grace about town 8-26-04
You may have read last week that I claimed to love the fried cheese curds at the Illinois State Fair. I loved them on opening day, when I first sampled them. Because I wrote about them, I decided I needed a photo, so I bought another grease-soaked trough of them on Sunday and ate all…
movie review
Cat-and-mouse with a tantalizing twist A man bursts through the door of a remote highway diner on a dark and rainy night and plops down before a customer, a salesman reading a newspaper. Clearly unhinged, the intruder taunts the salesman and tosses some photographs (their significance is made apparent later) onto the table. The salesman…
Perks of city life
On Saturday, hundreds of hopefuls will gather at Prairie Capital Convention Center to take the written exam that is the first step toward joining the Springfield Fire Department. But for some, the most valuable question might have been answered on the application, when they listed their home address. Job candidates who live within the city…
The rise of reality cinema
It may be impossible to accurately determine what effect Fahrenheit 9/11 will have on the 2004 presidential race, but one thing is certain: Michael Moore has revitalized the documentary form. Not only has Fahrenheit 9/11 ignited an intense political debate, it has also given rise to the discussion of the movie form itself. Because Moore…
Another delay
The long-awaited Police Citizen Review Commission is going to have to wait even longer. At the suggestion of Ward 10 Alderman Bruce Strom, the ordinance to create the commission will remain tabled in committee until the three consultants who originally advised the Springfield City Council on the topic can be reconvened. It’s a scheduling challenge…
sound patrol 8-26-04
Various Artists Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo (Or) Tribute compilations are tricky bastards. Given the regrettably narrow and highly specialized tastes of most music fans, a successful various-artists comp tends to have a narrow scope: The compilers choose songs written by one person and performed by members of his or…
Who needs American workers?
Maybe you’re one of the 2 million Americans who’ve recently had their jobs offshoredto India, Pakistan, or elsewhere, or one of the millions more whose jobs are expected to be shipped abroad in the next few years. If so, don’t worry, Bucko, for a new growth industry has arisen that offers exciting job opportunities. You,…
Knoepfle 8-26-04
sandalwood poem #l6 always in your loving there is so much sorrow there is the wind uncertain in the crowns of summer maple there is the everlasting conciliation of the tides © John Knoepfle 1978, 2004
That burning sensation
If you want zip and heat in your favorite entrée, add a chile pepper. Peppers come in a variety of shapes and colors and range in taste from sweet and mild to hot. Bell peppers are often picked when green and immature. Allowed to ripen to red, yellow, orange, brown, or purple, they are sweeter.…
Judging Judy
Just before a Republican rally was set to begin at the state fairgrounds last Thursday afternoon, a cold, steady rain sent people running for cover, splashing mud as they fled. This proved a fitting image for the Illinois Republican Party, which has spent the last several years seeking refuge from a torrent of messy political…
quick takes 8-26-04
REMEMBERING 9/11 Lincoln Library, Springfield’s Public Library, is planning a day of remembrance on Saturday, Sept. 11. On that day, at 5 p.m., local poets are invited to come to the library at 326 S. Seventh St., to read their poems in the spirit of the day, or to read from someone else’s poetry. A…
Enough trash talk
If talk picked up trash, Mayor Tim Davlin would have the town clean by now. All year he has been talking to neighborhood associations about his big plans to reform Springfield’s municipal waste system. This summer he convened a series of meetings with landlords and neighborhood activists. I attended as a representative of The Springfield…
backstage pass 8-26-04
The fall theater season is fast approaching, and many new and exciting shows are scheduled in the Springfield area. Let’s start with a brand new show. Jacksonville Theatre Guild and Allegro Productions present 63, an original musical, at the Sophie Leschin Theatre (Sept. 10-12, 17-19). Mike Savage’s show centers around the lives of two best…
now playing 8-26-04
Interested in a tour of Springfield’s west side on a Thursday night? Catch Harry O (the artist formerly known as Harry Nino) and Oysters Rockefeller at Mariah’s Restaurant, for some early-in-the-evening blues, then slip in a stop at The Trading Post Saloon for a visit with Antone, singer-songwriter deluxe and keeper of all your favorite…
Call for help
Springfield’s social service providers are bracing themselves for what they predict will be a significant spike in the area’s homeless population this winter. But for some agencies the crisis is already at-hand. On Monday alone, says Rita Tarr of Contact Ministries, her agency turned away five families — all single mothers with young children. Tarr…
letters 8-26-04
Letters policy We welcome letters, but please include your full name, address and a daytime telephone number. We edit all letters for libel, length and clarity. Send letters to: Letters, Illinois Times. P.O. Box 5256. Springfield, Illinois 62705. Fax: (217) 753-3958. E-mail: editor@illinoistimes.com VOTE FOR ME: I WRITE LETTERS The Republican Party needs to rebuild…
Fritz’s hits the mark on steaks and service
When our friends Barb and Tom Jackson want to celebrate a special occasion, their place of choice is Fritz’s Restaurant, the Wagon Wheel. Like many regular customers, the Jacksons have decided that Fritz’s is a perfect place to go for a good steak and friendly service. Regardless of your mood, the Wagon Wheel’s atmosphere can…
