Feature

Untitled Document We were fishing down at Rawlins’ off a sandbar that extended into a bar pit near the Illinois River. It was an autumn day with puffy clouds in the sky placed just right. We were watching the lazy current move the willow leaves back and forth. Leaves from the cottonwood trees fell on […]

Give the giftof delicious desserts, mouth-watering meats and bountiful breads. Skip the extra calories with new award-winning vegetarian and diet cookbooks. Or simply learn how to perfect your favorite sumptuous indulgence. Test them out when you’re cooped up on a cold winter day – they won’t disappoint. These tasty tomes were the James Beard Foundation […]

Good versus evil doesn’t always play out in a stylized drama with dramatic lighting and inventive camera angles. Sometimes the battle is simpler – and more fun. Movies based on comics, graphic novels and the lives of fantastic heroes have bombarded the box office with bodacious battles and eye-popping visuals. They’ve got children and adults […]

Patrick Joseph Quinn’s world was turned on its head on the morning of Dec. 9, 2008. Ever the outsider, Quinn has positioned himself as a populist, taking up the causes of regular folks. Self-righteous, street smart, tireless and a skilled organizer with a knack for bluntness, Quinn has been a stone in the shoe of […]

After last week’s cover story, “Gifts of the heart,” our annual roundup of nonprofits and their “wish lists,” we heard from other organizations hoping to be brought to the attention of generous IT readers. So we include here several more groups and their descriptions of their work. Any other nonprofits who send us information about […]

It’s been about three years since John Anderson stumbled into cable access TV. He got a phone call from Micah Roderick — a man he had met briefly as his wife’s co-worker — who asked if Anderson would be willing to co-host a television show. Anderson figured why not, and next thing he knew, he […]

It may seem easier to shop online for Christmas gifts, but a growing number prefer shopping in person and buying local. Maybe the rise in shopping at farmer’s markets has folks looking for things homemade and authentic. We suggest heading to downtown Springfield for shopping. It will make the holiday a more meaningful occasion rather […]

Best of Computers and Hardware LENOVO IDEAPAD AND IDEACENTRE The “frameless” screen on the new Lenovo IdeaPad might make you to think outside the box. But if it’s someone else’s box, the face recognition software in the laptop might notice. Every Ideapad has a Web cam, quick system recovery, Dolby Home Theatre sound and media […]

By Jeff Schnaufer Whether you’re a guitar shredder, tambourine tapper or karaoke crooner, the music video game has made rock ‘n’ roll stars out of anyone intrepid enough to pick up a peripheral instrument. And there’s no better time than this holiday season to get in the game, er, join the band. “You can now […]

Even in an age dominated by iPods and other “must-have” electronic gizmos du jour, everyone loves buying children’s books during the holidays. But beyond the tried and true classics (The Little Engine that Could, Harry Potter, anything by Dr. Seuss), what else is out there?

 Whether you’re looking for a picture book, an age-appropriate nonfiction […]

Ongoing Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed The American Red Cross Meals on Wheels program has an ongoing need for volunteer drivers during the holiday season. The American Red Cross, 1045 Outer Park Dr. For more info, call 787-7602, ext. 237 Holiday Hall Exhibition and Sale Through Dec 13, Springfield Art Association’s juried 4th Annual Holiday […]