SPlog

Each academic year, a group of people at the university select a book for Illini Union Bookstore’s One Campus One Book program, which is basically a massive book club across campus. Throughout the year there …

The Mexican eatery will continue to operate the food truck, but the restaurant location at Daniel and Green in Campustown will close tomorrow, August 31st.   Top photo by Madeline Trimble

The University of Illinois Press has recently announced that three of its titles have been made open access.  Muddying the Waters, Activist Sentiments, and 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage are the latest in an ongoing open …

Beckman Institute is celebrating 30 years of existence this fall, and earlier this week they shared this photo of the area pre-Beckman. It was home to Illinois Field from 1884 to 1988, which of course …

The News-Gazette will be sold to Community Media Group, according to this report posted by N-G just a few minutes ago: At an all-staff meeting today, News-Gazette Media CEO John Reed announced to employees that an agreement …

September is Hunger Action Month, and Eastern Illinois Foodbank is joining other food banks around the country to raise awareness of the 40 million Americans who are food insecure.  The campaign is hoping to see 40,000 …

Champaign’s own Gatson — who we featured back in February— is back with a single ahead of his upcoming project, Draft Day. Produced by TheLetterLBeats, “Draft Day Prelude” serves as a dedication to the project …

Including those delicious wings that are served at Sakanaya during lunch. Check out the list below: Chicken wings (pictured below) Crispy rice with spicy tuna Toro tartare roll (pictured above) Waygyu roll Enoki blooms American …

Okay yes, avocado toast has developed a certain reputation for being a millennial hipster thing to order. Apparently some rich dude evoked the dish when trying to formulate an explanation about why millennials couldn’t afford …

Plant Mode, the plant store operated by J. Matthis Helmick that has existed in various forms throughout the years, will be moving into the space previously occupied by Rumours Hat Shoppe (FYI, Rumours is now Happy …

I had my first cheese curd when I moved to the Midwest, only (and already) a decade ago. I’m here for fried cheese curds, and, well, any fried cheese, honestly. So go on, tell us …

Parkland’s Career & Technical Education department is hosting a career night, on September 4th from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Parkhill Applied Technology Center.  Prospective and current students can tour the high tech labs, …

Soon, in addition to books, you will be able to “check out” seeds for your garden at the Urbana Free Library. How will that work exactly?  Pick out and bring home seeds to plant. Grow …

I’m really busy this week with meetings and appointments, and today, to treat myself and because of the nature of my schedule, I had a little Maize picnic with my spouse. I had a veggie …

The Champaign Park District and the Champaign-Urbana chapter of Moms Demand Action for Guns Sense are partnering to create a memorial garden honoring local gun violence victims and survivors.  The idea came about during planning …

Local attorney Ruth Wyman is running for Champaign County Circuit Judge, and she is the beneficiary of some pretty great artwork designed and donated by Adam Goldberg of TRÜF Creative, an LA design studio that …

Pour Bros. Craft Taproom has been around for one year, and there are numerous ways to celebrate with them this week.  Personally, I have thoroughly enjoyed the addition of Pour Bros. to the downtown Champaign …

Cracked, the beloved C-U breakfast restaurant, will find a home in Wicker Park this fall. Now when you are in Chicago visiting family, friends, or just for fun, you can get your morning bender (definitely …

There are so many talented, dedicated, and generous people who have helped to create, enhance, and support our local arts scene. Some are educators, some are artists, some are volunteers. And we owe them all …

Local rapper Jarrel Young has released his new recoord I’d Be Mad Too… on August 22nd, which is his follow up full-length to last year’s Millennial EP. You can stream the whole thing below, or find it …

Krannert Art Museum knows how to start the semester off right. This year’s opening night fest, held this Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m., promises a feast for the senses.  Enjoy free tacos from Maize …

Now that you’re back to school or work on the U of I campus, you’ll need to makes plans for lunch. While the weather is lovely, it’s nice to walk to Green Street and get …

The City of Champaign is offering another round of City 101, a seven week course where you can learn all of the ins and outs of city government. I would venture a guess that there …

Weighing in at 750 lbs and reaching up to 14½ feet, the Sun King has now been installed at Kickapoo Rail Trail. Created by Decora, Iowa artist Steven Maeck, was installed at the corner of …

