Articles - Decatur Magazine

HERE WE GO A’WASSAILING!

A supplement to Sing Along With Milt in the December/January 2021 Decatur Magazine holiday issue. Wassail is a beverage of hot mulled cider traditionally enjoyed as an integral part of Medieval Christmastide – an English drinking ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest the following year. RECIPE FOR TRADITIONAL WASSAIL Ingredients: 1-gallon apple […]

Decatur Magazine - DecJan21 - Sing Along With Milt

A supplement to Sing Along With Milt in the December/January 2021 Decatur Magazine holiday issue. Contents may not be reprinted without permission from the publisher. COVID CAROLING Lyrics by Milt Scott, choral director extraordinaire (designed to be performed six feet apart) Jingle Bells (new version) Dashing through the snow, with faces we […]

COVID CAROLING Original lyrics by Decatur choral director Milt Scott. We Wish You A Merry Christmas (new version) CHORUS We now have Corona Virus, we now have Corona Virus We now have Corona Virus, we’ve had it all year. The vaccine we seek won’t be here this week. Keep washing and masking, solutions we seek. […]

Decatur Magazine - December 2020 / January 2021 Calendar

SPECIAL NOTICE There may be changes in state guidelines due to the pandemic, so events may be changed or cancelled. Please call ahead before attending. December 2020 / January 2021 Art Concerts & Live Music History & Museums Nature & Animals Special Events ART Christmas Card Lane – November 28 – December 26 Outdoors, 300 […]

DecaturMagazineDec20Jan21-Contents-featured

features A Season to RememberWhile this year may bring changes to how we celebrate, the reason for the season stays the same. In this issue we bring you a few twists on tradition that not only follow the rules but might make the holidays even more memorable. Sing Along with Milt In a spirit […]

features A Sense of PlaceAsk anyone from Decatur their opinion of our city and you’ll probably get an enthusiastic reply. Everyone has enjoyable experiences or favorite spots that evoke good memories and make us feel special. With the stories in this issue we discovered that while our experiences may be different, developing strong connections and […]

A supplement to the story Small Town Rebuilds from the Oct/Nov 2020 issue of Decatur Magazine. A Closer Look at Laurel, Mississippi Laurel is charming, but not all shiny and made-for-HGTV. It’s a tourist attraction due to the show Home Town, but not at all touristy. It’s Mayberry. We scored premium accommodations during our […]

Decatur Magazine October-November 2020 Calendar of Events

SPECIAL NOTICE There may be changes in state guidelines due to the pandemic, so events may be changed or cancelled. Please call ahead before attending. October / November 2020 ArtConcerts & Live MusicHistory & MuseumsNature & GardensEvents for Children & FamiliesSports, Health & FitnessExpositionsSpecial Events Charity Datebook ART As I See It – […]

features Anything But Normal There are times when every day feels like the day before, even though our entire lives have changed. And playing by the rules has taken on a whole new meaning. Since Midwesterners normally don’t shy away from a challenge, how do we adapt to life during a global pandemic? In this issue, […]

Decatur Magazine August-September 2020 Calendar of Events

SPECIAL NOTICE Due to the alert status of COVID-19 in Illinois, events listed on this calendar may change. We suggest calling ahead to confirm details and cancellations before making plans to attend. Thank you! August / September 2020 ArtNature & GardensEvents for Children & FamiliesCharity Events ART Decatur Airport Exhibit – AugustDecatur Airport, […]

By Jan Mathew | Photography by Kathy Locke Visit the Hieronymus Mueller Museum and you’ll step into the rich story of a man heralded as a creative genius, prolific inventor and community champion. Chapters, as viewed through Mueller Company’s lens, are historical snapshots only Decatur can share. Within this panorama, the angle that Museum Director […]

SPECIAL NOTICE Due to the alert status of COVID-19 and influenzas in Illinois, we do not have a calendar for June/July 2020 events. We will post events as they become available once again. Thank you!

features Together, six feet apartAs we navigate our way through the effects of COVID-19 one thing is certain – the only constant is change. This issue documents the incredible moments that are making history in Decatur. Take care and be well. cover illustration by Shani Goss Portrait of a PandemicImages capture the essence of […]

Beyond merely utilitarian function, WPA projects are aesthetically pleasing constructions that were built to last. Many of these gems are still in use today, although residents often fail to appreciate their historic significance. Before the dawning of “economic stimulus packages,” Grandpa had to put in a full day’s work before Big Brother would spare him […]

The Manhattan Project, so named because the first plan originated in that “district,” was America’s top-secret mission to harness nuclear energy into a massively powerful bomb and end World War ll. The mission’s leaders were Dr. Leo Oppenheimer on the science side, and General Leslie Groves on the management/military procurement and coordination side. The rest, […]

When talking to Decatur resident Karen Hurley about the April 19, 1996, tornado she and her family survived, the key word is obvious: “Survive.” Yet after the dark eerie clouds, blinding rain, and devastating winds passed, the initial reaction was an odd sense of denial. Both Hurley and fellow local survivor Brad Storm didn’t grasp, […]

Decatur resident Jim Friesner recalls ordering a cheese toastie when visiting Chicago a few years back. “The waitress laughed,” he recalls. “(I guess) it’s only called a cheese toastie in Decatur.” While wait staff outside our area may discern you mean a grilled cheese, “cheese toastie” generally requires an explanation or, at a minimum, earns […]

Gin rummy comes with a pretty straightforward set of rules: A 52-card deck; aces played low; and the objective of improving your hand by forming spreads and runs (melds), discarding uncooperative cards (deadwood) and, ultimately, outscoring your opponent. But for one of Decatur’s longest-running cadre of card sharks, the heart of the game is more […]

When I was a kid, I thought my aunt was a witch. Not a broom-riding, cackling, pointy-hat-wearing witch, but a normal-looking witch with special powers. At least that’s what she told me. As a six-year-old, I watched her take out her teeth and make slugs disappear by pouring salt on them. In the days before […]

features Let’s Go ExploringIt’s the perfect time of year to get up and get going, so be prepared to try something new this spring. We did the research to help you gear up for adventure, learn the ropes and have fun in the process. Enjoy! cover illustration by Shani Goss Stand Up SummerThe opening […]