Straight Up Magazine Jan. 2014

January 2014 Issue #

18

Jan. 2014

Grown from the Roots: Aaron Kamm and the One Drops ~ January Calendar of Events Life on Wheels – The Confluence Crush ~ Comics ~ Submissions

FREE

Kathy Lynott

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

Str8Up Magazine

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Inside Page Editors Word – January 2014

January 2014

Welcome 2014! It is now the 18th edition of Straight Up Magazine, ‘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 it’s called Straight Up!!!

We are pleased to have Kathy Lynott as the cover artist for this eighteenth Straight Up edition! See more on Kathy 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!!!!

Like Straight Up on Facebook & receive daily entertainment updates, photos, videos & more.

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 region.

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 over 260 area distribution locations. And we’ll see you at the clubs, theatres and festivals all over the Metro-East.

Happy New Year to ALL!!!

Contact Straight Up Magazine:

PO Box 412 – Belleville IL (62222); 618-416-2289 straightup@straightupmagazine.net.

The Editors thank you!!!

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Staff

January Credits

Managing Editors: Dylan Seibert, Paul Seibert Content Editors: Dylan Seibert, Paul Seibert Layout Design Artists: Mark Polege, Michelle Reynolds Sales: Paul Seibert Ad Artists: Mark Polege, Wil Sullivan Wanted Poster: Michelle Reynolds Calendar: Dylan Seibert, Paul Seibert Website Design: Mark Polege (MarkusDesignWorks.com) Photography: Mark Polege (PhotographyofMarkPolege.com)

Contributors

Cover Art: “Paper House” by Kathy Lynott (Facebook.com/FrivolousNotions) Cover Logo: Josh Rowan (JoshuaRowan.com) Photography: Robyn Kirsch (Confluence Crush), Paul Seibert (Confluence Crush) Feature Writers: Robyn Kirsch Comics: Brian Gardner, Lyndsee Geyer, Wil Sullivan

Submissions

Kathy Lynott – Sculpture Paul Seibert – Short Story 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.

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Table of Contents

January 2014

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Grown from the Roots: Aaron Kamm and the One Drops January Calendar of Events Life on Wheels – The Confluence Crush Comics Submissions

Str8 Up Magazine Distribution Locations: Alton Alton Sports Tap AmTrac Chez Marilyn Doc Holiday’s Frank’s Restaurant Jacoby Art Center Mike’s Ten Pin Belleville 10th Street Baking Co Abbey, The Acropolis Restaurant Almighty Tatoos Althoff CHS Art Dept Anthony’s Salon Antique House Bar & Grill At Home Computer Repair Bank of Belleville Bamboo Valley Buffet Beatnik’s Bell Air Bowl Belle Clair Expo Center Belt Line Mart Ben’s Crafts & Floral Big Reggie’s Blue Agave BP Hucks - Carlyle Ave. BP Hucks - N. Illinois Bronx Zoo CeLeen Gallery Centerfield Bar and Grill Chamber of Commerce Christopher Mikal Photo.

Circa City Hall Club Escapade Conoco Phillips Crehan’s Pub Dutch Hollow Barn Eckert Florist Effinger’s Garden Center Facial Rejuvenation Center Fletcher’s Kitchen Geo’s Wings Governor French Gallery Grappa Growlers Hair on Main Happy Hops Homebrew Hardees Harters Hobby House Hicks Bar-B-Que

Hippie Daze Hite Auto Body and Repair Imo’s Pizza Katherine Frazier State Farm Kelso Auto Body Lindenwood Univ Local Lucy’s Lucinda’s Grill and Café Mabista Salon and Spa Main Street Café Mary’s Hidden Treasures Maytag Laundry Max’s One Stop Melodic Rhythms Miscellanea Mom’s Soul Food MotoMart My Vintage Addiction North Belt West Liquor Olympic Restaurant Papa Vito’s Patriot Restaurant Pitchers Pub Pizza World Plug N Play Computers Public Library Rising Star Too Schnucks Sears App and Hrdwe Seven Shop N Save Simply Thrift Sips n Splatters Sole Survivor Leather & Art Southwestern IL College St E’s Medical Arts Bldg Sullivan’s Super 8 Motel Sweet Sinsation TOCO Shop Towne & Country Mart Weingarten YMCA East Cahokia Cahokia Club KC MarkO’s Grill Spinner’s Restaurant Caseyville Amer.’s Best Inn & Suites First Western Inn Knollwood Retirement

Mudbugs Bar & Grill Quality Inn and Suites Centreville Terry’s Home & Garden Collinsville Dean’s Farmers Market Knights of Columbus Public Library Spring Garden Restaurant Swing City Music Columbia Columbia City Saloon Edwardsville Auto Tire Bailey Cakes Bin 51 Bridal Couture Circle K Edison’s Entertainment Enclave & Enclave West Green Mobile Handee-Mart (BP) Happy Up Toys Heroic Adventures Mark’s Appliances Public Library Random Happiness Run Well Sacred Grounds Southern IL University Stagger Inn Teaspoon Cafe Fairview Heights $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 Just One More Time Hooters Hucks

Lasting Impress. Floral Lilly’s Gyro MotoMart 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 Freeburg BP Hucks Casey’s Tom’s Supermarket Granite City Apple Tree Restaurant SWIC Café & Fitness Ctr Highland Great Clips Highland’s Tru-Buy Randy’s Smokehouse Lebanon Artimis Fezziwig’s Marketplace Ghost Vapor Shop Las Cabanas Lebanon Visitors Center Legendary Creations Mama Gusto’s McKendree University MotoMart Public Library Sasafras Way Photography Tiadaghton House 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

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Jo-Al Winery LaQuinta Hotel & Suites Mascoutah Steak House MidAmerica Inn & Suite McDonald’s Moore’s Family Restaurant Moto Mart Nite Deposit Sax Hometown Store Scott Credit Union St E’s Medical Plaza Tom’s Supermarket O’Fallon AC Computers Baymont Inn Candlewood Suites Casey’s Casa Azteca Circle K City Hall CoffeeHouse Co & Salon Country Inn and Suites CVS Days Inn Drury Inn Egg and I Extended Stay Frieze Harley Davidson Gas Mart Gias Pizza Hemingway’s Zen Garden Hilton Garden Inn Hometown Barber Lake Point Dental Luckenbooth Gallery McDonald’s Memorial Healthcare Memorial Therapy New Art Legacies Public Library RJs Computer Schnucks Settle Inn Shell St. E’s Medical Center Suburban Inn Subway Towne Lounge Vetta Sports Walgreens Wood Bakery

YMCA Sauget Sauget Diner SW IL Welcome Center Scott Air Force Base Chicago Chicken & Fish Ralph’s Barber Quick Mart Subway Shiloh Bank of Edwardsville David Anthony Barber Dierberg’s Golden Corral St. Louis Bread Quizno’s Walgreens Wings of Shiloh Smithton All Mart Century 21 No-Jacks Tom’s Supermarket Swansea Big Time Beads Concept Shoe Repair CVS Schnucks Dobbs Gas Mart Tourism Bureua of IL S. Wild Birds Unlimited Troy Inksane Asylum Randy’s Smokehouse Speedy Scrappers Troy Public Library ZX Fuel Waterloo BoBecks Sports Bar & Grill City Hall Gallagher’s JV’s Bar and Grill Karban’s Knotty Pines Knotty Pines Papa Vito’s Schorr Lake Vineyard St.Louis Concrete Ocean Gallery

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Music

January 2014

Grown from the Roots: Aaron Kamm and the One Drops

by Robyn Kirsch

If you want a manifold of rhythm and beats, you need only stay tuned to the native Metro East band, Aaron Kamm and the One Drops.

They’ve been keeping the local music circuit on both sides of the river grooving for years.

