The pandemic put a pause on weddings, leading to a wedding boom in 2022. Now the annual number of weddings has returned to normal levels, but couples are increasingly likely to ditch tradition in favor of personalizing the venue, the ceremony and even the food. Instead of feeling obligated to invite every coworker and second […]
Michelle Ownbey
Michelle Ownbey is the publisher of Illinois Times and Springfield Business Journal.
Posted inArts & Culture
Healthy, Wealthy and Wise 2024
It’s easy to make New Year’s resolutions to eat better, exercise more, drink more water and the like, but much harder to sustain by the time February rolls around. Our annual health and wellness issue has tips on stretching to improve your health, maximizing your time in the gym, eating your veggies (and liking it), […]
Posted inBest of Springfield®
Best Of Springfield 2023Ⓡ
Every year, we ask our opinionated readers to tell us about their favorite people, places and things in the Springfield area. Over the decades we’ve been doing this, we’ve continued to tweak both the process and the results issue to try to keep things fresh and interesting. While one out of every three votes cast […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Grillin’ and Chillin’
Our Grillin’ and Chillin’ issue has plenty of ideas to celebrate the holiday weekend. Whether you’re planning a day trip or a staycation, we have information about activities at the lake, central Illinois water parks and things to do right here in Springfield, plus a community calendar that includes holiday festivities and where to see […]
Posted inNews
Mayor Misty Buscher announces department directors
In her first full day of office, May 8, Mayor Misty Buscher has announced City of Springfield department directors and staff as follows: Police Chief – Chief Ken Scarlette, current Springfield Police Department Chief, who has been with the department since 1998. Fire Chief – Ed Canny, current Springfield Fire Department Division Chief and Captain, serving since […]
Posted inOpinion
Publisher’s note 10/20/22
Next week we’ll take a break from all the politics and news and instead devote the entire issue to the Best of Springfield results. Our annual poll asking our readers to vote for their favorite people, places and things in the Springfield area only continues to get more popular, with a record number of people […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Fall Home and Garden 2022
Fall is a great time to tackle yard projects, such as planting bulbs for a spring payoff or potting herbs and other plants you can move indoors for the winter. It’s also helpful to being making plans now for your spring home improvements, so whether you’re dreaming of an outdoor kitchen or updating part of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Grillin’ And Chillin’ 2022
Our Grillin’ and Chllin’ issue has plenty of ideas to celebrate the holiday weekend, from camping and nature areas around Springfield to short day trips and backyard get-togethers. Related Related Related Stories
Posted inArts & Culture
Juneteenth
This is the first year that Juneteenth is an official state holiday in Illinois, but Freedom Day, as it’s also known, has been celebrated in various forms since 1865. This special issue of Illinois Times includes background on the historical significance of Juneteenth, information about citywide celebrations and profiles on The Springfield Project and the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The Pet Issue 2022
People love their pets, and rates of pet ownership have only increased since the pandemic began, with 70% of U.S. households now including at least one furry friend. It’s an appropriate time for our first Illinois Times’ pet issue, which includes tips on getting your dog to behave in public, what to do about that […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Summerguide 2022
The annual fairs, festivals and events that are a staple of summer have returned this year, and performers will once again take the stage at the Springfield Muni and Theatre in the Park after a two-year hiatus. Springfield’s baseball team has a new name and new owners who plan to offer the community a lot […]
Posted inOpinion
Publisher’s Note 05/05/22
It’s always good for a community to recognize and encourage its artists, but it’s especially important now as the visual and performing arts struggle to recover from the pandemic. The Mayor’s Awards for the Arts was held this week for the first time since 2020, and those recognized ranged from a 15-year-old Rochester High School […]
