SPlog

C-U Folk & Roots Festival wrapped up their 10th anniversary festival back in October, next year’s dates are already out in the world. Now, they’ve released information about their Winter Weekend, which is February 14-16 in …

Last June, Willard Airport announced that American Airlines was adding an additional service to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and that service begins this week. Customers were able to begin booking trips in July, and Thursday …

If it wasn’t in the last seven days, you should probably go this week. The pizza is delicious. Just look at this pizza porn: You can also order salad and gelato.  Pizzeria Antica 10 E …

Did you already know that? We think Boomerangs has pretty great wings, and at $0.44 a wing, it’s a great deal. Well drinks are only $3 on Wednesdays, too, so you can eat and drink …

This week is the theater’s yearly series: The Best Christmas Movies Ever, and each night will feature a different Christmas movie for your viewing pleasure. Now, I’m sure there could be much debate about what …

The Urbana Free Library digital collections are kind of a fun place to spend some time, especially when you are procrastinating doing something else, and especially if you’re into the nostalgia thing.  Here’s a cool …

But you ask, WTF is a pomander or whatever? It’s a holiday thing. It’s bascially an orange studded with cloves. It’s fragrant and festive (from what I understand, because it’s not my personal or familial tradition). Moreover, …

The 28th annual Great Cover Up returns in February of 2019 for another year of local bands covering their heroes. Today, GCUP announced the daily lineups (and the addition of a full extra night), which …

Beginning January 1, 2019, all copyrighted work published in the U.S. in 1923 will enter the public domain. If you want to read more about why this is happening, check out this article. In celebration …

PNC Bank in Downtown Champaign has been sold to the owner of KoFusion, reports The News-Gazette. The building is located at 30 E. Main Street in Champaign, and this move comes after plans were announced for PNC …

Moki Sushi, the newly opened sushi bar in Champaign, offers more than sushi. Sarah reviewed it last month, focusing on the all-you-can-eat sushi (lunch, $19; dinner, $25).  I had lunch there yesterday and tried a …

If you’re kind of intrigued by the new Lodgic Everyday Community, which opened back in September, but aren’t quite sure if what they have to offer is the right fit for you, Free Coworking Friday …

The house show/DIY scene in Urbana looks like it is alive and well. Emma Sielaff has published a short documentary film, DIY in Urbana, which is worth a few minutes of your time. Sielaff speaks …

The satellite is called CubeSail, and it was constructed by CU Aerospace and engineering students, and it is set to launch at 10 p.m. central from New Zealand. According to the U of I aerospace …

Look, when I was a kid growing up in Urbana, I have a distinct memory of learning about Sesame Street Live! coming to Assembly Hall while watching PBS during a pledge drive. Back then, you …

Sure it’s Reading Day and if you’re a student type person you should be studying for your finals. But hey, having an Illini sports team in a Final Four situation is a big deal, so …

Have you been to La Mixteca yet? It’s amazing, and you should. The food is seriously good. Look at what my spouse and I ate yesterday: Enchiladas verdes (with chicken), $11.99 Caldo de res (beef …

Kids are not the only ones who deserve the feel-good instant gratification that is holiday crafting. Take a time out from all the holiday to-doing and stop by the IMC for a few well-deserved hours …

Recently Japan House has added a different type of tea ceremony to their regular rotation, a Ryūrei, or traditional table-style ceremony. Rather than guests sitting in a kneeling position, they sit at tables. It was …

This is an insanely good deal from Lake of the Woods in Mahomet, one of my favorite courses to play on throughout the year in the area. If you’re a casual golfer, this is where …

Parkland recently put out their community ed course offerings for January through March, so maybe one of your New Year’s resolutions should be pick up a new hobby or build up your job skills. Here …

American Football has announced their new record, appropriately titled American Football (LP3), is out March 22, 2019 on Polyvinyl Records. This is the follow up to American Football (LP2), which was released back in 2016 and their first …

A sad loss for Champaign. Owner Sally Mundy posted a touching explanation in a Facebook post yesterday: So what happened? I don’t know, TBH. I thought the store had hit a real stride, but then …

Check out the creativity of some of our local middle school students this week as Franklin opens their doors for an Arts Showcase. Here’s what you can expect, per the press release: Performances by the …