Who are they? There’s Andy Lee Doris on bass. Sean Raila plays percussion. Namesake Aaron Kamm is guitar and vocals. Per their bio: “A staple of the St. Louis music scene, Aaron Kamm and the One Drops play an intoxicating concoction of Roots Reggae and Mississippi River Blues.

Improv-laced Jams, dubbed-out grooves and Effervescent Vocals make this band a must see. After the release of their third studio album “The Bomb and the Beast” in 2012, this independent trio is beginning to forge their way across the country.”

“We first jammed in late October 2007. We started gigging almost immediately, and haven’t stopped since,” Sean Raila, the band’s drummer, said. “We’re just over six years old now.”

As a Southern Illinois University Edwardsville alumni with goals of reaching out to the musical sphere, Raila has taken it a step further by spearheading efforts to put the band on the map by booking the band at venues in, around and outside of Illinois. The band is scheduled to play at the Iowa City Yacht Club in Iowa City, IA on January 25th.

This isn’t a far stretch from gigs the band has played in the past, from Peoria, IL to Iowa City, IA. They make themselves at home, bringing vibes none other could mimic, nor supersede.

The band has played venues such as The Pageant in St. Louis and 4

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Laurie’s in Edwardsville, as well as 2720 Cherokee in St. Louis. Tapestry Of Community Offerings (TOCO) was one of the more recent family festivals where they were featured.

According to Alicia Hamilton of Troy, the band is delectable and one that she looks forward to experiencing more.

“They have a groovy, blues funk that I’m totally digging,” Hamilton said. “I could dance the night away to it.”

Three albums have been produced to date, the latest being ‘The Bomb & the Beast,’ released on March 29, 2012. ‘Bomb’ has received rave reviews from many local fans.

Per WordPress blogger TheDubeSide: “This is really where the album gets interesting. ‘PHR’ is a punk-ska-bluesy-dub masterpiece – just an awesome song to move to. ‘Sunshine’ is, straight up, an experience. A dub with what sounds like a guitar distorted to sound like a sitar, deep tribal drums, and almost séance-like vocals, (which is) very cool.”

Raila said the latest album is a collection of songs written by the band members after the second album, ‘Grow.’

“First off, we booked a week in the studio. Our first album, ‘Gnu Gnu,’ was recorded in one day and ‘Grow’ was recorded in three days,” Raila recounted. “We definitely were starting to experiment with different flavors than the previous two albums. Especially in the rock, blues and dub styles. We worked more effects and tape delays, Kamm layered some guitar licks; we also added some background percussion tracks. The older albums were more straight-to-the-point basic versions of the songs you would hear us playing live at that point in time. ‘The Bomb & the Beast’ has a little more depth as a studio project.”

For those who have not been privy to the band or their robust and diverse sound, Raila would welcome individuals to attend one of their live shows or find their music online to get a taste of the One Drops. “We make all original music,” Raila said. “We rarely play cover songs; also, no two shows are the same.”

Taking pride in the original sound they create, Raila said the band also does their own booking and event planning, and they do have some help with their own stage manager and sound engineer.

“Even if you heard some of the same songs at an earlier show, I assure you they are a bit different than the last time you heard it,” Raila explained. “We do a lot of improvising and most songs carry a positive message or vibe, and we like to play music that comes from Roots music like blues, reggae, rock and soul.”

As an observer on multiple occasions, I find it’s difficult not to resign from my daily identity and let the essence of the music of Aaron Kamm and the One Drops reverberate through me – with nothing other than a shear appreciation and satisfied soul left when the last beat drops.

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January 2014

What others say about Aaron Kamm and the One Drops:

CarbondaleRocks: “Jamming is not just a right-- it’s a given. Improvisation results in something more than unique, and it can happen in rehearsal or right in the middle of a performance. A longtime staple of the Saint Louis music scene, Aaron Kamm and the One Drops perfect a roots-reggae and Mississippi River blues style that feeds off what each member of the band is doing at any given time.”

Aaron

Kamm

CDUniverse: Formed in Edwardsville, IL, in late 2007 as a Reggae-Blues band, Aaron Kamm and The One Drops’ popularity grew quickly in the St. Louis music scene. Jamming on the back of the rock-reggae revival engraved by The Police and Sublime, Aaron Kamm and The One Drops mixes up their positive reggae grooves and heart-felt lyrics with foot stomping blues influences. The trio is comprised of vocalist/guitarist Aaron Kamm, bassist Andy Dorris, and drummer Sean Raila -- played their first gig in November of 2007 at a small St. Louis club. The group began aggressively touring around the area with an increasingly substantial following. They continue to play full time in the St. Louis area. Plans of national tour are in the close future.

For more about the band, visit their website at: TheOneDrops.com.

Find them on Facebook at: Facebook.com/theonedrops

Lee

Doris

Upcoming shows include: Friday, January 3; Old Rock House, St Louis MO Saturday, January 4; Loading Zone, Nashville TN Thursday, January 9; Laurie’s Place, Edwardsville IL Friday, January 10; John Brown’s, Marion IL Saturday, January 11; Broadway Oyster Bar, St Louis MO Thursday, January 23; Broadway Oyster Bar, St Louis MO Saturday, January 25; Iowa City Yacht Club, Iowa City IA Sunday, January 26; Parlor City, Cedar Rapids IA Friday, January 31; Hangar 9, Carbondale IL Thursday, February 9; Laurie’s Place, Edwardsville IL

Sean

Raila

Photos by Mark Bradburn from KDHX.org.

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January Calendar of Events

January 2014

January 1st (Wednesday) Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Surgeon Yoga; stretch and relax! All you need is a yoga mat. For all ages and skill levels; 7pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Open Mic Jam Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Curt’s Clock Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Bicentennial Committee would be very honored for the public to participate in the very first Bicentennial event on the very first day of 2014. Gather round Curt’s Clock on the Public Square in downtown Belleville and ring your hand bells, musical bells, any kind of bells that ring to celebrate Belleville’s 200th Anniversary for 2 minutes; or join in the celebration from your own front porch. 2pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - American Idle; 1pm; Wherehouse Project; 6pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jacoby Arts Center (Alton) - Call for Art for March Graffiti Art Exhibit; now through March 1 Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am PSOP/SWIC (Belleville) - Gateway East Artist Guild monthly meeting; 6pm PSOP/SWIC (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 1:30pm-3pm; 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.

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

January 2nd (Thursday)

Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm-1:30am Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Open Mic Jam Night with Brad Noe; 8pm Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Thursday night runs meet at the parking lot at A and Jackson (Baja Cali).

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Radio Star; 7pm Fletchers (Belleville) - Jazz guitarist John Farrar; 7:30-10pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke 6

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Schatze’s (Belleville) - Bike Night with Live Music Silver Creek Saloon & Grill (Belleville) - Well Hungarians; Every Thursday Night Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Singer/Songwriter Thursday; Every Thursday night from 7-10pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons w/ Joyce Warren; 7:30-10pm

January 3rd (Friday)

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Live Music; 9pm Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - American Idle; 8pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Let’s Go Fishing Show; 11am9pm; Adults:$7, Age 60+:$5, ages 6-15: $3.50, Ages 5 and under: Free.

Grappa Growlers (Belleville) - Crown Valley Drinks and Beer Tasting; 5-7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Jacoby Art Center (Alton) - First Annual Comic Book Art Exhibition presented by Dark Horse Art Works; 10am-5pm; Exhibit continues through January 17.

Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Mama Gusto’s (Lebanon) - Rogers and Nienhaus; 7-11pm Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - The Funatics; 7pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night; 7-11pm Pitcher’s (Belleville) - Tim Sessions; 9pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Project Zero Elite $3 Throwdown; featuring PROJECT ZERO ELITE with Lil’ Jay, White Eagle, Champ MC & TripleStak, BTM, Reup Von Wolfgang and Mon G; $3 advance, $5 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 7pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Friday Night Jazz; Every Friday night; 7-10pm The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Ozark Mountain Daredevils; 8pm

January 4th (Saturday)

Audubon Center (West Alton) - Alton Eagle Festival; Join in the fun for the kickoff of eagle watching season. See a live bald eagle up close and personal. Meet and greet with knowledgeable people from the area’s Eagle Watching Hot Spots to see what is in store for the rest of the season. Receive a “bird band” and become an official Alton Eagle Watcher. Bring the kids for fun activities and crafts. Learn about eagle watching: how to spot eagles, where to look, and what brings the eagles to this region each year, ice sculpting on the streets and a wildlife art walk to view eagle and wildlife photography displayed by artists from

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January 2014 Alton and beyond! Free; 10am-2pm BoBeck’s (Waterloo) - Live music with Saloonatics; 9pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Live Music; 9pm Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Red Rock; 3pm; American Idle; 8pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Let’s Go Fishing Show; Adults:$7, Ages 6-15: $3.50, Ages 5 and under: Free. 9am-4pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat - Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure - 2-6pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - Ryan Spriggs; 7pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9pm-2am Pop’s (Sauget) - Battle For Pointfest 2014; featuring Filter The Fallen, Out of Sequence, Orion, Pain After August, Seven Year Nightmare, Brute Force; 6pm; $6 adv, $8 dos $2 minor surcharge Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music SeVen (Belleville) - Pat Liston; 9pm-12am Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Skootr’s West (Freeburg) - 3rd Annual Adrienne Glauber Memorial Beatles Night (Her Birthday) Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9pm-1am Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows (Belleville) 5th Annual Way of Lights 5K Competitive Run & 1.5 Mile Fun Walk; 6:30pm; Check-in begins at 5pm; walk begins at 7pm; The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Ozark Mountain Daredevils; 8pm Time Out Sports Bar & Grill (Troy) - Blue Marlin (Reunion); 9pm

Sunday Jam; 4-8pm Dutch Hollow Barn (Belleville) - Every Sunday Jam Session; 7pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Acoustic Asylum; 2pm; Radio Star; 7pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Let’s Go Fishing Show; Adults:$7, Ages 6-15: $3.50, Ages 5 and under: Free; 10am-4pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Mudbugs (Caseyville) - Every Sunday Open Mic Blues Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night

January 6th (Monday)

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Group Ride Hero Wrench Course; 6-7:30pm Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - The piano artistry of Pat Joyce; 1-4pm Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am–12pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke SeVen (Belleville) - Park Avenue Trio every Monday; 8-11pm

January 7th (Tuesday)

Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Celtica; 7:30pm Pitcher’s (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

January 8th (Wednesday)

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Surgeon Yoga; stretch and relax! All you need is a yoga mat. For all ages and skill levels; 7pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Jay & Waylon; 6pm Grappa Growlers (Belleville) - Mastermind Vodka Tasting; 5-7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Katy Cavins Center (O’Fallon) - O’Fallon Arts Commission Meeting; 6:30pm

January 5th (Sunday)

Audubon Center (West Alton) - Join us for the arrival of the Birds of Winter! It may be cold outside, but it’s always 70 degrees inside The Audubon Center at Riverlands. Two story circular bay windows provide a 140o grand vista of the Mississippi River, where you may see eagles, trumpeter swans and other fascinating waterfowl. 10am-2pm Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Motorcycle Swap Meet Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Crehan’s Pub (Belleville) - Paul Bonn and the Bluesmen First StraightUpMagazine.net

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January Calendar of Events

January 2014

Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am PSOP/SWIC (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 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. 1:30-3pm Randy’s Smokehouse (Troy) - Open Mic Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner; 7-11pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country with WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! 7pm-1am Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30-9pm

January 8th (Wednesday)

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Surgeon Yoga; stretch and relax! All you need is a yoga mat. For all ages and skill levels; 7pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Jay & Waylon; 6pm Grappa Growlers (Belleville) - Mastermind Vodka Tasting; 5-7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Katy Cavins Center (O’Fallon) - O’Fallon Arts Commission Meeting; 6:30pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am PSOP/SWIC (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 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. 1:30-3pm Randy’s Smokehouse (Troy) - Open Mic Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner; 7-11pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country with WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! 7pm-1am Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30-9pm

7pm

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - American Idle; 7pm Grappa Growlers (Belleville) - Chili and Beer Tasting; 5-7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music;

Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Aaron Kamm and the One Drops; 10pm McKendree University Gallery of Art (Lebanon) - Nancy Nichols-Pethick: Wabash Rivr Paintings; Opening Reception 4-7pm; Exhibit continues through January 30 Schatze’s (Belleville) - Bike Night with Live Music Silver Creek Saloon & Grill (Belleville) - Well Hungarians; Every Thursday Night Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Singer/Songwriter Thursday; Every Thursday night from 7-10pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons w/ Joyce Warren; 7:30-10pm

January 10th (Friday)

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Edwardsville Arts Center (Edwardsville) - Main Gallery: Creations by Ebony, from Portfolio Gallery in Collaboration with EAC; DeToye Student Gallery: Lincoln Middle School Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Millennium; 8pm Grappa Growlers (Belleville) - Wine Tasting; 5-7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jacoby Arts Center (Alton) - Awards of Excellence Exhibit; Featuring Amber Biggs, Suzy Farren, Adrienne Patel, Kristen Powers Nowlin, Sarah Gillespie, Snail Scott, and Michael Wartgow; Opening Reception; 5-8pm. Exhibit continues through February 22.

Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - Joe Truttman and Ron Wooley; 7pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7-11pm Pop’s (Sauget) - 105.7 The Point welcomes ††† (Crosses)

January 9th (Thursday)

1:30am

Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm-

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Open Mic Jam Night with Brad Noe; 8pm Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Thursday night runs meet at the parking lot at A and Jackson (Baja Cali).

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January 2014 featuring Chino Moreno, Shaun Lopez and Chuck Doom; $10.57 tickets for first week of sales; $15 advance, $18 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Friday Night Jazz; Every Friday night from 7-10pm The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Winter Concert Series featuring Marquise Knox; Born in 1991 in St. Louis Mo, Marquise hails from a musical family deeply entrenched in the Blues. He learned how to play guitar from his grandmother Lillie whose family were sharecroppers and whose great, great grandparents were slaves.

Marquise’s talents have earned him performing rights with some of America’s most notable blues performers such as blues legend and Grammy Award winners B.B. King, Pinetop Perkins and David “Honeyboy” Edwards. He has also performed at dozens of festivals, and has toured Germany and played the Baden Blues Festival in Switzerland; Catered hors d’oeuvres provided by the Edwardsville Parks Department are included with purchase of ticket and will be served on the 3rd floor with seating available in the 2nd floor Marquee Room from 6pm-7pm while supplies last. Begins 7pm

January 11th (Saturday)

Alton Visitor Center (Alton) - Eagle Meet & Greet; The World Bird Sanctuary will be bringing a live Bald Eagle for the public to view up close. Be sure to bring your camera. After this personal encounter you can pick up an official All Around Alton Eagle Watcher’s Guide and set off along the Great River Road to see eagles in their natural habitat.

