Alton

New Breakmouth Annie Record On The Horizon From Throwing Things Records

The clock is counting down to midnight on a Friday night at Lemmon's. After some knob-fiddling and shot/water retrieval from the bar, the band begins its set, as some more friends and fans run back in after finishing their cigarettes outside. The next 25 or so minutes become a blur of head-nodding, ... More >>

Allen Cordes: Allegedly Drunk and High Driver Slams into Alton Cylcist, Killing Him

Alton resident Allen Cordes, 51, was allegedly high and drunk when he slammed into a cyclist over the weekend. James Allen Stewart, 50, was riding his bike when Cordes struck him. The Alton resident did not survive. The Madison County State's Attorneys office has since issued formal charges agai ... More >>

Police: Illinois Men Attack Senior, 77, Drive On His Yard After He Asks Them To Slow Down

A 77-year-old Alton, Illinois, man asked two young men speeding by in a truck to slow down. Instead, they drove their vehicle straight into his yard -- but not before attacking him. At least these are the accusations of police who say that Tyler Bates, age nineteen, is now facing charges of aggrav ... More >>

Answers to the Riverfront Times 2012 News Quiz

In January Riverfront Times published its annual "News Challenge" -- 78 multiple-choice questions testing how well readers paid attention to current events over the past twelve months. Within a week, more than 100 of you submitted your answers to us. A few weeks later a dozen readers e-mailed a simi ... More >>

From Sun Studios to Greg Ginn to Parliament: Meet Jay Brook Lipe

On a particularly frigid January afternoon this year, I stumbled upon an interesting scene in the Delmar Loop (where RFT Music HQ is located, for those unaware). Moving up and down the streets was an enthusiastic man with an acoustic guitar strapped on his back, flanked by another fella, pointing a ... More >>

Wal-Mart Theft: Alton Residents Steal Vacuum, Headphones, Return to Store -- With Drugs

If you steal large items from a Wal-Mart, it's perhaps not a great idea to return to the store two days later to steal more goods. But if you must -- maybe try not to be carrying illegal drugs. You know, just in case they noticed you the first time you walked out of the store with stuff you clearly ... More >>

20 Reasons to Love Winter in St. Louis

We admit it. Winter in St. Louis can be pretty damn dreary. Weeks can go by without a ray of sunlight penetrating the grey sky. And then there's the cold -- a humid frigidity that drills right to the bones. It's enough to bring on a deep depression if you cannot open your eyes to all the great thi ... More >>

Cold Comfort

Tame the Mississippi: A river rat's guide to enjoying our big brown stream

Grandpa Gang Lights 'Em Up

Beyond the Arch: Surprisingly cool destinations within a 30-minute drive

Chris Mucci Memorial Set for Saturday, April 9

Shirley and Chris Mucci of Alton, Il. ​Back in January we told you about a local musician looking for a cure. Chris Mucci, 61, of Alton, passed away on February 21 surrounded by his friends and family. This weekend, Chris's friends and accomplices in the music community are hosting a memorial ... More >>

Alton's Robert Wadlow, Tallest Man to Ever Live, Died 70 Years Ago Today

Wadlow standing next to his father.​Born a normal-sized baby in Alton in 1918, Robert Wadlow stood at 5' 6" by the age of five and 6' 5" by the age of 10 and nearly nine feet tall (8' 11") by the time he died on July 15, 1940. An overactive pituitary gland prompted his tremendous growth and would ... More >>

Jamarco Anthony: Alton Man Murdered Celebrating His Birthday; Brother Also Shot

Jamarco A. Anthony lived to see his 24th birthday but not by much. Anthony and friends were celebrating his birthday Saturday night at a former VFW Hall in Alton when the party ended in gunfire.The former VFW post at 300 E. Elm in Alton where Anthony was fatally shot.​The shooting occurred around ... More >>

Chef's Choice, Part 2: Jarvis Putnam of Bossanova Restaurant and Martini Lounge

This is part two of Robin Wheeler's Chef's Choice interview with Jarvis Putnam of Bossanova Restaurant & Martini Lounge. To read part one, click here. Stay tuned for part three tomorrow. Robin WheelerJarvis Putnam of Bossanova Restaurant & Martini Lounge​Did your family cook when you we ... More >>

