SPlog

Krannert Center has just confirmed that legendary rocker Joan Jett will be joining the lineup for Ellnora Guitar Festival, playing a show at Krannert’s Tryon Festival Theater on Saturday, September 18th, with her band The …

The September exhibition in the Illini Union Art Gallery opens today, and will be open through the end of the month. It’s called “Pandemic Abstractions” and features the work of Jay Daugherty.  The art gallery …

With the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic, Matsuri won’t be happening this year. But, that didn’t stop Triptych from brewing two speciality items honoring their partnership with Japan House. Artist Zenkyu Niwa, friend of Japan …

September is here, and so are Art Mart’s popular pumpkin cookies. Offered seasonally, the little treat is a super soft, pumpkin flavored cookie with a sweet icing. It is a great way to get into …

For her work involving COVID over the course of the past year, C-U Public Health Administrator Julie Pryde was named 2021 Public Citizen of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter. …

Youssef Hashash, a professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering, joined a team of forensic engineers to conduct an investigation into the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condos in Florida. There are also two CEE …

The Humanities Research Institute at Illinois (HRI) has recently released a sneak peek at their Fall 2021 event line-up.  Featured writers and events include “Roxane Gay, Jericho Brown, and Tracy K. Smith in A Festival …

At long last, The Giertz Galley at Parkland College will be hosting the 2021 Parkland Art and Design Faculty Exhibition in person, as well as online.  An opening night reception will be held on Thursday, …

The Uniting Pride Center has announced their full schedule of events for this year’s Champaign-Urbana Pride Festival. Featuring live music, online workshops, trivia, stand up comedy, and of course Saturday’s parade, there is a little …

For the past 17 years, United Way of Champaign County has been putting out a calendar for families with preschool aged children, filled with activities and tips for preparing them for kindergarten. The 2021-2022 calendar …

You may know him as Dan Wild the illustrator and master of caricature. But under his full name, Daniel Charles Wild, he is quite the storyteller. Wild has just released Stories for Imaginary Friends, a self-published …

Jim McDowell, an artist and self-identified Black Potter, will give a virtual lecture at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 16th. The event is sponsored by the University of Illinois’ Art + Design Visitors Committee, HRI …

Did you know that in 2017, a law was passed in Illinois requiring a one hour domestic violence training for salon professionals to renew their licenses? From Representative Fran Hurley, who introduced the bill: “There’s …

There’s a new sushi bar and Japanese bakery open in Champaign, but you can only catch the new restaurant for lunch on the weekends right now. Run by Chef Ken Ishibashi, ISHI is a new …

Featuring stoneware pottery by Piper Pottery, paintings and prints from Lisa Kesler Studio,  and hand dyed wearables Hooey Batiks, the inaugural Art DIBS online art show and sale will go live on Facebook at 6 …

This year’s C-U Oktoberfest has been cancelled, citing the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic as the reasoning. This annual event is the largest fundraiser for DSC; if you’re still interested in supporting this organization, you …

The Champaign Urbana Folk and Roots Festival has announced their full lineup of musicians. The October festival will also include workshops, jams, storytelling, and kids shows. Check out the poster for the event below. Photo …

Thursday, September 2nd is the 50th anniversary of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Paul Lauterbur, then a faculty member at Stony Brook University, came up with the idea in 1971. He came to U of I …

El Paraiso, the Latin American restaurant located in Broadway Food Hall, has mofonogo on the menu ($11.50). Mofongo is a Puerto Rican dish of mashed green plantains, and it’s among one of my most favorite …

It occurred to me recently that I’d never tried dessert at Farren’s. This makes sense, because my usual Farren’s excursion involves me gorging myself on a delicious Motherlode with a side of truffle chips. Adding …

The Champaign County Board is hosting two study sessions this week, each focused on a critical issue facing our communities. They will be using the time to discuss how they might use funds from the …

I made a build-your-own sandwich board with food from Cheese & Crackers, Central Illinois Bakehouse, and Blue Moon Farm. Photo by Alyssa Buckley. I picked up cheese and meats from Cheese & Crackers. I ordered …

Baldwin Asylum in Rantoul is looking for actors to scare the living daylights out of people in their renowned haunted attraction this fall. Auditions are September 11th from 4 to 6 p.m. and the attraction …

Champaign punk and indie rock darlings Poster Children have announced that they will be playing a show in Chicago on November 26th at Bottom Lounge. From the band’s Facebook page:   You can nab some …

