SPlog

Allerton Park and Retreat Center is still doing their annual Plant Sale, and you have through April 30th to place your order. You can peruse the plant catalog online, fill out an order form and …

Cheese and Crackers in Champaign sells artisan cheeses, meats, and crackers, but they also offer hand-cut, fresh fish from a family-owned seafood market with high quality, eco-friendly seafood from worldwide and domestic suppliers. You can order …

The opening of the virtual abCU was full of exciting takes on typography. Designers and fans logged on to Zoom to toast the event’s comeback and share thoughts on the outstanding scope of work presented. …

Bob Rowe, owner of Classic Events Catering, posted this announcement on his company’s Facebook page today: Photo from Classic Events Catering Facebook page.

It’s been a minute since we’ve updated our readers on the latest with the pretty expansive development headed for Downtown Champaign, The Yards. Leave it to Tom Kacich at The News-Gazette to help us out via …

A new c-u pARTners collaboration between wood cut illustrator Lydia Puddicombe and Itty Bitty Bike Shop is live and ready for purchase.  Image: Print of “Open-Mouthed Bicycling” by Lydia Puddicombe, photo from c-u pARTners website. Puddicombe …

I haven’t had a vegetable garden in about five years, but with the way things are right now, I’m contemplating getting back in the game. I don’t have the gardening prowess and forethought to start …

One of the many events disrupted by this pandemic was the Engineering Open House. It’s truly a wonderful event that celebrates all of the innovation that is happening in the Grainger College of Engineering; innovation …

According to a post by Weiss Lancaster in the Champaign Urbana History Facebook group, the Haley-Walker-Ginza building was originally a sanitarium for treatment of tuberculosis. After being closed for a time, it was reopened during the …

On April 23, 2005, the first YouTube video was uploaded by University of Illinois alum Jawed Karim, who co-founded of the now-massively popular and influential medium alongside fellow alum Steve Chen and Chad Hurley. The U …

National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) has been formed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s widespread impact on independent venues and promoters across the country. In an effort to lobby for assistance from Washington D.C., the …

The Illinois Department of Commerce launched an emergency grant program for hospitality businesses in the state. Businesses applied for the funding, then were selected by a random lottery. Bars and restaurants will receive an average …

After closing for a while, Fleurish is back in operation, at least on a limited basis. You can’t go in the shop and pick and choose your flowers, but thankfully owner Sarah Compratt does a …

In lieu of an in-gallery end-of-year show, Parkland College is showcasing art and design student work on the Giertz Gallery Facebook page. If you haven’t liked this page yet, now is definitely the time to …

Krannert Art Museum‘s Art Remastered series will look a little bit different this year, but not to worry, Kamila Glowacki & co. have delivered this year’s series featuring a bunch of local artists once again. Art Remastered …

CU Adventures in Time and Space is closed for the time being, but they’ve started using social media to keep our brains engaged with some puzzle challenges. Here is one of their offerings: Image from …

Right now, on Sundays, Baldarotta’s Porketta and Sicilian Sausage offers a Sunday supper special. This Sunday’s menu includes a feast of angel hair pasta with made-from-scratch meatballs and Sicilian sausage with marinara in addition to …

We’re coming up on the 30th anniversary of the Hubble space telescope’s launch from the space shuttle Discovery, and there will be a new image of space released in honor of the occasion.  A select …

Next time you’re searching for a mood boost on Instagram, check out CUDO’s (@thecudo) #isolationinspiration campaign. Not only will you see how local designers and illustrators are translating their quarantine experiences and emotions into art; …

Earlier this week, U of I System announced they would be utilizing their UI Ride shuttles, a service which typically provides rides between the Urbana-Champaign campus and Chicago campus for students and faculty, as wifi …

Thursday, April 23rd at 6 p.m., WILL Education is hosting a Facebook Live Q&A with Dr. Susan Zola, Superintendent of Champaign Unit 4 Schools, and Dr. Jennifer Ivory-Tatum, Superintendent of Urbana District 116. Dr. Dynesha …

Deke Weaver, SP’s BEST Artist of the Decade, has made the video for his 2010 Unreliable Bestiary performance, ELEPHANT, available for free on Vimeo. It’ll only be up for a couple of weeks, after which …

As part of Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Rape Advocacy, Counseling, & Education Services (RACES) will be hosting a free webinar for parents and caretakers, “Being a Trusted Adult: Encouraging Boundaries, …

