Heck yeah, it’s time for fall coffee at Columbia Street Roastery
Sure doesn’t feel like fall out there right now, but that is not going to stop me from brewing up a pot of pumpkin pie coffee. It’s my way of summoning the crisp, cool temps. …
SPlog
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 …
You can rent a U of I rower if you need some help around the house
The University of Illinois Rowing Club has set up an interesting way of raising money for their organization: Rent-A-Rower. If you need some help with moving, yard work, house cleaning, or any variety of chores …
The Champaign Public Library will be hosting a virtual conversation with Colson Whitehead
Coleson Whitehead was previously here in 2018 and this time he will be in conversation with CPL to talk about his latest book, “Crook Manifesto”. The book came out in July of this year and …
Have you tried the all-you-can-eat menu at Star BBQ?
When was the last time you went to Star BBQ? Admittedly, another Korean restaurant is more frequently in my rotation, but that is about to change. Star BBQ, in Savoy, is delicious. And yes, there …
Volition has been shut down
Volition, the Champaign video game development studio responsible for the Saints Row franchise, has been shut down by Embracer Group, its parent company. They made the announcement on their LinkedIn page today: The company was …
Common Ground is teaming up with Sola Gratia for their September cooking class
Homemade corn tortillas topped with seasoned black beans, roasted sweet potatoes and bell peppers, and garnished with local queso fresco, cilantro, and red cabbage; homemade salsa; cilantro lime crema, ensalada with salted red cabbage, cherry …
The gazebo at Clark Bar has been removed
After a variety of incidents that ended with their liquor license being revoked in 2022, Clark Bar and Glow Bar have remained closed except for serving a few brunches last summer, sans booze. It appears …
Merry Travelers release new single and video for “Sun and Moon” ahead of October album release
Merry Travelers’ new single “Sun and Moon” isn’t just a musical release — it’s a multidimensional artwork that weaves together music, stop-motion animation, and paper puppetry. Conceived by lead singer Holly Monet Curia, the song …
Illinois Public Media was nominated for four regional Emmy awards
The 2023 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Mid-America Chapter gave four nods to work done through Illinois Public Media this year. The winners will be announced on September 30th.
Bookmark these two Urbana fall family-friendly arts and culture events
40 North and the Urbana Arts and Culture Program are hosting their joint event PostMark Urbana on Saturday September 9th from 12 to 4 p.m. Hosted at the Busey Bank parking lot, there will be …
Turkish coffee at Dubai Grill is a cool experience — and it’s not even on the menu
A little birdie told me Dubai Grill had good coffee, so I went to the Middle Eastern restaurant to see for myself. For a good minute, I stared at the menu because it only had …
Join the Prairie Dragon Paddlers for a Friends and Family Festival
The Prairie Dragon Paddlers, an organization that brings breast cancer survivors together with the sport of dragon boating, are inviting people to the Salt Fork Center at Homer Lake on September 17th. From 1 to …
It turns out, Mary Miller is doing nothing for her district
In this week’s episode of “Elections Have Consequences,” we learn that electing right wing extremists means your district doesn’t get any financial support via community project funding (aka “earmarks”). Tom Kacich gave a rundown of …
Party at Pour Bros. for the bar’s five year anniversary
Downtown Champaign’s Pour Bros. Craft Taproom is celebrating five years in C-U with a big party this Saturday, September 2nd — and everyone is welcome to attend. The pour-your-own beer bar will have live music …
Help the Champaign City Council set their goals for the next two years
Now that the current configuration of Champaign City Council members have settled in post-election, they will be meeting at the end of September to set goals for the term, which lasts from now until 2025. …
A first look at Encanto Restaurant and Bar, opening where Crane Alley was
Encanto Restaurant and Bar will open in Downtown Urbana this Friday, September 1st with a menu of Mexican and Peruvian cuisine, bringing life back to the space that used to be Crane Alley. Encanto will …
Two local students awarded in statewide poetry contest
Maeve Rogers, a first grade student from Savoy, and Robert Gao, a tenth grader from Champaign, were named among the recipients of this year’s Gwendolyn Brooks Youth Poetry Award. The annual competition is open to …
There’s not enough pimento cheese in C-U
As we live in the Midwest, there are not as many opportunities for eating pimento cheese as I would like. I didn’t try it until just a few years ago, when my family was on …
Thursday Night Live is happening next week
This is not a typo, rather the name of the upcoming State Farm Center show that will feature Colin Jost from Saturday Night Live (who IMO is pretty great as co-anchor of Weekend Update) with …
Community Foundation of East Central Illinois is hosting a Board Match Expo
What is a Board Match Expo? It’s honestly a really smart idea. They’ve gathered up representatives from a number of nonprofit organizations in Champaign-Urbana, that focus on all sorts of different causes, to come together …
The new La Gueras Kitchen food truck has brisket fried rice and crab rangoon fries
La Gueras Kitchen is one of the newest Champaign-Urbana food trucks, serving classic handhelds like hot dogs, barbecue sandwiches, and fries plus Asian menu items: egg rolls, crab rangoons, and fried rice. There’s also fusion …
Check out the fall tea ceremony schedule at Japan House
The fall semester is underway, and Japan House is ramping back up after a short summer break. They’ve added tea ceremony dates for September through December, and if you want to take part it’s a …
You can participate in the Human Library on September 23rd
The Human Library returns to PYGMALION on Saturday, September 23rd at Analog in Urbana. It’s a pretty cool project: people serve as “books,” which can be “read” (i.e., put in dialogue with) by participants. From …
Red Herring’s lunch is back on September 5th
Red Herring Vegetarian restaurant will reopen for lunch next week on Tuesday, September 5th after a summer break. The rotating menu includes soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, black bean burgers, nachos with cashew cheeze, and more …
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 …
Hopscotch Bakery & Market is for sale
Owners Kaya Speagle and Kelly Whiting made the announcement yesterday. Here is what they had to say in a recent post: It is with a mix of emotions that we write to you today, as …
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 …
Fiala Brothers serves up salad in a pitcher
I’ve consumed a lot of things out of a pitcher, all of them liquid. This is honestly an approach I’ve never considered, but I think it’s kind of fun and hilarious, and I suppose makes …
The desserts of last night’s Diamonds, Desserts, and Distinction event
Last night, Girl Scouts of Central Illinois held their annual Diamonds, Desserts, and Distinction event, honoring women who exhibit courage, confidence, and character. This year’s Women of Distinction award winners were six first responders: Chief …
Show up early to Illinois football games for cheaper eats and drinks
There’s a lot of exciting food and drink news surrounding the upcoming football season. Watson’s announced that they’ll be serving up sammies and tenders and slushes. They will be operating alongside several other food trucks, …
The pepperoni game is strong at Pizzeria Antica
Last week, I extolled the virtues of a pizza that is a bit off the beaten path in terms of ingredients: the Apple Butter Bacon at Manolo’s. This week’s pizza appreciation post is for the …
Where are your favorite C-U working spots with Wi-Fi?
