Illinois
Comedy show, beer school and more: 5 things to do in Springfield this weekend
Despite cold temperatures on Wednesday, Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog who earlier this month forecasted warm weather, was right about missing his shadow as Springfielders have another warm weekend on tap.
If internet surfing for weekend plans is coming up short, the State Journal-Register has you covered with these five events.
More: These are Illinois’ best companies to work for in the US, according to Forbes
Some Kinda Comedy Show
Looking for a night out with a date but struggle to make them laugh? Been there.
Hosted by The Gin Mill & Lounge on S. 5th St., host Richard Bailey is welcoming residents to a Friday night of laughs and entertainment with ‘Some Kind of Comedy Show’.
Featuring comedians Joe Blanco of Peoria and Springfield performer Jadey, the night will feature two special guests from down south in St. Louis with Doug Morris and Ellie Kirchhoefer.
The audience can sit back and enjoy dry humor and dry wine from show start at 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. close, all for just $8 a ticket at the door.
Walking Group at Lincoln Park
This is for all the ladies who want to work out but don’t have anyone to go with. The group Illinois Women in Leadership is bringing the opportunity to get some exercise with company one step at a time.
On Saturday, the group is having a public walking group around Lincoln Park. Walkers can meet at 8 a.m. at the Funshop at the park, before getting some fresh air and great conversations with other women in the community.
Founded in July of 2004, Illinois Women in Leadership promotes professionalism and develops members’ management and leadership abilities through education, mentoring, networking, participation, encouragement and support.
Beer School 101
Beer isn’t just a pastime at Obed and Isaac’s Microbrewery & Eatery, it’s a research subject – an extensive research subject.
Luckily for Springfielders, this college course into the buzzed brew has no tuition fees attached. Class starts this Saturday at exactly 10 a.m. so don’t be late and prepare to park 10 minutes prior behind the building. Tardiness may be tolerated but forgetting your binder (or drinking glass) will reflect on the test at the end.
Students will tour around the brewing facility to get an idea of what goes into beer making. Showcasing different styles and techniques that are involved in the brewing process, all in a real operating setting. Through the brief introduction to brew creation, the final exam will be a breeze to pass for astute students—sampling some of the microbrewery’s own blends.
All students for the class must be over 21, wear clothes toed shoes and acknowledge they are visiting a work environment with wet surfaces. Tuition is free, but a limited spot for the class must be reserved online at Obed and Isaac’s website or Eventbrite page.
Crochet for Beginners with B’s Creative Studio
Ever been interested in learning a new craft? With B’s Creative Studio located at 1305 Wabash Ave., the threads have no limit.
This Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., join artist Ash to learn basic crocheting methods you can take home. Any artist 10 years or older can attend the event and learn how to make a granny square, which is a simple square fabric made by crocheting circles from the center outward. Granny Squares typically take under an hour to complete, but time ranges by experience.
Tickets are $35 per person and can be found online at B’s Creative Studio’s website and Eventbrite page.
Guided Tour of the Dana-Thomas House
When was the last time you experienced your architectural heritage? That is the question the Illinois Department of State Historic Sites asks Springfielders to take a Sunday morning to remember the historical importance of their streets.
Guided tours of the Dana-Thomas house are available to the public free of charge most days of the week and for any architecture nerd, the Dana-Thomas house is a must-see since photography isn’t permitted inside the building.
Part of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trail, the Dana-Thomas house was designed in 1902 by Frank Lloyd Wright for Susan Lawrence Dana, a socialite living in Springfield. The building designed by Wright contains the largest collection of site-specific, original Wright art glass and furniture. The home has 35 rooms in the 12,000 square feet of living space which includes 3 main levels and 16 varying levels in all, according to the Dana-Thomas House.
Reservations can be made online at dana-thomas.org.
Illinois
Andretti family’s popular go karting and gaming facility opening first Illinois location. See inside
A popular indoor go karting and gaming company is opening up its first Illinois location in a Chicago suburb this week.
Andretti Indoor Karting & Games announced it will open its doors on a brand new Schaumburg location at 4 p.m. on March 10, with a grand opening event slated for March 14.
The facility will feature numerous attractions, including “high-speed electric Superkarts on a multi-level track” and an arcade with professional racing simulators and two-story laser tag arena, in a 98,000-square-foot facility. There’s also bowling, a movie theater and more, the company said.
The Schaumburg location, at 1441 Thoreau Dr., will mark Andretti’s 13th facility in the U.S.
