My wife and I were comped tickets to the US Air Force Band from Scott Air Force Base for a special…read moreChristmas show. We have been to the Hett several times and it is an excellent venue. There is a circle drive so you can drop off disabled or mobility challenged folks or your lovely wife when it's pouring down rain ! There's ample parking and overflow parking a little to the right as you approach parking. There is also a bar but we normally get water. M & F restrooms are located on both sides of the theater entry and are always sparkling clean. The venue is not huge but is open and easy to spot friends. The seats are easy in and out and very comfortable. Ushers are typically students and you should have a great view no matter where you sit. Look ahead for the season and plan ahead or just buy season tickets . Two thumbs up for the Hett!!

From the owner: The intimacy of the Hett lends itself to performing arts events of any kind. From jazz to opera,…read moreyou'll enjoy the Hett's comfortable design and lay-out. Musicians love it for its marvelous acoustics and dancers like the big stage. The Hett is simply the finest performing arts venue in Southern Illinois. Period.

Miss Elizabeth expects a lot from her students. Young dancers can expect to work hard, but they…read morewill actually learn technique. I've seen a few other dance schools in the area and if you're interested in dancing as opposed to the competitive cheer type drills, this is a terrific school.

It's not often that I get to review a service I received more than 20 years ago. But I was a…read morestudent at DanceStation in my elementary years. I recently found out my friend's daughter is a student there now. She and her little friend were wide-eyed when I told them that Miss Liz had been my teacher. I told their parents that the training and experience I received there has served me well every since, and it is very true. Far beyond dance and fitness, it cultivated posture, poise, confidence and yes, discipline, precision, attention to detail. I was never more than average as a ballet dancer, but the body awareness I learned there thanks to the Cecchetti method has helped me in every single physical pursuit I've made since, be it yoga, flying trapeze or skydiving--or just sitting properly at my desk or walking into a room with my head up. "Ask and your body will respond," instructor Paula said once in class. I have never forgotten this. At the time it was in reference to executing a triple pirouette--which seemed so daunting at the time--but it is amazing what your body can do if you simply ask it, and stop getting in your own way. DanceStation pushed me and it was a good thing. I appreciate the top-notch instruction I received there, and my two sisters do, too. Keep on doing what you do, DanceStation!

I hated my time here at McKendree University. I had to graduate early just to get away from the…read moreplace. Not only are most of their dorms old and worn down, there is constantly a bug infestation. During the fall, the stink bugs get so bad that they invade the inside of your living space, and McK is too poor to pay someone to come and spray for the bugs. One time a friend of mine had fleas in her apartment from the LAST resident. Do you know what that means? There were fleas in that apartment ALL summer until the fall when McKendree ALLOWED students to move into it. That is gross. Also, McKendree knowingly knew that one of their coaches was a predator. Years went by of athletes complaining and informing the athletic director that the coach was SLEEPING with some of his female athletes. That is absolutely wrong. The old president that just retired was allowed to go on sabbatical, a period of PAID leave for someone who was retiring!? Does that make any sense? Usually when you get paid to go on sabbatical, you are expected to come back and continue working. That is not the case as the President was recently replaced. When the sports teams struggle to fundraise money in order to travel, stay in hotels, and feed their athletes. Speaking of feeding their athletes, Ames, the dining hall is known for their food poisoning. Many of the students here at McKendree know which foods they should stay away from and this leaves them with poor options such as pizza, sandwiches, or even cereal for DINNER. I honestly cannot believe how sad McKendree's campus is. Public Safety is more concerned about busting people for smoking in their rooms than making sure the students are safe on campus. There are holes in the walls. Stains on the carpets. Refrigerator handles have been known to break off and people's hands. Will the students get a refund on the money they spent during their 2020 second semester even though they won't actually be living on campus on attending in-person class?? Absolutely not because that is just how McKendree is. Our newest building is PAC and the new dormitories, but there is only a limited amount of space for students to get into those dorms and one side is specifically for freshmen. In 2019 when registration for housing began, after the SENIORS signed up, there is barely any housing for juniors or sophomores. And if you ever consider living at the Suites just remember, it is three rooms with two people in each that all share a bathroom. They are dirty, dingy, and falling apart but the cheapest option for many students considering McKendree is too expensive. You may be wondering if McK is so expensive, why don't they have money? Exactly, their numbers are currently dropping and many of the sport's teams are desperately trying to recruit/entrap, as many athletes as possible. The only good thing I can say I received from McKendree were the friends I had the opportunity of making and some of the professors are amazing. Others are opinionated and if you don't do it their way or they don't like the way you answered a question, you're out of luck. And if you're reading this and thinking that I am just one student with a bad opinion about McKendree, trust me there are more who are gone or have graduated who are so, so happy that they no longer have to be at McKendree University. Thank you for your time.

