The sun is shining, the sky is blue and it’s time for summer family fun. Pack for a picnic and head out in the car for a fun day under the Illinois sky. Let Illinois Times and a black ribbon of road be your guides. Historic Barns of McDonough County McDonough County, which centers on […]
Special Issues
Posted inSpecial Issues
Raise a glass to nearby winemaking
More than 100 years ago, Illinois was the fourth largest wine-producing state in the nation. Now the Treasury Department holds Illinois responsible for just 72,000 of the more than 41 million gallons bottled in February of 2010. While other states may have surpassed ours, the industry in Illinois is actually a growing one. Thirteen years […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
The summerlong guide
Old Capitol Farmers Market8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays through Oct. 30 The excuses not to eat fresh, healthier and local just got fewer in number. Old Capitol Farmers Market spreads its bountiful harvest on the streets of downtown Springfield farther than ever. Downtown Springfield Inc.’s market manager, Ann Frescura, announced that this […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
The 10 top flicks of the season
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, more than 80 different films will be released in North American movie theaters. Some will fly under the radar, with total budgets amounting to less than what’s spent on advertising for a studio blockbuster. Others will be so overhyped it will seem like they’ve been in theaters long before […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Why you need a home inspection
The best $300 my fiancée and I spent in the process of buying our first home did not contribute in the slightest to the actual purchase price. Rather, it kept us from purchasing a home that would have been a disaster to live in. The modest fee was the cost of the home inspection on […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
When you’re face-to-face with the loan officer
Despite recent improvement in the economy, the lending environment is still tough. Winning over cautious lenders requires presenting a convincing case, exposing the details of your financial life and work history. The lender must have confidence in your ability and intention to repay this loan. Here is a step-by-step guide to finessing financing. Deciding on […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
How to spend $8,000
So, you’ve closed on a home and that federal first-time homebuyer’s tax credit should be coming your way soon. Now what? First of all, realize it might take several weeks for the tax-credit form to get processed. Even then, some homeowners will only see the credit as savings on their taxes, so don’t necessarily expect […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
The time is right to seal the deal on your new home
The warm prospect of more affordable home prices, attractive mortgage rates and a stable economy will likely draw more real estate shoppers to the market this spring. But it’s the opportunity for cash back in their pockets that will turn many shoppers into buyers — and quickly. The potential benefit is huge: as much as […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
A first-time buyer’s battle plan
Considering the available incentive programs, low interest rates and low home prices, the number of first-time homebuyers in the market has increased to approximately 47 percent, up by more than 10 percent since 2006, according to the National Association of Realtors. But even with these positive conditions, the process of buying a home for the […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Dinosaurs, aliens and magicians
Remember the writer’s strike that hobbled Hollywood 18 months ago? While it had an immediate effect on the television industry, it’s only now being felt on the big screen as evidenced by the weakest roster of films to grace a summer season in many a moon. There are only two sure-fire franchise hits on the […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Visit central Illinois wineries for close-to-home tourism
If you’re craving fun in the sun or a relaxing romantic rendezvous this summer, bypass the travel headache and head for a nearby central Illinois winery. The Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association lists five wineries within an hour of Springfield, and one more that’s just outside of Peoria. Each of these is family-owned and […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Ride the rails to Alton
Passenger rail may have seen its heyday come and go, but 21,000 miles of train track still crisscross America. Ten of Amtrak’s routes wind through Illinois and can connect those looking for summer fun with several destinations throughout the Midwest. Of all the options in the region, Amtrak’s Texas Eagle provides one of the best […]
