time, artists needed to register their works with the U.S. Copyright Office in order to get legal rights to their works. It’s true that registration has its benefits, but artists should know that they actually acquire copyright rights to their works the instant their works become fixed in a tangible medium. So, if you whistle a tune – that isn’t fixed; it dissipates in the afternoon air and doesn’t have copyright protection. But, the minute you write the notes of that same tune down on paper, or make a sound recording of it, presto!, you just earned yourself legal rights to that new work. At this point, if someone copies what you’ve created, they are liable for infringing your copyright.

by Jeff Koegel of Volunteer Lawyers & Accountants for the Arts

Copyright rights are distinguishable from the work created. You possess the physical embodiment of my copyright (the painting), but you can’t make copies of it, or publicly display it. As the owner of that bundle of rights, only I can do that. But, maybe if you ask nicely, (and pay me for my trouble) I’d be glad to talk about licensing.

How long does copyright last?

If you like having copyright rights, I’ve got some good news: they last a while. Copyright rights generally adhere to an author of an original, creative work for the author’s life plus an additional 70 years. One day, long after you’re gone, the work will fall into the public domain, where anyone can copy or use the work any way they choose.

Is some copying OK? While copyright law generally prohibits people from using/copying artists’ works, all copying is not created equal. “Fair use” generally permits copying if the copy is made for the purpose of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research, or sometimes if the new work uses the original work in a transformational way. This means that copying is permitted where viewers of the copy understand that the copy serves a fundamentally different purpose than the original work.

How VLAA can help Copyright law, especially fair use, is complex and if you have any questions about it, you should consider reaching out to St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts. VLAA helps artists and arts organizations with arts-related legal and accounting problems. If you live in our service area (Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois), please visit our website (www.VLAA.org) or give us a call at (314) 863-6930. We would love to help!

This article is designed to provide general information; it should not be utilized as a substitute for professional legal services.

What do I own?

Copyright law essentially grants a “bundle of rights” to authors and artists who create original and creative works. If I paint a painting, copyright law considers the work my property and, generally speaking, I alone have the rights to sell that work, or make copies of it, or display or perform it publicly. Also, I can license my rights to others, and grant them permission to use my work in return for compensation.

StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

25

Business Profile

May 2013

Let There Be Peace by Piece on Earth

by Robyn L. Kirsch With a menagerie of eclectic women’s wares and gifts, offering a small town atmosphere, Peace by Piece Co. brings it all together.

Swansea residents Jason and Christina Keck established the boutique, at 132 W. Main Street in Belleville, in 2009. The couple fell in love with the location after noticing the historic 100 year old building while having coffee across the street at the former Oregon Trail Roasting company.

Having been married for nearly 16 years, the Keck’s previously owned a lawn care business, working side-by-side for now more than 14 years and going strong.

Upon opening almost four years ago, the Keck’s have remained steadfast in their goal of carrying mostly American made products. “If it’s not American or locally made, it has to be a fair trade, like Elegant Editions Scarves, or a give-back company like Life is Good (who) donates 10% of its profits to kids camps. And then, Tom’s shoes. For every pair of shoes sold they donate one pair to a child in need,” Christina said.

Local Bellevillian, Heather Holland-Daly, 2008 author of Stitch Graffiti: Unexpected Cross Stitch, was the first local artist the Keck’s employed to create and sell her jewelry at the shop. Her jewelry has grown to be a big attraction in the eyes of their patrons. “Her jewelry draws in a repeat customer base, just as a lot of our other locally made products. But Heather is an amazing jack of all trades with her writing, performing and singing and artistic expression,” said the couple in tandem when reflecting on her ‘Fripptic’ and ‘Be the Change’ jewelry lines. (Painted on one of the walls in the shop is a quote from Ghandi, which has been adopted as a shop slogan and bled into some of the product lines, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”)

The Keck’s have also welcomed with open arms their longest running employee’s drive to take on her own artistic contribution to the shop. For the past few months, Mak enzie Fietsam has been taking individual orders through www.etsy.com for handcraft ed designs painted on various styles of Tom’s shoes. “I always say she’s going to rule a small country one day, and I’ll probably move there,” Jason said of Fietsam, who has continually taken the initiative while working at the shop as their Tom’s shoe advocate.

