North Prospect has a new restaurant called Teriyaki Madness opening officially this Friday in the plaza with Supercuts and Penn Station by Meijer.
Teriyaki Madness opens this Friday, August 7 - SPlog
North Prospect has a new restaurant called Teriyaki Madness opening officially this Friday in the plaza with Supercuts and Penn Station by Meijer. Teriyaki Madness offers fast casual custom rice or…
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There's a new place to gather for a party in Urbana, but Parcadia's excellence goes beyond saving it just for special occasions. ⛳️
Imbibe in the immersion at Parcadia Tavern - Food & Drink
This past weekend, I gathered a group of people together to celebrate the birthday of one of our dear friends. With a total of 15 people in attendance for the party, we needed a fun ...
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Over the past 80 years or longer, our country’s food production systems have shifted from hyper local to international. In today’s world of convenient and year-round supplies of cheap fresh produce, it is hard to imagine that “local food” was once the norm. 🥕
Know your farmer: Beyond the slogans - Opinion
Perhaps you have seen a farm truck with American Farmland Trust’s bumper sticker “Know your food, know your farmer.” There is a lot to unpack within this simple slogan, yet most consumers know…
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Polyvinyl Record Co. is having their biggest sale of the year with their online “garage sale.” You can shop vinyls, tapes, CDs, clothing, and even some “warehouse whoopsies." Expand your music collection and impress your friends. 💿️
Shop a cool garage sale without even leaving the house - SPlog
Polyvinyl Record Co. is having their biggest sale of the year with their online “garage sale.” You can shop vinyls, tapes, CDs, clothing, and even some “warehouse whoopsies,” meaning that the…
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Sarah checks out Bab Plus to satiate cravings for Korean food.
Friday night dinner at Bab Plus Korean - Food & Drink
While I lived in New York City for graduate school, I was spoiled by the wide variety of Korean food that the city had to offer. I’ve learned so much about banchan and other offerings, ...
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For the 8th year, the annual Crystal Lake Park Art Fair was held this past weekend. For those who go every year, we know the weather is always one of the biggest gambles—will it be blazing hot or a rainy, windy day? Mary strolled through the event, which happened to be rainy this year.
A rainy day excursion through Crystal Lake Park Art Fair - Arts
For the 8th year, the annual Crystal Lake Park Art Fair was held this past weekend. For those of us who go every year, we know the weather is always one of the biggest gambles—will ...
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OLLI at Illinois isn’t just for those 50 and older anymore. The educational program is now open to all adults, regardless of previous education or age. You can register for courses, study groups, lectures, interest groups—and fall course registration has recently opened.
Anyone can join OLLI, and registration for fall courses is open - SPlog
OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes) at Illinois isn’t just for those 50 and older anymore. The membership-based educational program is now open to all adults, regardless of previous education…
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✍️ OP-ED: The City of Champaign leases 102 AI surveillance cameras from Flock Group Inc. These cameras use AI to identify anything that passes by any of the cameras. Each trace goes into a database that is shared with almost all law enforcement agencies in the state of Illinois.
Police can view your location history without a warrant - Opinion
In The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne develops a surveillance system that blankets the entire city of Gotham with cameras. We have a surveillance system like the one in Gotham, but unlike the movie, ours…
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MTD has announced that the new 17 Cherry begins service to Carle on Curtis beginning Monday, August 10. The new line replaces the 5 Green Express route and is to provide more robust and consistent service to riders.
A new MTD line begins service August 10 - SPlog
MTD has announced that the new 17 Cherry begins service to Carle on Curtis beginning Monday, August 10. The new line replaces the 5 Green Express route and is to provide “more robust and consistent…
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It’s a big month what with it being National Sandwich Month and soon back to school time. To prepare, Alyssa has a list of five things to eat or drink—and 40% of it is sandwiches, perfect for packing lunchboxes or getting out of the office for lunch break. 🥪
Five things to eat or drink this month: August 2026 - Food & Drink
Oh, dear, August is here. It’s a big month what with it being National Sandwich Month and soon back to school time. To prepare, I’ve got a school supply food list of five things to ...
