Weekender: October 27-29
Whether you are in the Halloween spirit, or looking for non-spooky things to do, we have you covered.
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Are you celebrating U of I Homecoming?
Are you a Homecoming reveler? If so, what sorts of activities are you participating in this week? If U of I isn’t your home school, do you travel to your alma mater to participate in …
Weekender: October 20-22
Our editors have some great suggestions for your weekend.
Let’s talk about book bans
The first week of October was Banned Books Week, a nation-wide event launched in 1982 as a response to an upsurge in book bans at the time. If you were in any book-centered physical or …
Homecoming: An Illinois tradition
The history and culture surrounding the University of Illinois is unique and full of many interesting topics. Even as a person who has lived in this community for a long time, I’m always learning something …
This year’s October Dance was a celebration of female voices
Ahead of October Dance, I spoke with concert director Sara Hook about the planning and preparation for the annual dance showcase put on by the University of Illinois’ Department of Dance. This year’s performance was …
A chill in the air and aural brutality at Oktstonerfest
For the past couple of years, Oktstonerfest has been a personal high point of my October. Held in Tolono’s Loose Cobra bar, owned and operated by the legendary Matt Talbott, Oktstonerfest features a line-up of …
RegCakes Bakery closing in Urbana this weekend, opening in Savoy soon
RegCakes Bakery is closing in Urbana ahead of the bakery’s move to its new location in Savoy. The last day to get the bakery’s gluten-free goodies in Urbana is Saturday, October 21st, but RegCakes will …
Eat fried pork belly, Szechuan beef, and more at Northern Cuisine restaurant
In the middle of the Green Street metropolis of casual eateries, smoke shops, and boba tea, there’s a new Chinese restaurant called Northern Cuisine. Opened in the space where Bobo China was for two decades, …
It’s Friday the 13th…are you superstitious?
Today is Friday the 13th. And not just any Friday the 13th…it’s Friday the 13th in October. You know what THAT means. Really though, do you? Does it actually mean anything? Does it just have an extra spooky …
Weekender: October 13-15
How are you spending this mid-October weekend? We have some solid ideas.
Year-round municipal yard waste pick up isn’t a likely possibility
In late October and early November, you might hear a collective groan from Champaign-Urbana’s homeowners and home renters. That groan is the indication of yard waste collection season, which means an investment of time, labor, …
Adeem the Artist: When country music won’t love you back
When I connected with Adeem the Artist to discuss their striking new album, White Trash Revelry, and their upcoming appearance this weekend at the Champaign-Urbana Folk & Roots Festival, our conversation touched upon the traditional …
Take a look behind the scenes of October Dance
October Dance, formerly November Dance, is the annual dance showcase put on by the University of Illinois’ Department of Dance as their first event of the year. As I wrote in my Five things in …
Satisfy sugar cravings with C-U bakery desserts
That’s right, National Dessert Day is October 14. So kick that sugar craving into high gear, prep that toothbrush, and let’s get to it. I love all things sweet and dessert, so this article made …
I’m looking for some good Halloween decorations
The weather has finally caught up to the season, so let’s talk about Halloween, specifically Halloween decorations. I love the holiday but I find that lack the energy to be extra about it. However, I am …
Weekender: October 6-8
There are so many things to do on this crisp fall weekend. See what our editors suggest!
Why didn’t Unit 4 spend money on gun violence prevention?
Last week, The News-Gazette reported an update on the City of Champaign’s Community Gun Violence Prevention Blueprint. Included was a list of every organization and entity that received funding to help implement the initiatives laid …
CETACEAN took you on a journey to the bottom of the ocean
This was my first Unreliable Bestiary performance, and although I had seen photos and video clips from previous iterations, and even had the honor of interviewing co-directors Deke Weaver and Jennifer Allen, I still wasn’t …
Siobhan McKissic gives us the ultimate tour of the Ricker Library
Sometimes I like to write a longer introduction to give you, the reader, more background about my subject. My hope is that you’ll feel like you know them as you read. For this article, there …
Five things to eat or drink in C-U this month: October 2023
Ope, October snuck right up on us, didn’t it? It feels like last month flew by, but I am glad to live in a world where there are Octobers. Leaves turn pretty colors, it’s time …
Happy Pride Fest!
We are in the midst of Pride Fest week in Champaign-Urbana, and that culminates in a whole bunch of events this week from Queer Homecoming to the Pride Fest Fair and Parade, to a Drag Show. To see …
Weekender: September 29-October 1
Check out our editor’s suggestions for your weekend.
