Cap City

Late comedian Mitch Hedburg used to joke that an escalator can never break; it can only become stairs. “You would never see an ‘Escalator temporarily out of order sign,’ just ‘Escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience,’ ” he said. This Saturday, taking the stairs at the Hilton Hotel in Springfield will be less of […]

Most kids turn their noses up at cabbage. The look, the texture, the smell — it’s just no match for chicken fingers and pizza. But what if there’s a bonus? The Springfield Civic Garden Club is calling on area third-graders to grow their own cabbages for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship. The program, […]

When you’re buried in snow, a hot bowl of chili goes a long way toward curing the winter blues. Springfield’s Sparc developmental disability advocates are holding their 21st annual Sugar and Spice Chili Dinner just in time to help bid winter an enthusiastic farewell. The March 13 fundraiser will feature chili, vegetarian soup, hotdogs and […]

How often do you get to take your significant other out for a romantic evening? What if you could have a nice date and support good causes at the same time? Peyton Tosh, a civic-minded teen from Jacksonville, is putting on a show to do just that. On Feb. 13 – just in time for […]

Should bronzed beauties and golden gods have to pay a sin tax? After the majority of United States senators said yes, tanning businesses like The Ultimate Tan in Springfield answered with a massive email campaign, urging members to “band together to defeat this discriminatory and unjust tax” and to contact their elected senators and congressmen. […]

Central Illinois birdwatchers are invited to submit observations from their bird feeders during this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count from Feb. 12-15. The event, sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited and organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, asks participants to count the birds in their backyard, parks or other community […]

Access 4, Springfield’s public access TV channel, has been blank since December, but it’s not dead yet. In fact, a handful of the channel’s producers are working double time to get shows back on the air. As you’d expect, getting a TV channel on air takes money, so the Access 4 producers are holding a […]

Almost every young musician dreams of making it big, of taking the stage in front of thousands of cheering fans to pour out their heart through song. For Sarah Jarosz, an 18-year-old bluegrass prodigy from just outside Austin, Texas, that dream has become real. A whiz on the mandolin, young Sarah wrote her first hit, […]

It’s like an episode of Top Chef — only without the cutthroat competition and for a much better cause. Michael Higgins of Maldaner’s, David Radwine of Sangamo Club, Caitie Barker of Caitie Girls’ and Patrick Groth of Incredibly Delicious will join forces to cater A High Tea at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24, and […]

Monday was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Gov. Pat Quinn used the opportunity to encourage Illinoisans to volunteer on Jan. 18, proclaiming it the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. “Dr. Martin Luther King’s teachings and service to others can continue to guide us in addressing our most pressing needs including poverty, economic […]

After last week’s 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, people from around the world have answered the devastated country’s desperate plea for food, water and medical supplies. Community organizations, schools and even local businesses like Springfield’s Grab-a-Java still continue to join the cause. The coffee shop, with locations at 1702 S. Sixth St. and 3115 Hedley Rd., […]

You don’t have to be of African descent to appreciate Black History Month — especially when there’s free food involved! One in a Million, Inc., a Springfield-based community group led by east-side activist Mike Williams, is hosting a fundraiser Thursday night to prepare for their upcoming annual Black History Ball. The ball is a celebration […]