On a warm October day at the Harriet Tubman Susan B. Anthony Center on Springfield’s east side, 30 to 40 young men and boys dressed in gym clothes amble into a narrow room that seems to double as storage space. Though they range in age from about 10 to 30 years old, they laugh and […]
Community & Lifestyle
Posted inArts & Culture
Mad for ‘Mad Men’
From the bored housewife and the determined workingwoman to the philandering businessman, the television drama “Mad Men” explores a cast of 1960s archetypal characters, and displays them warts and all. This Friday, Feb. 19, the wildly popular show will serve as a catalyst to look back at the pivotal decade during the symposium, “Mad World: […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A pictorial history of the ‘city of the dead’
One hundred fifty years ago this year, Springfield’s Oak Ridge Cemetery was dedicated by former mayor James Conkling as a “city of the dead.” A new book by former city historian Edward Russo and current city historian Curtis Mann outlines and illustrates the history of our famous graveyard, which is the nation’s most visited cemetery […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Finding your way to fitness
Avoid the New Year’s resolution trap January, 2010…you’ve been handed a proverbial clean slate — another chance to shrug off your bad habits and reach for your dreams. It never fails to evoke feelings of hope and renewal, but is it really a trap? In an attempt to bottle that New Year’s vigor, you’ve probably […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Community Wish List for 12/17/2009
Lend a hand to these central Illinois organizations this holiday season. Thank you to all of the organizations who participated! Sojourn Shelter and Services, Inc. 1800 Westchester Blvd., 726-5100 (office), 726-5200 (24-hour hotline) Sojourn Shelter and Services, Inc. was founded in 1975 with a goal to provide a safe place to help victims of domestic […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Live in your living room
For the music lovers on your gift list, let them know concerts are never expensive when they’re being watched from the comfort of the sofa and music videos don’t have to be a forgotten thing of the past. This year, treat the music lover in your life to one of these documentaries, live performances and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Movies to the rescue!
Home Alone (1990): Young Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is left behind as his family rushes to make a flight to Paris for their winter vacation. Mayhem ensues when a couple of bumbling burglars try to break into the McCallister house, but Kevin’s booby traps prove better than any state-of-the-art alarm system. Son-in-Law (1993): South Dakota […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Community Wish List for 12/10/2009
Lend a hand to these central Illinois organizations this holiday season. Check Illinois Times next week for more local wish lists. Send lists to holidaywishlist@illinoistimes.com Forever Home Feline Ranch3600 Persimmon Dr., 679-1593 Forever Home Feline Ranch is an organization created to provide a “forever home” to every cat in need. The ranch is a sanctuary […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Color your holiday classy
The inventor of the standard holiday red-and-green color scheme was probably colorblind – no one with good vision would want to decorate with two colors opposite each other on the color wheel. Escaping color condemnation is tough when aisles are stuffed with fake green boughs and gleaming red plastic berries. “People don’t decorate because it […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Great adaptations
This year, give them a great story told two ways. First, let them dive into a great read. Then, let them sit back and enjoy the show. Here are six of the best book/film adaptations of the past year that will have all the bookworms and movie buffs on your list thanking you twice. Harry […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Killer flu hits Springfield
A few weeks ago, as I nursed my son through swine flu, I frequently thought about my great-grandmother. She had lived in Athens, northwest of Springfield, and nursed her son during another flu pandemic 91 years ago. I felt such sympathy for her. Although the challenges of caring for our sons must have been similar, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Community Wish List for 12/03/2009
{image-6790} Lend a hand to these central Illinois organizations this holiday season. Check Illinois Times next week for more local wish lists. Send lists to holidaywishlist@illinoistimes.com Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County1514 West Jefferson, 523-2710 Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County is a community-driven nonprofit organization that develops working partnerships with local businesses, churches, community […]
