Illinois Times

02/11/2024

Catching a movie this weekend?

"Here" would have worked better as an art installation than a film, while Liam Neeson’s latest film, "Absolution," would benefit from more action.

"Conclave" looks at the current state of the Catholic church through an intriguing mystery involving backdoor politics, past transgressions and long-held secrets.

Emotionally, Here never gets there As an art installation, Robert Zemeckis’ Here might have worked. As a movie, it’s a noble failure. From the prehistoric...

01/11/2024

Illinois Times 217 Italian Food Week is coming Nov. 4-10.
Check out these amazing dishes and drinks being offered by
Bella Milano Springfield Silver Sevens Gaming Pub & Parlor Main Gate Bar & Grill The Dublin Pub
Peases at BUNN Gourmet Legacy Pointe Eatery Razzo's Family Pizzeria Track Shack
Tag a photo of your dish with for a chance to win prizes.
Sponsored by Solution Printing, Inc. , MJ Kellner and Crowdson Creative

01/11/2024

Follow the money - a look at the $600 million in itemized individual contributions raised by political campaigns in Illinois:

https://www.illinoistimes.com/news-opinion/unions-lead-the-way-on-funding-state-elections-in-illinois-19296501

Share your thoughts by emailing [email protected].

With no statewide campaigns, Pritzker steps back on donations

31/10/2024

We had quite the party last night celebrating the Illinois Times 2024 Best of Springfield! UNCHAiNED rocked out, our costume contest winners went home with cash prizes, and nobody left hungry or thirsty after trying samples from dozens of local vendors.

Thanks to the hundreds of people who came out to recognize all the businesses, organizations and community leaders who make the Springfield area a great place to live and work.

PHOTOS BY BETHANY PAYNE

31/10/2024

Enjoy 31 short and feature-length films from around the world being screened Nov. 1-2 at the Hoogland Center for the Arts as part of the 23rd Annual Route 66 International Film Festival, plus special guest appearances and more:

Route 66 International Film Festival Suggested donation at the door is $10 for each session. 31 films will be shown. Food and drinks available for purchase. Door prizes and free popcorn. Awards will be given on Saturday evening.

31/10/2024

The Springfield Area Arts Council is hosting the Mayor's Awards for the Arts: Artfully You! on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the Inn at 835.

The public is invited to this event that honors exceptional artists, organizations and businesses that enrich the area's cultural fabric. Tickets are required:

For the 22nd year, this ceremony will recognize outstanding talent and dedication to the arts in Sangamon and Morgan counties – the area served by...

30/10/2024

Do you have a special veteran you'd like to honor?

There is no cost to post a tribute online. Tributes will also appear in the Nov. 7 print edition of Illinois Times.

Check it out now!

30/10/2024

Former Gov. Pat Quinn is advocating for voters to support an advisory referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot that could help lower property taxes:

https://www.illinoistimes.com/news-opinion/vote-yes-for-property-tax-relief-19233848

Share your thoughts by emailing [email protected].

Advisory amendment one of three voters will be asked to consider Nov. 5

30/10/2024

The results are in! We asked Illinois Times readers to tell us about their favorite people, places and things, and the 2024 Best of Springfield issue is out today.

And don't forget to come party with the best from 5-9 p.m. tonight at the BOS Center - enjoy food and drink samplings, live music, a costume contest with cash prizes and more.

Every year, we ask our opinionated readers to tell us about their favorite people, places and things in the Springfield area. Over the decades we've...

29/10/2024

Illinois Times Best of Springfield Party, presented by Springfield Junk Away, is taking place Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 5-9 p.m. at the BOS Center.

Your $25 ticket ($20 in advance) includes the following food and drink samples:

A Taste of Seoul - Street Corn and Korean BBQ Kimchi Bowl
Outback Steakhouse - Steak, Veggie and Chicken skewers with mashed potatoes
Yellow Bird Coffee House - Chicken Salad
Bake My Day Bakery - Sweets
Mel O Cream Donuts
Hy-Vee - sushi, bacon/maple/jalapeno wontons and egg rolls
Route 66 Motorheads Bar, Grill & Museum - Chicken Philly Sliders
Noodles and Company - Mac and Cheese
Bella Milano - beef, pork, and prosciutto tortellini in a butter cream sauce with mushrooms, peas, and prosciutto ham
Ayers Farms - Italian Beef.
Steak n' Shake - Chili
Mission BBQ - Smokey Mountain Meatballs and Maggie’s Mac n’ Cheese
The Taco Joint - Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla and Street Corn
Nelsons Catering - BBQ Pork Sliders, Mac & Cheese Bar, Horseshoe Dip
The Lumpia Truck - Filipino cuisine

Local craft beer, spirits and wine from local breweries Springfield Beer Co., Buzz Bomb Brewing, Limerick Brewing, along with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Chick Fritz, Southern Glazer Wine and Spirits and Republic National Distributing.

