The hand that rocks the ladle
I’m a 57-year-old twice-divorced man. Though I never wanted to get to a point where romance wouldn’t be in my big picture, I’m feeling done with it. I’ve replaced dating and getting married again with gourmet cooking for one. I’m really enjoying it, but it worries me. Is it okay to be done? — Single…
Beware shiny balloons
The legislature convenes next month, and so Shiny Balloon Season is nearly upon us. As any first-year law school student knows, shiny balloons are pretty but insubstantial things floated to distract scrutiny from things that actually matter. This time, the new governor’s push for a progressive income tax threatens to be a giant shiny balloon…
Putting the Trump stamp on the public
D.T. is really quite good at one special skill: branding. He has slapped his name on a ridiculous range of consumer merch – teddy bears, steaks, made-in-China ties, vodka, underwear and even a urine test. Then, of course, there’s his very own post office. Yes, he bought a 60-year lease on the “Old Post Office…
Putting the Trump stamp on the public
D.T. is really quite good at one special skill: branding. He has slapped his name on a ridiculous range of consumer merch – teddy bears, steaks, made-in-China ties, vodka, underwear and even a urine test. Then, of course, there’s his very own post office. Yes, he bought a 60-year lease on the “Old Post Office…
Letters to the Editor
SCOUTING INCLUDES GIRLS Thank you for the great article titled “Scouting for a new generation” (Capital City Parent, Winter 2018, by Elizabeth Watson). I have to share one small correction. Starting on Feb. 1, 2019, our “flagship program” titled Boy Scouts will become “Scouts BSA” … not just “Scouts” as mentioned in the article. Our…
Editor’s Note 12/13/18
A journalist friend is exploring new models for the news, looking for ways to rebuild trust with audiences, while working toward better writing and reporting, while seeking new and better ways to make the enterprise pay. At Illinois Times we’re eager to join the conversation, looking for better ways to do what we do. At…
19th century holiday decor
See Springfield’s oldest home, the Elijah Iles House, decked with 19th century holiday decor during the Candlelight Tour on Friday, Dec. 14 and the Historic Christmas Open House on Saturday, Dec. 15. The Candlelight Tour will offer guests the opportunity to enjoy light refreshments and tour the home, fully decorated with period-authentic decorations, by candlelight…
A country Christmas
Classic Nashville Christmas, presented by Jason Petty, Katie Deal and The Classic Nashville Roadshow cast, is a live-stage production that showcases country, gospel and bluegrass Christmas songs and the stories behind them. The authentic-period set will delight attendees of all ages, and the performance features hits such as Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas,” Willie Nelson’s…
Holiday charm downtown
Enjoy shopping, dining and holiday cheer on Wednesday, Dec. 19 during a Wednesday night installment of the Old Capitol Holiday Walks. In addition to shopping and dining at downtown Springfield’s many charming shops and restaurants, the 2018 holiday walks feature carolers, a 12-foot-tall Christmas tree created by Ace Sign Co. on the Old State Capitol…
A little girl lost
She loved horses and the Green Bay Packers. She hated her curly hair. She was in the sixth grade at Gillespie Middle School. She didn’t like to run, but she played soccer anyway. She’s been dead for nearly a year. If she were alive still, Madyson Loftis, Mady for short, would be thinking of softball…
Deaf Wings, a voice for victims
Victims of domestic or sexual violence often don’t reach out for help or report incidents to law enforcement. For deaf women, the barriers are even greater. Deaf Wings is an initiative of the Jacksonville Area Center for Independent Living (JACIL) designed to help women deal with the violence they have experienced. Deaf Wings is like…
SAM THE MAN
Sam Cahnman, who’s looking to move from erstwhile Ward 5 alderman to newly elected Ward 5 alderman in upcoming city elections, is vowing to reject a pay raise approved last month by the city council and Mayor Jim Langfelder, who broke a 5-5 tie (surprise) to up aldermanic salaries by the same rate as inflation,…
A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN
Newly minted U.S. attorney John Milhiser is making moves in an office rocked by revelations that prosecutors and other employees have exchanged improper emails with U.S. District Court Judge Colin Bruce, a former federal prosecutor himself, that last summer prompted the judge’s removal from all criminal proceedings, including the corruption case against former U.S. Rep.…
Vibrant, imaginative Spider-Verse a true delight
Sony Pictures has made more than a few questionable moves where the Spider-Man franchise is concerned. After bringing the web head to the big screen with the trilogy directed by Sam Raimi, they stumbled badly with the Andrew Garfield-led reboot that consisted of two underperforming entries. (I suppose everything’s relative – the pair of films…
Old, new onesies
In the music scene, we receive great gifts in the form of musical moments throughout the year, but the amount of giving increases during the holidays. Indeed, one of the finest additions to this time of year must be the extracurricular concerts and music performances held around town. I refer you to the main calendar…
Chris Camp & His Blues Ambassadors
Formed as an outlet for the musical talents of a guy you may know better as The Whip Guy, this group can play those swinging sounds to bridge any diplomatic impasse on the dance floor or barroom. When Chris Camp lays down his bullwhips and pulls out the harmonica and takes to the stage to…
Friend’s poem: Little Treasures
Friend’s poem: Little Treasures A quiet morning. Just the sound of the fanand the ticking of the clock. Both comfort.You ask of childhood treasures. I think back,I see a walking doll. A dictionary. A partial setof encyclopedias. Paper and pencils. Discardedpaper sacks to draw on. Imagined housesin a friendly neighborhood. A jar of flashing lightning…
Two new cookbooks to give and get this holiday season
Cookbooks are some of the best gifts to give your food-minded friends and relatives for the holidays. Among this year’s new releases are two wildly different books that share a surprisingly common theme.Joe Beef: Surviving the Apocalypse: Another Cookbook of Sorts by David McMillan, Frederic Morin and Meredith Erickson (Alfred A. Knopf, $45). Montreal’s restaurant…
