Intelligent Tinker rewards patience
With its labyrinthine plot, shifting narrative threads and myriad characters, Tomas Alfredson’s adaptation of John le Carre’s classic spy novel, Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, may be initially off-putting to some viewers. However, for those who stick with it, their patience will be rewarded. The movie proves to be not so much a Cold War thriller,…
The Artist, a lovingly rendered homage
Along with Hugo and Drive, also 2011 releases, Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist is a film steeped in the history of American cinema. With nods towards A Star is Born, Citizen Kane and Singin’ in the Rain as well as the life of silent film star John Gilbert, the movie is a loving homage to the…
Developer blasts new Enos School plan
A Springfield developer with plans to revamp part of the Mid-Illinois Medical District says Springfield School District 186’s plan to replace the current Enos Elementary School is likely to cost more than expected. Dan Mulcahy, the Springfield developer behind Dankor Development LLC, says the district’s plan fails to completely account for factors like asbestos removal,…
Email-gate
While a brouhaha over anonymous emails has resulted in the resignation of a top aide to University of Illinois president Michael Hogan, there have been no apparent consequences for a University of Illinois Springfield faculty leader who leaked information to the aide, then denied doing it. Lisa Troyer, Hogan’s former chief of staff, resigned earlier…
SOLAR CITY
There’s something intriguing about solar power – the way it turns sunlight directly into useable electricity without the hassle of steam, fossil fuels or motors. It’s beautifully simple on the surface, yet more complex on the atomic level than most of us can humanly imagine. Luckily, you don’t have to understand how it works to…
The man behind Sears’ success got his start here
Springfield is known as the home of Abraham Lincoln, but a man from Lincoln’s neighborhood gets short shrift in our city’s legacy. Julius Rosenwald was born a block from Lincoln’s home in 1862 (where the Lincoln Home’s main parking lot is now) and became one of America’s greatest businessmen and philanthropists of the 20th century.…
Grilled mexican wings, Sinaloa-style
This lusciously herbaceous-orange marinade comes from the Mexican state of Sinaloa by way of Chicago’s Rick Bayless. 4 lbs. chicken wings, tips removed and reserved for stock, cut into individual sections 1 c. coarsely chopped white onion (NOT super-sweet) 8 cloves garlic, peeled 1 1/2 c. orange juice 1 tsp EACH dried thyme, marjoram and…
Mike McClure Band
If you were from Oklahoma and if you were into hard-rocking, good country music like that of the Red Dirt scene, seeing Mike McClure’s name would send you boot-scootin’ for the ticket booth, if you had boots. The singer, songwriter, guitarist, performer and producer played with The Great Divide, had tunes covered by Garth Brooks…
Inspired cast and clever twists elevate Contraband
From the 1930s through the 1950s, double features were common in American cinemas and the film that played on the lower part of the bill was referred to as a B-movie. These were exercises in narrative economy, as those who made them knew that their plots were familiar to audiences and their intent was to…
Grilled Southeast Asian wings
Though this recipe comes from New Orleans chef Emeril Lagasse, it utilizes classic Southeast Asian ingredients. 3 lbs. chicken wings, tips removed, then halved 4 scallions 2 T. roughly chopped garlic 1/4 c. chopped shallots 1/4 c. chopped fresh ginger 1/2 c. roughly chopped lemongrass bottoms 1/4 c. packed light brown sugar 1/3 c. fish…
Municipal pensions eat more, but they’re still hungry
Whether the city of Springfield is facing a pension crisis in police and firefighter retirement systems depends on who’s doing the talking. Mayor Mike Houston and Bill McCarty, director of the city’s budget and management office, say that while pension costs are always a concern, the city is in relatively good shape. But Ward 7…
Stopping the rush to war against Iran
A growing group of individuals and organizations has designated Saturday, Feb. 4, as a “National Day of Action” aimed at preventing a war against Iran. The manifesto is simple: “No War, No Sanctions, No Intervention, No Assassinations.” Nothing is more urgent than stopping the march to war now underway. Economic warfare has begun already. Sanctions…
Chris Britt laid off
Chris Britt, editorial cartoonist for the State Journal-Register, has been fired. Britt was let go this morning. “I was just informed,” Britt said. Britt, who began his career as an editorial cartoonist in 1990 and joined the State Journal-Register staff nine years later, said he wasn’t sure whether he was given a reason for his…
Destination Dinner Table brings together families and good food
Parents looking for a way to prepare healthier meals on a budget, while also bringing family members together for dinner may find answers in the Destination Dinner Table program. On Wednesday, Jan. 18, the DDT program was officially announced during a ceremony for the genH (generation Healthy!) Coalition at Springfield Christian School, 2850 Cider Mill…
Lawsuit claims Illinois illegally withholds treatment for kids
A class action lawsuit against the state of Illinois alleges state welfare agencies illegally withhold treatment for children with emotional and behavioral disorders. The lawsuit could affect more than 18,000 youth with severe mental illnesses and emotional disturbances in Illinois. Filed against the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, the lawsuit seeks to force…
