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Winter Guide 2023
Our annual Winter Guide has an expanded calendar of holiday activities, plus tips on dealing with toxic relatives, alternatives to Christmas trees, a look at how Christmas was celebrated in Springfield a century ago and more. Related Related Related Related Related Related Related Stories
Federal trial for Sam McCann postponed again
Former Conservative Party gubernatorial candidate Sam McCann fired his latest court-appointed lawyer and decided moments before opening arguments in his federal trial Nov. 27 to represent himself against charges of illegal campaign fund spending that could land him in prison for 20 years or more. McCann, 54, told reporters after his decision that he doesn’t…
Holiday events calendar
Special Music Events An evening with Emmanuel di Villarosa Fri., Dec. 8, 7:30pm. The world-renowned tenor will present popular arias, Christmas favorites and other selections. Formal attire is encouraged. Hors d’oeuvres and drinks are included. Suggested donation of $25 per person or $40 per couple. The Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space, 623 E. Adams St.,…
Editors note 11/23/23
ICON – Inner City Older Neighborhoods – holds its annual meeting and “Celebration” Nov. 27. This hardworking organization celebrates by honoring supporters with “good neighbor” awards. But it is ICON that most deserves the honor. For 13 years now, the group has been meeting and strategizing, dutifully attending city council meetings and generally doing the…
A writer as big as Texas
Why, you might ask, am I writing a review of a biography of Texas author Larry McMurtry in the Arts and Culture section of Illinois Times? It is a good question because the 473-page biography, Larry McMurtry: a Life, by Tracy Daugherty, has little connection to Illinois. The only link to our state that I…
BOS Center one step closer to major expansion
A tourism improvement district that would finance a $100 million expansion of Springfield’s downtown convention center cleared a major hurdle recently, with the proposed district – and a future surcharge on room rates – receiving majority support from the city’s hotels. “It’s a big step,” said state Rep. Mike Coffey, R-Springfield, a downtown restaurant owner…
A party in your freezer
Great food takes time, a commodity that’s in notoriously short supply during the frenetic holiday season. The freezer is a savvy host’s best friend, especially if you’re wanting to wow guests with sumptuous homemade treats. Whether you’re planning ahead for a grand holiday soiree or just want to be prepared for last-minute gatherings, these freezer-friendly…
State school board weighs increased funding requests
Officials at the Illinois State Board of Education say they’re receiving more requests for increased funding for next year than the state could possibly afford, and they’re bracing for the possibility that budgets will start to tighten in the near future. “It does appear that revenue will be a little bit tighter in the next…
Thanks for the music
Hello, everyone, and welcome to the 2023 Thanksgiving edition of Now Playing. As you give those thanks on Thanksgiving Day proper, don’t forget to give a shout out, however humble, to all of the musicians, venues, fans and participants in general that make our music community the vibrant and scintillating scene it is. As usual,…
A love of literacy
Donna Brown is a woman with a vision to have every child in Springfield learn to read. The 62-year-old founder of iMagicNation is launching an outreach in January at Matheny-Withrow Elementary School to mentor children at the school that is underperforming in reading. But her long-term dream is to build a literacy center on Springfield’s east…
A fight worth having
In this journey called “life,” I have encountered a lot of hardship but by divine wisdom, engaging in my children’s schooling, and their activities these things became the sustaining factor for me. I am Rosa Davis, the new community organizer with Faith Coalition for the Common Good. Although organizing is now my professional career, organizing…
State Supreme Court weighs constitutionality of lifetime restrictions on child sex offenders
The Illinois Supreme Court is weighing whether it is constitutional to impose lifetime restrictions on where a person can live after they’ve been convicted of a sex crime involving a minor. “It’s been 21 years – almost 21 years since my conviction,” Martin Kopf told the court’s seven justices Nov. 15. “I have been totally…
Hunger Games prequel, Saltburn a would-be social commentary, Leo loses its way
Snakes effectively revives Games Far better than anticipated, Francis Lawrence’s Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, proves to be a worthy addition to the franchise. Taking place some 60 years before the adventures of Katniss Everdeen, the Hunger Games, a gladiatorial event used to keep the masses in check, is in trouble.…
Generosity Poem
I knew my dad’s farm manager left on about a day’s notice for a better job. I later knew about the following letter (and disapproved!) but this was my parents’ way: “Dear Friends: You know I promised you $10,000.00 in my will. It seems to me that I should take this amount from out of…
Letters to the editor 11/23/23
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to editor@illinoistimes.com. —- HUNTER LAKE A WASTE Stop – enough already! Quit wasting time, resources and my tax dollars on Hunter Lake (“More hurdles for Hunter Lake,” Nov. 9). We do not need it. Take care of the lake…
Christmas tree substitutes
Christmas brings out not only credit cards, but creativity, especially for those who seek alternatives to the traditional Christmas tree. Some choose alternatives to be more environmentally friendly, some because they want easier decorations. Others are tight on money or space, or just want something different. There are loads of ideas for tree substitutes. Google…
Christmas 100 years ago
In 1923, the holidays followed a year that saw the lingering aftermath of World War I and the hint of the next, as well as other cultural changes. America’s soldiers finally pulled out of a defeated Germany and our country adjusted to a new president, Calvin Coolidge, after Warren Harding died. Adolf Hitler’s rise began…
Take time off from toxic relatives
The holiday season usually brings to mind happy families celebrating. But for people who have little or no contact with their family, by choice, this time of year can bring stress, anxiety and dread. The most common reasons for limiting contact with one’s family include emotional and other abuse, unresolved addiction and toxic family patterns…
Downtown holiday happenings
The excitement of the holiday season returns with a whirlwind of holiday activities and shopping when the much-anticipated Old Capitol Holiday Walks kicks off on Nov. 25 for Small Business Saturday. You’ll find downtown storefronts of locally owned businesses, restaurants and bars beautifully decorated in traditional and contemporary Kwanza, Hanukkah and Christmas decorations. Inside each…
Get outside during the holidays
It is well-known that spending time outdoors improves mood, reduces stress and contributes to physical well-being. But with all the business of the holiday season, sometimes we forget to head outdoors. Many of our images of the holidays include everyone cozying up under blankets around an indoor fireplace, but let’s not forget to celebrate the…
World-renowned tenor to perform in Springfield
The Pharmacy Gallery and Art Space in downtown Springfield will host An Evening with Emmanuel di Villarosa, a famed opera singer, on Dec. 8. This is a rare opportunity for music lovers to experience an incredible talent in an intimate venue. The singer will perform a number of famous arias, including “E lucevan le stelle”…
Kayla Graven to join city of Springfield
Kayla Graven looks forward to broadening the focus of her economic development expertise to all of Springfield. Graven, 34, told Illinois Times that the “opportunity to grow as a professional” attracted her to Springfield city government after working since 2018 at Downtown Springfield Inc., where she has been the nonprofit organization’s executive director the past…