This is my alma mater. It's the oldest college in Illinois, a heritage of which we are rightfully…read moreproud! The campus is absolutely lovely, both old buildings and new. If you're interested in history, you should visit. If you just like pretty old buildings, you should visit. An era is passing - McKendree College is slated to become McKendree University this summer. I'm ecstatic...but a little sad. But at least now I can say "GO MUCK U!!!" and mean it!

I don't know why I've never been to this festival until this year. Maybe the very strange…read morepromotional art? I thought it was going to be very hippie, and it was in a way, but it brought out a lot of people...and not all of them were hippies. I do love the idea though: arts and crafts through upcycled material...how much cooler is that? Getting there is somewhat of a pain because Highway 50 narrows down to one lane each way when you get close to the park. Add to that Oktoberfests galore, and you have a very nice recipe for "traffic jam". Everyone parks everywhere, but surprisingly enough, parking wasn't that big of a deal. It is really a family thing too. They have arts and crafts for the kids, indie bands playing, lots of picnic tables set up with the usual assortment of fair foods, an alpaca petting zoo, and of course, Girl Scouts selling cookies. But the booths themselves are the showcase, and the media is quite varied, even though I heard a booth owner complain, "It is so hard nowadays to be original." She was selling wire jewelry, so I guess I can see her point. And really, my favorite booths are really the unique ones like Beqi Clothing and Newberry Furniture. The Newberrys repurpose old wood for new stuff...their current thing consists of Adirondack chairs made from an old barn. And Beqi takes vintage clothing and changes it all around..she has quite the gift. The whole thing is pretty big, and it really does impress me that there are so many craftsters in the area.

The Strange Folk Festival is the COOLEST shopping festival I've ever attended. The wares are the…read moresort of thing you'd find on Etsy. Great place to get Christmas and birthday gifts. From what I understand, artisans come from all over the US to sell at this event. There is a huge variety and it's so much fun. Cool crowd too. I only wish it was a regular fixture rather than once a year in one place. 17/100 Yelp Challenge 2015

They have Taco's in the evening on Tuesdays from 6-8pm. Every day they have a lunch special from…read more11am-1pm. Beers are cold and cheap. Bartenders are friendly and usually have a game on the TVs.

I cannot tell you how much I have enjoyed Fiona's adult Irish Dance classes at Gaelic Origins. For…read moreadults, she tends to focus on the steps first and technique second, which is really great when you're there primarily to be active and have fun. Though, if you express interest in wanting more of the technique, she'll give you more of that, too! She's encouraging, supportive of our goals, and is flexible with working adults' schedules (and body limitations), as evidenced by her class passes and how she teaches the classes. I started on a class pass when the studio opened, danced through St Pat's Day, took off several months, and then started again with a class before switching to the adult unlimited plan. This allows me to go to both the adult softshoe class and the mixed-ages hardshoe class. Gaelic Origins also has periodic Irish Dance nights for adults. These are a blast, and they allow couples (romantic couples, friends) or singles to learn a dance and enjoy a little wine or whiskey. And they're one-night events, so there's no commitment. Tge hubby has gone to 2 or 3 of these with me, and he frequently asks when the next one is! TIP: Interested in regular classes? Call/email and ask, and your first class is free! That way, you'll have an idea of what classes will be like and if you'll likely enjoy them. Although, I would say give it at least four classes, because you'll be exhausted after the first one or two. But don't give up! Stretch after class and heat and ice any sore muscles. It's not nearly as exhausting after class two or three.

Fiona was a fantastic instructor and so much fun!!! I highly recommend this for any occasion or…read morejust for fun!!!