This semester, Illini Hillel has hosted Challah for Hunger, an opportunity for people to help make and/or buy challah as a means to raise money for hunger awareness.  The last round of the year is …

Next up in Phoenix Botanical’s educational series is Rolling 101, and that title is pretty darn self-explanatory. The class will be next Monday, December 17th from 2 to 3 p.m. at their location at 1704 …

The Pushcart Prize, a literary series published annually, features works published in small presses, and Ninth Letter is one of those small presses. This year they’ve nominated five of their published authors from this year, …

This Saturday, December 15th, you can take a class with Red Herring staff at Common Ground Food Co-op. The menu is vegan comfort food; you’ll use local and seasonal ingredients. Tickets are $12 for owners, …

We’re all familiar with Meals on Wheels right? It’s a service many communities have, where volunteers bring hot meals to people who are unable to leave their homes due to mental or physical challenges. Family …

Champaign Park District is continuing to raise funds for the Martens Center, a new facility set to be built in Human Kinetics Park in North Champaign. On January 10th at 5 p.m. you can participate …

The Office of Volunteer Programs, located in the Illini Union, has set a goal of collecting 1000 toys for kids in need. They’re looking for new, unwrapped items for kids from age 5 to 17. …

I’ve been on a soup kick, as you may have noticed. Yesterday I had lunch at Xinh Xinh; I ordered the pho bo vien ($8), pho with meatballs. It’s a massive bowl of delicious broth …

At the beginning of the Illini volleyball season, MTD launched the 280 tranSPORT to give fans another option for traveling to and from games — a pretty awesome thing because parking close to Huff, especially for …

Look, you might think egg nog is disgusting, and that’s fine. But for those of you who are here for it, rejoice! Egg nog slushies are available until Christmas. (The above photos are obviously not the …

We all have those people in our lives that are hard to buy for, because they literally have everything. But, if they don’t live here in the C-U area, then they don’t have Papa Del’s.  …

This weekend, Café Kopi will celebrate its 25th birthday. Stop by on Saturday, December 8th between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. for cake and free coffee. There will also be a raffle for a gift …

We do quite a bit of traveling during the holiday season — not terribly far, but away nonetheless, and I feel like life is just non-stop as soon as December rolls around. So I appreciate …

After the November election, talk of legalizing recreational marijuana in Illinois began to ramp up, as the new governor is a proponent. Tonight, Illinois Newsroom will be focusing on this timely topic for the latest …

If you’re looking for a way to give back during the holidays, maybe consider putting your gift wrapping skills to good use. Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County will be stationed at Marketplace Mall from …

Bacaro has announced their last dinner service will be on December 31st, 2018, as it will be closing its doors officially. The fine dining establishment opened 18 years ago at 113 N. Walnut in Downtown …

Champaign Outdoors has upped their technology game as they’ve settled into their new space at 2017A South Neil, and they will be showcasing it this Wednesday at their Custom Tech Showcase from 4 to 7 …

PSA: Thara Thai will be closed through December 13th, will reopen on Friday, December 14th.  This info is particularly relevant because the restaurant’s pho is included on this month’s Five things to eat or drink …

Relevator is a blues/rock/folk outfit lead by singer-songwriter Kenna Mae, and the band recently released this “home movie” from their show at the Loose Cobra a little while back. Recorded and shot live by JP …

Now that Aaron Ammons has been sworn in as Champaign County Clerk, his seat on the Urbana City Council is up for grabs. Think you might be the best person to fill it? Here are …

For those who enjoy a lovely walk through the sculpture garden at Meadowbrook Park, you can now look forward to new native trees and shrubs that are currently being planted. According to Derek Liebert, Superintendent of Planning …

Art Mart is hosting a holiday sampling event this Thursday, December 6th from 4 to 7 p.m. The specialty store will have wine, beer, cheese, and other little goodies for you to try. Staff will …

The announcement came back in October that Neil St. Blues, a new restaurant/venue in Downtown Champaign, would be opening in November but the date was unknown. It looks like they held true to that promise, …

As a human in this world, I find the inundation of food-shaming at this time of year unbearable. I’m not immune to it, and the other night I found myself dining out at Watson’s, fretting over …