Once a local event becomes a tradition, you know it’s something special. Ready to celebrate its 15th year, the Meadowbrook Park jazz walk has it all. Nature. Sculpture. Community. Inspo to stretch your legs and …

Urbana Park District is offering a week of free fitness classes to kick off their fall session. August 26-30 you can try any class offered at Phillips Rec Center, Brookens Gym, Urbana Aquatic Center, or …

I order the country fried chicken salad (field greens with cucumbers, tomatoes, portobello mushrooms, red onions, cherrywood smoked bacon, hard-boiled eggs, cheddar cheese, country fried chicken, served with a honey mustard dressing on the side) …

The Unit 4 art department was just awarded the Illinois Art Education Program of the Year by the Illinois Art Education association. From the press release:  Champaign Unit 4 art teachers balance being practicing artists …

WILL will be airing Ken Burns’ new documentary Country Music on Sunday, September 15th, and that documentary inspired a more local take on the genre, Illinois Country which will examine “our region’s role in the history …

Allerton Park and Retreat Center has plans to add the Allerton Family and Children’s garden to the extensive grounds, and they are inviting the public to come out and hear more about it. According to …

I ran an errand in Campustown today, which maybe wasn’t the best idea given the influx of students arriving this week, and as I rounded the corner of Sixth and Daniel, the empty facades made …

If you are a parent, guardian, or family member of a Unit 4 student, the district is encouraging you to consider lending your skills to one of the many full and part time positions available. …

A few months ago, Stango Cuisine closed its location in the food court of Lincoln Square Mall to move into the restaurant space just down the hall, the space formerly occupied by Tang Dynasty. Stango …

We had a bit of a storm yesterday in C-U, accompanied by tornado sirens that went off without there actually being a tornado warning issued. Apparently a funnel cloud was reported at Kirby and Staley, …

Seven area high school seniors have been awarded college scholarships up to $1000 by UICCU. Their Orange and Blue scholarships are given out every year to students who are members of the credit union, and …

The team from Triptych is venturing out into the community this week with pop events at Maize and Sipyard. This Wednesday, August 21st, head over to Maize for a Back to School Taco Party, where …

In just a short amount of time, The Land Connection‘s Artisan Cup & Fork has become one of the most anticipated food events in C-U. The fourth annual fundraiser is September 21st and will be …

The Red Herring’s Wednesday night vegan fusion dinner is popular, and for good reason. It’s a fantastic way to support the restaurant, feed yourself, and try vegan versions of different cusines. Dinners are Wednesday nights …

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts will kick off its 50th season with an opening night party on September 5th, which also happens to be the opening of this year’s ELLNORA guitar festival. Enjoy treats …

Mondays, am I right? This Monday, today, is particularly difficult, as I’m coming back from a few days away. Nothing cures the Mondays quite like cake, and Sweet Indulgence offers $10 off all six- and …

Because of the immense popularity of their teen peer support group, and the continued interest of those who “age out” of it, The UP Center has decided to launch a new group for young adults …

Matsuri, the best Japan House event of the year (in my humble opinion), is happening September 8th, and they are looking for more volunteers to help make the event run smoothly. There are a wide …

If you’re already heading over to the Market at the Square on Saturday mornings, it’s worth it to swing by Common Ground as well. This summer, they’ve been offering pay-what-you-can bike tune ups with Bike …

Drag queen and Urbana native Sasha Velour is coming to the Colwell Playhouse at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on September 14th. Tickets will become available August 19th at 10 a.m., and they are free. …

A listening session regarding the sale of cannabis in Urbana will take place Monday evening at the city council chambers, immediately following the regular city council meeting which begins at 7 p.m. While use of …

Good news for local actors with a taste for Edgar Allen Poe and all things dark and suspenseful.  Auditions for the Twin City Theatre Company’s upcoming production of Fall of the House of Usher will …

During football and basketball seasons, Coach Lovie Smith and Coach Brad Underwood join Fighting Illini announcer Brian Barnhart every Monday night from 7 to 8 p.m. for a Q&A about their respective teams. This year …

The School of Social Work at the University of Illinois has a pretty cool program called The Community Learning Lab, which benefits the work of organizations in our community, while also giving students an opportunity …