Posted inSpecial Issues

Summer concert roundup

Lydia Loveless play at Homespun Republic July 25. That sibilant sizzling in the air is the sound of a spectacularly sultry summer concert season. In town and throughout the region, it’s clear that if you don’t manage to see any great gigs this season, it’s only because you didn’t try hard enough. Below is just […]

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Decatur Celebration

Thursday, Aug. 6, 7-11pm • Friday, Aug. 7, 5-11pm Saturday, Aug. 8, 11am-11pm • Sunday, Aug. 9, 11am-9:30pm This summer, hundreds of thousands of people will flock to downtown Decatur to attend one of the largest free street festivals in the Midwest. The “Midwest’s most exciting street festival,” the Decatur Celebration, runs Thursday, Aug. 6, […]

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Paint the Street Fest

Saturday, July 18, 2-10pm Make your literal mark on downtown Springfield at the Springfield Art Association’s Third Annual Paint the Street Festival. This all-ages community block party combines painting and live entertainment for a day of fun on Saturday, July 18. The festival will take place on Washington Street, between Fourth and Seventh streets, from […]

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Summerguide Calendar

May Springfield Audubon Society Walk and ProgramMay 21, 5:30-6:30pm.Walk and identify invasive species around Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, plus program discussing the problems invasive species create and how to manage those threats. Free, open to public. illinoisaudubon.org. Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, 2315 East Clear Lake Ave., 544-2473. Grace Among the LeavingsMay 22-24, 8pm Fri-Sun. A play about […]

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Assumption Fest

Thursday, June 25, 5-11pm • Friday, June 26. 5pm-12:30am Saturday, June 27, 11am-12:30am The only assumption you can safely make about Assumption Fest is that a great time will be had by all. This huge festival has been going and growing for more than 80 years. Festival organizers are proud to offer “big-city entertainment in […]

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Downhome Music Festival

Friday Aug. 7, 5:30pm-12am • Saturday, Aug. 8, 2pm-12am Local is the theme of this multiday all-ages festival that combines art, beer and original music to two stages at the intersection of Seventh and Washington streets in downtown Springfield. The Downhome Music Festival was created by musicians for music lovers, as festival co-founders Josh Catalano […]

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Shop farmers markets for good food

Photo BY DAVID HINE Farmers markets are festive community events and showcase the Land of Lincoln’s other local treasure – its food! Buying local produce not only supports Illinois farmers, but also physical health and the environment. They just may perk up your social life, too. Though not all vendors grow organic, many do, limiting […]

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Vachel Lindsay’s creepier poems

A Net to Snare the Moonlight and Other Poems for Children is the latest book of Vachel Lindsay’s poetry to be released by the Vachel Lindsay Association. This 17-poem collection, illustrated by Springfield artist Felicia Olin, contains some of Lindsay’s creepier children’s poems. The publisher of record is the Vachel Lindsay Association and the book […]

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Reflections of a motherless mother

The writer’s son, Anders, “meets” his grandmother for the first time. Anders was born six years after her death. PHOTO COURTESY ERIKA HOLST My mother’s pet name for me was lillegull, a Norwegian term of endearment that translates to “little golden child.” I was her only child, born when she was 36, and she loved […]

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