IT Picks

The Springfield Art Association always seems to know how to entertain us and keep our creative juices flowing. With the start of the new year, it has remained true to form and is offering classes to help you push your artistic envelope. In the upcoming weeks you can learn the basic skills of flameworking with […]

The new kid on the artistic block is the nonprofit Creators of Art, Music and Poetry, or CAMP. The brainchild of local musician Jamie Merideth and brought to fruition by his own hard work and some input from music columnist and veteran performer Tom Irwin, CAMP strives to promote the creative branches mentioned within its […]

No matter the season, the Animal Protective League (APL) is always at work caring for ill, injured, abused and abandoned cats and dogs, and coordinating their adoptions by responsible pet owners. For over 60 years, the APL has been the voice for animals in Springfield and Sangamon County. It operates a limited-admission animal shelter and […]

Since 2002, the Route 66 Film Festival has brought exciting, independent films from around the world to Springfield and provided a venue for new filmmakers to showcase their work, share ideas with other filmmakers and entertain audiences. Many of the films shown at the festival have earned recognition, including nominations for Academy Awards. This year […]

The Springfield Ballet Company has produced a documentary that provides an exciting behind-the-scenes journey through the history of the company’s annual production of The Nutcracker. The film spans more than 40 years and includes exclusive interviews, never-before-seen footage and a look at company alumni who played the role of Clara over the years. The Springfield […]

Get geared up for the holidays with a virtual visit with Santa, hosted by the Springfield Muni Opera. The Muni has been hard at work with Santa Claus to make sure that children throughout the Springfield area will have the opportunity to speak with the jolly fella prior to Christmas. “Santa Claus brings hope and […]

Classical pianist and piano instructor Matt Nall will open this year’s season of First Presbyterian Church’s annual Brown Bag Concert Series. The free lunchtime concerts are offered on Wednesdays during Advent. In addition to Nall, this year’s lineup includes singer Emily Wheeler, who has frequented the operatic and choral stages, violinist Chenoa Alamu, who first […]

Originally from Munich, Germany, Mark Stoffel spent decades traversing between there and the U.S. before finally settling down in southern Illinois in 2001 and becoming a citizen in 2016. A self-described bluegrass music addict, he was introduced to the music genre as a teenager in 1979, when he wanted a ukulele for Christmas and was […]

The Old Capitol Holiday Walks are starting a little early this year to give you plenty of time to shop and enjoy all of the fun. Of course, extra precautions are being taken to keep you and your family safe, so be patient with downtown businesses as they have mandated safety guidelines they have to […]

While the University of Illinois Springfield’s (UIS) Engaged Citizenship Common Experience (ECCE) speaker series program is part of a distinctive curriculum for undergraduate students, it is also a venue for the UIS community to engage with the larger community. The series strives to introduce the public and students to diverse perspectives and encourages open discussion […]

It’s time to celebrate the season at the Rochester Fall Festival. The day’s activities will include something for every member of the family. Stop by the Village of Rochester tent to sign up the kids for the costume contest. With advance registration and $5 the adults can enter the pie-eating contest for a chance to […]

It’s the mid-1920s. An important meeting between rival mob bosses and madams is taking place at Edwards Place. During the post-meeting party, a mob boss is killed in grisly fashion, setting the stage for a classic whodunit. Guests will need to put their detective skills to the test to discover which of the six suspects […]