Straight Up Magazine April 2013

the Bible Belt Sinners ~ April Calendar of Events ~ Front Yard to Front Room Alma Terra: Growing and Eating Locally, Think Local, Buy Local, Be Local

The Missions of Sarah Abbott ~ Good Golly Miss Molly Simms &

April 2013

Issue #

9

April 2013

FREE

Aunia Kahn

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

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Inside Page Editors Word – April 2013

April 2013

Straight Up Magazine began in June 2006 and ran through January 2007. During its short run, it made a huge impact on the entertainment and arts scene in Metro-East area. Straight Up is back with this next “first” edition ‘Serving Up Art, Music and Culture for the Metro-East’s Enjoyment’.

The cover of our very first edition in June of 2006 featured the remarkable art work of regional artist Aunia Khan. We are extremely pleased to have Aunia grace this rebirth edition cover as well! Aunia’s works are featured in galleries and exhibitions worldwide. Straight Up and the Metro-East are truly blessed to have such talent in our “back yard” and on our pages! See more Aunia in our Submissions section.

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!!!

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April Credits

Managing Editors: Dylan Seibert, Paul Seibert Content Editors: Dylan Seibert, Paul Seibert, Kate Collins Layout Design Artist: Mark Polege (www.markusdesignworks.com) Sales: Brenton Ebersole, Brian Gardner, Daniel Nygard, Paul Seibert Ad Artists: Michelle Reynolds, Shannon Davis, Wil Sullivan Cover Logo: Josh Rowen Cover Art: “Of a Confession” by Aunia Kahn Wanted Poster: Michelle Reynolds Photography: Mark Johnson, Mark Polege, Robyn Kirsch, Sarah Abbott Calendar: Dylan Seibert Comics: De Robinson, Josh Rowan, Wil Sullivan Website Design: Mark Polege (www.markusdesignworks.com) 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 4 6 8 22 24 25 26 Str8 Up Magazine Distribution Locations:

$1.98 Cleaners - Fairview Heights 10th Street Baking Co - Belleville Abbey, The - Belleville Acropolis Restaurant- Belleville Alestle Office SIUE - Edwardsville All Mart Smoke Shop - Mascoutah Almighty Tatoos - Belleville American Legion - Mascoutah Anthony’s Salon - Belleville Antique House Bar & Grill - Belleville Apple Tree Restaurant - Granite City Arts & Issues Office SIUE - Edwardsville Arts & Sciences SIUE - Edwardsville At Home Computer Repair - Belleville Bamboo Valley Buffet - Belleville Bank of Edwardsville- Shiloh Baymont Inn - O’Fallon Bear Book & Candle - Belleville Beatnik’s - Belleville Bee Hollow Marketplace - Mascoutah Belleville Public Library - Belleville Belt Line Mart - Belleville Best Western - Fairview Heights Big Reggie’s - Belleville Big Time Beads - Swansea Blue Agave - Belleville Boyce Hund & Assocs - Mascoutah BP Hucks - Belleville BP Hucks - Freeburg BP Hucks - Belleville BP Hucks - Fairview Heights Bronx Zoo - Belleville Candlewood Suites - O’Fallon Casa Azteca - O’Fallon Casey’s - Freeburg Casey’s - Fairview Heights Casey’s - O’Fallon Casey’s General Store - Mascoutah Caseyville Twshp Bldg - Fairview Heights CeLeen Gallery - Belleville Centerfield Bar and Grill - Belleville Circa - Belleville Circle K - O’Fallon

April 2013 The Missions of Sarah Abbott Good Golly Miss Molly Simms & the Bible Belt Sinners April Calendar of Events Front Yard to Front Room Alma Terra: Growing and Eating Locally, Think Local, Buy Local, Be Local Comics Submissions City Hall - Fairview Heights CoffeeHouse Co & Salon - O’Fallon Concept Shoe Repair - Swansea Conoco Phillips - Belleville Country Inn and Suites - O’Fallon CVS - O’Fallon CVS - Swansea Dauber’s Pharmacy - Mascoutah Days Inn - O’Fallon Dierberg’s - Shiloh Dobbs - Swansea Drury Inn - Fairview Heights Drury Inn - O’Fallon Dunham Theatre SIUE - Edwardsville Effinger’s Garden Center - Belleville Express Medical Care - Fairview Heights Extended Stay - O’Fallon Fezziwig’s Marketplace - Lebanon Gas Mart - O’Fallon Gas Mart - Swansea Golden Corral - Shiloh Han-Dee Mart - Mascoutah Happy Hops Homebrew - Belleville Hardees - Belleville Harters Hobby House - Belleville Hilton Garden Inn - O’Fallon Hooters - Fairview Heights Hucks - Fairview Heights Imo’s Pizza - Belleville Inksane Asylum - Troy Jonnie’s Pizza - Fairview Heights Katherine Frazier Allstate - Belleville Kelso Auto Body - Belleville Lake Point Dental - O’Fallon LaQuinta Hotel & Suites - Mascoutah Lebanon Visitors Center - Lebanon Legendary Creations - Lebanon Lilly’s Gyro - Fairview Heights Lindenwood Univ - Belleville Local Lucy’s - Belleville Lovejoy Library SIUE - Edwardsville Mama Gusto’s - Lebanon Mary’s Hidden Treasures - Belleville

Mascoutah Elementary - Mascoutah McDonald’s - Mascoutah McDonald’s - O’Fallon McKendree Hett Arts Center - Lebanon McKendree Holman Library - Lebanon Melodic Rhythms - Belleville Memorial Healthcare - O’Fallon Memorial Therapy - O’Fallon Moore’s Family Restaurant - Mascoutah Morris Univ Center SIUE - Edwardsville Moto Mart - Mascoutah MotoMart - Fairview Heights MotoMart - Lebanon MotoMart - Belleville My Vintage Addiction - Belleville New Arts Legacies - Fairview Heights North Belt West Liquor - Belleville O’Fallon City Hall - O’Fallon O’Fallon Public Library - O’Fallon Phillips 66 - Freeburg Phillips 66 Gas Mart - Fairview Heights Plug N Play Computers - Belleville Plum Local - Belleville Public Library - Fairview Heights Quick Mart - SAFB Quick Stop 2 - Fairview Heights Quiznos - Fairview Heights Quizno’s - Shiloh Ralph’s Barber - SAFB Ramada Inn - Fairview Heights RJs Computer - O’Fallon Sacred Grounds - Edwardsville Sax Hometown Store - Mascoutah Schnucks - Fairview Heights Schnucks - O’Fallon Schnucks - Belleville Schnucks - Swansea Scott Credit Union - Mascoutah Scott Elementary School - SAFB Sears App and Hrdware - Belleville Settle Inn - O’Fallon Shell - O’Fallon Sheraton Four Points - Fairview Heights

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Shop N Save - Belleville Shop N Save - Belleville Simply Thrift - Belleville Sips n Splatters - Belleville Soaknumsai - SAFB St Clair Bowl - Fairview Heights St E’s Medical Arts Bldg - Belleville St E’s Medical Plaza - Mascoutah St. E’s Medical Center - O’Fallon St. Louis Bread - Shiloh Suburban Inn - O’Fallon Subway - O’Fallon Subway - O’Fallon Subway - SAFB Sunshine Daydream - Fairview Heights Super 8 Motel - Belleville Super 8 Motel - Fairview Heights SWIC Art Department - Belleville SWIC Café - Belleville Terry’s Home & Garden - Centreville TOCO Shop - Belleville Tom’s - Freeburg Tom’s Supermarket - Mascoutah Tony’s Place - Mascoutah Tourism Bureua of IL South - Swansea Towne & Country Mart - Belleville Troy Public Library - Troy Vetta Sports - O’Fallon VFW - Fairview Heights Walgreens - Shiloh Walgreens - O’Fallon Whimsey Gifts - Lebanon Wild Birds Unlimited - Swansea Win Flowers & Gifts - Belleville Winchester Place Office - Fairview Heights YMCA - O’Fallon YMCA East - Belleville Your Choice Automotive - Belleville ZX Fuel - Troy

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Art

April 2013

The Missions of Sarah Abbott

by Paul Seibert

“You have to have ambition. Ambition is what I have for this show.” Sarah Abbott was speaking to me about her forthcoming exhibit at the Sole Survivor Gallery in Belleville.

I have known Sarah Abbott for a number of years now. We collaborated on works for the Governor French Academy Gallery in Belleville during my tenure there. Sarah is now the Curator of that gallery where she strives to provide a platform for a variety of arts and artists. Sarah is a consummate supporter of local arts.

In a recent interview, she told me, “I think it is important to support local artists – students or any age.”

