Welcome to the 'Dale!

by Chris Wissmann

We're rapidly approaching a time of year when a huge influx of new citizens are about to arrive in Carbondale, and as a result Nightlife would like to invite them in with our annual guide to our community and the surrounding region. Welcome to the 'Dale!

And for those who have already spent some time here, we all have a tendency to slip into convenient routines. We hope this issue will remind you of information and locations that you may have forgotten. And don't forget to pass it along to new neighbors to help acquaint them with Southern Illinois.

The most important thing to take from this issue is: While Carbondale and Southern Illinois doesn't have Chicago's or Saint Louis's huge concentration of things to do, it's hardly culturally impoverished. (In fact, we could never even come close to fitting all the information we wanted to place in this issue, so check out our website at <http://www.CarbondaleRocks.com> for much more.)

Sure, there's no Art Institute with Van Gogh paintings or King Tut exhibits, but there's no end of great local artists and galleries to visit, and you'll be impressed with the quality of the work they produce-- and the prices they charge for you to purchase it. You'll feel the same way about our incredible music and theater scenes, which probably produce more work per capita than any other city in the United States. You just need to experience it.

And few cities with Carbondale's great metropolitan features can also come close to offering our breadth of outdoors opportunities, from hunting and fishing to hiking, swimming, cycling, and rock-climbing.

If you're in college, for crying out loud, you're in college-- get out of the puke-green cinder-block dorm room and explore. Your five-year mission, more or less-- search out new destinations and activities unique to this region.

If you've been in Southern Illinois awhile, do the same. Get off the beaten path and renew acquaintances with old favorites, and try to find a few new ones.

We hope this issue will help all of our readers do just that.

Power to the People:
Local Government

by Chris Wissmann

Damn Right You Should Care!

SIU students constitute a large percentage of Carbondale's population. Most are here for only about five or six years, so what should they care about local politics?

Plenty-- that's a long time to spend in Carbondale. Even students who head back to their parents' for every break and holiday will still spend eight months a year in Carbondale, a majority of their time. And while students are here, the city and other government bodies and agencies can and do pass laws that affect everything from entertainment opportunities (the city council in the near past drastically curtailed live music in beer gardens) to landlord/tenant relations (the city also adopted new protections for renters), to towing fees (in recent years the city raised the rates tow-truck operators could charge) to public safety, pothole and water-and-sewer line repairs, and every other aspect of life in Carbondale.

Interest in and attention to these and other issues can dramatically improve students' time here.

Register to Vote!

Voting is the main power a citizen has over a public official. Why should a public official care about a citizen who hasn't even bothered to register to vote?

Those who wish to register to vote have many options. Perspective voters can come to the city clerk's office in the Carbondale Civic Center, or the county clerk's office in the Jackson County Courthouse in Murphysboro. Before heading out, call the city clerk at (618) 549-5302 or the county clerk's voter-registration office at (618) 687-7366 for identification and other required information that you'll need to bring with.

In addition, members of various political parties (some of which are listed below) and civic organizations have deputy registrars-- members who can register voters. Want to get your dorm floor, registered student organization, or friends signed up to vote? The county clerk's voter-registration office has a list of about two-hundred of those people, many of whom are happy to help in voter-registration drives. Give the clerk a call for that list.

Illinois voters can't exactly register to vote online, but the link on Nightlife's homepage, at <http://www.CarbondaleRocks.com>, will nearly complete the process. When they follow the link within the deadlines established by the state, voters must complete the registration process at the polls the next time they vote. Bring that information to the polls or your vote may not count. (Online "registration" in Illinois is kind of a pain. You're better off officially registering though a deputy registrar.)

Those who wish to vote in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election must register thirty days before the November 4. Since that day is a Sunday, prospective voters ought not to delay and get registered by October 3 at the latest.

Where Do I Vote?

Voters will receive that information on their voter-registration card.

Who Represents Us?

Nightlife could offer its readers a guide to local political officials, but the League of Women Voters of Jackson County has compiled just such a document, so instead we'll just offer them a plug.

The League's Know Your County book, available as a PDF from the link at <http://JacksonCounty.il.lwvnet.org>, offers names, addresses, phone numbers, terms of office, and more information about many of the area's representatives. The League is frequently adding to and updating the book, so keep checking back for fresh editions. Download it now, and while on the site take a look at the other work the League does.

In addition, those affiliated with SIU have various constituency bodies and unions who represent them, including, but not limited to:

Undergraduate Student Government

<http://www.siu.edu/~usg>

Graduate Assistants United

<http://www.ieanea.org/local/GAUnited>

Graduate and Professional Student Council

<http://www.siu.edu/~gpsc>

Faculty Association/Illinois Education Association

<http://www.ieanea.org/local/siucfa>

Faculty Senate

<http://www.siu.edu/~facsenat>

Association of Civil Service Employees

<http://www.ieanea.org/local/acse>

Civil Service Council

<http://www.siu.edu/~cscounc>

Governments

City of Carbondale

(618) 549-5302

<http://www.ci.carbondale.il.us>

Jackson County

<http://www.co.jackson.il.us>

Political Parties

Jackson County Democrat Central Committee

Chairman: Shirley Booker

<http://jcdil.com>

<JacksonCoDems@hotmail.com>

Jackson County Republican Central Committee

Chairperson: Bruce Wallace

(618) 924-4849

<bruce.wallace@mchsi.com>

<http://www.JacksonCountyIlRepublicans.com>

SIU College Republicans

<http://www.siu.edu/~republic>

SIU College Democrats

<http://siu.democrat.com>

Shawnee Green Party

Chairperson: Charlie Howe

(618) 457-4626

Treasurer: E.G. Hughes

(618) 549-1409

<http://www.ShawneeGreenParty.org>

Southern Illinois Libertarians

<http://www.SIl.LPIllinois.org>

Utilities:
Hooking up in Carbondale

by Chris Wissmann

Recycling

Some waste products are reusable or recyclable-- and some, like computer equipment, present environmental dangers when dumped into landfills. So do the right thing and sort those recyclables.

Carbondale makes things pretty easy after that.

Citizens can recycle plastic bottles marked with number-one or number-two symbols, newsprint, glass containers, and aluminum cans with minimal effort-- call the city of Carbondale at the number below and ask for a recycling bin. When the bin arrives, place recycleables therein according to instructions, set the bin out with the trash, and viola!

The city's curbside program also accepts certain large appliances and tires, as well as yardscape waste, affixed with Special Waste Stickers, which are available at city hall and businesses throughout the city. Stickers are seventy-five cents apiece. Some items may require more than one sticker and a call to schedule pickup times-- visit the website below for rates and other information.

Unfortunately, the program does not currently serve apartments. But the city maintains two community dropoff centers-- on East College Street in the parking lot across from the police station, and on South Oakland Avenue in the parking lot behind University Baptist Church-- that allow citizens to bring in cans, glass, and newsprint twenty-four/seven.

The city does not at present accept other plastics, electronics, office paper, junk mail, or cardboard in its curbside-recycling program. Karco and Southern Recycling (listed below) may take some of those items. Community Electronics Technology Interface in Carterville will accept select electronics (like computers), which they then refurbish for the economically disadvantaged-- and they'll even pick up unwanted electronics for a small fee. Call for details and requirements before schlepping materials to any of these three companies.

And for information about recycling other materials, visit Keep Carbondale Beautiful at <http://www.keepcb.org/recycle2.htm>.

City of Carbondale

(618) 457-3275

<http://www.ci.carbondale.il.us/CleanGreen/solid_waste.html>

Community Electronics Technology Interface

(618) 203-9443

116 South Division Street

Carterville, IL 62918

<http://www.CETIOrg.org>

Karco Recycling

(618) 457-6319

2622 New Era Road

<http://www.KarcoRecycling.com>

Southern Recycling Center

(618) 549-2880

300 West Chestnut Street

Water and Sewer

If you live in Carbondale, chances are the city provides your water, sewer, and refuse-collection services. (The city also offers online bill payment.) Three other districts serve the areas around Carbondale and even a few locations inside the city. Best bet: Call the city first, and if the city isn't your water provider, city personnel will direct you to the right place.

City of Carbondale

(618) 549-5302

http://www.ci.carbondale.il.us/CityServices/water_sewer.html

Lakeside Water District

(618) 457-5547

Operates east of Crab Orchard Creek, including the Reed Station Road area.

Murdale Water District

(618) 684-8039

Operates in small portions of west Carbondale in the Striegel Road/Lake Road areas.

South Highway Water District

(618) 529-5313

Operates south of East Park Street to Carbondale's southern boundaries.

Electric and Gas

AmerenCIPS

(888) 789-2477

<http://www.ameren.com>

*********

Telecommunications

Note: One way to save money on the following services may be to bundle them: Get phone and internet and even television service from one provider and you may receive a bulk discount. Some providers may only serve specific geographic areas, or offer partial service (landline or cell-phone only, for example). Call for more information.

Telephone

Alltel

(618) 529-2355

Clearwave Communications

(877) 552-9283

Heartland Communications Internet Services

(800) 203-1853

MediaCom

(800) 874-2924

Nex-Phon

(877) 639-7466

RLA Wireless Corporation

(618) 529-4562

Verizon

(800) 483-4000

Cable and Satellite

DirecTV

(800) DirecTV

DISH Network

(888) 284-7116

MediaCom

(800) 874-2924

Serves almost all of Carbondale

Galaxy Cablevision

(800) 365-6988

Serves rural Jackson County between Carbondale and Murphysboro.