Then cross the river to see a rehabilitated raptor and learn how to spot bald eagles at the Audubon Center at Riverlands. Free; 10am-2pm Argosy’s Music Hall (Alton) - Butch Wax and the Hollywoods; 7pm Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Knife & Gun Show BoBeck’s (Waterloo) - DJ at 9pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Farley’s Music Hall (Elsah) - Community Dance; The Historic Elsah Foundation is sponsoring an evening of Contra dancing, where couples dance in two facing lines. Live music will be provided by Roger Netherton & Rich Egan and the caller is Karen Jackson. All dances will be taught - no experience or partner necessary; $6 for adults, children free; 7-10pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Hoosier Daddy’s; 3pm; Millennium; 8pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat - Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure - 2-6pm

Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - Ryan Spriggs; 7pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9pm-2am Pitcher’s Pub (Belleville) - Tasi live in The Dugout; 9pm-1:30am Pop’s (Sauget) - Battle For Pointfest 2014; featuring Sunday’s Tragedy, FTP, Seven Eighteen, The Judge, Arythma & TBA; $6 adv, $8 dos $2 minor surcharge; 6pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9pm-1am Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am

January 12th (Sunday)

7pm

Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Knife & Gun Show Chez Marilyn (Alton) - Pat Liston; 8:30-11:30pm Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Dutch Hollow Barn (Belleville) - Every Sunday Jam Session;

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Hoosier Daddy’s; 2pm; Wherehouse Project; 7pm Jacoby Arts Center (Alton) - Live at Jacoby: Sunday Afternoon Jam Sessions; Bud Shultz, clarinetist and leader of the “You Can’t Beat Experience” Jazz Band, presents a performance opportunity for jazz musicians every 2nd Sunday of the month; A jazz rhythm combo will play along with Bud and other guest musicians. Tickets are $12.50 general admission; $10 seniors and students; Cash bar and beverages will be available. Sessions begin at 3pm and run until 6pm.

Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Mudbugs (Caseyville) - Every Sunday Open Mic Blues Jam; 7-11pm RunWell (Edwardsville) - Brave Endeavors! 100+Project and RunWell bring you a series of talks featuring HARD CORE local athletes who have done extraordinary endurance events. They will share their experiences, tips and tricks, and personal struggles! This month: Hear

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9

January Calendar of Events

January 2014

from River to River Relay runners! There will be an extensive slideshow of pictures. 5pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night

January 13th (Monday)

Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - The piano artistry of Pat Joyce; 1-4pm Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am–12pm Eckert’s Farm (Belleville) - An old-fashion game for all ages - play Bunko at Eckert’s Country Restaurant on the second and fourth Monday of each month. $5 per person includes game, prizes, beverages, and snacks. Open to the public. 6:30pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Phil Anselmo and The Illegals; w/ Author and Punisher, Hymns; $20 advance, $22 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 7pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

January 14th (Tuesday)

Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Collinsville Area Women’s Connection; $13 Ticket - includes a delicious meal, beverages, program and gratuity. Reservations necessary; 12:15-2pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Celtica; 7:30pm Pitcher’s (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

January 15th (Wednesday)

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Surgeon Yoga; stretch and relax! All you need is a yoga mat. For all ages and skill levels; 7pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Real Street Duo; 6pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - A Special Night of Comedy with Steve Sabo and Steve Wherry; 8pm PSOP/SWIC (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 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. 1:30-3pm Randy’s Smokehouse (Troy) - Open Mic Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner; 7-11pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country with WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! 7pm-1am Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30–9pm

1:30am

Cahokia State Historic Site (Collinsville) - Cahokia Archaeological Society Meeting; Come at 6:30pm to help wash artifacts.

Program and meeting, 7:30pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Open Mic Jam Night with Brad Noe; 8pm Downtown (Belleville) - Downtown Diva Night; an exciting ladies night out! 5-8pm Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Thursday night runs meet at the parking lot at A and Jackson (Baja Cali).

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Real Street Band; 7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Fletchers (Belleville) - Jazz guitarist John Farrar; 7:30-10pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Bike Night with Live Music Schmidt Art Center (Belleville) - Exhibitions by Beth Martin Eggers, Ken Konchel & Alison Ouellette-Kirby; Opening with public reception, 6-8pm Silver Creek Saloon & Grill (Belleville) - Well Hungarians; Every Thursday Night Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music Talahi Lodge at the Olin Nature Preserve - The Nature Institute (Godfrey) - Astronomy Association Meeting; Every third Thursday of the month, The Nature Institute partners with Eddie Agha of Agha Designs Jewelry Studio and invites the public to a program of the TNI Astronomy Association. Participants will navigate the preserve with naturalist Eddie Agha to observe and record constellations. (No telescopes are needed.) Guests will also receive short, instructional

January 16th (Thursday)

Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm10

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January 2014 lessons about activities and workshops associated with the program, and find out how to join the TNI Astronomy Association. Free, but reservations are required; 7pm The Abbey (Belleville) - Singer/Songwriter Thursday; Every Thursday night from 7-10pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons w/ Joyce Warren; 7:30-10pm

January 17th (Friday)

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - Bi State Band Festival; 12pm-10pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Whiskey Dixon; 8pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - ACS Spring Home Show; Regular adult admission $10. Children under 16 free. 11am-8pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Nite Deposit (Mascoutah) - Mo Pleasure; 9pm-12am Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - Ryan Spriggs; 7pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7-11pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Battle For Pointfest 2014; 105.7 The Point, Redwood Studios, and Busch Beer Present: The Battle For Pointfest 2014; Featuring: Grays Divide and TBD; Please Email Rich @ Popspromo@gmail.com if you’re interested in playing this event; $6 adv, $8 dos $2 minor surcharge; 6pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Friday Night Jazz; Every Friday night from 7-10pm

group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - Bi State Band Festival; 8am-10pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Acoustic Asylum; 3pm; Champagne Fix; 8pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - ACS Spring Home Show; Regular adult admission $10. Children under 16 free; 10am-8pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat - Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure - 2-6pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Mama Gusto’s (Lebanon) - Pat Liston; 7-10pm No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - The Funatics; 7pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9pm-2am Pitchers Pub (Belleville) - Ben “OB” Krausz Memorial Show featuring The Sun and The Sea, Zagk Gibbons, and Parlor Knight; in the Dugout; $2 door; 7pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Mike Judy presents Nipsey Hussle; w/ Tef Poe, MARKOE, Step Or Get Left, & Allen Gates; $20 advance, $25 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 7pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music

January 18th (Saturday)

Alton Visitor Center (Alton) - Eagle Meet & Greet; The World Bird Sanctuary will bring a live Bald Eagle for the public to view up close. Be sure to bring your camera. After this personal encounter you can pick up an official All Around Alton Eagle Watcher’s Guide and set off along the Great River Road to see eagles in their natural habitat.

Then cross the river to see a rehabilitated raptor and learn how to spot bald eagles at the Audubon Center at Riverlands. Free; 10am-2pm Argosy’s Music Hall (Alton) - Hicktown; 7pm Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Belleville Flea Market; Southern Illinois’ Premier Indoor/Outdoor Market – Over 600 tables and 300-400 vendors selling antiques, collectibles, merchandise – old and new. Indoor/ Outdoor Year Round. Free admission; 8am-5pm BoBeck’s (Waterloo) - All 4 Nothing; 9pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds StraightUpMagazine.net

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January Calendar of Events

January 2014

Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9pm-1am Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Jake’s Leg; 8pm

January 19th (Sunday)

Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Belleville Flea Market; Southern Illinois’ Premier Indoor/Outdoor Market – Over 600 tables and 300-400 vendors selling antiques, collectibles, merchandise – old and new. Indoor/ Outdoor Year Round. Free admission; 8am-5pm Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Dutch Hollow Barn (Belleville) - Every Sunday Jam Session; 7pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Acousitc Asylum, 2pm; American Idle, 7pm Flatland Rocks (Germantown) – Original Music hosted by Knoisemaker and the Silent Partners; featuring Clusterpluck, Rhymin Jimmy, and The Fights; 6-10pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - ACS Spring Home Show; Regular adult admission $10. Children under 16 free; 10am-6pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Mudbugs (Caseyville) - Every Sunday Open Mic Blues Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - What is it like to die? The question is answered in the premier screening of “What It’s Like to Die,” a television show interviewing men and women who clinically died and experienced indescribable things...both good and bad. Presented documentary style with no pretense, be the first to see the pilot and stick around to hear from Bill Knapp and John Summers, the subjects of episode 1. Approx 25 minute running time, followed by 35 minute Q&A session. 6pm

January 22nd (Wednesday)

Bee Hollow (Mascoutah) - Sip and Paint; 6pm Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Surgeon Yoga; stretch and relax! All you need is a yoga mat. For all ages and skill levels; 7pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Jay & Waylon; 6pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am PSOP/SWIC (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 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.

