SPlog

If so, you’re in luck! Apparently people are so nosy that the Village of Rantoul will host bus tours of the soon-to-be-completed Rantoul Family Sports Complex on February 21st. You can reserve a spot on …

Is this hope that I’m feeling?  Now that I have teenagers I don’t really spend much time at the pool, but seeing actual pool pass sales happening is filling me with hopeful feelings. Last summer, …

The School of Social Work at U of I is beginning a seminar series on poverty research. According to their website, “the series will highlight new and emerging research on the causes, consequences, and scope …

Fat Tuesday is upon us, and if you want to celebrate Mardi Gras, NOLA’s Rock Bar has an event going all day today in Urbana. Every order receives free beads, even to go orders. There are …

If you’re a stout-loving kind of person — and you should be because they are generally delicious and perfect for this time of year — 25 O’Clock Brewing Company has a new imperial stout they created using …

The weather is going to be dicey early this week, but CUPHD will still be holding vaccine clinics as scheduled. If you aren’t able to get there due to the weather, they have instructions for …

Two years and one month ago, I asked where you find your favorite hot chocolate in town. A lot has changed in that time. One of my favorite hot chocolates was from Bossa Nova, but …

There will be a consolidated election on April 6th for several positions in Champaign and Urbana. There are a handful of races that have a primary, because more than one person is running for a …

Let’s soothe our winter weary souls with some news of spring, shall we? Urbana’s Market at the Square is now accepting applications for the 2021 market season, which will begin in early May. Applications are …

U of I Professor of Law Francis Boyle made a not-so-great appearance in the Associated Press this morning. The AP‘s feature lists a variety of top conspiracy theory spreaders that have pushed varying misinformation about COVID-19 since …

I see now, in this moment, that U of I Athletic Director Josh Whitman has a beard. I didn’t know he grew a beard until now because, while he usually doesn’t have one, this is …

A new report, issued by Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, University of Illinois Research Park, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Office of Corporate Relations indicates further investment is needed in AgTech, MedTech, in Manufacturing as …

Medical students in the new Carle Illinois College of Medicine are some of the first in our community to have received both doses of the COVID vaccine, and a few of them have shared their …

Earlier this week, Governor Pritzker announced that the state would be expanding group 1B to include those under 64 with underlying health conditions on February 25th. Because Champaign County is ahead of the game in …

Any day is a good day for flautas, but flauta Friday has a nice ring to it. What are flautas? Flautas are fried rolled tacos. Maize serves four different kinds of flautas: chicken, carne asada, …

The Champaign-Urbana Community Fab Lab is hosting free virtual tutorials every Friday night at 6 p.m. for those interested in learning how to use 3D printing and laser cutting software. They will alternate between two …

In case you watched it from the comfort of your home computer, here’s what the recent production of Folxtales by Illinois Theatre looked like against the exterior of Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Photo …

Looking to try a new thing in 2021?  We are always looking for more community members who are interested in adding their voice to the pages of Smile Politely. You do not need to be …

The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois has a few webinars coming up, covering a couple of topics in the realm of their field of research expertise. While certainly the nitty gritty …

The Red Herring is making meals for people who need them; you can purchase one (or many) here. Pay it Forward Meals is pretty straightforward: Purchase a meal for someone in the community in need. …

With the frigid temperatures this week, some of the organizations that serve the vulnerable in our community are facing a higher demand for warm winter gear. If you have some extra items in your home, …

In honor of Black History Month, Illinois Theatre is sharing a video of their September 2020 Harlem Renaissance Project, created, at the time, by junior Studio Actors.  According to the recent announcement: “The Harlem Renaissance …

Have you ever just ordered yourself a pie? I did last weekend — well, I shared it with my spouse. I saw that Oh, Honey Pie was offering key lime as a special and I …

C-U Public Health District worked with the Champaign County Continuum of Service Providers to the Homeless to administer vaccines to more than 20 homeless individuals in our community.  Here is the post from C-U at Home: …

