Scare tactics
Shawn McKinney says he’s made grown men fall to their knees in terror. Once he even had a teenage girl lose control of her bladder. He dismisses such shocking tales as commonplace events at Terror on the Square, his haunted house in a former funeral parlor in downtown Petersburg. People have been known to walk…
Amaizing
The family farm has come to a fork in the road. Some farmers find the lure of a fat paycheck from one of the behemoth agribusiness corporations irresistible. Others opt to get out of farming entirely. But fortunately for the rest of us, a few choose to try the old Judy Garland/Andy Rooney answer to…
Your Turn. . . 9-4-03
A failure to communicate To the editor, We were disappointed with the slant your reporter gave to our union’s role in the merger of the Illinois State Lottery into the Department of Revenue [“Fired,” August 7, 2003]. Contrary to the allegation in the article (based on speculation by unnamed sources), AFSCME never cut any kind…
Get your kicks off Route 66
Ever since the demise of Lincolnfest, the moaning and groaning for a downtown street festival has echoed from Southern View to Sherman, Clearlake to Curran–and all points in between. Well, cry no more, Springfieldites, here’s the second coming of the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival, September 26 through the 28. Brought to you by…
Dead men tell tales
Graveyards are often beautiful nature preserves. They’re also filled with history. Three local bone orchards are having programs this fall to educate, elucidate, and elaborate on the stories behind (or underneath) the headstones. Cemeteries at Farmer’s Point and Hickory Grove near Petersburg come alive with remembrances of those who have passed on in the “Voices…
Albee and me
Illinois Times theater critic Phil Funkenbusch recalls his own days working as the playwright’s assistant, back when his boss couldn’t get a good review. In January of 1980 I was living in New York City, and one early evening I walked past the Morosco, a beautiful 63-year-old theater that would later be demolished to make…
When is a summer festival in the fall?
When it’s an Indian summer festival, silly. Setting the standard for the fall festival industry, the Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center holds its Indian Summer Festival October 11 and 12. Located on East Lake Drive, the picturesque park was designed by the legendary landscape architect Jens Jensen many moons ago, and it’s still a…
Movie Review
Dickie Roberts Former Child Star In his early 30s Dickie Roberts (David Spade) is at the end of his rope. Once the child all America loved, thanks to a wildly successful sitcom and a catch phrase on par with Gary Coleman’s “What you talkin’ about?”, Dickie has hit rock bottom. Now parking cars and appearing…
The highway side
SIXTEEN Lonnie’s voice came up the stairs ahead of him. “Bruce, you have any idea what time I gotta be up in the morning?” “Lonnie, this man came all the way from Chicago.” “Is that so?” He was a big black guy, six-four or so, and muscular. But he walked a bit sideways, one leg…
That’s Italian!
St. Louis is a city with many faces, a rich urban tapestry with each neighborhood having its own distinct personality and history. Under the shadow of the celebrated Arch–and within easy reach of the lush Missouri Botanical Garden and Busch Stadium–is “The Hill,” an area known as much for its toasted ravioli as for its…
Fall Guide
SEPTEMBER 4-6, Mount Pulaski Fall Festival, flea market, entertainment, food and drink, parade on Saturday, downtown Mount Pulaski (792-5419). 5-6, Arenzville Burgoo, food and music (997-5514). 5-6, Kenney Fall Festival, tractor pulls, music, petting zoo, quilt show, food and drinks, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (944-2433) 5-7, New Salem Traditional Music and Bluegrass Festival, bluegrass shows 6:30-10…
Aldermania
It was almost like watching a scripted play. Christopher Nichols, a partner in the Peoria law firm Husch & Eppenberger, sat in the front row in the City Council chambers, waiting for his cue to step up to the microphone. He didn’t have to wait long. The agenda raced past so fast you could almost…
Moefield’s patch
Each year Ray Moefield spends his two-week vacation at home in White Heath, harvesting hundreds of pumpkins, carving them, and scattering the jack-o’-lanterns across his family’s property. People come from miles around to look at the unique and eerie display. It all started 17 years ago by accident. Moefield, 51, and his mother, Bonnie, were…
Fall concerts beyond the capital city
CHICAGO September 5 NEVILLE BROTHERS, House of Blues, 18 & over 6 RAMBLIN’ JACK ELLIOTT & ROY BOOK BINDER, Old Town School of Folk Music, two shows 6 ROOTS, O.A.R., N.E.R.D., TALIB KWELI, ROBERT RANDOLPH & THE FAMILY BAND, Tweeter Center, 6 PAT GREEN, House of Blues,18 & over 6 BOW WOW, Chicago Theatre 9…
Fall Guide
Festivals • Concerts • Theater • Day trips • Calendar See stories below.
It’s apple-picking time!
What tastes better on a cool fall day than an apple plucked right off the tree? Well, maybe a fresh apple pie, homemade applesauce, or apple butter. This month the fruit is ripening in many backyards and commercial pick-your-own orchards. Besides tasting good, apples are also good for you. They’re fat-free, sodium-free, and cholesterol-free. A…
Fly by Rendezvousing
Once again it’s show time–air show time, that is–when the annual Springfield Air Rendezvous returns to Capital Airport on September 20 and 21. This year it’s also celebrating the “100th Anniversary of Flight.” One of the longest-running air shows in the nation, the in-your-sky affair has been put together by an all-volunteer board. Their main…
Now Playing 9-4-03
After the past few cool and cloudy days, may you be reading this while basking in the sunshine, dreaming of all the good music coming your way this week. Start off the adventure Thursday night with a visit to the Illinois State Fairgrounds and a concert to knock your socks off. Mudvayne from Peoria and…