1:30-3pm Randy’s Smokehouse (Troy) - Open Mic Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner; 7-11pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country with WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! 7pm-1am Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30-9pm

January 23rd (Thursday)

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Moonlight and Magnolias

January 20th (Monday)

Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - The piano artistry of Pat Joyce; 1-4pm Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am-12pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke SeVen (Belleville) - Park Avenue Trio every Monday; 8-11pm

January 21st (Tuesday)

Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Celtica; 7:30pm Pitcher’s (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke The Hett @ McKendree University (Lebanon) - My Left Foot; The true story of Christy Brown, who was born with cerebral palsy and learned to paint and write using his only functional limb - his left foot.

Rated R; 7pm 12

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January 2014 (Comedy); Legendry Hollywood producer David O. Selznick has a problem. He has just fired the director of Gone With the Wind and the script is on its umpteenth version. He desperately needs a new director and writer -- immediately! However, the writer he wants, Ben Hecht, has never read the novel and his director of choice, Victor Fleming, is not sold on the success of the storyline; but Selznick believes in this movie so much that he locks the three of them in his office for five days, with bananas and peanuts as their only food, to pull together a new script. As work begins, Selznick and Fleming attempt to act out all the characters in the novel while Hecht types. Take a fun, farcical look at the behind-the-scene birth of one of the most beloved films of all time.

7:30-10:30pm Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm1:30am Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Open Mic Jam Night with Brad Noe; 8pm Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Thursday night runs meet at the parking lot at A and Jackson (Baja Cali).

Dunham Hall Jazz Chamber Room @ SIUE (Edwardsville) ENCORE auditions; 5:20-9pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Whiskey Dixon; 7pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Gateway Bridal Show; Brides free admission; Pre-Registered Brides get free admission for one guest and a chance to win attendance prizes! Regular Admission is $5.

Children 12 and under receive Free Admission; 5-9pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Schatze’s (Belleville) - Bike Night with Live Music Silver Creek Saloon & Grill (Belleville) - Well Hungarians; Every Thursday Night Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Singer/Songwriter Thursday; Every Thursday night from 7-10pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons w/ Joyce Warren; 7:30-10pm

Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Dunham Hall Jazz Chamber Room @ SIUE (Edwardsville) ENCORE auditions; 5:20-9pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Fantasy; 8pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Highland High School Kennel (Highland) - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; 7:30-10pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - Joe Truttman and Ron Wooley; 7pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7-11pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Beards Battle 2013 presented by The Beard; with Sake Of Sanity , Outcome Of Betrayal, Midnight Hour, Shotgun Bayonet, Post Primal, Days Of Redemption; $6 advance, $8 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 6:30pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Friday Night Jazz; Every Friday night from 7-10pm

January 25th (Saturday)

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Moonlight and Magnolias (Comedy); ); Take a fun, farcical look at the behind-the-scene birth of one of the most beloved films of all time, Gone With The Wind. 7:3010:30pm Alton Visitor Center (Alton) - Eagle Meet & Greet; The World Bird Sanctuary will bring a live Bald Eagle for the public to view up close. Be sure to bring your camera. After this personal encounter you can pick up an official All Around Alton Eagle Watcher’s Guide and set off along the Great River Road to see eagles in their natural habitat. Then cross the river to see a rehabilitated raptor and learn how to spot bald eagles at the Audubon Center at Riverlands. Free; 10am-2pm Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Confluence Crush Women’s Roller Derby kicks off its 2014 home season at its new home at Belle Clair Fairgrounds and Expo Center in Belleville, Illinois. The first bout will feature a mixer between roller girls from all around the

January 24th (Friday)

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Moonlight and Magnolias (Comedy); Take a fun, farcical look at the behind-the-scene birth of one of the most beloved films of all time, Gone With The Wind. 7:3010:30pm Argosy’s Music Hall (Alton) - Dereoke, Featuring Derrick Keith From 92.3 WIL FM; Semi-Finals 7pm-10pm; The top performers will move on to the finals on March 21st to decide who will win a trip to M Resort Las Vegas and 2 tickets to the American Country Music Awards on April 6th! 7-7:30pm each night is an open mic; To enter for your chance to perform for a shot at the big time visit the WIL 92.3 website Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz

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January Calendar of Events

January 2014

Midwest in a Winter Carnival themed bout of Snow Bunnies vs. Ice Queens. The second bout will be our very own CCRD Heartbreakers taking on the ladies from Queen City Roller Derby of Springfield MO. Doors at 5:30pm. First heat 6:30pm.

BoBeck’s (Waterloo) - DJ at 9pm Cahokia State Historic Site (Collinsville) - Adult Flintknapping Class; class will be taught by Larry Kinsella; All safety equipment, flint, and instructions will be provided. Students may bring their own tools, if they wish. All participants are asked to wear long pants to prevent leg injury. Maximum class size 25. Preregistration required. Fee: $30, $5 off for Students (with valid ID) and CMMS members. 12pm-4pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Hoosier Daddy’s, 3pm; Fantasy, 8pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - The St. Louis and Suburban Radio Club, Inc. (SLSRC) Winterfest; 8am-1pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Highland High School Kennel (Highland) - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; 7:30-10pm Katy Cavins Center (O’Fallon) - O’Fallon Garden Club Trivia Night and Silent Auction; doors at 6pm; games begin at 7pm Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat - Jam Session w/ Mo’ Pleasure; 2-6pm Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower (Hartford) - Birds of Prey; Eagles aren’t the only birds of prey in the area. Join the Confluence Tower as it hosts the TreeHouse Wildlife Center and learn about other birds that call the Riverbend area home with displays and educational activities throughout the day. Free. Admission to tour the Tower. 1-3pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Lindenwood University (Belleville) - 4th Annual Chiro-Med Winter Luau 5K and 2nd Annual Main Street Mile No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - Joe Truttman and Ron Wooley; 7pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9pm-2am Pop’s (Sauget) - D-Railed - $3 Throwdown; VooDoo Queen & Busch Beer Presents; w/ special guests Fists of Rage, Hallow Point, Waterbed Yankees, and Barewire; $3 advance, $5 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 7pm RunWell (Edwardsville) - RunWell Movie Night; A Race for the Soul; get a taste of what will be sacrificed if you dare to run 100 miles that include 15,500 feet of elevation gain and 23,000 feet of decline; 5pm Schatze’s (Belleville) 14

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- Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Schmidt Art Center (Belleville) - Creative Kids Art Class: “ Paper Quilled Snowflakes,” 12:30pm Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9pm-1am Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am

January 26th (Sunday)

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Moonlight and Magnolias (Comedy); Take a fun, farcical look at the behind-the-scene birth of one of the most beloved films of all time, Gone With The Wind. 2-5pm Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Dutch Hollow Barn (Belleville) - Every Sunday Jam Session; 7pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Hoosier Daddy’s, 2pm; American Idle, 7pm Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Midwest Bicycle Expo; Preregistered guests can get in at 9:30am; Cost: $5/person, children 10 and under are free; The biggest and longest running bike expo and swap meet in the Midwest! New bikes, old bikes, exceptional deals, drawings, kids corner. There is even a classic bike show with prizes! 40,000 square feet of exhibition space. Come and spend the day. 10am-4pm

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January 2014 Highland High School Kennel (Highland) - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; 2-4:30pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Mudbugs (Caseyville) - Every Sunday Open Mic Blues Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night Towne Lounge (O’Fallon) - Mr. T and the Houseshakers; 4pm

January 27th (Monday)

