Looking for something fun to attend this weekend? Metro-east calendar is your guide
Noon Thursday, May 5, 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 number of submissions received, events may run only one time in print, will be edited and appear 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
▪ Spring Flower Bulbs Fundraiser — Now through Sunday, May 15. Help raise funds for Illinois Center for Autism while beautifying your garden. Dahlias, lilies, perennials, vegetables and much more can be purchased online at icaspring.fpfundraising.com through May 15. Your purchases will help provide education and services with hands-on job and social skills training and advocacy.
▪ Waterloo Mural Contest — Now through Friday, June 10. The city of Waterloo is inviting talented artists to submit mural designs for the Waterloo Mural Contest. Up to four finalists will be awarded a prize of $1,000 each, and will have the opportunity to install their mural on a building in Waterloo. All submitted designs must be received by 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 10. Winners will be announced Friday, June 24. Installation of murals must be completed between July 1-Aug. 12. 618-939-8600, ext. 211 or waterloo.il.us/our-community/mural-contest.
▪ HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary Used Book Sale — 1-4 p.m. Thursday, May 5; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, May 6; and 9-11 a.m. Saturday, May 7. Ungacta Conference Center, St. Joseph’s Hospital, 12866 Troxler Ave., Highland. For sale are an impressive selection of fiction and nonfiction books, children’s books, cookbooks, puzzles, DVDs, CDs and more. Prices for hardback books will be $2, paperbacks are 50 cents, children’s books will be 25 cents and 50 cents, and oversized paperbacks, puzzles and DVDs/CDs are $1. On Saturday, a $3 bargain bag will be offered. Masks (non-cloth) must be worn in the hospital at all times and social distancing will be observed. 618-651-2592.
▪ Book Sale — 9 a.m. to noon Friday, May 6. Tri Township Library, 209 S. Main St., Troy. Book donation accepted during the sale and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Masks are required. 618-667-2133.
▪ St. Andrew’s Spring Book Fair — 3-8 p.m. Friday, May 6, (by reservation) and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 7. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 406 Hillsboro Ave., Edwardsville. The Book Fair features more than 20,000 used books, well organized and priced to sell. Categories include fiction (hardcover and paperback), children’s books, history, literature, pets, sports, regional history, cookbooks, gardening, art, biography, music, humor, large print, religion, reference, science fiction and much more. The books are sorted by category with some categories also alphabetized by author. To make reservations for Friday: 618-656-1294 or standrews-edwardsville.com.
▪ 18th annual Village-Wide Yard Sale — 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 7. Millstadt. Maps listing participants with ads will be available at millstadthistoricalsociety.org beginning May 6. Coffee (free) and food items available for purchase 8-10 a.m. at the Community Center at 102 S. Jefferson St. Rain or shine event. 618-476-3696.
▪ Free Real Estate Investors Meeting — 7 p.m. Monday, May 9. Collinsville American Legion, Pine Room, 1022 Vandalia St., Collinsville. The Metro East Real Estate Investors Association (MEREIA) will be holding a free meeting for anyone interested in investing in rental real estate. The evening’s speaker will be nationally known author and speaker, Mr. Landlord. He will be discussing methods for improving cash flow by using simple techniques to keep rental residents happy and not wanting to move to a new home. No reservations needed.
▪ Gardens in Bloom Tour — 4:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, June 3, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 4. Tours in Belleville and Swansea. Tickets available at Sandy’s Back Porch, Effinger’s Garden Center, Creative Landscapes Garden Center, Ace Hardware – O’Fallon, Hometown Ace Hardware – Belleville, and University of Illinois Extension Offices in Waterloo or Collinsville or online at https://event.gives/gardensinbloom2022. Day of event tickets: West End Dental, 9460 W. Main St., Belleville. 618-939-3434.
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.
▪ St. Clair County Office on Aging Mahjong — 12:30 p.m. Fridays. 201 N. Church St., Belleville. Mahjong is a game usually played by four people with 144 tiles that are drawn and discarded until one player secures the winning hand. Join our group and play this popular tile game. 618-234-4410, ext. 7034 or ext. 7044.
▪ Euchre — 7 p.m. Friday, May 6. Smithton Senior Center, 711 S. Main St., Smithton. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Snacks welcome. Water, soda and coffee will be available for purchase. Masks not required. 618-791-8769 or 618-698-3785.
