The Nutcracker ballet is a holiday classic. For some The Nutcracker is a longstanding family tradition. Others may not have experienced the magical adventures of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince as they journey to the Land of the Sweets. There are multiple performances in Springfield this December at various times and locations with different cast […]
Cap City
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Lincoln Top Hat restored
Felicia Olin was voted best visual artist for Illinois Times Best of Springfield 2022, continuing her many consecutive wins. In 2009, she painted a large fiberglass Lincoln top hat for the Hats Off To Lincoln Bicentennial Project sponsored by Springfield Rotary. This was Olin’s first big project when she was an emerging artist. Her inspiration […]
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WIBL opens be lovely Boutique
Wooden It Be Lovely (WIBL) is known for its beautiful and colorful hand-painted furniture. This is a ministry started by Margaret Ann Jessup in association with Douglas Avenue United Methodist Church that offers hope and employment to women healing from lives of poverty, addiction and abuse. They recently opened the “be lovely Boutique,” featuring hand-poured […]
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Lincoln Library’s “Library of Things”
What do a ukulele, cordless drill, corn hole game, pulse oximeter and telescope have in common? They are all things available to check out of Springfield’s Lincoln Library with a library card. Springfield’s public library recently launched a Library of Things and now has many more items to borrow than books, magazines, DVDs and CDs. […]
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Art exhibit by two 1972 SHS grads
Two Springfield High School (SHS) graduates are presenting a pop-up art show at the Springfield Art Association (SAA) in conjunction with their 50th high school reunion Sept. 23-24. Ann Kozeliski (Tallahassee, Florida) and Jeff Schewe (Chicago) are both award-winning artists. The exhibit is open Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (700 N. […]
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The Outlet youth tour civil rights sites
The Outlet is giving low-income youth in Springfield opportunities to expand their knowledge, resilience and perspective of the world and their place in it. For the past five summers, they have taken students to Selma, Montgomery, Atlanta and Memphis to visit key locations of the civil rights movement and experience college visits. Recently the Springfield […]
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What’s behind the war in Ukraine?
The Springfield community has an opportunity to learn about the war in Ukraine at a Sept. 13 program presented by the World Affairs Council of Central Illinois (WACCI). How did political developments in Russia and its foreign policy set the stage for the war in Ukraine? To what extent have Western policies played a role? […]
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An archaeologist’s ultimate project
Archaeological investigations by Floyd Mansberger, Fever River Research, led to the discovery of remains of five houses burned during the 1908 Springfield Race Riots. Hanson Professional Services hired Fever River Research to conduct archaeological surveys at 10th and Madison Streets as part of the Railroad Relocation Project. The site was formerly a St. John’s Hospital […]
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Island Grove United Methodist turns 200
Island Grove United Methodist Church is celebrating its 200th birthday Aug. 28. The church is one of the oldest in the area, established only four years after Illinois became a state. Surrounded by Woodwreath Cemetery, founded in 1872, the church is in a picturesque setting on Old Jacksonville Road about 13 miles west of Springfield. […]
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Science, math and fun at the fair
Drone racing, Unruly Splats, 3-D printed butter cows, virtual reality and an eSports competition are some of the engaging activities to be presented at the Tech Prairie STEAM Expo at the Illinois State Fair. The expo will be open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 17-21 in the Orr Building on the west side […]
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Former politicos pen memoirs
Roger Eddy, Chuck Hartke, Jim Sacia and Zack Stamp were longtime legislators and lobbyists who became colleagues and friends. All were influenced by their upbringing. They have penned memoirs and are hosting joint book signings Aug. 17 1-5 p.m. at Boone’s and Aug. 18 at D H Brown’s, coinciding with Democrats Day and Republican Day […]
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Finding forever friends for felines
Forever Home Feline Ranch (FHFR) is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization with a sanctuary near Rochester where cats live in a no-cage, no-kill environment. Typically, there are more than 50 cats on site. About half will live out their lives at the ranch. The other felines are in need of fostering or adoption. Last year, 378 […]
