SPlog

This satisfying soft pretzel video loop was posted by C-U designer Barry Abrams, and within 24 hours, it had more than 2.1 million views on TikTok. There are more than 20 calming motion graphics on …

The Champaign Public Library’s creative writing series is adding a beginner’s level illustration workshop specifically geared towards writers. Participants will “learn about various illustration techniques and insights into the process” from illustrator, designer, and educator …

After a two year break, Dance Music Therapy is back in action at the Lake House at Crystal Lake Park. The free monthly event began in 2016 with DJs Terrance Stevenson, Kamau Grantham, and Mikki Johnson …

On Tuesday evening, the Champaign City Council unanimously approved a contract with AGB Investigative Services to provide five security officers to patrol Downtown Champaign. Some important details, from The News-Gazette’s reporting on the meeting: This Chicago-based …

Tomorrow is the 5th of May, the day the Mexican army’s defeated imperialist French forces in 1862. (No, it’s not Mexican Independence Day.) To honor that, Maize and Smith Burger Co. have teamed up to …

Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County and ReStore are getting a new home this fall. They will be moving their offices and retail space from their current location on University Avenue, as well as their …

Don’t miss the chance to see the Parkland College’s 54th Annual Juried Student Art & Design Exhibition before it closes on May 7th. Tis the season to celebrate student artists, so be sure to check out …

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, and if you’re looking for consumable gifts for the teachers in your life, consider gifting something from a C-U shop or restaurant. Maybe treat your teachers to coffee from Art Mart …

Interested in poetry? Wanting to hear works from published poets? This upcoming Sunday, May 8th, from 2 to 3 p.m., the Glass Room Poets will be reading and discussing their works live virtually. The members …

If you have an outstanding balance on a criminal, traffic, DUI, ordinance violation, or conservation violation, and would like the opportunity to pay it off without being subject to late fines or fees, this is your …

Driven to Reach Excellence & Academic Achievement for Males has been providing opportunities for Black boys and young men in C-U for several years now, including through a new health and wellness program that was …

Did you follow along as The I.D.E.A. Store took over Smile Politely’s Instagram last week? If not, you may have missed some sneak peek images of the Jewelry Jackpot Sale that begins May 4th and …

Common Ground’s Owner Appreciation Days begin May the Fourth. (…Be with you. And also with you.) Owner Appreciation Days feature sales, raffles, and 10% off your total shopping trip. This week you can also pick …

Uniting Pride is organizing a protest at the Champaign County Courthouse at 5 p.m. in light of the recent news regarding the Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade. From Uniting Pride: …

The Filipino-Cambodian restaurant A Taste of Both Worlds now offers boodle fights. What is a boodle fight? I learned what it was from this Facebook post by the Broadway Food Hall restaurant. The boodle fight …

Parkland’s Staerkel Planetarium will once again be hosting musical light shows starting this Friday, May 6th. The shows will run on the first Friday of every month at 9 p.m. Friday’s show will be none …

If you were worried about the fate of the T-rex (Tabitha, aka “Tabby”) that once burst forth from the wall of Dallas & Co, worry no longer. As seen in Spotted in Chambana Facebook group, …

Last summer was the inaugural growing season for Royse + Brinkmeyer’s urban garden, constructed with the help of students in the Metropolitan Food and Environmental Systems (MFST) program at the University of Illinois.  They are now …

Illinois Public Media’s News, Brews & Beatz series is 6 p.m., Monday, May 9th at Pour Bros. in Downtown Champaign. This next topic is about gun violence in Champaign-Urbana. Guest panelists include Sam Smith, director …

If you have kids ages 6-12, bring them out to Japan House on Saturday, May 7th for Kodomo no Hi, or Children’s Day. This is a national holiday in Japan, and likely originated in China as …

Because of its location across from Edison Middle School, the Champaign Public Library sees a lot of teens and tweens come through their doors. Soon, those kids will have a brand new expanded space for …

After much anticipation, the brand new bottle shop and wine bar Ladro Enoteca is now open on Main Street in Downtown Champaign. Ladro offers natural wines from small wineries by the bottle or by the …

The University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium is 99 years old, and the U of I recently shared some old photos of the stadium on social media.  Memorial Stadium was built to commemorate the Illinois lives …

Uncanny Magazine is known for highlighting “intricate, experimental stories and poems with verve and imagination that elicit strong emotions and challenge beliefs, from writers of every conceivable background. Uncanny believes there’s still plenty of room …