Cleo’s (Edwardsville) - Pat Liston; 6:32-9:32ish Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - The piano artistry of Pat Joyce; 1-4pm Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am–12pm Eckert’s Farm (Belleville) - An old-fashion game for all ages - play Bunko at Eckert’s Country Restaurant on the second and fourth Monday of each month. $5 per person includes game, prizes, beverages, and snacks. Open to the public. 6:30pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

January 28th (Tuesday)

Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - Jazz Combo Concert; General Admission - $12; Seniors & Under 18 Years - $9; SIUE Students admitted free with ID; 8-10pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Celtica; 7:30pm Pitcher’s (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

January 29th (Wednesday)

Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Adam’s Auction Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Surgeon Yoga; stretch and relax! All you need is a yoga mat. For all ages and skill levels; 7pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Scott ‘n Karl; 6pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Pitcher’s (Belleville) - Doorway – RFT Best Hip Hop Group 2013; 9pm PSOP/SWIC (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 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. 1:30-3pm Randy’s Smokehouse (Troy) - Open Mic Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner; 7-11pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country with WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! 7pm-1am Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing

Dance Lessons; 6:30pm–9pm

January 30th (Thursday)

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Moonlight and Magnolias (Comedy); Take a fun, farcical look at the behind-the-scene birth of one of the most beloved films of all time, Gone With The Wind. 7:3010:30pm Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm1:30am Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Open Mic Jam Night with Brad Noe; 8pm Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Thursday night runs meet at the parking lot at A and Jackson (Baja Cali).

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - Real Street Band; 7pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Looking Glass Playhouse (Lebanon) - Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits Schatze’s (Belleville) - Bike Night with Live Music Silver Creek Saloon & Grill (Belleville) - Well Hungarians; Every Thursday Night Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music The Abbey (Belleville) - Singer/Songwriter Thursday; Every Thursday night from 7-10pm The Hett @ McKendree University (Lebanon) - Thodos Dance Chicago: The White City & Fosse Trilogy; Choreographed by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking, a spectacular 12-dancer ensemble performs a one-act story ballet of the dramatic events surrounding the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893 (based on Erik Larson’s bestseller, The Devil in the White City), and a mixed repertory of Bob Fosse pieces remounted by Ms. Reinking; $15 adult, $12 senior, $5 student/child; 7:30pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons w/ Joyce Warren; 7:30-10pm

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January 31st (Friday)

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January Calendar of Events

January 2014

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Moonlight and Magnolias (Comedy); Take a fun, farcical look at the behind-the-scene birth of one of the most beloved films of all time, Gone With The Wind. 7:3010:30pm Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Art and Craft Fair; 4pm8pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - All Mixed Up; 8pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Highland High School Kennel (Highland) - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; 7:30-10pm Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Looking Glass Playhouse (Lebanon) - Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits Nite Deposit (Mascoutah) - Falling Martins; 9pm Papa Vito’s (Belleville) - Ryan Spriggs; 7pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7-11pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Badfish: A Tribute To Sublime; w/ Shrub, 4 Skeevy Dudes; $16 adv, $18 dos, $2 minor surcharge; 6:30pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music ST Metcalf Student Experimental Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - Black Theater Workshop; 7:30-10pm The Abbey (Belleville) - Friday Night Jazz; Every Friday night from 7-10pm

Pleasure; 2-6pm Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower (Hartford) - Native American Tribute to the Bald Eagle; Celebrate the elegance and significance of the American Bald Eagle and its impact on a variety of native cultures during this event at the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower. Listen to Native American folklore and watch an authentic Eagle Dance performed every hour from noon to 3 to 6pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Looking Glass Playhouse (Lebanon) - Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits McKendree University (Lebanon) - Deadline for the Gateway East Artist Guild (GEAG) Exhibit No-Jacks Bar & Grill (Smithton) - DJ & Karaoke Every Saturday; 9pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9pm-2am Pop’s (Sauget) - American Head Charge; presented The Beard Productions; with Righteous Vendetta, Cathercist , TBA; $12 advance, $13 day of show, $2 minor surcharge; 6:30pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Live Music SeVen (Belleville) - Pat Liston; 9pm-12am Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9pm-1am Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Live Music ST Metcalf Student Experimental Theater @ SIUE

February 1st (Saturday)

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Moonlight and Magnolias (Comedy); Take a fun, farcical look at the behind-the-scene birth of one of the most beloved films of all time, Gone With The Wind. 7:3010:30pm Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Art and Craft Fair; 10am-4pm BoBeck’s (Waterloo) - Father Jack; 9pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Live Music Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds group runs in downtown Belleville every Thursday night at 6pm and Saturday morning at 8am. Saturday morning runs meet at the parking lot behind the St Louis Bread Company.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Aire (Alton) - American Idle, 3pm; All Mixed Up, 8pm Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm Highland High School Kennel (Highland) - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; 7:30-10pm Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Every Sat-Jam Session w/ Mo’ 16

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January 2014 (Edwardsville) - Black Theater Workshop; 7:30-10pm The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7am Towne Lounge (O’Fallon) - Mr. T and the Houseshakers; 8pm

February 2nd (Sunday)

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Moonlight and Magnolias (Comedy); Take a fun, farcical look at the behind-the-scene birth of one of the most beloved films of all time, Gone With The Wind. 2-5pm Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Combined Audition for ‘Sex Please, We’re 60’ and ‘Hallelujah Girls’; Combined Audition will be held at 7pm (or by appointment, contacting Mark Hilgert, Lee Cox or Kevin Frakes through the ALT office, 462-3205). Both Shows have a total of twelve roles for women 45-65 and three men of the same age range. SEX PLEASE, WE’RE 60 runs March 13-23, and HALLELUJAH GIRLS runs May 1-11. (High Energy Comedies with FUN roles!)

Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Art and Craft Fair; 10am4pm Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Dutch Hollow Barn (Belleville) - Every Sunday Jam Session; 7pm Looking Glass Playhouse (Lebanon) - Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am Mudbugs (Caseyville) - Every Sunday Open Mic Blues Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night ST Metcalf Student Experimental Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - Black Theater Workshop; 2-4pm

Mike’s Ten Pin (Alton) - Mondinband; 9:30pm-1:30am PSOP/SWIC (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 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.

1:30-3pm Randy’s Smokehouse (Troy) - Open Mic Jam; 7-11pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner; 7-11pm Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Open Mic Night The Hett @ McKendree University (Lebanon) - A Young People’s Concert; Blockbuster Movies; for PreK – 3rd grade; 9:30am and 12:30pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - The Taping of St. Louis Country with WIL gang, Derrick, Danny, Bo & Judy! $5 for everyone, FREE w/ valid College ID! 7pm-1am Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30-9pm

February 6th (Thursday)

1:30am

Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm-

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - Open Mic Jam Night with Brad Noe; 8pm Downtown (Belleville) - The Belleville Running Club holds

February 3rd (Monday)

Columbia City Saloon (Columbia) - The piano artistry of Pat Joyce; 1-4pm Discovery Garden at LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9am–12pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke

February 4th (Tuesday)

Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Celtica; 7:30pm Pitcher’s (Belleville) - Tenacious Trivia; 8pm Schatze’s (Belleville) - Karaoke The Hett @ McKendree University (Lebanon) - A Young People’s Concert; Blockbuster Movies; for PreK – 3rd grade; 9:30am and 12:30pm

February 5th (Wednesday)

Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Surgeon Yoga; stretch and relax! All you need is a yoga mat. For all ages and skill levels; 7pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Hemingway’s Zen Garden (O’Fallon) - Live Acoustic Music; 7pm StraightUpMagazine.net

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Culture

January 2014

Life on Wheels – The Confluence Crush

by Robyn L. Kirsch

There is new excitement coming to Belleville’s Belle-Clair Fairgrounds and Expo Center. And it’s coming January 25th. It is the Confluence Crush Heartbreakers Roller Derby team. It’s a culture of women empowering one another--lifting each other up and having one’s back. From all across the Metro East, CCRD is a group of mixed-experience skaters, rolling with the punches, and then some. And entertaining audiences with matches against other roller derby teams from across the Midwest.

