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Something's Brewing at Brewhaus - posted on January 7, 2010
"When you think you know everything, it’s time to quit," Frank Parker says about his 30-some years of trumpet playing. Fortunately for music fans in the Springfield area, he isn’t planning to quit anytime soon. "You never stop learning," Parker says. It’s a truth Parker and his fellow musicians know all too well from their Monday jam sessions at Brewhaus, a downtown Springfield bar.  When I first meet Parker before one such jam session, the spry older man is wearing a snug red turtleneck, broken-in black pleated pants, and a New Orleans Saints ball cap, with tufts of curly silver hairs peeking underneath. He casually exhales between drags on a cigarette outside before the jam session begins. "It was the easiest gig I ever got," Parker says. "Three years ago on Va...

Get Spooked - posted on August 12, 2009
Abraham Lincoln history and the supernatural collide in Springfield, Bloomington, and Lincoln, where guided tours highlight the sites and spirits of Central Illinois. Springfield WalksInspired by ghost walks he took through Europe, Illinois native Garrett Moffett began researching Illinois ghost lore. After developing Macomb’s first ghost walk, Moffett started Springfield Walks in 2006. On a given night, as many as 100 people may participate in the thoroughly researched Lincoln’s Ghost Walk tour—one of many Moffett offers.   Lincoln’s Ghost Walk: Legends & Lore is a 90-minute, 12-block walking tour that combines Lincoln history with eerie stories about Lincoln’s spiritual beliefs, his prophetic visions, his ghost in the White House, Mary Todd Li...

Try the Trails - posted on August 8, 2009
Whether you’re traveling on two wheels or on your own two feet, Central Illinois has plenty of trails to keep you occupied. Here’s a sampling of the many routes available—from short jaunts to long hauls. Try them out, then we want to hear from you: What favorite trails did we miss? Share your picks in the comments section below or by emailing editor@illinois-adventures.com today so we can add them to the list.Bloomington/Normal Constitution TrailTwenty-four miles of hard-surface trail—perfect for walking, hiking, jogging, and biking—run through the twin cities of Bloomington and Normal. No matter where you are, it’s easy to find a section of the trail to travel. Download the natural trail guide here.Champaign CountyChampaign County (including Champaign-U...

Deal: Bicentennial Birthday Package - posted on August 3, 2009
Celebrate Lincoln’s 200th birthday in style at the historic State House Inn. Package includes overnight accommodations in a deluxe guest room, two tickets to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, a $50.00 gift certificate to Saputo's Restaurant, two welcome beverages in the “No Name Bar,” a full hot American breakfast buffet, and a complimentary Lincoln souvenir to remember your trip. Saputo’s reservations are suggested. You may also request additional tickets when reserving. Total package price is $160.00 + tax for Deluxe Guest Room and $170.00 + tax for Deluxe Suite accommodations. Learn more....

Great Illinois Drive-Ins - posted on July 27, 2009
Did you know Illinois once boasted more than 120 drive-in movie theaters? Although most of these iconic film-viewing sites of the past are long since closed, there are still 12 to 13 open outdoor picture shows (depending on who you ask) in Illinois—and two are located right here in the central part of the state. The first, Harvest Moon Drive-In in Gibson City, opened in 1954 and still shows movies nightly from June through August and on weekends in April, May, and September. Shows begin at dusk and admission is $6 per person (children 5 and younger are free). Click here for movie listings and more information. The second theater, Route 66 Drive-In in Springfield, originally was called Green Meadows when it opened in 1978. It closed in 1982, was purchased by Knight's Action Par...

Route 66 Stop: Cozy Dog Drive-In - posted on July 22, 2009
Was Ed Waldmire, the creator of the cozy dog (originally called the “crusty cur”), the first person to sell the corn dog? Some say so, but it's a highly disputed fact. Hot dog historians argue that the cozy dog—which was created in 1946, sold at the Illinois State Fair that same year, and later led to the opening of the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield—was preceded by the Texas State Fair’s “corny dog” and the Minnesota State Fair’s “pronto pup.” Whether the Cozy Dog Drive-In holds the title or not, it’s a can’t-miss stop for tasty fried food and Route 66 kitsch. Just make sure you remember one important fact: you’re not ordering a corn dog, folks. It’s a cozy dog. Get that right and you’re in fo...

Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum - posted on July 15, 2009
Trace the path of Abraham Lincoln’s life—from his boyhood reading by firelight to his tumultuous time as the 16th President of the United States—at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum in Springfield.The museum presents a unique opportunity to experience the scenes of Abraham Lincoln’s life up-close, rather than playing the role of passive spectator viewing displays set behind glass. Life-size, three-dimensional representations of Honest Abe are present nearly every step of the way—in lifelike detail, from the translucent skin on his hands to the hair on his furrowed brow.The journey begins at The Plaza, where the first family stands ready to greet visitors. (Go ahead and snap a photo with them; cameras are only allowed in The Plaza area.) To ...