It’s always a delicious a month in Champaign-Urbana. Summer has slipped away, and we’re in full fall mode. As per usual in this town, there were some cool opening announcements, one cafe closures,…

My respect and admiration for Cynthia Oliver’s work is no secret; I’ve written about her and work for Smile Politely before, named hers the best dance performances of the decade. She’s an incredibly…

There are a lot of factors that play a role in a student’s success at school; some that schools have control over, and some that they don’t. Some are more nuanced, such as the level ...

During the month of October The Chambana Film Society is hosting Doctoberfest, a lineup of documentary screenings. Enjoy documentaries about the seemingly mundane like The History of Concrete or…

This summer I came to the realization that my average step count was embarrassingly low so I have been making a concerted effort to walk more frequently throughout the day. It has reminded me of ...

Excuse me, look at this whimsical cruffin by Six Red Chairs Bakery. It’s a muffin-shaped croissant covered in sugar, topped with a flower, and filled with honey-lavender cream—what a dream. This had…

Turn. Turning. TURNT  is a compelling triptych by award-winning Dance at Illinois professor, choreographer, and director Dr. Cynthia Oliver. The performance is brought to life by a cast of Dance at…

The Frank Center at the College of Media is hosting a virtual Q&A on press freedom with The New York Times’ lead newsroom lawyer, David McGraw. McGraw is a University of Illinois alum (journalism…

If you’ve ever wondered whether extraterrestrial beings are real, When They Return, a new science fiction/horror anthology compiled and edited by local author Matthew Henshaw offers a resounding…

I am an avid coffee lover. I wouldn’t consider myself a snob, but I will always enjoy a nice iced coffee on occasion. However, before I entered the trenches of grad school, I only ever ...

When you think about horseback riding, what comes to mind? Shows like Yellowstone or Dutton Ranch? Maybe you picture rodeos, dude ranches, or the Kentucky Derby. Perhaps you dreamed of having a pony…

Last weekend, venues across Urbana became sites for live music, comedy, literature, film, and food. The 22nd year of PYGMALION was, by all audience measures, a total success. The weather was perfect.…

After a long weekend of festivals, reset this week with some art, a symphony orchestra, and poetry.

Have you ever taken the little ones to the Children’s Discovery Museum in Normal? Whether you have or not, the Day of Play event is a great way to take a little jaunt out of ...

Care to know more about where your food comes from, connect with your farming community, and do so in a historic 1800s horse barn nestled in the woods? The IDEA Farmwork Network Barn Dance is ...

WEFT Fest, the station’s annual event kicking off its fall donation drive, returns this Sunday, September 27 in Downtown Champaign. Outside the station on North Market Street, enjoy live music from…

PYGMALION 2026 starts tonight. There will be awesome shows across multiple Urbana venues this Thursday through Sunday night. Over the next four days, soak in incredible music, art, film, and food.…

“When someone walks up here, they get a vibe. There has been care and intention put into creating a space with good energy. I think that builds on itself, with people bringing good energy here.” ...

PYGMALION 2026 weekend starts today, and I want a drink that’s fall flavored and sippable on the way to the Urbana shows. This Thursday, I’m thirsty for horchata at El Paraiso. One of four housemade…

It's a festival weekend. Catch PYGMALION, bats, Tagore, plus film, physics, and tasty treats.

We’re hiring a Music Editor! Editors are responsible for curating content within their section, including editing the work of writers, recruiting and working with writers, and contributing their own…

I’ve found that now that I’m a certain age, I have to work a little harder to find new-to-me music. Events like PYGMALION help with that, of course, and this year is no different. I ...

