SPlog

Every month, The Land Connection offers a kid’s kit of market goods plus a recipe pairing, and it’s free! For August, the kid’s kit was a ratatouille how-to that included vegetables from Sola Gratia Farm …

Urbana Boulders will expand into Champaign, with the hopes to open Boneyard Boulders in January 2025. Boneyard Boulders will occupy the space formerly occupied by Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. This makes one less empty space for …

Tomorrow, Tuesday, September 10th, we’re handing our Instagram stories over to the Land Connection for the next installment in our series. They will take us all behind the scenes of a day in the life …

September is the best month in Champaign-Urbana and the surrounding area. There are always a bunch of festivals — last weekend was the Arthur Cheese Festival. This weekend you can check out the Homegrown Music …

The Arthouse Experience Film Series is back with their next film, the 1994 documentary Hoop Dreams, which is regarded as one of the best documentary films of all time. Tickets are just $7 and you …

The 2024 installment of C-U Pride Fest is coming up September 15-22, hosting a wide variety of programming throughout the week. On Monday, September 16th at Spurlock Museum, this event will be taking place “Drag-vocacy: …

Last week, I was sipping brain booster tea, but this week, I’m craving bad decisions. This Thursday, I’m thirsty for the big barrel at Barrelhouse 34. The size of a Big Gulp, this cocktail cost …

There is an unbelievable amount of research being done at the University of Illinois, most of which goes under the radar to the general public. If you’re not in the trenches all of the time, …

Curtis Orchard’s restaurant Flying Monkey Cafe is open for the season serving lunch everyday. Diners order food by checking off a paper menu of entrees, sides, sweets, and drinks, then handing it to staff. The …

Despite the photo above, these installments of Urbana’s Market at the Square will be darker, as City of Urbana has announced the installment of six Thursday night markets September 5th through October 10th. The markets …

Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County has a variety of things under their umbrella, education being a priority in so many ways. Of course, one being the Champaign ReStore, which is celebrating two years in …

Human Library is an opportunity to “unjudge someone”, and if you’re unfamiliar with the event and what it is all about, read more about some of the previous renditions of the event in C-U over …

The village of Tolono will have a farmers market pop-up this Thursday. The one-time event will have farmers, bakers, live music, and a food truck from 5 to 8 p.m. this Thursday, September 5th at …

The 60th issue of the massively popular and multi Hugo award-winning online science fiction and fantasy magazine drops today. If you’re not into speculative fiction or the world of sci-fi and fantasy, you should start …

The breakfast restaurant Just Yolkin’ has closed. Champaign’s Just Yolkin’ first opened in February 2023, and the restaurant’s last day of service was Sunday, September 1st. The brunch eatery served a large menu of breakfast …

That’s it, that’s the thought.  Well, okay, I have one more thought about corn sweat. I hate it. It’s among the absolute worst things about living in Champaign-Urbana. (C-U is otherwise a very nice place …

The Grainger College of Engineering is celebrating five years of their namesake next week, running September 3-6 on campus at the University of Illinois. The college was renamed in recognition of the $100M gift from …

Nichole Millage, the legendary sitting volleyball Paralympian who lives here in Champaign-Urbana and was part of the Tokyo games last time around, has announced she’ll be an analyst for NBC as part of their coverage …

The town’s abuzz this week as the University of Illinois begins fall semester classes. All that learning makes me thirsty for a cup of brain booster tea at Walnut Street Tea Company. Champaign tea shop’s …

As is tradition in the fall (and the spring!), the Countywide Residential Electronics Collection is coming up, and you’ll need to register for a place in line if you’re interested. This year’s fall collection takes …

Next weekend, Urbana Park District is celebrating their 20th annual Jazz Walk with a slew of artists, Chip McNeill Quartet, CU Uke Jam, Katie Flynn Duo, Hot Club of Urbana, and many more. You can …

Every year, the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois hosts a Diamonds, Desserts, and Distinction event that celebrates a Woman of Distinction and her contributions to the local community. This year, the 2024 Woman of Distinction …

Dim Sum House has opened in Campustown. Located at the corner of Fourth and Green Streets beside Northern Cuisine, the new restaurant is in the same space that used to be unlimited hot pot restaurant Chong Qing House, …

Sinfonia da Camera, the chamber orchestra in-residence at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, is a tremendous outfit that we’re fortunate enough to have present here in Champaign-Urbana. Lead by Maestro Ian Hobson, the orchestra …

