On the Air: WEEK feels Granite shakeup

When Greenwich, Conn.-based Silver Point Capital bailed out Granite Broadcasting, the parent company of WEEK-TV, Channel 25, after Granite declared bankruptcy in 2006, it was a safe bet that changes would be coming down the road. The road ended last week for Granite’s top management, who stepped down. CEO Don Cornwell, who founded the company [...]

Backstage: He’s carrying the torch for that man in black

Marcus Uzilevsky – better known as singer-songwriter Rusty Evans – has been to The Bitter End. It was at the famous New York coffeehouse where he met Johnny Cash, the man whose music Evans is commemorating in a new show opening at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Five Points Washington that features such songs as "Ring [...]

What do you want to see on WTVP?

In a recent "On the Air" column, we asked for ideas for WTVP-TV, Channel 47, Peoria’s public TV outlet. WTVP President Chet Tomczyk stated that he wants the station to produce more local programs despite the funding problems that the station has been facing. In an effort to help provide ideas for local programming, we [...]

Corn Stock set to dance with ‘Dames’

A dance extravaganza opening Friday at Corn Stock Theatre both parodies and pays homage to the great 1930s Busby Berkeley movies in which an understudy steps into a leading role and becomes a star. "Dames at Sea" follows the fortunes of a girl named Ruby (Kelsey Burd) who arrives on Broadway from the American hinterland [...]

Notables

ArtsPartners accepting nominations for award PEORIA – ArtsPartners of Central Illinois Inc. is accepting nominations through Friday for the 2009 ArtsPartner of the Year Award. This award is designed to recognize exemplary support and service to the local arts that has ultimately resulted in a stronger and more vital cultural arts environment in the Peoria [...]

Arts calendar

Theater "The Gondoliers," presented by Prairie Fire Theatre, 3 p.m. Aug. 16; Presser Hall, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington. Tickets: $18/adults; $15/seniors; $10/students. Call 824-3047. "Dames at Sea," 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21-29, Corn Stock Theatre, 1700 N. Park Road, upper Bradley Park, Peoria. Tickets: $17/adults; $12/youth. Call 676-2196. "Unnecessary Farce," through Sept. 13, Conklin’s Barn II [...]

What’s going on

Rally at the River Little River Band will headline this year’s Budweiser Grand Nationals Rally on Saturday at Festival Park on the Peoria riverfront. Knowing the band formed in Australia, we were surprised to find that one member actually is returning to his roots; he lived right up the river in Rome for part of [...]

The SKABS video "Crazy" selected by NYC Punk Rock Evolution Foundation

Boring. No need to read further. Go back to your infantile video games. THE SKABS “Crazy” VIDEO w/short review of the band @NYC Punk Rock Evolution Foundation http://nycpunkrock.blogspot.com/2009/08/skabs-crazy.html What’s with these wankers? Shit. They runnin’ circles ’round the rest of us and I for one am tired with spendin’ all my valuable time tryin to [...]

Widget Mania Soupkitchen VIDEO

DINING OUT: Still among the toast of the town

French Toast has long been considered one of central Illinois’ finest restaurants, and a recent visit confirmed this – even with the addition of a few casual menu items and the sprouting up of outdoor cafe tables. Dining Out last visited in 2001, long before Peoria Heights was considered "restaurant row" by some. Now, French [...]