Chuck Koplinski interviews Mike Kortlander
IT film critic Chuck Koplinski interviews Mike Kortlander, director of “The Dying Western”, which played in the Route 66 International Film Festival.
Springfield could be run over by a train …
Thanks to Michelle Higginbotham and her merry band of protestors, the effort to fight the expansion of freight traffic on the 3rd Street tracks in Springfield is now at fever pitch. Working with the Enos Park Neighborhood Association, DSI, the medical district plus city and county officials this group has done an excellent job of…
Here kitty, kitty, kitty …
Welcome home kitties … Welcome home … Have you heard about the plans for the FOREVER HOME FELINE RANCH? Brenda Barton and friends have formed this 501c3 organization and are working hard raising money to purchase a home and land to provide a ‘forever home’ for cats in need. A primary goal is to eliminate…
Chuck Koplinski interviews Doug Jones and Katlyn Carlson
Illinois Times film critic Chuck Koplinski interviews Doug Jones (“Hellboy”, “Pan’s Labyrinth”) and Katlyn Carlson, stars of the indie feature “My Name is Jerry”, winner of Best Comedy Feature at the Route 66 International Film Festival.
Chuck Koplinski interviews director Sam Holdren
Illinois Times film critic Chuck Koplinski interviews Sam Holdren, director of the film “The Paradigm Shift”, playing in the Route 66 International Film Festival. “The Paradigm Shift” is playing in Session #7 of the fest on Sunday, September 20. Session #7 begins at 9:30 am.
Chuck Koplinski interviews Oscar Piloto and Alfonso Corona
IT film critic Chuck Koplinski interviews star Oscar Piloto and director Alfonso Corona (both are co-producers) of the short film “Dixon’s Girl” at the Route 66 International Film Festival.
Chuck Koplinski interviews Brian Dobrik
IT film critic Chuck Koplinski interviews Brian Dobrik, director of the indie short “Robert Shaw”, playing in the Route 66 International Film Festival.
Chuck Koplinski interviews Dominique Schilling
Illinois Times film critic Chuck Koplinski interviews Dominique Schilling, director of the film “Business As Usual”, playing in the Route 66 International Film Festival.
Chuck Koplinski interviews directors and star of Sinnerman
Illinois Times film critic Chuck Koplinski interviews Travis Pittman and Kelly Daniela Norris, co-directors, and Matthew Cadet, star of the film “Sinnerman”, playing in the Route 66 International Film Festival.
Chuck Koplinski interviews Lynelle White
Illinois Times film critic Chuck Koplinski interviews Lynelle White, director of the film “And Seven Hours Later”, playing in the Route 66 International Film Festival.
Chuck Koplinski interviews Zach Baliva and Morgan Mead
Illinois Times film critic Chuck Koplinski interviews Morgan Mead, director, and Zach Baliva, co-producer, of the film “My Name Is Jerry”, winner for Best Comedy Feature in the Route 66 International Film Festival.
Chuck Koplinski interviews director Daric Gates
Illinois Times film critic Chuck Koplinski interviews Daric Gates, director of the film “Crook”, winner for Best Thriller in the Route 66 International Film Festival.
Speaking of potential and MacArthur Boulevard
As I drove home for lunch today I noticed the electrico workers were high in the air installing traffic lights at Junction Circle and MacArthur Boulevard. Which means an actual extension to I72 can’t be too far away. At last week’s MacArthur Boulevard Business Association meeting Norm Sims (country regional planning director) confirmed that the…
Did you say watering holes?
In the last couple of years we lost several of our favorite downtown watering holes (Underground City Tavern, Top of the Hilton, the martini bar – I can’t even remember it’s name! But look, now we have a whole new crop to enjoy. The bar at Bennigan’s (at the Hilton) is doing a great job…
Norb’s, we’ve missed you.
Wasn’t it great to hear that Norb Andy’s will reopen in mid October? Even without a kitchen (maybe in the early new year??) those of us with fond memories of times spent in this Springfield version of Cheers! wish Jeremy and Nathan the best of luck. Stay posted here for news of the grand opening…
More than able
Finding a job has never been an easy feat for Kerry Jennings. Nine years ago, while living in southern Illinois, Jennings sent out nearly 150 resumes. Even though he touted a bachelor’s degree in social work from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and an extra dose of confidence, he was still turned down. Jennings, who was…
Artist talk
Artist, author, Johnsonian Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Columbia University and critic for The Nation, Arthur C. Danto is considered one of the most important philosophers of art in the world. He discusses and shows his art at this UIS ECCE Speaker Series presentation followed by a reception at the Visual Arts Gallery located in…
Paramount pics
This weekend see an array of short films produced by independent filmmakers from around the world. View everything from animation to documentary. If you cannot make the entire two-day fest, drop in on a block of films beginning Saturday at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. or 8:45 p.m. (adults only for this…
Fried rice
Fried rice is one of those dishes that occur in cuisines worldwide that evolved as a way to utilize extras when food was such a precious commodity that nothing went to waste. When making fried rice, it’s actually necessary to use rice that’s been previously cooked and cooled; otherwise the finished product will be mushy.…
Top talent
This is more than a premier fine art fair where over 85 artists present and sell their works on the grounds of the Art Association. Take a tour of Edwards Place Historic Home, where Lincoln entertained and now the oldest Springfield home on its original foundation. Find a book at the used book sale; listen…
Business owners wary of proposed service tax
It has been called “a headache,” “double taxation,” and “another way for government to get their hands in consumers’ pockets.” The idea of taxing services — something Illinois has historically been hesitant to do — has gained more attention this year with reports that the state is facing a deficit of anywhere from $8.95 to…
9: A distinctive vision, but a familiar story
Shane Acker’s 9, a nearly feature-length (79 minutes) version of his experimental short film, is truly a wonder to behold. Set in a seemingly alternate reality — in which World War II is combined with elements of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds with a touch of The Terminator thrown in for good measure —…
Stopped by a train
In the early 1850s, the brand new Alton & Sangamon Railroad needed a north-south track corridor through the capital city. The City of Springfield also needed a railroad, so the city council granted the A&S a right-of-way for its tracks along Third Street. Through the city, mind you, not around it. The city center was…
Martinis on the veranda anyone?
