County and city continue to defy COVID-19 mitigation measures
The city of Springfield and Sangamon County continue to defy state COVID-19 mitigation measures that were to go into effect on Sunday. During a Tuesday press conference, the county announced and released a temporary rule that a county spokesperson said goes into effect on Friday at 12:01 a.m. Instead of restricting indoor service at bars…
Letter threatens Springfield woman over politics
Lindsay Evans lives in Springfield, where she and her family have been under quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure. On Monday, she said she received a letter postmarked Oct. 31 that threatened “severe consequences” based on her support of presidential candidate Joe Biden. Evans said she had a Biden sign on her lawn before her homeowner…
Mayor calls special council meeting
Mayor Jim Langfelder has called an emergency city council meeting for Wednesday to discuss COVID-19 and the recent state order that took effect today, shutting down indoor dining at bars and restaurants. In email sent to city council members Sunday, Langfelder didn’t propose any specific actions or say exactly what, if anything, he intends to…
Hit piece inaccurately quotes IT
The city’s daily newspaper got it right: We never said it. In July, we published a story about proposed cannabis growing facilities in Sangamon County. We quoted Jeff Fulgenzi, spouse of Annette Fulgenzi, who is running for re-election to the Sangamon County board. Jeff Fulgenzi is an elected official in his own right, by virtue…
BOS WINNERS: ARTS, CULTURE and ENTERTAINMENT
Abraham Lincoln historic site Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum212 N. Sixth St., 558-8844 Finalists: Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, Lincoln’s Home National Historic Site, Lincoln’s Tomb, Old State Capitol Art studio/gallery The Pharmacy Gallery & Art Space623 E. Adams St., 801-810-9278 Finalists: SAA Collective, Wild Rose, The POP! Gallery at Anvil & Forge,…
BEST MUSIC SHOP
If downtown Springfield has a dorm room, it’s somewhere in Recycled Records. Maybe in the basement – after all, downstairs is chockfull of couches and other furniture, making Recycled Records one of the few record stores on the planet where you can buy a chair, a lamp, speakers and everything else you need to replicate…
BEST UNSUNG HEROES
Teachers were never in it for the pay or accolades to begin with, and the pandemic has only added to the undercompensated chaos for many of them. Whether teaching remotely or in-person, the year has been unpredictable and full of new challenges. In March, all students were sent home under the governor’s stay-at-home mandate. While…
BEST DRIVE-TIME RADIO SHOW
Jim Leach hasn’t been on the radio forever, it just seems like it, and in a good way. As a talk show host, he’s a liberal who gets along with most everyone but isn’t afraid to call out people who say or do foolish things. He’s also a pro when it comes to delivering news…
BEST AFFIRMATION THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER
May 31, 2020 may not be a day that will live in infamy. It can’t compare to three days in August of 1908, when a white mob burned African American homes and forever stained Springfield as a city steeped in racism, regardless of Abraham Lincoln. Nor can that day in May erase decades of baked-in…
BEST USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS
The pandemic has wreaked all sorts of havoc, especially for those already experiencing tenuous living conditions. Eviction moratoriums have bought time for those who have lost jobs or otherwise face economic hardship and can’t pay rent. The governor has extended the moratorium through at least mid-November. Nationally, the Trump administration moved to ban evictions for…
BOS WINNERS: CANNABIS
Cannabis strain Magic BulletFinalists: Bubba Kush, Pineapple Express, Blue Dream, G6, Ice Cream Cake – Aerz Edible product Just CBD GummiesFinalists: Phytochew, Mindy’s Gummies, All Sativa, IESO Sour Watermelon Gummies Related Place to buy accessories for cannabis use Penny Lane2901 S. MacArthur Blvd., 679-6489 Finalists: Simply CBD, Happy Daze Gift Shop, Upper Limits, Unique Enchantments…
BEST FUNERAL HOME
