Datebook

Before 2016 even ends, The Normal Public Library is filling in their 2017 calendars with a variety of events for young and old...and reasonably limber.

As the kids polish their lists to Santa this year, the dogs, cats and other furry and feathered creatures at the Humane Society of Central Illinois have a list of their own.

'Tis the season to tour some fabulously decorated historic homes in the Twin Cities, including Ewing Manor.

The Twin Cities Ballet celebrates 35 years of performing The Nutcracker ballet in Bloomington/Normal.

Habitat for Humanity of McLean County ReStore is renovating its current space and has just implemented a project to expand the square footage.

Some stunning holiday decor will help the children and families of The Baby Fold in Normal with The 23rd Annual Festival of Trees, Nov. 18 - 20.

A pair of artists shared not only studio space but a creative impulse in creating works that are currently on display at heartland Community College.

A noted local medium and ghost tour guide has just published a book about the lively dead of the Twin Cities.  Deborah Carr Senger is the author of Haunted Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, just available on Arcadia History Press.

Witches and ghosts populate the plays of William Shakespeare, so it's natural that they'll be called upon to headline in what's become a new Halloween favorite in the Twin Cities.

Illinois State University Homecoming is October 3 through 9, with A Normal Tradition as the theme for this year's festivities.  

The Downtown Bloomington Artists present the second annual Art Scavenger Hunt for grade school children on Friday, Oct. 7 beginning at 5 PM in downtown Bloomington.  As part of the First Friday festivities, the scavenger hunt encourages kids to learn about art in their own community.

The Bloomington Country Club hosts the 22nd Annual Grape Soiree, which raises funds for Easter Seals Central Illinois.  It's Saturday, Sept. 24 beginning at 5:30 PM and features art, wine and jazz.

The annual Peace, Love, Autism Walk is Saturday, Sept. 17 beginning at 9 AM in Bloomington's Tipton Park.

The Labor Day holiday traditionally signals the end of the summer holidays.  But when something ends, something else begins.  Autumn is fast approaching, and the Illinois State University Horticulture Center invites the community to come out to enjoy the fruits of their harvest and engage in traditional activities of the fall.

You can test your movie trivia mettle each Monday night at 7 PM  at Ovation Cinema in Bloomington as Twin City Trivia hosts a movie trivia night for all ages.  Quiz master Pete Moore said the trivia night has a wide range of questions for both aficionados and for the casual film fan.

Uptown Normal hosts not-your-average harvest festival, Saturday and Sunday, August 27 & 28.  It's the Sweet Corn Blues Festival, featuring over 20 tons of fresh sweet corn and two days of live blues on the CEFCU stage.

Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington  and Cargill have teamed up to host the American Veterans Traveling Tribute Vietnam Wall August 24 - 28.  The wall will be on display at Evergreen along with other historical displays.

Although the dog days of August are full of summer fun,school bells will be ringing soon for area young people. Some kids return to the classroom loaded down with fresh supplies for a new year, but others need some assistance in getting ready for another academic year. That's where Tools For School Comes in.

The Illinois State University galleries in Uptown Normal currently has a show from Rob Swainstone called 'We thought they thought what we thought, but they didn't.'  Curated by Gallery director Barry Blinderman, the show features wood block prints on oversized sheets of fabric and paper.  Swainston uses the ancient technique of wood block printing, but with a modern sensibility. 

Sunday, August 7 is Friendship Day.  In honor of that, The Tea Ladies have organized a special event at the Vrooman Mansion in Bloomington.  'Treasure Thy Friend - Celebrating the Joy of Friendship' is at 3:30 PM and reveals the special meaning of friendship in the Victorian Era.

A retrospective exhibition that covers 45 years of work by artist Glen C. Davies fills both the Merwin and Wakely Galleries at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.  The retrospective reveals how a particular offshoot of pop art and his work in circuses influenced his highly colorful works.

The Peoria Riverfront Museum is sending visitors to the moon and beyond this summer with a new exhibit that allows them to experience life as a space explorer.

Heartland Theater serves up three plays in its annual New Plays From The Heartland:  Midwest One-Act Play Festival.  The plays were chosen during the short play competition open to nine states and highlights the talent thriving in the Midwest.

Faculty members from Heartland Community College are showing their work in a new exhibition currently up at the Joe McCauley Gallery.

Habitat for Humanity of McLean County and the local chapter of the International Interior Design Association have teamed up for a local fundraiser like no other.  Artiture is the fine art of giving old furniture a new twist, and giving folks a roof over their heads.  

The best blooms and more in the Twin Cities are on display in the 20th Annual Glorious Garden Festival.  

First Book McLean County wants to put books into the hands of area at-risk children, and the organization hopes their upcoming fundraiser will fill shelves with Harry Potter, Nancy Drew and The Cat in the Hat.

The McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington is currently showcasing the artwork of MFA students from around the state.

The Normal Public Library offers a wide variety of adventures this summer, from those on the page to those on the stage.

The Friends of the Arts organization is staging an event at the Illinois State University Galleries to raise money to aid students in the ISU College of Fine Arts.