Editor’s Note

Michael Jantze, a successful cartoonist, grew up in Normal and never really broke ties with his hometown. His comic strip is called "The Norm." We featured Michael in Images of McLean, but I want to share something he told me regarding his close friendship with the beloved cartoonist Charles Schulz, who created "The Peanuts." Schulz was known as "Sparky" to his friends and family. In Michael's words: "Sparky told me on more than one occasion that comic strips are a unique art form. He said it's a blend of visual art and literature; but it follows its own set of rules. He said the best cartoons are about the cartoonist not the cartoon characters. And I think knowing where you're from, knowing what influences formed you and staying true to those memories helps a writer be truthful and real, and that's why people connect with a person's work. –Kim Madlom

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Featuring live jazz on Mondays and Thursdays, and no cover charge, the Redfire Grille in Bloomington is a great place to start the week. The restaurant is casual and fun. The music was the reason for the visit, so the food turned out to be a real bonus. For starters, the stuffed crimini mushrooms were delicious. The greek pasta was a tasty dinner dish. –Kim Madlom

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