February 12-15 is the national Great Backyard Bird Count, and Urbana Park District is encouraging you to check out the birds right outside your window, and add your observations to the conversations. From the website: …

Research Park is hosting its 6th annual AgTech Innovation Summit on March 10th, and this time it will be all virtual. From their website: This interactive conference offers participants the opportunity to learn and share …

40 North has recently announced the four artists featured in the new round of MTD ART. The work will be displayed inside every Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District bus and on the first floor of the Terminal Building …

The RPC has a new Emergency Rental Assistance program to help renters in Champaign County that need funds for past-due rent and other past-due bills like power, water, and sewer. Households prioritized for assistance include those …

The new Filipino and Cambodian fusion restaurant A Taste of Both Worlds opened last month. I went for lunch last week to try it out. Photo by Alyssa Buckley. Another option in Urbana’s Broadway Food …

In the fall, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced CURES-ES funding, which allowed cities to apply for grant money to be distributed to local businesses that have been impacted by COVID. Champaign …

Faculty, staff, and students at U of I are invited to participate in a Valentine’s research study about the University Library. Through February 19th, they want to know: “Does the University Library make your heart …

The University Y‘s Friday Forum series this semester is “The Digital Mis(Shaping) of the World” and features a pretty rad line-up of speakers. All lectures are at noon on Fridays, and are free and open …

This is just a friendly reminder that now that winter weather is here for a while, it’s important that you clear your sidewalks in Champaign and Urbana. You can read Champaign’s and Urbana’s guidelines and …

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will be hosting a household hazardous waste event for Champaign County on April 10th at Marketplace Mall. Online registration for the event will open March 8th. The collection is available …

The Center for African Studies Brownbag Lunch Series session on February 10th at 12 p.m. will feature Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, leader of the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda. The program is sponsored by Hillel and the Program in Jewish Cultural …

County Board District 6 has had a bit of turnover in the last couple of months, with Mike Ingram stepping down after his election as Champaign County Recorder (that seat is now held by Cameron …

The way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach. Here is a short round-up of some delicious options for your Valentine gift. Match For Two from Japan House Try the Matcha For Two set which …

I know that I would be extremely happy to receive coffee and chocolate for Valentine’s Day; maybe you know someone who feels the same. Columbia Street Roastery has two different gift boxes to send to …

The House of Representatives just voted to strip Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) of her committee appointments over disturbing comments she made regarding (among other things) her support for executing prominent Democrats, her belief that the …

If you’ve got kids who love history and crafting, February 9th offers two chances to learn remotely with the Museum of the Grand Prairie via free craft kit bags.  Choose from an Abraham Lincoln-themed bag, which …

Pandemic energy. You’ve been feeling in. Now it’s time to see what it looks thanks to an in-person exhibition of designer Ralph Roether’s latest work at the Illini Union art gallery.  The show will run …

After having to close down when mitigations went into place, Krannert Art Museum is now ready to reopen to the public. They will be open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with late …

Though the music scene has been extremely tempered due to the pandemic, these are nice signs of life to see pop up during the endless grey of winter. The Dry Look have awoken to announce …

Visit Champaign County’s Restaurant Week 2021 has been serving up awesome takeout for the last six days, and with only three days remaining, we want to know what you’ve had a chance to try. What …

Tasty Tart is a little shop on Neil Street that bakes up fresh tarts daily. For this Valentine’s Day, Tasty Tart is teaming up with Polar’s Pastry, a new woman-owned business that gives ten percent …

C-U Public Health District, Sola Gratia Farm, and Urbana School District are working together to launch the CU Farm to School program with the help of a USDA Farm to School Planning Grant.  The project will …

Cynthia Oliver, dancer, choreographer, scholar, and Professor and Associate Vice-Chancellor for Research in the Humanities, Arts, and Related Fields at the University of Illinois, has been named a 2021 United States Artists Fellow. This prestigious …

Beginning today, BNAACC kicks off Black History Month with their regular lunchtime panel discussion, Food for the Soul. Today’s topic is Chosen Family: An Unconditional Love.  There are several other virtual events this month, covering …