SPlog

I have a kid about to pursue an anthropology major, so I’ve been hyper focused on all things anthropology lately. The field encompasses such a vast range of study and research and discovery, and this …

Mark your calendars for Sunday, August 6th as national touring act The Brother Brothers, accompanied by local singer-songwriter Clayton Burke, are set to perform at Rose Bowl Tavern. This intimate concert, presented by RightHereMusic, aims …

A year ago, Fiala Brothers opened in Uptown Normal. Owned by Steve and Ryan Fiala, who own the Champaign and Normal D.P. Doughs, respectively, it serves various forms of grilled cheese sandwiches (and they have …

Feast your eyes on these golden balls of rice. Made with creamy saffron risotto, ground veal, diced carrots, softened celery, and peas, these arancini are from Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage, the sandwich shop in …

A Japanese matcha dessert shop called Matcha En is coming to Champaign. Matcha En will open inside a Campustown apartment building on Sixth Street, and the menu includes matcha drinks, soft serve, cakes, fruit tea, …

Secretary Buttigieg is hitting some spots in IL-13 today, along with Senator Dick Durbin, Representative Nikki Budzinski, and Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. They will join local leaders here in a couple of different locations. …

A little while ago, we posted about mac and cheese (or rather, that I Heart Mac & Cheese in Urbana had closed). It kicked off a lively discussion about whether or not Farren’s has macaroni …

Beginning this weekend, Martinelli’s Market Bakery & Deli is extending their hours to include Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and they are celebrating with some brunch specials. Pop in this Sunday and try …

Neil St. Blues, Downtown Champaign’s from-scratch Southern cuisine restaurant, is hosting a five-course dinner with beer pairings from Triptych Brewing. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. on August 14th, and the menu includes the …

YWCA of Champaign County is planning for summer and fall sessions of their Strive program, which provides digital skills training in internet safety, Google Workspace, and job search readiness. The program is free, and offered …

If you don’t have an air conditioned place to be, or know of anyone who is in that situation, here are community cooling centers that are open to the public, that are also listed on …

I spotted this in the Champaign Urbana History group on Facebook. This is 1975, the year that Esquire opened. In a search for more iterations of the Downtown Champaign bar, I found this one from …

Okay so we don’t often highlight two TikToks in one week, but I feel that it’s important to share this one from MTD. I love to see some timely and creative marketing. It’s also been …

National Burger Day is tomorrow, Friday, July 28th. I don’t know about you, but I’m a big fan of burgers. Give me cheeseburgers, smashburgers, thick steakburgers, and food truck burgers. I even love little bitty …

Chambana Proud, the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation, You’re Welcome CU, Experience Champaign-Urbana collab, is now selling these cute laptop/water bottle/whatever you like to stick things to stickers in their online store. The designs are …

The airwaves from Downtown Champaign are alive and well, 24/7, at 90.1 FM — all volunteer, streaming at weft.org. WEFT is seeking new airshifters for public affairs, music, and shows of your own inspiration. Contact Eric Bohlen …

It’s time for Krannert to clear out some costumes and props to make way for a new season of productions. This year’s sale will be August 26th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you …

The Odyssey Project, which offers free humanities courses taught by U of I professors, is still accepting applications for their fall session. The courses are for non-traditional students looking to continue their education or add …

Ginger Ale’s, a shop with a drive-through of drinks, quick-serve meals, and desserts, is coming to Savoy on Dunlap Avenue near Walmart and Captain Jack’s Treasures. Also with locations in Olney and Mattoon, this will …

Illinois Public Media is looking to better serve Black communities in Central Illinois with a media service, both on the air and online, dedicated to “Black music, voices, and culture.” Their motivation centers around the …

We haven’t shared any new information on The Yards, the giant sports-transportation-hotel-retail complex that was supposed to happen in Downtown Champaign, since 2020. To be honest, I’d completely forgotten that it was a thing. Late …

Cloud Mountain Kombucha, C-U’s kombucha bar, makes nationally award-winning brews of kombucha. Kombucha is fermented tea with less than 1% alcohol, so it can make a great alternative to boozy beverages. Brewed in Urbana, Cloud …

The City of Champaign recently established a new website dedicated to gathering input from citizens. We initially shared it as a way to give your opinion on the redistricting happening within the city council districts. …

