Fall Guide

Reception for “elemental” Aug 22, 5:30-7:30pm Thu. Mixed media artist Laura Anderson. Free. llcc.edu. LLCC James S. Murray Gallery, 5250 Shepherd Road, 786-4967. Women in the Civil War  Aug 22, 6:30-7:45pm Thu. Kathleen Heyworth will present stories and information about the multiple roles women played in the Civil War. Free. booksonthesquare.com. Books on the Square […]

The cicadas are singing their late summer serenade and that means things are just starting to heat up again on the theater scene.  This autumn’s stage offerings are delivered through new and classic tales, personal stories and dance, then peppered with a little comedy. At UIS Performing Arts Center, the Springfield Ballet Company will be […]

Larry may be semi-retired, but he still has to pull a boatload of tourists along the Illinois and Michigan Canal nearly daily from April to October. He doesn’t seem to mind. The 26-year-old mule formerly worked much harder in the fields of Amish farmers, says boat captain Jake Krancic. “This is a vacation for him.” […]

If there’s one thing central Illinois does well, it is to have on the horizon a lineup of music events to satisfy the fan of any genre.  This season’s lineup proves no different.  Pop, bluegrass and classical music alike will fill the venues with just the right notes, at just the right tempos and just […]

“Big Things/Small Town” is a no-brainer marketing slogan for Casey. The southeastern Illinois town of fewer than 3,000 people offers eight world-record attractions with more to come in late September. Want to make a 54-foot-tall wind chime gong? How about craning your neck to see a 46,200-pound rocking chair? Climb a set of stairs to […]

I eyed the sleek cycling shoes worn by the person standing next to me, then glanced down at my own clunky sneakers and wondered what I’d gotten myself into. It was a pleasantly balmy afternoon, and I was about to embark on my first ride with the Springfield Bicycle Club (SBC). About 35 riders decked […]

August Washington Park Historic Photography DisplayAug 23-Sep 2, 12-4pm Mon-Fri, 12-5pm Sat-Sun. Annual photo display features images of Washington Park dating back to the park’s creation in 1902. Free. springfieldparks.org. Washington Park Botanical Garden Exhibit Hall, 1740 W. Fayette Ave., 546-4116. Illinois Products Farmers MarketAug 23, 30, Sep 6, 13, 20, 27, Oct 4, 11, 4-7pm […]

When you visit Grant in Galena, make sure you take a Grant with you. That way, you will be ready when magician P.T. Murphy asks for a $50 bill to help with a mind-baffling trick. Murphy’s show is just part of the magic of Galena, that hilly city tucked in Illinois’ far northwestern corner and […]

Save for Bambi, it’s hard to beat autumn as the best season for motorcycling in Illinois. There’s nothing like having venison still on the hoof jump out in front of you to ruin an otherwise perfect ride, and so sage motorcyclists are parked well before sundown, when deer  become both more active and harder to […]

Mike Ward, superintendent of Gateway Arch National Park, says being involved in the redevelopment of the Gateway Arch is a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity. Eight years in the making, the CityArchRiver project is a $380 million public-private partnership that has transformed the Arch grounds and surrounding areas in downtown St. Louis. Hallmarks of this huge undertaking […]

As the balmy days of summer recede and cooler temperatures begin to prevail, it’s traditional for the theatrical venues of central Illinois to start heating up. This fall’s stage-bound offerings are all over the map, with touring and regional companies providing examples of drama and musical theater ranging from improvisational comedy to opera to true […]