SPlog

From our BEST Arts of the decade feature: Here’s the truth: I don’t really know much about dance, but I know about art, and I know what I like. Cynthia Oliver’s choreography and performances are …

It seems every time I pass through Campustown nowadays something looks different. Today I was taken aback by this corner actually being gone. I knew it was happening, but it’s still kind of shocking to …

This week, Eastern Illinois Foodbank invited local first responders: fire departments, METCAD, police deparments, and the sheriff’s office to partner with local businesses for a giant two-day food repacking event. If you want a glimpse …

Actually I take that back. Of course you should do it if you have a pet that likes new people. I do not have that pet. My dog does not make a good first impression.   …

Sylvia’s Irish Inn in Urbana and Walnut Street Tea Company are hosting a Victorian Christmas Afternoon Tea on Saturday, December 21st. From 2 to 4 p.m., you’ll sip on tea and enjoy some snacks (the …

Sensorium Ex is a new opera by Paola Prestini that Lyric Theatre will be workshopping in the Colwell Playhouse at Krannert Center, beginning at 5 p.m on Friday, December 6th. Themes include: disability, artificial intelligence, technology, robotics, genetics, communication, family bonds, corporate America, and machine …

Our local doughnut shops are getting into the Christmas spirit. Both Ye Olde and Pandamonium have special Christmas doughnuts available, but you’ll have to hurry to get them because 1) Doughnuts regularly sell out in …

Look: this bowl of soup at 83 Vietnamese is absolutely perfect. It is possibly the best wonton noodle soup I have ever eaten, and I am a very very big fan of wonton soup, so …

This is a transient town. There are many many people out there in the rest of the world that have spent a moment or longer here in Champaign-Urbana, mostly because of the university. Chances are, …

Now through the end of the year, visit Kohinoor to try foods from Nepal. The Indian restaurant has these Everest specials available at dinner (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.).   Kohinoor Indian Restaurant & Lounge …

As 2019 comes to a close, I’m thinking about all the food I’ve consumed, and which bites were my favorites. I dipped a toe into this earlier this week in my Five Things column, but …

Local actors listen up! Auditions for Parkland Theatre’s spring productions of How I Learned to Drive and Chicago are being held this Saturday.  Sign up for a slot today and start preparing those monolgues.  Spring …

I had the pleasure of attending Louise Fishman’s Spring 2019 School of Art + Design at Illinois’ Distinguished Alumni Lecture. It was fascinating, funny, and unforgettable. If you missed it, you’re in luck. Now you …

Do you ever stop and think about all the waste that happens around this time of year, especially when it comes to gift giving? I know I’ve been guilty of going to Target and buying …

As Jess mentioned not too long ago, Miga is now open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. every day but Sunday. After hearing this news, I wanted to go and check out what they …

Sometimes good things come out of terrible things. Or, maybe when terrible things happen we are reminded that there are good people out there. Last week, on Thanksgiving, a building was destroyed by a fire …

Perhaps you need to have a little fun in the midst of the holiday crazy. Champaign-Urbana Adventures in Time and Space has added a new seasonal room where you can have fun AND help rescue …

This Thursday, you can shop for locally-made, functional ceramic art and have your purchase benefit the invaluable teaching art gallery that is Giertz Gallery at Parkland College.  Feast your senses on gourmet desserts, live jazz, …

If you’re ever curious about what sorts of development projects are happening in Champaign, this tool will let you explore that. You can click on each project and find out the developer, the cost of …

Wednesday, December 4th from 4 to 6 p.m., the Urbana Park District invites you to stop by Phillips Recreation Center and let them know what you’d like in a new health and wellness center that …

Every Sunday, Neil St. Blues has an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet (with an omelette station!) that looks incredible. Brunch is served 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and is $18 per person. Bring the kiddos between 1 …

The University of Illinois Office of Volunteer Programs has teamed up with Cunningham’s Children Home in Urbana for this year’s OVP Holiday Toy Drive. Perfect excuse to partake in some retail therapy, boost the economy, …

The calendar has officially turned over to December and the Champaign Center Partnership along with the Champaign Park District are spreading holiday cheer with a chance to visit Santa at the Virginia Theatre lobby this week and …

Information Systems major Satej Shah created the design of the Business Instructional Facility out of photos from the University of Illinois Instagram page, because why not? It’s kind of amazing, actually.  Image from University of …