Live music by UNCHAiNED!

Info and tickets at illinoistimestix.com

29/10/2024

Have you heard anyone say recently “I can’t wait for this election to be over?” The nonstop, mean-spirited social media posts, advertisements and political commentary can be exhausting.

Jason Piscia, director of the Public Affairs Reporting program at the University of Illinois Springfield, shares some tips to help you be a more responsible political news consumer:

Have you heard anyone say recently “I can’t wait for this election to be over?” Have you said it? The feeling is understandable. The nonstop,...

29/10/2024

The race for the 95th District House seat, which covers much of Springfield and Chatham, pits GOP incumbent and Springfield restaurateur Mike Coffey against Democrat Kristen Chiaro, a Chatham village trustee and retired state worker.

https://www.illinoistimes.com/news-opinion/kristen-chiaro-challenges-incumbent-mike-coffey-19264664

Share your thoughts by emailing [email protected].

95th District covers much of Springfield and Chatham

29/10/2024

Join Illinois Times as we celebrate the Best of Springfield® 2024 at the BOS Center on Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 5-9 p.m., presented by Springfield Junk Away.

Enjoy live music by UNCHAINED, a Halloween costume contest with cash prizes, prize giveaways, beer, wine, spirits and N/A beverage samples from local breweries, distributors and wineries along with amazing food samples from area restaurants, caterers, food trucks and bakeries.

Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door: illinoistimestix.com.

28/10/2024

One of the most important legislative debates next year will be about reforming, restructuring and finding a way to fund northeast Illinois’ public transportation system. Statewide taxes could possibly be raised to pay for this, so you should pay attention no matter where you live:

One of the most important legislative debates next year will be about reforming, restructuring and finding a way to fund northeast Illinois’ public transportation system....

28/10/2024

Illinois is the No. 1 state in the country for the most wrongful convictions and the most exonerations. The Illinois Innocent Project recently held its annual Defenders of the Innocent event and invited several exonerees to share their stories:

Illinois has the most exonerees, but compensation for lost years is low

28/10/2024

Fall in love with making your own pasta, such as a winter squash ravioli with sage brown butter:

Try winter squash ravioli with sage brown butter

27/10/2024

Don't forget to enter the Illinois Times' Pumpkin Carving Contest by Oct. 29 - adults and kids are both eligible to win cash prizes, and the pumpkins will be on display at the Best of Springfield Party Oct. 30 at the BOS Center.

Submit a photo of your creation for a chance to win $50 for first place or $25 for second place. There are two different categories, age 16 and under or age 17 and up.

https://illinoistimes.secondstreetapp.com/Pumpkin-Carving-Contest-3

27/10/2024

After two seasons of flux following the departure of longtime music director and conductor Ken Lam, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra began a triumphant new era with the "Festive Fanfare" concert at the UIS Performing Arts Center:

After two seasons of flux following the departure of longtime music director and conductor Ken Lam, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra began a triumphant new era...

26/10/2024

Brezie's Roasted Beans on South Sixth Street is hosting a trunk-or-treat from 4-6 pm today. Be sure to stop by the Capital City Parent trunk and enter to win one of five family packs of tickets to the Ansar Shrine Circus!

26/10/2024

Planning to catch a horror movie this month?

"Smile 2" is loud, bloated and gratuitous, everything the surprise 2022 hit was not.

Meanwhile, "Woman of the Hour" examines the fate of four women at the hands of serial killer Rodney Alcala in the 1970s.

Pugh, Garfield overcome Live’s gimmick It’s fortunate director John Crowley has Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield in his new film We Live in Time. Though...

26/10/2024

Enter to win one of five family packages to the 2024 Ansar Shrine Circus, coming to the BOS Center Nov. 8-10. The prize package includes four tickets, acoloring book, cotton candy and popcorn.

https://illinoistimes.secondstreetapp.com/Enter-to-win-tickets-to-the-Ansar-Shrine-Circus-2/

26/10/2024

The final weekend of October means there are lots of trunk-or-treat events, plus fall festivals, haunted houses, a Halloween parade and more.

Check out the holiday happenings on the Illinois Times community calendar:

https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/EventSearch?eventCategory=11485695&narrowByDate=2024-10-04-to-2024-10-31&sortType=date&v=d

25/10/2024

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will open "Freedom in Form: Richard Hunt" on Oct. 25, an exhibition dedicated to world-famous Chicago-based sculptor Richard Hunt. This will be the first major show of Hunt's work since his death last December.

ALPLM has 43 sculptures on display Oct. 25-April 20