The Pillsbury Mills plant has been closed since 2001, but “office hours” are continuing there every Tuesday morning through Sept. 26. Former Pillsbury employees, neighbors, retirees and families are invited to spend some time with site owner Moving Pillsbury Forward in a shaded, indoor sitting area on the south loading dock. It’s all a part […]
IT Picks
Chatham Jaycees host 48th annual event
Chatham’s big summer event featuring that delicious, golden food staple is almost here. Yes, we’re talking about none other than the long-running, annual Sweet Corn Festival by the Chatham Jaycees. Things start at 5 p.m. Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Little Miss Sweet Corn pageant, games for children, more than 70 vendors and, of course, […]
New musical commemorates history of Blacks in America
A show that chronicles Black history in America is heading to the capital city, thanks to the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum. Chicago playwright and producer Ted Williams III’s 1619: The Journey of a People features three modern characters who lead the audience on a trip through time with performances set during […]
Popular street art event returns to downtown
Artists young and old will take over part of Washington Street on Saturday with paint buckets and brushes in hand for this popular, colorful event. Participants paint 6-by-6 squares of pavement with the topics of their choice using water-soluble paint provided by the Springfield Art Association. Up to six artists can paint a square. Artists […]
Tennessee Williams production is partly autobiographical
Imagine you and a sibling are actors in a traveling acting troupe. One day the group deserts you both at a dilapidated “state theater in a state unknown.” What happens next? That’s the scene for the partly autobiographical The Two Character Play by the great Tennessee Williams, who wrote it late in his career. The […]
The jewel of the Midwest (plus a gay day)
Every booth is a gallery in itself; each one showcasing a different medium, a different form of expression and a different intent of artistic output. The artists within those individual galleries come together each year for the Old Capitol Art Fair, one of the most popular juried art shows in the country. Whether you are […]
A new way to explore Illinois’ capital city
Springfield is an historic place with interesting people of the past who helped shape not only the physical city around us, but also our culture as it has evolved since the early 1800s, and our response to and participation in national events. We don’t have to look far to find the places that are keeping […]
Help break the cycle of poverty
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, Christian housing ministry that believes all people, both adults and children, deserve a decent, safe and affordable place to live. With that in mind, the organization utilizes volunteer labor and donations to build and repair houses around the globe. The larger effect of the organization’s efforts, however, helps families […]
Sentenced to Life: The Path to Redemption and Freedom for Prisoner E-25212
Curtis Roberts, now a Springfield resident, served 29 years in prison for three robberies totaling $116 due to the “three strikes” law. His story was shared on an Ear Hustle podcast in 2017, which gained 750,000 listeners almost overnight. Ted Koppel, Bryant Gumbel, the PBS News Hour and many others interviewed him while he was […]
Festival of films by and about women
Film fans, you don’t want to miss this one. LUNAFEST, hosted by the Springfield Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), is an annual traveling festival that showcases seven short films written and directed by women and gender nonconforming filmmakers from all walks of life. The films, featuring themes of friendship, bravery and […]
Annual parade to draw thousands
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade once again will roll through downtown starting at noon Saturday. And barring inclement weather, thousands of green-clad revelers are expected to turn out for this popular celebration. The parade route remains the same. It will form up at the Horace Mann parking lot and surrounding area. The parade will travel […]
Student art display at museum
A gallery of more than 90 colorful pieces of art created by District 186 students has opened at the Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum (SCIAAHM). This is the second year for the “Art for the Ages” exhibit, which opened Saturday. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade created the pieces, which include paintings, […]