Death, almost always, is as uncomfortable as it is inevitable, but Butler Funeral Homes and Cremation Center makes things easier. A good funeral home cares as much, maybe more, about the living as the dead, and that’s certainly true at Butler. It’s OK to feel blue after losing a loved one, even if it’s been…
BEST BARBEQUE
Winning best barbeque is a big deal in Springfield, so hats off to PT’s. It’s been serving up barbeque in various locations for over 15 years. PT’s is not a sit-down restaurant but is instead a food stand where diners get everything to go. It’s located in an old ice stand that PT’s refashioned to…
BEST SONGWRITER / BEST GUITARIST
Few area songwriters have had more of an impact on the local music community than Girard native and now Springfield resident Micah Walk. Since his move to the capital city several years ago after a short stint in Chicago, he quickly settled into the area scene, performing steadily as a solo artist, with his Micah…
BUSINESS GIVING BACK DURING THE PANDEMIC
Springfield is fond of the food at Papo’s Café, but you need more than just good food to earn laurels in this challenging year, which is why Papo’s is the recipient of the giving back category. Local restaurateur Will Hoecker opened the doors of Papo’s Café on the west side of Springfield in the spring…
BEST CATFISH
Carter’s Fish Market is hands-down the best place to get catfish in Springfield. Carter’s is primarily a to-go service, with diners lining up to order at a window. When the weather cooperates, there are a few tables for those who wish to dine al fresco. We think our readers focused on the fact that Carter’s…
BEST HORN PLAYER / BEST MALE VOCALIST
Since he jumped into the local music scene with the prog-indie-jam, all-original-rock band The Station, back at the turn of the century, Chatham’s favorite native son, Dave Littrell, has played his horn and sang his songs for anyone who cares to listen. The readers of Illinois Times certainly recognized his ability to play his sweet…
BEST NEW BUSINESS – NOT DOWNTOWN
Having just opened in May, Biscuits & Brunch by Three Twigs is very new to the Springfield scene but has already made quite a name for itself. It is no surprise, then, that it snagged a win for this category. Biscuits & Brunch is a counter-service restaurant that focuses on classic brunch dishes, which are…
BEST CHEF
It takes some guts to brand a restaurant with your own name, but Loukinens’ has the moxie to back it up. In case you don’t know the back story, it’s co-owned by Keith and Laurie Loukinen. Keith was formerly the food and beverage director at the Wyndham hotel downtown and was behind its signature restaurant,…
BEST PLACE TO GO DOWNTOWN
The Old Capitol Farmers Market has succeeded in putting on another fantastic season, satisfying customers and vendors alike, while also providing a safe place to access local foods and goods. Though most social aspects of the market, such as musicians, cooking demonstrations, public workouts and eating have been absent this year, the open-air market has…
BEST CHILDREN’S SUPPORT ORGANIZATION
“One of the reasons I applied for this job is that I couldn’t imagine a place so integral to our community being without an executive director at this time,” says Jennifer McMillin, who took the helm of the Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery (MOCN) four short months ago. “I’m so grateful to be here to help.”…
BEST FRIED CHICKEN
The Track Shack is appropriately, if not very originally, named – it resembles a shack and it’s located near the Third Street railroad tracks. The parking lot seems on the small side, and we imagine parking would be tight on a crowded day. Various beer signs flank the main sign that hangs over the front…
BOS WINNERS: CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Best affirmation that Black Lives Matter Black Lives Matter car paradeFinalists: Grab-a-Java’s painted signs, Black Lives Matter capitol demonstration, White Coats 4 Black Lives SIU School of Medicine, Being Black at School Related Business giving back during the pandemic Papo’s Café3290 W. Iles Ave., 679-6044 Finalists: D’arcy’s Pint meals for healthcare workers, Willow & Birch…
BEST NEW BUSINESS DOWNTOWN
Jerk Shop Go has been a great addition to the downtown food scene, providing some much need variety. It’s located at 213 S. Fifth Street next to Springfield Vintage. Jerk Shop Go is touted as “Caribbean flavor with a twist” and is owned by young entrepreneur Kadejia Berkley. She is a triplet, and the three…
