Weekender: May 2-5
Welcome to May! This weekend has plenty on offer, including shopping, live music, arts, and cicada-free outdoor activities.
Culture
Solidarity Gardens shares food in community
There is nothing more inspiring than talking to people who really love what they do. I spoke with Azlan Guttenberg Smith, Fiona Munro, and Dustin Bacon who work with Solidarity Gardens in various ways. These …
A look at the history of Altgeld Hall
Right now, Altgeld Hall’s Romanesque design is barely visible, and its iconic chimes are unable to be heard as a long awaited renovation process is underway. This marks almost 70 years since the last major …
Weekender: April 18-21
So many things to do this weekend, including Ebertfest’s 25th anniversary, vegan “burgers,” live music, and celebrating 4/20, if that’s your thing.
A 2024 guide to spring plant, flower, and herb sales in Champaign County
The back and forth weather we had to endure in March really did a number on me. But after a beautiful weekend, I’m energized and ready to spend more time outside. Planting flowers and plants …
Lincoln Square: The anti-mall
When I was growing up in Urbana in the 90s and aughts, Lincoln Square was considered a place where businesses go to die. It had its mainstays, of course, but for the most part it …
The Champaign-Urbana IGDA stays connected through community
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) is an organization that connects people who are part of every facet of the gaming industry. Champaign-Urbana has their own chapter that is open to developers, but also to …
Weekender: April 11-14
What a gorgeous weekend for exploring Boneyard Arts Festival, live music, and Illini sports.
Get your Culture here: Four ways to support C-U in April 2024
If my weather app is telling me the truth, it seems like spring is maybe, possibly here to stay. April in Champaign-Urbana may not have the most consistent weather but you can always count on …
Andrea Hunt makes her own rules
Andrea Hunt considers herself a dreamer and artist at heart. After a painful divorce, she funneled her creative passions and independent spirit into floral design. The CU Flower House is a bit like a phoenix, …
50 years of La Casa Cultural Latina: Our house, your home / nuestra casa, tu hogar
Every time I walk into La Casa Cultural Latina at 1203 West Nevada in Urbana, the small but numerous rooms are bursting with music and students. Friends call to one another across the crowded hallway …
Weekender: April 4-7
Enjoy plenty of food, arts, music, and edutainment this weekend.
Learn more about the upcoming solar eclipse with David Leake
Next Monday, April 8th, we’ll get to witness a total solar eclipse and parts of Illinois will be in the path of totality. The next one won’t be until 2045, so I reached out to …
The Beckman Institute open house offers up science for everyone
The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois Open House is well-known in Champaign-Urbana as a way for the community to connect with researchers, students, and science. Lexie Kesler is …
Nathan Tolbert pushes the limitations of new games on old consoles
Nathan Tolbert is a lead research software engineer at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) at the University of Illinois, and for the past 15 years he has also been developing indie games in …
Weekender: March 28-31
If you are needing some help making plans for this last weekend in March, we have some ideas!
Tempered Mettle is building a community around historical fencing
A few weeks ago, I stood in the gym of CU Jiu Jitsu, holding a big foam sword. Across from me was Matthew Currey, co-owner of Tempered Mettle Historical Fencing. Currey, also holding a foam …
The questionable aims of an early 20th century U of I student group
Over one hundred years after it existed, the history of a student organization at the University of Illinois is still being reevaluated. The organization’s name was Ku Klux Klan, or KKK, the same as the …
Weekender: March 21-24
We have a jam-packed Weekender for you. Enjoy!
The Parkland men’s basketball team continues to dominate
Folks, we made it. March is finally here and bringing with it college basketball postseason games and a chance for us true sporting fans, gambling addicts, and washed-up athletes to distract ourselves from work and …
The Maple Syrup festival was a pretty good time
The Vermillion County Conservation District hosted their Maple Syrup Festival in Forest Glen Preserve on March 17th. In preparation for the festival, 500 sugar maple trees were tapped to collect the sap that was cooked …
Weekender: March 14-17
Whether you’re taking in some Big Ten basketball, donning your green for St. Paddy’s Day, or enjoying the waning days of Spring Break, there are plenty of options for weekend fun.
The power of language
The Bengali Student Organization wanted to celebrate International Mother Language Day by gathering together a group of students from various language backgrounds to celebrate their culture, identity, and language and asking, “what does your language …
Joy Okumu champions a new way to support patients of color
Joy Okumu is a pediatric nurse at Carle Health, board member with the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, and an innovator of the hair care project at Carle, an initiative that is teaching healthcare providers about …
Weekender: March 7-10
Do you have plans for this first weekend of spring break? We have a few ideas for you.