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Tenkyu in Downtown Champaign has closed. The restaurant opened two years ago in January 2024 and served a menu of Japanese cuisine in a stylish space off steps from the center of downtown.
Tenkyu has closed in Downtown Champaign - SPlog
Tenkyu in Downtown Champaign has closed. The restaurant opened two years ago in January 2024 and served a menu of Japanese cuisine in a stylish space off steps from the center of downtown. The…
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A relatively quiet week in C-U offers up time for self improvement, reflection, and learning. But there are always chances to indulge in all the yummy this area has to offer.
The Week: August 3-6 - Culture
A relatively quiet week in C-U offers up time for self improvement, reflection, and learning. But there are always chances to indulge in all the yummy this area has to offer.
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Get those singing pipes warmed up—there are a couple chances coming up to sing with the Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana. 🎤
Upcoming chances to sing with the Baroque Artists of C-U - SPlog
Get those singing pipes warmed up—there are a couple chances coming up to sing with the Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana. The choral group will host an open sing night on August 24 and then choir…
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Fugazi on the big screen. A fourth-grader's screenplay on the red carpet. Local voices back where they belong. Five things making this August in Champaign-Urbana worth every last weekend.
Five things in arts: August 2026 - Arts
August arrives overstuffed, the way it does. We schedule that last vacation, we chase down every warm-weather thing we swore we’d get to, we do it all against the deadline of a school calendar that’s…
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U of I’s new additions to College of Media degrees include obtaining a media degree online and a bachelor’s in sports media. 🎥
The University of Illinois’ College of Media has two new degree options - SPlog
U of I’s new additions to College of Media degrees include obtaining a media degree online and a bachelor’s in sports media. As a proud alumna of the College, it’s exciting to see options now ...
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OPINION: Jared digs through archives as a hobby, but uncovered some unsettling déjà vu from a 100-year newspaper.
Same platform, same railcar - Opinion
I dig through newspaper archives for fun. Not only for the big headlines, but for the ordinary weeks. What was an average Tuesday like in Champaign-Urbana, 50 or a 100 years ago? What did people ...
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Kendall enjoyed the last of his tour of youth theatre this summer with DLO's Sweeney Todd
In DLO's Sweeney Todd, one oven becomes an entire world - Arts
When word got around that DLO Musical Theatre was taking on Sweeney Todd: School Edition for their summer youth show, I knew I had to be there. Sondheim is hard, and Sweeney Todd is one of his…
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This week, Alyssa is thirsty for a raspberry pepper margarita at Black Dog. Served with salted rim, this cocktail had house-infused pepper tequila mixed with raspberry liqueur, triple sec, and lime sour. 🍹
Thirsty Thursday: Raspberry pepper margarita at Black Dog Smoke & Ale - SPlog
We’re in the dog days of summer, and I’m straight up parched. This week, I’m thirsty for a raspberry pepper margarita at Black Dog. Served with salted rim, this cocktail ($9) had house-infused pepper…
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July was a shorter month for us with a summer publishing break after the Fourth, but still we had lots of delicious things happening in town.
Monthly digest: Summary of Food & Drink for July 2026 - SPlog
July ends tomorrow, and I’ve rounded up all the July 2026 Smile Politely food content in one handy dandy post, so you, dear reader, haven’t missed anything. It was a shorter month for us with ...
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Happy August! Enjoy this cooler temps this weekend while you watch a movie, attend a dance party, shop for art, and head to brunch. 🍳
The Weekender: July 31-August 2 - Culture
Happy August! Enjoy this cooler temps this weekend while you watch a movie, attend a dance party, shop for art, and head to brunch.
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Downtown Champaign’s newest restaurant is Chophouse on Main, opening soon at the corner of Main and Neil Streets.
