Citizens in action
One day three years ago, Bob Gray picked up the phone and called Rudy Davenport. The white Republican committeeman told the former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People that he wanted to start a club. It would be something different for Springfield, Gray told Davenport, modeled after a 105-year-old Chicago…
Route 66 Flix
It’s funny what a smidge of positive press, a little marketing gizmo, and a good reputation can do for a film festival. This year’s Route 66 Film Festival — the 7th annual — received six times the usual number of submissions, says festival director Linda McElroy, including entries from every continent on the globe except…
Local vs. lowest price
Untitled Document As the transfer of Illinois Department of Transportation positions from Springfield to Harrisburg hangs in the air, and after aldermen begrudgingly approved a contract for city laundering services with a company out of Bloomington, Ward 1 Ald. Frank Edwards wants to hear a citywide conversation about jobs. “We should do everything in our…
Arugula eaters of the world, unite!
Back in the 70s and 80s it was quiche. Then in the 90s, it was latte. These days good ol’ boy/girl bubba/bubbette politicians seem intent on labeling those who consume arugula as effete, lah-dee-dah elitists. Excuse me — arugula? I’ll admit there’s a certain twisted logic about quiche. It’s French. Yes, it’s true that if…
Slow motion
State transportation officials and Gov. Rod Blagojevich have maintained that the purchase of a Harrisburg building where the governor wants to move IDOT’s traffic-safety division would not be made for at least 50 days after documents were submitted to the 12-member legislative Commission on Government Forecasting in accordance with state law. September 11, marks day…
IT Picks
Sing his glory The Basuah Gospel Festival descends on Springfield to praise the Lord with song and dance. Smokie Norful and Vanessa Bell Armstrong, two of the biggest names in gospel, will come together to usher in the Holy Spirit with powerful vocals. The label mates will perform their hits, “He’s So Good to Me,”…
A piece of peace
The attacks of Sep. 11, 2001 may have occurred hundreds of miles away from Springfield, but local citizens have made their share of sacrifices as a result of 9-11’s aftermath — and they’re doing their part to promote peace. This week, the capital city peace-and-justice community began a series of “Cost of Peace: What More…
Omit the chorus
Illinois Symphony Orchestra’s 2008-09 concert season begins next week with one notable difference: For the first time in more than two decades, the repertoire will be entirely instrumental, save for an unnamed guest chorus for the “Highlights from Messiah” section of the December concert. The change is the result of the unhappy departure of the…
Introducing the Sangamon Songwriter Series
Untitled Document I must admit a strong weakness for writing about any locally inspired and produced, live music series. Last week it was the Bedrock 66 Live! and this column through the years (that would be eight of them with this issue or the next, thank you very much) has enjoyed supporting the efforts of…
Why I’ll never leave Illinois for Washington
On rare occasions somebody will ask me if I’ve ever given any thought to moving up to the “bigtime” political scene in Washington, DC. I have a standard reply. Never. Here are my top 10 reasons… 10) Partisanship can be intense in Illinois, but rarely will you see political followers swoon over gigantic flip-flops from…
