Northwest Quarterly Magazine

08/05/2026

Great theater doesn’t only happen in big cities. For 65 years, Timber Lake Playhouse has been proving that world-class performances can thrive right here in the Midwest.

As the saying goes, “the show must go on,” and at Timber Lake Playhouse in Mount Carroll, Ill., shows have been going on since 1961. As the professional summer theater company marks its 65th anniversary, Timber Lake Playhouse remains at the heart of Mount Carroll’s cultural community, delighti...

07/30/2026

A Huey helicopter nicknamed “The Lady” stands at the center of Rockford’s LZ Peace Memorial, where the names of 69 Winnebago County service members who died or went missing in Vietnam are etched into the Wall of Honor.

Check out these unique destinations that reflect the genuine character of our region. LZ Peace Memorial Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford, (815) 968-1040, midwayvillagemuseum.org Local draft boards began calling on young Rockfordians to serve in Southeast Asia followin

07/27/2026

The Byron Forest Preserve District offers a place to slow down, reconnect with nature and discover the beauty of northern Illinois.

Andrew Hawkins Anyone who visits the Jarrett Prairie Center Museum within the Byron Forest Preserve District (BFPD) should have a camera ready. The colors that surround the peaceful landscape just outside Byron, Ill., is a sight to behold during the summer months. “The drive up the winding roa

07/24/2026

Looking for your next tee time? From historic courses to challenging championship layouts, the Stateline region is home to golf destinations that offer beautiful scenery, memorable holes and plenty of opportunities to sharpen your game.

Whether you’ve played them a hundred times or never before, these local courses are full of challenges and surprises, the kinds that will make a better golfer of us all. Park Hills Golf CourseFreeportEast Course: 6,503 Yards, Par 72West Course: 6,627 Yards, Par 72 Pick your poison on these

07/22/2026

Since Alec Grabowski took the helm at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford last spring, he’s been named a “Healthcare Leader Under 40.” In April 2025, Alec Grabowski was named president of OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford. As an experienced executive l...

07/08/2026

06/24/2026

In an age of screens and solitude, dozens of people gather in Belvidere each month to dance.

On the fourth Saturday night of the month, the auditorium inside the Community Building Complex of Boone County (CBCBC) fills with music. Couples sweep across the polished floor. Some move with an ease that comes from decades of practice. Others count steps and steal glances at seasoned dancers near

06/10/2026

Talk to small-business leaders from Freeport to Beloit this year and the same two words keep surfacing: cautiously optimistic.

Small businesses are a serious driver of our local economies. They have the power to attract locals and out-of-town visitors, provide employment, and support the culture and vibrancy that signal a thriving community. (Main Street Monroe photo) Economic development isn’t limited to big, multimilli