Cover Story
Fashion comes to Springfield
A body-painted model walks the runway in a flowing dress made from trash and an ornate headdress of flowers. A dress sculpted from 140 pages of Veranda magazine intrigues the crowd. A model glows with illuminated LED lighting sending pink blooms dancing skyward with iridescent rhinestones. Vintage clothing finds a new life on the runway…
Frozen II a bit muddled
I was expecting some snappy tunes and a few scene-stealing moments from Josh Gad’s Olaf in Disney’s current cash cow Frozen II. What proved surprising was a scene of small-scale genocide aimed at the indigenous people that live in an enchanted forest that borders Arendelle, the home of Anna and Elsa. It and its ramifications…
A November to remember
I have often stated in these lines about how quickly time seems to pass, but the fourth weekend of November already? Come on, you’ve got to be kidding! But here we are and away we go. This week the Curve Inn kicks off a new season of Thursday Night Roots, featuring area Americana-type bands every…
Wayward Motel
This six-piece, all-American, Americana, rock ‘n’ roll, rock band based here in the capital city puts out a sound that spans across a sonic landscape far more far reaching than one might expect from the local scene. Led by singer, songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Josh Catalano, who is joined by Rory Davis (keyboards), Matt Natale…
State’s anti-gambling lobbyist is one tough ‘Church Lady’
Gambling has expanded throughout Illinois as the state struggles to catch up with its budget deficit. The lure of additional revenue brought support from local governments, businesses and unions. But not everyone is a fan, as some argue it takes advantage of the vulnerable among us. One woman has spent the last two decades fighting…
For something different, Cassoulet
High atop the kitchen cabinets in my apartment sits a pottery bowl known as a cassole. It is quite large – about the size of a basketball. It is wide at the top and is tapered down to its base. My cassole is glazed in its interior and rim but is unglazed on the outside.…
A popular holiday tradition
Memorial Medical Center’s Festival of Trees is celebrating its 30th season as a central Illinois holiday highlight. In addition to bringing holiday cheer to all ages, the annual festival also raises money for health-related projects and programs at Memorial Health System and in the Springfield community. Since 1989, the festival has raised more than $5.3…
Eleanor Spiess-Ferris
In Greek mythology, Daphne is a nymph who is transformed into a tree to save her from the god Apollo’s unwanted advances. That moment of Daphne’s transformation from a woman into a tree has been repeated throughout art history. Eleanor Spiess-Ferris’s figures often are depicted as hybrid creature – part human and part natural form.…
Editor’s note 11/21/19
Editor’s note Members of Springfield’s ICON – Inner City Older Neighborhoods – have taken time to dream big while picking up litter, dealing with problem properties, attending every city council meeting and continuing to push for garbage pickup reform when most others have given up. Now in its 10th year, the lobbying group used its…
Up from homelessness
No one wants a huffer in the neighborhood. Everyone knows that. What about a homeless drunk? Same thing. I was reminded of that truism when Jacob Montross came to the office last week. Montross had visited before, after I wrote a column about street-corner panhandlers nearly two years ago. He showed up angry and, after…
Here’s what happened at the Statehouse
Following are brief reports on numerous bills voted up or down during the final week of the fall veto session. TOBACCO BILLS: Bills aimed at curbing where Illinoisans can use electronic smoking devices and with what flavorings were halted until the spring session of the General Assembly. One bill would loop electronic cigarettes into the…
Program helps Illinoisans save for retirement
Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs Nov. 18 continued to promote a new state program which he says is a first step to alleviating a nationwide “retirement crisis.” At a Chicago news conference, Frerichs said more than 32,000 Illinoisans have saved more than $8.5 million for their retirement as part of Illinois Secure Choice, a program which…
Challenges abound in making The Irishman
To say there’s a mutual admiration society between Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Martin Scorsese is something of an understatement. During a recent press conference in Hollywood after the premiere of their long-awaited film, The Irishman, it was obvious what high esteem these three have for one another. During their discussion, compliments flowed back…
Plan for downtown homeless center resurfaces
A Springfield architect’s proposal to put a homeless center on the northern edge of downtown has drawn praise from a city official tasked with providing services to the homeless. “I will tell you, it’s a great idea,” Juan Huerta, city community relations director, said after architect John Shafer unveiled his plan at an Inner City…
Letters to the editor 11/21/19
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to letters@illinoistimes.com. CONVERSATIONS CONTINUE Diversity and inclusion has become a part of the conversation for the nonprofit sector in Springfield. David Blanchette’s article, “How and Why to Diversify” (Nov. 14), was a great introduction to the work…
armistice day poem #1
in grade school november 11 was armistice day my favorite teacher was miss herman we learned about indians in third grade from unbiased texts but never met an indian – “wash” she pronounced “warsh” an ignorance I forgave (in college learned it’s a regionalism) she fielded ron grove’s jeering our belief in santa by saying…
Contenders to replace Cullerton
Much will change at the Statehouse when Senate President John Cullerton retires in January, a year before his term expires. Unlike his House counterpart, Speaker Michael Madigan, Cullerton always wanted to find ways to get things done – and he got a lot done. He’s a kind, approachable man who prefers bipartisan statesmanship but relishes…
U of I stifles press freedom
I’ve sat across from many victims of violent crime and had them share what they have suffered. The more intimate the violation the less likely they are to want to be identified. I can appreciate this. It took me 40 years to publicly disclose that I was sexually assaulted when I was 12. Victims often…
