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 …
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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 …
New students: Stay hydrated and call your grown ups
It was an interesting exercise participating in the formation of this week’s editorial, about the influx of students into our community, on the heels of taking my own child multiple states away to begin her …
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 …
Welcome, students, we’re glad you’re here
Students, welcome! While sometimes we may casually lament about the difficulty in getting around campus when you’re here, or do a little celebrating about the summer pace when you’re not, ultimately, your presence is very …
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 …
Stop by Guerrero Azteca truck for tacos and mangonada
We have a great selection of taco trucks in the Champaign-Urbana area, and Guerrero Azteca truck might possibly be my new favorite. Now I’m a person that really enjoys Mexican food; it is always one …
The Overture August 21-27
The Overture is a rundown of live music and performances happening in and around Champaign-Urbana each week. All of the information is as accurate as we can publish; however, all shows and performances are subject …
It’s been quite a Food & Drink week
A lot of food news happened late last week, and into the weekend, and wow did our Monday morning postings sure reflect that: We got yet another big piece of news about a beloved restaurant yesterday. We …
Weekender: August 18-20
Whether you choose to venture near Campustown, or stay the hell away, we have some suggestions for your weekend.
Let’s leave our suburban landscaping habits in the past
As the summer winds down to make way for autumn, it’s almost time to dust off the old leaf blower and rake and get ready for fall yard work. Or is it? It turns out …
An inside look at the planning of a season at the Station Theatre
Out of all the art forms we cover in this section, theatre is probably the area that I know the least about. I’ve gone to theatre productions, of course, but when the Station Theatre announced …
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 …
Maize’s tequila tasting event had elegant al fresco eats
Tasting dinners are having a moment at restaurants in Champaign-Urbana right now, and I love to see it. Little tastes of special dishes are fun with little sips of special drinks. Food and drink were …
I love living in a university town
With move in beginning next week, I’ve been thinking about something that I often find myself saying to people, when talking about where I live: “I really love living in a university town.” I definitely …
Weekender: August 11-13
Our editors have some solid suggestions for your weekend plans.
The Village of Savoy wants to build a downtown
Earlier this summer, the Village of Savoy put out a request for expression of interest (REI) from developers to build out a “postcard worthy” downtown at the intersection of Church and Dunlap. In theory, this …
Sola Gratia Farm is spreading out, and spreading the love
Last month, I spent a sunny late afternoon ambling through the land newly acquired by Sola Gratia Farm, as part of the Urbana Amble garden tour. The 29 acre expanse of new land is tucked …
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 …
Crystal Lake Art Fair made for a rainy but enjoyable Saturday
Last weekend was the fifth year for the Crystal Lake Art Fair, hosted by 40 North and the Urbana Park District (you can read about last year’s fair here). This was my first year attending, …
Well folks, it’s August
We really do have just one more week before school starts for Unit 4 and District 116, and before U of I students begin the move-in process. Parkland isn’t far behind. How does it happen so quickly …
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 …
From high school poems to heartland ballads, Chicago Farmer evolves
From his humble roots in Delavan, Illinois, Cody Diekhoff’s (Chicago Farmer) journey into the world of music began with earnest simplicity. “I started out on a barstool with just my guitar and harmonica, playing songs …
Five things in arts: August 2023
After last week’s heatwave, it may be hard to believe, but the end of summer is near. The pools are closing soon, kids go back to school in a few weeks, and campus and fall …