A confession
I have fallen off the wagon. I haven’t run in several days, and the interval between my runs has grown lately. I know that exercise gives me energy and confidence while speeding up my metabolism, so why have I let myself get so far off track? I confess to having been lazy, distracted and unmotivated.…
Letters to the Editor 7/1/10
BREAK THE CHAIN I am writing about an issue that has gone unaddressed for too long — that of the perpetually chained or penned, so-called “outside” or “backyard” dog. There is no sadder sight than these outcast, forlorn, forgotten animals, relegated to the status of lawn ornaments and virtually ignored by the family. Many chained…
PIZZA FOR LIFE
One Springfield man could win free pizza for life. Blair Dial submitted “The Big Bonanza,” a pizza topped with barbecue sauce, bacon, beef, ham, jalapenos, onions and tomatoes, for the Papa’s Specialty Pizza Challenge, a contest put on by Papa John’s that would put his pizza on the menu and potentially win him $10,000 and…
It’s tough to give Americans what they want
The Gulf oil spill has laid bare a series of shortcomings in the government’s ability both to prevent and to respond to such a crisis, and the result is spiraling public frustration. But it might not hurt for members of the public to save a little of that frustration for themselves.Because anyone trying to figure…
Cashing in on wind energy
As a cool summer breeze blows over the vast farmland outside Hopedale, about 50 miles north of Springfield, the whisper of rustling corn leaves almost drowns out the soft, intermittent whooshing sound of three gargantuan fan blades slowly slicing through the air. Four hundred feet above the cornstalks, the fiberglass blades turn a generator capable…
Grilled bananas with coconut-caramel sauce
Raichlen’s recipes come with provenance: stories of where they come from and how they got there. As often as not, those stories are as interesting and compelling as the recipes themselves. Here’s what he has to say about a Bangkok grill mistress, Saisuwan, and her specialty: “Five years ago she scraped together enough cash to…
Putting Illinois to work
No one can help you if you don’t help yourself, says Springfield resident Theodore Steen when he explains his recent success in Put Illinois to Work, a subsidized jobs program through which 225 workers have been placed with 37 Sangamon County employers. Under the Put Illinois to Work (PIW) program, workers deemed eligible based on…
Into the Woods
Your favorite fairy tale characters warped as you have never seen them in a story where everyone’s wishes are granted, but watch out for what you wish for. (See Theater.) Into the WoodsJuly 2-11, 8:30pmThe Muni
Downtown blast
The Statehouse rocks during this two-day celebration with three stages nearby featuring performances by local bands, the WIBI Fourth of July Children’s Choir and the Springfield Municipal Band. Stages are at Fifth and Capitol, Second and Monroe, and Second and Capitol. Saturday at noon begins the family fun with lots of good food and free…
What to do about Japanese beetles
Sightings of adult Japanese beetles began in mid-June. Since then they have been seen munching on roses, crabapples, lindens, raspberries, apple trees, basil and much more. Feeding on plants generally lasts from mid-June until mid-August. The Japanese beetle, Popilia japonica Newman, is approximately 1/2 inch long and is metallic green with coppery wing covers. The…
Marijuana fines going fine
Since Springfield passed an ordinance to issue a fine for possession of less than 2.5 grams of marijuana instead of a state misdemeanor charge, 167 people have received citations. The city considers the ordinance a success. The city ordinance came into effect Feb. 3, 2009, and gave people who were in possession of less than…
Triple header
The Play Ball exhibition, curated by Rod Buffington and Mike Badger, commemorates great moments in baseball history, stadium landmarks and baseball heroes and teams. On display is a diverse range of media including paintings, wood carvings, quilts and more. Some of the participating artists are John Hanley, Vincent Scilla, Joel Barr and Springfield’s Chris Britt.…
Enter, real populists
Few people today call themselves populists, but I think most are. I’m not talking about the recent political outbursts by confused, used and abused tea-bag ranters who’ve been organized by corporate front groups to spread a hatred of government. Rather, I mean the millions of ordinary Americans in every state who’re battling the real power…
Grown Ups with summertime blahs