Illinois Proposes Law to Prevent Labor Lockouts At Fairmount Park

Horse racing fans celebrated yesterday like a gambler who just hit the daily double. A last-minute deal was reached to allow Fairmount Park to host 52 days of live racing in 2010, as opposed to the three days the track was stuck with after a prolonged labor dispute.It's not exactly a full schedule ... More >>

St. Louis Weekend Concert Calendar: Friday, January 22 to Sunday, January 24

Please look here and here for Haiti benefits happening around town this weekend. Friday, January 22 *Corey Smith, The Pageant *Jeff Coffin & the Mu'tet, 2720 Cherokee *Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, Deluxe (last show at the venue) *Soul Kiss (reunion), Duck Room *Mario Pascal, Lamar Harris a ... More >>

A Table for How Many? at Seki

User "Alton," Wikimedia Commons​To my left, a nine-year-old boy stared intently at his Nintendo DS, his fingers moving a mile a minute. Next to him, his teenage sister rapid-fire texted her friends until she sadly announced that her phone battery had died. To my right, a college professor played ... More >>

Crack-Dealing Coaches, Lying Politicians, Suspected Bombers and a Hummer Dealer: What Do They All Have in Common?

​The Ass Clowns seem to be crawling out of the woodwork this week, especially following Jeff Smith's guilty plea and resignation. Outside the political arena, there were also a few worthy candidates. So you know the rules: Vote for the following headline-maker whose actions or deeds this week you ... More >>

Illinois State Police Write 120 Tickets in One Day In East St. Louis

local4traffic.files.wordpress.comThe police also wrote 111 tickets in Alton.The jaw-dropping number of traffic citations comes courtesy of another one of the Illinois State Police's patented "roadside safety checks" at the freeway off-ramp at Broadway and Fourth Street in East Boogie.The BND ha ... More >>

Alton Man Not as Lucky Following Second Shooting

thetelegraph.comRyan NorthA year ago Ryan North made news when Alton police released a homemade video that soon spread across the Internet. North, then 19, was one of several people watching two young men fight in an Alton backyard when the wrestling match soon turned much more violent. One of the o ... More >>

Enforcement Could Burn City Smoking Ban

flickr.com/photos/wallygThe ban prompts the questions: Will The Smokers abide? And who will make them?Alderwoman Lyda Krewson's bill banning smoking inside almost all public spaces in the city gets its first reading this morning in front of the Board of Aldermen. The ordinance would only go into eff ... More >>

Bulbs of Passion

Millions of lights every night

St. Louis Video: Judge Nothing, "Score Uneven"

With all of the old-school St. Louis band reunion shows happening in the coming weeks, figured this week was a good time to unroll another installment of local old-school videos. Up first is a clip from Judge Nothing, the much-beloved Alton punk/pop/whatever act. The band played gigs with anybody w ... More >>

Come on Feel the IlliNoise -- Alton's New All-Ages Venue, That Is

Farmer Wants a Wife Matt Neustadt Interview

Smokers' Olympics

Stuff Unreal likes! Plus: We smoke and run and picture Abe Lincoln on a Segway.

Wed Foot

Alton Music Biz, Streetside Records in the Loop, to Close

In the Lane Lights Are Glistenin'

Olé, Olé the Fifth of May!

East Side, Best Side

A pub crawl along the Illinois riverbanks

Local Motion

Week of January 26, 2006

Wind in Your Hair

Miles and miles of bike trails for your riding pleasure

Keeping Current on the Mississippi

Check out Pere Marquette for great beaches and boating

What Is a Fair and Reasonable Price for a Gallon of Gas?

Week of October 6, 2004

Best Place to Bird-Watch

Riverland Environmental Demonstration Area

Lewis & Clark & Car

Leaving St. Louis

Santa Wants to Know: Have You Been Naughty or Nice?

Week of December 17, 2003

Oh, Wolfy

What big troubles you have!

I've Got a Crush on You

Speedo slams into St. Louis

Best Worthy Cause

Great Rivers Land Trust

What's the Rudest Thing Anyone Has Said to You?

Week of May 14, 2003

Best Bike Trail

Katy Trail

Best Weekend Excursion

Great River Road

Best Bridge

Lewis and Clark Bridge

Flows and Eddie's

Cheap, tasty eats and engaging atmosphere abound at Fast Eddie'sBon-Air

Best Peach Daiquiri

Kinder's Restaurant

FAUX, FAUX, FAUX

A Disney-trained designer descends on the Alton Belle Casino's new venture, the Spirit of America