“Someone told me a long time ago - live together, play together, stay together, and that has really rung true with us,” Jason said when thinking about the rarity of working alongside his wife.

Rooting itself in the niche market of local shops in the newly restored downtown Belleville Main Street shopping circuit, the business is thriving with a small and personable staff. According to Jason, his staff all seemed to come along at the right time just when they needed help. “It’s a great team; everybody fit in just right and found their niche which keeps the machine a runnin’.”

One element of local downtown that ultimately attracted the Keck’s to open a store in Belleville was the conscientious and dedicated nature of its city workers and other local establishments. “I think the city, as a whole, has done a fabulous job with the streetscape. I think it’s very important to keep in mind all of the businesses that were here during (the economic downturn of 2008) and survived, which speaks volumes for those businesses,” Christina said as she reflects upon the challenges overcome by her local comrades. “That was part of the draw for us coming down here; we could really see it coming back to life,” Jason added.

26

Str8Up Magazine

StraightUpMagazine.net

May 2013 Linda Barnish, of Maryville and a nurse at St. Elizabeth’s hospital, said she attended the Spring Open House because the Keck’s were going to be donating a percentage of the proceeds to the local Belleville Humane Society, which is where the Kecks found their dog, Cooper, many years prior. “Now Cooper has people coming in on their lunch hours, they don’t even buy a thing sometimes - they just come in to pat his head and lower their blood pressure and get back to work. We always say he has quite the fan club here,” Jason said laughingly about their dog who has evolved into being the shop’s peace ambassador.

“I love this place - they always have the neatest things that you can’t find anywhere else. For the last few years I’ve been sending my coworkers over to shop here because people often ask me where I get my interesting accessories from,” Barnish said.

According to the Keck’s, many of their customers have a reciprocating relationship with the staff, whether it be bringing in additional business through recommendations or bringing flowers or cookies with an aire of appreciation, or simply strolling down to the shop on their lunch hour for the smiling faces of the staff.

“Sometimes our busiest days are rainy days, when you’d think that nobody in the world would come out... (otherwise) 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the lunch hour, especially on nice days, we can have eight to 10 people in here, and it’s mad speed shopping at its finest,” Jason said.

Teaming up with other local shops, such as Circa on Belleville’s East Main, during open house or sales events, is one way the Keck’s try to help the local economy. During their recent Open House event in late march, Fietsam said, “we try to support other local shops like Grimm and Gorly Flowers and Gifts and Cupcakes Too, so we have some of their cake pops for customers to try while they are here.”

Peace by Piece Co., spearheads multiple events every year such as their semi-annual Before & Again clothing line Trunk shows, seasonal open houses and other instructional classes, like the April 18th “Tie One On” class. The latter was led by Fietsam and Tiffany “Sunshine” Neuverth, another staff member, which will help interested individuals discover new and trendy ways to tie and utilize scarves to accessorize.

“We are different than your average store, especially big box retailers because we have a different type of relationship with our customers. We get to know them and they know us, we know about their lives and they know about ours. We offer more than just items to buy - it’s an experience and a Lynn Slackman, of Shiloh, said she’s been visiting the shop since its open- friendship,” Neuverth said. ing and is always impressed by the high level of customer service. “I love coming in to see what new, unique items they have,” Slackman said as she For more information about the shop and upcoming events, go to PeaceByPieceCo.com or the shop’s Facebook page. grabbed a cake pop for the road.

Jason added that other snacks, like dip from 10th Street Bakery on West Main, was offered to customers who perused the shop during the event.

“It’s important for us to keep the success of other Belleville businesses in mind, not just our own,” Jason said.

StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

27

Culture

May 2013

Wild Friends in the Garden

Gill-Over-the-Ground, or Glechoma hederacea, is a member of the mint family. The aerial parts are edible and, when eaten fresh, have a light

by Brenton Ebersol minty taste to the pallet. Foraged while the herb is blooming, Gill-Overthe-Ground is steeped as a tea for respiratory sickness and is high in vita As the weather warms at Alma Terra, the trees leaf out and begin mins. It has been used medicinally for centuries and was brought to North to bloom again and below their branches, old friends begin to re-emerge America by English settlers for their gardens. across the turf of our homestead. I’m reminded of an old saying that any

Wild Violet, or Viola odorata, flowers are sweet and used as a spring ‘weed’ is just a plant whose wonderful benefits have not been understood garnish in salads and traditionally to decorate cakes. Along with young by humans yet. A majority of these refugees appearing in the spaces between everything, mostly unknown or overlooked, have benefits and uses to leaves, the flowers are edible, and the whole plant is steeped as an herbal remedy tea. The tea is very easy to make. Use one fourth cup of the whole us all. herb dried or fresh per cup of boiling water for ten minutes. Used to treat

Many wild spring adventitious plants are often seen as a nuisance, like a foreign invader on our own corner of the Earth. However, I invite you digestive disorders, new research has detected the presence of a natural aspirin which substantiates its use for centuries as a medicinal remedy for to share my view on their arrival each Spring, as welcomed guests. They headache, body pains and as a sedative. When applied to the skin, fresh are some of the first to bloom each season, signaling that it’s soon time to plant vegetables and landscape flowers as well. They start bringing benefi- crushed leaves reduce swelling and soothe irritations and insect bites or stings. As a bath additive, the fresh crushed flowers are soothing to the skin cial insects such as honeybees and butterflies as soon as they start emerging from dormancy and are looking for food. In fact, Common Chickweed and the aroma is very relaxing.

and Dandelions can be found blooming after a few days mild weather in the middle of Winter! If implemented properly, they can also augment our healthful diet and be an amazing aid to the organic garden.

German Chamomile, or Matricaria chamomilla, has beautiful thin serrated foliage and daisy like white blooms that appear wildly in great quantity in the middle weeks of May. When picked fresh or air dried, the blooms are used in herbal medicine. Traditionally, this plant is used for a sore stomach, irritable bowel syndrome, and as a gentle sleep aid. Two teaspoons of dried flowers are used per cup of tea, which should be steeped for ten or fifteen minutes while covered to avoid evaporation of the volatile oils. Young seedlings are appearing in many places of our yard, the next generation growing from the plants we transplanted last year when we moved in. They take to being transplanted very well if the roots aren’t too disturbed, and with care can be relocated to a more suitable location to harvest later for tea.

Common Chickweed, or Stellaria media, is a delicious cool season herb with a high nutrient content when eaten raw and can be a great money saving forage addition to any picnic salad in spring or fall. This method also ensures that the greens to be as fresh as possible if picked soon before eating. Chickweed can also be used as crisp and nutritious addition to any brew of tea. The greens taste the best when the plant is young enough to have not flowered, the tea has the highest vitamin content after the plant has started blooming. All above ground parts are suitable for either purpose anytime it’s growing.

28

Str8Up Magazine

Dandelions, or Taraxacum officinale, have a wide variety of uses.

The young leaves are eaten raw in salads or as greens on sandwiches. The roots are steeped as a tea that is traditionally used as a diuretic to revitalize the liver and cleanse the body of blood toxins. Dandelions’ tap roots allow them to reach deep in the sub soil, pulling out many minerals that are usually unavailable to other crops. They are a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc.

The young leaves and flowers of Red/White Clovers, or Trifolium pratense/repens, are edible and make for a valuable survival food. Both are high in proteins, widespread, and abundant. The fresh plants have been used for centuries as additives to salads and other meals consisting of leafy vegetables. This being said, they are not the easiest for humans to digest raw, but can by boiled for five to ten minutes to make their nutrients more readily available to the body. Dried flower heads and seedpods can also be ground up into a nutritious flour and mixed into baked goods, cereals and other foods. Red Clover is an ingredient in the powerful body cleansing eight-herb blend, essiac tea, which research has shown to help boost immunities and ward off cancer.