First We Feast’s very popular YouTube series Hot Ones, where famous people eat “increasingly spicy chicken wings,” will film at the University of Illinois this weekend. U of I alum and Hot Ones host Sean …

The Ribeye, located on South Neil Street since 1979, appears to be closing “temporarily” per this report in The News-Gazette. The current management mentions that when the restaurant reopens (assuming that it will, at some point, potentially?) …

For all seven home games, Memorial Stadium will be more delicious: Baldarotta’s will be serving their porketta and Sicilian sausage sandwiches. Peep these photos of some sandwiches from Baldarotta’s Porketta and Silician Sausage. Photo from …

Cunningham Township Supervisor’s Office’s (CTSO) Emergency Housing program that offers currently unhoused people a safe place to stay now has a more permanent location in Downtown Urbana. CTSO purchased two apartment buildings this year to …

Please get vaccinated so that we can have nice things. From the press release: Roger Ebert’s Film Festival, co-founded and hosted by Chaz Ebert, announced today that its 22nd annual event has been rescheduled as …

If you’ve been missing the Homer Soda Fest, it has now been reincarnated as the Mahomet Soda Fest. Initially scheduled for last September, and canceled due to COVID, it is on this September 18th from …

The Champaign Park District is looking for a Youth Theatre Music Director for their upcoming musicals Moana, and The Jungle Book.  From the job posting: “Youth Theatre Music Director is responsible for teaching music and music performance for …

Artist Phil Strang is releasing his second book, Wild Phil, which Strang describes as “a magnificent historical novel takes place between 1865 through1885,” and much like Strang himself, travels between New York, Illinois and Kansas. The …

Volition just announced a reboot of the Saints Row game franchise, set to be released in February 2022. The original came out in 2006, with several subsequent sequels.  Read more about the new version here. …

Have a side of jazz with your sliders next month when Seven Saints hosts U of I Jazz Ensembles on the patio on Thursday evenings. Every Thursday in September, beginning September 2nd, you can hear …

Today is National Dog Day — according to the internet, at least, because in my house every single day is National Dog Day. Because life is too short, we want to help curate a very …

Future Spaces in Community Places opens at 5 p.m on August 26th at the University YMCA’s Murphy Gallery. An opening reception will held from 5 to 9 p.m., with an artist talk and performances starting …

The University of Illinois’ Inner Voices Social Issues Theatre, a collaborative program through the Illinois Counseling Center and Theatre at Illinois, is holding auditions for future productions from 5 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August …

In case you missed the 2021 City of Urbana Poet Laureate’s Showcase, you can watch here. Top image and embedded video from the Urbana Poet Laureate Ashanti Files’s Facebook page.

Take a stroll through the Wandell Sculpture Garden and hear from area jazz musicians from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on September 10th. The rain date is September 11th. It’s free to attend and enjoy the …

It remains to be seen how district lines will be drawn in Illinois, and what Rodney Davis will decide about his political future, but we do know there will be Democratic primary. David Palmer announced …

Sure, there’s a big football home opener happening this weekend, and that’s exciting, but don’t miss out on the fútbol home opener on Thursday. Illini Soccer is playing University of North Carolina, ranked third in …

Scholar, writer, activist, and educator James Loewen passed away on Thursday, August 19th. Loewen was born in Decatur and served as a Visiting Professor of African American Studies at the University of Illinois. He visited …

Champaign County Restore is preparing for a big bike sale on Saturday, August 28th. Their volunteers have been fixing up donated bikes to get them ready for sale, and they also have some “fixer-uppers” on …

Whether it’s visual or performance art, literature or film, C-U has always nurtured a vibrant arts community, and this is your opportunity to be a part of it.  We’re looking for some writers for this …

Fans of world music and tango won’t want to miss “Starlight Tango with Winnie and Friends.” Featuring internationally recognized tango pianist, Winnie Wingye Cheung, her band, Tamango, and local tango orchestra, Bandoneon Massacre, the event …

Kurt Bielema has released his new album, entitled SPACE. The album is a collection of songs detailing Bielema’s head space in 2020, with themes of loss, family, and existential dread. Featuring a blend of rock, indie, folk, …

The new policy was shared in the packet for today’s Urbana City Council meeting. The Urbana Police Department worked with Mayor Diane Marlin as well as the NAACP of Champaign County, ACLU of Champaign County, …

It’s been a little while since I last had Pizzeria Antica, and let me tell you: it’s still delicious. The diavola ($16) is still my favorite pizza on the menu, but honestly, I’d eat any …