SPlog

Perhaps you noticed the drunken hoards stumbling across campus this weekend? Surely there are plenty of pictures on Instagram and Facebook. But I think this one sums it up best. Or rather, the close-up version …

On August 31st, the Krannert Art Museum will be hosting it’s Opening Night Public Reception to celebrate the new Fall 2017 exhibits and season. All new fall exhibits will be on display during the open …

In honor of Ray Spooner, who passed away a year ago on August 8th, the first ever Ride for Ray will take place on August 5th. Throughout his life Ray was a local friend, and …

Black Dog released a photo this past week annoucing the date of this year’s cornhole tournament.  While there aren’t many details yet about this years tournament, but if it’s anything like last year’s (tacos, beverages, and …

If you’re at all interested in supporting arts for the youth of Champaign-Urbana, the Urbana Park District does some pretty neat things every summer, including a musical performance. This year, that performance is Seussical the …

Michael Kosta, who once led Illini Men’s Tennis to four Big Ten tennis championships, just debuted as the newest correspondent on The Daily Show with a segment on Gwyneth Paltrow and Alex Jones. See the …

I’ll be damned – we did it. Today, the San Antonio Spurs announced the signing of former University of Illinois basketball player Brandon Paul. Paul, 26, has had a consistent career since leaving the U …

Sure, we know that Columbia Street Roastery gets their coffee from this awesome place in Colombia, and we know that they’re the most delicious local brew to wake up to, but did you know that …

Krannert’s Uncorked series makes Thursdays extra-special by pairing new wines with local talent.  This week, Ranae Wilson, who both works for the Krannert Center in the Development department and appears in local productions, has curated a list …

Oktstonerfest has become an annual tradition at the Loose Cobra, sporting heavier styles of music, mostly metal. The festival includes a full day of music, sour kraut, and tons headbanging, Bavarian themed. Last years lineup …

If there is one place where the internet might be more relevant than anywhere outside of Silicon Valley, it very well may be Champaign-Urbana. With so many tech wizards spending time at the University of …

BrewLab Coffee is the newest coffee shop to open on campus. Located at 630 South Fifth Street, Champaign (Fifth and Green), BrewLab is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The cafe is …

On July 22nd, local jeweler Christopher & Co. is hosting a fundraiser for Courage Connection and Cunningham Children’s Home. The event, Taking the Diamond for Women and Children, will take place in the Bling Pig …

Downtown Champaign’s Big Grove Tavern is back at it again, folks. After hosting a special fried chicken dinner last week, it was so successful that it’s back every Wednesday from 4-10 pm. Word on the …

This past week, Central Illinois Bakehouse announced that they will now displaying and offering their pastries and other baked goods at Strawberry Fields and World Harvest Foods in Urbana.  Until now, these amazing creations from …

Seriously, what’s more Midwestern than self-publishing a Euchre variant with a pun in the title?  I know you Illini aren’t as well-versed in the quintessential confusing card game to play while it’s cold out and …

The Bashful Youngens recently worked with John Isberg of Swede Films to produce their newest music video, “Hand In Mine.” The song comes from their newest EP inflorescent which was released just this past March. The …

Bookmobile! just released their album, Rocket To The Moon. Last Saturday they had an album release party which doubled as Fringe Fest at Bentley’s Pub and the first date (July 8th) of their monster tour. …

For those of you who are both Urbana residents and trying to contribute to a better future, the City of Urbana is seeking thoughtful answers on your cycling and walking habits. This, in turn, will …

From the press release: Tovala set to launch smart oven July 11 Americans are constantly on the go. Oftentimes because of a long workday and perhaps activities in the evening, eating right takes a back …

Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County, Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club and the Eastern Illinois Foodbank will be on the receiving end of over a million dollars in combined funding from the Yahoo Employee …

Former Champaign-based State Senator and current State Treasurer Mike Frerichs has taken to Facebook to release a video explaining Illinois’ threatened “junk bond status,” and what it means for the state, the Governor and the …

Sipyard is a cool place. This was satsifying to watch:

Instacart, a new grocery delivery app, is headed to Champaign-Urbana this coming Thursday. The app takes your order, then pulls from local grocery stores and delivers to your door – what a time to be …

As many of you probably know, Chester Street Bar suddenly closed last month to the surprise of many in Champaign-Urbana. Yesterday, however, a few more questions were answered as a News-Gazette clipping revealed that the bar …