Here at Smile Politely, we all work remotely. Most of the time it’s from home, but we all enjoy sitting somewhere in Champaign-Urbana to get our work done; Wi-Fi is a requirement, and treats in …
You can pick up a kid kit at the Champaign Farmers Market next week
Kid Kits are coming back to the Champaign Farmers Market, starting next Tuesday, August 29th. If you’ve been to either market lately, you’ve probably noticed an abundance of things like eggplant, bell peppers, zucchini, summer …
Ties & Tennies will raise money for youth scholarships
The Ties & Tennies Gala is an annual fundraiser from the Champaign Parks Foundation, and this year the event will be focused on funding youth scholarships. According to Chelsea Norton, Director of Marketing and Development, …
CUPHD is distributing free NARCAN kits next week
August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day, and Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is recognizing it by distributing free NARCAN kits to community members. The kit contains a nasal spray with naloxone, and makes it relatively …
Manifest West releases new EP showing off their varied influences
Manifest West, an indie rock band hailing from Champaign, is thrilled to announce the release of their upcoming seven-track EP called Wright St. Fans can look forward to enjoying the new EP on various streaming …
It’s hot, so let’s think about fall
The heat indices this week are truly silly and unnecessary, and I’m over it. I’m always over summer by the time August rolls around, and the extreme temps are just piling on. Let’s take our …
Visit the Parkland Art and Design Faculty Exhibition
For the next month, you can stop by Giertz Gallery at Parkland College and admire the talents of the college’s Art and Design faculty. The exhibition will feature work from Nyx Eckmayer, Shawn Fairchild, Paula …
The Penguin Project’s Finding Nemo Jr. is this weekend
This weekend is the Champaign Urbana Theatre Company’s sixth annual Penguin Project production. The Penguin Project is a national program originally founded in Peoria, IL. Each year, an adapted version of a Broadway musical is …
Bill Self is coming back to the State Farm Center
On October 29th, the Illini men’s basketball team will take on the Kansas Jayhawks. This game will mark head coach Bill Self’s first visit to the State Farm Center since leaving the Illini in 2003 …
Ginger Ale’s now open for business in Savoy
The drive-through beverage restaurant Ginger Ale’s is now open for business in Savoy. In addition to beverages, the fast food business offers indulgent foods like nachos, chili cheese dogs, and a doughnut sandwich. Today, I …
There’s a Sweet Corn Circus happening in Uptown Normal this weekend
Did you know that Illinois State University has a whole circus troupe that’s been performing since 1929? Gamma Phi Circus is the oldest collegiate circus troupe in the U.S. Growing up in Normal, not far …
Punch! Bar & Lounge reopens tomorrow
Downtown Champaign’s Punch! Bar & Lounge will reopen tomorrow on Wednesday, August 23rd after a multi-week closure. The bar’s liquor license is active, and once again crazy good mixed drinks and amazing mocktails will be …
The Vault Art Gallery is celebrating its tenth anniversary
The Vault Art Gallery in downtown Tuscola is celebrating its tenth anniversary this weekend. Originally founded as the Vault Arts Collective in 2013, the gallery is one of the largest privately owned art galleries in Downstate Illinois. …
Solar Urbana Champaign is beginning its eighth year
Thinking about going solar? Solar Urbana Champaign — a group buy program where home and business owners can pool their resources to make switching to solar a bit more affordable — is starting up their …
Learn about the Morrow Plots with the University Library
One of the first things I learned about in my orientation process at the University of Illinois, was the Morrow Plots. Now, my knowledge is sort of limited to what was imparted to me by …
Maize Mexican Grill is now open at the Illini Union
Maize Mexican Grill’s new location at the Illini Union is now open for weekday breakfast and lunch just in time for fall semester. Diners order food at the counter (or on a kiosk); online pre-ordering …
BIPOC for Better Birth is hosting a celebration and photoshoot on Saturday
Black Breastfeeding Week is August 25-31, and BIPOC for Better Birth is celebrating this Saturday at Hessel Park. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the pavilion, there will be a free event for nursing …