Metro-east calendar: Visit the St. Louis Aquarium, other locations virtually

Noon Thursday, April 23, is the deadline to appear in next week’s What’s Happening. We must receive your event in writing with a contact phone number for questions. Due to the large number of submissions, events may run only one time in print, will be edited and appear in the week before the event date.

Email: lifestyle@bnd.com. Mail to: Lifestyle, Belleville News-Democrat, P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.

Events

▪ Missouri Botanical Garden: Visit the Garden Virtually — Now online at YouTube.com. Enjoy springtime views of Garden grounds and see what’s blooming from your home. missouribotanicalgarden.org

▪ Saint Louis Art Museum: Visit From Home — Now online at slam.org. Listen to audio guides from current and past exhibitions, watch videos on exhibition and collection features, read blog posts of new perspectives on art, and much more. Watch daily for a work of art from the collections of the Saint Louis Art Museum. slam.org

▪ Saint Louis Zoo: #BringTheStlZooToYou — Now online. Although the Zoo is currently closed to the public, they can follow the Zoo on social media. Follow the hashtag #BringTheStlZooToYou or visit stlzoo.org/about/blog.

▪ Gateway Region YMCA and St. Louis Area Foodbank Donations — 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Multiple locations. The Gateway Region YMCA is partnering with the St. Louis Area Foodbank for COVID-19 emergency food donations. Emergency relief boxes will help communities rebuild in their time of need. A majority of YMCA locations have donation barrels in front of their buildings. For a full list of locations and suggested donation items, please visit gwrymca.org/foodbank.

▪ St. Louis Aquarium: Virtual Shark Biofacts 101 — 9:30 a.m. Thursday, April 23. Online at facebook.com/aquariumstl. An inside look at some of the aquarium’s shark biofacts. What is a biofact? A biofact is organic material found at an archaeological site that carries archaeological significance. Biofacts are natural objects found alongside artifacts or features, such as animal bones, charcoal, plants, and pollen. In this case, learn about some of our biofacts including shark teeth and jaws. facebook.com/events/1697406917069044

▪ STL History Live — 6 p.m. Thursday, April 23; 2 p.m. Friday, April 24; and 11 a.m. Tuesday April 28. Online via Zoom. The Missouri Historical Society is offering a series of free online programs featuring fascinating stories about St. Louis. These programs will include a 20- to 30-minute presentation followed by a brief Q&A. For a schedule and Zoom links: facebook.com/events/834227693754115

▪ St. Louis Aquarium: Live Quaranstream — 10-11 a.m. Friday, April 24. Online at facebook.com/aquariumstl. Take a dive with St. Louis Aquarium and explore Shark Canyon, the Mississippi and Missouri River Confluence, the Ray habitat and more. facebook.com/events/847933265689281

▪ Madison County Urban League and Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. Food Giveaway — Noon to 3 p.m. Friday, April 24. Alton Farmers’ Market, 501 Landmark Blvd., Alton. Drive-thru food and toiletries distribution on a first come, first served basis. For residents of Madison County and surrounding communities. ulstl.com

▪ HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary Fundraiser — 4-8 p.m. Monday, April 27. Mazzio’s Italian Eatery, 2683 Northtown Way, Highland. Call 618-654-8636 and place an order for pick-up or delivery only. The Auxiliary will receive a portion of the proceeds.

▪ University of Illinois Extension Madison-Monroe-St. Clair Extension Unit: Online Learning with 4-H — 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 through Thursday, April 30. Online at facebook.com/University-of-Illinois-Extension-Madison-County-4-H-309169712606683. Hands-on, virtually guided 4-H activities with lessons geared toward 8-19 years of age. 4-H membership not required. There is a new lesson each of the three days in each series. facebook.com/University-of-Illinois-Extension-Madison-County-4-H-309169712606683.

▪ Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive — 2:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 29. Governor French Academy, 219 W. Main St., Belleville. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

▪ Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Blood Drive — 3-6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30. Lebanon Lions Club, 123 E. Dee, Lebanon. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

Games

▪ Tiny’s Trivia Quarantine Edition — 8 p.m. Thursday, April 23. Online at facebook.com/tinyscolumbia. Come join virtual Tiny’s Trivia. Watch the live countdown until trivia begins. Simply use comments to answer the questions. There will be a full set of rules posted on the event page. Join for a drink and a laugh. Free and open to all. facebook.com/events/2375030522797215

Club News

▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) — 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28. Online via Zoom. Virtual support meetings for family members and other caregivers of individuals with mental illness. For more information, contact Pat Rudloff at 618-656-6781 or silverlining6@charter.net.

▪ Parents of Addicted Loved Ones — 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays in April. Via teleconference. The PAL group provides education, support and hope to family members and loved ones of someone who has an addiction of substance use disorder. If you would like to join the teleconference, call 618-567-6095. palgroup.org

Food

▪ O’Fallon Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Fridays. Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. Carry-out/Call-in only with limited menu. Credit cards accepted. 618-632-6229, 618-973-9149 and 618-444-2386.

▪ Swansea Fish Stand – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 216 Service St., Swansea. Cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp and more. Saturday: fried chicken. Open for carry-out and call-in orders only. The Hall and Bar will be closed until further notice. 618-222-7171.

▪ Millstadt Fish Fry and Jam Session — 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, Millstadt VFW Post, 200 Veterans Drive, Millstadt. Carry-out only. 618-476-1180.

▪ Fish Fry — 3-7 p.m. Fridays. Collinsville American Legion, 1022 Vandalia St., Collinsville. Limited menu. Curbside service only. Place an order by calling 618-345-2508 or 618-345-5557.

▪ Post 58 Freedom Farm Fish Fry — 3-8 p.m. Fridays. 6355 Hilgard Memorial Drive, Freeburg. Cod, walleye, homemade pizza, wings, coleslaw, applesauce, mac and cheese, stewed tomatoes, fries, fried pickles, potato salad. Cost: $4.50 sandwich, $8 plate, $9 per pound. Carry-out only. Call 618-539-6095 to place an order.

▪ Mascoutah Fish Fry — 4-9 p.m. Fridays. Mascoutah VFW Post 7682, 620 Donaphan St., Mascoutah. No grilled items or pizza offered at this time. Carry-out only. Call 618-566-2288 to order.

▪ Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge Fish Fry — 4:30-7:30 p.m. Fridays. Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge, 2425 N. Illinois St., Swansea. Carry-out only. Cash only. Must call to order. 618-233-1450.

Reservations Required

▪ Four Seasons Gardening Webinar Series: Colorful Vegetables — 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28. Online via Zoom. Join Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Bruce Black as he discusses plant characteristics that cause changes in popular and new cultivars of unique vegetables. Free, but registration is required. To register: https://extension.illinois.edu/global/four-seasons-gardening-webinar-series

This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 5:00 AM.