Calendar Of Events In Illinois

Jan 11  Machine Shed Chef Cooks with Kids. 6 pm at Illinois Machine Shed, 7475 E. State St, Rockford. A chef will lead a cooking class in which the parents and the children will make kid-friendly recipes. Free. Second Monday of each month. 815-229-3276.

Jan 16 Rockford Symphony Orchestra Concert. 7:30 pm at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St, Rockford. Mussorgsky/Ravel's "Pictures at an Exhibition" will be a backdrop for a celebration of Rockford through the eyes of photographers. $18 to $54. 815-965-0049.

Jan 30  56th Annual OSF Pink Ball. 6 pm cocktails and 7 pm dinner. Proceeds will be used to provide upgrades and support for patients served by the OSF Saint Anthony Center for Cancer Care. 815-395-5346.

Feb 7  Super Bowl XLIV. at LandShark Stadium, Miami.

Feb 9  Boylan Business and Professional Network Meeting. 5:30 pm at Boylan Catholic High School, 4000 Saint Francis Drive, Rockford. Held in the alumni center. Social hour at 5:30 pm, with presentation of Balancing Work, Family and Faith by Mike Mastroianni at 6 pm 815-316-2422, fhaney@boylan.org.

Feb 13  Fur Ball 2010. 6:30 pm at Giovanni's, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Second annual PAWS Humane Society Fur Ball dinner dance fundraiser features cocktails at 6:30 pm, dinner at 7:30 and dancing to the music of the Missing Links starting at 9. $65; corporate tables of 10 for $650. 815-289-0345, info@PAWSHS.org, furballrockford.com.

Feb 18  The Arc's Third Annual Chocoholic Frolic. 5:30 pm at Clock Tower Resort and Conference Center, 7801 E. State St, Rockford. $25. Event is a mix of chocolate and charity to benefit The Arc of Winnebago, Boone and Ogle counties. Wine and cheese social hour at 5:30 pm, with all-you-can-eat chocolate extravaganza at 6:30. 815-965-3455, arcwbo.org.

.Feb 26  Ourtreach for the Arts. 6 pm at Hoffman House, 7550 E. State St, Rockford. Annual art fundraiser. 815-877-0118, womanspace-rockford.org.

Feb 26 - 28  30th Annual Home Show. 4 to 8 pm Friday, 10 am to 7 pm Saturday and 11 am to 5 pm Sunday. Free parking. See floral gardens with hundreds of live flowers, waterfalls, hundreds of exhibits, how-to clinics and more. showtimeproduction.net.

Mar 1  YWCA's 30th Annual Leader Luncheon: Women of Achievement. The event is the YWCA's largest single fundraiser of the year. Proceeds enable the YWCA to develop and expand programming and advocacies for women and families' economic self-sufficiency with a clear commitment to the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women. 11:30 am at Giovanni's Restarurant, 610 N Bell School Road, Rockford. Six individuals in the Rock River Valley who strive to make a difference will be recognized. Keynote speaker will be Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the eldest daughter of Robert F Kennedy and the first female Lt. Governor of Maryland. 815-316-6126.