Summerguide

The Bolduc House, circa 1792. It was a weekend getaway for me as I decided to make my way down to southwestern Illinois and southeastern Missouri to get a little French history lesson. I didn’t know what to expect as I started driving south toward my destinations along and near the Mississippi River. My stops […]

The Carl Sandburg birthplace. PhotoS BY KEITH LADAGE You read his poems in school and you have heard his name all of your life. If you are curious like I was about this man who composed folk songs and wrote poems, books about Lincoln and children’s stories for his three daughters, along with a book […]

Kids race in the Sizzling Mile, a one-mile race around the Sacred Heart-Griffin track in Springfield. Photo courtesy of HardyBreed.com. When life gets busy, staying fit often takes a back seat. But there’s an easy way to stay committed to your workout: sign up for a race. Simply wanting to be in shape will only […]

The Kibbe Museum PhotoS BY KEITH LADAGE Head west, young man or woman! About 100 miles northwest of Springfield there is an interesting museum, the Kibbe Hancock Museum, with the motto, “Where Local History Comes Alive.” The Kibbe Hancock Heritage Museum is located in Carthage, across the street from the historic jail where Joseph Smith, […]

Get happy feet with Footloose at New Salem’s Theatre in the Park in June. As ever, area theater companies are putting their best feet forward this summer, offering a large variety of productions, running the gamut from Disney to Mel Brooks, from historical drama to operetta, from horror to comedy, from epics to miniatures. Rest […]

The gallons of sweat, aching muscles and months of training have led to this: race day. You’re at the starting line with dozens, hundreds or even thousands of other people, your mind amped up and your body full of energy like an outstretched spring ready to snap into action. As the race begins, a human […]

Sunshine, flowers and, of course, furry creatures make kids and adults alike light up. This year winter’s grip was a tight one, increasing our longing to shed the coats and head outside. In early April, I hopped on the Amtrak to Chicago, to check out the Lincoln Park Zoo. Founded in 1868, this is one […]

Paris, New Orleans, London – many fine cities around the world are built on rivers. And that’s also true in Illinois, where Peoria offers a great opportunity for a weekend getaway or day trip. The largest city on the Illinois River, Peoria, about the same size population-wise as Springfield, was the first European settlement in […]

Decatur’s historic downtown is launching a new era. A new look, a hip attitude, fresh paved roads, restored storefronts and a refreshed self-image have made downtown Decatur the place to be any night of the week. In a town that often has a reputation of crime, poverty and, yes, sometimes the smell, Decatur aims to […]

Old Capitol Farmers Market8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays through October Fresh cheese, bread, meat, spices, herbs and locally grown produce can all be part of your summer menu thanks to this year’s Old Capitol Farmers Market. Presented by St. John’s Hospital and Downtown Springfield, Inc., the market opened for the season May […]

No matter what your taste in theater might be, whether it’s light musical comedy, modern musical bombast, prize-winning drama, kid-friendly shows or Pythonesque parody, at least one of the regional theaters has you covered. Here is a rundown of some of the shows on offer this summer. New Salem’s Theatre in the Park will kick […]

It’s that time of year again. Yes, ’tis the season for summer barbecues, local festivals and a boat on the lake. It also marks the start of a magnificent summer of local theater in central Illinois. Here are some highlighted theatrical venues and their summer schedule: Theatre in the Park at New Salem’s season begins […]