HyperLocal News for Carbondale, Illinois

Angel Mounds: Offering a heavenly peek at prehistoryCenturies before there was an Evansville, people found southwestern Indiana an attractive home. See where and how native Americans lived at Angel Mounds State Historic Site.

National Quilt Museum keeps traditional art aliveWith more than 300 traditional and contemporary quilts, the National Quilt Museum in the westernmost edge of Kentucky provides hours of enjoyment for quilters and non-quilters alike.

Cahokia Mounds: History, mystery of an ancient cityA great city rose outside of St. Louis 1,000 years ago — and was mysteriously abandoned by its native American inhabitants before Christopher Columbus reached the New World. Today, you can walk their grounds, see their artifacts and climb the mighty mound of their chief at Cahokia Mounds State Park.

Market House Theatre: Distinctive theater in a historic localeFor nearly 50 years, the award-winning Market House Theatre has been entertaining audiences while providing artistic opportunities for young and old alike. This community theater delivers delightful performances ranging from traditional musical theater favorites to lively youth-oriented performances to recent Broadway dramas, comedies and musicals. With a season this varied — and with tickets this affordable — there’s sure to be something for you!

Citygarden: Play, art, nature meet in St. LouisYou can beat the heat, enjoy world-class sculpture or just take the kids out for a fun afternoon at St. Louis’ urban oasis, Citygarden.

Busch Stadium tours never strike outSpending the afternoon at Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, is great fun. But a tour of the facility provides a great look at the proud history of the National League baseball team and at the behind-the-scenes dynamics of running the ballpark.

Tour St. Louis! Trolleys: Making touring terrific funFor a look at the Gateway City like no other, why not try touring by trolley? Thanks to Tour St. Louis!, you can!

Scott Joplin House celebrates his years in St. LouisMusic enthusiasts, rejoice! At the Scott Joplin State Historic Site, you can learn more about the legendary King of Ragtime and child musical progidy and even tickle the ivories of a player piano.

Market House Museum: Packing Paducah’s history in a small spaceThough small, the William Clark Market House Museum contains curiosities and artifacts tracing the nearly 200 years of Paducah’s history. From early vehicles to delicate works of art to documents and maps, the museum celebrates the people and events who made the town what it has become.

Mesker Park Zoo: A world of wildlife, minutes awayExplore an Amazon rainforest, visit a prairie dog village, feed a giraffe and paddle a swan boat across Lake Victoria — you can do it all in a day at Evansville’s Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden. An Evansville favorite since 1928, the zoo is worth a visit from anyone in the tri-state region. Recent additions such as the rainforest-themed Amazonia and the renovated nocturnal exhibit make it more enticing than ever.

Blueberry Hill: Chuck Berry’s just the beginningAdmittedly, Blueberry Hill is best known as the venue where, monthly, rock ’n roll legend Chuck Berry plays a sold-out concert. But the bar/restaurant that began the revitalization of St. Louis’ The Loop is a lot more than the house that Chuck built.

Paducah, Metropolis plan super weekend Sept. 11–12Everyone knows that Metropolis, Ill., is the home of Superman. Paducah is home to a super museum — the National Quilt Museum of the United States. It’s only natural for the neighboring cities to combine forces. Locals and visitors will find a wealth of activities, from quilting events to historic re-enactments and more, Sept. 11–12 with Super City — Quilt City, A Celebration of the Arts between Two Cities.

Make reservations for Anthony Bourdain’s show at the Fox TheatreChef and writer Anthony Bourdain, author of Kitchen Confidential, brings comes to the Fox Theatre in downtown St. Louis in No Reservations: An Evening with Anthony Bourdain on Oct. 1.

Angel Mounds hosts treasures of ancient cultureA lot of treasures are found underground — diamonds, rubies, veins of gold and silver. From Nov. 6, 2010, to Jan. 14, 2011, Evansville’s Angel Mounds State Historic Site will display treasures of a different sort. Visitors will be treated to a trove of rare artifacts from the ancient Americans who lived in nearby Posey County nearly 1,700 years ago.

DinoQuest: A Tropical Trek Through Time: A roaring good time!Travel back 65 million years with DinoQuest: A Tropical Trek Through Time, an exhibit at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis that runs through Oct. 3.

Shrek The Musical comes to Fox Theatre Sept. 11-26You’ve been green with envy over your friends who have been able to catch Shrek The Musical, the new hit Broadway musical, in New York City. Now you have the chance to enjoy the new musical adaptation of the Academy Award-winning movie about an ogre who lives happily ever after right in St. Louis! Shrek The Musical plays at the Fox Theatre in downtown St. Louis from Sept. 11–26.

Brothers Bar and GrillUnder an umbrella on the patio of Brothers Bar and Grill just might be one of the best outdoor places in the area to enjoy lunch, dinner, or drinks. The views of downtown Cincinnati and the Ohio River are spectacular.

Highway 61 Roadhouse: Following the Blues Highway to food, funLooking for great music? Hungry for an eclectic menu of fine eats? Highway 61 Roadhouse and Kitchen in Webster Groves provides both, never stinting on quality with either.

Blueberry Hill: This rock ’n roll eatery’s quite a thrillBeginning its fifth decade, Blueberry Hill, the landmark restaurant in St. Louis’ famed Loop provides just as great a thrill as ever. The signature hamburgers and gazpacho soup will keep diners coming back for more.

Casa Gallardo: Your tongue will shout ‘olé!’Forget run-of-the-mill tacos and boring burritos. At Casa Gallardo Mexican Restaurant, you can dive into aromatic shrimp dishes, house-made tortilla soups and a chunky guacamole prepared right at your table — food that’s sure to get your mouth watering as soon as you step inside.

Fountain on Locust: eclectic eats in a retro eateryIn addition to fine eats, ice cream and chocolates, the Fountain on Locust serves up retro cocktails in an Art Deco interior to match. Be sure to revel in one of the Fountain's signature ice cream martinis.

Feasting Fox: fine German cuisine in historic ambianceThe Feasting Fox Restaurant & Pub played a key part in St. Louis' history and that of Anheuser Busch. But today's visitors come for the great German food, extensive selection of German beer and wines and lively entertainment.