BEST NEW BAR
With a tag line like “History in every pour,” it’s no wonder that our readers voted Sangamo Brewing as the best new bar. Sangamo Brewing is a partnership between Tom Noonan and Jason Butler. Butler previously operated Fat Willy’s at the same location, which has now been heavily remodeled, while Noonan, a lifelong collector of…
BEST RETAIL PET STORE
Wade Kammin opened Wild Birds Unlimited 27 years ago at the current location at 1930 S. MacArthur. With a staff of six employees, the core specialty of Wild Birds Unlimited is high-quality backyard bird feed. “I’m proud of my staff,” remarks Kammin, noting that four staff members have been working at the store for over…
BEST CITY OFFICIAL / BEST UP AND COMING LEADER
Ward 6 Ald. Kristin DiCenso is not everyone’s cup of tea. She is not, for instance, welcome on the Sangamon County Board of Public Health, which has offered strange reasons to deny her a seat, even though she’s been one of only two city representatives on the panel that’s supposed to run a public agency…
Stylish Come Play a cut above
Amidst the many horror film offerings dumped upon us this time of year, Come Play emerges as a cut above the rest. Plucking elements from The Babadook, The Ring and Mama, among others, writer/director Jacob Chase manages to craft a stylistically creepy tale of alienation and longing, revolving around a little boy partially sealed off…
BEST PUBLIC ART/MURAL
For more than 20 years, the banners at Grab-A-Java have been catching the attention of motorists. Original owners Pete Lazare and Meg Evans opened the drive-thru coffee shop in 1996 on South Sixth Street, one of the first in our city to serve a quality brew and fancy coffee drinks. Lazare bought mistinted cans of…
BEST YOGA STUDIO
What happens when you open a business the same month that pandemic restrictions keep everyone at home? “It was challenging!” says Beverly Hopkins, owner of FLOW Midwest Yoga and Meditation. “We learned a lot.” Transitioning to virtual classes, Hopkins and partner Ashley Krstulovich persevered and kept their name in circulation by occasionally offering free virtual…
J Brew and the Crew
Sometimes he goes by Jason C. Brewer, but when this talented East St. Louis native has a horn in his hand, just call him J Brew and understand he’s got a “movin’ groove with nothin’ to prove,” and that’s a fact. He blows the trumpet playing the entire field, including gospel, jazz, rock and R&B,…
BOS WINNERS: FOOD AND DRINK
Bakery Incredibly Delicious925 S. Seventh St., 528-8548 Finalists: Mel-O-Cream, Three Twigs Bakery, Pease’s at BUNN Gourmet, Scoop Du Jour Bartender Darcy at Obed and Issac’s Microbrewery & EateryFinalists: Justin Rebbe at Club Station House, Sydney Prosser at Buzz Bomb Brewing Co., Jitonna at Stadium Bar and Grill, Colton Allen at Roots Latin Grill BBQ PT’s…
BEST CLERGYPERSON
Rev. Martin Woulfe grew up as a Roman Catholic in South Holland, a suburb of Chicago. He followed a long and winding road before landing in Springfield, where he heads the Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation (ALUUC). In 1980-’81 he studied abroad in Ireland. “I got involved with Amnesty International and joined a protest against…
Puzzles 10/29/20
Plus a bonus puzzle:
BEST NEW RESTAURANT
Home Plate Bar & Grill, located near the corner of Koke Mill and Ginger Creek on the west side of Springfield, embraces a baseball theme. For outdoor seating there is a lower patio area, along with an “upper deck” rooftop beer garden with seating. The patio area is heated and has several TVs so diners…
Best nurse
Amanda Wilde humbly admits she finds it incredible to be chosen as Springfield’s best nurse, particularly since she just graduated from nursing school in 2017. Wilde began her nursing career at St. John’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where she worked with the most vulnerable of patients, premature babies. “We focused on respect, care, compassion…
BEST GRANITE (STAFF PICK)
As land goes, the corner where two monuments to Springfield’s biggest names have been installed since last year is prime real estate. Lashonda Fitch, cemetery director, pegs the price at $72,000 per spot, each within eyeshot of Lincoln’s tomb and at one of the graveyard’s most-traveled intersections. It’s a safe bet that the families of…
BEST COMEDIAN
