Articles - Decatur Magazine

in this issue: June-July 2016

features ON THE COVER – Summer in the City There’s nothing better than kicking back with friends, sipping a cold one and listening to great music while dinner sizzles on the grill. It’s summer…and the livin’ is easy. Cover Illustration by Tronnie Goss 2301 Oyster BarShoreline scenery, live music, fresh oysters and a come-as-you-are vibe make […]

Story by Meredith Jackson – With the start of warm weather, David Brummer looks forward to a favorite pastime he savors in Central Illinois — visiting area wineries. “It’s as good a way to spend a Friday or Saturday night as there is,” he says. “You get talking and tasting wines, and the evening flies.” […]

By Pam Smith Spring can’t come soon enough for Mike and Heather Koprek. Local campgrounds begin to open their gates in early May and their vintage Airstream travel-trailer will be ready to roll. It’s not so much a call to the wild as the opportunity to decompress that has turned this Decatur couple into […]

Here & There April-May 2016 - Bloomington, IL

Bloomington, IL Located 45 miles north of Decatur on IL Rt. 51, Bloomington is the County Seat of McLean County, the largest county in Illinois (approximately 762,240 acres). The cultural arts in Bloomington are enhanced with the US Cellular Coliseum, which opened in 2006 with seating for 7000, and the Bloomington Center for the Performing […]

DecaturMag April-May 2016 Contents - Cover

features ON THE COVER – Signs of Life Spring is busting out all over Decatur with new projects, innovative connections and enthusiastic residents who believe our city is on the upswing and their own efforts can speed up the trend. Cover Illustration by Tronnie Goss Wishes Granted Ask and you shall receive. Since we last […]

Champaign/Urbana, IL – Home to the University of Illinois, the area’s largest employer, Champaign-Urbana manages a fluctuating population of 44,000 students during the course of the academic year, creating stiff competition for appealing housing and interesting challenges for the city’s service industries. The University provides plenty of entertainment options during the school year with Big […]

features ON THE COVER – Answer Man – You have questions – we have answers. Find out what local experts have to say about hot topics on the minds of those who need to know everything. Cover Illustration by Tronnie Goss H2O Challenge How does the quality of Decatur’s tap water compare to a bottled brand? […]

Story and Photography by Pam Smith – Long before food icons such as Julia Child, James Beard, Martha Stewart and all the new-age foodies connected with The Food Network, there was Clementine Paddleford. Beyond having possibly the coolest name ever, the intrepid culinary journalist was before her time as a regional food pioneer. […]

By French MacLean | Photography by Bailey Broderick – It’s been nearly a century since Decatur had its own brewery, but at long last the drought has ended, thanks to four guys on a mission. Decatur Brew Works (DBW) is the latest venture in “City Limitless.” Experienced brewers and good friends of Charlie McGorray, aka, “Mr. […]

Columbus, Ohio – Home to the Buckeyes of Ohio State University and the capital of Ohio, Columbus has a student population of 65,000 during the school year, and a large government presence, with insurance and healthcare as the other top industries. Work commutes average 28 minutes in Columbus compared to the short 12-minute average drive […]