Culture | Thursday, March 14,2013

Africans lived here first

Scholar explores connections to Cahokia Mounds “pyramids”

Historians credit Christopher Columbus for finding the Americas, but Kaba Hiawatha Kamene declares that African descendants lived in what is now the United States many years prior to 1492. Kamene, a s

Culture | Thursday, December 27,2012

When the city becomes a stage

New Year’s party brings safe, affordable all-ages fun

By Patrick Yeagle

For the past 25 years, Springfield’s downtown has become a giant party every New Year’s Eve with First Night Springfield, the first and longest-running event of its kind in Illinois. The p

Culture | Thursday, December 20,2012

Art for every need

The arts scene in Springfield finds vitality in niche markets

By Scott Faingold

“We’re grateful that we still have this nice space to be in. It’s really made a big difference to what we’ve been able to deliver to the community,” says Janet Seitz Carl

Culture | Thursday, October 18,2012

Country dancing for 25 years

Homecoming Dance Oct. 19 marks Prairie Land Dance Club anniversary

By Grace Sweatt

Yes, it’s a little boot scootin’ and a little two-steppin,’ but Prairie Land Dance Club (PLDC) in Illiopolis ain’t your mama’s square dance. Folks at PLDC are just as com

Culture | Thursday, December 9,2010

A green beauty

For his own office building, architect John Shafer optimizes sustainability and design

By Ginny Lee

Architect John Shafer’s new office building at 1230 S. Sixth St. in Springfield recently won an award for sustainable design from the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Archit

Culture | Thursday, July 29,2010

Anatomy of an Advice Goddess

Illinois Times interviews columnist Amy Alkon on her career, methodology and the scourge of rude behavior

By Scott Faingold

Every week, Amy Alkon provides IT readers with her spin on romantic problems in her syndicated column The Advice Goddess. The column, which received the first place award for commentary last month fro

Culture | Thursday, July 8,2010

Taste of Downtown

In celebration of local food and good music

By Zach Baliva

Visitors and residents hungry for good music and good food in Springfield are sure to find some of both this weekend at the 11th annual Taste of Downtown. The popular event is presented this year in c

Culture | Thursday, May 13,2010

Steal these ideas

Springfield should copy what works in other towns

By Patrick Yeagle

“To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything.”Abraham Lincoln uttered those words in his famous farewell speech to Springfield almost 150 years ago. Since then, Sprin

Culture | Thursday, May 6,2010

Dancing without the stars

The capital city learns to tango, swing and waltz

By Julie Cellini

It’s chilly in the packed parking lot of the Eagles Club on Springfield’s far east side. But inside the club’s cavernous concrete ballroom more than 100 novice dancers are shedding s

Culture | Thursday, May 6,2010

Hero of Hotel Rwanda campaigns for truth about genocide

Paul Rusesabagina speaks in Springfield May 12

By Fletcher Farrar

Just when we thought Rwanda had reinvented itself into a genuine success story in Africa, and that Rwandan president Paul Kagame had become a star of international leadership, along comes the hero of