Airports are obviously going to be suffering right now. The CARES Act Airport Grant Program provides funding for capital expenditures, airport operating expenses including payroll and utilities, and airport debt payments. From Willard Airport Executive Director …

Key Perry’s project RED released a new song called “It’s My Body”, which features a few other local musicians in Emily Anne, Ja Nelle Davenport-Pleasure, and Dai Minnenger. The song was released just a few days …

The Champaign Farmers Market, Urbana’s Market at the Square, and Urbana Business Association’s Market in the Square have worked in collaboration with Champaign-Urbana Public Health to create a plan that will allow the markets to …

Just last week, Sven Johnson’s podcast, Champaign Is Also A Band, launched an additional component of the operation called Little SIPS (Shelter In Place Series). Generally, the podcast is focused on highlighting local musicians and …

Next week, the Orpheum will be offering camps for K-5th grade students of essential workers. Kids can be enrolled for individuals days or the full week. From the press release: Camps will feature a variety …

This postcard, made by the talented artists at Meanwhile… Letterpress, made my day and I hope it will make yours. The simple elegant type let’s the message speak for itself. Send one to a friend …

The C-U Garcia’s Pizza in Pan has fired up an Instagram account recently, and they are using it to showcase some of their ads from way back. The ads feature founders Ralph and Joe, the …

The annual rain barrel and compost bin sale put on by the cities of Champaign and Urbana is happening now. You can place your order online; orders include home delivery (within Champaign County) beginning the …

Join others in watching and discussing United in Anger: A History of ACT UP on Wednesday, April 22nd from 7 to 8:30 p.m. After viewing the film, there will be a conversation with Amy L. Powell, Curator of …

Watson’s Shack and Rail is back open today, April 21st. They will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for curbside only. You can call 217-607-0168 to place your order. They only …

Last week, Parkland President Tom Ramage announced plans for a virtual commencement ceremony on May 22nd at 7 p.m. From the press release: Parkland’s virtual ceremony will feature many aspects of its traditional commencement, including …

In celebration of 4/20, Take Care decided to release this stoner rock monster of a track, “the ticklish laughter of rats”, yesterday on their Bandcamp page. The track was originally recorded in 2011 for Record …

As our community navigates this strange era we are living in, Smile Politely will remain a source of information and a space to celebrate the people and and places that make it great. We remain …

Tuesday, April 21st from 2 to 5 p.m., Illini Union’s Courtyard Cafe is hosting a Zoom session with a speed caricaturist. Join anytime during that span, and they will draw you and send you the …

A couple of weeks ago (I think), when the University of Illinois Meat Science Lab opened up online ordering, I tried to place an order five minutes after the online ordering went live. It was …

The Idea Store is closed right now, but they’ve teamed up with Art Coop to sell $5 mask making kits.  Art Coop has maintained their online store, selling all sorts of kits to keep your …

Audiofeed Music Festival typically happens in early July, but due to COVID-19, they have announced they will be postponing this summer’s festival to September 4-6, with early access on the 3rd. Audiofeed posted this update, …

Starting Tuesday, April 21, Stango Cuisine in Urbana will be open for online orders for carryout and delivery. From 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 …

The Champaign County Joint Information Center has been regularly putting out videos to address specific concerns related to COVID-19. With the stress of everything that’s happening right now, it’s important to think about our mental …

Matt Talbott (of HUM) has been writing and recording a bit during the COVID-19 pandemic’s stay-at-home time, and he’s released a demo of a track “Way Up Here”, which you can stream below. He posted …

Sweet Indulgence recently announced they would be moving to 2149 S. Neil Street (the former Great Harvest Bread Co. space), and today, they will officially open their doors. They’ll be open at 10 a.m. today. This …

Per an announcement made today by Urbana Business Association, the annual Uncork Urbana Wine Festival, which was slated to take place on June 6th, has been postponed. This year’s festival was scheduled to take place …

We kind of knew it was coming, but now it’s official. Governor Pritzker is expected to announce in his press conference today that in-person instruction will not happen for the remainder of the school year. …

K-12 teachers throughout the community and state have moved to various forms of online instruction, and the Cybersecurity and Networking Division of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications wants to make sure they are protected …

Of course, by now, the rational and thoughtful among us have accepted the word “unprecedented” into our lexicon in a new and… unprecedented way. But we also know this isn’t the first time that humans, …