SPlog

The Fired! Smoth’rd & Cov’rd, which opened in late 2017 and recently underwent a change in ownership and rebranding, will close. The truck only just reappeared with a new menu and fairly regular appearances around …

Champaign County Board member Mike Ingram just announced that he plans to run for County Recorder in 2020 with the intention of using his one and only term to fold the position into the County …

We’ve come to expect thought-provoking programming from the University Y, and from the Art @ the Y program in particular. This Thursday, a powerful new photography exhibition, “Free Again: Photographs and Stories of Formerly Incarerated …

ICYMI, the Illinois football team shocked the masses by beating #6 Wisconsin with a walk off field goal and a score of 24-23. And of course, it was homecoming this weekend so it was mayhem …

Nothing gets helps you get through the Sunday Scaries and the Monday Blues like a plans for a Monday night out. And when you mix food and art, it’s just that much better.  Stop by …

Yesterday, the City of Champaign broke ground on what will become an Aloft Hotel, a brand by Marriott, which is going in at 401 N. Neil Street in Downtown Champaign “by the end of 2020” …

Next Thursday, October 24th, from 1 to 4:30 p.m., there will be a forum where faith leaders  and community leaders can learn about how to protect their places of worship from hate crimes. This will …

When was the last time you visited the Vietnamese restaurant in Urbana? I was there for lunch, but wasn’t really in the mood for pho, so instead I ordered the bun dau hu chien ($7.95), …

On October 27th, 25 O’Clock Brewing Company will be hosting Flights for our Rights, a fundraising event for the Champaign County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. This will be a great opportunity to learn …

Zoe Willott’s indie pop project zzo just released a new single “Alone”, which you can stream across all platforms today. Read Austin Hill’s interview with Willott from earlier this year while you’re at it. Photo …

Champaign post-alternative / power pop band, Vestiges, released their latest offering back at the end of August. If the World Tour EP hasn’t been on your personal rotation since then, I hope it makes its way there now. Recorded …

The Venue CU, an “upscale urban wedding and event space” according to their website, will be opening in the spaces previously occupied by 51 Main and Memphis on Main in Downtown Champaign this coming spring. …

If you are an Urbana-ite, here are the dates you need to know for getting your leaves and yard waste together: Week of November 4-8 Week of November 18-22 Week of December 2-6 From the …

Each year Unit 4 puts out a call for new coats to ensure every student has warm outerwear over the cold months.  They are looking for a wide range of sizes, including: Boys- 5/6, 6/7, …

You may know them as the Poets of the Post but now the members of the CU Poetry Group are the bona fide authors of Crows on a Line, a self-published poetry anthology. If you …

Champaign MC Gatson — who we profiled earlier this year — recently released his EP, Draft Day. As always, Gatson comes out with personal, hard-hitting bars that weave tales of his struggles and aspirations in …

On October 30th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Common Ground you have an opportunity to test all of your wizardly knowledge, and enjoy some tasty treats while you’re at it. You can have up …

Phoenix Botanical was just approved for a license to sell recreational marijuana when it become legal in the state of Illinois on January 1st, and will change its name to Sunnyside as part of a …

Research Park‘s annual Big Data Summit is happening next month on Tuesday, November 12th at the iHotel in Champaign. You can see the whole slate of programming here, and read a quick blurb about what …

Back in January, we wrote about a reporter with Illinois Newsroom, Rachel Otwell, who was tapped by Pro Publica and NPR Illinois to investigate sexual harassment policies at state colleges and universities. Some of the …

Post-rock greats Explosions in the Sky are on tour celebrating their 20th anniversary as a band, and on Thursday, they hit the Castle Theatre in Bloomington. Their catalog spans the course of those two decades, …

A new Taiwanese bakery is opening soon at 405 S. Neil Suite C (for reference, this is just north of Golden Harbor.) The bakery is called Tasty Tart, and though there’s no open date mentioned …

Page Roasting Company is giving away tickets to this Saturday’s Hogchute Opry Harvest in Monticello, which features a variety of awesome acts out at the Kalyx Center for Sustainability (which is near Allerton Park). If …

“You never want death as your copilot” — this is my favorite quote from this thread on Spotted in Chambana. Halloween is just around the corner, so beware of what is around you, dead or …