I always had a great respect for her graphic and photographic work. Until recently, I didn’t realize how dedicated and passionate she is about that work. That dedication and passion will be evident this month at the Sole Survivor Gallery, also in Belleville.

Sarah has a Bachelor of Arts – Graphic Design Cum Laude from Eastern Illinois University and an Associate of Arts from Southwestern Illinois College. She is the Art Director and Staff Photographer in the Marketing / Creative Department of the Missionary Association of Mary Immaculate (MAMI - Missionary Oblates) at the Our Lady of the Snows Shrine in Belleville. It is her position there that led to this exhibit.

Sarah told me “I do graphic design work for the Missionary Oblates. I’m a photographer. I went on a mission trip for a month last July - to Zambia.” Zambia is a land-locked African country next to Angola. “It is a tropical wet environment with dry seasons. It is where Victoria Falls is located.” Seeing Victoria Falls, she says, was a highlight of the trip. “The purpose of the trip was to document the good work the Oblates are doing in Zambia. Most of Belleville Oblates missionary funding goes to Zambia and Tijuana. I went as a documentarian.”

According to the Oblates website, “The Missionary Oblates are a Roman Catholic religious community of priests and brothers, founded in France by St. Eugene De Mazenod in 1816. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate have been working in Zambia for just over 25 years… providing health care, food, employment, education - and hope - to the people of Zambia.”

“They help build schools and churches,” said Abbott.

“The nuns there are awesome. They are the backbone, the doers, the project coordinators. They execute the projects. I have the highest respect for these nuns.” Sarah went to Zambia to experience what the work there is accomplishing. Her job on this mission trip was to provide photo and video documentation of this 4

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April 2013 work, “to communicate to donors where their money is going.” Sarah blogged the entire trip as part of that documentation.

Kay Rye, co-owner of Sole Survivor Gallery, told me she followed Sarah’s blog of her journey. “I read her blog and knew she was photographing. She was on my mind. When she came back, I knew I wanted to present her.” The goal of the Sole Survivor Gallery is to showcase the work of regional artists, promote the sale of art and aid in establishing Belleville as an artistic tourist destination. The Gallery also aims to present opportunities to young artists so that they may experience showing their work in a gallery setting, thus helping them build a good foundation for their future work in the field of art.

Sarah cites the Gallery as a great resource for the local arts community.

Sole Survivor features a different artist every month with an opening Artist’s Reception on the first Friday. Sarah’s exhibit opens as the gallery’s ‘First Friday Opening Night’ on April 5th. “The exhibit is to try to tell people my experience through the lens, through my eyes.”

Her collective experience will be represented in her exhibit at the Sole Survivor Gallery. And a moving experience it must have been.

Sarah spoke to me at length about her encounters there. An example: “A woman there gave me a present because I took the time to be there in the village to talk with them and do the video - to do the photos. She wanted to thank me for being there. You have to remember the people there have no money. They grow their own corn. They have no income. They don’t have jobs. They take care of themselves. She gave me a rooster!

It was just awesome that she would take her time. It was probably a $10 gift. It would have fed them for a day. It was a prized possession.” You will see photos of this Zambian woman and her rooster gift within the exhibit. “The exhibit is video, photography, music, and also has examples of Zambian wares. The music I recorded while I was there.”

“And anything sold at the exhibit, profits will go to Shangombo – one of the areas – a city there – that really touched me.” The small town of Shangombo, located in Shangombo District in the Western Province of Zambia, is one of the most remote towns in the country.

Sarah hopes to turn this work into a traveling exhibit. She plans to document this documentary exhibit. She will take photos and do a video of the April 5th event. The traveling exhibit would allow this to be a learning experience for other communities where she could give lectures and explain her experience. Traveling where? “I would love to do Cedarhurst Gallery” in Mt. Vernon. “Edwardsville has several galleries.

I would like to take it to schools. And the Scott Air Force Base library.”

More about Sarah:

Sarah supports local arts and Belleville. She volunteers with Belleville Historical Society. (“The Historical Society is my passion.”)

Sarah lives in an 1880s historic Belleville home, which “I am constantly rehabbing”. She loves downtown Belleville and being able to walk to the many shops and venues and enjoy the weather.

She wants to start an arts center in Belleville, one that supports visual and performing arts. It would have studio space for artists.

Sarah’s art center would combine a gallery, a dance studio, a music performance stage. She likened her idea to “The Dock” at Lemp Brewery with open windows and doors for indoor and outdoor performances and displays.

And Sarah said I could quote her on this, so I’m going to: “I think it is really great that Straight Up Magazine does stories about venues and artists. There is not enough other local representation of local arts.” Thank you, Sarah! See you on Opening Night!!

Who: Sarah Abbott, Graphic/Photographic Artist What: First Friday Opening Night – “From Lusaka to Shangombo – A Trip Across Western Zambia” Where: Sole Survivor Gallery, 125 East Main Street, Belleville, Illinois. www.solesurvivorartgallery.com.

* For more information call: Annie @ 618-257-3212, or Email: annie@solesu.com When: Friday, April 5, 2013. Artist Reception 5 – 8pm. Exhibit continues throughout the month of April.

* Regular gallery hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11am – 5pm How: www.sarahataglance.com www.solesurvivorartgallery.com

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Music

April 2013

Good Golly.. ...Miss Molly Simms and the

by Dylan Seibert

Bible Belt Sinners

Molly Simms grew up on about 100 acres on a dead-end circle drive in Edwardsville. From the youngest age, she had music in her veins.

“I just always loved to sing. I was one of those little kids that always ran around making up their own songs.” Molly said. “My first memory of all that was being in preschool and having to pick a career for career day, and eventually settling on that I wanted to be a singer because Mom wouldn’t let me be a ranger or a princess, which are hard jobs to get.”

Over the years, she sang and sang and sang and also learned to play the piano, as well as the alto sax in high school band, and played around on a banjo for a bit. But now she is ‘Miss Molly Simms’, solo artist and frontwoman of the St. Louis band, ‘The Bible Belt Sinners’. The piano and the sax and the banjo are not the instruments you’ll hear her play.

Having first picked up the instrument in hopes of bonding with an adolescent crush, the guitar is now her musical companion wherever there is music to be made. “Needless to say, I don’t talk with this person any more, but I still play guitar,” Molly told us jokingly. Her love of guitar is now a very deep one, “I feel that it is one of those things, it’s like your own kinda therapy, it’s something that, you know, if you’re feeling the lowest of low, can at least make you feel a little bit better.”

Attributing much of her transformation in music to heartaches and hard times over the years, Molly had this to say, “I think that we definitely have to go through those hard times to kind of get us on the right track and I’m just thankful to be where I am.”

Part of where she is at present is at the front of a popular St. Louis ‘rockabilly’ band, ‘The Bible Belt Sinners’, who already had a strong following by the time Molly joined the band. “I feel like I’ve grown a lot in the band,” Molly said. “And I think they’ve grown a lot too, personally, since I’ve come into the group with them - bringing something different to the table.”

She explained that the group consists of herself on guitar and vocals, Johnny Murdock on upright bass, a drummer that goes by ‘Grotto’, and “Andrew Bono is our guitar player, but I fancy to call him ‘Al’, which is what he named his son. And when he gets really drunk, we like to call him ‘Sally’,” she told us jovially.

When asked about sticking with one given genre, Molly had this to say, “I can switch it up and do 4 or 5 different 6

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April 2013

genres, and play something blues and something rock and something country.

And what’s cool right now when I’m working with the band is that we are doing some honkey-tonk inspired originals, but then we go back and do some hard-core punk rock songs, or stuff like that. So I think that is really what’s fun about expression is that you can kind of change it up.”

Between all these genres, Molly has demonstrated a commanding vocal presence and even got herself voted ‘Best Female Vocalist’ by the Riverfront Times back in 2010. Molly told us, “I got a phone call from Roy Casten from KDHX, and he did just a very brief interview with me, and somehow one funny thing is that something got misconstrued and I guess it turned out that he thought that I said somehow that I was from Houston, TX when I actually had said that I had lived there for a short time. So that ended up in

the article that I was originally from Houston, Texas, which I thought was really funny and I actually tried to play that up for a while. Um, but I got that phone call and I was really surprised and I said ‘so what is this about, what is this interview for?’ and he said ‘Well I can’t tell you right now, but you’ll know soon enough’. And then I was at work at the warehouse one day and I got onto Facebook real quick to check something and people were congratulating me for the win, and I had read about it on there, and I guess, honestly, I was pretty surprised.”

Even in light of her love of local shows, having recently played a solo gig at Blue Agave and a gig with the band at Pitcher’s, both in Belleville, Molly says, “I would say that I think that touring is the way to go for most bands… and I think that the rich experience that you get from being on the road is just really valuable.”