RLA Wireless Corporation

(618) 529-4562

Internet Service Providers

Alltel

(618) 529-2355

City of Carbondale/Carbondale Main Street

(free but time-limited wi-fi on the Strip and other select downtown locations)

Clearwave Communications

(high-speed DSL and naked DSL)

(877) 552-9283

Galaxy Cablevision

(800) 365-6988

(high-speed cable-internet in rural Jackson County between Carbondale and Murphysboro.)

Heartland Communications Internet Services

(800) 203-1853

MediaCom

(high-speed cable-access)

(800) 874-2924

Neon DSL

(high-speed DSL)

(618) 351-1776

RLA Wireless Corporation

(618) 529-4562

ShawneeLink

(dialup and, depending on location, DSL and naked DSL)

(800) 461-3956

Verizon

(high-speed DSL)

(800) 483-4000

Renting and Housing:
Protect Your Stuff

by Chris Wissmann

As much as Carbondale is a wonderful place to live and go to school, it is like everywhere else in the world: not perfect. Problems do arise, however rarely, and an ounce of prevention can forestall the need for far more than a pound of cure.

Fire, theft, and other catastrophes do strike Carbondale, and those who rent in this city-- and elsewhere-- should consider insurance against the agony of coming home to find their new MacBook Pro and Video iPod, entire PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii game collection, or eight-foot-tall used pizza-box sculpture (an entire year in the making!) stolen or incinerated.

The good news is that renter insurance is cheap-- in Carbondale it will probably cost $200 or less for an entire year of coverage (that's less than $17 per month), depending on numerous criteria, including location and type of rental unit (brick house versus mobile home, for example).

The bad news is that some agents won't sell renters' insurance because the premium they collect on a policy isn't worth the cost of writing the policy. For example, imagine that insurance sells for $120 a year, and six months later a fire wipes out an entire wardrobe, a semester's worth of books, a computer, and other personal items. Or even that a renter reports the theft of a personal treasure, when in fact a roommate quietly borrowed it. The income an insurance company makes on the sale of a renters' policy will not come close to covering the paperwork and investigation, let alone replacement costs. (If customers purchase automobile or other insurance, agents may be more likely to sell renter insurance.)

Ah, but there is good news. A parent's homeowner insurance might cover personal possessions in a college student's rental unit. Renters should check their parents' homeowner policies. If those policies don't cover an offspring's rental unit, a rider might be available for an additional cost.

And renters who live alone or who are married are more likely to find agents who will sell them separate rental policies. Multiple unrelated roommates can increase the likelihood of various liabilities (including the borrowing scenario above). Some insurers will only write policies for married renters or renters who live alone, while Matt Bishop at Bishop and Elwell Insurance will write policies for most rental circumstances.

Renters should also look for exclusions in policies. The New Madrid Fault Line, for example, runs through the area, so renter policies might require additional fees to cover earthquake damage, or won't cover them at all.

Renters should make sure that their policies cover replacement costs, not just cash costs, says Bishop. In other words, personal property depreciates, some of it quickly. Those Hannah Montana CDs that cost $15.99 new a year ago are worth, I dunno, ninety-nine cents today, maybe. Name-brand $50 blue jeans might go for $5 a year later. Make sure that the policy will cover the cost of repurchasing new items, not the cost to which the used items have fallen.

Don't underestimate the value of personal possessions, except maybe that eight-foot used pizza-box sculpture. Many student customers balk at buying a $20,000 policy, typically the smallest one available. Bishop, however, tells Nightlife that when he and his wife lost their house in a fire seven years ago, they easily spent $1,000 just replacing the contents of their medicine cabinet-- from aspirin to toothpaste and toothbrushes, those personal essentials added up fast. Throw in replacement costs for a whole new wardrobe, cleaning supplies for a new abode, and $20,000 doesn't leave a lot left over for a new TV, computer, furniture, dishes and silverware, and everything else.

"It's the stuff you don't think about, the usual stuff, that catches you," says Bishop.

As for out-of-the-ordinary items, renters should definitely make sure that their policies cover them, from vintage musical instruments to valuable jewelry and designer shoes and clothing. One item that Bishop says often goes unmentioned is computer software. A generous policy might cover $2,000 of computer-related replacement, but a little software can cost much more than that-- and often the software isn't covered unless it's explicitly included in the policy.

As always, consult an agent (run through the local Yellow Pages for a full list) and read the policy. Be responsible-- lock the door (but don't leave the keys in it!), check the smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers, participate in the local Neighborhood Watch, and maybe renters' insurance can remain just that: insurance against the improbable instead of consolation for a tragedy.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles...
And Busses and Bikes-- Oh, My!

by Chris Wissmann

Intercity Transportation:
Need to Go?

Those without vehicles have numerous options to get hither and yon.

Car

Carbondale has automobile-rental businesses, so getting home by car isn't a problem, even for those who don't have wheels. Drivers typically need to have valid drivers' licenses in their possession (traffic tickets may not count). Rental companies may have different age, insurance, and credit requirements; make sure to call first and ask whether you qualify as a renter, and ask what information they require you to have on hand before trying to pick up a car. Rates can be extremely low, though they vary according to special deals and the makes and models of different cars, which may range from subcompacts to full-size vans. Get a few people to ride along and pitch in for the trip, and offset these recent high gas prices.

Enterprise Rent-a-Car: (618) 549-6995.

Vogler/Ford Rental System: (618) 457-8135.

Rail

Three Amtrak trains travel between Chicago's Union Station and Carbondale's Strip-- the Illini, the Saluki, and the City of New Orleans.

Pay attention: The schedule has recently changed for the Illini and Saluki, and has so indefinitely.

The Saluki train leaves from Carbondale at 7:30 a.m. and arrives in Chicago at 1 p.m. It leaves from Chicago at 8:15 a.m. and arrives in Carbondale at 1:45 p.m.

The Illini leaves Carbondale at 5:15 p.m. and reaches Chicago at 10:45 p.m. (Those who need to take a Metra route to the suburbs will find their options limited at this time. The Saluki is a better train for making these connections.) It goes south at 4:05 p.m. and enters Carbondale at 9:35 p.m.

The City of New Orleans departs from Chicago at 8 p.m. and arrives in Carbondale at about 1:20 a.m. before heading south to the Crescent City. The northbound train stops in Carbondale at about 3:16 a.m. and reaches Chicago at 9 a.m.

All trains make numerous stops along the way; the Champaign depot is probably the most popular between Carbondale and Chicago.

Train departure and arrival times are notoriously arbitrary. Check the train status before leaving for the station, and bring homework, an iPod, a book, or a laptop with a DVD player to pass the time.

The base rate for a single-passenger round-trip ticket from Carbondale to Chicago is $166. But nobody really pays that much-- Amtrak offers so many steep discounts and promotions, including a Student Advantage rate, that actual ticket prices are usually a fraction of the full price-- $64 or less is fairly common.

For more information, including complete schedules, call a local travel agent, call Amtrak at (800) USA-RAIL, or log on to <http://www.amtrak.com>. When booking trips, make sure to check with Amtrak to confirm that departure and arrival times have not changed.

Bus

This just in: The Rides Mass Transit District bus route now connects Carbondale to Harrisburg, and from there via the Shawnee Queen River Taxi to the Ohio River towns of Golconda, Rosiclare, Elizabethtown, and Cave in Rock. The service runs four trips a day, seven days a week.

Regular Rides stops include Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg, Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, John A Logan College in Carterville, the Williamson County Regional Airport, the Carbondale Amtrak station, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, the University Mall, and the SIU Student Center.

The district consists of three zones. Cash fares within each Rides zone are $2 for those eleven and older, seventy-five cents for those ages six to ten (who must be accompanied by an adult), and free for those ages five and younger (who again must be accompanied by an adult). This, for example, makes a one-way trip from Harrisburg to Carbondale $6 for an adult.

Twenty-four hour advance reservation is generally required. Same-day requests may be possible if space permits, but are not guaranteed.

Call Rides toll-free at (877) 667-6119 and visit them online at <http://www.RidesMTD.com>.

Greyhound Bus Lines offers daily bus service to Chicago, Saint Louis, and other locations. Chicago stops are at Ninety-fifth Street and the Dan Ryan Expressway, at Cumberland Avenue, and at the downtown Greyhound Station two blocks from Union Station. Saint Louis busses stop downtown and at Lambert International Airport.

Carbondale busses for both the Windy City and Gateway City depart at 10:10 a.m. and 10:55 p.m. They arrive in downtown Saint Louis at 12:05 p.m. and 12:50 a.m. respectively, for a standard fare of $67. They make it to downtown Chicago at 7:10 p.m. and 9:25 p.m., for a standard fare of $131.

Greyhound offers numerous discounts-- for students, veterans, advance purchases, and so forth. Bus fare are also less expensive on weekdays than on weekends.

Call your travel agent, or Greyhound at (800) 231-2222, for details, or visit <http://www.greyhound.com>.

