SPlog

What is Blues Dancing? According to the event page: Blues dance is characterized by a relaxed yet grounded and athletic posture. Pulse, lag, rhythm play, and improvisation are some important aesthetic elements. Dancers often alternate …

Rapper CJ Run released a new track on Friday, “Nothin Like You”, which is available across platforms to listen to now. They’ve been dropping tracks here and there over the last year or so, “Tangerine” …

I’m not really sure who decides these things, but if it’s an excuse to eat delicious food, does it really matter? Also it’s the weekend, and who really wants to cook on the weekends? Here …

Dandelion Vintage & Retro in Downtown Champaign shares a space with Exile on Main Street at 100 N. Chestnut, and they’ve announced that longtime owner and operator Sara Hudson has retired. This means there’s new …

Each semester the University YMCA, in conjuction with several other community and university partners, hosts a Friday Forum series at noon on Fridays. The spring series begins on February 15th and is titled “RESIST: Building …

Japan House celebrates Hinamatsuri, or Girls’ Day, each year, and this year’s celebration is happening March 3rd from 2 to 4:30 p.m.  There will be all sorts of wonderful things packed into that afternoon including: …

This reminds me of just over a year ago when Julie saw Planter’s Peanutmobile passing the giant macaroni noodle outside of Kraft on Bradley and Mattis. Today, I spotted the Peanutmobile again in C-U, this …

Prairie Fruits Farm‘s very popular Babies and Brunch, known colloquially as Baby Goat Breakfast, will return for 2019 on March 30th. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the farm will be open for you to …

A while back, I posted about Elvis Presley performing at the Assembly Hall in 1976, which was a fun one to put into the SPlog. I stumbled upon this one today — Bruce Springsteen performed …

Illinois Public Media’s radio show The 21st is going to be broadcasting from Washington D.C. next week, and they are looking for some audience input. They will be sitting down with Senators Durbin and Duckworth, as well …

Next time someone tells you that artists are self-absorbed navel gazers who refuse to live in the real world, tell them to Google Matt Kenyon.  Kenyon, the artist behind SWAMP (Studies of Work Atmosphere and Mass …

Want to know what’s happening with the process of legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois? With it being a top priority for the new governor, we’re probably going to be hearing a bit about it. Here’s …

Governor Pritzker just announced $28.9 million in grant money that will fund 89 projects throughout the state through Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and a few Champaign County spaces will benefit:  Champaign County Forest Preserve …

Caribbean Grill has a new weekly special: $0.66 wings on Wednesdays. Yes, that’s right, that makes it wingzday.  Nevermind the puns — that’s a great deal on some delicious jerk chicken wings.  Caribbean Grill 2135 S …

Art Mart is 61 years old, and has now been at the South Prospect, Champaign location for 3 years.    Happy birthday to Art Mart, may we all celebrate by visiting the store for some …

Once a month, the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum offers Night at the Museum. For $25 ($20 for members) you can drop your kid off for three hours of fun activities with museum staff and they will be …

You can find lots more photos of the Illini Union through the decades, as well as find out more about future renovation plans here. Also, there will be free cupcakes in the Courtyard Café from …

Got kids who are due for a check up? Might as well get it done for free at “Give Kids a Smile Day.” This is a pretty amazing service that Parkland’s dental hygiene clinic offers …

Today is the Lunar New Year — Chinese New Year — and what better way to celebrate than to look at a bunch of delicious food you can get at Golden Harbor? You can now order food …

University of Illinois Research Park has unveiled their “vision” for the expansion of their incubator space, EnterpriseWorks, as well as the commons in that area within the RP grounds. You can read the information from …

Krannert Art Museum‘s Art Remastered features a variety of local musicians, performing in reflection/reaction of the art that surrounds them at the museum. This year, Art Remastered takes place on Friday, March 8th from 7-9 …

Honest Abe would be 210 this year, and the Illinois History and Lincoln Collections and History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library will be celebrating. It’s happening from 4 to 6 p.m. on February 12th, in room 246 …

Museum of the Grand Prairie typically closes during the months of January and February, with spring hours beginning on March 1st. This time around, they’ve decided to open their doors Thursday through Sunday from 1 …

If you haven’t yet had them, I strongly suggest you give them a try — they taste much better than they look. On a cold and gray day last week, I ordered Wood N Hog …

