The power of books
A pumpkin spice latte. The footlong sub of commercial-jingle fame. A gallon (or so) of gas. But your five dollars may best be put to use this weekend at the Urbana-Champaign Books to Prisoners Benefit …
Culture
Weekender: September 22-24
Whether you’re headed to PYGMALION, or just hanging around, we have your weekend covered.
Non-music things to do at PYGMALION 2023
As a Millennial, nothing gives me more nostalgia than a great burned CD. It immediately takes me back to sitting in class where there would always be a few people who could make exceptional mixes. …
Don’t miss Alaska 5000 at PYGMALION
On Thursday, September 21st, Alaska 5000 will be performing as part of the first day of Champaign-Urbana’s incredible PYGMALION festival. Alaska got her start on RuPaul’s Drag Race, first as a competitor in season five …
Building the Ultimate community
Jess LeRoy came to Champaign-Urbana in 2009 for graduate school, and like many of its residents, she decided it was a great place and never left. While in school here, she started playing Ultimate. (A …
Weekender: September 15-17
This is a weekend packed with cultural experiences. Check out our suggestions!
Isis Rose talks about her vision for a more inclusive birth community
Birth is a unique experience for everyone and there are so many ways of bringing a baby into the world. BIPOC for Better Birth is a non-profit established last year in Champaign-Urbana that supports birthing …
What made this summer the way that it was, and what is to come this fall?
Summer 2023 has been a time of frequent stress for meteorologists and farmers alike in the Midwest. Rain was sparse early in the growing season, and when it finally arrived during the summer it came …
Weekender: September 8-10
September is in full swing, and there are so many great options for diving into C-U culture this weekend.
Get your Culture here: Five things to do in September 2023
Champaign-Urbana really comes alive in September, and there are so many things to do it was hard to pick just five experiences. From some non-music things to do at music festivals, to hearing people talk …
Weekender: September 1-4
From sportsball to swordplay to swing dance, we have some great suggestions for your Labor Day weekend.
Weekender: August 25-27
Need some ideas for this last weekend in August? Our editors have some solid picks.
A Building, A Feeling, and A Latrine: Back to School 2023
It’s late August and the students are BACK. Which means it’s time to head to campus for another back-to-school edition of B/F/L! A BUILDING 508 S. Sixth Street Just the other day, I was eating …
Lola Pittenger has big dreams and so much to offer
“I humbly meet you in the place where you stand today. That is how I serve my community, I’m going to recognize and acknowledge where you are at, why fake it?” This is how Lola …
Weekender: August 18-20
Whether you choose to venture near Campustown, or stay the hell away, we have some suggestions for your weekend.
Shannon McFarland is strengthening her community, one baseball game at a time
Shannon McFarland wants to change the world. Sitting on the bleachers overlooking McFarland Field (named after her family) McFarland laid out how baseball is positively influencing the youth in the surrounding area and beyond. As …
Weekender: August 11-13
Our editors have some solid suggestions for your weekend plans.
Access determined: U of I digitization project revitalizes, returns Native records
“This item is currently under review and is not available to the public.” A digital stroll through the Archive of Native American Recorded History turns up this phrase more than once. It represents the heart …
Weekender: August 4-6
It’s August, suddenly. But that doesn’t mean that summer is over! Check out what we’re recommending this weekend.
Get your Culture here: Four nice things to do in August 2023
After the relative calm of July, August always hits with full force. If you are a teacher, student, or parent, it’s back to school chaos. (And if you are none of those things you still …
University of Illinois biologist shares his impactful research on biodiversity
In a recent groundbreaking discovery that has left scientists around the world in awe, researchers have verified the first-ever case of a crocodile virgin birth. Known as parthenogenesis, the phenomenon involves a female crocodile fertilizing …
Summer adventures: A pretty nice little Saturday in Sullivan
After a couple of solo adventures to small communities near Champaign-Urbana, I decided it was time to bring my husband along for the ride. This particular trip was going to take me a bit farther …
Weekender: July 28-30
Whether you’d prefer to beat the heat in some air conditioning, or venture outside, we have some ideas for your weekend.
The Champaign Clippers are bringing back vintage ball
Doug “Boomerang” Burgett came to Champaign in 1998 to attend the University of Illinois. Since then, he’s gotten married and started a family while making Champaign-Urbana home. He currently works at the U of I …
Weekender: July 21-23
Summer keeps rolling on, and there are a plethora of great events happening this weekend.