Air

Assuming flights are on schedule-- a big assumption-- this is the fastest way to Saint Louis or Chicago. Great Lakes Airlines can rocket from the Williamson County Regional Airport (located ten miles east of Carbondale at Routes 13 and 148) to Lambert International Airport in Saint Louis in thirty-eight minutes. From there, fliers can pick up a connection to Chicago or other destinations. Flights depart for Lambert at 6 a.m., 10:28 a.m., and 3:48 p.m., and they head back to Williamson County from Lambert at 9:40 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7:30 p.m.

Expect airfare of about $420 for a last-minute roundtrip booking, or $200 with a month's lead time.

Mesa Airlines no longer provides direct flights from Williamson County to Chicago. To get to the Windy City, Great Lakes customers can most easily take an American Airlines connection from Saint Louis to O'Hare. The last-minute fare is about $690, while booking the flight about a month in advance can cost as little as $255. Travel time can be three hours or less.

Fliers can try to connect in Saint Louis to another airline, which may give them the option of flying into Midway and reducing the cost and even the time of travel. There's a little risk involved, however. Great Lakes has baggage-handling agreements with a small number of other airlines, so fliers may need to exit security to pick up checked luggage, then go back through security-- or limit themselves to carry-ons. In addition, Great Lakes flies into and out of Lambert's east terminal. If the connection flies out of the main terminal or even another wing in the east terminal, fliers may need to go back through security checkpoints or simply cover an enormous distance between boarding gates, increasing the possibility of missing a connection. Caveat emptor.

Call a travel agent for more information.

For updates or information about other airport services, visit <http://www.WilCoAirport.com>.

Chauffeur Services

Those who need to get to or from Lambert International Airport but don't want to muck about with driving can call BART Transportation, at (800) 284-2278. This company provides to-the-door, one-way van trips to and from Lambert for about $65. Some restrictions apply. Customers should try to book rides at least three days in advance. For more information, see <http://www.BartShuttle.com>.

Also, see AA Blue Star Lines and Legacy Limos under the Intracity Transportation Chauffeur Services entry below.

Charter Trips

Big groups-- registered student organizations, fraternities and sororities, church groups, large wine-trail tours-- who want to take a collective trip can call one of two Carbondale bus companies. Their rates vary according to the distance and time of the trip and size of the bus. Beck only rents school-bus-style vehicles. West primarily rents coach-style busses (including two new tourliners), though they also have a fifteen-passenger van for rent. Call for rates and more information.

Beck Bus Transportation Company: (618) 549-2877.

West Bus Service: (618) 549-3913.

Intracity Transportation:
Getting Around Town

Pedestrian and Bicycle Traffic

Geographically, Carbondale is a small city-- you can bike across its length in less than twenty minutes, or walk it in an hour if you're really hoofing. The SIU campus and most student housing is within a few hundred yards of many restaurants, nightclubs, and shops.

The city has numerous dedicated and designated bike paths to help cyclists move through town. Free copies of the bicycle map are available at the Carbondale Civic Center, the Chamber of Commerce, and local bicycle shops, or through the Carbondale City Manager's office at (618) 457-3226.

SIU students who need a bicycle can check one out for free from the Rec Center Base Camp. The bikes come complete with helmets, locks, and lights for night riding, all courtesy of the Student Environmental Center and other sponsors.

Those who want to buy a bike, or who need their cycles serviced, should check out three locally owned businesses: the Bike Surgeon at 404 South Illinois Avenue, (618) 457-4521; the Carbondale Cycle Shop at 303 South Illinois Avenue, (618) 549-6863; or Phoenix Cycles at 300 South Illinois Avenue, (618) 549-3612. One of these places should have it, from expert repair to low-cost used cycles to cutting-edge high-end mountain and racing bikes. In addition, the staff will not only know their products and services in ways that wage slaves at general discount and big-box stores will not, these folks will have great insights into which area cycling destinations are worthwhile, which are overrated, and the experience, equipment, and conditioning levels required for them.

Bus

The Saluki Express bus service has several routes that run all over the city. SIU students have free, unlimited access to the service when they present their student I.D.s-- they've already paid for it through their student fees. The general public can also use the bus, either with a monthly pass or for $1 per trip (exact change only). For schedules, rates for monthly passes, and more, stop by the SIU Student Center, or get one on any Saluki Express bus. For more information, call the Saluki Express at (618) 453-5749, or visit <http://www.SIUCStudentCenter.org/salukiexpress>.

Taxi

At least two cab services operate in Carbondale. Rates are regulated by the city of Carbondale and are based on distance. Hours of service vary-- but the cabs run later than the bus, so in late-night inclement weather they are figuratively lifesavers, and at closing time they are literally so. Keep their numbers in your cellphone's contact list.

Moonlight Taxi: (618) 549-2405.

Yellow Cab/Carbondale Cab Company: (618) 457-8121.

Chauffeur Services

The Jackson County Mass Transit District is a public entity that provides public transportation weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. within Jackson County. All Jackson County residents are eligible for the service, but customers should schedule rides by 5 p.m. the business day before the ride-- schedule on Fridays any Monday services. Book rides as early as possible to ensure availability.

Senior citizens ride for $2, students ride for $2.50, and the general public rides for $3. Same-day rides, when available, are more than twice as expensive. Customers must pay with exact change. They can also purchase passes good for ten rides.

To schedule a ride, call (618) 549-0304. For more information, visit <http://www.co.jackson.il.us/links/MassTransit.htm>.

Sometimes you gotta splurge and treat yourself right. Those who want to travel in style may call AA Blue Star Lines for a limousine or sedan. AA Blue Star is available for both short and long trips-- classy transportation to local formal events; safe, comfortable rides along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail; and luxury shuttling to airports. Phone (618) 457-5466 for rates and more information. In addition, Legacy Limos and Sedans offers transportation to local wineries, bed-and-breakfast businesses, local nightspots, and fine restaurants. Call (618) 985-5363 for rates and other information.

Twenty-four-hour Party People:
Open All Night in Carbondale

by Bryan Miller

The nighttime is the right time, but where to amble once last call is over and you go into nocturnal remission? Carbondale is a better town than most for late-night activity, but as college towns go it's still somewhat anchored to daylight. Movies after midnight are scarce and the town lacks a Nighthawks for nite-owls on the Strip.

Vampires, somnambulists, and daydream disbelievers should take heart, though: it's not just the hotel clerks, gas-station attendants, and radio DJs coffee-chugging their way to the sunrise. The sleepless can take solace in a handful of places no matter the hour.

Emergency Services: If the party is too hardy, a few kindly folks will be happy to help. Memorial Hospital of Carbondale (405 West Jackson, 549-0721; also available by dialing 911) has a twenty-four-hour emergency room.

Survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault can call the Women's Center hotline and shelter at (618) 529-2324 or (800) 333-2094. Located at 408 West Freeman, it's one of the oldest of such agencies in the nation, and it happily accepts volunteers of time, money, or goods.

Restaurants: The Strip sadly lacks a greasy spoon for all-night cravings. Those in need of late-night grub should find Route 13 and head in either direction. Go toward Carbondale's east side and find Steak 'n' Shake, a favorite post-bar pitstop that serves food all night but preposterously refuses to make breakfast until sunrise. Let them eat pancake at Denny's, on the west side of Carbondale near Murdale. Don't laugh-- Richard Russo wrote a novel or two in Denny's, one of which Paul Newman made into a movie, and that alone may pull pardon for the damned Grand Slam. Crammers, last-minute-project completers, and anyone looking to throw the academic Hail Mary pass can fuel up at either place while they study.

Discount and Grocery Stores: Wal-Mart is open twenty-four/seven and they sell everything late at night, at least everything other than booze. On second thought, maybe forget about Wal-Mart. Both Kroger West and Schnuck's keep the lights on in case you turn up short of batteries, Ben and Jerry's, Benadryl, or most anything else. In addition, plenty of gas stations along Routes 13 and 51 carry everything from junk and real food and beverages to basic automobile supplies to reading material.

Towing: You won't want to go to any of these places, but shit happens, as they say. When it happens in Carbondale to a car, it often comes from the vehicle-vultures at any number of towing services. If you can't find your car-- assuming you're looking in the right spot, you drunkard-- one of those companies probably has it. If they're not too busy swiping the cars of people out partying and contributing to the local economy, they'll even drag your dead ride home or help you fetch your keys from your locked car. Call first to see if they take towing insurance, credit cards, or checks; some services may be cash-only. Check the Yellow Pages for a list.

Transportation: Moonlight Taxi at (618) 528-9990 and Yellow Cab at (618) 457-8121 will get you around if your get-up-and-go got up and went. They're busy folks, though, so give them a little lead time.

Bacchanal Tidings:
Southern Illinois Wine

by Meg Moynihan

While most parents expect their children to drink while they're away at college, they generally imagine their offspring gulping keg beer rather than sipping locally produced wines against the backdrop of a scenic vineyard. Nonetheless, since the beginning of the Southern Illinois viticulture boom in 1984, wineries have become an increasingly popular destination for SIU students who enjoy a relaxing and conversation-friendly setting.

Alto Vineyards owner Guy Renzaglia began growing French hybrid grapes in the mid-1980s. Twenty years later, Southern Illinois is home to more than a dozen wineries and the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, a thirty-mile path that journeys through ten wineries in Jackson and Union Counties that has been designated a federal American Viticultural Area. Moreover, many of these wineries specialize in sweet wines that are especially popular among college students and many host weekend festivals on various dates throughout the year.

