Articles - Decatur Magazine

in this issue: December-January 2016

features ON THE COVER – Cool Yule – In this issue, you’ll find out how to bring a laid back vibe to the holidays with smooth tunes, hip ideas for a party and even groovy tips for cold weather cooking on the grill. Keep it real for an unforgettable holiday season with family and friends this year. […]

By Glenn Tiede – A supplement to the story in the Dec/Jan 2016 issue of Decatur Magazine. Perfect Steaks on the Grill Recommended cuts are 1-1/2 inch thick strip or ribeye steaks, or two-inch thick (8-10 ounce) beef filets. Start the coals, and season steaks with either McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning, or with coarse salt, fresh […]

features ON THE COVER – Bright Ideas – We’re not sure where the next “big idea” will come from, but we discovered that in Decatur, the most promising start out small, spark some interest, then catch on with widespread enthusiasm! Cover Illustration by Tronnie Goss Finders, KeepersOctober’s Finders Market, which features a wide range of vendors and […]

Greer, South Carolina – Greer is a good example of a small town that took advantage of a manufacturing base and convenient location to create jobs and increase population over the past decade, proving that opportunity does exist when a community comes together to achieve a common goal. Located in the foothills of the Blue […]

Story by Zac Shields | Photography by Lee Larkins For eons, mankind has heeded the yen to leave its imprint on public spaces. Modern muralists respond to the same primal urge as Paleolithic artists in southern France. Sociologists will tell you this is because home-grown art, when viewed on a daily basis, comes to […]

features ON THE COVER – All Access Pass –Insightful interviews, studio tours, and main stage shows are all part of the package in this issue, as we take you behind the scenes for an intimate look at the arts in Decatur. Cover Illustration by Tronnie Goss Behind The Camera Get an insider’s take on the […]

Memphis, Tennessee – Home of the blues and birthplace of rock and roll, Memphis still pulses with the rhythm of Beale Street, Sun Studio and the Stax soul sound, attracting music lovers from all over the world. The Peabody Hotel is a popular Memphis destination for visitors and located close to the action. Memphis is […]

By French MacLean – The torch has been passed to a new generation of Soy City restaurateurs — born since the days of Camelot; tempered by Midwest values; disciplined by economic times; proud of our heritage of first-class food preparation and presentation — and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those […]

Indianapolis, Indiana – Indianapolis is the nation’s 12th largest city and the capitol of Indiana. As the host of major sporting events and home to several professional sports teams, the Indianapolis 500, and headquarters for the NCAA, INDY has a strong sports history. With a diverse economy based in healthcare, education, insurance and manufacturing, Indianapolis […]

features ON THE COVER – Musicville – Decatur is a mecca of live music this summer, with over 20 free outdoor concerts scheduled during June and July. Check our calendar to find out who’s playing; then load up those lawn chairs for the best seat in the house! Cover Illustration by Tronnie Goss Blues Turns […]

By Randall Reyman – As a music professor at Millikin University, I spend considerable time encouraging high school musicians to choose Millikin as their college home. I talk to them and their parents at length about the value of a Millikin education, and tout the many fine attributes of our music school. I’m no […]

Story by Meredith Jackson | Photography by Julie Carter Decatur resident Jo Caulkins has experienced a great deal throughout the seasons of her life. She’s held both paid and volunteer positions with the Decatur Area Arts Council, Gallery 510, Macon County Health Foundation, Garden Club of Decatur, Decatur & Macon County Animal Care Foundation, Decatur Daycare, […]

Chicago Illinois – Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, the “Windy City” attracts thousands of new residents and millions of visitors every year with its abundant supply of employment, attractions and entertainment options. Chicago is a collection of 200 unique neighborhoods with popular regional specialties that reflect the city’s ethnic roots – the city […]

St. Louis, Missouri – Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, the “Gateway to the West” is known for its eclectic neighborhoods, unique architecture, family-friendly environment…and its independent nature. Seceding from St. Louis County in 1877, the City of St. Louis became an independent city, limiting political boundaries, and the ability to grow beyond […]

By French Maclean – “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” — Humphrey Bogart, playing Rick Blaine, proprietor of upscale Rick’s Café Americain, in Casablanca. Restaurants are born all the time, and those themed from the era of the 1920s and ’30s have dotted […]

By Jan Mathew – Hands stroke its soft coat and fingers touch the smooth, satin lining — lingering on the embroidered initials, “WHF.” Eyes study the rich brown striping, the intricately stitched seams, and the familiar local label, “Singer and Lucas, Quality Furs, Decatur, Illinois.” Each channels the sum of clues offered by the “mystery […]

By Zach Shields – Decatur resident Joyce Sternaman Howe attended the University of Illinois in the 1940s. Even then people frequently introduced her as “Joe Sternaman’s daughter,” readily recalling her Dad’s playing days two decades earlier. Joe’s name still carried weight — a link to football’s early Golden Age. That public stature grew further following his memorable […]

By Meredith Jackson – When Jeff and McKenzie Sloan bought their lakefront home on Southmoreland Place in Decatur four years ago, they appreciated both its great view and great potential. But while the spectacular view could not be improved upon, the steeply sloping backyard needed to be totally redesigned with the Sloan’s two young daughters […]

By Rena A. Koontz – Archer Daniels Midland’s new intermodal container facility, a multi-million dollar endeavor that elevates Decatur to a national ranking among global distribution centers, started out small. But then the ADM team thought outside the box — the shipping container box, that is.

By Jan Mathew As a young mother, Laura Harrison remembers moving to Decatur “kicking and screaming” when her husband was transferred here from the Chicago suburb of Barrington. Twenty-two years later, when Harrison’s husband, Michael, a senior vice president of new product development for Tate & Lyle, was transferred back to the Chicago area, she […]