What’s so funny about Jeremy Nunes, you ask? Well, with one listen to his comedy routine explaining common day mishaps and regular happenings in an interesting and provocative way, you’ll get what folks heard in this aspiring comic who practices a “front porch” style of merry making. This is the first time we’ve offered the…
BEST EDIBLE
Cannabidiol, more commonly referred to as CBD, is often considered a natural mood enhancer, as it reduces anxiety, depression and inflammation. It can also provide relief for pain and insomnia and promotes a general feeling of well-being. Many users with a variety of chronic conditions such as bowel disease and migraines report relief after using…
BEST SCANDAL
This is almost too easy. Early on, there was St. Patrick’s Day Parade-Gate, wherein Mayor Jim Langfelder went bar-hopping, then was slow to cancel the city’s parade. But Langfelder makes for a lousy villain, and he did come to his senses. Then came state Rep. Darren “Crown Prince of Coronavirus” Bailey, R-Maskless, who made all…
BOS WINNERS: GOODS and SERVICES
AC/Heating company Henson Robinson Company3550 Great Northern Ave., 544-8451 Finalists: Rich Gatschenberger Heating & Cooling, MB Heating and Cooling, Comfort Air, Eades Heating & Cooling Antique/Vintage store Springfield Vintage215 S. Fifth St., 652-8413 Finalists: Recycled Records, Magnolia Lane Home Décor and More, Abe’s Old Hat Antiques & Country Store, The Barrel Antique Mall Auto service…
Election Countdown amid Pandemic
Capitol News Illinois
BEST ART STUDIO/GALLERY
What started as a creative crew of people, many college-aged, about a decade ago, has morphed into one of Springfield’s premier artistic endeavors. Andrew Woolbright co-founded the group, back when it was on the corner of Pasfield Street and South Grand Avenue in a space that used to be a drugstore. Woolbright is an acclaimed…
BEST COLLISION CENTER
Brad Zara and his wife, Julie, started their business nearly 34 years ago with two main goals in mind: take care of customers and take care of those who take care of their customers – their employees. He explains this instinctive notion led to their five core values, which have served them well over the…
BEST THRIFT STORE
It’s been a rough year for thrift stores. Salvation Army, sadly, didn’t make it, shutting down its 11th Street store this fall after decades of supplying Springfield with all the used clothing, DVDs and bread makers any household could ever need. With two stores in Springfield and one in Chatham, Land of Lincoln Goodwill, also,…
BEST OF SPRINGFIELD® 2020 Intro
Every year, we ask our opinionated readers to tell us about their favorite people, places and things in the Springfield area. Over the decades we’ve been doing this, we’ve continued to tweak both the process and the results issue to try to keep things fresh and interesting, and of course, the votes tend to reflect…
BEST WINE BAR
Nestled into an unassuming strip mall right off the main drag in Chatham, 3Sixteen Wine Bar makes up for its humble settings with incredibly good eats, a wide selection of drinks and a terrific wait staff that make the little place that could into a top-shelf restaurant and bar. Locally owned by five friends who…
Best doctor
“When I was very young, I loved science, and I loved helping people. My mom was a nurse,” explains Dr. Cara Vasconcelles of her lifelong desire to be a doctor. After graduating from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Vasconcelles focused on a combination of internal medicine and pediatrics, which involved an extra…
BEST BASS PLAYER
Jessica Knight-Carnes contains multitudes. When on a stage, she is a powerhouse, a short-haired spark plug of energy who sings – and sometimes borderline screams – poetic, existential lyrics. Not only is she a remarkable vocalist with a deep and dark range, she holds down the rhythm with her steady, solid bass playing. Some might…
BOS WINNERS: LIFE and WELLNESS
Apartment community Lake Pointe Apartments1600 Toronto Road, 529-2900 Finalists: Lincoln Square Apartments, Cobblestone Place, Park West, Prairie Vista Assisted living community Concordia Village4101 W. Iles Ave., 793-9429 Finalists: Elmcroft of Wyndcrest – Rochester, Villas of Sherman, Illinois Presbyterian Home, Mill Creek Alzheimer’s Special Care Center Audiologist and hearing center Dr. David Groesch, AuD – Central…
