Subscribe | Get featured

Hello Champaign! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Underground Railroad exhibit, SangEat Indian restaurant and buffet, and Peter and the Starcatcher + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

City outlines collection plans: Champaign’s 2026 Spring Yard Waste Collection will offer Orange and Blue Zones two pickups in April and May. Only 30-gallon paper bags will be collected, no plastic bags or containers — see the schedule and rules.

Courageous journeys to freedom: A new Underground Railroad exhibit at The Urbana Free Library is on display through March, curated by Looking for Lincoln and highlighting local stories from East Central Illinois — see what’s on display.

First bites and impressions: SangEat Indian Restaurant and Bar is now open on Neil Street in the former Oberweis, serving Indian dishes for dinner and a daily lunch buffet of specialties for $16 — read tasting impressions and details.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Design a pollinator-friendly native garden
• Team up for free library trivia
• Kids celebrate St. Patrick’s at Kidscape Playground
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.

From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.

As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Shareable sips and bites: Sun Singer Restaurant keeps nights low-key yet special with cozy vibes, a deep wine list, and shareable small plates. Settle in for flights, bubbles, or a bold pour, then graze on bites that encourage conversation. Perfect for catching up without fuss.

Run smarter, not sorer: From a quick gait check to shoes, insoles, and swim gear, Body N Sole Sports keeps your training and brisk-dog-walking ambitions on track. When your knees start talking back, or before they do, the crew fine-tunes your setup for comfort and efficiency without the fuss.

Classic movie night vibes: The Virginia Theatre keeps it cozy and nostalgic as the News-Gazette Film Series rolls Hoosiers onto the big screen this Saturday. Popcorn, a balcony seat, and a reminder of why moviegoing in Champaign still hits different… the kind of night that makes classics feel new again.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 Fun for the whole fam

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🌟 Peter and the Starcatcher @ Virginia Theatre | Thursday (3/5) at 7:00 PM – Nothing beats watching our Youth Theatre kick off the season with a Tony-winning prequel that makes Peter Pan feel new. Peter and the Starcatcher packs pirates, mermaids, shipwrecks, and cheeky humor. Bring the kids, the grandkids, or just your inner lost boy.

🎲 Bingo @ Champaign Public Library | Friday (3/6) at 6:00 PM – The library is getting loud in the best way. Drop in for bingo, neighborly banter, and free entertainment, with actual prizes that are not bookmarks. Zero cover, maximum bragging rights, and the smug joy of winning at a place built for quiet.

🌪 Kaler Science Lecture Series: Sights and Sounds of Tornado Alley @ William M. Staerkel Planetarium | Friday (3/6) at 7:00 PM – Chambana Weather’s Andrew Pritchard returns to the planetarium with gripping videos from Tornado Alley, all from your seat. All the drama, none of the roof repairs. Tickets are $2 at tickets.parkland.edu or in the lobby, free for Friends of the Staerkel Planetarium members.

🔬 Science and Engineering Saturdays @ Martens Center | Saturday (3/7) at 12:00 PM – Give Saturday purpose, and a donut, with a hands-on boat-building challenge for kids 9 and up. Using all sorts of materials, they’ll design, build, and test what floats, sneak in science, engineering, and problem-solving, and maybe out-engineer your old bath toys. It’s free, registration required.

🤸 Men’s Gymnastics vs. Ohio State @ George Huff Hall | Saturday (3/7) at 12:00 PM – Men’s gymnastics takes on Ohio State, and it will be more impressive than your morning stretch. Expect gravity to lose, chalk to fly, and a few stuck landings to make you cheer like a kid. Admission is free, which pairs nicely with your budget.

🦋 Monarch & Pollinator Fair @ McKinley Foundation | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Butterflies, bees, and the kids who chase them steal the show. Face painting, story circles, science, crafts, seed bombs, and temporary tattoos, no registration required, perfect for ages 3 to 12. Free parking in lot C6 on Daniel, with UIUC Pollinatarium and Urbana Park District.

🤸 Fighting Illini Women’s Gymnastics vs. Alabama @ George Huff Hall | Sunday (3/8) at 2:00 PM – Bring your orange and blue, and watch Illini women’s gymnastics take on Alabama, a showdown of stuck landings, big smiles, and louder-than-you-remember crowd roars. It is elite athletics without the parking headache, quality time that beats another streaming queue, and yes, there will be chalk.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 Champaign report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 53°F – Low: 49°F – Precip: 64%

A chance of rain showers and patchy fog before noon, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a high near 53. East wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms before 9pm, then patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 49. South southeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

—

Tomorrow – High: 63°F – Low: 49°F – Precip: 71%

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Southwest wind 7 to 12 mph, with gusts as high as 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain showers before 3am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

This Stonebridge ranch backs to a park with postcard sunsets and a private vibe. A bright, airy split floor plan pairs hard-surface flooring with quality construction and thoughtful custom updates. The fully finished basement adds a kitchenette and flex space for game night or long stays. A roomy backyard deck sets the scene for easy mornings and golden hour evenings.

Take a peek inside →