Classical music is reaping rewards for listeners and practitioners alike in the 21st century, thanks to ease of accessibility provided to concert planners and fans. Increasingly part of “classical” concerts are selections of “global music,” which merits listeners for its variety and diversity, compared with works composed in ancient days when Marie Antoinette still possessed […]
Special Issues
Posted inSpecial Issues
Surprising Greenville
About an hour and a half south of Springfield, meandering down highway 127 to where it intersects Interstate 70, is the town of Greenville. According to the town fathers it has been hailed as “a Norman Rockwell town,” or “a town for all seasons.” With the picturesque square featuring the Bond County Courthouse, a Civil […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Fall Guide calendar
ONGOING Artist on the Plaza Aug 26, 31, Sep 02, 12-1pm, Tuesday and Thursday outdoor instrumental, vocal, dance or musical theater performance. Old State Capitol, 1 Old State Capitol Plaza. 753-3519. Illinois Products Farmers Market Through Oct 21, 4-7pm, Every Thursday, Fresh local food and entertainment. Commodity Pavilion. Illinois State Fairgrounds, 801 Sangamon Ave. 785-4873. […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Hundreds of Lincoln places
A recent estimate by the Abraham Lincoln Association puts the number of distinct titles about Lincoln at 17,000. Add another hundred or so generated by the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial, and Lincoln may indeed be in the realm of Napoleon and Jesus Christ as the most written about figures in all of human history. Which begs […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Rock fall ahead
Normally, as autumn goes in the Midwest, things begin to cool off, but that isn’t so with live music. This fall has a number of options within an afternoon’s drive from Springfield, and there are even several all-new showcases for this season. Strap on a helmet; Illinois Times is about to blow your mind, musically […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Autumn is showtime
As many Springfield residents look forward to the weather finally cooling down, fans of locally produced entertainment can’t wait for the theater season to heat up. It might seem counter-intuitive, but a depressed economy actually offers residents a few benefits this year as venues compete to lure budget-conscious audiences. Some area managers are lowering ticket […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
2010 Fall Guide
Autumn is showtimeThe season’s guide to theater in Central Illinois Fun at fall festivals Visit Mt. Vernon for art and wine Surprising GreenvilleVisit the fun and quirky DeMoulin Museum Fall classical fareThe season offers plenty of fine listening in Central Illinois Rock fall aheadConcerts and music fests from Central Illinois to St. Louis Hundreds of […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Summer onstage brings classics and comedies
An abundance of exciting and fun theater takes place on area stages this summer. It is interesting to see how summer theater fare has changed in recent years. In years past, summer theater was all comedies and musicals. Those are still with us, but there is quite a list of new and little-known works, as […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Plan a summer getaway to the Gateway City
It’s known for its 630-foot arch that greets you upon entrance to its city, a site to behold. The “Gateway City” has much to offer. From festivals and fairs to amusement parks, concerts and museums, a trip to St. Louis is sure to keep you and your family busy during those dog days of summer. […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
The summer of rock
We know you audiophiles are mourning. Ameren’s Summer Serenades fizzled out and the Washington Street Jazz Festival is no more, but fear not. There’s still a hundred ways to rock your eardrums this summer, and Illinois Times is here to help you sort through the options. This year’s SOHO Music Festival packs 24 bands in […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Bike and run for fitness and fun
There’s no better way to blow off steam and stay in shape than running or biking this fair city. And whether you need a little help working the winter kinks out of your joints, or you’re simply looking for a way to dissipate some of your boundless energy, Springfield’s biggest running and biking groups have […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Isaac Ellwood, Illinois king of the barbed wire
Most of us know the song “Don’t fence me in.” For those in the late 1800s who owned cattle, fencing them in was part of the ever shrinking range mentality and the “stay in your own pasture” one. One Illinois gentleman, Isaac Ellwood, made his fortune in barbed wire. Lucky for us, we can tour […]
