Mansfield
FOOD & DRINK
Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage on new second location and Kickstarter Campaign
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage has a mission to provide the community with a traditional, yet original, Sicilian/Italian-American sandwich shop & delicatessen. Co-Owners, Paris Baldarotta and Jordan Baldarotta joins us in the CI Kitchen with some of costumers most favorite cold cut sandwiches. Plus, there is a second location on the horizon, and they share details on how you can get involved.
The sweet deets on Jarling’s Custard Cup
The teal A-frame on Kirby Avenue is an unmistakable icon of Champaign. Everybody knows about Custard Cup — even Tom Hanks. Originally started in 1949 in Danville, the company expanded to Champaign in 1983. First opened by Doug and Christy Jarling, Champaign’s Custard Cup still offers the same original recipe today, though the ownership has changed. In 2015, Jarling’s Custard Cup closed but reopened in 2016 with new owners, an investor group of Tom Siegel (entrepreneur), Kurt Kittner (former Illini/NFL football player), Tony Pashos (former Illini/NFL football player), Ron Turner (former Illini head football coach), Bruce Weber (former Illini head basketball coach), the Sholem family, and other individuals. Check out Seth’s 2017 interview with Siegel here.
Upgrades at north Urbana hotel paused over permit issues
Jul. 17—URBANA — A hotel property that recently changed hands has had to pause renovations as city officials said no permits were sought for the work. A stop-work order was posted at the Howard Johnson by Wyndham at 1908 N. Lincoln Ave. in Urbana — formerly an Econo Lodge — in late June. According to Urbana building official Nick Hanson, the hotel was unaware that the contractor hadn't ...
A Taste of Both Worlds is permanently closed
In sad restaurant news, A Taste of Both Worlds, the Filipino-Cambodian restaurant inside Broadway Food Hall, is closed permanently. A Taste of Both Worlds opened at the beginning of 2021 as Champaign-Urbana’s only Filipino and Cambodian eatery. The Urbana food hall vendor served awesome banh mi, delicious sisig, tasty turon, whole tilapia, and boodle fights (a communal meal with food spread across a table) in addition to offering excellent Restaurant Week specials like this num pang burger, crispy fried chicken, and buko pandan.
Top of the Morning; July 15, 2024
Jul. 15—Grabbing a bite with Joey WrightOn Mondays, we chop it up with the folks responsible for dishing up food around the area. What restaurant should we try next? Let Joey Wright know at . Last week's inquiry into the area's best burgers spawned delicious responses from all corners of The News-Gazette's coverage area. Readers were quick to point out the quality bites that Rantoul has to ...
U of I Wildlife Medical Clinic opening volunteer opportunities
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Starting August 1st, the U of I’s Wildlife Medical Clinic will be opening its doors to those at home. Anyone 18 and up can volunteer to come into the center every other day or throughout the week to feed the orphaned animals and assist with general care. The Centers’ Senior Manager […]
Champaign Park District wants your input on new Clark Park
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The Champaign Park District is asking for your help as they continue to decide how the new Clark Park will look. The million dollar capital improvement project will redo the playground and make the park more handicap accessible. Following a public meeting last week, the district is now opening an online […]
Krannert tickets go on sale in August
T’is the season for checking out Krannert Center for the Performing Arts’ events calendar so you can pop online and get tickets in August as some events go on sale as early as August 14th. This season will feature such luminaries as Renée Fleming, Meshell Ndegeocello, The Second City, Terence Blanchard, 10,000 Maniacs, Taylor Mac, and, of course, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Tickets will be available for purchase online at KrannertCenter.com. If you have questions, please feel welcome to contact the Ticket Office at 217.333.6280 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday to Friday) or [email protected]. A staff member will be happy to help you find the answers.
Here’s why bird feeders could be harmful to birds
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Bird feeders seem like the perfect way to give back to nature while keeping your backyard serene. But did you know that bird feeders can actually hurt birds more than help them? The Wildlife Medical Clinic at Illinois explains. The clinicians strongly advise against feeding wildlife. They say it could result […]
Ujima Freedom School highlights banned books for National Day of Action
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Ujima Freedom School scholars gathered together to share the importance of reading banned books on Wednesday. The group was at Dr. Howard Elementary School for the National Day of Social Action. Their theme this year was “Protect the Freedom to Read.” This highlights the current movement to remove bans from books like “Something Happened in Our Town” and “Those Shoes.”
For Poulter, entertaining people is a calling
Jonny Poulter just wants to entertain people. The 2022 St. Joseph-Ogden High School graduate was inspired to play music after hearing the Beatles in fifth grade. He started playing piano and got his first guitar not long after that. “I learned to play by listening to different songs or albums...
Balloons over Vermilion is fair fun with a balloon bonus
I made a summer resolution this year to check out more family-friendly events and spaces outside of Champaign-Urbana. I’m sure that I’ve heard about Balloons over Vermilion before, but it wasn’t really on my radar before this year. My family and I decided to make the 50-minute drive Friday night to see what the two-day event had to offer.
Baldarotta’s is opening a second location this September
This fall, Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage will open a second location that will be a neighborhood Italian bodega offering grab-and-go and made-to-order food. The new location is on Griggs Street in the same building as 25 O’Clock Brewing. Baldarotta’s new restaurant and market will take over the space where Best of Africa’s restaurant Mama’s African Kitchen was (before they relocated to Five Points in Urbana). Since 2017, Baldarotta’s Porketta & Sicilian Sausage has been serving delicious Italian eats to Champaign-Urbana. Starting first as a pop-up, Baldarotta’s then opened inside the Lincoln Square Mall in 2019, where they continue to make boss sandwiches and delicious Sicilian pizza packed with big, bold flavors.
Urbana-born photographer is Allerton's next artist-in-residence
MONTICELLO, Ill. (WAND) — An Urbana High School grad and visual artist will be joining Allerton as the artist-in-residence this summer. Lemareyè Jones will combine many of his current passions during a three-week stay beginning July 26 at the Monticello-area park, including the clash of technology and nature, photography, visual arts and West African culture.
Central Illinois Bakehouse is the go-to place for carbs of all kinds
Started as Pekara in 2008, Central Illinois Bakehouse eventually grew into its own named business as it changed hands from founder Seka Cuk to Jeffrey and Lauren Brokish. Today, Central Illinois Bakehouse sells bread at half a dozen farmers markets, over thirty grocery stores, and at the their restaurants Martinelli’s Market and Pekara Bistro.
Survey on downtown Savoy extended as feedback floods in
Jul. 17—SAVOY — What do people want to see in Savoy's new downtown? "The number one request from our community is more restaurants and cafés," said Marissa Siero, president and CEO of Downtown Development Group. "They're also looking for a gathering space." These are just a couple of the findings from an ongoing survey and public engagement process being conducted by the group, which is ...
Common Ground’s next cooking class is Greek with Chef Alisa DeMarco
After June wrapped up with Moroccan, Common Ground has their next virtual cooking class coming up on Saturday, July 27th with Greek cuisine. Chef Alisa DeMarco will be leading the course, which takes place from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., which will cook a dinner menu using “peak summer ingredients sourced from local farms”.
Reader, I [loved this poetry collection]
I love a good epigraph, and these Brontë quotes that opens is one of the more memorable epigraphs that I’ve seen. A clever and witty pairing, I immediately knew this collection was going to be a vibe. Normally I would refrain from using “vibe” to discuss a well-thought-out,...
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