A look at the maternal health options in our county
Starting this month, OSF HealthCare Sacred Heart Medical Center in Danville will reopen their birthing center and provide Vermillion County with a much needed option for hospital births. The birth center has been closed since …
PYGMALION 2023: A kaleidoscope of genres and talent
This year’s PYGMALION is in the books, and the music portion was exceptionally diverse and entertaining. The writing staff all saw different acts over the weekend and shared some thoughts on their experiences. Lauren Mayberry …
Senator Paul Faraci on continuing a legacy and forging a new path
Illinois State Senator Paul Faraci is about as townie as they get for someone who wasn’t born here. After moving with his family from the south side of Chicago, he graduated from Edison Middle School, …
It’s a great time to be in C-U
Friends, we are in peak cultural season in Champaign-Urbana, and I am very excited to be here. After a fantastic ELLNORA weekend, we are now in the thick of PYGMALION. If you missed last night’s festivities, DO NOT FEAR! …
Weekender: September 22-24
Whether you’re headed to PYGMALION, or just hanging around, we have your weekend covered.
Empty spaces make us sad
There are plenty of empty buildings and spaces around Champaign-Urbana. Some remind us of a tangible cultural loss to the community, like the still-for-sale and vacant Art Theater, and some are just a simpler reminder …
An inside look at Cetacean with Deke Weaver and Jennifer Allen
Artist, actor, and performer Deke Weaver has embarked on an incredible endeavor: create a performance representing a threatened animal or habitat for every letter of the alphabet. The first installment of this life-long project, The …
PYGMALION 2023 music preview
PYGMALION, an annual celebration of music, art, and culture, is back for its 2023 edition. With a lineup that promises to be a feast for the ears, this year’s PYGMALION is set to be an …
West Side Arts was the perfect kid-friendly arts event
After rain took center stage at Crystal Lake Arts Fair, I was hopeful that West Side Arts wouldn’t suffer the same fate. Luckily, the weather was perfect for the second year of this juried art …
Thank you, so much, for your support
We are nearing the end of our first donation campaign, and to say we are thrilled and grateful would be an understatement. More than 140 of you have chipped in, and that’s amazing. We honestly didn’t …
Weekender: September 15-17
This is a weekend packed with cultural experiences. Check out our suggestions!
The Kingfisher is taking up space, and we’re here for it
We’ve written many times about the need for a new mascot at the University of Illinois. We’ve also written many times about how the Kingfisher is far and away the best option. This week, we …
Get to know PYGMALION poet Deon Robinson
PYGMALION is right around the corner, and as I mentioned in my five things in arts this month, there’s plenty to do at the festival even if you aren’t into the music scene. Ahead of …
Andy Frasco’s electric night at Canopy Club evokes Jimmy Buffet ethos
Last week I published my Five Things in September article, and I listed seeing Andy Frasco live as one of my top suggestions for the month. I had missed his set at Summer Camp, but …
A review of drinks at The Silver Bullet Bar
Of course, The Silver Bullet Bar is something of a legend in town. Tucked away in Urbana and open just four days a week, the 21+ bar offers alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages plus entertainment options …
An update, and a thank you
Last week, we launched our very first donation campaign. You can read more about it here. In short, we are hoping to continue to grow and expand the magazine, and most importantly have the funds …
Weekender: September 8-10
September is in full swing, and there are so many great options for diving into C-U culture this weekend.
Visiting The Militia House with John Milas
In many ways, John Milas is a product of Champaign-Urbana. He grew up in Champaign, attended public school, completed a year at Parkland before enlisting in the Marine Corps, and returned to complete his undergraduate …
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 …
Market Watch: September 2023
September marks month five of Champaign-Urbana’s outdoor farmers’ market season, which runs through October. Have you made it out to the markets this year? Get your basket and canvas bag to the Tuesday and Saturday …
They’re putting up another parking lot?
This week we learned that the building that housed Clark Bar and Glow Bar before they closed is about to be torn down and turned into a Christie Clinic parking lot. Cue Joni Mitchell. I’m not gonna say …
Weekender: September 1-4
From sportsball to swordplay to swing dance, we have some great suggestions for your Labor Day weekend.
Andy Summers brings a lifetime of inspiration to his multi-media show at Ellnora
“I think my style and persona are quite apparent within the results of whatever medium I happen to be working in.” As a guitar practitioner, Andy Summers pauses to let his assertion take effect. It’s …
Marcus Flinn raises the bar for self portraiture
Photographer and artist Marcus Flinn started out like the rest of us, taking photos of himself on his phone…and then it turned into something more. Flinn’s self-portraits are incredible: from conception, design, to execution, you …
Anti-abortion centers want to lure you in
Most of us are all-too familiar with anti-abortion activism that utilizes highly public, offensive, and violent tactics. Anti-abortion activists threaten, attack, and murder abortion providers. They have bombed and burned reproductive health centers, including down …
We’re asking for a little help from our friends
For almost 16 years, we’ve been publishing your work in an effort to better inform one another about what is happening here in Champaign-Urbana. We’ve evolved quite a bit in that time. We’ve honed our …