Janet Bubin, owner of KoFusion, recently purchased the PNC Bank location in Downtown Champaign, and news has come out today that she plans to move the the sushi/seafood restaurant from the space it occupies at …

Our Restaurant Week coverage continues all week, and in addition to restaurant reviews, we’re also highlighting new restaurants and creators. Baxter’s American Grille has become a regular participant in Restaurant Week (we reviewed it in …

There’s a change.org petition that’s been circulating, which calls to action the implementation of a new “official symbol” of the U of I: Alma Otter. Pretty adorable, I must say. Clever! After all, otters are …

Do you have a soft spot for animals and a little bit of free time? Maybe you should consider volunteering at the CC Humane Society. There are lots of ways to contribute, from folding newspapers …

The first Tuesday of each month, Papa Del’s host a special social gathering for community members with dementia and their caregivers. They’re given a semi-private area to enjoy each other’s company in a space where …

Our Restaurant Week coverage continues all week, and in addition to restaurant reviews, we’re also highlighting new restaurants and creators. ET’s Downtown Rantoul is a brand new restaurant — it just opened up a few …

Admittedly, we’ve been pretty hard on Hamilton Walker’s over the past couple years. The restaurant entered the scene here as a much welcomed addition, in that we haven’t had a true BIG CITY steakhouse type …

EarthSense is a locally-founded tech company in the AgTech sector, and they’re based in Research Park. They’ve been working on robotics in the agricultural world for a bit, and they were recently recognized by SuccessfulFarming magazine as …

Leda Black is braving the polar vortex to bring her Female Power Project and her awesome self to the University of Illinois Women’s Resources Center Thursday evening and you need to be there. Fans of …

Yes, spring will eventually happen once again, and spring means garden prep. Did you know that you can rent a garden plot from the Champaign Park District? The Eddie Albert Community Garden Plots are located …

Pour Bros. has been doing Thursday night trivia for a bit now, and the last Thursday of each month has a theme. This week’s theme? 90’s trivia. I started junior high in 1990, and graduated …

While I’m on the brink of losing it due to stir-craziness inside during the Champaign-Urbana (and beyond) freeze, Smile Politely contributor and Chambana Weather weatherhuman Andrew Pritchard is outside doing this. Watch and enjoy, because …

51 Main in Downtown Champaign will be open for those in need during this deep freeze here in Champaign-Urbana. They’ll be providing socks, gloves, blankets, food, hot beverages, and more for those who need a …

There’s a lot of great food to be eaten in the smallest of our three “downtown” areas. The burgers and pizza at Bunny’s are amazing. The poke and rice bowls at Broadway Food Hall hit …

File this under “reminders that there are good people in the world.” Cheers to those in our community and beyond who are making sure everyone is safe from this dangerous cold. Photo from WJBC’s Facebook …

After an eight year break from working at video game company Deep Silver Volition, the original founder of the company — Mike Kulas — has returned as the GM of the company. Kulas has spent time …

Following the recent opening of a retrospective exhibition at Krannert Art Museum in honor of its fifth anniversary, 8 to Create continues the momentum with the announcement of its 2019 artist line up.  Congratulations to …

This is the 21st year that Champaign Outdoors (formerly Champaign Surplus) will be screening a collection of films from the Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, and also the 21st year that they will be donating the …

Though using a bicycle right now is rather unfathomable, the weather will be reasonable again…hopefully. And even in winter months, there are many who rely on them for transportation. Here are the details of the …

MTD is doing their part to keep folks safe during the deep freeze: With temperatures plummeting to dangerous lows, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD) will be offering free rides to all passengers on Wednesday, …

Ahem — it is going to be extremely cold tomorrow, Wednesday, January 30th. Dangerously cold. If you have to ask, the answer to the question “I wonder if (INSERT NAME HERE) is closed tomorrow?” The …

Girls Rock! C-U is a group that puts on a variety of programs and events to help support and empower young girls in the community, based in arts and culture. They have a few pieces …

Avionics will be closed on Wednesday, citing the terrible polar vortex forcast for the day. Stop in to get your Page Roasting Company beans now — you’ll need something to warm you up.  From Facebook: Top …

Ringo Starr — yes, the one and only, the drummer for the Beatles — and his band are heading through to perform at State Farm Center on August 20th.  From the press release: SIR RINGO …