Alto Vineyards, the original regional winery, is located at 8515 State Route 127 North in Alto Pass, about ten miles southwest of Carbondale. Nestled within the Shawnee National Forest under the 110-foot Bald Knob Cross of Peace, Alto relies on its family oriented philosophy to consistently produce award-winning wines. In addition to the customary reds and whites, Alto also specializes in port-style dessert wines.

Pomona Winery (2865 Hickory Ridge Road in Pomona) is known for unique fruit wines like the popular Jonathan Oak Aged Reserve, which combines Jonathan apples mellowed with medium toasted French white oak. Von Jakob Vineyard (1309 Sadler Road in Pomona) takes advantage of the scenery provided by the Illinois Ozarks to transport guests into "Little Germany," a designation they reinforce with their famous bratwurst and grapevine-smoked barbeque. Von Jakob Orchard (230 State Route 127 North in Alto Pass) hosts bigger events.

Cobden, a small town about fifteen miles south of Carbondale, is home to three wineries on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail: Owl Creek Vineyard (2655 Water Valley Road), StarView Vineyards (5100 Winghill Road), and Inheritance Valley Vineyards (5490 State Route 127 North).

Owl Creek is located just south of beautiful Giant City State Park, and offers visitors one of the best dry reds in the area, Owl's Leap. StarView features a tasting room, expansive patio seating, and gift shop in addition to wine. Inheritance Valley, meanwhile, offers a particularly wide variety of grapes, including seven strains of wine grapes and three strains of seedless table grapes, which will help please even the most novice wine appreciator.

Hedman Orchard and Vineyards (560 Chestnut Street in Alto Pass) is located in an old three-story barn that has been remodeled and decorated in a traditional Swedish style. In addition to serving authentic Swedish cuisine (complete with lingonberry compote!) in their Peach Barn Café , a bed-and-breakfast suite, and a Scandinavian gift shop, Hedman also operates a peach orchard that produces their award-winning peach wine.

Blue Sky Vineyard (3150 South Rocky Comfort Road, north of Makanda) marks the easternmost point on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. With its Tuscan-style architecture and lakeside patio, visitors can take advantage of the area's natural beauty while enjoying a glass of Chardonel or Concord.

A more recent additions to the Shawnee Wine Trail is Kite Hill Vineyards (the mailing address is 83 Kite Hill Road in Carbondale, but it's actually off Route 127, a little more than four miles south of Murphysboro). Producing three dry reds, including the excellent Cabernet Franc, and six other varieties of wines, blushes, and ports, Kite Hill is also home to twenty-six scenic acres and a bed and breakfast.

Orlandini Vineyards (410 Thorn Lane in Makanda) has joined the trail in the last year as well, providing twenty years' experience with growing grapes, and some new twists on local favorites, like a Chambourcin-Cabernet Franc and a White Chambourcin.

Another new offering is Rustle Hill Winery (8595 U.S. Highway 51 in Cobden), a family run operation that features an amphitheater bandstand for live music and a host of lakeside cabins. Though Rustle Hill officially opened the doors on August 1, they have already compiled an impressive list of wines, including two drys, two semi-drys, and a semi-sweet white. Their resident winemaker is also hard at work on a sweet white, which should be available in coming months.

Yet another new vintner is Hickory Ridge Vineyard and Winery (1598 Hickory Ridge Road in Pomona). They're currently serving nine wines, several of which (particularly the Norton Cynthiana and the Other Side) are more dry than many other wines made in Southern Illinois.

These wineries generally offer cheeses, fruits, and other culinary complements to their wines, and some even have full restaurants. In addition, most can cater and accommodate weddings, private parties, and other large gatherings, though some close for the winter months.

For more information about the locations on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, log on to the association's website at <http://www.ShawneeWineTrail.com>.

Clothes-mindedness:
Finding the Right Threads in Carbondale

by Meg Moynihan

Like most college towns, Carbondale is readily equipped with a wide spectrum of clothing stores to suit both restricted and generous budgets. The University Mall features the typical array of J.C. Penny, Old Navy, and Victoria's Secret-- but for those in search of more distinctive items (or who don't want to see half of campus wearing their favorite pinstripe pants), Carbondale is full of opportunities to satisfy the unique and bargain-friendly shopper within.

Jane's Consignment (1224 West Main Street, 549-5645) is situated a mile or two northwest of campus but still within walking distance for the dedicated shopper. With a great selection of purses, belts, and shoes, Jane's is perfect for classic, casual fashion pieces and affordable professional wear. They also offer clothing in all sizes with a number of designer lines.

Another option for quality used attire is Tropicana Vintage Clothing (just off East Jackson Street behind Longbranch Coffee House, 529-1791). When searching for authentic costume pieces, look to Tropicana: They offer a wide variety of vintage hats, vintage formal wear, fur coats, and mint-condition Levis from the 1960s-- many of which are available for rent as well as purchase, with rates calculated on a daily basis.

While many area stores offer limited selections of streetwear, Urban 2 (215 North Washington Street, 457-8587) specializes in the latest styles for the fashion-savvy city-dweller. Likewise, the Beauty Depot (102 South Wall Street, 351-8380) offers a wide selection of urban clothing and accessories, including nail- and hair-care products.

Southern Illinois is home to some of the best rock-climbing in the world, and any outdoor enthusiast will verify that a prepared climber is a successful climber. Fortunately, Shawnee Trails Wilderness Outfitter (222 West Freeman Street, in the Campus Town shopping center, 529-2313) is here to help furnish novices and experts alike with everything from canoes to Carabiners. In addition to camping, climbing, and backpacking gear, Shawnee Trails also sells quality winter coats (think North Face and Columbia) to help brave those January mornings. Another locally owned businesses that carries a large selection of outdoor gear is the Great Outdoors Company (695 North Giant City Road, 529-5130). Pack-Lite (212 West Freeman Street, 967-9485) makes custom backpacks and bags.

For those who want to support the stereotype of women as shoe maniacs, Walk the Line (nestled into the south end of the Strip at 703 South Illinois Avenue, 351-1077) could be a perfect fit. The storefront may be cramped, but only because three of the walls have shoeboxes stacked floor to ceiling (make sure to keep an eye out for their excellent sales, which occasionally spill out onto tabletops set up on the sidewalk). In addition to myriad styles of casual and formal footwear, Walk the Line features handmade jewelry and shoe accessories.

Did some precious item break or tear? Bring it to Barefoot Cobbler and Leather World (100 West Walnut Street, 457-8631), which can re-sew clothing or replace buttons and zippers. In addition, they carry a full line of leather goods and motorcyclist accessories, including sandals and moccasins, as well as jackets and other apparel.

Need Saluki gear for your future alma mater? The three main college bookstores, 710 Bookstore (710 South Illinois Avenue, 549-7304), the Saluki Bookstore (701 East Grand Avenue, 529-1900), and the University Bookstore (in the SIU Student Center, 536-3321) carry Dawg hats, coats and jackets, T-shirts, and sweats, as does UniversiTees (819 South Illinois Avenue, 457-4695). Saluki Central (609 South Illinois Avenue, 457-2875) and Attitude Designs (718 South Illinois Avenue, 529-5606) not only carry apparel but will also custom silk-screen it for customers.

Priority Sports (106 S. Illinois Avenue, 529-3097) deals primarily in men's and women's athletic shoes, from basketball sneakers to soccer cleats, with a selection of outdoor sandals. Prices range from standard to impressively cheap, and a bargain-seeker who's willing to remain flexible with regard to style and color could emerge with a quality pair of sneakers for about $40. Priority Sports also carries a selection of athletic accessories and sportswear, providing a locally owned alternative to mega-chain sports stores.

For the truly frugal, Carbondale is also readily equipped with that classic college institution, the thrift store. Indeed, thrift stores in Carbondale are doubly appealing to the socially conscious shopper: not only are their clothes recycled and often priced for less than $5, but profits also go toward supporting worthy community organizations.

The Church Women United Thrift Shop (215 North Illinois Avenue, 457-6976), for example, not only sells donated items to help fund church activities, but also allows those living in poverty to take necessities free of charge. Goodwill Industries (701 East Main Street, 457-5290) is also committed to helping the disadvantaged, disabled, and disenfranchised.

So when the mall seems like too much of a hassle-- too many teenyboppers, too much money, too far from campus-- remember that our fair city is filled with plenty of alternatives. It may require a little more work to find that perfect pair of old $2 Candies than it would to buy them new at a department store, but after all-- when it comes to shopping, the search is half the fun.

Music, Sweet Music:
Getting Tunes in Carbondale

by Meg Moynihan

As the city with perhaps the most musicians per capita in Southern Illinois, it's not particularly surprising that Carbondale is practically teeming with music-related businesses. Yeah, there's Best Buy and WalMart-- but more importantly, there are numerous independently owned music stores, each with its own specialties and strengths, just waiting to cater to a whole new class of SIU students. So whether you're looking for the latest top-forty release, an obscure Japanese import, or an authentic 1970s guitar capo, Carbondale's musical entrepreneurs are here to help.