PYGMALION announces full 2023 lineup
PYGMALION is back and ready to fascinate and entertain you come this September 21-23. The 19th PYGMALION will be another assault on the senses as artists of all mediums converge on Urbana for three days …
Casablanca Bazar: Bringing Moroccan artistry into the homes of Champaign County
Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of fashion, décor, and other stunning merchandise. Casablanca Bazar is now open in Lincoln Square Mall. Casablanca Bazar incorporates the beauty of Moroccan culture into various handmade …
Weekender: July 14-16
What are your plans for this midsummer weekend? We have a few suggestions.
Get your Culture here: Five things to do outdoors in July 2023
It’s July, which means my kids’ bedtimes keep getting later, I only know what day it is because of the farmers market, and there is nothing better than spending as much time as possible outside. …
Weekender: June 30-July 2
It seems the air is becoming breathable again. We have plenty of suggestions for you to get out and about again this weekend.
Summer adventures: A Tuesday in Tuscola
This month’s summer adventure took me about 25 to 30 minutes south on I-57 to Tuscola, on a morning tinged with wildfire smoke. I was glad that this excursion wasn’t going to include a hike. …
The 2023 Champaign County Master Gardeners Garden Walk recap
On June 17th the Champaign County Master Gardeners hosted its 27th annual Garden Walk. This year “Inspirational Gardens: Old, New, Reimagined” included six private and two public gardens throughout Champaign and Urbana. Each garden had …
Sustaining activism with Julie Laut
Julie Laut is a community activist and director, and has been working to build strong and healthy communities for almost 30 years. She has been a resident of Urbana since 2008. After many years of …
Weekender: June 23-25
Gonna be a scorcher this weekend, so please stay hydrated as you go out and do these fun things.
A Building, A Feeling, and A Latrine: Summer’s for the birds
Back to another B/F/L this month. With summer here, I’ve gotten more chances to take pictures of buildings and bathrooms on campus without being heckled by cool teens. A BUILDING 713 S. Wright St. the …
Jess Schlipf makes a persona of their own creation
If you have been to a drag show event around Champaign-Urbana, there’s a very good chance you’ve seen the performer Spank Knightly, known off-stage as Jess Schlipf. Way before they ever got into drag, Schlipf …
Weekender: June 16-18
It’s the weekend and our editors have some great suggestions for how to enjoy it.
Talking Juneteenth with Robert White
Fire up the grill and pour yourself a red drink —Juneteenth is almost here. This is a day of remembrance and celebration. Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, but it wasn’t until June …
Book Review: The LEGO Lighting Book
LEGO’s definitely have their downsides. There are the hundreds of tiny pieces that will inevitably find their way into the laundry, the vacuum, and even the fridge. There is the threat of physical harm. Have …
Compassion & Choices makes it a little easier to talk about death and dying
For many people, death is a topic far from their minds and conversations. But the Compassion & Choices organization wants to change that, and what better time to talk about your options when dying, than …
Weekender: June 9-11
Do you have weekend plans yet? If not, we have a few suggestions.
Evette Campbell of Kreative Vision makes her own space
Sitting down with Evette Campbell for the first time is like meeting with a friend you haven’t seen in a while. With her warm and welcoming demeanor, it is easy to see why her photography …
C-U Monthly Weather Review: May 2023
For the second year in a row, we’ve seen spring rains disappear from central Illinois. Aside from a round of thunderstorms during the first weekend in May, we’ve seen persistent sunny and dry conditions across …
Weekender: June 2-4
Summer is in full swing, and Pride month is underway, meaning there are so many options for entertainment this weekend.
Get your Culture here: Holiday edition
Ah, June. The first month of summer. School is out, pools are open, music is outdoors, and celebrations are in full swing. This month I wanted to pick out a few fun ways to celebrate …
Summer adventures: A morning in Monticello
This summer I’m making it a point to get out of town every once in a while and explore the surrounding area. I’ve lived in Champaign-Urbana for enough years after graduating from the University of …
Weekender: May 26-29
It’s the unofficial start of summer! We hope you have a long weekend ahead of you, and can try out some of these suggestions.
Pride is coming to Danville
When I think of locations for Pride celebrations, Vermillion County doesn’t immediately come to my mind. But in the heart of Danville, a new group is working hard to bring the LGBTQIA+ community a place …
Chairs I hate at places I like
As the weather gets nicer, I’ve been spending more time at bars and restaurants, especially in the patios and beer gardens. However, I noticed some of the chairs in these outdoor spaces are less than …