Big changes are coming to Oak Ridge Cemetery as the director announced his retirement, and a new leader is stepping in. The council faced tough questions about long-delayed street projects, with promises that work will finally begin this season. Unexpected fire department bills for residents sparked debate over city policy. There’s excitement about a new […]
Newsletter – Event
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
The midnight sighing of the poor
Lately, the phrase I’ve chosen as the title of this column, “The midnight sighing of the poor,” has been running through my mind, especially when I hear of planned government cuts to programs designed to benefit those who are living at or below poverty level. This phrase is part of a longer Baha’i quote which […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Caught Stealing struggles to be funny, The Roses a look at love gone awry
Butler, cast fight to find humor in Caught Stealing If there was ever a “Your Mileage May Vary” movie, it’s Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing. While it’s being promoted as a dark comedy – and it is funny at times – the director leans into the violent nature of this chase film far too often. The […]
Posted inFood Features
Plum sauce is perfect
When my college boyfriend and I parted ways, it wasn’t the end of our relationship that I cried over – it was his grandmother’s plum sauce, similar in flavor and consistency to ketchup. She’d send us back to campus with some after every visit, the thick sauce decanted into upcycled soda bottles. Helen was a […]
Posted inMusic Features
August ending music
If you’re thinking that Labor Day weekend came quickly, you would be correct. Monday is the first day of September, making this holiday the absolute earliest it can be. Sooner or later, fast or slow, it’s all relatively in the time zone that we occupy so let’s see what’s going on. Thursday’s lineup includes among […]
Posted inArts Features
Dreamgirls has lessons of love and show biz
If you’re a fan of “American Idol,” you’ve probably heard many young hopefuls audition for their chance at stardom with the number, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.” One can assume these auditionees pick the song because they believe it will showcase their amazing singing ability. This often proves to be the case […]
Posted inIT Picks
Day of music, more planned on Adams Street
They say music soothes the soul. It also can boost the mood and well-being, according to health professionals. Need a dose of well-being this weekend? Then Buzz Bomb Brewing Co. is the place to be Saturday as it hosts the Healing Arts Festival. Several inspirational speakers, health experts and musical acts will present beginning at […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Relay a smart thriller, Map that Leads to You a predictable rom-com,
Relay a throwback to smart thrillers Smart, well-acted and containing a narrative switchback I didn’t see coming, Relay from director David Mackenzie (Hell or High Water) is a pleasant surprise. This slow-burn thriller revolves around an intriguing premise that would have been right at home during the era of paranoid thrillers from the mid-1970s. Hitchcockian […]
Posted inFood & Drink
It’s a Southern thing, y’all
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, my wife, our dog and I resided in our converted school bus in different areas of the country. We made an effort to shop at local open-air farmers markets whenever possible, enjoying all the regional produce. However, my wife often said, “There’s nothing better than a good Illinois tomato!” Back in […]
Posted inMusic
August music limbo time
With the state fair rush behind us and Labor Day weekend just ahead, this coming week feels like living in limbo. But never fear, there’s plenty in store for you as we peruse the local listings with verve and gusto. Sticking with Thursdays as our leadoff hitter, Al and Kathy Kitchen land at Mother Road […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Robert Moore reflects on his life
To track Robert Moore’s life and career is to study one person’s successful journey in the Great Migration of the 20th century. To see this Springfield man’s connections to other major events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Civil Rights Movement adds a personal dimension that makes history feel more real. Born in […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The Golden Seed
This Liturgical Arts Festival program will be a dramatic performance with musical interludes. The theatrical component, from playwright and director James Compton Bockmier, features three figures from Springfield’s history. An in-character “trialogue” will take place among Susan Lawrence Dana (played by Arlene Cooney), Frank Lloyd Wright (Patrick Foster) and Vachel Lindsay (Keegan Otwell). The trio […]
