See one of Italy’s top films of 2013 Thursday at the Collinsville Library, for free
The award-winning Italian comedy, Buongiorno papà (titled Out of the Blue in English) debuts Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Collinsville Public Library. Italian Film Night at the Italian Fest features one of Italy’s most popular movies last year. The film, shown in Italian with English subtitles, is a sentimental comedy about parenthood. The lead […]
Read More →With jokes and a song, personalities shine at Little Miss and Mister Italian Fest Pageant
The newly crowned Little Mister Italian Fest said there’s one change he would like to make to his title. “Leave out the ‘little’ thing,” he said. “I’m 8 years old, come on.” Andrew Hilmes, 8, was the oldest contestant in this year’s Little Miss and Mister Italian Fest pageant, held Saturday. Gabriella Hill, 7, won […]
Read More →The city, Italian-American culture and family inspire Collinsville author
Collinsville has been home to established Italian-American writer Loretta Giacoletto since 1957, and for years, she has written novels, short stories and sagas inspired by her and her husband’s families and their Italian culture. Giacoletto, who will be signing her books at Spirito’s Italian Grocery in Collinsville during Italian Fest, said she started writing when […]
Read More →SEE-CILY exhibit at Collinsville Historical Museum through Oct. 15
The Collinsville Historical Museum is in the Italian Fest spirit, with a special display until Oct. 15. SEE-CILY: The Island’s Hidden Face, includes over 25 photographs from Sicilian photographer Antonino Riggio and an extensive display of Sicilian items, many rare. Some items on display include a Sicilian cart from Taormina, Sicilian ceramics, items from Mount […]
Read More →The Italian Fest event lineup features a crawling contest and Budweiser Clydesdale
Collinsville’s 31st annual Italian Fest begins at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 19, with the opening ceremonies on the Venezia Stage, including a performance of classic Italian songs by area-native Bailey Jo Hutton. After graduating from Edwardsville High School, Hutton was accepted to John Hopkins Peabody Institute in Maryland where she is currently a sophomore. Hutton […]
Read More →Frying pan toss and canoe race new to Caseyville’s Frontier Days
Caseyville will hold its annual Frontier this Saturday and Sunday at Caseyville Park. The event will feature re-enactors in period style clothing. Re-enactor goods, food and drinks will be sold both days. The re-enactors will be demonstrating a wide variety of skills, have kid-friendly activities, music, trader goods and an area set aside for visitors […]
Read More →At long last, the ‘Shoe is back
Three years after the Horseshoe Restaurant and Lounge closed its doors, the iconic Collinsville restaurant will re-open Tuesday under new ownership. Husband and wife team Bernie and Charlie Clardy have been painstakingly preparing the building since January. After some delays beyond their control, construction took off in May. The back of the building was knocked […]
Read More →Rule, Rubin and Shay works on exhibit at The Schmidt
***Submitted Content*** The William and Florence Schmidt Art Center has brought the works of three artists to southwestern Illinois this fall for free exhibitions of their unique art. “With the wide range of artistic styles and media, there is something to interest everyone at this upcoming exhibition,” Curator Nicole Dutton said. The artists’ works went […]
Read More →Collinsville Library eating contest canceled.
***Updated at 11 a.m., Aug. 22*** The Collinsville Library has announced that the eating contest, originally scheduled for Sept. 13, has been canceled. “After further consideration, the Collinsville Memorial Library Center has decided to cancel the competitive eating contest,” an official statement indicated. —- Original Story—– Joey Chestnut will not go toe-to-toe with Kobayashi […]
Read More →A T-shirt from Dublin
The following story was originally published in Travel Intelligence “In what college sport did Oscar Wilde participate?” the tour guide asked. The question was directed to a man from Nottingham, England and me. We were the finalists in the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl trivia contest. The person who answered this question correctly took home a […]
Read More →“State of Southern Illinois” exhibit opens Saturday at Cahokia Mounds
***Submitted story*** A new exhibit opening Saturday at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site will separate myth from fact in the colorful history of southern Illinois. “The State of Southern Illinois” features 39 photographs that appeared in “The State of Southern Illinois: An Illustrated History” authored by Herbert Russell and published by Southern Illinois University Press. […]
Read More →“Annie the Musical” coming to SIUE’s Dunham Hall Theater
***Submitted Content*** Curtain’s Up Theater Company will perform the stage version “Annie, The Musical” Aug. 28 – 31 at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Dunham Hall Theater. The play will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28 – 30, with matinees, Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, […]
Read More →Blues, oldies and Elvis at 2014 Tunes at Blum, no word on how much cowbell
The original owners of the Blum House in Collinsville were operators of a cowbell factory. During one of Christopher Walken’s most popular stints as a Saturday Night Live guest host, he could not get enough cowbell from cast members pretending to perform “Don’t Fear the Reaper” as Blue Oyster Cult. “Guess what, I got a […]
Read More →Free concerts Sunday, under the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle and at Carisilos
“The World’s First Linear Musical Festival” thinks enough of Collinsville that the city gets two concerts. Sunday evening, Cow Bop will set up shop for a free concert under the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, alongside the STL250 Cakeway to West cake and within spittin’ distance of the Catsup Bottle for sale sign. The band, recently […]
Read More →2014 World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival contest winners
The organizers of the 2014 World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival have announced the contest winners. Little Princess Tomato Winner – Sophia Lewis (4) of Collinsville, IL First Runner Up – Amelia Hill (4) of Edwardsville, IL Little Sir Catsup Winner – Curtis Cline (6) of Edwardsville, IL First Runner Up – Bobby Hildebrand (3) […]
Read More →2014 World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival C.I.A. Car, Truck & Motorcycle Winners
The organizers of the 2014 World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival have announced the winners for the Cruzin’ in Antiques (C.I.A.) car, truck and motorcycle show. TOP 25 PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS (Car/Truck Category) Sponsored by A-Rod-Shop Ernie Huffman of Troy, IL – 1950 Styleline Delux Sponsored by A-Rod’s Auto Body Ed Lepold of Fairview Heighst, […]
Read More →The C.IA., Winermobile and Jeepalope visit the Catsup Bottle Festival
Despite a heat index above 90 degrees by noon, Collinsville’s 2014 Catsup Bottle Festival had another successful year celebrating condiments, cars and Collinsville spirit on July 13. Favorite catsup-themed activities returned to the fest, including the Little Princess Tomato and Sir Catsup Contest, the Brooks Tangy Catsup Taste Test stand, the catsup-smothered tater tot eating […]
Read More →Castles in the Sky – Barcelona
Story published previously in Travel Intelligence A towering mass of humanity stretched towards to the sky. The cherry on the human ice cream cone scampered up the tower with rapidity and precision. Using the quadriceps of one person as a base, she clutched the waist of the person standing on the shoulders of her current […]
Read More →Celebrating the Catsup Bottle’s 65th birthday with the Weinermobile
The 2014 edition of the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival will celebrate the 65th birthday of Collinsville’s iconic water tower turned roadside attraction. The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 13. In its 16th year, the event, also dubbed a birthday party and car show, will welcome the Oscar […]
Read More →Thwarting “tater haters,” Big Idaho® Potato poses for photo ops at Catsup Bottle®
Toting a 28-foot-long, 12-foot-wide, 11.5-foot-tall plywood potato around the county requires one long truck and many permits. The average person may not know that permits are needed to haul the Great Big Idaho® Potato around the country, or that the 72-foot long truck is often required to avoid cities by using an interstate bypass. One […]
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