Ludlow
FOOD & DRINK
Paxton’s First Friday’s concert series fully announced
PAXTON, Ill. (WCIA) – The First Friday’s concert series is fully underway in Paxton. May 3rd was the first performance featuring the Everingham-Pittman Band, a classic rock band featuring songs from the 70’s and 80’s. The concert series takes place on the first Friday of every month, hence its namesake. The following is the lineup […]
The emu was just spotted and they look good
The emu lives! It’s been a while since it was last sighted, but Jacob Dickey just shared this video on his Facebook page, taken by Arnoud Buzing. Look at this emu, just out there, living its best life. The feathers look good, the energy is high, this emu is thriving it seems.
My go-to orders at six barbecue places around town
Huzzah, National Barbecue Day is tomorrow, May 16th. Thankfully, we have a lot of barbecue options in Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, and beyond. Our local barbecue joints offer different takes on American barbecue, each with special barbecue sauces and unique barbecue sides. I have two favorite spots in town for burnt ends, two favorites for a saucy barbecue pork sandwich, and two spots that pair yummy pie with barbecue.
Things are happening at Urbana’s forthcoming H Mart
After a long, long wait, things are finally happening at the spot for our very own H Mart grocery store. Even in the yesterday’s rain, there were construction vehicles and workers starting to renovate Urbana’s vacant Save A Lot location on Broadway Avenue into the popular Korean grocery store.
Casting service seeking movie extras in Champaign County
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) – A film casting service will be looking for background actors in Champaign County throughout this weekend. Amidst an ongoing effort to bring more movie productions to Central Illinois, Bokeh Background Casting is hosting two open casting calls for two upcoming films. The calls will place actors into a talent pool, […]
Champaign County Humane Society | Meet Sheeba
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — If you’ve been on the fence about adding a furry friend to your family, now’s the time! Here with us are Daniella Misa, adoption supervisor at the Champaign County Humane Society, and Sheeba!. Website. Social Media Links.
Take a visual tour of the Urbana Straw Bale House
There are many pieces of interesting architecture in our community, some of which I was reminded of after reading Amy Penne’s preview of what is to come in the arts this month. Mid-Continent Modern is being celebrated at Krannert Art Museum this week, a project which took a look at the Erlanger House in Urbana, just one of many mid-century homes. You don’t have to look around too much to find other interesting home projects in Urbana, and while this one is a bit different than something like Erlanger, I was lead to the Urbana Straw Bale House. This house, located at 605 East Main Street in Urbana, was awarded Traditional Construction Heritage Award by PACA a few years back. This is just one of many that is new to me, so I thought it would be worth a share.
The new Hound’s Court and Hound’s Rest owners want these spaces to feel like home
Last month, Alyssa posted about the re-opening of two new bars in the former Blind Pig spaces. There were a lot of questions from the community about the name change and what the future of these spaces looked like, so I took some time to talk to the new owners, Kristen and Jim Enderle, to ask them some questions about their bars, Hound’s Rest and Hound’s Court. We chatted about what drew them to these spaces and what they hope you’ll find when you come for a visit. And stay tuned: You’ll be able to see them for yourself at their grand opening on May 21st.
Afghan Cuisine restaurant is closed
In tragic news, Champaign’s Afghan Cuisine restaurant is now permanently closed. A message from the restaurant was posted on social media:. We regret to announce the closure of the Afghan Cuisine restaurant in Champaign, almost a year since our opening. As a family-owned establishment, we’ve taken immense pride in sharing Afghan cuisine with the CU community. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, sustaining the restaurant has proven unfeasible. We express our profound gratitude to the community for their steadfast support. Serving the CU community has been an honor, and we’ll forever treasure the memories made here. While our doors closed on May 4th, the essence of Afghan flavors will endure in our hearts and the hearts of those we’ve served.
Toast to Taylor’s dates announced, Mother Nature headlining kickoff this Saturday
This Saturday, Toast to Taylor Street marks the first street festival of the year, this being the fourth edition of the independent, woman-run, volunteer-driven series on Taylor Street next to Farren’s Pub and Eatery. The event’s goal has been to help the Downtown Champaign cultural community rebound after COVID, supporting independent artists and makers.
Pandamonium makes some really good doughnuts
My family regularly frequents just about every doughnut place in town: Ye Olde Donut Shoppe, Industrial Donut, even the chains and groceries stores like Dunkin and Shnucks. Though our go-to favorite is Pandamonium Doughnuts, hands down. We’ve been going for years, and my mom (who doesn’t even live in Illinois) has one of their t-shirts. It’s safe to say we are big fans.
Five things in music: May 2024
As the winter chill fades and those first warm breezes start rolling in off the prairie, there’s an extra sense of excitement and renewal in the air around Champaign-Urbana. Sure, the students have largely returned to home base, and a small chunk of the music scene will be on a short hiatus, but for local music fans, this shift in seasons means a bounty of eagerly anticipated annual events and concert series will soon be in full swing once again. From long-running traditions to exciting new happenings, the coming months promise an embarrassment of riches for anyone seeking their fix of live music under the sun. Here are five highlights I’m particularly stoked about this spring and summer.
New sports bar to open at U of I golf club
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A new sports bar is coming to Central Illinois. Oskee’s will be located at the Atkins Golf Club in Urbana. They’ll have a soft opening on Thursday for their golfers, where they will get a chance to try out the limited menu and explore the lounge and pub. General Manager Jim […]
Thirsty Thursday: Bold-fashioned at The Space
This Thursday, I’m thirsty for something fun and boozy, and it’s the bold-fashioned at The Space. This spicy take on an old-fashioned cocktail has Amargo de Chile liqueur, kicking the heat up with seven chili peppers and adding cocoa-mole spice to the cocktail’s punchy 100-proof whiskey. It’s everything I love about an old-fashioned but with a crazy good, fiery flavor. Because of the drink’s intensity, it ain’t for everyone, but for thirsty babes looking for a fun, funky old-fashioned, this bold-fashioned slaps. The Downtown Champaign restaurant also offers other drinks like soda, wine, house-infused vodkas, local beer, Urbana’s Cloud Mountain kombucha, and Malört on tap.
Calling fowl on backyard barns
We don’t want to ruffle any feathers here, but it seems at least one local household is making headlines with allegations from neighbors that their backyard barn is a nuisance. Put alongside the now multiple instances of exotic animals on the lam in the region, it got us curious about ordinances and rights pertaining to animal ownership in our county and where the line is between technically legal and morally questionable.
Weekender: May 16-19
See the peonies in peak bloom, anytime, Allerton Park and Retreat Center, free. It’s peony season and the best place to see these beautiful flowers is at Allerton. They have over 50 different varieties that are in bloom from late April to June. I like to go on a weekday morning which pretty much guarantees that I have the place to myself, but anytime is a good time to get out to the park and enjoy the gardens. (LKG)
Community Spotlight: Urbana’s Crystal Lake Aquatic Center opening for summer
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Summer is upon Central Illinois and that means the opening of pools and aquatic centers throughout the region, including Crystal Lake Aquatic Center in Urbana. Leslie Radice, Aquatics Manager for the Urbana Park District, came on WCIA 3 News at Noon to talk about topics like lifeguard training, other job opportunities, […]
Upcoming Champaign-Urbana workshop connects filmmakers to local vendors
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Film Champaign-Urbana will soon host the second of several workshops for local film enthusiasts, focusing on how productions in the region can successfully work with area caterers, hotels, equipment rentals and more. The workshop, entitled “So You Want to Be a Film Vendor?” will take place at Urbana’s Analog Wine Library on May […]
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