SPlog

Jon Childers has several ties to Champaign-Urbana. A former student at the University of Illinois, and a contributor to Smile Politely at one point in time, Childers played in The Leadership while he spent time …

Newly dubbed Urbana Poet Laureate Will Reger will be holding a listening session on July 31st to hear from writing-minded residents about how to better serve the poets and creative writers of our community. How …

The Land Connection has been accepting SNAP at the market for a while now, and now thanks to a partnership with United Way of Champaign County, they will be adding WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) …

In-person school registration for all Unit 4 Schools is Friday, August 2nd, and the district wants to make sure that all students have access to the physicals and immunizations they need to start school. They’ve …

July 21st was National Ice Cream Day. Sorry if you missed it. It’s probably okay if you celebrate it late. In honor of the special day, NBC’s Today posted an article featuring the country’s best …

Krannert Art Museum is ready to help you find your inner artist this summer. The second of KAM”s free summer offerings, Creativity Workshop: Patterns and Forms, happening this Thursday afternoon, will begin with a talk by …

It was announced today that Rodney Davis plans to have an “Open Government” event in Decatur on July 29th from 6 to 7:30 p.m. He will appear with Rep. Dan Caulkins, a Republican who represents …

Crazy as it seems, it being July and all, it’s time to start thinking about The Nutcracker. That is, if you have a child that would like to be a part of it.  Audition registration …

Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County is looking for teams to participate in Raise the Woof! on September 7th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the warehouse at 302 N. Broadway. Teams can be …

Visitors at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana may notice a new sculpture in the Wandell Sculpture Garden. Artist Micki LeMieux has loaned her artwork, titled Idea of an Apple, to the Urbana Park District after being …

Punch! officially opened in downtown Champaign yesterday, and I stopped by with my spouse to check it out. It’s connected to the lobby of Hyatt Place, but there is an entrance from the street. There’s …

Following the 2017 kidnapping and murder of U of I student Yingying Zhang, Brent Christensen was dealt a life sentence this afternoon after the jury could not come to a consensus regarding the death penalty. You can …

If you love the tranquil elegance of Ikebana, imagine combining it like-minded visual art. This selection of paintings by University of Illinois alumnae Viktoria Ford, herself a painter, sculpture and Ikebana artist, combine perfectly with …

If you’re facing your first ever community theatre audition, preparation is key. So is advice from people in the know. The folks at the DLO Musical Theatre are offering a free audition workshop, followed by …

As I made mention in this week’s installment of the Overture, Bentley’s is having their second Fringe Fest on Saturday, which includes a ton of local bands all for a very low price of $5 …

Sometimes I revisit old SP articles for inspiration and a reminder of what our writers have enjoyed around C-U. One article series I revisit more often than I should admit publically is our three part …

Ellnora Guitar Festival is back this year, happening September 5-7 at KCPA. In preparation for the event, the folks at Krannert would like to hear your opinions about. They are asking the community to fill …

It’s going to be offensively hot the next few days, and as we Central Illinoisian’s understand, this will not be just hot. It will be oppressive and stiflingly humid as well, like you could wring …

Yesterday, July 17th, was World Emoji Day, which in part, means a day that Apple reveals some of the new emojis that will be launched in the near future. One of the new emojis that …

Land of Lincoln Goodwill operates Goodwill stores throughout Central Illinois, including the one here in Champaign. Workers with disabilities have found employment there throught their Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Now, citing minimum wage increases — that will …

It’s going to be stupid hot the next several days, to the point of being dangerous for those who don’t have access to a cool indoor space. Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, at 201 Kenyon Road …

July 27th will be the 3rd annual Archaeology Day at the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum. The event marks the anniversary of the opening of their Archaeology Field Station and Excavation Unit, designed by the UIUC Archaeology …

40 North has announced two calls for artists that are due at the end of July.  First up is an opportunity to have your art installed in the M2 Lobby.  The selected artist will receive …

Last weekend I had lunch with a friend at Siam Terrace. I hadn’t been in a while, and was pleasantly surprised to find the food was just as good as I had remembered. I ordered …