Aja Capel, an exceptional teen from Urbana who started high school at age 12, has already launched her own organization, See Me in STEM. Her mission is to empower minority youth, particularly girls, to “see …

Our next installment in our Instagram Story Takeover series takes place tomorrow, Monday, December 2nd, through a portion of Tuesday, December 3rd. Eastern Illinois Foodbank will be taking the controls to show us how things are moving …

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is hosting their family-friendly sing-along event this coming Sunday, Dec. 8th. The event will last a little more than an hour and will feature a mix of UIUC performers …

The Collective Magazine, an arts and humanities publication which strives to connect artists afiliated with UIUC, is releasing their fifth issue this coming Saturday, Dec. 7th. To celebrate, they will be hosting a release party.The party …

Attention local actors! The Celebration Company at the Station Theatre will be holding a double audition on Saturday, December 7th. Try out for both I Hate Hamlet and Falsettos and double your chances.  Sign up …

Lovers of dark beers rejoice! The Blind Pig’s annual celebration of dark brews is Thursday, December 12th, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Here’s the line up: Blind Pig 10th Anniversary Ale (15% ABV!) Blind Pig …

Professor Ryan Wade, working with a professor of health behavior and health education at the University of Michigan, is researching racial sexual discrimination (RSD), a phenomenon that is happening with some regularity in online communities …

As you embark on your holiday activities in the coming month, you can take advantage of some free parking courtesy of the City of Champaign. You can park for free for up to two hours …

Summer Camp Music Festival‘s 20 year anniversary dates have been announced: May 22-24, 2020. Though SCMF is based just a few hours away in Chillicothe, their roots are here in C-U as Jay Goldberg Events …

Earlier this month Urbana Poet Laureate Will Reger and Urbana Arts and Culture Program launched a new UPTV6 mini-series called “Poets on a Park Bench.” Check out the first episode here, featuring local poet Ann Earle …

Today marks the precise 15 year anniversary of the opening for Exile on Main Street. Previously located at 1 E. Main in Downtown Champaign, Exile opened on Friday, November 26, 2004. Ten years after that, the …

You’ll find these nachos at Billy Barooz. They’re $11.99, and they are huge. The pile is truly enormous; I was a littly embarrassed when they came out. I shared these with my spouse, and we …

Thanksgiving weekend is an interesting one. The kids are home for extra days, you may be working, you may have the up to a week off, all the shopping is happening, perhaps you are spending …

These community violence forums are a way to get information and resources to community members who may have had members of their family, their school, their neighborhood affected by recent incidents of violence. It’s also …

In these times, there is simply no reason to make everything for your Thanksgiving meal yourself. It’s unnecessary. Where in C-U do you pick up the things you don’t make? Bread Company for bread? CI …

Last week, the Urbana School Board voted 4-3 to spend $300,000 annually on putting more police officers in their schools. That decision that has drawn criticism from community members and parents concerned that the vote …

We’ve made much ado, and rightfully so, about the University of Illinois volleyball team in recent years, especially as they made their final four run last year.  But, let’s not overlook the Parkland Cobras. They …

Shoegaze/dream pop outfit Metaphysics have released their new record Wasteland, which you can stream below, and over at their Bandcamp page or a streaming service of your choosing.  The band performs from time to time in C-U, …

I think we can all take a moment to feel some feelings about that. When my kids were little, they referred to Meadowbrook as “the brown park” because of that play structure. It’s remained a …

Just about one month ago, The Great Cover Up announced their 2020 dates, February 7-8, 14-15, at the City Center near Downtown Champaign. 2020 marks the 29th(!) installment of the series, and they are ready …

The folks at Piemonte Sausage are leading a salumi making course in Bologna, Italy this January. The course is January 8-13, 2020, and there are still spots available. It’s 1790€ ($1974, at the time of …

The official start to the holiday shopping season is close at hand, and we will be bombarded with all the ads and sales and pre-packaged gift baskets and such. However, do not be sucked in …

Chambana Proud, a collaborative effort by Visit Champaign County, Champaign County Economic Development Program, and You’re Welcome CU, has been launched to “foster community pride in Greater Champaign-Urbana Area”. You can read all about the …

Dial-a-Carol is a storied tradition at the University of Illinois, and it’s back for its 59th year. Beginning in 1960 at Snyder Hall, student volunteers now field thousands of calls with requests for carols every …