Just about a year ago, business partners and siblings Ray and Jay Quttum became the new owners of Carter’s Fish Market. The two brothers, who are in their 20s, are natives of Madison, Wisconsin. They migrated to the Springfield area to join extended family after spending time working in restaurants and convenience stores in northern […]
Illinois Times Staff
Posted inBest of Springfield®
GYMNASTICS
Springfield Gymnastics Center is much more than gymnastics. Owner and coach Brad Epperson says the mission is to encourage kids to be active and healthy and appreciate what it feels like to learn to do new things. Most of all, it’s about building confidence, and all of this can be learned through gymnastics. This is […]
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THEATER PERFORMANCE – MALE LEAD
THEATER PERFORMANCE – MALE LEAD BEST DIRECTOR In the IT review of the Springfield Muni Opera’s Fiddler on the Roof, it was noted: “Gus Gordon has starred in a long list of musicals and Tevye is a great role for him now. Always considered a go-to song-and-dance man, Gordon uses his humor to guide us […]
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OVERALL BAND and COVER BAND
We could try to make a pun on the deja vu reference here, but since this is the first time this band has ever won a Best of Springfield category, that might sound somewhat silly. But for Deja Voodoo to come out on top in our two generally most highly-contested music spots for a first-time […]
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ITALIAN
Razzo’s (which means “rocket” in Italian) is located just a short drive away in Rochester, which our readers found was well worth the trip. For those who aren’t familiar with Razzo’s and its story, it opened in 2008 after the soon-to-be restauranteurs dined at a Rochester pizzeria and decided that they could do it better. The […]
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THRIFT STORE
Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County is well known for creating and maintaining housing for the community through new construction, providing wheelchair ramps for accessibility and offering critical repairs to address urgent plumbing issues and roof damage. The organization draws hands-on construction professionals and laypeople as volunteers. With a dozen employees and a team of […]
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BEST COMEDIAN
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to share the theater stage with other actors who are testing their ability to think on their feet by doing improv? You don’t know the answer until you try, and you can do so right here in Springfield. Capital City Improv is a nonprofit organization established […]
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DRUMMER
Here we have another first-time winner in a popular category, and it’s likely not a coincidence that our top vote-getter is the drummer (with vocals) in the band Deja Voodoo, which took top honors for overall band as well as cover band for 2023. Chris serves up more than the beat and rhythm behind his […]
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TACOS, FOOD TRUCK and PUBLIC ART/MURAL
The Taco Joint has been operating as a food truck on South Grand Avenue since 2017. It currently offers customers picnic tables under a pergola for those who prefer to dine on site. The place is always busy when we go past, so it’s no surprise that Springfield agrees that The Taco Joint has the […]
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WINNERS AND FINALISTS: ARTS, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT
Abraham Lincoln historic site Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum 212 N. Sixth St., (217) 558-8844 Finalists: Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Lincoln Tomb, Old State Capitol State Historic Site Actor – Female Chrissy Mauck – Beauty and the Beast Finalists: Alyssa Shultz – Fiddler on the Roof and […]
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PEDIATRIC CENTER
It should be easier to get kids to see their pediatrician when the doctor’s office looks like fun with statues of dogs, brightly colored hallways, fish tanks, treats and a slide that leads to the exit. This is what families will find at Springfield Clinic’s new state-of-the-art pediatrics facility at 3501 Old Jacksonville Road. Dr. […]
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RADIO PERSONALITY
When he began as a part-time disc jockey at WMAY in 1990, and even when he went to work full time for the station in 1995, Jim Leach never thought he would be able to sustain such a long and satisfying career in radio. The Springfield native left the Riverton-based AM station in late June […]
