Springfield dreams

Dec 17-23, 2020 / Vol. 46 / No. 22

Cover Story

Wine for the holidays

A few months back I was up way past my bedtime, doom-scrolling through social media, when an ad for a wine subscription service popped up on my feed. Seduced by the promise of new and interesting wines at rock- bottom prices delivered right to my door, I took the bait and clicked. Not long after,…

by Ashley Meyer

Hollows, ships and streams

Since the now playing aspect of this Now Playing column generally revolves around live music, and as our in-person live music is on hold for a time, how about we continue to pursue our never-ending quest for the good stuff in the forms now available at this time in our current world situation. In other…

by Tom Irwin

Powerful Rainey one of year’s best

There’s a current of justified anger that runs through August Wilson’s work, a sense of rage that propels and traps his characters, driving them forward to succeed against unjust circumstances, yet growing ever larger in the face of one disappointment after another. Levee is such a man, one with progressive ideas about his art and,…

by Chuck Koplinski

‘Tis the season for LATKES

Traditional latkes recipe Makes about 36 latkes Ingredients: • 2 large Russet potatoes (about 1 pound), scrubbed and cut lengthwise into quarters • 1 large onion (8 ounces), peeled and cut into quarters • 2 large eggs • ½ cup all-purpose flour • 2 teaspoons coarse kosher salt (or 1 teaspoon fine sea salt), plus…

by Jacob Thornton

Independent films from around the world

Since 2002, the Route 66 Film Festival has brought exciting, independent films from around the world to Springfield and provided a venue for new filmmakers to showcase their work, share ideas with other filmmakers and entertain audiences. Many of the films shown at the festival have earned recognition, including nominations for Academy Awards. This year…

by Stacie Lewis

Christmas was low-key in the Lincoln White House

Christmas in the White House in the 1860s was a far cry from the ornate displays of decor familiar to Americans today. During the Lincoln administration, the holiday was celebrated in low-key fashion. Celebrations of Christmas in those years were far less prevalent than today, and the White House was no exception. The first indoor…

by Tom Emery

Editors note 12/17/20

Gov. JB Pritzker is right that had his fair-tax constitutional amendment passed, allowing a progressive income tax, the budget deficit Illinois now faces wouldn’t be as dire. The incomes of Illinois’ wealthiest one percent have ballooned from an annual average of $411,177 in 1979 to over $1.45 million by 2017, while they still pay the…

by Fletcher Farrar

Support and challenges for Madigan

Outsiders may not get it, but it makes some sense that the majority of House Democrats still back House Speaker Michael Madigan’s reelection. He’s been a genius at getting things done for his caucus. He is loyal to his people and has infinitely more institutional memory and can pull more strings and push more buttons…

by Rich Miller

pastime poem #6

we take our entertainment in these times of covid where we find it – today’s activity is hacking through a pale green gourd tall, broad, bulgy as I am we have to hold it with clamps it’s called opo in the philippines in italy cucuzza it has many other names the next challenge will be…

by Jacqueline Jackson

Letters to the editor 12/17/20

We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to letters@illinoistimes.com. —- DON’T SUBSIDZE SOLAR Very well-written article by Jerry Nowicki (“Renewable energy faces a funding cliff,” Dec. 10). Here is the problem with the current funding solution. As you drive around Springfield, you will see…

by Letters to the Editor