10 events, 9 fish fries to help southwest Illinoisans break those post-holiday blahs

Noon Thursday, Jan. 6, 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. For the week’s full list of events, visit bnd.com.

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

▪ Book Sale — 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Jan. 7. Tri Township Library, 209 S. Main St., Troy. Book donations accepted during the book sale and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m .Tuesdays. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. 618-667-2133.

▪ Eagle Meet & Greet — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8. Alton Visitor Center, 200 Piasa St., Alton. Liberty, the American Bald Eagle from World Bird Sanctuary, will be on hand with his handler to welcome visitors. Learn more about bald eagles and take photos during this event. At the same time, there will be family-friendly activities at the Audubon Center at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, 301 Riverlands Way, West Alton and National Great Rivers Museum, #2 Locks & Dam Way, Alton. For tickets and information: riversandroutes.com

▪ Twelfth Afternoon Ball — Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8. Gateway Arch Visitor Center, 11 N. Fourth St., St. Louis. Celebrate the end of the holiday season as St. Louisans did 250 years ago with the Twelfth Afternoon Ball, which recognizes the completion of the 12 days of Christmas. This year’s ball highlights popular music and dancing from 1772 and features live music from Dennis Stroughmatt et L’Espirit Creole and dancing by living history interpreters dressed in authentic 18th-century clothing. Food Historian Suzanne Corbett will display 18th-century French Creole holiday treats. This event is free and open to all ages. Visitors may observe the event at any time.

Games

▪ Metro Cribbage Club — 6 p.m. Thursdays. American Legion Post 365, 1022 Vandalia St., Collinsville. For more information, contact Yvonne Bright, 618-344-1521 or ybrightmail@gmail.com.

▪ Columbia Music Boosters Trivia Night — 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15. Turner Hall, 211 E. Cherry St., Columbia. Doors open at 6 p.m. Cash bar, bring your own snacks. Cost: $100 per table of eight. For tickets: 618-420-3353 or columbiamusicboostersinc@gmail.com.

▪ Sr. Thea Bowman Catholic School Virtual Trivia Night — 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22. Online event. Enjoy five categories of eight questions each. Mulligans included in per person/team fee. Prizes for first-place team. Cost: $20 per person/$160 per team of eight. Register by Friday, Jan. 14. Space is limited. To register, email aking@srthea.org; include first and last names and email address for each team member. To pay: www.stbcs.com.

Theater/Concerts

▪ Philharmonic Society of Belleville Coffee Concert — 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7. Belleville Philharmonic Society, 116 N. Jackson St., Belleville. Featuring international concert pianist Christina Harnisch. Free admission; donations accepted. Refreshments provided by Grimm & Gorly. 618-334-4086.

▪ Stéphane Conducts Brahms — 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 7, and 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Powell Hall glows with richness and warmth. With Shai Wosner at the piano, Ludwig van Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto dreams and dances, leaving us smiling. Detlev Glanert’s “Brahms-Fantasie” spins memories of Johannes Brahms into a comforting musical coat. Stéphane brings Brahms’ First Symphony to radiant, resounding life. slso.org

▪ Mo Egeston All-Stars featuring Robert Nelson — 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7. Blue Strawberry, 364 N. Boyle Ave., St. Louis. Tickets start at $20. bluestrawberrystl.com

▪ Brian Clarke — 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8. Blue Strawberry, 364 N. Boyle Ave., St. Louis. No cover. bluestrawberrystl.com

▪ Stand Up: Reggie Edwards featuring Meredith Hopping and Renaldo Mercado, Special Guest Chris Oliver, Host and MC Jack Wright — 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13. Blue Strawberry, 364 N. Boyle Ave., St. Louis. Tickets start at $12. bluestrawberrystl.com

▪ Sponge with Special Guests September Lost — 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15. Lincoln Theatre, 103 E. Main St., Belleville. Sponge is one of the Motor City’s heaviest hitters after gaining international notoriety with their debut album “Rotting Piñata” (Sony). Emerging from Detroit with hits like “Plowed” and “Molly (16 Candles).” For tickets and information: lincolntheatre-belleville.com.

▪ St. Louis Classical Guitar Great Artist Series: Johan Smith — 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15. The Ethical Society, 9001 Clayton Road, St. Louis. Winner of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America Competition in 2019 and defined as the “Classical Guitar Revelation 2017” by the french magazine “Guitar Classique,” Johan Smith has been invited to perform in renowned festivals, as concert and soloist, with orchestras such as the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, and the Verbier Festival Orchestra. For tickets and information: stlclassicalguitar.org.

Clubs & Support Groups

▪ St. Clair County Genealogical Society — 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6. Online via Zoom. In “The Google Earth of the Last Century: Fire Insurance Maps,” Daniel Lilienkamp, Reference Specialist from the History and Genealogy Department of the St. Louis County Library, uses case studies to show how to solve research problems with fire insurance maps. The lecture is open to the public, but space is limited. Reservation information is at stclair-ilgs.org/events or facebook.com/SCCGS.

▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) — 7-8:30 p.m. Thursdays. Online via Zoom. Virtual support meetings for family members and other caregivers of individuals with mental illness. Meetings are peer-led and rely on the knowledge and experiences of the group to help one another. Registration is required in order to receive the link to these meetings. For more information or to register, contact Pat Rudloff at silverlining6@charter.net.

▪ GriefShare Seminar/Support Group — 2-3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Conference Room Lower Level, 1300 Beltline Road, Collinsville. A helpful, encouraging seminar for those grieving the death of a loved one. Featuring practical suggestions and reassurance through video interviews with counselors, grief experts and others who have experienced the death of a loved one. For information or to register: 618-344-3151 or lcookparishnurse@charter.net.