The Himalayan Chimeny, the Indian restaurant in Downtown Champaign (134 W Church Street) that opened not too long ago, is having a kabab night on Wednesday, July 12th: I’m sure that this special night of …

Yesterday, the State of Illinois finally got a budget, after two and a half years of stalemate (and higher education/social service hostage-taking by Governor Bruce Rauner). Today, the responses are pouring in; here’s how Champaign-Urbana …

From the press release: MCORE PROJECT WORK TO RESUME CHAMPAIGN – On July 6, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) informed the Multimodal Corridor Enhancement Project (MCORE) partner agencies that the recent State of Illinois …

For those of you who are interested in what is perhaps the most culturally diverse space in Champaign-Urbana, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts unleashed a brilliant 2017-18 lineup earlier this year. To attend, one …

Your options for Italian food in southwest Champaign just got a little more limited, folks – Minneci’s at the Crossing took to Facebook last night to announce the closure of their restaurant (located at Robeson …

Ladies and gentlemen, after multiple years without a budget, the State of Illinois finally (despite Governor Rauner’s best wishes) has a budget for next year. This means that road crews will start working again, universities …

From 5 to 7 p.m. this Friday, July 7th, Prairie Fruits Farm will host a family-friendly happy hour, featuring grilled sausages, cheese, baguettes, charcuterie, and other snacks. Gelato will, of course, be available by the …

U of I Student Body President Raneem Shamseldin had some things to say about the United States on July 4th, stating “This country was explicitly built on genocide, slavery, pillage, and rape.” Here’s her original post …

If you’re familiar with Common Ground Food Co-op‘s Round Up For Good program, you realize just how easy it is to donate a bit extra to help out a local organization that is doing good …

The Experimental Aircraft Association’s Chapter 29 (based in Champaign), will be hosting free introductory flights for children aged 8-17 at Champaign’s Willard Airport this Saturday. Flights will take place from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. …

Earlier this year, we posted about the new food truck project by chef Adam Shallenberger called Fired Food Truck. Apparently there are two trucks in the works — and one debuted today in Champaign. SMOKED Food …

Here’s an interesting new concept coming to Champaign-Urbana next Summer — Lodgic Everyday Community — heading for 1807 S. Neil Street in Champaign. From the press release: CHAMPAIGN, July 6, 2017 — Moose International is embarking upon …

The University of Illinois has been awarded a $950,000 grant from the USDA to fund research aimed toward pollination health. This competitive grant comes from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which is investing …

Some great news from Courage Connection, one of our local organizations that is in danger as our state budget hangs in the balance. Gotta love the power of community. Courage Connection Grateful for our Caring …

Even a small community like ours has been impacted by the global refugee crisis. Yet, what we know about refugees is usually handed down by media outlets and incorrect/misinfomed assumptions. Refugees, like people from other …

This Sunday, July 9th, learn all about the importance of pollination, butterflies, and their habitats during Virginia Theater and will premier two new documentaries, Flowers Against the Sky and Touched by a Butterfly created by local pollinator enthusiasts Kirby and Cindy Pringle.  …

As part of their “The Sky’s the Limit” summer series, the Champaign Public Library will be welcoming Astronomer Phil Plait. He’s a head writer for Bill Nye Saves the World, and will be sharing his …

Girls Rock! C-U just announced that they will be hosting two workshops this summer for girls, transgender folks, and gender conforming folks ages 10 to 14 and 18+. Girls Rock! C-U’s goal is to “create a …

Good afternoon, readers. Smile Politely is a magazine full of opinions written by our community writers and editors, and now we’re looking for an Opinion Editor. The ideal candidate will be a very engaged and interested …

Similar to chocolate and puppies, parks are a universal good. As such, July is National Recreation and Parks month to celebrate the existence of patches of grass and combine to make any city, including both …

This Saturday, July 8th at 2 p.m., Exile on Main invites local musicians to cover a range of Radiohead songs, see the event page here. Feel free to “creep” on over Saturday to enjoy the …

It appears we’re inching closer to getting a passed budget following the end of last week marking the end of the fiscal year. Obviously, our state is in very, very bad shape — and without …

Audiofeed Music Festival has now taken place at the Champaign County Fairgrounds for five years straight. It’s a festival like no other in Champaign-Urbana, having hosted over 300 bands in this short period, experimenting with …