Skibbereen plays the Old Capitol Farmers Market on Saturday morning at Fourth and Adams. As we roll into the end-of-summertime weekend anchored by Labor Day on Monday, this seems like a good spot to reflect on an eventful summer of great music and incredible events. Sorry, though, we just don’t have time to look back, […]
Labor Day
Posted inOpinion
Where Labor Day came from, and where it’s going
Webster’s dictionary tells us that Labor Day was “set aside for special recognition of working people.” That’s nice, but “set aside” by whom? It certainly wasn’t the Wall Street corporate and political powers that be. They nearly swallowed their cigars when the idea of honoring labor’s importance to America’s economy and social well-being was first […]
Posted inFood & Drink
It ain’t over till it’s over
It happens every year. Every vendor at every farmers market will tell you the same thing: business drops off after Labor Day. Maybe it’s because parents are preoccupied with getting their kids back in school. Maybe it’s because even adults who don’t have school-aged children participate in organizations and activities that start their year’s calendar […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Laborless weekend starts with End Times Trio and friends
If you read my last blog post, we are on a laborless journey through the weekend to Labor Day. We opened the weekend with free jazz at The Pharmacy, Thursday night. It was energizing. There were fireworks going off in my brain. The first person I met was an Illinois Times reader who saw the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Tasteful teachings
“E Pluribus unum” is the 2013 theme of this year’s Prairieland Chautauqua to be held four evenings over Labor Day weekend. Modeled after traditional Chautauquas, which were educational gatherings named after the first, held on Lake Chautauqua, the Jacksonville get-togethers include musical shows, storytellers, communal suppers and re-enactors representing famous Americans. On the lineup: Brian […]
Posted inMusic
Labor Day doings
Well, it’s time for the annual bemoaning of the passing of another summer, one that seemed to fly by like a hungry mosquito heading for dinner on my left elbow. Now I suppose fall will just do the same. The years pile up with annoying regularity and increasing rapidity, but all in good time. First […]