With more than twenty-five years' experience in the business, Plaza/Wuxtry Records (816 East Main Street, 549-2651) has become a Carbondale institution. They carry a solid selection of new, used, and local CDs and DVDs (plus kitschy buttons, incense, and posters), but their real forte is vinyl. The expansive vinyl collection encompasses classic records from the 1960s and 1970s as well as modern releases.

The city's other locally owned music store, P-Mac Music (100 North Glenview Drive, 351-9150), famously boasts twenty-thousand CDs from which to choose. Like Plaza, P-Mac gives customers the opportunity to sell their old CDs and DVDs for cash or trade, and their stock of foreign imports is extensive. P-Mac also features a wide array of used videogames and TV shows on DVD and a strong local section.

Another option for specialty music is the Beauty Depot (102 South Wall Street, 351-8380), a clothing and accessories store that also has an excellent selection of gospel and Christian music. The Neighborhood Co-op (Murdale Shopping Center, 1815 West Main Street, 529-3533) carries a few local discs as well.

For those times when just listening to music isn't enough, Carbondale features independent musical-equipement retailers. Clayship Guitar and Repair (101 West Monroe Street, 351-5922), specializes in vintage guitars, keyboards, and effects pedals. They also sell accessories for electric, acoustic, and classical guitars, and their in-house luthiers provide speedy instrumental repairs.

Mike's Music (816-A East Main Street, 529-3444) buys, sells, and rents new and used instruments, and also offers experienced music instruction for all ages and skill levels. Sound Core Music and Video (122 South Illinois Avenue, 457-5641) houses a similar array of musical equipment, including guitars, drums, and keyboards, as well as basic home-recording and video equipment and Apple computers.

Many of these establishments are also willing to order custom or specialty items if they're not already in stock, so Chicago-bred students who are accustomed to having the entire musical world at their fingertips need not adjust their shopping habits. Be sure to use the first week or two of classes to get acquainted with the surrounding community in all its musical glory, and don't forget to help support Carbondale's thriving local music scene. Happy listening!

Paperback Reader:
What a Wonderful World Carbondale Can Be

by Bryan Miller

Carbondale has plenty to offer incoming literati; bookstores abound in this college town. Sure, we have a Barnes and Noble, but why would anyone shop there? Independent bookstores offer a range of advantages, from staffs with a genuine knowledge of books to a selection that is not dictated by distant corporate offices. Carbondale's independent bookstores have something for everyone, from those searching for the newest titles to word-junkies scavenging for cheap used paperbacks. Most will happily place special orders if they don't have a title in stock.

Book World

823 South Illinois Avenue

(618) 549-5122

Book World is the closest used bookstore to campus and specializes in both fiction and non-fiction. In addition to several racks of paperbacks, Book World also carries a large selection of consumer magazines as well as a sizable magazine back-stock. This, of course, is in addition to their literary fiction shelf and a wall full of used books about history, politics, and a broad range of other non-fiction work.

Bookworm

618 East Walnut Street

(618) 457-2665

<http://www.SIBookworm.com>

Bookworm is notable not just for the friendly white cat Casper that serves as its mascot, but for a stellar selection of used books, including an overflowing fiction section and a voluminous stock of nonfiction titles. Bookworm also has one of the area's largest stocks of books by local authors, as well as poetry collections and magazines from Southern Illinois writers.

Campus Comics/World's Finest Comics

816 East Main Street

(618) 457-6011

Campus Comics is Carbondale's best source for graphic novels and comic books. Campus Comics-- also known by its superhero alter-ego World's Finest Comics-- maintains a fully stocked library of books from Marvel and D.C., from 1940s Golden Age work to the very newest collections. Campus Comics carries comic books, of course, and also has a separate section for independent and small-press works. All graphic novels are twenty percent off every day-- something no chain store is likely to guarantee.

Castle Perilous

207 West Main

(618) 529-7187

<http://www.CastlePerilous.com>

Castle Perilous is Carbondale's home for gaming. Their doors are open to anyone who might like to try a hand at Risk or Monopoly, but their core clientele is gamers-- those dedicated to Magic and other card games and role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. They carry a wide selection of books and guides for that crew, as well as a small selection of comic books and graphic novels.

Coram Deo Books

3249 North Reed Station Road

(618) 457-5282

<http://www.CoramDeoBooks.com>

Coram Deo is Latin for "before the face of God," but this specialty shop carries much more than standard Christian-bookstore texts. In addition to religious work, Coram Deo also stocks collectible, antiquarian, out-of-print, and difficult-to-find books, many of them Christian and Bible commentaries, but also other rare work as well. They also feature a wide array of Celtic-themed merchandise. The storefront is a lush renovated farmhouse flush with cushy chairs and excellent atmosphere. They are open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by appointment.

Country Goddess

208 West Freeman Street

(618) 457-4042

<http://www.TheCountryGoddess.com>

The region's occult bookstore. Patrons can find books catering to pagans and wiccans as well necessary accessories in addition to jewelry, candles, art and other amenities, as well as a surprising amount of Christian materials (like candles used in Hispanic Christian services).

Saluki Bookstore

701 East Grand Avenue

(618) 529-0122

<http://www.SalukiBookStore.com>

The Saluki Bookstore offers both new and used textbooks along with school supplies and other necessities.

710 Bookstore

710 South Illinois Avenue

(618) 549-7304

<http://www.SevenTenBookStore.com>

This store has a large selection of textbooks both new and used as well as a small selection of used books sorted by author. They also have sections for magazines and popular new fiction and non-fiction, in addition to Saluki apparel and memorabilia. In addition to an array of odds and ends (most of which bear the Saluki Dawg), they also have computer software for Macs and PCs, making it one of the few local stores where Mac users can purchase computer accessories.

The bookstore also offers a wide range of Saluki apparel, from mugs to seat cushions to clothes-- you need something to sit on, something to drink, and something to keep you warm while you read, don't you?

Provisions for the Platter:
Carbondale Groceries

by Chris Wissmann

In Carbondale, you can feed your face without feeding the Man at the city's many alternatives to international conglomerates. At these places, the food actually tastes like... food. Most of the following establishments specialize to some degree, but their quality can easily make the extra trips worthwhile, and often their prices are surprisingly competitive with, and sometimes much lower than, those of the big chains.

Arnold's Market

2141 South Illinois Avenue (Old U.S. Route 51)

(618) 529-5191

The region's premier meat counter can offer delectable custom cuts of fresh beef, pork, and poultry, in addition to cold cuts, deli sandwiches, cheeses, and more. Arnold's also stocks an impressive selection of locally grown produce, organic and international groceries, soft drinks, and household goods.

Carbondale Farmers' Market

Westtown Mall parking lot, Route 13 and Emerald Lane

Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, April through November

-- and --

Carbondale Main Street Grower's Market

Town Square parking lot, corner of North Washington Street and Route 13

Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, through at least the end of September.

(618) 529-8040

<http://www.CarbondaleMainStreet.com>

These markets allow shoppers to buy directly from those who raise or create their products. Local, fresh-picked fruits and vegetables join gourmet pickles, baked goods, honey, herbs, flowers, meat, and arts and crafts.

Cristaudo's

Murdale Shopping Center, 1807 West Main Street

(618) 529-5859

<http://www.OriginalPinkCookie.com>

Not a grocery, but a bakery... and what a bakery-- breads, cakes, cookies, donuts, danishes, and pastries galore. Cristaudo's also features a deli and restaurant.

Doña Camila

100 West Jackson Street

(618) 457-0433

-- and --

Tienda Mexicana El Paisano

100 North Glenview Drive

(618) 529-2352

These two stores carry exceptional arrays of Mexican spices, produce, pastries, desserts, drinks, and food and beverage mixes, all at shockingly low prices. Doña Camila is the larger of the two and sports a line of Mexican cookware, textiles, and videos.

Egyptian Corner

534 East Main Street

(618) 529-0151

Located in a Shell gas station, Egyptian Corner carries many Middle Eastern foods, especially halal meats (which are processed according to Islamic law).

Fresh Foods

Murdale Shopping Center, 1927 West Main Street

(618) 529-2534

Wondrous smells emanate from the doors of this fruit-and-vegetable-only grocery, which stocks an impressive inventory of in-season local produce. They are also an excellent source of fruits and vegetables used in Asian cooking.

Global Gourmet

102 East Jackson Street

(618) 549-0771

The city's most high-end takeout deli often features spice-encrusted salmon and Jamaican jerk chicken as well as numerous vegetable dishes. The desserts are fantastic and made entirely from scratch. Much of the fare varies from day to day, making each trip a delicious surprise. The hours of operation for the deli are not the same as the restaurant/bar; the deli is open Mondays from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Global Gourmet also has an intimate dine-in restaurant and outdoor patio.

Han's Market

863 East Grand Avenue

(618) 549-0152

Similar to International Grocery (see below), Han's specializes in foods from abroad, though they do carry a few domestic beverages, cheeses, and other edibles, as well as dry goods.

International Grocery

Murdale Shopping Center, 1811 West Main Street

(618) 529-1206

This store contains several aisles of Mediterranean, Asian, Mexican, African, kosher, Middle Eastern, and South American foods, from meats and seafoods to produce to cheese and beverages to enormous and unique cookie and chocolate sections.

