DANCING | Salsa nights This New Year’s Eve shake your hips to the mambo, move your booty to the rumba and get spicy
with salsa at the National Image Inc. Central Illinois Chapter New Year’s Eve Salsa Night. The event benefits the organization’s scholarship funds, but like most parties is has a ripple effect. After each of
the organization’s events, Ric Thompson, the event organizer, encounters people who thought they
were the only Latinos in Springfield until they found out about Salsa Nights.
The New Year’s Eve bash provides a venue for the Latino community in Springfield to get
together to share the language, culture and the excitement of the New Year. The
party is open to everyone and is also a way for others to learn about the
Latino community. The mission of National Image, Inc. Central Illinois Chapter
is to strive for the betterment of all Latinos through community activism.
Salsa Nights
New Year’s Eve Dance
Wednesday Dec. 31
Travel Lodge
3751 S. Sixth St.
217-529-5511
10 pm-2 am
$7 per person;
$10 per couple
NEW YEAR’S EVE | First Night For the past 22 years the Springfield Area Arts Council has made First Night
Springfield the official New Year’s Eve event of the city. This year, the SAAC is keeping the old favorites and
adding new festivities to the roster. “Magic is in the Air” is the theme of the event and it includes everything from magicians at Lincoln’s Home to Walter King, the spellbinder. During the day, enjoy family friendly
activities at Springfield High School, such as hands on arts and crafts, a
harmonica workshop, a drumming ensemble and more. Once the winter sun sets,
adults have an array of musical performances to choose from, including new acts
like Seraphim Women’s Group, Switchback, a Celtic American band, Stacy Sandoval Salsa music, local
musician Ben Bedford playing Lincoln-era songs, the Debbie Ross Band and more.
Guests can dress up in turn-of-the-century costumes and attend The Early
American Ball at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum or go to Chase Bank
and square dance. The variety of venues and activities allows everyone to be
introduced to different genres of music and cultures. The midnight fireworks
display is a reminder of the magic that comes with the beginning of a New Year.
Purchase tickets at the following locations
County Market – Springfield and Chatham locations
Kent’s IGA – 500 E Sangamon Ave, Petersburg
Schnucks – Springfield locations
Recycled Records – 625 E. Adams
Robbie’s Restaurant – 4 S. Old State Capitol Plaza
Trout Lily Cafe – 218 S. Sixth St.
United Community Bank – Sangamon County branches
Village Market – Rochester
First Night
Wednesday Dec. 31
Downtown Springfield
217-753-3519
www.springfieldartsco.org
7 pm-12am
$12 in advance,
$15 adults at door,
$5 children anytime,
$30 family package include
2 adults and 2 children
BAND SPOTLIGHT | Soul Pudding During the early ’90s Soul Pudding reigned as one of the top rock bands in town, playing all the
hot spots to enthusiastic crowds and making it on Patchwork, a locally produced CD featuring popular area bands. The fivesome made its mark
by not just covering intense material from Metallica, Pantera, Anthrax, Iron
Maiden, and Black Sabbath, but also from having the musician chops to do it
justice. When original members Troy Cunningham and Howard Freitag on guitars,
Jeff Cunningham on bass, Damon Soper on vocals, and the newest addition,
drummer Aaron Stallone, all played on the same day this year at the Illinois
State Fair but in different groups, the inevitable Soul Pudding reunion
question became the topic of discussion. After a few rounds of “I didn’t think you wanted to,” the guys realized the time had come to play again. The band intends to continue performing after the upcoming show, with a good
possibility of recording in the near future.
Soul Pudding with The Good Year Pimps and NIL8
Friday Dec. 26
Marly’s Pub
9 SW. Old State Capitol Plz.
9pm-3am
This article appears in Dec 18-24, 2008.