▪ 14th annual Sheldon Trivia Night — 7 p.m. Friday, May 13. The Konneker Room at The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis. Cost: $250 per team of 10 or $30 per person, includes craft beer, soft drinks. Cash bar available. Outside snacks encouraged. Mulligans, 50/50 raffle, mini-games. Cash prizes for top two teams, consolation prize for last place. Registration required: thesheldon.org/trivia.
▪ Oscar Skaer Memorial Euchre Tournament — 1 p.m. Sunday, May 15. St. Joseph Parish Hall, 6 N. Alton St., Freeburg. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. The fun tournament, hosted by the St. Joseph Men’s Club, is being held in honor of one of its former members and former parishioner of St. Joseph Church, Oscar Skaer, who passed away May 15, 2020. Cash prizes to first four finishers; top overall winner gets a “traveling trophy.” Beer and soda available for purchase, snacks served. Half of proceeds will go for cash prizes; the remaining half will go to the St. Joseph Men’s Club for the needs of the parish community. Cost: $10 per person. Reserve your spot: 618-623-2769 or 618-363-8067.
Theater/Concerts
▪ Kaskaskia College Spring Choir Concert — 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5. Jane Knight Auditorium, Kaskaskia College, 27210 College Road, Centralia. The final choir concert of the season will feature the Kaskaskia College Concert Choir, KC Blues, and Community Chorale under the direction of Professor Lynda Marshall. The concert features multicultural music from Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America. Special guests, the Kaskaskia College Percussion Ensemble, will perform under the direction of Professor Cliff Jourdan. Free and open to the public. kaskaskia.edu
▪ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Mahler and Joachim — 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6, and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 7. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Stéphane Denève finds beauty, laughter, and tears in Gustav Mahler’s epic First Symphony. Nathalie Joachim celebrates the IN UNISON Chorus, while violinist Akiko Suwanai wraps the audience in the warm embrace of Max Bruch’s first concerto. 314-534-1700 or slso.org.
▪ The Bach Society of Saint Louis presents Community Spring Sing – Messiah! — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 7. National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, 442 S. DeMazenod Drive, Belleville. Join members of the Bach Society Chorus and singers from numerous other local choral groups for a guided sing-along of Handel’s ”Messiah.” The audience IS the chorus, and we will be accompanied by the Bach Society Orchestra. We will also hear several of your favorite Messiah arias performed by talented local singers. Participation is free, advanced registration is required due to limited capacity. bachsociety.org/springsing
▪ The Sheldon presents The Great Guitars — 8 p.m. Saturday, May 7. The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis. Three guitar virtuosos create musical magic with “one night, three award-winning guitarists, eighteen strings.” The Great Guitars traces its colorful heritage back to the 1970s when the legendary jazz guitarists of that era toured the world and recorded together. Combining Taylor’s award-winning virtuosic fingerstyle with Vignola’s jaw-dropping technique and Jorgenson’s incredible musical versatility, the concert features solo, duet and trio performances by these three acknowledged masters of fingerstyle and hot jazz guitar. TheSheldon.org
▪ Music in the Park Summer Concert Series: Frankie & the Houseshakers — 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 11. Klucker Hall (Upstairs), 14 Park Drive, Shiloh. Free parking. Sponsored by Village of Shiloh.
▪ The Sheldon presents Erin Schreiber, violin — 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 11. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis. Violinist and St. Louis Symphony assistant concertmaster Erin Schreiber leads a string quartet featuring fellow violinist Shawn Weil, violist Leonid Plashinov-Johnson and cellist Bjorn Ranheim, and, along with pianist Peter Henderson, performs the Brahms Piano Quintet. The quartet will also play Ravel’s String Quartet in F Major and a new work for string quartet by Mizzou composer Maria Laura Disandro. Schreiber also plays “Andantino Quietoso” by Cesar Franck. TheSheldon.org
Food
▪ O’Fallon Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. Traditional menu of cod, hamburgers, hot dogs, pork steaks and several side dishes. Dine-in and carryout. Credit cards accepted. Orders can be called in at 618-632-6229 or facebook.com/KnightsOfColumbus4239
▪ Aviston Legion Fish Fry — 4:30-7 p.m. Fridays. American Legion Post 1239, 601 S. Clinton, Aviston. Cod (baked or fried), catfish, shrimp, chicken strips, fries, baked potato, slaw, applesauce. Dine-in and carryout. 618-228-7311. avistonlegion.com
▪ Quail Club Fish Fry — 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 6. Quail Club, 8303 Concordia Church Road, BElleville. Cod cut-ups, walleye, shrimp, burgers, sides and desserts. Carryout available. No phone orders.
