The latest loose animal news really made our week.

Before we move onto May, here’s a look back list of all the things we published in Food & Drink this month.

Haypenny Market will be opening soon on Market Street in Downtown Champaign.

Women professionals have some options when it comes to networking in C-U, like at Executive Club of Champaign County monthly luncheons at Lodgic.

Today is National Boba Day, and Alyssa is thirsty for crème brûlée boba milk tea at Hey Bobo Cafe. 🧋

Obviously, options for brunch in our delicious twin cities extend beyond this list. Alyssa lists her personal favorites for brunch and some updates on C-U’s brunch landscape.

The patio sets are out and the microphones are plugged in—outdoor live music season is back.

Outdoor farmers market season returns! Dance to disco, enjoy a lot of live music, feel your feelings watching films, and get outside.

The range and quality on display speak to something Parkland’s Vice President for Academic Services, Nancy Sutton—who began her Parkland career as a professor of Fine and Applied Arts—hopes students take away from their time in the department: that art is a vocation.

Join the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra as they close out their 2025-2026 season with the Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi, one of the most memorable works of the choral repertoire.

Avionics doesn’t seek fruition via additives; it instead focuses on excellence via quality, and for that reason alone, it is worth a visit. ☕️

The Chambana Film Society rolls out the blue carpet for the 2nd Annual Savoy Lumière, opening Wednesday, April 29.

This week the Editorial Board covers the Homelessness Prevention Blueprint project, which is currently in the first of three phases and estimated to be completed in May 2026.

The Stephens Family YMCA and Champaign Park District have partnered on this community fitness event designed to bring athletes of all experience levels together for a morning of activity, challenge, and community spirit.

Jack’s Tavern has been around for about four decades and sits on Main Street in Tolono in a building that, like many of its patrons, was advanced in age but not in spirit.

Get ready for Toast to Taylor Street 2026 block party series coming to downtown this summer. This year’s dates are May 16, June 20, July 18, August 15, and September 19.

Wake up early to plant some trees at the Illinois Arboretum, who is making an event out of their Sunrise May Day forest-planting procession on May 1. 🌳

Mary Ton is an assistant professor and digital humanities librarian at the University of Illinois. In her own research and her role as a digital humanities librarian, she works with artificial intelligence and text to make resources more accessible.

While our Opinion section is mostly populated with our weekly Editorial Board offerings, it’s also a place for contributors to share their opinions. We know you have opinions.

The inaugural Hockey Night in Tolono: Slap Shot Edition will be held on Friday, May 1st from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Loose Cobra. 🏒

“Roller Skating While Black” is an interactive lecture-demonstration on the history, technique, and cultural influences of Black rhythm skating with guest artist Isaiah Harris. 🛼

The next installment of the Illinois Forum on Human Flourishing in a Digital Age is “How to Survive the 21st Century: A Guide for Human Beings” with Ross Douthat.

On Sunday April 19, 2026 Andrew Gaffey played his recital at the 2026 Krannert Debut Artist in the Foellinger Great Hall at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts as part of the Krannert Center Salon series. 🎷

Local author Mike Trippiedi turns the definition of "medicine show" into a full-length novel in his most recent release Abraham Lincoln’s Traveling Medicine Show. 🎪

Pekara Bakery & Bistro will be in Downtown Champaign again. Springfield Avenue’s longtime bistro Pekara will relocate later this year to a new space.

Lots of ways to engage with music this week. Indulge in some nostalgia, and enjoy a good meal. www.smilepolitely.com/culture/the-...

It was clear from the first frame that the Midwestern premiere of Chili Finger was about to deliver a heaping helping of our own hard work and grit, reflected back at us with a dark, cinematic wink. 🌶️ 👆️

NYC Halal Bros is now open in Campustown on Green Street. Located in the former Conrad’s Grill, the new restaurant offers a menu of chicken, lamb, fish, and falafel as platters or in made-to-order custom sandwiches and gyros with cold toppings and sauces.

We’re about a month away from slathering on sunscreen and taking a dip, so now is the perfect time to get those pool passes and start stocking up on SPF. 🏊️

On Tuesday, April 21, acclaimed composer and bassist Stephan Crump led his celebrated musical piece Slow Water at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. Slow Water draws heavy influence from the book Water Always Wins by Erica Gies, a science journalist and National Geographic explorer.

This week, Alyssa is thirsty for a peach-strawberry sangria at Seven Saints. This seasonal drink ($12) has peach puree, fresh strawberries, brandy, ginger, and pinot grigio. 🍹

Happy race weekend to all who celebrate! A beautiful weekend of weather is the backdrop for a whole bunch of events, outings, and opportunities for tasty treats.

The new restaurant inside Lincoln Square Mall JM’s Texas Craft BBQ is now open. Alyssa visited the Texas barbecue restaurant, which has a menu of smoked meats, housemade sides, and homestyle dessert.

On Friday April 17, 2026 Joshua Bell and Larisa Martínez performed their duet recital Voice & the Violin, accompanied by pianist Peter Dugan in the at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

This Hawaiian restaurant located in the heart of Campustown serves up a variety of signature poke bowls, as well as build-your-own-bowls for those feeling adventurous.

Having just about fully emerged from the grip of winter and released into the wonderful world of spring, it does feel like a great time to listen to some jazz music. Plus, April 30 is International Jazz Day. 🎷

Parkland College Theatre’s production of Anastasia is a well-dressed, well-sung, and emotionally grounded take on the Ahrens and Flaherty musical, directed by Abby Gailey with music direction by Noah Scott Larson and choreography by Grace Beumler.

On Tuesday, May 5, Jupiter’s at the Crossing becomes a gathering place for what makes our regional arts scene sparkle: visual artists, musicians, and theatre folks all in the same room, raising a glass and raising each other up.

Happy Earth Day, everyone! Common Ground Food Co-op is kicking off their annual bulk sale today, April 22.

Spring menus have sprung across Champaign-Urbana restaurants and cafes. Here’s a little list of spring things that sound lovely right now.

As the curtain closed for the final time, several friends and neighbors across the community joined Amy in looking back at some life-sustaining memories from Ebertfest.

The John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation announced its 2026 class of fellows this week, and two of our own are in it: Christopher Kempf, Professor of English, and Julie Turnock, Professor of Media and Cinema Studies, both at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

At the Content Creation Lab at the University of Illinois, teens are invited to explore the worlds of podcasting, audio storytelling, video production, documentary, and social media content at the brand new podcast studios at Illinois Public Media.

Champaign-Urbana’s newest dessert truck served cool treats in Champaign for the first time this past weekend.

To get a better understanding of the dining halls, J.H. spoke with one of the several dietitians who works closely with chefs and dining services staff to deliver quality meals to UIUC students everyday.

Dental work comes with a recommended adherence to soft foods, so Remington gathered some suggestions as someone who recently had to follow that diet. 🦷

Our Music section covers a wide variety of genres of local music, record labels, and venues. The Music Editor should have a knowledge and understanding of the current music scene in Champaign-Urbana, with an eye and curiosity toward future developments. Is that you? 🎶

Race Weekend is here, are you prepared? 🏃‍♀️ Check out Emma's guide.

As we continue to integrate new, unproven “miracles” into our lives in 2026, Illinois Theatre’s Radium Girls served as a necessary, sobering reminder that we must look closely at what we are being asked to consume.

With just a handful of weeks remaining for classes on campus, there will be many events to pencil in to attend.