“We’re thrilled to open our thirteenth location in the thriving village of Schaumburg,” said Eddie Hamman, managing member. “Andretti is the perfect addition to all the amazing experiences across Chicagoland, and we look forward to meeting the communities that make this market a top destination.”
The company said it plans to host a “sneak preview” event beginning at 11 a.m. on March 10, where several guests will “be treated to free racing, attractions, and arcade play with food and beverage options available for purchase.” The Andretti family will also be on-hand for autograph sessions that afternoon.
A limited number of spots will be made available to RSVP to the preview.
Then on March 14, the first 100 guests to visit the facility to be given one hour of free arcade play and entered to win a raffle for a free birthday party. Ten guests could also win free arcade play for a year.
Illinois
New building owner addresses backlash over mural in downtown Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – A long-standing mural honoring Robert E. Smith on the side of a building at Campbell and Walnut has been covered up, prompting community backlash against the building’s new owner.
David Pere, owner of FMTM LLC, purchased the building in downtown Springfield and said he intended it to reflect his business, which focuses on helping veterans with financial strategies and goals. Covering the mural was part of that plan.
Pere said he was out of town in Tennessee when painting began and learned about the community reaction through messages on his phone.
“I’m like, I was in Tennessee running an event. I didn’t even know he’d started painting until I got a bunch of really nasty messages on my phone,” Pere said. “And I go, oh, look, that’s our building getting painted. I guess he started.”
Pere said he did not anticipate the response. “You know, we didn’t. I didn’t know how much of an impact this was going to make,” he said.
Jesse Tyler, co-owner of SGFCO, said he wanted the mural to stay and expressed concern about the lack of safeguards for publicly recognized works of art.
“To paint over that is to say, like, could be interpreted as saying that his work is no longer relevant or that his story is no longer relevant. I don’t think that’s true,” Tyler said. “Robert’s artwork needs to be part of downtown for as long as we can maintain that memory and maintain that legacy.”
Tyler said the community had hoped protections would be in place for the mural. “Maybe we didn’t have those protections that we hope there would be, that maybe the sort of legacy and awareness of Robert’s work that we hope there would be wasn’t there,” he said.
The City of Springfield posted online, acknowledging the artwork held deep meaning for many residents. Because the building is privately owned, however, Pere is within his rights to make changes to its exterior.
Pere said he hopes to help relocate the mural to a more permanent location. “We want to help migrate that mural to a wall where it could be more permanent,” he said. “I’d love to help them find a space for it. I’d love to help. I’d love to see the city get involved to the point where that space could be a permanent space where it’s actually maintained because it is obvious now that it is very important to the city of Springfield.”
Pere is already working with an artist on a new mural for the side of the building, intended to represent veterans. That mural is expected to begin going up at the end of the month.
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Illinois
Missed the lunar eclipse? See when the next one will be over Illinois
“Blood Moon” total lunar eclipse to be visible in parts of US
A total lunar eclipse will be visible early Tuesday morning, showcasing a striking “blood-red” moon, the last such event until late 2028.
unbranded – Newsworthy
Millions across the United States who woke up early Tuesday were treated to a “blood moon,” the only total lunar eclipse occurring in North America in 2026, according to NASA.
Illinois residents who missed it will be waiting some time for the next total lunar eclipse to shine above the U.S. — several years, in fact. But a partial lunar eclipse is coming sooner.
When is the next total lunar eclipse in Illinois?
After March 3, Illinois’ next visible total lunar eclipse won’t happen again until June 2029, writes Time and Date. There is a partial lunar eclipse coming sooner, however.
Others are reading: Free Full Moon Queso at Qdoba. How to get in Illinois
When is the next lunar eclipse?
A partial lunar eclipse will be visible in Illinois on Aug. 27-28, shining over the Americas, Europe, Africa and parts of Asia, according to NASA.
Provided you’re willing to stay up late to see it, the partial lunar eclipse will be at its maximum around 11:12 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 27, in Illinois.
Until then, here’s what people in parts of the U.S. were seeing Tuesday morning.
See photos of the March 3 total lunar eclipse
Calendar of upcoming eclipses
When is the next solar eclipse?
The next solar eclipse will be visible to roughly 980 million people on Aug. 12, 2026, writes Time and Date.
A total solar eclipse will occur over Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and a small area of Portugal, while a partial eclipse will be visible in Europe, Africa, North America, the Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean and Pacific Ocean, NASA reports.
Need help finding stars, planets and constellations? Try these free astronomy apps
The following free astronomy apps can help you locate stars, planets, and constellations.
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