There’s nothing overtly offensive about Adam Sandler’s Grown Ups. There’s nothing terribly funny, or original either, in this tale about five middle age guys who reunite for a weekend after their beloved middle school basketball coach dies. As each takes stock of what they’ve have or haven’t done with their lives, we’re treated to cheap…
Talk to me
It is a rare human being who does not enjoy being read to. The soothing tones of the mother at the bedside, reading us to sleep, the soothing tones of the politician, reading from a teleprompter, reading us to sleep – our appetite for the spoken word is instinctual. Happily, technology and big government have…
The Yellow Wallpaper
If you haven’t caught this performance yet, you must book your spot now. People are raving about the moving and intimate performance. (See Theater.) The Yellow WallpaperJuly 2-3, 6pm and 8pmVachel Lindsay Home
CRUISING FOR CARE
Not many people are cut out for the stress of being a dedicated family caregiver. They help the helpless and protect the vulnerable day after day, and they often must deal with bodily fluids, debilitating health conditions and difficult circumstances. They just need a break sometimes. That’s why the Home Instead Senior Care network is…
PJ Summers Band
After friends submitted one of his songs to a local radio station contest and listeners liked what they heard, PJ Summers, the music minister of Koke Mill Christian Church, felt the calling and added acoustic Christian rocker to his God-given and driven work. With Summers covering the songwriting duties plus acoustic guitar and vocals, the…
Building a new MacArthur
At the very least, businesses on MacArthur Boulevard should and could start adding grass, trees and shrubs to their properties as a way to make the thoroughfare more welcoming to Springfield visitors, says John LaMotte with The Lakota Group. One of the city planners hired with grant funding to help create a redevelopment plan for…
Water rockets
Rock the dock is a 30-minute fireworks display and light show choreographed to a soundtrack with concert sound blasted over Lake Springfield. Families can celebrate in the family fun zone, but there’s also a party garden for those who wish to enjoy a cold one. Free tickets are available while they last at Dewey’s RC…
In-your-face fireworks
Guests are encouraged to pack a picnic for the family and dine in one of the free picnic areas during the Great American Picnic July 2-4, with free parking and park admission benefiting the Spina Bifida Association of Illinois. Friday is the day that really kicks up a notch with a free concert by Seein’…
Pollo al mattone
3 garlic cloves 2 T. stemmed fresh rosemary leaves 2 T. stemmed fresh sage leaves 2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper ½ c. coarse salt (Kosher or sea) 4 whole baby chickens, poussins, or game hens (each 1 – 1 ¼ lbs.) OR 2 whole chickens (each 3 ½ – 4 lbs.) About ½ c.…
A horse opera with a Hex
For me, Jonah Hex is the most aggravating kind of movie – you can see it has the potential to be an intriguing film and yet its makers fail to develop its most unique elements. Based on the long-running DC comics series about a physically and psychologically scarred confederate officer who tries to find his…
July heats up the music scene
As you experienced live music goers know, July means a plate chock full of performances coming out of our ears, to improperly mix metaphors or simulate similes or otherwise antagonize proper grammar and English usage. Where is Ezra Pound when you need him? Fighting in the captain’s tower with T.S. Eliot while the calypso singers…
The professor of barbeque
What picture pops into your head when you hear the words “barbeque expert”? Is it a big beefy guy, tongs in hand, maybe a bit red-faced from hovering over the coals and the beer can in his other hand; his ball cap and t-shirt or apron inscribed with the logo of his favorite barbeque competition,…
Springfield founders berry fest
Meet Elijah Iles and Robert Irwin at this history celebration that includes strawberry everything: shortcake, sundaes, daiquiris and strawberries and cream. Families can play lawn games, listen to music and storytelling and witness the grand reopening ceremony of The Ann and Farrell Gay Museum of Springfield History. Free parking is available in the Iles House…
The unlikely co-conspirator
To many Illinois politics insiders, one of the more surprising aspects of this Rod Blagojevich saga is not that the former governor was arrested. Most of them knew for years that he was heading for big trouble. The late Chris Kelly’s alleged misdeeds as one of Blagojevich’s top fundraisers didn’t stir all that much surprise.…