When she’s not rockin’ out on a stage or recording an album, Miss Molly Simms is prone to collecting items. “I am obsessed with old stuff and I have a huge record collection and I have a little bit of an art collection,” she told us. “And I like old spiritual items from the 20’s.” She even has two showcases in antique malls where she peddles some of her treasures.

You can learn more about the band at www.biblebeltsinners.com. Miss Molly Simms’ solo album, “Revenants”, can be purchased at www.missmollysimms.bandcamp.com. The Bible Belt Sinners’ album, “Devil Ridin’ Shotgun”, can be purchased at www.biblebeltsinners.bandcamp.com.

You may yet get your chance to see Molly. She’ll be performing solo on April 11th at the Venice Café in St. Louis 9pm-1am, April 13th at Nico on Delmar 9pm-12am. Also on April13th, The Bible Belt Sinners will be involved in ‘Lo Fi Cherokee’, where Bill Streeter will be filming 14 music videos in one day. Shortly thereafter, the Bible Belt Sinners begin another tour. So, get out and catch one of these great shows before the road claims Miss Molly Simms and her band for some time to come.

Photos courtesy Molly Simms. Interview for this article conducted by Dylan Seibert & Caitlin Bratcher.

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April Calendar of Events

April 2013

April 1st (Monday) Edwardsville Arts Center (Edwardsville) - March 29 - May 3; Main Gallery: EAC 3 Juried Show “Structured”; Student Gallery: Primary Schools LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9:00am - 12:00pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) Art Exhibit - LC Student Hatheway Gallery; 8am; April 1 May 14; Hatheway Gym/Banquet Room Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) – April Rehearsals Alton Symphony Orchestra; 7:30pm; Hatheway Hall Auditorium 100, Hatheway Hall Stage 125, Hatheway Hall Lobby 200 Pop’s (Sauget) - The Joy Formidable; 105.7 The Point welcomes; 7pm; with Guards, Kitten; $15 advance, $18 day of show, $2 minor surcharge

April 2nd (Tuesday) Blue Agave (Belleville) - Open Mic every Tues Pop’s (Sauget) - Project Born; presented by The Beard; with TBA; 6:30pm; $10 advance, $10 day of show, $2 minor surcharge

April 3rd (Wednesday) Night Wed

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every

Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) Band - “Back In The Saddle” - Reid Café; 11am PSOP/SWIC Programs and Services for Older Persons (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 1:30 - 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.

Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic - 7pm - 11pm; with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner SWIC (Belleville) - SWIC Faculty Recital, 7 pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz 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! 8

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Wood River Roundhouse (Wood River) - Imperial Swing Dance Lessons; 6:30pm - 9:00pm

April 4th (Thursday) Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm - 1:30am Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) Arts and Issues Series presents La Familia Valera Miranda; 7:30pm - 9:30pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old The Hett Auditorium at McKendree University (Lebanon) - The Artist (2011): Film Art Series; 7:30pm Music in Film Theme; As a 1920s silent movie star wonders if talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with a young dancer set for a big break. Rated PG-13; 100 min; FREE! Jacoby Arts Center (Alton) - Open Mic: WORDS; 6:30 pm - 8pm; Literary artist ages 16 and up (including poets, songwriters, comedians and storytellers) are welcome to share their original words of art. First Thursday in September through November and then again February through May. Free admission. For more information, call (618) 462-5222.

Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - SIUE 34th Annual Art Auction; 6:00pm New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Branching Out 1:00pm 2:30pm New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Branching Out 1:00pm - 2:30pm Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - The Well Hungarians; 9:00pm - 1:00am Venice Café (St. Louis) - Friends of Str8 Up, “Old Capital Square Dance Club” Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons from 7:30 - 10pm w/ Joyce Warren

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April 2013 April 5th (Friday) Alton Sports Tap (Alton) - Just Do It Karaoke; DJ & Karaoke 9pm - 1am Alton VFW Post 1308 (Alton) - DD Revival; 7pm 11pm Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Children’s Consignment Blue Agave (Belleville) - Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocketship Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) Arts and Issues Series presents La Familia Valera Miranda; 7:30pm - 9:30pm 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 WedSun; Must be 21 years old Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Creating Keepsakes Convention; 10am-6pm; $10 @ Door; $7 with Coupon; $6 during Online Registration; $13 for 2-Day Pass; Ages 9 & Under FREE; $7 for Seniors 65 and Older; $5 Military Personnel & Teachers with ID; For more information, please visit: http://www.ckscrapbookevents.com/CKScrapbookConventions/CKCStLouis.aspx Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Lovejoy Library LB 0044 Abbott Auditorium @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - Cellobration Cello Recital; 6:00pm 8:00pm Mama Gusto’s (Lebanon) - Rogers and Nienhaus; 7pm - 11pm Morris University Center MUC Art Gallery @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - BFA Show #1; 1:00pm - 4:30pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7:00 - 11:00pm Plum Local (Belleville) - Motown Madness; 8pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Sevendust & Coal Chamber; 6pm; with Lacuna Coil, Candlelight Red; $25 advance, $28 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music. For more information, please contact us at 618-398-6979.

Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - New Crime Theatre; 9:00pm - 1:00am Sole Survivor Gallery (Belleville) - Sarah Abbott – Photography; Opening Night 5pm-8pm; Sarah will be showing photos from her nearly month long trip to Zambia; Exhibit runs through April 27th

Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Al Holliday Rhythm Revue; 10pm The Way Out Club (St. Louis) - The Bob Band (of the Metro East); 8pm The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Pure Prairie League in concert proudly presented by Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce; 8pm

April 6th (Saturday)

Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Children’s Consignment Chez Marilyn (Alton) - Bottom Up Blues Gang Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - Arts and Issues Series presents La Familia Valera Miranda; 7:30pm - 9:30pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old Fourth Street (Waterloo) - The Bob Band; 8:00pm The Gardens @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - “C U Grow” 5K & Family Fun Day; 10:00am - 2:00pm; The 5K will begin at 10am, followed by free food and refreshments, live entertainment, kid activities, and fun for the whole family!

Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Creating Keepsakes Convention; 9am- 5pm; $10 @ Door; $7 with Coupon; $6 during Online Registration; Ages 9 & Under FREE; $7 for Seniors 65 and Older; $5 Military Personnel & Teachers with ID; For more information, please visit: http:// www.ckscrapbookevents.com/CKScrapbookConventions/ CKCStLouis.aspx Highland Evangelic United Church of Christ (Highland) - Chocolate Extravaganza; 7:00pm - 9:00pm Legacy Golf Course Clubhouse (Granite City) Quarter Auction For MS; Come help us fight Multiple Sclerosis by enjoying a great afternoon of quarter auctions, and other raffles.

There will be vendors, door prizes, good food, and good laughs.

Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Lovejoy Library LB 0044 Abbott Auditorium @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - Emily Rockers, Graduate Violin Recital; 4:00pm - 5:00pm; Leah Ross, Sr Flute Recital;

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April Calendar of Events

April 2013

7:30pm - 8:30pm Meramec Jack’s (St. Louis) - Rogers and Nienhaus; 9pm - 1am Moose Lodge #1349 (Wood River) - Borderline; This event is Free And Open To The Public. 21+ Only.

New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Fun with Duck Tape 1:00pm - 3:00pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9:00pm - 2:00am Plum Local (Belleville) - Clark Rowden; 8pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Bad Religion; 105.7 The Point & Mike Judy presents; 7pm; with Against Me!, Polar Bear Club; $28 advance, $28 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Shenanigan’s (Belleville) - DJ or Live Music. For more information, please contact us at 618-398-6979.

Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - T.D. Biggs And The Rock-N-Roll Sideshow; 9:00pm - 1:00am Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9:00pm - 1:00am Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Ivas Johns; 10pm The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7:00am Village of Elsah Museum (Elsah) - 14th Annual Elsah Photography Exhibit; Through June 30; Amateur and professional photographers will be displaying photographs of the Village of Elsah and the immediate area in every season in an exhibit entitled “Elsah - Like No Other.” Free

April 7th (Sunday) Belle Clair Fair Grounds (Belleville) - Children’s Consignment Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - First Sunday of Every Month Jam 4pm-8pm Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) Arts and Issues Series presents La Familia Valera Miranda; 7:30pm - 9:30pm Effinger Garden Center (Belleville) - Easy Landscape Design; 11 am; A Hands on Workshop to help you with your garden or yard; Bring your photos, pictures and sketches. One-on-one advice.

Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old Hawg Pit (Grafton) - Rogers and Nienhaus Jacobsmeyer’s Tavern (Granite City) - Steve Chosich; 7:00pm - 9:00pm Lovejoy Library LB 0044 Abbott Auditorium @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - Robbie Lawson, Jr. Clarinet Recital; 10

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2:00pm - 3:00pm SIUE (Edwardsville) - Joshua D Beyers, Sr. Jazz Drum Recital; 2pm - 3pm St. Andrews Episcopal Church (Edwardsville) Faculty Trumpet Recital; 4:00pm - 6:00pm St. Paul United Church of Christ (Belleville) - Celestial Spring; Belleville Philharmonic Chorale; 3:00pm The Weingarten (Belleville) - Kevin Bilchik; 2pm

April 8th (Monday) LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9:00am - 12:00pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) Band - “Julie Patchouli” - Reid Café 11:30am

April 9th (Tuesday) Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East

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April 2013 Road Ride; 6:00pm Blue Agave (Belleville) - Open Mic every Tues Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Collinsville Area Women’s Connection; 12:15 - 2:15pm; Admission: $13 New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Girl Scout Troop Art Project 3:45pm SIUE (Edwardsville) - Loretta Goebel Featured at Meridian Society Workshop; 9:00am - 1:00pm

April 10th (Wednesday) AMHA Alton (Alton) - AMHA Spring Temporary Exhibit; “We round out our Spring shows with a 20th anniversary interactive, 3D memorial on the Flood of 1993.

We are planning on showing this from April 10th thru June, maybe July depending on attendance & interest.”

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Night Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Beginning Book Binding Workshop; Renee Scott 6pm - 9pm PSOP/SWIC Programs and Services for Older Persons (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 1:30 - 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.

Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic - 7pm - 11pm; with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner SIUE (Edwardsville) - Ben Coan, Jazz Bass Recital; 5 pm - 6 pm 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; 6:30pm - 9:00pm

April 11th (Thursday) Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm - 1:30am Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old Sloan 101; 1pm - 5pm

Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - The Well Hungarians; 9pm - 1am Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - The Well Hungarians; 9pm - 1am

April 12th (Friday) Man

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Auditions for Music

Blue Agave (Belleville) - The Mellow D’s Chez Marilyn (Alton) - Al & Bob Playing the Blues Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Dave Black Freelance Guitarist; 9pm Clinton County Showcase (Breese) - Nunset Boulevard Doc Holiday’s Saloon and Eatery (Cottage Hills) Borderline from 9pm - 1am. No Cover! 21+ only.

Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons from 7:30 – 10pm w/ Joyce Warren

Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) Carmina Burana; 7:00pm - 10:00 am 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 Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Anime St. Louis 2013 Convention; Weekend - $45; Friday - $30; Child 7-12 years old - $10; and Child 6 and under – Free Hanger Grill (Chesterfield) - Rogers and Nienhaus (of the Metro-East); 8pm – 12am Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke

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April Calendar of Events

April 2013

Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Lincoln Theatre (Belleville) - Party on the Pipes Lovejoy Library/Abbott Auditorium @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - “Well-Known Author Lecture”; 7:00pm 8:30pm New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Snippets: A Floor Cloth Primer; Nancy Curry; 1pm - 3pm & 6pm - 8pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7:00 - 11:00p.m.

Plum Local (Belleville) - Virginia Williams; 8pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Psychostick; presented by The Beard Productions; with Polkadot Cadaver, Downtown Brown, TBA; 6:30pm; $12 advance, $15 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Schatze’s (Belleville) - Abbie Steiling Hillbilly Authority; 9 pm Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Whiskey Dixon; 9pm - 1am St. Paul United Church of Christ (Belleville) Christopher Houlihan Concert Organist; 7:30pm

April 13th (Saturday) Man

Alton Little Theater (Alton) - Auditions for Music

Alton Sports Tap (Alton) - The Owlz classic rock band; 8:00pm - 12:00am Blue Agave (Belleville) - John Bartley Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Collinsville) - Trivia Night; $10 per person. Tables of 8-10. Bring your own snacks & drinks. To preregister call 618-344-7316.

Chez Marilyn (Alton) - MONDINBAND Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Clinton County Showcase (Breese) - Nunset Boulevard Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) Carmina Burana; 7:00pm - 10:00pm Farley’s Music Hall (Elsah) - Community Dance; 7 pm - 10 pm; The Historic Elsah Foundation is sponsoring an evening of Contra dancing, where couples dance in two facing lines. Live music will be provided by Martha Edwards and Company. All dances will be taught - no experience or partner necessary; $6 a person or $15 a family Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Anime St. Louis 2013 Convention; $35; Child 7-12 years old - $10; and Child 6 and under – Free Jacoby Arts Center (Alton) - Green-Perkins Promo/Jacoby Arts Center presents: CEE Jazz Soul featuring 12

Str8Up Magazine

BOYCE, HUND & ASSOCIATES LLC Certified Public Accountants

42 West Main Street Mascoutah, IL 62258-0159 (618) 566-2341 www.boycehund.com

vocalist Cheri Evans & Alton’s own Jesse Prather on keyboard. 7:00pm - 10:00pm Lakeview Park (Waterloo) - 2nd Annual Tri County CASA Super Hero RUN/WALK - 5k and (1) Mile Fun Run; 8:00am - Race begins at 9:00am; $25.00 for adults; $15.00 - 18years to 5 years. Under 5 - Free! 3 locations at the same time.

LeClaire Christian Church (Edwardsville) - Suzuki Ensembles Concert; 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM; This is a free event.

Lemmons (St. Louis) - Friend of Str8 Up Zagk Gibbons w/ Solo Zunder Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Lincoln Theatre (Belleville) - Party on the Pipes Lindenwood University (Belleville) - 5K run/walk; organized by Kappa Sigma fraternity Moody Park - Long Acre Park (Fairview Heights) - 2nd Annual Tri County CASA Super Hero RUN/WALK 5k and (1) Mile Fun Run; 8:00am - Race begins at 9:00am; $25.00 for adults; $15.00 - 18years to 5 years. Under 5 Free! 3 locations at the same time.

Morris University Center Art Gallery @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - BFA Show 2; 8:00am - 4:30pm Morris University Center Conference Center @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - Art Therapy Conference; 9:00am 4:00pm My Just Desserts (Alton) - Dinner with Mr. Lincoln’s Friends; Presented by My Just Desserts and Alton Little Theater Costumed Actors. Join us for an entertaining dinner with Mr. Lincoln’s Friends with a four course meal from “Lincoln’s Table”; 6:00pm. Tickets are $35.00 per person and must be purchased in advance New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Beginning Book Binding Workshop; Renee Scott; 1pm - 4pm PBC Studios (Bethalto) - Bob Kuban live in concert; Doors open at 6pm Show starts 7pm; Tickets are $20 or $35 a pair; Beer/wine cash bar and concessions available; 7:00pm - 9:30pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9:00pm - 2:00am Plum Local (Belleville) - Joe Camel; 8pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Brookroyal CD Release Party; 105.7 The Point presents “Cycles Of Life & Sound” CD Release

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April 2013 Party; 6:30pm; w/ very special guests Shaman’s Harvest, Fivefold, OATM, & Cannibal Road; $5 advance, $8 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Rotten Apple (Godfrey) - Borderline Ruebel Hotel (Grafton) - Karaoke Competition; 7:00pm - 11:30pm Sandy’s Back Porch (Belleville) - Open House “Join us as we celebrate the beginning of Spring. Don’t miss this day filled with fun, food, & One Day Only Specials!”

Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Amberfade; 9pm - 1am SIUE (Edwardsville) - Suzuki Ensembles Concert; 2 pm - 4 pm Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9:00pm - 1:00am St. John Church- Faith Hall (Collinsville) - Surviving Caregiving; 9:30am - 2:30pm Talahi Lodge at the Olin Nature Preserve (Godfrey) - Alton-Godfrey Earth Day Celebration; The Nature Institute welcomes you to an event that features live folk and bluegrass music, make-it and take-it workshops for adults and kids, hands-on informational booths, nature arts and crafts, local food, tree plantings, various environmentally themed films, cell phone, electronic, and plastic pot recycling, clothing swaps and textile collection, and organized hikes along The Nature Institute’s woodland trails in the Olin Nature Preserve. For more information call 618-5515020 The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7:00am The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Last Child: A Tribute to Aerosmith; 8:00 pm Wood River Park and Recreation (Wood River) - 2nd Annual Tri County CASA Super Hero RUN/WALK 5k and (1) Mile Fun Run; 8:00am - Race begins at 9:00am; $25.00 for adults; $15.00 - 18years to 5 years. Under 5 Free! 3 locations at the same time.