Apricot lime chicken wings
These sweet-tart wings are a hit with both kids and adults. 8 lbs. chicken wings 1 c. fresh lime juice (approximately 8 to 10 limes) 1 c. apricot preserves 1 c. soy sauce 1/2 c. honey or dark brown sugar 1 T. minced garlic Preheat oven to 375F. Cut off wing tips, reserving the tips…
Such a deal
By the late 1980s, Sears & Roebuck had lost the knack of selling America its school clothes and car tires like it used to. However, it was still able to sell the governor of Illinois, the General Assembly and the mayor of Hoffman Estates a suit with no pants and make each think he got…
CASTING FOR VOTES
Shatriya Smith is attempting to walk the extra mile in support of Illinois’ 96th district Democratic state representative candidate Winston Taylor. There’s just one problem: both of Smith’s feet are broken. Smith, who is recovering from bunion surgery on both feet, is taking an old-school approach in her support of Taylor by going door-to-door and…
Help and hope for autism
When Teresa Paul’s son, Sean, was born, she dreamed of the day when he would graduate from college, get married and have children of his own. Like many new moms, she was excited to take her baby home, and she looked forward to watching Sean grow and reach developmental milestones, such as sitting up alone,…
America’s class divide
What planet does presidential wannabe Rick Santorum live on? When it comes to grasping the situation of America’s hard-hit workaday majority, this sweater-vested ultra-right-winger is further out than Pluto. In a recent debate, Santorum assailed a tax plan proposed by front-runner Mitt Romney. It wasn’t the plan’s details that caused Rick to stamp his tiny…
Blues bash
Grammy-nominated blues guitarist Eric Bibb takes to the stage as the University of Illinois Springfield Kitchen Sink Series continues on Saturday, Jan. 28, in the UIS Studio Theatre in the PAC Building. Nominated for nine W.C. Handy Blues Music Awards and winner of the Best Newcomer title in the British Blues Awards, Bibb has been…
Spicy wings with eastern Mediterranean flavors
An eastern Mediterranean riff on traditional Buffalo wings, this is adapted from a recipe of Iron Chef Michael Symon’s. 5 pounds chicken wings, tips removed, then halved 2 T. coriander seeds 1 tsp. cumin seeds 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 2 T. kosher salt 2 T. extra-virgin olive oil 1/3 cup Sriracha chile sauce, available in most…
Harlem swing
The Hoogland Center for the Arts and SIU Voice Clinic present the Fats Waller musical Ain’t Misbehavin’ for two weekends in the LRS Theatre. The outrageously prodigious comic and musical soul of 1930s Harlem lives on in this rollicking, swinging, finger-snapping revue that is still considered one of Broadway’s best. Cast includes Kevin Ford, Tosh…
Contribution caps aren’t slowing political cash
Back when the reformers demanded that state campaign contributions be capped, they said it would limit the dollars flowing into Illinois political funds. But, overall, contributions have only barely decreased from four years ago, according to a search of the State Board of Elections’ database. That may have as much to do with the economy…
Letters to the Editor 1/26/12
TALL MUSICIANS I was pleased to see Tom Irwin get the recognition he richly deserves [see “The ballad of Tom Irwin,” by Scott Faingold, Jan. 19]. His weekly columns have been consistently informative and funny. It’s always nice to see a fellow member of TMOS (Tall Musicians of Springfield) get some well-earned ink. And yes,…
Winging it
Chicken wings are wildly popular. Entire restaurants – entire restaurant chains – are centered around them. They’ve become one of America’s favorite appetizers, party pleasers, bar snacks, tailgate treats, heck, one of America’s favorite foods. But 50 years ago chicken wings were barely visible on America’s culinary landscape. Chefs used them – if at all…
2012 forecast
What good are predictions anyway? Is there any meaning in the fact that someone states “so-and-so shall do that and turn out this way” and then it does, or doesn’t for that matter? Really the only concerning issue is our perception of what might be, because what is, is, and happens regardless of the endless,…
readingpoem #7
readingpoem #7 A recent letter from my sister, Pat, relates this tale about our oldest sister Joan as a kid. joan read all the time – do you recall when we were parked in front of the post office I don’t remember quite how it began but I have a…
In the groove
A host of celebrated musicians come together for an in-theater concert broadcasted live from the House of Blues Boston. On the big screen, see and hear world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, legendary bluegrass fiddler Stuart Duncan, acclaimed bassist Edgar Meyer, mandolin wizard Chris Thile with guest vocalist Aoife O’Donovan. The four string virtuosos perform songs off…
Code Goo
I’m a 33-year-old nurse in a five-month “friends with benefits” thing with a doctor co-worker. I am only 18 months out of an abusive 10-year relationship and wanted something fun and light. We get along well, but he rarely asks me ahead of time about getting together. I know he has a busy schedule, but…
New crop
Join individuals interested in healthier and safer foods at the 4th Annual Slow Food Springfield Film Festival held at Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation on Friday, Jan. 27. The 50-minute film Grow! screens at 7 p.m. The documentary features 20 young sustainable farmers, many who left the city with dreams of working the land to live…
