June 18 in the Hoogland Center for the Arts Club Room view the film Paranoia directed by central Illinois native and Hollywood veteran Ryan Mitchelle. Brought to Springfield by Walkaway Entertainment, the movie is a psychological thriller about a man who kills a home intruder during a time that a serial killer has been terrorizing […]
springfield
Posted inArts & Culture
Stream of consciousness
Directed by Steve Kaplan, a cast of local actors brings the first Muni production to the shores of Springfield for eight nights in The Muni’s open-air theater. The bluegrass and country-scored musical follows Huckleberry Finn and Jim on their adventure rafting down the mighty Mississippi. Big River won the 1985 Tony awards for Best Musical, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Prophet of parody
“Weird Al” Yankovic’s traveling ministry, I mean tour, descends on Springfield June 5 at the Prairie Capital Convention Center. One-of-the-funniest comedians alive today, Yankovic’s brilliant wackiness, killer accordion and band, and poignant and positively hilarious songs with make you disappear into a heaven of laughter for three hours. Beginning his comedic life via the Dr. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Talent and treasures
Forty local artisans will display and offer for sale their handmade fine crafts and art work, such as: photography, painted furniture, jewelry and ceramics at the fifth annual MBBA Artist Market, taking place the first two Saturdays in June on the north end of the Town and Country Shopping Center parking lot. Don’t miss the […]
Posted inNews
New election district may benefit Springfield’s east side
A new election map approved by the Illinois General Assembly could result in better representation for Springfield’s east side. Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner testified at a May 24 hearing of the Illinois House and Senate redistricting committees, telling lawmakers that a new election district joining Springfield’s east side with much of Decatur could aid […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Swim, bike, run for fitness and fun
Maybe it’s the obesity epidemic that has so many people worried about their waistlines. Or maybe it’s the ongoing recession that has people looking for low-cost extracurriculars. Whatever the cause, it’s clear that Americans are more interested than ever in getting fit. Last year was the first in which the number of marathon finishers topped […]
Posted inArts & Culture
School’s out, but there’s plenty for children to do
For at least a few students, the countdown to summer vacation began last August. Others maybe waited until January, by which time the bitter cold and recent memories of semester finals started giving way to daydreams of summer sunshine and three months of test-free bliss. But Illinois summers also come with high humidity, and, come […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Tapped into technology
On this First Friday downtown, June 3, visit Gallery II for its opening of a new exhibit based on the Internet and hypercontemporary art. The name of the exhibit is an Internet term derived from missing the caps lock key when typing “omg” and instead hitting the “z” key. Four artists: Melanie Edmonson, Chris Martin, […]
Posted inNews
Court blasts VA for mental health failings
Every day, 18 veterans in the United States commit suicide, while another 1,000 attempt suicide each month. That’s according to a federal district court which recently ordered the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to address long delays experienced by veterans seeking mental health services. The decision, issued in the United States Court of Appeals […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Cultural cavalcade
On one of the most popular weekends in the capital city of Springfield, the Old State Capitol lawn and adjoining streets and sidewalks transform into an outdoor art gallery. With more than 150 exhibitors from around the country, including 30 new ones, you can view and buy anything and everything handmade from jewelry to lawn […]
Posted inArts & Culture
PETA: Is there anything they won’t say?
As Illinois does the annual legislative dance this time of year, all sorts of ideas get tossed around, ranging from the austere to the ridiculous. Sen. Shane Cultra, a Republican from Onarga, tossed out an idea in the latter category this week when he said that parents of obese children should lose their tax deductions […]
Posted inOpinion
All history is personal
The Sangamon County Historical Society turns 50 years old this year. Judged by such new initiatives as a Web-based encyclopedia of area history, the Society is – it pains me to say this – more spry than most of its members who, like me, were already well out of diapers when the Society was founded […]
