Articles - Decatur Magazine

Here & There – Memphis, TN

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 […]