Articles - Decatur Magazine

Happy Campers

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 […]

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 […]