Get your Culture here: Four things to do in March that are not related to the holidays
There are so many holidays during the month of March: the beginning of Ramadan, Holi, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, basketball tournaments, and Spring Break (the last two are admittedly not holidays, but worth celebrating all …
The first-ever UI Con was a huge success
The inaugural UI Con happened at the Illini Union last weekend. For those unfamiliar, UI Con is a comic convention for fans to dress up, gather with other fans, learn from experts, compete in contests, …
Farewell, Prairie Play
Prairie Play Playground had its final play date last weekend. The old wooden play structure is slated for demolition to make space for the new playground going in late 2024. There is still time to …
Weekender: February 29-March 3
We have some ideas for how to spend this extra day in February, and the rest of the weekend.
Illinois Soul found a formula for building a community radio station
Back in December, Illinois Public Media announced the launch of a brand new radio station that “elevates Black voices, music, and culture throughout central Illinois, and online, with the power of public media.” Illinois Soul, …
What’s in a name? The namesakes of U of I buildings
In our last interview together, we got to know more about historian and editor, Ryan A. Ross. In it, he gave us a seriously in-depth look at the history of Homecoming at the University of …
Midwest Scuba Center: C-U’s local dive
A recent string of sinus surgeries stranded Alex Gentner on dry land for two months — the longest stretch of time he’s gone between scuba dives in a decade. Since 2007, Gentner has suited up and …
Inaugural UI Con is not to be missed
In the last decade and a half, comics and comics-adjacent culture have become mainstream. Even if you don’t know what anime is, or the names of indie comics publishers, you’ve probably seen a Marvel Cinematic …
It’s a vibe: First date edition
Food and Drink editor Alyssa and I were chatting earlier this year about places to go in Champaign-Urbana that have a certain vibe — a place you can go with a distinct feeling and can …
Weekender: February 22-25
Let us help you plan your weekend.
The Insect Film Fear Festival is way more than just creepy insects
The Insect Fear Film Festival is put on every year by the Entomology Graduate Students Association. It’s a unique way to interact with insects that might seem scary and it makes them a little more …
Downstate Third Act on working to leave a more sustainable planet
Downstate Third Act (a branch of Third Act) is an organization working to protect the planet and support a vigorous democracy for people over the age of 60. Pat Simpson is a retired academic who …
The Sankofa RoboBuilders are building a path to success
The Sankofa RoboBuilders did not win the FIRST Lego League Qualifier competition held on the University of Illinois campus back in December. But that’s only if you have a very strict definition of “winning.” When …
Weekender: February 15-18
Need some help planning your weekend? Our editors have you covered.
Five last minute presents for Valentine’s Day
I have a love-hate relationship with Valentine’s Day. On one hand I have always enjoyed using this day as a way to show the people in my life how much they mean to me and …
Some secondhand stores to explore with your Valentine (or whomever)
Here in the capitalist hellscape we all live in, it can be hard to find cheap, fun, outings to do with your Valentine. There’s The Great Outdoors of course (which is often free), though it’s …
Weekender: February 8-11
There is no shortage of cool things to do this weekend. Let our editors help you plan.
Get your Culture here: Five ways to celebrate Black History Month February 2024
Black History Month is here! I was actually a little overwhelmed at all there was to do in Champaign-Urbana this month and it was hard to narrow it down to just five. From a holiday …
Weekender: February 1-4
It’s finally February, which is a much better month than January. Here are some suggestions for starting the month out right.
Janice Weldon follows her passion, with a little help from cannabis
Janice Weldon has lived in Champaign for most of her life. She’s a self taught artist, mother, and digital illustrator with a love for skating. feralFLORALS was created as a result of encouraging her kids …
Weekender: January 25-28
Now that we’ve all thawed, get out there and do some stuff!
Janice Harrington on paying attention to the world around us
Janice Harrington has lived in Champaign-Urbana since the 1980s, working at both the Urbana Free Library and the Champaign Public Library. Currently she is a Professor of English at the University of Illinois and an …
Weekender: January 18-21
Let our editors help plan your weekend.
Get your Culture here: Three ways to pull yourself out of winter hibernation in January 2024
I feel like I should apologize in advance because January and February are not my best months. The sun is still setting early, you have to wear a million layers when you go outside, and …