Thomasboro
FOOD & DRINK
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.
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.
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.
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.
U of I Wildlife Medical Clinic opening volunteer opportunities
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Starting next month, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is opening up a new opportunity for animal lovers. It’s through the Wildlife Medical Center. Right now, they’re caring for three snapping turtles, a duck and even a year-old bald eagle. Starting August 1, those in the community will be able to feed […]
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 ...
Hike Middle Fork River Forest Preserve in spring or summer
Middle Fork River Forest Preserve is probably best known for being Illinois’ first International Dark Sky Park. There is a campground, and it’s also home to a camping area, several hiking trails, and an impressive waterfowl management area with a trail through the nearby forest. While I can’t personally attest to the camping experience there, I can definitely recommend the hiking trails.
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.
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 […]
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.
Into the outdoors with Nurtured in Nature
Nurtured in Nature is a new BIPOC outdoor wellness program, organized and directed by Tomas Delgado and facilitated by Healthy Champaign County, that invites Champaign-Urbana’s BIPOC community members to spend some time on easy hikes, meeting new people and learning about the environment. I recently spoke with Delgado about...
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”.
Sidney Dairy Barn is a summer staple
It’s legitimately summer now, not that I ever need a reason to enjoy ice cream. I’m an ice cream junkie. A connoisseur. An obsessive, if you will. So when it came time to write about the Sidney Dairy Barn, I jumped at an opportunity to share my thoughts on a Champaign County staple.
The Overture: July 15 – 21
The Overture is a rundown of live music and performances happening in and around Champaign-Urbana each week. All of the information is as accurate as we can publish; however, all shows and performances are subject to change at any time. Thank you for understanding. Did we miss something this week?...
Grocery Delivery and Curbside Pickup Options in Champaign-Urbana
Stores that Offer Grocery Delivery or Curbside Pickup in Champaign-Urbana and Beyond. When you can’t leave the house, or your car: Champaign-Urbana grocery store options for delivery or curbside pickup. Kids in school, kids in sports, kids in extracurricular activities, work…. some days it seems like there are barely...
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