▪ Parents of Addicted Loved Ones — 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Online via Zoom. 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, please call/text 618-567-6095 or email craigloddeke@yahoo.com. palgroup.org

▪ Bible Study Fellowship — 9:30-11 a.m. and 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. St. Matthew Methodist Church, 1200 Moreland Drive, Belleville. Morning class includes classes for newborn through Pre-K. We will be studying the gospel of Matthew through April. 618-520-8357 or 618-593-4104.

▪ Japan America Society of St. Louis: Shinnenkai New Year Celebration — 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16. Sushi Sen, 161 Civic Center Drive, Lake St. Louis, Missouri. This traditional New Year celebration will feature a lunch of sashimi, sushi, grilled fish, and fried items, a kagami biraki (sake cask-opening) ceremony, a sake toast to ring in the new year, and a fukubukuro raffle drawing. Registration is open to the public until Monday, Jan. 10. Space is limited. Register at jasstl.org.

Food

▪ O’Fallon K of C 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. Traditional menu of cod available along with hamburgers, hot dogs, pork steaks and additional side dishes. Dine-in and carryout. Credit cards accepted. Orders can be called in at 618-632-6229.

▪ Swansea Fish Stand – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 216 Service St., Swansea. Cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp and more. Saturday: fried chicken. Open for carryout, call-in and dine-in orders. 618-222-7171. facebook.com/swanseafishstand

▪ Collinsville American Legion Fish Fry — 3-7:45 p.m. Fridays. Collinsville American Legion, 1022 Vandalia St., Collinsville. Curbside delivery and dine-in. Cash or check only. Place a curbside order by calling 618-345-2508. facebook.com/legionpst365

▪ Highland Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. Fridays. VFW Post 5694, 1900 VFW Road, Highland. Fish, chicken, shrimp, sides. Carryout and limited indoor dining. Masks required for customers going through the serving line. No call-in orders. facebook.com/vfwpost5694

▪ St. Elizabeth Church Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7. St. Elizabeth Church, 2300 Pontoon Road, Granite City. Cod (baked and fried), pollock, shrimp. Eat in or carryout.

▪ Millstadt Fish Fry — 4-8 p.m. Fridays. Millstadt VFW Post, 200 Veterans Drive, Millstadt. Eat in or carryout. Call ahead for carryout. 618-476-1180.

▪ Glen Carbon American Legion Post 435 Fish Fry — 4:30-8 p.m. Fridays. American Legion Post 435, 190 S. Main St., Glen Carbon. Limited menu of dinners and sandwiches, catfish, cod, Alaskan white fish and chicken strips, slaw and fries. Dinners: $11, sandwiches: $8, sides: $2.50 each. Curbside/Carryout service. 618-288-7119.

▪ Shiloh Eagles Fish Fry — 5-7 p.m. Fridays. Shiloh Eagles 545, 100 Eagle Drive, Shiloh. Cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp and sides. Full menu. Dine-in or carryout available. For carryout, call 618-624-5412.

▪ Quail Club Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7. Quail Club, 8303 Concordia Road, Belleville. Cod walleye, shrimp, burgers, sides and desserts. Carryout available. No phone orders.

Reservations Required

▪ Virtual Saturday Morning Yoga — 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8. Online via Zoom. Get fit and healthy when you join us for an energizing session of yoga with instructor Sarah Hartwig. Register at glencarbonlibrary.org.

▪ St. Clair County Office on Aging Exercise Classes — 10:30-11:45 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. 201 N. Church St., Belleville. Tracie Renschen, who has a Masters in Kinesiology, (the study of mechanics of body movement) leads this exercise class to focus on strengthening the various muscles of the body, helping with balance and arthritis. Cost: $3 per class. Call 618-234-4410, Mary (ext. 7034) or Susan (ext. 7044) if you will be attending the class.

▪ Virtual Evening Flow Yoga — 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12. Online via Zoom. Classes are suitable for those newer to yoga or those wanting a basic flow class. This class introduces traditional yoga postures, teaches you how to breathe, and helps you feel more comfortable in the yoga practice. Instructed by Anne Hughes. Register at glencarbonlibrary.org.

▪ Adult Zumba w/ Aimee — 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13. Glen Carbon Centennial Library, Youth Room, 198 S. Main St., Glen Carbon. Join us for an evening workout with our very own Zumba Fitness instructor. Come in comfortable exercise clothing and bring a water bottle. Space is limited and masks will be required. Requires Registration. glencarbonlibrary.org.

Blood Drives

▪ ImpactLife Blood Drive — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7. City of O’Fallon, 100 N. Main St., O’Fallon. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

▪ ImpactLife Blood Drive — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10. OSF HealthCare Platelet Drive, 200 Alton Square H1, Alton. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

▪ ImpactLife Blood Drive — 3-6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10. Troy United Methodist Church, 407 Edwardsville Road, Troy. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

▪ ImpactLife Blood Drive — 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11. Jerry’s Cafeteria and Catering, 1920 Edison Ave., Granite City. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

▪ ImpactLife Blood Drive — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12. SERVPRO - Team Wolfem 2220 Liebler Drive, Troy. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

▪ ImpactLife Blood Drive — 3-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13. Lebanon Lions Club, 123 E. Dee, Lebanon. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

▪ ImpactLife Blood Drive — Noon to 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13. Illinois State Police Forensic Science Laboratory, 2220 W. Main St., Belleville. Appointments are required. 866-448-3253 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 7:00 AM.