PHOTO COURTESY JOAN JETTS FACEBOOK PAGE Decatur holds its annual downtown family street festival Aug. 1-3. If you’re not familiar with the Decatur Celebration – It’s huge! Everyone is certain to find something that will excite them. There’s a carnival; family night is Thursday, July 31, 4-11p.m. There’s a wine garden, food and art vendors, […]
Anita Stienstra
Posted inArts & Culture
Eternal contemporary question
This is Kevin Stein. Who is Kevin Stein? He is the Illinois Poet Laureate, and has been since 2003. Stein teaches English at Bradley University. So why I am telling you about Kevin Stein? Because The New York Times today has an article (“Is Poetry Dead? Not if 45 Official Laureates Are Any Indication,” Jennifer Schuessle, July […]
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Until next time
The black tent was the closest shelter. I was worried about my phone and purse contents. Folks were crowded under the Myers Building overhang. It was really starting to pour. The sky was dark. Two people under the black tent trying to paint the pavement welcomed me. Ah, lucky me I thought, nice folks. Scanning […]
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Group gardens
University of Illinois Extension will host Roots to Rooftop Tour: Community Gardens, Urban Agriculture and a Rooftop Garden on Sunday, July 27. Extension educator Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant says that “each site will have a knowledgeable host who can talk about a number of topics, including different types of gardening, composting, beekeeping, permaculture, and more.” Sites include genHkids […]
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Block party
PHOTO COURTESY OF SPRINGFIELD ART ASSOCIATION Springfield Art Association rolls out its colorful festival Paint the Street in downtown Springfield Saturday, July 26. Anyone can purchase a six-foot by six-foot square to fill with their imagination using paint. SAA supplies the washable tempera and brushes. Register to paint a block at Washington and Fifth and […]
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Creative camerawork
PHOTO BY JAMES HAWKER There’s a new gallery in town! 1227 is located at 1227 S. Pasfield Ave., behind The Pharmacy. Five local photographers Lou Fremgen, Tom Handy, James Hawker, Greg Laun and John Record, a group known as Next Friday, having met the last Friday of the month for the past year to discuss […]
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Be corny
PHOTO COURTESY CHATHAM SWEET CORN FESTIVAL Local, fresh sweet corn – That’s the tasty draw to the Chatham Sweet Corn Festival held at Chatham Community Park, southeast of the square, this weekend, July 18-19. But there’s so much more going on and lots of other food for purchase, such as ribeye and barbecue sandwiches. New […]
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Loveable con man
Theatre in the Park at Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic site opens with the Tony-award winning musical, The Music Man, directed by Bill Bauser Jr. “With a cast of 50, there’s plenty of action to see, and you’ll get to hear many song favorites like ‘76 Trombones,’ ‘Lida Rose,’ ‘Wells Fargo Wagon,’ ‘Till There Was […]
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Ice can be nice
CHARACTERS © DISNEY • GRAPHIC COURTESY THE LEGACY THEATER There aren’t many young’ns who aren’t crazy about the Disney film Frozen and haven’t watched it multiple times. Here’s a party and film viewing just for them. Four event times are available over two days. Activities include fun stuff such as making snow cones. A screening […]
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Edgy images
Fashion Afrique opens its doors for an art exhibit. Pieces features the edgy photography and art of well-regarded Springfield-area art photographer Laura Kay Coffey and multimedia artist Mark Schwartz. Approximately 24 pieces of art will be on display and for sale opening night July 18 and through Aug. 1. Music will be by Frank Trompeter […]
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Elvis-like energy
PHOTO BY DONNA LOUNSDBERRY The Muni’s 2014 season got off to a great start with The Sound of Music and now presents its second show, the musical comedy All Shook Up, opening Friday, July 11. Directed by Anna Bussing, All Shook Up features the music of Elvis Presley including his songs “Jailhouse Rock,” “Love Me […]
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Pricing pieces
The Springfield Art Association is hosting two interesting and informative events on the weekend of July 11-12. The first one on Friday night, July 11, is a free talk about downsizing by getting rid of your collections. Andrew Richmond of Garth’s Auctions, a nationally recognized antiques expert, will speak about selling your items at auction […]
