Arriving at Pat Smith’s home for her holiday party, one might think her little tree, perched on a table and adorned with a delicate strand of lights, is an homage to “A Charlie Brown Chris]]> This Saturday, Dec. 15, six downtown historic sites are combining efforts and welcoming visitors to celebrate the holidays, a bit like the hospitable ol’ Fezziwig in Charles Dickens’ A Chr]]> Give what’s in your heart. It’s a phrase that, when applied in the figurative sense, precisely summarizes what most social service agencies ask of their donors, hoping that in those hearts]]> Retro style is in, and kids can’t get enough of it, from cutting-edge clothing and accessories that recall the classics to thrift-shop home goods straight from grandma’s attic. A quest for]]> It goes without saying that 2010 is the year of the iPad.Despite the recession-y conditions in which it was unveiled, Apple’s new tablet device has been the most successful product launch in the]]> Helping Hands Of Springfield200 S. 11th Street 217-744-0470Helping Hands of Springfield is a non-profit organization whose mission is “. . . to shelter the homeless, provide support, promote ind]]> “It takes a worried man to sing a worried song,It takes a worried man to sing a worried song,It takes a worried man to sing a worried song.I’m worried now but I won’t be worried long]]> Avocado goat cheese dip• 3 ripe avocados• 2 gloves minced garlic• 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)• 4 ounces ]]> If you’re like most Illinois Times readers, your life is safe and secure and the holidays are a time for family fun and delicious meals. Sadly that isn’t the case for everyone in our]]> Nothing soothes quite like curling up with a good book. But with the booming e-reader market, the avid readers on your gift list might soon be curling up with thousands at once. As the popularity of e]]> The inventor of the standard holiday red-and-green color scheme was probably colorblind - no one with good vision would want to decorate with two colors opposite each other on the color wheel. Escapin]]> If you still reach for a box of buttery-tasting crackers for the party cheese to rest on, you can find more appealing alternatives. Thanks to the cracker revival, you’re in for exciting new tast]]> Don’t let those who’ve cut the cable miss out on their favorite shows. Holiday downtime is perfect for catching up on some of cables’ most popular and critically acclaimed shows. Her]]> In an Instagram world, the smartphone has become the primary camera for any amateur photog. But on the bike, in the water or up in the air, it’s time to forget the filters and grab a camera that]]> Before the iPad debuted in early 2010, no one really knew they needed a tablet. But, gosh, how did we ever live without them? Lighter than a laptop with more real estate than a smartphone, tablets hav]]> Books open a world of discovery in ways even the coolest toys can’t achieve. This season, tempt a kid to turn off the TV and find an adventure in words and pictures on a printed page. These accl]]> There are few things in this world more irritating than paying an oversized cable bill (OK, paying an oversized gas bill comes close). Thankfully,  TV fans don’t have to suffer the indignit]]> Somewhere on the spectrum between techno-dazzle (iPad apps for toddlers, anyone?) and fuzzy-wuzzy bears there’s a sweet spot: toys that inspire kids to have fun, stretch their creativity and lea]]> Growing up in the Midwest, there wasn’t a holiday that didn’t get a little merrier courtesy of a scoop of homemade ice cream. Aside from the Cool Whip-topped pumpkin variety, there wasn&rs]]>