Woodstock Lounge (Alton) - Rogers and Nienhaus; 9pm - 1am

April 14th (Sunday) American Legion Hall #683 (St. Libory) - Spring Chicken Bicycle Ride; 7:30am - 9:00am Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Motorcycle Swap Clinton County Showcase (Breese) - Nunset Boulevard Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Downtown (Glen Carbon) - Fund Raiser For Mul

tiple Sclerosis; Registration at 1 pm; Walk starts at 2 pm; 194 S. Main Street; Join other walkers in this signature fundraising event of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in routes of either 1 and 3 mile options. For more information call 314-781-9020 or visit www.gatewaymssociety.org.

Effinger Garden Center (Belleville) - Hot Spring Flowers for your Garden; 12 pm; Meet Derek Scrof from Ball Seed Company. Learn what’s new in hot colors for your yard, garden and patio pots. Bring your pictures, questions and a friend!

Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old Gateway Center (Collinsville) - Anime St. Louis 2013 Convention; $20; Child 7-12 years old - $10; and Child 6 and under – Free Lincoln Theatre (Belleville) - Party on the Pipes

April 15th (Monday) LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9:00am - 12:00pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - MUSICIAN/VOCALIST JASON GORDON; Reid Hall Main Dining Hall 1200; 11am

April 16th (Tuesday) Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East Road Ride; 6:00pm Blue Agave (Belleville) - Open Mic every Tues Metcalf Student Experimental Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) - Cougar Theater presents: Androcles and the Lion; 6:00pm - 10:00pm Morris University Center @ SIUE (Edwardsville) David Sedaris Presented by Arts & Issues; 7:30pm - 8:30pm; With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, David Sedaris has become one of America’s preeminent humor writers. A total of seven million copies of his books are in print and are available in 25 languages.

New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Mixed Media; 6pm - 9pm

April 17th (Wednesday) 6pm Night

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Bee Hollow Market (Mascoutah) - Sip ’n’ Paint; Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every Str8Up Magazine

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April Calendar of Events

April 2013

Wed Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Indie Exchange; 1pm - 3pm New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Glass Bead Workshop; Renee Scott; 6pm - 9pm PSOP/SWIC Programs and Services for Older Persons (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 1:30 - 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.

Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic - 7pm - 11pm; with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner 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; 6:30pm - 9:00pm

April 18th (Thursday) Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pnm- 1:30am Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Downtown (Belleville) - Diva Night - Start at Local Lucy’s. End at Pitcher’s Sports Pub 5:00pm - 8:00pm Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) Department of Theater and Dance presents: Dance in Concert; 7:30pm - 9:30pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Legacy Box 1pm - 3pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Rival Summers & Love Out Loud; presented by The Beard; with Hero For A Day, TBA; 6:30pm; $10 advance, $13 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - The Well Hungarians; 9pm - 1am SIUE (Edwardsville) - Department Of Theater And Dance Presents: Dance In Concert; 7:30pm – 9:30pm SWIC (Belleville) - SWIC Student Show opens with public reception, 6 - 8pm. Exhibition runs through May 8th Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons from 7:30 – 10pm w/ Joyce Warren The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Golden Dragon Acrobats; 7:00 pm 14

Str8Up Magazine

April 19th (Friday) Bee Hollow Market (Mascoutah) - Wine Tasting 4pm - 7pm Blue Agave (Belleville) - Patrick Kablamo Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Collinsville) - Spring Indian Market; Indian artists and vendors display and sell crafts, artwork, clothing, jewelry etc. 12 - 5pm. Free.

Calvary Chapel (Belleville) - Jeff Anderson; 7pm Chez Marilyn (Alton) - Bob “The Bumble Bee” Kamoske Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Clinton County Showcase (Breese) - Nunset Boulevard Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) Department of Theater and Dance presents: Dance in Concert; 7:30pm - 9:30pm 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 WedSun; Must be 21 years old Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Wine and Resin; 6pm - 9pm New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Children’s Painting; 4pm - 6pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7:00 - 11:00p.m.

LEARN TO PLAY! at

Melodic Rhythms Now two locations!

110 North High St Belleville, IL 62220

572 Memorial Dr Breese, IL 62230

618-233-0659

618-526-7588

www.MelodicRhythms.com

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April 2013 Plum Local (Belleville) - Virginia Williams; 8pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Cemetery Gatez – A Tribute to Pantera; with TBA; 7pm; $5 advance, $10 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Salem Community Theater (Salem) - The Nerd; This hilarious comedy is back after too long a hiatus! Set in Terre Haute, Indiana in late 1979, The Nerd presents the story of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect, friends Tansy and Axel and unexpected houseguest Rick, who had saved Willum’s life in Vietnam. Don’t miss this revival of one of SCT’s favorite comedies!

Sheraton Four Points (Fairview Heights) - Let’s Rewind to the 50’s!; 5:30pm - 8:30pm; Prepaid: $30 a person/ $50 per couple; At the Door: $35 per person/ $60 per couple; Includes: dinner, entertainment by Night Magic and FUN! Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Vote For Pedro; 9pm - 1am SIUE (Edwardsville) - Department Of Theater And Dance Presents: Dance In Concert; 7:30pm - 9:30pm Terry’s Home & Garden Center (Centerville) Spring Open House The Weingarten (Belleville) - The Trophy Mules; 6 pm

Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old Hatheway Cultural Center (Godfrey) - Alton Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Concert; 7:00pm - 9:30pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) “Young Artist Concert” - Alton Symphony Orchestra 2013; Hatheway Hall Auditorium 7pm Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Glass Bead Workshop; Renee Scott; 1pm - 4pm PBC Photography and Creative Café (Bethalto) The Blu Skies; 7:00pm Philharmonic Hall (Belleville) - Stars of Tomorrow Concerto Competition; Competition for young musicians, Elementary through College, to perform a concerto with the Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra.

Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9:00pm - 2:00am Plum Local (Belleville) - Virginia Williams; 8pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Battle For Pointfest: Session 3 Finals; Sponsored by Redwood Studios, 105.7 The Point, & Busch Beer; Featuring: Love Me Leave Me, Exit 12, Man Eating Tiger, Rio Debut, Between The Rivers, Brokeneck,

April 20th (Saturday) Alton Eagles on Broadway (Alton) - DD Revival; 7:00pm - 10:00pm Blue Agave (Belleville) - Earthsol Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Collinsville) - Spring Indian Market; Indian artists and vendors display and sell crafts, artwork, clothing, jewelry etc. 9am - 5pm.

Free.

Chez Marilyn (Alton) - Henrys Humans Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Clinton County Showcase (Breese) - Nunset Boulevard Downtown (Belleville) - Craft Beer Festival; 10am 8pm Downtown (Godfrey) - Alton Optimist 2nd Annual Earth Day 5K; Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) Department of Theater and Dance presents: Dance in Concert; 7:30pm - 9:30pm Eckert’s Farm (Belleville) - Spring Fling; Join us as we kick off Spring at Eckert’s! We have added some new things to the farming operation - take a farm tour to see all the new and exciting things we have been working on all winter; 11am - 4pm. www.StraightUpMagazine.net

Str8Up Magazine

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April Calendar of Events

April 2013

Music Embryo, & TBA; 6pm; $6 advance, $8 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Salem Community Theater (Salem) - The Nerd; This hilarious comedy is back after too long a hiatus! Set in Terre Haute, Indiana in late 1979, The Nerd presents the story of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect, friends Tansy and Axel and unexpected houseguest Rick, who had saved Willum’s life in Vietnam.

SIUE (Edwardsville) - Department Of Theater And Dance Presents: Dance In Concert; 7:30pm - 9:30pm Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9:00pm - 1:00am SWIC (Belleville) - SWIC Civil War Encampment 2013; 10am - 3pm Terry’s Home & Garden Center (Centerville) Spring Open House The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7:00am The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - California Guitar Trio; 7:00 pm

April 21st (Sunday) Boathouse Bar & Grill (St. Charles) - Rogers and Nienhaus (of the Metro-East); 2pm - 6pm Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Collinsville) - Spring Indian Market; Indian artists and vendors display and sell crafts, artwork, clothing, jewelry etc. 9am - 4pm.

Free.

Clinton County Showcase (Breese) - Nunset Boulevard Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) Department of Theater and Dance presents: Dance in Concert; 2pm Eckert’s Farm (Belleville) - Spring Fling; Join us as we kick off Spring at Eckert’s! We have added some new things to the farming operation - take a farm tour to see all the new and exciting things we have been working on all winter; 12pm - 4 pm.

Effinger Garden Center (Belleville) - Vegetable gardening 101; 11 am; Join Hugh Maine, Dave Chouinard and Rick to talk about soil preparations, pests, problems and growing veggies, berries and all things edible. 11am Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old Moose Lodge #1349 (Wood River) - Benefit Celebration for Susan Owens Bland; This will be a fund raising event to help cover funeral costs. The event will start at Noon and go until approx 8pm… Borderline will perform 16

Str8Up Magazine

TOCO Resale Shop ~825 W. Main Belleville, IL~

www.tocoshop.com

with many special guests. There is a $10 charge at the door, free food, and cash bar. More info on www.facebook.com/ theborderlineband.