On a rainy evening last week, my partner and I were both feeling unmotivated to cook dinner at home. Having gone through the rolodex of our usual takeout spots, we suddenly remembered one of favorite…

The bats are back! The Central Illinois Bat Festival returns for its third annual installment in Urbana. The event is a celebration of bats, bugs, and science, with this year’s theme honoring…

Another school year, another school district in chaos; this time it’s Mahomet-Seymour CUSD 3 where teachers have been working without a contract since July 1. Last week, the teachers union,…

It’s PYGMALION week! It’s one of the true highlights of the year, where we can enjoy live music from local and nationally touring musicians, laugh with big-name comedians, and hear from some of the…

Apple-cinnamon, pumpkins, and warm, cozy things, oh my! This fall trilogy is cannon now that we’re officially in fall season. Here’s a look 20+ of my favorite autumn eats and drinks to enjoy in…

The brand-new Just Hamburgers of Monticello is set to open next week on Wednesday, September 30. The new location is a second roadside restaurant for the Paxton burger joint, which first opened in…

On the fourth floor of Downtown Champaign’s Lincoln Building—on the National Register since 1996—behind wooden doors and bright sash windows set in that terra-cotta brick over Main Street, art…

Next week the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts will welcome the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for a performance as part of the orchestra’s 19th season. The Pittsburgh Symphony, which has…

When I think about space, the universe, and its vastness, I feel deep existential dread. We are but tiny blips. I have a lot of questions, and there isn’t an ask-an-astronomer hotline I can call, ...

I’m not really ever not having a hankering for coffee. But fall feels like the best time to justify any mild-to-moderate caffeine addiction. And the milder temps forecasted this week have me putting…

There’s a place on Green Street called MOVOC China that serves hand-pulled noodles, and oh my stars, they’re so delicious. When I went by last week, the Chinese restaurant was buzzing with diners…

Chicago-based Ratboys is no stranger to Champaign-Urbana. The alternative/indie rock band first took the PYGMALION stage in 2017 and followed up with a headlining set at Rose Bowl Tavern in 2023.…

The Mortenson Center for International Library Programs is hosting upcoming events for the 36th Annual Mortenson Distinguished Lecture. The Center will welcome Jeff Chiba Stearns, animation and…

Urbana’s Market at the Square is never at a loss for new vendors each year. It can be hard to keep up and know who they are with so many tents, so I wanted to ...

Champaign County Forest Preserve District’s third annual Whiskey Hike at Buffalo Trace (appropo) is coming up soon on October 18. Have you gotten your tickets yet? The event allows attendees to…

Pekara Bakery & Bistro will have its last day of service on Springfield Avenue this Sunday, September 27th. That means it’s last call for the longtime neighborhood cafe before Pekara soon moves to a…

Check your kids' car seats, enjoy a ton of live music, eat all the yummy things, and get yourself organized for the very busy and exciting tail end of September.

It’s been a dark and stormy summer, as Snoopy might write, which meant lots of muddy and flooded trails in the area and less time exploring them than I would like. On a recent streak ...

It’s been 25 years since 9/11. One of the first things that came to mind as I prepared to see Come From Away at The Station Theatre was how much I remembered from this day. ...

Uh oh, it’s basically pumpkin spice time. I usually a firm believer in waiting until official fall on September 22 before any pumpkin tastes, but this year, I want to dive into fall a little ...

Has this ever happened to you, dear reader? Have you ever walked into a bar, ordered a shot, and received a full drink in response? That happened to me more than once on a recent ...

September is a busy month, y'all! Don't succumb to FOMO. Get out there and enjoy the sights, sounds, and tastes on offer this weekend.

The Youth Literature Festival, a biennial event hosted by the University of Illinois College of Education and University Library. The festival brings award-winning authors of youth literature to area…

Dear reader, It’s me, a Curtis Orchard apple fritter devotee. Ever since 1977, Curtis Orchard has been a seasonal spot for apple-picking and all the fall apple things. The roadside destination turns…

Surely by now you know that there are a whole bunch of filmmakers in Champaign-Urbana. You’re familiar with Flyover Film Studios. You know to look for up-and-coming talent with Pens to Lens. But what…

Next week, Chicago’s mfk restaurant will be in Urbana hosting a pop-up at Lazy Daisy Diner. Inspired by the Basque and Catalan regions of Spain and the ethos of eponymous food writer M. F. K. ...

The award-winning magazine program from WILL-TV, Prairie Fire, returns this September with new episodes. This season will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and the state of Illinois’s role…

Fall is here, and this year that means extra bright football games, cider at Curtis Orchard, and a lot of healthcare news. Due to the deluge of information we have access to at any given ...