Woodstock will round out its summer music festival season this weekend with what documentary-maker Ken Burns considered the “most American” of musical art forms. Returning for its 11th year, the Woodstock Jazz Festival will bring nine bands from Chicago and McHenry County to the Park in the Square and Stage Left Café for three shows, […]
Since summer 2016, Woodstock’s indie music fans and City Council members have had one thing on their tongue: LSD. Or rather, “Let’s Square Dance,” the eye-rollingly named brainchild of Joe Starzynski, a mortgage consultant at Home State Bank and then a city councilman. Featuring six bands this year – four from Chicago, one from Austin, […]
Northern Illinois denizens will attest, through chattering teeth, that the window of nice weather near the 42 North latitude line is a short one. As soon as warm, sunny days arrive, the rush is on to eat outdoors. Responding to that desire and realizing that an al fresco option increases sales, Woodstock restaurateurs have created […]
Three juveniles have been charged after what police described as a “negligent discharge” of a firearm Sunday off the Square. Each of the three – ages 17, 14 and 13 – face multiple charges, according to a news release Monday from the Woodstock Police Department. Police said they also confiscated a stolen gun that the […]
Woodstock’s Farmers Market is in its 36th year, but don’t think you won’t find anything new at the twice-a-week summer sales on the Square. The final winter market of the season at the fairgrounds was this past weekend, and the summer market gets underway downtown next week, Tuesday, May 1. The market’s website last week […]
Last month’s announcement that Ethereal Confections is moving diagonally across the Woodstock Square to the former Elks Lodge building generated buzz in town and much excitement on Ethereal’s Facebook page. The three-story location will include the café and chocolate production area on the first floor; a rentable commercial kitchen and event space on the second […]
Activities with big crowds will continue in March at Woodstock Square Event and Banquet center, 333 E. Judd St., thanks to a temporary parking-and-restrooms fix approved by the City Council. But Deputy Mayor Michael Turner said the council wanted the problem to be permanently solved. In a 6-0 vote last week, the council approved the […]
For the past few weeks, next to Read Between the Lynes bookstore, a banner with a small, cute cartoon girl with big eyes and purple hair has been seen at 109 E. Van Buren St. offering Anime & Things. This is either very exciting for many people or very confusing for those who have asked […]
Groundhog Day’s frigid single-digit temperatures were not enough to keep the crowds away. Surprisingly, despite the cold, the Woodstock Square was full of people bundled up, many warmed by hot coffee or hot chocolate, waiting with bated breath for Woodstock Willie’s prediction Feb. 2. At 7:07 a.m., just after the crowd sang a few familiar […]
All-powerful tech corporations, automation displacing the working class and culture changing by the hour through the internet is the philosophy behind Crisiswear Clothing, 222 Main St., which is selling clothing to match. Founded the year “The Matrix” came out, Crisiswear has been a long-standing part of Chicago’s fashion scene. Matt Deponte (aka Flux), founder and […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