With a membership of 40 to 50 women, the Confluence Crush has two intramural teams: AHeartbreakers and B-Smitten Kittens. Each game and scrimmage is comprised of about 14 members and two alternates (in case of “extenuating circumstances”). Games are an hour long, full of intense sweat, strength and sheer willpower. Jammers and Blockers utilize team strategy with Jammers scoring points and Blockers, well--blocking.

“Cutting in...mastering lateral movements with your hips and turning your feet in just right... all your momentum goes the direction your feet are going. So if you can master that, you can take somebody out really easily because that’s where your momentum is being directed,” Rowdy Rose explained.

“This team is one big family...we all really, really care about each other; but if there’s no pain, there’s no gain,” said Rowdy Rose. She and Tragic Tory concur on the element of self-confidence that arises from participation in the sport of roller derby.

D’Wicked Pirate posing on break in between practicing lateral movements with other team members. Photo by Robyn Kirsch

“Before derby, a year ago, I was very self-conscious of my body, but now I’m so much more confident because I know how to use my strengths,” Rowdy Rose said. “I’m even gaining (muscle) weight, which is a good thing because it can be used to my advantage in a positive way,” Tragic Tory said.

“You can be a big girl but still be incredibly agile and graceful, and these derby girls in all leagues are proof of that,” DeDe Fender Bender said.

DeDe Fender Bender has been a league member for two years and said one of the important aspects of the derby league is that those who don’t fit into the typical mold of athletic stereotypes, especially for women, it’s very much momentous being a part of the bigger picture of the league-a united network of powerful women.

“It’s very much empowering for someone like me to come out on 18

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the track and be myself and be an athlete and contribute by being an important part of the league. And the way that we view athletics here is very different, but not in any way diminishing,” DeDe Fender Bender said. “I’m a size 16, weighing about 215 pounds, but I get on the track and I go.”

Rowdy Rose chimed in to say, “DeDe FB is a force to be reckoned with... (during practice) her booty is my kryptonite.”

Breaking athletic stereotypes and loving it, the CC Derby girls have been gaining momentum and look forward to pushing boundaries in the future.

Flat track roller derby is a fast-paced contact team sport that requires speed, strategy, and athleticism. There are minimum requirements for the teams, which vary progressing through the divisions of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). They are based on things like laps done in a specified amount of time.

“Where we see things like WFTDA, where we see national championships, where athleticism is emphasized over showmanship--that’s flat track,” DeDe Fender Bender said. “If you watch “Hell on Wheels,” a documentary basically on the origin of roller derby, as well as the revival of modern day roller derby...you will see the difference of then and now-which was show versus athleticism.”

DeDe Fender Bender said she is fascinated with the history and origin of roller derby, going back to the ‘for-show’ bank track roller derby depicted in the 2009 produced film ‘Whip-It!’ “They dramatized roller derby in some parts of the movie, but they also used people who were actual skaters from the Texas Roller Derby league too, so it wasn’t all (hype),” DeDe Fender Bender said.

“We walk you through the process,” Rowdy Rose said. “You can come and learn about us and then go from there...we even have loaner equipment if you can’t afford the couple hundred for the start up kit of (protective) gear and skates.”

The CC Derby girls open season goes from January to September 2014. They will be competing in their upcoming season at the Belle Clair Fairgrounds in Belleville this month, with more to come. On Saturday, January 25, the season begins with a two-themed bout dual opening mixer and an A-team hard core bout against the Springfield, MO Ice Queen Roller Derby Girls.

“So the theme of the night when doors open at 5:30pm, with whistle at 6:30pm, it’s going to be Ice Queens versus Snow Bunnies. It’s going to be a blast dressing up and having a good time while hitting it with all we have,” Tragic Tory said.

“Everyone has been so welcoming so far and we’re really excited to be at the Fairgrounds this season because it’s a new venue a lot of us are familiar with,” Rowdy Rose said.

“Our opposing teams even come out when we invite them for practice scrimmages, or even our post-game parties because we’re respectful, and nice, honestly,” Rowdy Rose said. “We put up a good fight on the track, but we’re a good team who treats the other side respectfully.”

It’s common for the CC Derby girls to open their teams up to new-

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January 2014 comers during their monthly recruitment nights. “Even if you can’t skate-you can come see what roller derby is all about,” said Rowdy Rose.

“As I look out on the track, I can see quite a few girls who came to the team without being able to skate very well, holding hands mostly in the beginning,” Tragic Tory said. “But look at them now--they’ve come so far.”

Rowdy Rose discussed how the team found it to be more cohesive for the newer members who joined during recruitment night’s to ‘progress’ together.

“We focus a lot of effort and attention on the new girls and making them into good derby skaters. This is the only league, as far as I know, that you can not even know how to skate; but we will teach you everything you need to know and then you roll from there,” Tragic Tory said. “So you develop a really good camaraderie within the group as your skills grow too, which often other groups lack.”

According to Tragic Tory, a defining attribute of this group of women is not only the tremendous amount of time and effort clocked, but also the range in age from 18 to 51, the different walks of life, colors and sizes.

“This is a culture of women that strive to take on challenges and absorb the good and the bad of all bouts on the track, and in life,” Rowdy Rose said.

“Having been in another league, I have been able to see the variances in culture. There’s not anything negative about it because the women across the board are all wonderful, bringing different things to the table; but it’s apparent that the culture changes where you go. Not all teams are as tight-knit as we are,” Tragic Tory said.

Tragic Tory has been heavily enthralled in derby-mode for over three years. Hard-core to the bone, literally, considering she just recovered from a broken ankle. “I live and breathe derby,” Tragic Tory said.

Meeting thrice weekly, the CC Derby girls don’t just rock it out on the flat track, they contribute heavily to their communities spanning Madison and St. Clair Counties. Whether it be a pet food pantry drive to collect food for low income pet owners or collecting clothing for the local Edwardsville and Caseyville women’s shelters--these girls spread their spirit and goodwill like grease on a wheel. As Tragic Tory describes, this organization of derby girls are highly structured with various committees to help organize and maintain a good flow of energy.

“We even have one called the Empowerment Committee to mediate, if you will, members of the team(s) if ever an issue were to arise--not that it happens often; but we’re prepared anyway to help facilitate (good sportsmanship and ethical teamwork),” Tragic Tory said. “Not to mention the other committees dedicated to fundraising for the league and community outreach projects to give back to (our roots).”

“We have an Adopt-A-Highway as well along Hwy 157 from Horseshoe Lake Road to McDonald Lake Road that’s about a two-mile stretch,” Tragic Tory said.

The CC Derby girls will have their next fundraiser at the Granite City Moose Lodge on February 22. “Any and all funds raised go straight to the league’s cost of putting on our bouts, or games,” Tragic Tory said.

“It’s quite expensive to rent venues for our bouts, not to mention the raffle items and the cost of hiring Emergency Medical Technicians to be on site if anything goes (awry),” Rowdy Rose said. “But it’s all so worth it...

we have so many behind-the-scenes volunteers that make our bouts possible, like our new announcer, Max, and the non-skating officials (NSO’s) or the merchant and raffle table managers...the list goes on.”

The CC Derby girls are working on becoming a 501-C3 non-profit organization as well, which Rowdy Rose said is no simple feat. “It’s taking work, but we’re going to get there, it’s just a matter of time,” Rowdy Rose said.

The Confluence Crush Roller Derby invites those interested to come check out the team beginning at 5pm on Sunday, January 12, 2014 at the Fun Town USA Roller Rink in Granite City for an informational night.

Those interested can come watch, join in, ask questions, learn and experience the Metro East’s Confluence Crush Roller Derby at its finest.

