Black-owned businesses are cornerstones of Springfield’s culinary heritage. From beloved establishments that have been passed down through the generations to fresh, new upstarts, these restaurants nourish Springfield’s soul. Here are short profiles of four of Springfield’s several Black-owned restaurants, a sampling of what the city has to offer eaters. Many of these businesses have tirelessly […]
Newsletter – Event
Posted inFood & Drink
When life gives you preserved lemons. . .
When we lived in the old Spaulding Orchard farmhouse, we were running three refrigerators and three freezers, usually all full. My late wife would buy, process and freeze produce by the bushel. She would save and freeze all our chicken carcasses and wingtips until she had accumulated enough to fill a five-gallon stockpot and then […]
Posted inMusic
Last of the live streams
Welcome one and all to mid-June in central Illinois and our take on what’s “Now Playing” in the live music arena. First, let us thank all the folks still on the front line fighting the coronavirus in whatever capacity and extend our heartfelt condolences to those who’ve experienced pain firsthand from disease-related experiences. As much […]
Posted inArts & Culture
7500 a Showcase for Gordon-Levitt
I always appreciate when actors get out of their comfort zone, taking on a role unlike any they’ve done before or signing up for a project knowing they’ll have to carry most of the load to make it work. Two of the more impressive examples of the latter we’ve seen in recent years include the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Nighy salvages a spotty Sometimes
Sometimes a performer’s sense of charm and charisma can salvage a sketchy script. Such is the case with Carl Hunter’s Sometimes, Always, Never, a slight dramedy that at its core has a reasonably interesting premise, yet is sorely in need of a nip here and a tuck there. Be that as it may, this well-meaning […]
Posted inMusic
Jumping into June music
Here we go a-recovering from a necessary (I truly believe) shelter-in-place order, and as we work to make it all work out the best we all can, you can feel the release that live music allows performers and listeners to experience. Here’s to those helping make this transition happen in a safe and careful way […]
Posted inNews
The show can’t go on yet
Gus Gordon is surrounded by 80,000 square feet of mostly empty space as he begins to work out of the Hoogland Center for the Arts more in the coming days. The Springfield organization’s head had been largely working from home, as had other staff. But the time has come to sift through the papers and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Japanese comfort food
According to a report published last month in ResearchAndMarkets.com, the market for dishwashing supplies is expected to grow by 275% as a consequence of everybody eating at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are presently sheltering in place in our school bus in a remote location inaccessible to meal delivery services, so I am constantly […]
Posted inMusic
Symphony embraces technology
“Previous to the pandemic, things had been looking good and positive,” said Illinois Symphony Orchestra executive director Trevor Orthmann, during a phone conversation last week. “We had great concerts up until February – the season was going well.” Suddenly the ISO was faced with having to cancel 2020’s final two performances – and all other […]
Posted inMusic
June music jangles
As we begin to see gigs return to venues following safe and sound practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19, there is a palpable sense of pressure releasing. It’s a reminder of all the good live music does for our sense of well-being and for our being sensible, as well. I just don’t feel like […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Green drives hope for the future
Much of what we hear about the environment these days is doom and gloom. The ozone layer is hopelessly damaged and depleted, the greenhouse effect is not being curbed, deforestation is a scourge that continues unabated and the disposal of waste is a continuing challenge. There seem to be solutions to these and many other […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Strawberry shortcake for real
Strawberry shortcake is one of the most beloved desserts in the American culinary repertoire. Neither brief nor small, the cakes are named short because of the generous quantity of shortening in the dough. Coating flour with fat inhibits the formation of gluten, resulting in the signature, crumbly texture of true shortcake, which most Americans today […]