Lipe Orchards

3925 South Illinois Avenue

(618) 549-1263

<http://www.LipeOrchards.com>

Southern Illinois is home to a bounty of great orchards and ranches-- Rendleman, Hedman, Rancho Bella Vista, and Flamm among them-- but the closest to Carbondale is Lipe Orchards, located on the corner of Old Route 51 and Boskeydell Road (that's the official address listed above). They're open this year until November, just a little after the last harvest. In addition to fruits, vegetables, and herbs, they carry local relishes, honey, and jellies. Check their website to see what's in season, and call ahead if you need special ingredients so they can make sure it's all there for you.

Neighborhood Co-op

Murdale Shopping Center, 1815 West Main Street

(618) 529-3533

<http://www.neighborhood.coop>

The area's largest organic grocery, the Co-op features organic juices and milk (soy and cow's), frozen dinners, a terrific bakery, outstanding cheese selections, a deli, fruit and vegetables, supplements and spices, and even local and exotic meats. Cooking classes are also part of the program.

Save-a-Lot

301 East Walnut Street (corner of East Walnut and South Marion Streets)

(618) 529-8701

<http://www.save-a-lot.com>

Though the nation contains more than 1,200 Save-a-Lot stores, the Carbondale location is locally owned and operated. It's a great place to find steep discounts on quality name-brand and generic merchandise-- including custom cuts of meat.

Town Square Market

106 East Jackson St

(618) 529-2312

A fine source for local, natural, and organic groceries-- from vegan options to omnivores' delights. The Town Square Market also carries baked goods and eco-friendly dry goods for the conscious consumer, and has opened a deli. The store focuses on local products, and lecturers and topical films are often featured at their regular open houses.

Wherefore Art Thou?
Southern Illinois Galleries

by Jennifer "Jay" Bull and Jessica Becker

Carbondale and Southern Illinois have many destinations for art aficionados. The following galleries form a very brief list of the art offerings in Southern Illinois-- the Art Trail of Southern Illinois lists more than six-hundred artists, studios, and galleries in ninety-three communities within a seventy-five-mile radius. Those numbers should thrill art lovers, even if the Art Trail's website is down and its printed brochures are hard to find (look for the latter at the Little Egypt Arts Centre in Marion and Visions in Makanda), because those past efforts indicate how much great art is made in this area, and how much time people can spend searching it out.

The African America Museum is located in the University Mall in Carbondale. This museum has a fantastic amount of historical information about Southern Illinois specifically, and about the often-overlooked progress and contributions of African Americans in this community. With artifacts, quilts, historical documents, and much more, this museum shows how diverse the history of area truly is. It's open Mondays through Thursdays from noon to 6 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call (618) 457-2217.

Art Lovers Trading Company was established in 2004 and mainly showcases Illinois artists. With art and media, an online presence, and an eBay store, this impressive gallery is located at 201 East Main Street Suite 1-B. For hours of operation, more information, or to schedule a tour, visit the website at <http://www.ArtLoversTradingCompany.com> or call (618) 351-9444.

A work in progress, the Buckminster Fuller Dome Home on the corner of West Cherry Street and South Forest Avenue was constructed by the legendary SIU professor R. Buckminster Fuller. The dome had fallen into serious disrepair, and the RBF Dome NFP organization was formed to restore it as a museum to honor and spread Fuller's futuristic teachings. For a tour, call (618) 549-DOME or (618) 967-9679. For more information, visit <http://www.BuckysDome.org>.

The City Arts Corridor Gallery, located in the Carbondale City Hall and Civic Center at 200 South Illinois Avenue, features work by local artists or artists with local connections. The exhibits, curated by Carbondale Community Arts, are placed in the open corridor of the building to enhance the appeal of the Civic Center. For more information, call (618) 457-5100.

The Douglass School Art Place at 900 Douglass Street in Murphysboro contains exhibit space, studio rentals, and a glass gallery called the Do U Glass Hot Shop. The latter calls itself the only non-academic offhand glassblowing shop in Southern Illinois; it also provides glassblowing lessons. For more information, visit <http://www.artapult.com> or call (618) 687-3791.

John A. Logan College Museum is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. With a focus on scholarship and cultural heritage, this museum serves the community at large as well as students of John A. Logan. Described as "an educational service organization that promotes understanding and appreciation of Southern Illinois's visual arts, cultural heritage, and natural history and examines the region's relationship to contemporary issues and the world community," admission to this museum is free.

For more information, log on to <http://www.jal.cc.il.us/museum> or call (618) 985-3741.

The front windows at the Law Office of Joni Beth Bailey on Walnut Street in Murphysboro always sport the work of great local and visiting artists.

The Little Egypt Arts Centre, at 610 Tower Square Plaza in Marion, strives to promote opportunities for artists and the public to experience art through exhibits and programs that include art classes. Its hours are Mondays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with other hours by appointment and during special events. For more information, see <http://www.LittleEgyptArts.com> or call (618) 998-8530.

Longbranch Coffee House, at 100 East Jackson Street, features revolving exhibits by local artists, as well as an annual international art exhibit that benefits an orphanage in Bangladesh, Kids for Kids' Sake. For more information, call (618) 529-4488.

The Makanda Boardwalk is located at the foot of Giant City State Park in downtown Makanda.

Located directly across from the Boardwalk, Allan Stuck Studio offers original jewelry, wedding rings, and fine sculptured glass and prints. Open everyday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (except Wednesdays), the work at Allan Stuck Studio is truly impressive in its originality.

For more information, call (618) 529-2341.

Right on the Boardwalk is the Rainmaker Art Studio. With bronze and copper sculptures and waterfalls, jewelry, and much more, the Rainmaker Art Studio houses the work of David Dardis. The back of the studio has a beautifully constructed and pleasantly structured hanging garden in a truly breathtaking courtyard.

For more information, call (618) 457-6282.

Also on the Boardwalk is Visions Art Gallery and Studio, which houses more than thirty Southern Illinois artists' works in media ranging from jewelry, photography, carvings, and paintings, to gourds, candles, photography, and cards. For more information, call (618) 549-5523.

The Science Center Museum is a children's museum that specializes in hands-on activities for children that help illustrate fundamental scientific principles. In addition to the children's museum, the Science Center offers various workshops and learning opportunities for people of different ages throughout the year, and hosts birthday parties and conducts field trips. Animal displays and exhibits are also part of their offerings.

The Science Center is open Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m., and is located at the University Mall in Carbondale. There is a small admission fee to the museum-- $3.50-- but membership options may make repeat admission free. For more information, visit <http://www.YourScienceCenter.org> or call (618) 529-5431.

The Southern Illinois University Museum has a sculpture garden, guided tours, lectures, exhibits, and much more. Located on campus in Faner Hall on the first floor of the North Wing, the University Museum includes exhibits in the arts, sciences, and humanities from collections, touring exhibits, and local artists. Complete with a gift store, the museum's hours of operation are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed on Mondays and during all University breaks and holidays, this museum really is a boon to the community and the University. For more information, visit <http://www.museum.siu.edu> or call (618) 453-5388.

The SIU School of Art and Design Vergette Gallery is located on the first floor of the Allyn Building in room 107 on campus. The naturally lit space is open Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and a great space for students in the School of Art and Design to exhibit their work. For more information, see <http://www.ArtAndDesign.siu.edu> or call the Art and Design office at (618) 453-4315.

The Glove Factory Surplus Gallery, often simply called the Glove, is located at 432 South Washington, on the northwest corner of Washington and College Streets in downtown Carbondale. The Glove used to be the Good Luck Glove Company; the Glove Factory now serves as an instructional space for art students, including a woodworking shop, welding, and fabrication, as well as housing a gallery. For more information, log on to <http://www.ArtAndDesign.siu.edu> or call the Art and Design office at (618) 453-4315.

One of the area's most easily accessible yet most-often taken-for-granted galleries is Art Alley in SIU's Student Center. Open during the Student Center's regular hours of operation, Art Alley shows exhibits curated by the SIU Student Programming Council, while much of the Student Center's other walls display work by former SIU students. For more information, call SPC at (618) 536-3393.

The Dunn-Richmond Economic and Regional Development Center has a gallery, the Art Atrium, which periodically refreshes its space with new exhibits and opening receptions. It's open to the public Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit the Art Atrium online at <http://www.siuc.edu/~econdev/facility.html>.

Green Thoughts:
Outdoor Treasures of Little Egypt

by Jennifer "Jay" Bull

Southern Illinois has a staggering number of parks, campgrounds, lakes, and nature preserves and refuges. The natural beauty of Southern Illinois can be awe-inspiring. To list all of them and highlight their numerous charms could take an entire book. Instead, what follows is a brief description of the major parks located in Carbondale, along with a couple of areas located in greater Southern Illinois.

Those who head into deeper wooded areas should beware of poison ivy, ticks, mosquitoes, and chiggers. While they are somewhat rare, Southern Illinois is home to poisonous snakes, so care and caution should be taken; watch where you step, sit, or put yours hands to avoid startling wild animals. Dress appropriately for these and other hazards, in addition to the weather, and bring insect repellent, clean drinking water, and food as necessary. Cellphones may not work in some of the more remote areas described below. Always let friends know when you are heading into the woods or water and when you expect to return.

Protect and preserve the natural beauty of Southern Illinois. Irresponsible and unsafe activities have resulted in the closure of some popular areas to public use, or heavy restrictions thereupon. Take time to learn the rules for the places you visit, and follow them. Clean up after yourselves and try to pick up the trash left behind by others. And don't take unnecessary risks in the wilderness, where emergency responders can take a long time coming.