Calling all photogs! We are looking for a few folks who can help us provide high quality photos to accompany our written content.  As a photographer, you can be extremely flexible in what you cover …

The new Farren’s is officially open in their new location on 117/119 N. Walnut in Downtown Champaign, which was previously occupied by Radio Maria. Their previous location at 308 N. Randolph has officially closed, and today marks the …

Back in May, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts announced their 2019-2020 season, a continuation of their 50th anniversary celebration that kicks off with Ellnora in September.  Now it’s time to make some decisions about …

One of the best ways to use fresh (and local) produce in your cooking and do it in a budget-friendly way is to shop and cook seasonally. As fruits and veggies come into season, they …

Last week, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District was awarded the 2019 Local Health Department of the Year by the National Association of County and City Health Officials. According to the press release, applications were scored based on …

Congressman Rodney Davis is a feckless coward. I’m aware that this isn’t a very civil thing to say. I’m also aware that Rep. Davis hates incivility. Luckily, an opportunity presented itself this weekend for Davis …

Just when you thought the 2019-2020 Virgina Theatre calendar couldn’t get any better, the Indigo Girls announced the addition of a November 12th show. Tickets will go on sale July 16th at 10 a.m. Get …

Did you know that The Idea Store is offering 10% off for teachers every Tuesday? Daycare providers and homeschoolers are welcome as well. All you need is your school I.D. Not sure how that works …

One of my favorite events of the year is coming up September 8th from 12 to 9 p.m. Matsuri happens annually at Japan House, and they seem to improve upon it each year. This time …

Friday evening, hundreds of people showed up in front of the Champaign County Courthouse for Lights for Liberty, a vigil meant to call attention to the inhumane conditions that migrants are facing in detention centers …

Here’s the local food porn that has had me drooling this week. Common Ground Food Co-op’s chocolate espresso raspberry cake   Avionics’ chicha morada         View this post on Instagram     …

It is pretty nasty hot outside these days in Champaign-Urbana, and certainly, when we think of lemonade, I think of the dog days of summer. That’s where we are at the moment, and we’re only …

If you haven’t been following, the IMC had been subject to sudden regulations relating to an incident back in March. Here’s what they said about it on their Facebook page earlier this week: In response …

I very much enjoy how Friday Night Live has encouraged various downtown Champaign businesses to add to the atmosphere of the event; having art vendors at Café Kopi comes to mind.  Fleurish is joining in the …

Beer, brats, and bags. These are all the things that you need for an enjoyable Saturday afternoon, and you can find them in one place at Seven Saints on July 20th from 1 to 5 …

Mine is the taro bun, though I suppose that technically doesn’t really qualify as a “vegetable.” I’ve been ordering the sesame broccoli lately (number is at the register; $12.50). It’s crunchy and tender and delicious. …

Have you tried Everyday Kitchen at Lodgic yet? They’ve been around about a year now, and have solid brunch, lunch, and dinner menus. I feel like I forget about them as a dining option sometimes, …

On Friday, several cities around the United States will be rallying to end the inhumane conditions migrants face while being held in concentration camps. In association with the national organization Lights for Liberty, CU Indivisible, …

Yeah, yeah, it sounds a little weird. A scrappy is a collection of bakery scraps — cake, frosting, brownies, cookies, etc. — combined in one container. For the bakery, it’s an excellent way to minimize …

On a warm summer day, I like nothing more than a hefty sandwich and some salty chips. Why is that so satisfying? Maybe I’m reminded of spending the day on the beach, or maybe I’m …

Pour Bros. Craft Taproom has been in the building at 40 E University for about a year now, but as of this month the building itself as been around for 100 years. As seen in …

A couple of months ago, it came to light that over 200 books had been removed from the library at the Danville Correctional Center, most of them related to African American history, race, and social …

If you’re one of those folks who like to dig in to community history, or if you’re just curious about that old house you passed on your walk today, this is a pretty cool feature …

If you love attending events at the Virginia Theatre, a season subscription can save you money and put a few perks in your pocket. This year’s line-up has so many good things to choose from, …