The duo of Taylor Loveall and Sarah Cramer, performing under the moniker Maps of the Midwest, has released a new single “Streetlights”, which is available for streaming now. The song was recorded and engineered by Mark …
This Chile Colorado ($11.99) from El Toro II at the new location on Neil Street was so good that I can’t stop thinking about it. Thinly sliced beef with soft slices of onion covered in …
Japan House needs your help folding a whole lot of red origami paper cranes for TBA special project. You can either pick up the origami paper, or you can visit Japan House to fold some …
Both the Urbana Market at the Square and the Champaign Tuesday Market are ongoing. There are so many great options from vendors including produce, herbs, mushrooms, breads, and more. What are you hoping to buy …
Fifteen months after Illinois, and therefore Champaign County, began it’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are now entering the final phase of the Restore Illinois plan implemented by the State of Illinois and Illinois …
Be mindful when you’re strolling the Fu Dog Garden at Allerton! Top photo from Allerton Park and Retreat Center Facebook page.
Krannert Art Museum has announced that You Are Not Alone: Creative Expression and Mental Health During the Pandemic, will be held online on June 17th, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Three local artists will be joining …
The inaugural Champaign Beepball Tournament is happening July 10-11 in Colbert Park. Beep baseball is an “adaptive version of baseball for the blind, low-vision, and legally blind.” The National Beep Baseball Association will be hosting …
Michelle Bartsch-Hackely and Jordyn Poulter, both former All-Americans for the University of Illinois Volleyball team, will be representing the U.S. in Tokyo next month. From the Illinois Volleyball website: The duo become the first two …
The Spring/Summer 2021 issue of Ninth Letter is out and available for purchase online. Check out the TOC for a list of authors in this multi-genre offering. Happy reading. Top image from the Ninth Letter website.
Summer is upon us, more things are opening up, and many of us are itching to get out into the world. However, there will still be those lazy, rainy, just too damn hot days of …
Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, by Damian Duffy with illustrations by John Jennings, has been nominated for a 2021 Eisner Award. Both men are graduates of, and have taught at, the University …
After going virtual in 2020, Pride Fest is going to be back in person this year, and in a new location. The theme will be “What the Health? Fighting, Surviving, Thriving”. Details will be coming …
Add Record Store Day to the list of events coming back to C-U as our COVID situation improves. This year it will be held on two Saturdays this summer, June 12th and July 17th from …
We are currently seeking a new editor for our Music section. The position requires a deep knowledge and understanding of the past and present local music scene in Champaign-Urbana. The Music Editor at Smile Politely …
TJ Blakeman, president of the Champaign County History Museum, shared some photos of the new Carmon’s event space, that exists in the former Hickory Street Trolley Barn. We first learned about this new space back …
After closing its doors in March 2020, The Canopy Club is preparing for a return to live shows. So far they’ve announced three events in October, beginning with the New Power Generation: The music of …
The Red Herring’s ready-to-eat-meals are now available at Harvest Market. You’ll find their food in its own fridge near the rest of the hot food deli area. Follow the Red Herring on social media for …
Gwendolyn E. Brooks was an Illinois Poet Laureate, and was the first African American writer to win the Pulitzer Prize. Staff from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of Illinois have created …
Art fair fans, mark your calendars. The Crystal Lake Art Fair will be back on Saturday, August 7th, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Stay tuned to the Facebook event page for updates. Top image …
Don’t feel like cooking? Takeout pizza from Pizzeria Antica is always a good idea. The Margherita pizza ($14) is made with crushed San Marzano tomato, fresh bail, and fresh Mozzarella. Still piping hot from the …
C-U Public Health has a walk in vaccine clinic every Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., but they are also bringing clinics to several locations throughout the community, partnering with the Champaign Park District …
Folks on U of I’s campus will now have a closer option to get their Kopi favorites. Cafe Kopi will be opening in Gies College of Business on Monday, in what used to be Espresso …
If you are a soccer person, and looking for a place to watch lots of soccer with other soccer people, then the Illini Union has you covered. The Illini Union will be showing all Euro …
Last summer, Buy Black Chambana launched 217 Black Restaurant Week. This celebration of Black-owned restaurants happened in conjunction with Juneteenth, and this year it will happen at the same time, June 18th through 20th. The …
Industrial Donut is getting into the weather business…sort of. The store has set up a little weather station outside, and as you can see in the photo, it’s very easy to read the measurements and …
It is berry season. From now until the end of June, you can enjoy strawberries that you picked yourself at Butler Strawberry Acres. The strawberry patch is open early at 7 a.m. until noon, so …
Beginning July 2nd, live music is coming back to the streets of Downtown Champaign on Friday evenings. From the Friday Night Live Facebook page: Photo from Friday Night Live Facebook page.