Salem Community Theater (Salem) - The Nerd; This hilarious comedy is back after too long a hiatus! Set in Terre Haute, Indiana in late 1979, The Nerd presents the story of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect, friends Tansy and Axel and unexpected houseguest Rick, who had saved Willum’s life in Vietnam.

SIUE (Edwardsville) - Department Of Theater And Dance Presents: Dance In Concert; 2pm - 4pm SIUE (Edwardsville) - Chamber Music Recital Mus 355c; 2 pm - 5 pm Terry’s Home & Garden Center (Centerville) Spring Open House

April 22nd (Monday) Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) Percussion Ensemble Concert; 7:30pm - 9:30pm LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9:00am - 12:00pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - Jazz Band Concert; Trimpe 141/Advanced Technology Center; 7:30pm Salem Community Theater (Salem) - The Nerd; This hilarious comedy is back after too long a hiatus! Set in Terre Haute, Indiana in late 1979, The Nerd presents the story of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect, friends Tansy and Axel and unexpected houseguest Rick, who had saved Willum’s life in Vietnam.

SIUE (Edwardsville) - Percussion Ensemble Concert; 7:30pm - 9:30pm

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April 2013 April 23rd (Tuesday) Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East Road Ride; 6:00pm Blue Agave (Belleville) - Open Mic every Tues Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) Steel Band Concert; 3:00pm - 5:00pm New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Photography Basics and Beyond; Chris Malacarne 6pm - 8pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Twiztid; 6pm; with (hed)p.e., Glasses Malone, Potluck; $20 advance, $22 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Salem Community Theater (Salem) - The Nerd; This hilarious comedy is back after too long a hiatus! Set in Terre Haute, Indiana in late 1979, The Nerd presents the story of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect, friends Tansy and Axel and unexpected houseguest Rick, who had saved Willum’s life in Vietnam.

SWIC (Belleville) - St. Louis Symphony Chamber Ensemble Concert, 7 p.m.

April 24th (Wednesday) Night Wed

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) – Karaoke Every

Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) Concert Band and Wind Symphony Performance; 7:30pm - 9:30pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) “Louis Michael & Friends”; Music Building Atrium 132; 12pm New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - ATC Exchange; 1pm - 3pm PSOP/SWIC Programs and Services for Older Persons (Belleville) - Line Dancing; 1:30 - 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.

Salem Community Theater (Salem) - The Nerd; This hilarious comedy is back after too long a hiatus! Set in Terre Haute, Indiana in late 1979, The Nerd presents the story of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect, friends Tansy and Axel and unexpected houseguest Rick, who had saved Willum’s life in Vietnam.

Schatze’s (Belleville) - Open Mic - 7pm - 11pm;

with AfterHours Entertainment & your host Banyon Hanner 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; 6:30pm - 9:00pm

April 25th (Thursday) Alton High School (Alton) - AHS Spring Musical; 7:00pm - 10:00pm; Admission Charge; Reserved Seating Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm - 1:30am Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Dunham Hall Theater @ SIUE (Edwardsville) Jazz Band Concert; 8:00pm - 10:00pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Laurie’s Place (Edwardsville) - Aaron Kamm And The One Drops; 10pm New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Legacy Box; 1pm - 3pm New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Altered

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April Calendar of Events

April 2013

Book Club; 6pm - 9pm Salem Community Theater (Salem) - The Nerd; This hilarious comedy is back after too long a hiatus! Set in Terre Haute, Indiana in late 1979, The Nerd presents the story of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect, friends Tansy and Axel and unexpected houseguest Rick, who had saved Willum’s life in Vietnam.

Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - The Well Hungarians; 9pm - 1am SWIC (Belleville) - Flute and Piano Duet, 7pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons from 7:30 – 10pm w/ Joyce Warren The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Tom Rush; 8:00pm

April 26th (Friday) Blue Agave (Belleville) - The Pat Sajak Assassins Chez Marilyn (Alton) - Everhart & Light Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz 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 WedSun; 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 - 11:00p.m.

Plum Local (Belleville) - Virginia Williams; 8pm Salem Community Theater (Salem) - The Nerd; This hilarious comedy is back after too long a hiatus! Set in Terre Haute, Indiana in late 1979, The Nerd presents the story of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect, friends Tansy and Axel and unexpected houseguest Rick, who had saved Willum’s life in Vietnam.

Smitty’s (Chesterfield) - Rogers and Nienhaus (of the Metro-East); 9pm - 1am The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Devon Allman; 7:30pm

Trick’d Out Tumbling Workshop; 4:30pm - 8:30pm Camp Dubois (Wood River) - Camp Dubois Rendezvous; 9am - 5pm; Celebrate the historical period between 1700 and 1840. See demonstrators in period clothing, a black powder shoot, a “hawk” throw, fire starting with flint and steel contests, children’s and women’s activities, period food sales, crafts, Fife and Drum music, vendor sales of period items, contests, flag raising, and much more. Period costumes encouraged for campers, crafters, and other participants. Illustrations of Lewis & Clark’s epic journey are located on the trail around the lake; Free - donations encouraged; For more information call 314-520-3594 or 573-705-2190 Chez Marilyn (Alton) - Everhart & Light Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night Downtown (Belleville) - St. Clair County Law Day 5K Run/Walk Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old Failoni’s (St. Louis) - Rogers and Nienhaus (of the Metro-East); 8pm - 12am Glazebrook Park (Godfrey) - Annual Arbor Day Celebration; 8:30am - 2pm; Join in the celebration of trees and the environment at this growing community event.

With life insurance, the benefits live on.

Katherine Frazier, Agent 1600 Lebanon Avenue Belleville, IL 62221 Bus: 618-234-3680 katherine.frazier.g0n1@statefarm.com

™

April 27th (Saturday) Alton High School (Alton) - AHS Spring Musical; 7:00pm - 10:00am; Admission Charge; Reserved Seating Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - St. Louis Antique Show Belleville Elite Dance Academy (Belleville) 18

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April 2013 Activities for children include a fishing derby, wall climbing, environmental crafts, and other games. Other activities include a Tree Memorial Program and demonstrations by expert climbers.

Grafton Boatworks (Grafton) - Grafton Riverside Flea Market; 9am - 5pm; Free The Hett @ McKendree (Lebanon) - Giulio Cesare (Handel): Met at the Hett; 11:00am. Metropolitan Opera broadcasts live in HD; $18 adults, $15 seniors, $10 student/ child Jacoby Arts Center (Alton) - LIVE at Jacoby: Saturday Night; This month “Poor People of Paris” will perform.

Doors open at 6pm. Admission is $10; Seniors (65+) and students with a valid ID are $8 Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Mangia’s (St. Louis) - Friends of Str8 Up, “Old Capital Square Dance Club” New Art Legacies (Fairview Heights) - Michael Hickman- St. Louis Landmark Drawing- Eads Bridge; 1pm - 3pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/DJ; 9:00pm - 2:00am Plum Local (Belleville) - Clark Rowden; 8pm Pop’s (Sauget) - Spring Rockfest 2013; presented by The Beard and Busch Beer; with Heretic Saints, 316 Band, Axeticy ,Jimmie ,Crank Sanctuary, MJAM; 7pm; $6 advance, $8 day of show, $2 minor surcharge Ruebel Hotel (Grafton) - Karaoke Competition; 7:00pm - 11:30pm Salem Community Theater (Salem) - The Nerd; This hilarious comedy is back after too long a hiatus! Set in Terre Haute, Indiana in late 1979, The Nerd presents the story of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect, friends Tansy and Axel and unexpected houseguest Rick, who had saved Willum’s life in Vietnam.

Silver Creek Saloon (Belleville) - Borderline; No cover, 21+. DJ on band breaks.

Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) - Country Karaoke; 9:00pm - 1:00am SWIC (Belleville) - Creative Kids Art Class: “String It Together,”; 12:30pm The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7:00am The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - The Stubblefield Band; 8:00pm

Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - St. Louis Antique Show Camp Dubois (Wood River) - Camp Dubois Rendezvous; 9am - 5pm; Celebrate the historical period between 1700 and 1840. See demonstrators in period clothing, a black powder shoot, a “hawk” throw, fire starting with flint and steel contests, children’s and women’s activities, period food sales, crafts, Fife and Drum music, vendor sales of period items, contests, flag raising, and much more. Period costumes encouraged for campers, crafters, and other participants. Illustrations of Lewis & Clark’s epic journey are located on the trail around the lake; Free - donations encouraged; For more information call 314-520-3594 or 573-705-2190 Club 111 (Pontoon Beach) - Crossing Mason; 6pm Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old Grafton Boatworks (Grafton) - Grafton Riverside Flea Market; 9 am - 5 pm; Free LeClaire Christian Church (Edwardsville) - Suzuki Spring Festival; 2:00pm - 4:00pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) Concert - Alton Youth Symphony; Hatheway Hall Auditorium; 7pm No Jacks Bar and Grill (Smithton) - No Jacks’ Salute to Veterans Poker Run Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Mushroom Festival; 1pm - 5pm; Come out for music, food and fun at the annual Mushroom Festival. Come check out the Mushroom Cook-Off as local chefs share their best mushroom dishes.

