Sharp-dressed groomsmen
After a lean year, weddings are beginning to make a comeback. “We’re starting to see people wanting to get dressed up again, believe it or not,” says Marc Maslauski, owner of Jim Herron Ltd. “I think we have 13 different weddings booked this year.” The big trend in wedding attire right now is groomsmen suit…
Making of a maestro
Ken Lam knew it was time for a change. He had worked hard. He was at the top of his game. A law degree from Cambridge University. An expert in international corporate law and economics. Respected and rewarded for his brilliance and tenacity. A glittering career from London to Hong Kong. But the second half…
Conducting is like driving a Ferrari
What’s it like to stand in front of 70 highly trained musicians waving your arms? It’s daunting. And what “transferable skills” does a corporate lawyer have to meet that challenge? “The conductor is responsible for absolutely everything that happens,” says Lam. Drawing on his corporate experience, he knows accuracy, attention to detail and discipline are…
Quick questions for Ken
What childhood event foretold your conducting career? “When I was still a kid, I recorded a Leonard Bernstein concert on TV. I watched it over and over and over again. I was just really inspired.” Who else inspired you in your youth? “My violin teacher was so passionate about music that it was contagious to…
Dating at 50-plus
When it comes to dating, there is good and bad news for those age 50 and over. There are more potential mates to choose from. The U.S. Census reports that approximately 60 percent of them are single – never married, divorced or widowed. Though all may not currently be on the market, having more in…
A mother’s memoir of heartbreak and healing
Through a 10-year ordeal with her son, Monique Davis of Rochester, a teacher in Springfield public schools, relied on her faith for strength and guidance. She has written about the journey in a memoir, Be Still and Know: A Mother’s Story of Faith, Heartbreak, and Miracles, published in 2021 through Amazon. Her son, Alex, had…
Feet first
When you think about health and fitness, your feet may not be the first thing that comes to mind. But, the condition of your feet and ankles has a big impact on mobility and wellness. Except for the hand, no other part of the body has as many moving parts as the foot, which has…
Greenville’s charms
If you think playing a trick on someone is child’s play, wait until you see the collapsing stairs, fake guillotine and spinning wheel goat in Greenville, Illinois. Such adult hazing devices and more await you at the DeMoulin Museum in this town 70 miles south of Springfield. In Greenville you can go from learning the…
Calendar
As events may be canceled or rescheduled at the last moment, please first check with the host or venue when making plans to attend an event. “Negro Leagues Beisbol” Through Oct. 30. Open during normal museum hours. This traveling exhibit was developed to explore the connections of African American baseball history with Hispanic cultures, communities…
Experts in our community
What they know that you should Local celebrity Gus Gordon from Springfield has been involved in theater since 1980 and is celebrating his 41st year as a performer. He has been in well over 100 shows during that time, and has either been in, worked on, produced or directed over 200 productions. He has been…
