“Exquisite Creatures”is a unique and inspiring exhibition where nature becomes art, now on display at the Peoria Riverfront Museum through Aug. 9. Christopher Marley collects beetles, butterflies, seashells, snakes and other creatures from all over the world. He preserves and assembles them into mesmerizing artistic displays intended to spark curiosity and an appreciation of the […]
Special Issues
Posted inSummerguide
New Route 66 exhibits
If you aren’t able to literally make the drive to “get your kicks on Route 66,” you can still experience the famous road at the Illinois State Museum’s exhibit Miles of Memories: Stories of Route 66, opening May 23. The exhibit will highlight what it was like to travel, eat, stay and work along the […]
Posted inSummerguide
“Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad”
In 1906, when it was no longer dangerous to talk about those who helped enslaved people seek freedom, Jacksonville resident Julia Carter, whose family were local abolitionists, gave a speech about the town’s extensive Underground Railroad (UGRR). This was the network of helpers and “safe houses” freedom seekers used to reach safe locations, such as […]
Posted inSummerguide
Sensory walks cultivate curiosity and calm
The joy of unplugged time with a child is easy for some caregivers. They start conversations during stroller walks, grocery shopping and meals in the high chair and never stop sharing stories and songs from the bedroom to the backyard and beyond. They listen together for life’s soundscape and watch for weather. For others, it […]
Posted inCapital City Parent
Best Buddies comes to Springfield
Southeast High School students filled the commons area during their lunch break on April 1. The Southeast drum line kicked off the festive gathering; students ate their lunches, purchased T-shirts and snacks, and took part in face painting and other activities. It wasn’t an April Fool’s Day celebration but the kickoff of the Best Buddies […]
Posted inCapital City Parent
Postpone the smartphone
“Let kids be kids a little longer” is a motto of Wait Until 8th, an organization that encourages parents to delay giving their children smartphones until the end of eighth grade. With the advent of the iPhone in 2007 and the rise of YouTube and TikTok, our children have slowly become the “anxious generation,” a […]
Posted inCapital City Parent
Teach children citizenship
How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It’s Up to You to Do It) by Lindsey Cormack. Jossey-Bass, publisher, 2024. $15.80. “A well-informed citizenry is the backbone of a healthy democracy,” writes Lindsey Cormack in her 2024 book How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It’s Up to You to Do It). She contends that raising engaged […]
Posted inCapital City Parent
Summer meal prep
As another summer begins, it’s time to dust off those no-cook or low-cook summer recipes. Since spare time in the kitchen can be scattered during the summer, planning ahead and pre-preparing snacks and meals can be useful, as can planning for dishes that can be made in stages instead of all at once. Read on […]
Posted inCapital City Parent
Family event calendar
ONGOING “The Road to Adventure: Exploring Route 66” Wednesdays-Sundays, 9am-4pm. Through Dec. 31. This hands-on exhibit brings the magic of the historic Mother Road to life – and it’s fun for the whole family. kidzeum.org. $5-$12. Kidzeum of Health and Science, 412 E. Adams St., 217-679-2123. Kids Fare Garden Club Mondays, 4-5pm. Through May 25. […]
Posted inHome & Garden
Year-round container gardening
Container gardening offers a practical and beautiful solution for growing flowers, vegetables and herbs in central Illinois where weather extremes and limited space often challenge traditional gardening. For leafy edibles, start with herbs and salad greens, which tolerate a wide range of light conditions from windowsill to kitchen garden and actually favor a little shade […]
Posted inHome & Garden
New community garden available at Hobbs Park
The Springfield Park District is transforming former baseball fields into a community garden at Hobbs Park, located south of Bunn Park near the intersection of Fox Bridge Road and Culver Avenue. Building on the success of the Jefferson Park Community Garden, this new initiative will provide a community garden serving the east side of Springfield. […]
Posted inHome & Garden
Illinois launches paint recycling program
If you have old cans of paint stashed in your basement or garage that you don’t how to get rid of, there’s good news for you. Illinois residents can now recycle latex and oil-based architectural paint products at numerous retail hardware and paint stores, including in Springfield and surrounding communities. This is due to the […]