Maize at the Station is planning a five course dining experience for August 10th with Don Julio pairings. From their post: “Tequila lovers, take note we will be offering Don Julio’s more esteemed choices including …

A little unhinged, maybe, but amazing. I’ve never wanted to visit a railway museum more. H/T to Jacob Rajlich for sharing this on Twitter. Take a look at the Monticello Railway Museum website if you …

The Tanguero summer workshop is taking this place this week. The workshop brings together students and renowned Argentine Tango professionals from around the world for “an immersive education experience.” In conjunction with the workshop, there …

Champaign County Forest Preserve District has two opportunities coming up for exploring Homer Lake in either a kayak or a canoe, with someone who’s in the know about aquatic life and the natural setting of …

Next week the Rose Bowl Tavern is hosting, Unapologetic and Disrespectable: A Fundraiser for the Transgender Law Center. Across the US, trans people are being targeted, 80 bills have already been passed and over 300 …

Sinfonia da Camera is hosting their Summer Piano Institute next week at the University of Illinois. The program “offers advanced study for serious pianists, including graduate, undergraduate, and a limited number of highly qualified pre-college …

I park in these spots outside Lincoln Square’s north entrance, across from the Independent Media Center, a couple of times a week. In the last few weeks, I’ve really been drawn to these clusters of…sunflowers? …

Parkland College Career and Technical Education is inviting area high schoolers to participate in a free workshop, where they can learn to use Autodesk Maya (3D computer animation software) and Unreal Game Engine (a series …

Champaign’s Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery took home three medals from this year’s American Cheese Society 2023 nationwide cheese competition. The creamery‘s moonglo, a goat milk semi-hard cheese, won second place in the Farmstead Cheese …

Opened just last year, The Black Bull restaurant is closed for business as of this week. There’s a sign on the door announcing the closure and expressing gratitude to their customers. The Black Bull served …

On Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m., you listen to some retro music while enjoying food and drinks on North Street in Uptown Normal. Medici, a solid restaurant that I’ve visited a few times, is …

Campustown’s Mandarin Wok is now closed, and the space is currently for rent. The restaurant served Chinese cuisine including Hong Kong-style dim sum, daily specials, and tasty lunch to go next to Sakanaya on Green …

Pretty much every year, I extol the virtues of the fall seasonal coffee flavors at Columbia Street Roastery. They are one of those things that make autumn great in this community. I do enjoy some …

Busey has opened up their call for artists for the 1868 Exhibition, which features artwork from local artists. The event is organized in partnership with 40 North | 88 West. Artwork must be submitted by …

Opening day at Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch is almost here. During the off season, they’ve had a fire and some storm but it seems things are back in order and the farm is ready …

If you are a soccer fan, you likely know that the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ begins this week. The US team has the opportunity to claim a third consecutive title, something no men’s or women’s …

The Station Theatre has just announced the six shows that will make up their 51st season, which will run from September 2023 through May 2024. The line-up is quite diverse, with works depicting eight-grade “doomers” …

It’s that time of year, when University of Illinois Press offers a peek into the titles they will be releasing in the next season. For a little reminder on what they are all about: Through …

Thirteen restaurants participated in C-U’s Vegan Chef Challenge last month. From a chickpea smashburger to mock duck in a spicy sauce, Champaign-Urbana restaurants came up with brand-new dishes for the June challenge. C-U’s Vegan Chef …

Urbana Park District and the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology are partnering for a series of nature walks that will focus on a variety of pollinators. Each event will consist of a presentation …

Head to campus for a free all-ages event featuring Mother Nature, a renowned hip-hop duo and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumnae, live in concert at the ISYM Hip-Hop Camp Party on the Quad on Wednesday …

If classical music is your cup of tea, treat yourself to a season’s worth of performances from the professional chamber orchestra at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, led by Maestro Ian Hobson. From KCPA: …

If you have driven by the end of South Prospect, there’s a good chance you’ve seen this garden. The Urban Gardens Company is a roadside stand that sells an ever-rotating array of flowers, herbs, and …

Looking for a small yet impactful action to help others this week? Here are two from our local townships. City of Champaign Township is looking for “free and clear” laundry detergent pods to stock in …