Poetic soliloquy
Three free performances of the compelling 1892 drama The Yellow Wallpaper will be held in the bedroom of poet Vachel Lindsay on Thursday evening as part of the annual First Night Springfield celebration. This unique offering stars Aasne Vigesaa and is based on the short story by American writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman about a woman…
The rest of the story, 2009
It’s hard to believe I’m once again writing the last column of the year. As always, when I look back over what I’ve written during the last 12 months, I think of information I couldn’t include, because of my word limit. The limit is actually good. It can be frustrating, especially when the subject is…
The lives they lived – Part I
About the issue This last week of the year Illinois Times takes a loving look back at some of the lives that ended in 2009. All across Springfield this past week, chairs were empty and hearts were aching as families went through traditional holiday gatherings for the first time without their loved one. At the…
The best films of 2009
If I learned one thing about the movies this year, it’s that digital 3-D films are here to stay and I, for one, am happy about it. The multiplexes have been getting a steady stream of these features and while none of them made my top 10 list (a couple were tied for 11th place)…
l’envoi: poem for carol�
our loved friend carol manleytwo days before her sudden deathemailed me about the poems inillinois times she wrote do youneed material maybe you cando something with this from zay:“the girls were chasing the boysthey wanted to put makeup on usbut our feet sang a song the boys’feet sang a fast song the girls’feet sang a…
Letters to the Editor 12/31/2009
FOOD, INC.After seeing Food, Inc. I am recommending it to all of my friends. I am feeling extra appreciative of my voice and purchasing power to affect change in our area. I am appalled that our government has allowed such serious concerns to be raised with the system set up to regulate the safety of…
Why did the children not cross the road?
The setting was breakfast, the mood nostalgic. I and three aging friends sat talking about mobility. No, not our corroded knees or where to buy replacement tips for our canes. We were recalling our youths, when — each growing up in a separate Midwestern town — our city was really ours. One — the spinach…
Renae
What do you mean you had no idea there was a band from central Illinois that just signed to a record label? Renae, a local, hard-hitting, hard-working, sorta, indie-rock band just hooked up with Hotfoot Records out of New York with all the good intentions of taking their sound national. The band, featuring Stephen, Brad,…
Performance and visual
Gather in front of the Center at 6:30 p.m. to kick off the Springfield Area Arts Council’s First Night celebration held at various locations downtown. A soft, prize-ball blast will be launched above the crowd — with three lucky catchers reaping cash prizes of $25, $50 or $100. Throughout the evening, the Springfield Municipal Opera,…
Amusement art
Springfield High School brims with the laughter and togetherness of families on New Year’s Eve afternoon where First Night Springfield offers activities and entertainment for kids. The popular DePriest Puppets perform from 1:30-2pm, and hands-on activities include a harmonica workshop with the charismatic Mark Russillo. Also, Chris Camp cracks his whip, Troy Roark surprises with…
Eclectic tunes
The picturesque Presbyterian Sanctuary hosts four distinct musical acts during First Night Springfield that you are sure to enjoy. Representing the sound and dance of Ireland, Wales and Scotland are the St. Andrew’s Society Pipes, Drums and Celtic Dancers. The Four Sopranos belt out beautiful gospel tunes. Rudy Zuiderveld performs a Brombaugh Opus 35 Pipe…
The lives they lived – Part II
KENNETH “GENE” WELLENREITER JR. Aug. 13, 1971 – July 27, 2009 Gene Wellenreiter came into my life about six years ago and taught me more about life and living through his death and dying than he will ever know. Gene was diagnosed with cancer on his 37th birthday and never made it to his 38th.…
New Year’s Eve reinstated
Remember not so long ago in Now Playing land we discussed the rise of Thanksgiving Eve as the biggest party night connected to a holiday on the calendar? I’m not sure how you feel about that, but if you are at all saddened by this turn of events and would like to see things changed,…
Hoping for a new ethic in 2010
This special season got me to thinking about America’s spirit of giving, and I don’t mean this overdone business of Christmas gifts. I mean our true spirit of giving — giving of ourselves. Yes, we are a country of rugged individualists, yet there’s also a deep, community-minded streak in each of us. We’re a people…
What are you eating?
Ever wonder about the nutritional value of papaya? Ever wonder whether iceberg lettuce is really as useless as it tastes? The same folks who brought you Condé Nast Traveler, GQ, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Wired, The New Yorker and many other edgy national publications have compiled data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to show you…