Enter the tasting tent for just $10, where you will receive a taste of each chef ’s special mushroom dish and a glass of wine. People can then vote for the chef of their choice.

There will also be vendors, a Biggest & Smallest Mushroom Contest and live music; No admission, activities cost a fee.

April 28th (Sunday) Alton High School (Alton) - AHS Spring Musical; 7:00pm - 10:00pm; Admission Charge; Reserved Seating www.StraightUpMagazine.net

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April Calendar of Events

April 2013

Salem Community Theater (Salem) - The Nerd; This hilarious comedy is back after too long a hiatus! Set in Terre Haute, Indiana in late 1979, The Nerd presents the story of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect, friends Tansy and Axel and unexpected houseguest Rick, who had saved Willum’s life in Vietnam.

April 29th (Monday) LaVista Park (Godfrey) - Garden Workday; 9:00am - 12:00am Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) - “Japanese Drumming”; LC Chapel 203 Stage; Benjamin Godfrey Memorial Chapel, 12pm Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) “An Evening Of Ensembles”; Music Building Atrium 132; 7:30pm

April 30th (Tuesday) Alton High (Alton) - AHS Spring Band Concert; 7:30pm - 9:00am; Alton H.S. Auditorium Free Admission Bike Surgeon (Shiloh) - Tuesday Night Metro East Road Ride; 6:00pm Blue Agave (Belleville) - Open Mic every Tues Lewis & Clark Community College (Godfrey) “Reveler’s Roundele” Choir; Hatheway Hall Auditorium; 7:30pm

May 1st (Wednesday) Night Wed

Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz, Cigar/Scotch Crehan’s Irish Pub (Belleville) - Karaoke Every

Effinger Garden Center (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) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old 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 20

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May 2nd (Thursday) Bubby and Sissy’s (Alton) - Karaoke Dance Party; 9:30pm - 1:30pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music Wed-Sun; Must be 21 years old Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke The Stagger Inn…Again (Edwardsville) - Kentucky Knife Fight; 9pm Wild Country (Collinsville) - Free Dance Lessons from 7:30 – 10pm w/ Joyce Warren

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April 2013 May 3rd (Friday) Bee Hollow Market (Mascoutah) - Wine Tasting 4pm - 7pm Christ Church (Fairview Heights) - Carlos Whittaker; 6 pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Live Jazz 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 WedSun; Must be 21 years old Jailhouse Rock (Trenton) - Class Act Karaoke Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Mama Gusto’s (Lebanon) - Rogers and Nienhaus; 7pm - 11pm Milburn H.S. Auditorium (O’Fallon) - Musical Landscapes; Belleville Philharmonic Orchestra; 7:30pm Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Open Mic Night every Friday night from 7:00 - 11:00pm Plum Local (Belleville) - Live Music; 8pm PSOP Center (Belleville) - Senior Celebration The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Brewer & Shipley; 8:00 pm

May 4th (Saturday) Show

Belle Clair Fairgrounds (Belleville) - Gun & Knife

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.

2pm Cigar Inn (Belleville) - Karaoke Night 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) - Live music WedSun; Must be 21 years old First Baptist Church (Fairview Heights) - Kerrie Roberts; 7pm 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.

Hard Road Theatre (Highland) - Kids Auditions for Aladdin Jr and Little Mermaid Jr; 12:00pm - 4:00pm Jacoby Arts Center (Alton) - Miles Davis Jazz Festival; Enjoy an evening of jazz celebrating the music and life of one the true giants of jazz music - Miles Davis Lilly’s Lounge (Alton) - Karaoke Persimmon Ridge Winery (Barnhart) - Rogers and Nienhaus (of the Metro-East); 7pm 11pm Phil’s Bar & Grill (Wood River) - Karaoke/ DJ; 9:00pm - 2:00 am Piasa Winery & Pub (Grafton) - Sweet Dirt; 5pm - 9pm 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 Spectators Sports Bar and Grill (Alton) Country Karaoke; 9:00pm - 1:00am The Cyclery and Fitness Center (Edwardsville) - Saturday Morning East Side Road Ride; 7:00am The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Tom Chapin Children’s Show; 3:00pm The Wildey Theatre (Edwardsville) - Tom Chapin; 6:30pm

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 Fast Eddie’s Bon Air (Alton) - Live music Wed-Sun; 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; 12:00pm - 4:00pm

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Art

April 2013

Front Yard to Front Room

by Mark Johnson

Jennifer Allison at Varsity XVII

March 8, Downtown St. Louis – Outside, the yellow light from streetlamps colors the front facade of the Art Saint Louis gallery as smiling groups of people walk into the white glow of the Varsity XVII exhibition. Inside, thirty-seven art students talk with flocks of families and friends gathered by their works as more and more people seem to keep coming inside.

Despite proud parents, proud grandparents, proud siblings and friends, some of the students are visibly nervous. A quivering smile flashes across the face of one artist as someone talks to her about her photographs. Through the crowd comes another artist: blond hair, white coat, white skirt and cool grin; Jennifer Allison has been trying to ease these nerves. “Just relax. This is like a party for all of us,” she’d explain.

By the reception desk, Chandler Branch, Art Saint Louis’s Executive Director, picks up a microphone and tries a few times to hush the crowd’s chatter so he can be heard on the P.A.’s single speaker.

“First, I’d like to apologize to the artists for the poor attendance. We normally try to bring a good crowd to these shows,” he says to a round of chuckles. “I can see some of the floor, which means there’s enough space for people to actually walk around and go see all the works, which is good.”

Now in its seventeenth year, Art Saint Louis’s Varsity exhibitions feature works of students from local universities with two representatives chosen from each school by their teachers.

Each student brings a maximum of two works to display, and for some of these students, this is the first opportunity they’ve had to display their art in this setting; hence the nerves.

These exhibitions are a sort of bridge for the students, giving undergraduate students an experience they’ll need for the either/or of the working world/graduate school life they’ll soon be shifting into. But, unlike many of these students, Jennifer Allison has lived on both sides already.

Having traded Big Muddy for the Hudson River, Allison moved to New York City years ago chasing a dream.

She spent five years working for a professional photographer, selling real estate, and making jewelry and art in the Big Apple. Her tendency to network led her to have a number of small art shows in 22

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cafes and other businesses during her time there. But eventually the market started spinning, leaving her and much of the world questioning what was to come.

“I was living my dream, but I was broke. I didn’t know what was going to happen to me,” she said.

Her final decision was to return to the Midwest. Back home, she re-enrolled at Southwestern Illinois College and completed two Associate’s Degree, one in arts, one in science. At the time, Allison was considering going into the natural sciences for her Bachelor’s degree, hoping to become a telescope engineer.

The problem was that she didn’t think she could afford to go to the school she wanted, St. Louis University.

One day, she saw a SLU booth on the SWIC campus. After talking about her problem with the representative, he suggested applying as an art major, which offers more scholarships, and then switching majors after being accepted and receiving the scholarship money.

She was accepted and got the scholarships, but the rest of her plan didn’t quite work out.

“Once I got into my art classes I remembered how much I loved them, and I never switched,” she said. Allison will complete her degree this fall.

Art is something that’s always been a part of Allison’s life, even as a girl. “When I was real little, other kids had lemonade stands and all that. But I had this grand scheme: Let’s take sticks from the yard, paint them and decorate them, and then sell them on the side of the road,” she said.

She sold a few until her mom made her stop.

Later a neighbor came over to her and said something that most likely changed her life. “She said she thought what I was doing was great, that some people make a living doing what I was doing and to not be discouraged and keep pursuing it,” she said.

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April 2013

“I’ve always remembered that.” Maybe her impromptu front yard art gallery planted a seed of confidence that explains why she’s been comfortable with this process for so many years, why she’s comfortable here at Varsity XVII.

This night, there are two exhibits of Allison’s work to find: a collection of jewelry and a mixed-media diptych titled “The Process of Decisions”. Looking around, I found the jewelry display in the back room, conveniently close to the food table, while the painting and she were in the front room.

