Featured Stories

Save the Date for Countywide MLK Celebration!

Submitted by BridgetB on December 11, 2018 - 11:07am

Date:

January 18, 2019 - 4:00pm

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY TO CELEBRATE LEGACY OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18

Public Invited to Free Event at the Vineyard Church in Urbana

The public is invited to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Friday, January 18, 2019 at the Vineyard Church in Urbana. This free event includes hors d'oeuvres at 4 p.m. and a program starting at 5 p.m. The evening will feature an awards ceremony, a keynote address and musical entertainment.

The Countywide Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee will present three awards to individuals and organizations within local communities that uphold the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. These awards recognize individuals and organizations that are making a positive impact in Champaign County through humanitarian efforts, community service and social justice initiatives.

Open Scene Open Mic featuring Kvn Tajzea

Submitted by BridgetB on December 11, 2018 - 10:56am

Date:

January 9, 2019 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Open Scene Open Mike Join the Urbana Public Arts Program and Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center for the next installment of Open Scene Open Mic, a downtown showcase of poetry, spoken word, music, and artistic expression designed to promote community, creativity, and connection! Bring your latest! This month's host is Kvn Tajzea!

Kvn Tajzea is a actor, musician, screenwriter, and the Executive Director of The D.O.S.E. Foundation, a non-profit organization located in Urbana and committed to helping ensure that the theater community becomes a better mirror of the world in which we live.

Open Scene Open Mic is a multigenerational event! Bring the whole family for activities and a chance to showcase talents!

Young Artist's Studio

Submitted by BridgetB on December 11, 2018 - 10:42am

Date:

December 16, 2018 - 3:00pm to 4:00pm

Young Artists Studio The Urbana Free Library and Urbana Public Arts Program are jointly sponsoring The Young Artist's Studio, workshops in the Urbana Free Library's Children's Library offering art-making for children ages 5 and up (or younger with an adult helper)!

Join us for the next installment of our Young Artist’s Studio where participants will create their own painted bookmarks through a guided exercise using tissue paper, water, and their own imaginations! Each participant will have a bookmark to take home at the end.

All events in the series are free and open to the public! Arts supplies are provided. Dress comfortably and get ready to roll up those sleeves!

Library Dollhouse Filled with Handmade Treasures

Submitted by BridgetB on December 10, 2018 - 3:12pm

Marny Ennis Elliott has a big gift for making small things. If you go to the Children’s area of The Urbana Free Library, you’ll get a chance to appreciate her gift. In the dollhouse, you’ll find a plethora of detailed furniture, trinkets, and rugs. Elliott made many of the items in the dollhouse, paying special attention to detail in the rugs.

The dollhouse features 12 rooms, each with a handmade petit point rug. Most are cotton floss, at 24 stitches per inch. One inch takes an hour to complete. The larger rugs are 18 stitches to the inch, in fine wool thread. She creates all the original designs as she goes. The rug design in one bedroom matches the wallpaper, which is real wallpaper cut from a wallpaper catalog.

Shop Local Shop Urbana

Submitted by BridgetB on December 5, 2018 - 1:02pm

Shop Urbana!

You benefit from experience.

At a local store, you are more than three times likely to find something new and interesting.
You get the right thing and save time by relying on the expertise of local retailers.

You connect with the community.

In places with more local businesses, people have stronger social ties, and participate more in civic affairs.
Shopping locally means bumping into friends, enjoying lively streets, and trading neighborhood news with the people behind the counter.
Local businesses make communities work.

You strengthen Urbana's economy.

Local businesses hire local people.
They pay local taxes.
They source goods locally.
Compared to shopping online, independent retailers create two times as many jobs for the same amount of revenue.*

You help keep the environment green.

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