Photo by Paul Seibert

Confluence Crush Roller Derby was founded in 2011 and provides women in St. Louis Metro East unique opportunities to play flat track roller derby within a welcoming community that supports skaters in their development and challenges them to realize their potential as athletes. The league is operated “by the skaters, for the skaters,” and is a not-for-profit organization currently seeking 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. Confluence Crush was accepted into the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) Apprentice Program in January 2013.

Straight Up Magazine welcomes Confluence Crush to the Belle Clair Expo Center, January 25 at 6:30pm. And you don’t have to wait that long to meet the Crush because the CC Derby girls will be at Downtown Belleville’s Big Daddy’s 618 for their season kick-off party starting at 10pm, January 11. Come on down and join the fun.

For more on WFTDA, Confluence Crush Roller Derby and the CC Derby girls:

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ConfluenceCrush.com

Facebook.com/ConfluenceCrush

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Submissions

January 2014

Call for Artists Str8 Up Magazine

seeks submissions of visual and graphic artwork, photography, poetry, creative writing for publication in print and on the web.

To have your work considered, send hard copy or a disc to

P.O. Box 412 in Belleville, IL 62222 Digital submissions should be 300dpi and can be e-mailed (size permitting) to

editor@straightupmagazine.net Deadline for Feb. 1 edition Jan. 23, 2014

Take me to your artist!

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Comics

January 2014

Follow Str8Up on Facebook for daily updates on the arts, music and culture of the Metro East...

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Submissions

January 2014

Kathy Lynott Artist Statement: The tiny paper building is an exploration of nostalgia and a representation of how we experience the desire to hold the past in our hands, but can never be wholly satisfied with our memories. The paper of the structure and dried plant materials are delicate to the touch. When a house is a home, you feel invited in, but these houses are forever closed. In a way, it invites us to experience the torturous distance between now and the past. When you view the tiny house, it’s like being denied the satisfaction of reliving some great moment in your life, because you can never touch them. What makes these houses special, is that even if you hold them and touch them, the distance between the house and what it represents is still felt- the gap is unavoidable.

While the details are inspired by architectural elements, the houses are not meant to be exact replicas of a building. I’ve never made one exactly like a real building, because our memories are the product of subjective experience, rather than objective observation. They are meant to represent “houseness” or “homeness” in a way that is different for each person. The glass container is meant to be a protective cover against dust, but it is also an important part of the piece. The glass also skews the image in a similar fashion to how fuzzy our memories can be. You can look, but you can’t touch. You can look, but it’s not as clear as the moment once was. The landscaping of dried plant materials and miniature rocks brings a sense of drama and texture which contrast with the black and white tones on the house. It’s not a literal house, but a vessel. Houses are important because they become capsules for an entire range of emotional implications.

At once a whimsical miniature and a symbol of nostalgic yearning, each of these little buildings represents that intangible that we wish we could hold in our hands.

Artist Biography: Kathy Lynott was born in Marquette, MI in 1978. In addition to pen/pencil illustration and painting, Kathy attempted puppet making and was able to volunteer some time with the Heart of the Beast Theater’s MayDay parade in Minneapolis. She received her BS in Elementary Education from the University of Minneapolis-Twin Cities in 2010, but continued to pursue her artistic whims in her spare time by attending art shows with her sister and building a web page with MNArtists.org. Kathy has shown her work in the US including solo shows at the Blue Moon Cafe and Caffetto in Minneapolis, MN. She also participated in two group shows at The Old Orchard Gallery in Webster Groves, MO and the gallery at the Syndicate Building in downtown St. Louis, MO (where her work is currently hanging). Her work communicates a joy in the process of art making so that the product is a symptom of the creative process. Because of this approach, no two items are the same. In 2013, Kathy launched her art business through an Etsy Shop named “Genius: Trois Fois” and a Facebook page called “Frivolous Notions.” You can find her painted tiles and other hand-made items locally at both Grimm and Gorly’s Flowers and Gifts in Belleville, IL and at One Umbrella print shop in South St. Louis, MO. kathy.lynott005@gmail.com Facebook.com/FrivolousNotions

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January 2014 Paul Seibert “Save the Planet”

by Paul Seibert Though the concerns had been voiced for some time, it was during the Eighty-sixth Jurassic Council that the discussions became widespread.

It was apparent that the environment was changing.

It was a Tyrannosaur that spoke most vehemently on behalf of his kind. The number of small mammals was declining. In certain regions of the Pangaea, hunger was widespread due to the declining food supply. It was his researched opinion that the decline was the result of the ever-shrinking natural habitat afforded these fragile creatures.

That same research indicated that dinosaurs themselves were at fault.

Dinosaurs were generally enormous creatures with huge appetites.

This famine was to be blamed on the plant-eaters of the species – for example, the Brontasauri.

eliminate the dependence on endangered species and in turn bring nature back to its natural balance.

An Apatosaur offered a different theory on the loss of the Conifer Forests.

More Conifer acreage had been lost in the last ten years through fire than by vegetative consumption. The Conifer Forests are ripe for wild fire due to an increasing abundance of deadfall on the forest floor. Much of the deadfall can be attributed to the damage wreaked by mammal hunters as they stalked and pounded amongst the Conifers, seeking prey. The swipe of one great dinosaurian tail can wreak as much if not more damage than the munchings of a vegetarian herd.

So the Apatosaur also proposed the Council adopt a Management Plan. But the priority be for management of hunting and its related practices, with a parallel program to manage forest fires, generally the result of lightning strikes and lava flows. Though, he acknowledged, the management of naturally occurring fires would be difficult, the results would be worth the undertaking. After all, the survival of the planet rested in the balance.

After all, a descending herd of Bronts would clear-cut acres of Conifers in a single day. It was obvious to the Tys that ingestion of the forest must be managed. Without such management, the ecological balance would be lost, the endangered mammals would become extinct, widespread famine would plague meat and plant-eaters alike. The very Amongst the Council, there was little agreement as to who or what was at existence of the planet hinged on saving the forests. fault, what plan or plans should be implemented. And, of course, there were those amongst the Council that did not agree that there was a problem at A Triceratops retorted. He agreed with the major premise. Dinosaurs, all. the predominate world inhabitant, were the culprit. Their seeming insatiable appetites for the planet’s resources were the root of the apparent And so it was that the Eighty-sixth Jurassic Council adjourned in disquiet. pending ecological disaster. Though only a small percentage of the Each member pledged to consider all proposals with a promise to return the planet’s land population, they consumed 90% of the world’s natural re- following year to the Eighty-seventh Council and again attempt to hamsources. The ecosystem was out of balance. A Management Plan must mer out the program of management of the world’s environment that would be instituted. ultimately save the planet.

But as a plant-eater, he took exception to the castigation of blame.

Over-hunting of mammals by the meat-eaters was at fault for the famine. Conifer consumption and the natural regeneration that followed was as much a part of nature’s ecosystem as the changing of the seasons. Developing a more diverse source of mammalian fodder would

Eleven days later, the planet was struck by a meteor of enormous proportions. The existing eco-systems all were devastated. Dinosaurs, as were many other species of animal and plant, were dashed into extinction. The planet, however, survived quite nicely and is now the home of other species who walk – mostly unaware – in Jurassic footsteps.

Paul Seibert is an amateur writer with a number of articles, short stories and other publications under his belt. A retired educator with credentials in communications, journalism, theatre and education, he now proudly serves as an Editor for Straight Up Magazine. editor@StraightUpMagazine.net Str8 Up Magazine is accepting submissions of artwork, photography, poetry, creative writing, etc. for possible publication in print and on the web. To have your work considered, send hard copy or disc to P.O. Box 412 in Belleville, IL 62222. Digital submissions should be 300dpi and can be e-mailed to editor@straightupmagazine.net.

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January 2014

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