In celebration of Good Night and Good Morning’s album Narrowing Type hitting 10 years old this April, Energy Crow Records is putting out a vinyl reissue of the seminal album.  Image from Energy Crow’s website.  The …

The Odyssey Project, which offers adults the opportunity to take free University of Illinois humanities courses for college credit, will have a free non-credit summer writing workshop for adult learners. Applicants must be at least 18 …

As all the April showers begin to subside, it’s time to start thinking about May flowers, and plants, and veggies, and herbs. Fortunately, there are many opportunities coming up to get prepared for planting, and …

CU Ballet will be making its return to the Virginia Theatre’s stage with a production of The Little Mermaid on Mother’s Day weekend.  As their recent press release notes:  “Inspired by the original Hans Christen …

When the full moon rises in May, it is known as the Full Flower Moon due to the blooming of various wildflowers. In light of the event, The Urbana Park District, with a co-sign from …

DIY punk band Nectar has made it onto the A.V. Club‘s list of 25 essential albums to watch out for in May. This is mighty impressive, considering that the article also includes artists such as Kendrick Lamar, …

Champaign Park District has their regular summer concerts on the calendar, and they are beginning soon! These are great opportunities to pack yourself a little picnic and enjoy the park while the sounds of local …

MTD has three ways for you to learn about and comment on their proposed schedule changes for the next service year, which begins August 14th.  Live virtual meeting on May 16th from 12 to 1 …

Sushi Siam’s dine-in only bento box lunch specials ($13) are a really easy and delicious way to sample a bunch of things in one sitting.  Bento boxes are served with miso soup, a spring roll, …

Sometimes it’s fun to have a fancy dinner, and this slow-roasted prime rib is a decadent meal for a special occasion. Hamilton Walker’s prime rib is a whopping 12 ounces, served rare or medium rare …

The Champaign County Clerk and Recorder’s office has partnered with C-U at Home, City of Champaign Township, and Cunningham Township to host a voter registration event at C-U at Home on Friday, April 29th from …

Book lovers in C-U now have another option for buying books. Reader’s Block is on online bookstore founded by three librarians. They sell new and used books, and will offer personal book recommendations if you …

Join the Champaign County Forest Preserve District and the Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society to celebrate International Dark Sky Week through Sunday, April 30th.  There are two public events this week: The Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society will demonstrate …

Mark your calendars: Urbana’s Market at the Square will open for the season on Saturday, May 7th, and The Land Connection’s Champaign Farmers’ Market will open on Tuesday, May 17th. Through the winter, the Winter …

BIPOC for a Better Birth is a new organization that is sponsored by the Independent Media Center and an Urbana Arts and Culture Grant. They “address the unique needs of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) …

The National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), with the University of Illinois and other collaborators around the U.S., was awarded more than $40 million for its Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services and Support program (ACCESS) program. …

Blending the mythical stories of old with issues at the border of the United States and Mexico, Andrew Siañez de-la O’s play Borderline is a thrilling collage of drama, mythology, and modern politics. A semi-finalist …

Our next installment in our Instagram Story Takeover series takes place this Thursday, April 28th. Our friends at The Idea Store in Urbana are going to be taking over our account for the day, showing …

The City of Urbana has opened up applications for four “Curbanas” to be utilized by downtown businesses. Last summer, the city rolled out two of these cute outdoor public seating areas: in front of Nola’s and …

PSYONIC, a C-U startup founded by U of I graduate (Ph.D. in Neuroscience and M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering) Dr. Aadeel Akhtar, created the Ability Hand, “the fastest bionic hand on the market and the …

Bruce Adams — co-founder of Kranky Records and Urbana resident — is releasing his book You’re With Stupid: Kranky, Chicago, and the Reinvention of Indie Music in November.  The book will chronicle Kranky Records and how Chicago’s underground …

Oksana Masters, the decorated Paralympic athlete that lives and trains here in Champaign-Urbana, was interviewed by Soledad O’Brien for Real Sports on HBO. Masters was born in Ukraine with severe physical defects due to radiation poisoning …

Yesterday on 4/20 in the parking lot of NurEra Urbana, Smith Burger Co teamed up with Ye Olde Donut to create the Glazed and Confused burger: two beef patties with strips of bacon, pepperjack cheese, …

Crystal Lake Park has some new color thanks to multi-media artist Lisa Kesler’s Utility Box Mural at the Lake House. Quiet Mend 3 was made with acrylic paint and collage, and was made possible by …