On Saturday, May 4th, join Alma Terra and Straight Up Magazine for this season’s first weekly Olde Town Farmers’ Market at the corner of First Street and West Main in Downtown Belleville from 8:00 am – noon.

Come support the local growers of our area and enjoy the fresh delicious rewards of their harvest!

StraightUpMagazine.net

Comics

May 2013

read the signs

Today cl as s, o u r “ S c h o o l S p i r i t ” ar t pre s e nt at i o n s a re d u e. Al ex w il l yo u g o fi r s t ?

Well, our school cut out our art class so I’m not very artsy.

Instead I found this art piece....

That I believe represents America’s “School Spirit.”

! will s.

Brian Gardner

Plum Local seeks new, young, hip 2-4 piece bands for evening gigs.

Contact 618-781-5232.

Want stacks of Straight-Up Magazine at your location??

Have an event coming up??

LET US KNOW! Visit us at: StraightUpMagazine.net

See our ad in Straight Up Magazine

Joe Camel Band

StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

29

Submissions

May 2013

Kathy Gomric Drawing is my PASSION! A God given talent discovered at an early age and nurtured in my teen years and in the 70’s and early 80’s entering the competitive ring.

Predominantly pencil drawing in black/white and grey, I master many techniques that bring the paper to life.

‘Breaking Away’ was inspired by one of my friends. She had commissioned me to do a drawing, asked that I could incorporate images that reflect male figures fleeing and coming up out of the trunk of a tree. These suggestions led me to a variety of drawings focusing around the theme of female/male struggles with the male usually leaving or fleeing.

‘ABodragon Tree’ was a drawing I began working on while at the St Charles Art Walk one year. I was fascinated by the matted hair of an Aborigine man I had come across and thought how cool the dreads would be if he were coming out of one my favorite tree forms, so the inspiration began. The drawing evolved with dragons emerging for the gnarly tree forms and there it was!

Kathy Gomric Millstadt

“Breaking Away” by Kathy Gomric

Duane Henson

Photographs capture a moment in time. Much like a painting can evoke emotions, so too can a photograph. I am definitely not an artist when it comes to trying to paint, so I use a negative (conventional or digital) as my canvas.

Capturing that moment, that feeling, and being able to look back through the images later and remember exactly where I was and who I was with when the image was taken….that is what it is all about for me.

For more images and more about me, please visit my website at www.DuaneHenson.com. I can be contacted at duane@duanehenson.com.

East Corondolet

30

Str8Up Magazine

StraightUpMagazine.net

May 2013

Brianne Harris

De Robinson

My name is Brianne Harris. I am a twenty-year-old undergraduate at SIU Edwardsville and I am a creative writer and editor.

I have lived in the Metro East for the duration of my twenty years of life and am very much excited to see journals and magazines such as this one appearing to offer our neck of the woods some art, culture, and beauty.

Freeburg IL

“Remember the Sea Gulls?”

De Robinson is a junior at Belleville East High School. His “Gravitas” won a Congressional award at the annual High School Art Exhibition and High School Congressional Art Competition March 21st at the Schmidt Art Center at Southwestern Illinois College. “Gravitas” allows viewers to use a cell phone to scan the corner QR code and see his character come alive.

De also produces the cartoon strip “Pun Brothers” as seen in Straight Up Magazine.

I carried our son in my arms Smiled as you kissed his soft forehead And then mine.

Shades of rose and cream and buttermilk, The textures of a reverie Rounded out by the ringing of wind chimes From the gabled house on the hill Long sea grass flashed green and gold.

You always said you wanted to live Where we could hear the gulls.

Shutting my eyes, I smelled the indigo storm clouds In the distance as they came Unrelenting and violent Violet purple soaking.

When I raised my salt encrusted eyelids You, and our son, Were nothing but watercolor smears Seeping between my cradled arms, Down the blouse of my dress Sinking into the sand at my feet While the grey gulls cried loudly for me.

StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

31

May 2013

32

Str8Up Magazine

StraightUpMagazine.net