It’s gray and gloomy and chilly today. At this point in the season, I like these days. I can break out that favorite cozy sweater that’s been dormant in the closet for months, wear some …

Resident weather expert Andrew Pritchard writes about the weather around here monthly for us at Smile Politely. You can check out his articles here. He also runs his Chambana Weather Facebook page, which showcases things like …

We’re in the midst of University of Illinois Homecoming Week, which means there’s a full slate of related activities going on. That list does NOT include this weird game which was a part of the …

When my kids were younger, I looked for every possible opportunity for them to wear their Halloween costume out in the world. If you are in that situation, here is one of those opportunities. The …

Nando Milano will offer catering options for your end of the year holiday needs (menu and pricing below). Prices are incredibly reasonable, and you already know that the food is good. Get your Thanksgiving orders …

Allegedly. You might remember that the moonshine bar was set to open late August, but at the last minute it didn’t happen. Anyway, looks like Shiners will open for real at noon this Friday, October …

C-U MTD has a survey on their site that invites community members to help them better meet transportation needs in the area. It’s kind of a unique approach: they give you a hypothetical budget of …

Japan House is hosting their annual Fall Open House on Saturday, October 19th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be multiple opportunities to take part in a tea ceremony, but go ahead and …

Join us at the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections to learn about our diverse collections of books, manuscripts, artifacts, and more! Explore treasures from our collections in our reading room, view our exhibit on the …

Though Illinois Football isn’t having the most spectacular season thus far, looking to the future seems to be what we do as Illinois fans these days. 2021 is in the future as we live here …

ABC 7’s “Hungry Hound” Steve Dolinsky is no stranger to Champaign-Urbana. Dolinsky, with the help of his daughter Madeline, a student at the University of Illinois, paid a visit to a variety of eateries, and …

Do you ever throw on some Pavarotti while cooking pasta to make you feel fancy? Doesn’t it make your $1.29 box of pasta taste just that much more Italian, if only in your mind? If …

Nowadays, it seems like everyone with an internet connection is starting a podcast. However, when I come across a new one with some wicked potential—especially when they’re local—I feel compelled to share! It’s time for …

C-U Public Health District offers a range of maternal health services, one of which is breastfeeding support. They are creating some focus groups on the topic of breastfeeding, and they are looking for local moms …

Beginning this weekend we are going to see our first lows in the 30s, and we’ll be dragging out all the warm things to pile on as our bodies once again adapt to the cold …

Every year the Museum of the Grand Prairie hosts a series of lectures about one of Illinois’ most famous residents, Abraham Lincoln. The focus of this year’s round of talks is “home”, and each lecture …

Last night I had dinner with a couple friends at The WheelHouse in St. Joe, and as the title of this post suggests, it was fantastic. The restaurant wasn’t crowded, but there was a steady …

Everyday Kitchen and Triptych are joining up for a fall-themed dinner on Thursday, October 17th from 6 to 8 p.m. Everyday Kitchen and Triptych beer are teaming up to offer a delicious seasonal 4-course meal, …

Tis the season for all things scary. So if you like your art with a side of ghoulish fun, Haunted is definitely a must-see exhibition.  This multi-artist, multi-discipline show will bring together arts from throughout …

It’s true. You work hard, and honestly, we’re all crashing by 2 p.m. and trying to revive ourselves with caffeine or sugar anyway. I just treated myself to a Mayan hot chocolate (12oz, $4.89) and …

If you’re looking for another reason to go eat at Naya, well now you have it. If you are willing to be an early bird eater — and no, you don’t have to be a …

40 North has just announced the winners of this year’s ACE Awards.  Kudos to all for their contributions to our local arts scene!  Advocate ACE Award – Jason Finkelman, for consistently advocating for, creating, and …

October 17-19 is Champaign County Grows Green weekend, and this time around the City of Urbana, Urbana Park District, and Midwest Grows Green will be addressing the topic of compost topdressing. The city and park …

Pandamonium Doughnuts’ storefront space on Windsor has just celebrated two years of operation. The doughnut truck has been around since 2014 — that’ll be celebrating five years in just a few more weeks, if my …