Downtown Champaign’s Hamilton Walker’s has not one but two opportunities for you to attend a wine dinner. Throughout the summer, the restaurant hosted a few here and there, typically only one night per winery and …

I’ve been into Common Ground’s spinach-basil pesto all summer. The Urbana grocery makes pesto from scratch with organic spinach and basil with olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic. Instead of pine nuts, Common Ground uses …

Our Opinion section is mostly populated with our weekly Editorial Board offerings, but every once in a while someone with an opinion to share will reach out with a pitch. We’ve published articles on the foul smells emanating from Kraft, the emu, school district issues, jail …

The much anticipated cookie chain Crumbl has opened in Champaign. The new Crumbl is located in the plaza along Neil Street in the spot that formerly housed the chain cupcakery Small Cakes. The bakery’s grand …

Alright all you crazy kids, it’s time for the 11th season of CUDO Plays. The Champaign-Urbana Design Organization once again hosts its annual board game design competition; registration for the six-month long festivities, training, and …

Welcome (back) to Champaign-Urbana, students, staff, and faculty! If you’re new here, hello! I’m a little biased, but Smile Politely is an excellent source of information for things to do, what to see, where to eat, and …

Local musical act Modern Drugs has had a busy summer playing places like Rose Bowl Tavern and Friday Night Live, and they are putting a cherry on top by playing The Space in downtown Champaign …

The final Friday Night Live of the summer season is set to take place this Friday, August 23rd, in downtown Champaign. This community event offers a night filled with live music across three different stages …

Cafe Kopi has been posting various handwritten notes found around the cafe for their #KopiFoundArt series, which is a pretty fun and heartwarming rabbithole to go down. If you’re unfamiliar, there are several hidden features …

University students return for fall semester this week, and all the move-in traffic made me think about when I first moved to Champaign-Urbana more than a decade ago. When I was new to C-U, a …

The Champaign Urbana Theatre Company presents Rock of Ages, Youth Edition this weekend. Penguin Project is a national effort to empower children and youth living with developmental disabilities to explore their creative side and enjoy …

We see you sharing your opinions on Champaign-Urbana’s food and drink scene on our social media pages. Why not formalize it and contribute to our Food & Drink section? What’s required? It’s helpful to have …

“Improvise and Intervene” was the second cohort for the Interseminars project from Humanities Research Institute, which launched towards the end of 2022. Now, the culminating event series is inviting the public to engage with its …

Seven researchers were recognized as part of Beckman Institute’s annual Research Image Contest, hosted each spring that includes undergrads, graduates, postdoctoral or staff researchers, and faculty members. This year’s winners now have their pieces on …

The Mahomet Music Festival, a long-standing community tradition in Mahomet, offers a weekend of live music, food, and entertainment on August 23rd and 24th at 503 E. Main St., located adjacent to the downtown area. …

The housemade soft serve at Suzu’s Bakery is very cutesy. The Downtown Champaign shop makes the soft serve, shortbread cookie, and mochi squares fresh in house and without artificial dyes — very demure, very mindful. …

Two days ago, Royal BBQ opened on Green Street in what was once Nanjing Bistro. The new Campustown restaurant offers Hong Kong-style barbecue and neo-Cantonese dishes seven days a week. Using open fire, Royal BBQ …

Here is another not-so-subtle reminder that summer is coming to a close soon: Fall flavors are starting to pop up. Columbia Street Roastery, the coffee haven of Champaign, is now offering their fall seasonal flavors, …

Following up on my post from last month, move in days are here and that means University YMCA‘s Dump & Run is happening. The event takes place this weekend Saturday, August 24th from 8 a.m. …

Calling all artists in the region. Come find out about upcoming opportunities in Central Illinois’ bourgeoning film industry. Did you know that filmmakers are always looking for artwork to include in their productions? This workshop …

Train aficionados are anxiously awaiting a passing glimpse of one of the most famous steam locomotives to rumble through Central Illinois. The Union Pacific’s Big Boy 4014 steam locomotive is on tour through the heartland …

Living in a university town, it’s hard not to feel like summer is over by mid-August. Our K-12 kiddos were back to school this week, and the University of Illinois and Parkland College students head …

Mooseapalooza II is back at Rose Bowl Tavern in Urbana, and it’s shaping up to be another unforgettable day of local music and community spirit. The event, curated by Rosemary Ferrara and Ward Gollings, kicks …