Hunny Bunny Bakes is permanently moving into Strawberry Fields/World Harvest. You’ll be able to find cookies and cake jars on a regular basis. From the email annoucement: If you’d like a taste of what Hunny …
I recently wrote about the caramel apple fritter at Ye Olde, but I suppose that begs the question: Is a fritter a doughnut? If so, it might be my favorite doughnut right now. If not, …
Soundscapes is a video installation series happening at Sipyard throughout the summer. It includes live spoken word performance, a DJ, and real time projections on the walls of Sipyard. According to organizers Jonah Weisskopf and Matt …
Friday, June 4th is National Gun Violence Awareness day, also know as Wear Orange. It began in 2015 as a tribute to Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15, …
Looking back on a pretty horrific year, it’s important to celebrate small things that brought a little joy into the bleakness. One of those things is to-go cocktails. In fact, we deemed it the “best …
Next time you hit the great outdoors, make sure to enjoy the Great ARTdoors. A “collaboration between the Spurlock Museum, the Urbana Park District, the Champaign Park District, the Urbana Arts and Culture Program, and …
While I wait for the Sakanaya Downtown location to open, I am enjoying Sakanaya’s original Green Street location. Recently open for indoor dining, Sakanaya has lunch specials like the Sakanaya special roll ($10). The Sakanaya …
Ebertfest will return to the Virginia Theatre September 8-11, and festival passes will be available for purchase beginning June 7th. The passes are $200 plus fees, or $150 for U of I students. A four …
The cities of Champaign and Urbana are once again selling rain barrels and compost bins. They are $55 each, and that price includes home delivery. It’s possible to subsidize your barrel purchase if you pay …
There are two new outdoor public seating areas in Downtown Urbana right on the curb of Main Street called Curbanas. These enclosed seating areas are made on a raised deck structure next to the sidewalk. …
If you’ve been craving apple cider donuts from Curtis Orchard, and just can’t wait until they open in July, this is your shot. You can pre-order from their new online store by the half dozen or …
The C-U Black & African Arts Festival is now open for registration. Be one of the “early-bird” registrants and catch a nice discount. Find out more at their website, or register here. …
The Odyssey Project, which provides free college courses for income-eligible adults, is now accepting applications for their fall cohort. Classes will run from late August to early May, on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Students can …
Beginning June 7th, Carle will be administering COVID vaccinations at their Curtis Road and Windsor Road locations, rather than at the former Dress Barn in Kohl’s Plaza. Those who have gotten their first dose at …
It’s June 1st, the beginning of Pride month, and there are a few different events happening in C-U. Pride Fest 2021 will still happen in September, when students are back, but why not take two …
Shoutout to Hopscotch Bakery + Market for posting about the ice cream chain in their Instagram stories over the weekend. Before yesterday, I had spent approximately zero minutes in Decatur. But all of that has …
Hey C-U artists! If you think you missed your chance to submit for the 2021 Boneyard Arts Festival, I’m happy to say you’re wrong. The deadline has been extended to Friday, June 4th at midnight. …
Girls Rock CU will not be hosting their usual summer camp this year. In its place, they will be putting on a open mic and art show at Rose Bowl Tavern’s outdoor patio on June …
Starting tomorrow, June 2nd, Crane Alley will reopen for dinner Wednesdays through Sundays. The restaurant will also offer online ordering for takeout. Check out our review of their vegetarian options and this sandwich that gave Jess …
The White House recently appointed Dr. Anjali Forber-Pratt as Director of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. Forber-Pratt has a B.S., M.A., and PhD from U of I, and is also a paralympian …
The Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois has identified winners in this year’s research image contest: Undergraduate Shreyas Rajagopalan; Alleyne Bioinspiration Col-LAB-orative Graduate Ki Yun Lee; Saif Lab Postdoctoral and staff researcher Ryan Larsen; …