▪ St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish Building & Grounds BBQ — 11 a.m. Saturday, May 7. Grappa Growlers, 1501 North Belt West, Belleville. Menu includes pork steak, chicken and bratwurst plates with homemade sides of potato salad, baked beans and cole slaw. Proceeds fund parish improvements.
Clubs & Support Groups
▪ PFLAG Edwardsville — 7 p.m. Thursday, May 5. Rainbow House on Main, 808 N. Main St., Edwardsville. We offer support, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ people and their allies. Contact Amy for more information, 618-977-5078 or pflagedwardsville@outlook.com.
▪ St. Clair County Genealogical Society — 7 p.m. Thursday, May 5. Online via Zoom. From Seminary to University: 194 Years of History in the McKendree Archives. McKendree Holman Library Director Deborah Houk and University of Illinois-Springfield public history graduate program student Justin Smock provide a brief history of McKendree University, and the difference between an archivist versus an historian. They cover what types of materials can be found in the Archives and how to access them; their digitized materials and how to request information from the Archives. The meeting is open to the public, but space is limited. Reservation information is at stclair-ilgs.org/events or facebook.com/STCCGSIL.
▪ O’Fallon Garden Club Plant Sale — 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 7. AgeSmart Community Resources parking lot, 801 W. State St. roundabout, O’Fallon. Perennials, annuals, cherubs and potted plants. This is a club fundraiser. hsbaker37@gmail.com
▪ Marine Historical Society — 7 p.m. Monday, May 9. Marine Township Senior Center, 101 W. Silver St., Marine. Kelli Jackson Barbour speaks about the Marine Nike Missile Base. The public is invited to attend the presentation and is welcome to stay for the rest of the meeting.
▪ St. Clair Woman’s Club Luncheon — Noon Tuesday, May 10. Bellecourt Place, 120 N. Jackson St., Belleville. Installation of officers will be held. Members may bring invited guests. No board meeting this month.
Reservations Required
▪ Grapes in the Garden — 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, May 6. Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis. Taste more than 250 wines, both international and domestic, and enjoy live musical entertainment. Attendees receive a souvenir tasting glass and festival program highlighting the wines served, and wine specialists from Schnucks are available to answer questions and guide your sampling adventure. Special case pricing is also available for wines sampled. Presented by Schnucks. Attendees must be at least 21 years old. Advance tickets required. missouribotanicalgarden.org
▪ St. Clair County Office on Aging Jewelry Making Class — 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 9. 201 North Church St., Belleville. April Barnes from Three Sisters Crafts will teach the group how to make a bracelet using various types of beads. This month: making a patriotic bracelet of red, white and blue. Baseball and other types will also be available. Class cost is $5, includes materials. Call to reserve your space. 618-234-4410, ext. 7044.
▪ St. John’s Community Care Aged to Perfection Celebration — 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 17. St. John United Church of Christ, 307 W. Clay St., Collinsville. The event includes a special worship service followed by lunch and entertainment by the Nitpickers. RSVP by May 11 to 618-344-5008.
▪ Granite City Seniors Social Club ‘Back on the Farm’ Event — 1 p.m. Sunday, June 5. Granite City Township Hall, 2060 Delmar Ave., Granite City. Doors open at noon. Event includes a catered meal, Country Cooking with Marge Comedy Show, Kate Garrison and the Dandy Dancers, Barnyard Bazaar, performance and dancing, prizes and raffle. Cost: $13 members, $15 non-members. Tickets are limited. 618-444-6771, 618-797-6749 or 618-877-4373.
Worth the Drive
▪ River-to-River Trail Society Hike: Lusk Creek Wilderness in Pope County — 10 a.m. Saturday, May 7. This will be a difficult hike of about five miles in the Bear Branch and Indian Kitchen areas. In order to comply with USDA Forest Service, the group will be divided into two groups not to exceed 10 hikers each. This hike is free and open to the public. Hikes are intended for people in good health who have done some hiking in the past. Hiking sticks and boots or sturdy shoes are strongly recommended. All hikers should bring their own water and a snack. No dogs, please. Registration is required. 618-534-8139.