Those who truly love the outdoors and all that nature has to offer can find more information at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website at <http://dnr.state.il.us> or the Adventure Illinois website created by the Southern Illinois Tourism Development Office at <http://www.AdventureIllinois.com>. There's also a beautiful visitor guide available at the Carbondale Convention and Tourism Bureau office in the University Mall that contains maps to many of the best outdoor locations of Southern Illinois, including the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail and many of the locations covered in this article.

In addition, there are the activities of the Shawnee Audubon Society (online at <http://www.ShawneeAudubon.org>) and Shawnee Group Sierra Club (at <http://Illinois.SierraClub.org/Shawnee> and <http://ShawneeGroup.blogspot.com>). The former, of course, focuses more on ornithology, while the latter has a broader purpose that includes environmental activism and lobbying. Both, however, organize hikes and other events that explore our outdoors. And SIU students are eligible to use the equipment and resources of the SIU Recreation Center Base Camp (at <http://www.siu.edu/~oirs/services/base_camp.html>).

Several locally owned and operated stores are great places to purchase climbing gear, packs, tents, books, boots, sleeping bags, and other items for outdoor use, as well as expert advice about the gear you might require.

Shawnee Trails Wilderness Outfitters-- at 222 West Freeman and (618) 529-2313 -- and the Great Outdoors Company-- at 695 North Giant City Road and (618) 529-5130-- provide full lines of outdoor gear. Pack-Lite, at 212 West Freeman Street and (618) 967-9485, carries a few clothing items, but the vast majority of their products are original or custom-made backpacks and bags, including packs for dogs; they also repair broken items. Watershed Kayak and Canoe's custom-built people-propelled boats, by the way, are a great way to view the Little Egypt scenery from its lakes, rivers, and creeks. Call them at (618) 549-2562 to make sure the showroom on West Chautauqua Road is open before heading there.

In addition, these places boast staffs with an astounding breadth of knowledge about Southern Illinois's natural areas. In the space of a very brief conversation last year, Shawnee Trails owner Rick Reeve was knowledgeably able to list trails, lakes, and parks with an ease born of true enjoyment of the area.

"Everybody here enjoys it down here [in Southern Illinois] and lives down here. It isn't just a job-- it is what we are into," Reeve said.

Cedar Lake offers boating, fishing, swimming, and picnicking. Poplar Camp Beach is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily and 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends during the summer. Single admission to the beach is $2. The beach has lifeguards on duty and a picnic area. Docks are available along the lake for boating or fishing. For more information, call (618) 549-8441 or visit <http://www.ci.carbondale.il.us/Recreation/cedar_lake.html>.

The Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, between Carbondale and Marion, consists of Crab Orchard, Little Grassy, and Devils Kitchen Lakes and adjacent areas. The refuge allows boating, fishing, swimming (except at Devils Kitchen), and waterskiing (only on Crab Orchard), as well as camping and picnicking, though the rules vary from lake to lake. Hunting is also allowed during specified times. The manmade lakes draw more than one-million visitors a year. Fines for parking on refuge property without a permit are extremely stiff. For information about permits and more, call (618) 997-3344 or visit <http://www.fws.gov/midwest/CrabOrchard>.

Lake Murphysboro State Park is a 1,022-acre area that boasts excellent boating, fishing, picnicking, camping, and hiking. Located on the western edge of Murphysboro, off Route 149, this state park is less than a fifteen-minute drive from SIU. It boasts more than twenty camping sites on which to set up tents or trailers, while picnic tables and restrooms encourage picnics and daytime outings. With dense forestry and gorgeous views of the lake, this a great place for family get-togethers, reunions, and camping retreats. For more information, visit <http://www.dnr.state.il.us> and follow the Parks and Recreation link to Lake Murphysboro, or call (618) 684-2867.

Little Grand Canyon, once listed as the number-two spot in Illinois for hiking trails at Trails.com, offers a fantastic loop trail with spectacular views of the bluffs along the Mississippi River. This rugged three-mile trail takes hikers through several ecosystems, and is breathtaking in the fall. Surprisingly close to campus, Little Grand Canyon can be found by driving seven miles south of Murphysboro on Illinois 127, turning right on Etherton Road, and taking the third turnoff to the trail entrance. (The winding, hilly country roads make this a longer drive than it may sound.) This fantastic trail should not be missed by any nature lover. For more information or directions, visit <http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/shawnee>.

Trail of Tears State Forest is located outside Jonesboro, Illinois in Union County, about twenty miles south of Murphysboro. The lodge has a morel mushroom festival and hummingbirds galore in the spring. The five-thousand acre park allows fishing, camping, hunting, hiking, and much more. Consisting of one of the most rugged landscapes for Southern Illinois parks, the grounds consist of hills made of chert, clear streams with rocky bottoms, and rocky, dry, narrow ridgetops.

This diversity of soil quality allows for tremendous variation in plant life, from elm, sugar maple, redbud, oak, beech, and hickory trees to wild azaleas, farkleberries, and low-bush blueberries, from pawpaws, buckeyes, bladdernuts, and hornbeams to cane, holly, and 620 species of flowering plants, ferns, and fern allies.

The park sits along the site of a travesty that became known as the Trail of Tears-- when in 1838 and 1839 American Indians were forced to move west through Illinois, near the present site of the park. They wintered in a makeshift camp four miles south of the park where hundreds died of starvation and bitter cold.

In 1929, the state purchased three-thousand acres, and during the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed many of the stonework stabilization walls and shelters within picnic areas and along the forest roads.

For a map and more about park activities, visit <http://www.stateparks.com/trail_of_tears.html> or <http://dnr.state.il.us>.

Giant City State Park is probably the most popular park in the Carbondale area, as it accommodates many activities in gorgeous natural settings located minutes from Carbondale. Named for the distinctive natural landscape, which looks as if it was constructed by giants, the park allows camping, rappelling, fishing, and horseback riding. Many shelters in the park come equipped with barbecue grills, playgrounds, restrooms, and are near numerous trails.

These trails highlight the natural wonders of the park. Fat Man's Squeeze, one of the more popular (or notorious) features on the trail, offers an ever-narrowing crevice between two rocks. Trails include Devils Standtable, Stonefort, Indian Creek, Trillium, and Arrowwood. "Post Oak Trail has been specially designed for disabled visitors," according to the park website, while "the twelve-mile Red Cedar Hiking Trail provides an invigorating challenge to the truly dedicated backpacker."

For those who enjoy nature, but not necessarily camping, cabins, clean restrooms, and Giant City Lodge restaurant are all located in the park. Most trails are located near shelters, so those who are happier communing with nature under cover and near restrooms can wait for those who choose to explore the various trails.

The history of the park is also quite interesting, as parts of it were used 1,400 years ago as shelter, with the remains of a prehistoric American Indian wall evidenced atop an eighty-foot cliff. The area was also used to shelter soldiers during the Civil War. The lodge and twelve cabins were built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1970, a watertower was constructed with an observation deck from which the Makanda smileyface watertower and Bald Knob Cross in Alto Pass are visible.

For more information, call (618) 457-4836 or visit <http://dnr.state.il.us>.

Ferne Clyffe State Park is located near Goreville, twelve miles south of Marion and accessible via Interstate 57 and Interstate 24. As its name suggests, more than a few ferns live in the park's foliage. Ferne Clyffe covers 2,430 acres of the majestic Shawnee Hills and more than two-hundred-thousand nature lovers visit each year. Hawks Cave, a 150-foot long shelter bluff, and an intermittent one-hundred-foot waterfall on the Big Rocky Trail are two of the most famous natural features of the park. Hikers enjoy walking the trail around Fern Clyffe Lake. Fishing, picnicking, camping, horseback riding, and other recreational activities are available in the park. For more information, call (618) 995-2411 or visit <http://dnr.state.il.us> and follow the Parks and Recreation link to Ferne Clyffe.

Garden of the Gods is one of the more awe-inspiring sites in Southern Illinois. With trails leading through various rock formations, Garden of the Gods' popular Observation Trail is a quarter-mile stone trail that leads to an observation deck overlooking sandstone rock formations like Camel Rock, Anvil Rock, and Devils Smokestack. Part of the Shawnee National Forest, with the River to River Trail running through it, Garden of the Gods is a popular destination for nature lovers. According to the Illinois Tourism Bureau, Garden of the Gods ranks tenth in the United States for photographing sandstone rock formations and high vistas. For more information about call (618) 287-2201 or visit <http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/shawnee>.

Rim Rock, near Garden of the Gods, is a series of sandstone bluffs that surround and isolate a forty-acre area called the Pounds. One trail heads underneath the cliffs, while two others head up the bluff for a beautiful views. A cave, a natural spring, and a small lake are among the features of Rim Rock. For directions and more information, call (800) MY WOODS or visit <http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/shawnee>.

The Cache River State Natural Area is remarkable for many reasons, not the least of which are trees more than one-thousand years old-- these cypress trees, including the state-champion cypress, were ancient before European settlers even came to this continent. In 1996, it was dedicated as a Wetland of International importance, only the nineteenth U.S. wetland to receive the distinction.