Her jewelry is a good example of her overall process: “I really like to keep things abstract. I’ve done more intricate work, but it doesn’t feel like me,” she said. That approach pervades all of her work. “I try to not do figurative work in painting, since if I want to make something realistic, I can just take a picture,” she said.

Looking at her jewelry, one immediately gets her meaning.

For example, one of the bracelets on display is a hallow triangle of copper bent round into a metallic symbol that seems to hint at infinity, and, more abstractly, the ancient symbol of the ouroboros, an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon eating its own tail.

Allison’s other work, “The Process of Decisions”, is a mixed-media diptych that uses sheets of silk to create a wavelike topography above a subtle, abstract painting. Allison developed her technique for incorporating fabric into paintings over months of experimentation while living in New York, trying different fabrics and applications as budget and schedule allowed. She first used the final

method on a work that was centered around her uncertainty during the end of her time in New York, titled “The Abyss”.

The “Process of Decisions” at Varsity XVII isn’t exactly the original painting, however. About a week before the show Allison found out that the work, then a panorama, was far wider than the maximum dimensions allowed for the exhibition.

“Well, you can cut it,” her boyfriend suggested.

“Are you crazy? I can’t cut it,” she said.

In this sense, the work earned its name. Laid out on two saw horses in her garage, Allison cut it into two.

“I felt like a magician cutting the woman in half,” she said.

Although she originally intended the piece to be “read”, hence the panoramic left-right orientation of the work, the painting loses none of its impact as a diptych.

Instead, the two halves in vertical counterposition, to me, imply the “other” always involved in our decisions, be that other an individual or a multitude.

Presenting works in two mediums makes her a rarity in this exhibition, but her interests in art have always been extensive. Her works span painting, sculpture, photography, metal smithing, jewelry and graphic design. Fittingly, her degree features a triple emphasis: painting and sculpture, metal smithing and jewelry, and graphic design.

“I’ve never been able to limit myself in that way,” she said. “There are times I’m sketching and I can see a shape and think, ‘Well, this would be better as a sculpture, or as a metal piece, or as painting.’”

From many disciplines comes discipline – Allison is used to being a photographer, jewelry maker and painter simultaneously from her time in New York, a lesson that’s served her well as an artist trying to make it in today’s slowly recovering economy.

“Work as much as you can and don’t let rejection get in the way. Look at it like you have to fill a quota of noes before you can get your yesses,” she said.

That might be the most important lesson Allison couldn’t have learned in school, one that, hopefully, the other artists in Varsity XVII learn for the future. It won’t always be the case that they – or me – pass by islands of families as they make their way out of a gallery and to the world beyond.

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Culture April 2013 Alma Terra: Growing and Eating Locally Think Local, Buy Local, Be Local

by Brenton Ebersole

The home where my family and I reside is going through a reinvention process. We have set a goal this year to become a more efficient household entity. We are transforming our residence from a home to a homestead, one that uses its land, rain and resources to the greatest extent possible to support ourselves as much as we can.

We have chosen the name ‘Alma Terra’ for our homestead.

That is Latin for ‘nourishing earth’. This perfectly illustrates our loving relationship with our planet; we care for it and it cares for us in return.

Our goals are to learn how to support the Earth and its organisms, for us in the present and for our children’s futures, and to better understand the ways we can more sustainably and self-sufficiently operate a garden and a home within our means. This is the truest model of growing and eating locally. What could be more local than our own backyard?

We – as Alma Terra – will focus heavily on crop rotation and companion plantings to ensure the vitality of our gardens for future seasons and prevent pests from taking up a permanent residence in our yard. The use of organic pest controls will be implemented when needed using castile soap, cayenne pepper powder, baking soda and other biodegradable ingredients that will not leave a lasting impact on us, our gardens, or the world that holds us all.

It is surprising to me how many people think that growing fruits and vegetables is difficult, requires unending time, attention and money.

This is often far from the truth, as it can be quite easy and extremely rewarding to create your own delicious food supply in your own backyard.

Several studies have shown that when you buy locally, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms. This continues to strengthen the economic base of our community. (http://sustainableconnections.org/ thinklocal)

In the last year, we have continued to build our relationship with our neighbors, the Effinger Garden Center. Rick and Trudy Effinger have been extremely welcoming and supportive from the start, offering us sage advice to help us get started on our garden and landscape. We buy many of our plants from them including vegetables, medicinal and culinary herbs, blueberry shrubs, raspberry vines, blackberry vines and strawberries.

One way to reduce our homestead’s impact on the planet is to actively maintain the recycling of organic materials such as our garden

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and food scraps into compost. In addition, we have set up plans for the collection of old plant clippings from Effinger Garden Center along with other organic wastes retrieved from other business entities including coffee grounds. This recycling plan will eliminate our need to supplement our plants with common chemical fertilizers or soil additives that deplete natural resources.

Effinger Garden Center has been serving the Metro East area’s gardening needs since 1979. When they opened, Effingers started with one small greenhouse and now have expanded to numerous, larger greenhouses. In these, they produce herbs, perennials, water plants, ornamental and fruiting trees and shrubs as well as a wide selection of vegetables. Their mission statement, “Grown Here to Thrive Here”, explains that they focus on plants that really work well in our climate’s cold, often dry winters and our long hot dry summer. Many native plants are chosen for their stock because they have better hardiness, disease and insect resistance, require less maintenance and are naturally adapted to local weather extremes.

Organic products are those produced without the use of synthesized chemicals such as herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, or petroleum based fertilizers. Produce grown following these basic practices is safer to eat and their production does not pollute our groundwater, lakes and streams. The process also doesn’t kill beneficial insects that pollinate so much of our food or those that keep pests populations in balance.

This season, Effinger Garden Center is increasing their stock of organically grown plants. They also support and implement the use of natural and organic plant products and pest controls. Examples include organic plant foods, fish emulsions, and natural insect and disease controls such as copper, sulfurs, soaps and oils. Their plants are grown following a natural model. Chemical fertilizers and pesticide sprays are avoided to keep the plants, their employees and their customers healthier and happier.

Effinger Garden Center supports the local community by donating plants and flower bulbs to schools, church groups and other non-profit organizations. Each Spring, Effinger’s hosts local elementary school field trips, where youngsters can see a greenhouse, pot-up a plant to take home and experience the fun of gardening for themselves. For the last ten years, they have also been a proud supporter of the Belleville Humane Society.

Each month they sponsor an ad in the local paper that features animals in need of adoption.

During the month of April, Effinger Garden Center will host free spring workshops once a week. They host these events so the community can come out and share their plans, questions and experiences and draw on the staff’s thirty-years of local horticultural experience to make this growing season a success from the ground up. See Straight Up Magazine’s April Events Calendar inside this issue for details. I’ll be there and hope to see you at these events. And I send you my best wishes for your success this growing season!

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Comics

read the signs

April 2013

Son, the violence in those video games you play all day are a terrible infuence. It can’t possibly be healthy!

Why don’t you get some good excersize for a change!

I heard cage fighting is a fun sport.

Whatever dad

will s.

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Submissions

April 2013

Aunia Kahn

Aunia Kahn is a self-taught figurative artist, photographer, author, and curator. She combines many disciplines and invariably designs, builds, and executes characters, non-existent places, dreams, illusions, fears and fables into creation, which meld elements of classical and contemporary art.

Her work has garnered numerous awards, while her national and international exhibitions and residencies range from Santa Fe, Berlin, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Ireland, Canada, UK, New York, Los Angeles and scores in between. Aunia has curated numerous exhibitions across the country, as well as lectures at colleges and universities.

Although nearly her entire life she has been creative in one fashion or another, it wasn’t until Nov. 2004 that local artist Aunia Kahn, a former Southwestern Illinois College student, made her visual arts debut. Aunia showed her first pieces at an exhibition at the Broadway Center of Arts in downtown Belleville. www.auniakahn.com

Austin Banks Austin Banks is a student at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. She is a 2010 graduate of Parkway Central High School where she wrote for the “Echoes” creative writing magazine.

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“Anxiety” Anxiety It eats at my mind Drains my fluids Drowns my thoughts Clouds my sight Strikes me deaf Cripples my movements Makes my bones ache Shortens the breath Speeds the beating in my breast Slows the passage of time

It is the monster that clings to my frame in daylight And smothers my soul in the shadows of night

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April 2013

Brian Gardner

Brian is originally from Millstadt and graduated from Belleville West in 2006. He lives on the Alma Terra homestead in Belleville and is a member of the WWOOF program. He enjoys gardening, traveling, creating music, preserving goods, and working his way toward self-sufficiency.

Get your name out there is oil paint on canvas The Waiter is oil paint on canvas

Mike Estes

Photography Belleville, IL

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April 2013

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