Ok, it is actually a smallish patio not a veranda but we’re loving the new outdoor digs at Ross Isaac. What fun to see 12-15 people gathered together under patio umbrellas and twinkling lights on a beautiful summer evening. And now there is a heater too? I tell this must be what heaven is like.…
Red, grey and blue bummer
It was disappointing news for anyone who shares a desire to see MacArthur Boulevard return to its former glory. The red, gray and blue facelift to the former Burger King building (OuterPark and MacArthur) will soon formally announce the arrival of yet another cash advance / check cashing business. The neighborhood surely didn’t need it…
Letters to the Editor 9/17/09
HIGH-SPEED NOOSESThe past couple of months have been enlightening. First we have politically connected city workers putting up nooses around the work area of black men. There have been a number of noose incidents around the country this past year and they have been treated as hate crimes but in Springfield the city fathers just…
countyfairpoem #1
behind as I sit on the foot-weary’sbench at wisconsin’s walworth countyfair is SPIN-OUT before me the WHEELOF FIRE beyond is ORBITER thenZIPPER where my grandkid’s terrifiedscreams are making them stop thefun ride to let her off though I don’tknow this till later for the competingblaring sounds which you can’t callmusic drown out all else scantily…
Springfield Celts looking for new young ruggers
Most people have no idea that the capital city has its very own rugby team. “The Celts used to be bigger in Springfield, and then we had a waning period and the interest came down,” says Brian Foreman, a member of the Springfield Celts since 1998. “People still say, ‘Springfield has a rugby team?’ “Yeah,…
September selections
Hello friends out there somewhere. Thank you for being a reader and taking the time to digest these few words for whatever purpose you choose. And with that let me also congratulate myself for starting into my ninth year of writing Now Playing columns. You can see how these two things are likely related. Now…
Easy meals to get you through the week
Eating home-cooked, healthy meals that require minimal preparation and cleanup during the week doesn’t have to be difficult, but it does take some planning and advance preparation. Slow cookers (a.k.a crockpots) have long been a wonderful mainstay for coming home at day’s end and having dinner ready, but they’re far from the only possibility. There…
Bunn leads the way to green business
Posted everywhere — hallways, offices, break rooms — at the Bunn Corporation’s Springfield manufacturing facility on Stevenson Drive is a placard with a stylized logo of a green plant that says “Respect Earth” and reads: Recognizing that our business operation impacts the total environment, “Respect Earth” reflects BUNN’s continuing focus on preserving the earth for…
The reality of economic recovery
Great news, America! Having just celebrated Labor Day, we can now bask in the revelation that our long economic nightmare is over. Forget recession, much less a depression, our country is poised to spring into a new era of financial prosperity! We know that this is so because we’re being told so by top economists,…
Able arms
Saturday and Sunday, the main action takes place at the Logan County fairgrounds with good-ole fashioned rail-splitting, tomahawk throwing, log rolling and water boiling competitions. There’s so much more happening, too: antique car and tractor show, historical displays, flea market, children’s games, handmade crafts, storytellers, trap shooting, working crafts, tours, food, music, and on Sunday,…
Back to help Burris
In a corner office on the top floor of the Illinois Building, overlooking the Old State Capitol, photos of famous people hang proudly on the wall. Jimmie Voss smiles widely in each photo, standing next to folks like former Gov. Jim Edgar, former Chicago Bull Scotty Pippen and the late U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy. “I…
RESTORATION CONVERSATION
Clay, the executive director of the Illinois Audubon Society, and Vern LaGesse, an ecological restorationist and president of Friends of the Sangamon Valley, announced in June their plans to breathe new life into the Adams Wildlife Sanctuary [see “Restoring Adams Wildlife Sanctuary,” by Amanda Robert, June 11]. At 7 p.m. Thursday (tonight), the pair will…
Hynes has a decent plan, and a problem
There were no spectacular backdrops in place when Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes officially announced his campaign for governor the other day. No pretty pictures for the TV cameras. No gathering of his adoring family who could not keep their enraptured eyes off of him. No flowery rhetoric. No huge crowd. No brass band. No rows…
The Station
As The Station, a Springfield-based national touring funk/rock/jam band, celebrates 10 years of being together as a functioning unit in 2009, the nucleus of Dave Littrell (vocals, guitar, sax) and Dave Carter (drums, percussion) with Kevin Lemen (guitar) announces the addition of Springfield bassist, Jeff Cunningham, to the lineup. The Chatham native who plucks the…
Therapeutic theater
UIS Theatre and ECCE Speaker Series bring this interesting and moving documentary film to Springfield Wednesday night. In Hank Rogerson’s revelatory trip into and around this prison production, we embark on a year-long journey with the Shakespeare Behind Bars theatre troupe. Prisoners cast themselves in roles reflecting their personal history and fate. Their individual stories,…
FUTURISTIC FASHIONISTA
You can do the darnedest things with technology — meet your future husband after a few late-night chats and photo exchanges, consult a doctor who’s five counties away about a developing skin irritation and announce every minute of your day to family and friends (“Cap city just ate a chili-cheese horseshoe. It was sooo good”).…