Visitors can also canoe on the Cache River, and there are hiking trails and bike trails as well. The Wetland Center hosts a large bird-watching festival every spring. Some activities may require permits. For information, call (618) 634-9678 or visit <http://dnr.state.il.us> and follow the Parks and Recreation link to the Cache River.

The Pomona Natural Bridge is located in Jackson County near Pomona off of Route 127. The hike to the natural bridge is only a one-third-mile loop. Caused by water erosion, the sandstone bridge was admired as far back 1877. For driving directions and a sketch of the bridge from 1877, visit <http://illinois.sierraclub.org/Shawnee/sites/s-pomona_nb.htm>.

Green Earth Incorporated is sort of the Nature Conservancy of Carbondale, purchasing or receiving as donations various undeveloped properties and opening them to the public.

The woods on Green Earth I are located on the hillside to the west of the Carbondale Township Fire Department on Park Street between Wall Street and Giant City Road. Green Earth II, near Oakland Cemetery on North Oakland Avenue, contains a trail that winds through wooded and grassy areas. Green Earth III is a wetlands on the north side of West Chautauqua Road between Tower Road and Emerald Lane. Green Earth IV, the Fernlands, is south of town on Kennedy Road, and contains a beautiful wooded path inside a small ravine. Green Earth V, or Flaglands, is a small patch along West Sunset near Parrish Park and Little Crab Orchard Creek.

For more information, including directions to Green Earth properties, visit <http://GreenEarthInc.org>.

An excellent resource for parks and other recreation activities in Carbondale is the Carbondale Park District.

Attucks Park (on the east side of North Wall Street), Doug Lee Park (also known as the Carbondale Super Block, between Lewis Lane and Giant City Road on the west and east, and between the high school and middle school on the north and south), Evergreen Park (on the south side of West Pleasant Hill Road near Evergreen Terrace), Lenus Turley Park (along North Glenview and West Route 13, near the Murdale Shopping Center) Oakdale Park (on North Oakland Avenue near the intersection of West Kenicott) Parrish Park (along Parrish Lane and West Sunset Drive), Tatum Heights Park (south of east Route 13 along East Dorthella Street), Hickory Lodge (on West Sycamore Street), Hickory Ridge Golf Course (along North New Era Road), and the Marberry Arboretum (near the intersection of South Wall Street and East Pleasant Hill Road) are among the areas the park district supervises.

They also rent out shelters and pavilions in park-district properties for picnics, family reunions, and other activities. For more information or to make reservations, call the park district at (618) 549-4222 or visit <http://www.cpkd.org>.

The No-change Candidate:
Vote for Saluki Sports -- It's a Winning Ticket

by Chris Barron,
Saluki Sports Guru

Just for a change, wouldn't it be great not to hear chameleon-like politicians pandering for your sacred vote every four years?

One candidate swears he's for a bumper-sticker-ready concept that sets your heart a-flutter, and then immediately his opponent whips up the exact same platitude save with a cherry on top.

"Change" is the hot-button word this election cycle-- so that's no change from other elections. If things are going wrong with society-- and they are in spades in the good old USA now days-- then all you have to do is say you want to change things.

Who can be against changing "wrongness"? That would just be wrong, now, wouldn't it? But oddly enough, with Saluki sports, there are many things that fans want to remain unchanged.

Like winning. And as seventies blues singer Luther Ingram was fond of telling teenagers as we drove around in our Mustangs contemplating our angst, "If loving wins is wrong, I don't want to be right."

Okay, okay! The correct lyric was, "If loving you is wrong, I don't want to be right."

But in the case of Saluki fans, the "Y-O-U" means "S-I-U," and SIU means winning. Saluki teams, especially football and basketball, are easy to love when they do the things they do-- win.

The action starts on Saturday, September 6 with a 6 p.m. kickoff at SIU's McAndrew Stadium, when the vaunted Saluki football brigade continues its winning ways against Hampton University.

An added treat this season will be the baptism of a brand-new coach, Mister Lennon.

No, not that one. He's dead. We're referring to Dale Lennon, John's fifteenth cousin. Dale is more adept at waging war on gridiron opponents than penning songs about peace and love.

Lennon was a big-time winner (54 wins, 12 losses) at the University of North Dakota before coming to Carbondale last December. His teams were consistent playoff contenders, culminating with the Sioux winning the Division II national title in 2001.

Leading the way for the 2008 Dawgs will be a band of linebackers who would make any Big Ten coach salivate. All-conference middle linebacker Brandin Jordan (five-feet, eleven-inches tall and 230 pounds) is the ultimate run-stopper. His toughness comes from his dad, who played for awhile in the NFL.

But the dude with the highest talent ceiling may be outside linebacker Chauncey Mixon, who at six-feet, one-inches tall and 221 pounds covers the field from sideline to sideline with track-star speed. His specialty, as with fellow outside linebacker James Cloud, is rushing the passer. Mixon was named a first-team pre-season Football Championship Series (formerly Division I-AA) all-American by Lindy's magazine.

The lanky Cloud (six-feet, two-inches tall and 216 pounds) flies around like a mad stork. Once in awhile he'll get caught out of position because his motor is always shifted to high, but you'll always see one-hundred percent effort from him on every play. Fans like that characteristic in candidates for their beloved team.

On offense, you will see a Mutt-and-Jeff attack from the Salukis. Check out six-feet, four-inch, 213-pound wide receiver Damian Sherman and five-feet, five-inch, 169-pound running back Larry Warner.

Sherman has finally won a starting position at the left side wideout after making his way from Port Saint Lucie High located in Fort Pierce, Florida. For a long guy, Sherman can really fly. The senior ran under twenty-two seconds in the two-hundred-meter dash at the JuCo level. He is flanked by six-feet, two-inch, 213-pound University of Minnesota transfer Marc Cheatham, so small cornerbacks are going to have big troubles covering SIU's receivers.

The mighty mite Warner is a threat to go the distance each time he gets the ball. Warner was a first-team JuCo all-American tailback for Mississippi Gulf Coast College two years ago.

When he gets tired, five-feet, nine-inch, 188-pound super sophomore Richard White will keep defenses honest with his power-speed style. He combines a slashing running technique with breakaway speed.

During this coming winter, the Saluki men's basketball squad will continue their winning ways at the ten-thousand seat SIU Arena.

Six out of the last seven years, SIU hoops has made it to the NCAA Big Dance. Twice during that time (2002 and 2007) the Dawgs advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.

They gained so much respect from their post-season runs-- even last year's advance to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament-- that they have been chosen for some honors not usually allotted non-Bowl Championship Series (formerly Division I-A) schools.

Last season, SIU was the only such school chosen for ESPN-TV's GameDay. That Digger Phelps-led extravaganza ran live on ESPN-TV two straight days at the Arena and gave the university thousands of dollars of free publicity. See, you could have been a TV star!

Speaking about TV, the 2003 Saluki hoops team got chronicled by MTV with a one-hour special called True Life: I Am a College Baller. The documentary followed the 2002-2003 Saluki team through their championship season, on and off the court.

This season brings another honor for our hoops heros as they have been picked as one of the host teams for CBS-TV's Coaches versus Cancer Tournament. The Salukis will play two preliminary games in mid-November at the SIU Arena. When they win those games they will scoot off to the Big Apple for a November 20 matchup with either Duke, UCLA, or Michigan-- the other host teams. This year's hoops team will be young but talented, so potential games with those three Bowl Championship Series powerhouses will be well worth a trip to the fabled Madison Square Garden.

The Salukis play in the Missouri Valley Conference, which last season named a Saluki defensive player of the year: senior Bryan Mullins (six-feet, one-inch, 185 pounds), who will lead the youngsters into battle this year.

And Mullins will be feeding the rock to what Rivals.com rates as the twenty-fifth best recruiting class for 2008. The stud of this group of phenoms is six-feet, eight-inch, 220-pound power forward Anthony Booker (McCluer North, Saint Louis) who is rated the forty-fourth best high-school player in the nation.

Point guard Kevin Dillard (five-feet, eleven inches, 160 pounds, Homewood-Flossmoor High) is rated only 137 in the nation by Rivals.com, but that might be a tad misleading since Dillard was named Mister Basketball for 2008 by Illinois's high-school coaches and media. The Mister Basketball winner is considered the top player in the state.

And if you've got any spare time between going to class, the library, and, well, out, then go enjoy a sampling of Saluki Women's Basketball, track, cross-country, and swimming till spring ball blooms.

Women's softball and men's baseball have been moving on up the winning column during the last few years, so try those before starting your April dreaming about what 2009 and 2010 pigskin and hoops will bring.

You see, football and basketball will probably become your only true love. Attend as many games as you can in your four-, or five-, or six-year college career at Carbondale.

Those two athletic-program candidates never change. So vote for them early and often-- just bring your Saluki Identification Card so we know you're the smart Saluki citizen in the family. I.D. Services on the second floor of the Student Center issues students with the SIU I.D. card, which will get students into almost each and every Saluki sporting event. (Some restrictions may apply. Students may not opt out of the athletic fee to qualify for free tickets. They must pick up free tickets at the SIU Athletic Ticket Office during designated times. Tickets are subject to availability-- certain games, like men's basketball against conference rival Creighton University, usually sell out, and do so early. The NCAA usually won't allow free tickets to playoff games.)

For more information, visit <http://SIUSalukis.cstv.com>.