Oddball Illinois: A Guide to 450 Really Strange Places, by Jerome Pohlen, is your ticket to the fantastic and eccentric in the land of Lincoln. The book offers interesting information about unusual pe]]> Fall sings with color. Besides the glorious riot of the leaves there are the deep reds of the apples, the golden orange of the pumpkins and the muted shades of squash. Fall is all about texture, taste]]> When Brian and Tracey Meade’s air conditioner went out, club members showed up with two window units. The club is the Mid-America Sport Parachute Club, based out of the Taylorville airport. &ldq]]> As summer comes to a close, the overwhelming heat and touristy jaunts are becoming distant memories. The sunscreen is being packed away, and you’ve enjoyed yet another summer of stimulating acti]]> About an hour and a half south of Springfield, meandering down highway 127 to where it intersects Interstate 70, is the town of Greenville. According to the town fathers it has been hailed as “a]]> As the days become shorter, the temperature cools, and leaves turn vibrant colors of yellow, orange and brown. The Springfield area is not short on its variety of fall festivals sure to keep you and y]]> Venture into southern Illinois this fall and discover two outstanding art venues that may not have been on your radar screen — the Mitchell Museum at Cedarhurst in Mt. Vernon and the Southern Il]]> Normally, as autumn goes in the Midwest, things begin to cool off, but that isn’t so with live music. This fall has a number of options within an afternoon’s drive from Springfield, and th]]> As the hot, hazy days of summer are replaced by crisp breezes and bursts of color, area residents can enjoy all that fall has to offer at area festivals.August“Women Who Made History” is t]]> Rock, pop, Christian and jazz are among the musical offerings in central Illinois this fall. There’s something for everybody, so plan ahead, then get out and enjoy the music.Sangamon AuditoriumS]]> With the heat of summer in the rear view mirror, it is time for a fall adventure. Head to the Quad Cities along the big Ole Mississippi. There is a lot to do in the Quad Cities and on the way there an]]> As autumn sets in, Springfield audiences can rest assured the rich repertoire of local and regional musicians will temper the cooling weather. From Labor Day pops concerts (think baseball) to Christma]]> As the hot summer days are slowly replaced by brisk winds and bursts of colorful leaves, the Springfield area has a wide array of festivals that will allow you to enjoy the beautiful season of autumn.]]> Summer may be drawing to a close, but the music scene in central Illinois is as vibrant as ever. From cutting-edge electronica to old-time a capella, Springfield and other central Illinois cities offe]]> A recent estimate by the Abraham Lincoln Association puts the number of distinct titles about Lincoln at 17,000. Add another hundred or so generated by the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial, and Lincoln may i]]> It barely snowed last winter. It barely rained this summer. And who knows what fall will bring?Flexibility is key when it comes to autumn in central Illinois. The perfect picnic plan could be scuttled]]> Autumn is showtimeThe season’s guide to theater in Central IllinoisFun at fall festivalsVisit Mt. Vernon for art and wineSurprising GreenvilleVisit the fun and quirky DeMoulin MuseumFall classic]]> No one currently working in the Lincoln-Herndon Law Office smokes a pipe. So, what could possibly explain the aroma of pipe tobacco that employees at the historic site claim to notice from time to tim]]> As many Springfield residents look forward to the weather finally cooling down, fans of locally produced entertainment can’t wait for the theater season to heat up. It might seem counter-intuiti]]>