Peek inside the new Chophouse on Main - SPlog
Downtown Champaign’s newest restaurant is Chophouse on Main, opening soon at the corner of Main and Neil Streets. Chophouse originally opened in Mahomet in 2022 before shuttering March 2025. Now, the…
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Shauri Gonzalez has launched a portraiture project called Able in CU to capture the aspirations of Champaign-Urbana’s disability community, and the project’s first exhibition opens August 1.
Shauri Gonzalez helps draw the C-U disability community into focus - Arts
Some portraits show you a face. Shauri Gonzalez’s show reveals a whole life’s worth of hope. The artist has launched a portraiture project called Able in CU to capture the aspirations of…
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The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting volunteer applications for its iCount and iRead programs. Applications are now available online, with the deadline to apply to volunteer for iCount quickly approaching on August 28.
Volunteer for iRead and iCount for elementary school students - SPlog
The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting volunteer applications for its iCount and iRead programs. These programs in Champaign and Urbana public elementary schools help hundreds of…
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There’s only one bar around here that allows patrons to throw axes, batarangs, and axes from home—and that’s The Axe Bar in Downtown Champaign. Just this summer, The Axe Bar added some new pizzas, new appetizers, and an espresso martini to the menu.
The Axe Bar added some new pizzas to the menu - SPlog
There’s only one bar around here that allows patrons to throw axes, batarangs, and axes from home—and that’s The Axe Bar in Downtown Champaign. Just this summer, The Axe Bar added some new pizzas,…
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Walk to the first floor of the Illini Union this week, hang a left into the northwest corner, and you’ll find Travis-David Smith‘s exhibition, on a rock, describing water—for a few more days, anyway. It closes this week, so this is your nudge to go before the walls go bare.
Travis-David Smith's work on view at the Illini Union Art Gallery - SPlog
Walk to the first floor of the Illini Union this week, hang a left into the northwest corner, and you’ll find Travis-David Smith‘s exhibition, on a rock, describing water—for a few more days, anyway.…
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In recent weeks, there have been two news stories about agriculture making the rounds that piqued the Editorial Board's interest, encouraging them to think about how federal chaos has (or has not) impacted our local farming and agriculture infrastructure. 🥬
Local lettuce won't give you a parasite - Opinion
In recent weeks, there have been two news stories about agriculture making the rounds that piqued our interest, encouraging us to think about how federal chaos has (or has not) impacted our local…
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In the spirit of trying new things, Emma has tried to limit the races she comes back to year after year; Run Mahomet, however, is an event that easily retains its place on that list.
Run Mahomet 2026: Race weekend preview - Culture
When I moved to Champaign-Urbana seven years ago, I was expecting a number of things: farms, the University of Illinois, and small-town energy. After finding my home here, I’m lucky to say that I’ve…
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For this list of Urbana burgers, Alyssa sought out cheeseburgers at diners, a tavern, hotel, food hall, Mexican restaurants, and more. 🍔
Burger bonanza of Urbana - Food & Drink
Is there any better time than summer for a good cheeseburger? I don’t think so. Champaign-Urbana boasts lots of burgers, and two years ago, I penned a burger inventory of Downtown Champaign. Now,…
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The University Library is launching a new search platform, Library Search, today. The new platform provides single, primary search experiences to find materials from its collections as well as library-licensed electronic resources.
The University Library launched a new search platform today - SPlog
The University Library is launching a new search platform, Library Search, today. The new platform provides single, primary search experiences to find materials from its collections as well as…
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Smith Burger Co’s new restaurant in Mahomet opens its first standalone location tomorrow, July 29 in the old Chophouse on Main. 🍔
The new Smith Burger Co restaurant in Mahomet - SPlog
Smith Burger Co’s new restaurant in Mahomet opens its first standalone location tomorrow, July 29 in the old Chophouse on Main. The popular Champaign-Urbana burger brand first began as a food truck…
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