Category > Market Watch
There's big news this week at Urbana's Market at the Square. Our market is the recipient of one of the LINK Up Illinois Double Value Grants, which will match LINK card token purchases at the Market. Starting August 13, LINK card users can increase the worth of the money they spend. Essentially, someone who purchases $10 worth of LINK tokens will be given a matching value of another $10. The matching value increases up to $20 per Market day, …
Thank goodness the heavens unleashed some cooling rain this week so my visit to Brackett Farm wasn't the uncomfortable, sweaty venture it could well have been. On Wednesday afternoon, I visited Bob Brackett at his farm in Bondville, Illinois. Just over the I-72 overpass outside of Champaign, Brackett has turned a patch of land off the interstate into an independently operated Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. He also sells his fruits and vegetables Saturday mornings at Urbana's Market at …
If you hadn't been reading Smile Politely prior to this week, or listening to our SPodcast, you may have been unaware that the C-U has, in addition to Urbana's Market at the Square, a sister market in Champaign. The Historic North First Street Farmer's Market is located behind the Police Department, and is open Thursday afternoon from three to seven. It is the small but growing cousin of the Saturday Market I frequent. Because it is across town and …
Last weekend I had the chance to visit the Market at the Square with a pair of fresh eyes: those of my friend Mike. My husband has been out of town learning to decipher sixteenth century German script, and Mike mentioned he might go to the Market Saturday morning. I had a lightbulb moment, and asked him if I could tag along. I was going to go anyway, to "research" my weekly column, and I figured this may be …
When my husband and I moved to Champaign-Urbana a couple of years ago, I was less than enthusiastic about the idea. It was nearly five hundred miles away from my hometown. In fact, before I moved here, I had lived within forty miles of the city I was born in for all but two years when I was in graduate school. But, situations change, and as you age, you find yourself doing things you never thought you'd do. Take …
If you were a visitor to Urbana's Market on the Square during the first weeks of the season, you may have noticed that the only produce available that wasn't still growing in a peat pot was asparagus, that perennial vegetable that "keeps on giving" like a Mr. Wizard experiment. I was thinking about my own exposure to this vegetable, which I had not experienced before adulthood. As a kid, my parents didn't want to introduce any objectionable green stuff …
High gas prices, the threat of nuclear crisis, the deposition of a despotic world leader, and deadly tornadoes in the Southern United States were prominent headlines during the summer of 1979. One local event would go almost completely unrecognized in local news that year, but would grow to be an integral part of Champaign-Urbana's summer atmosphere: a small number of local farmers organized Urbana's first Market on the Square. What began as four farmers selling their goods on the …
Holy ghosts, it's almost Spooky Halloween! Time's running out on enjoying the Market outdoors — and yes, MW is enjoying being outdoors at the Market this season. Last year's October Markets were chilly affairs, riddled with cold raindrops and obnoxious winds. This October has been warm and calm by comparison, and this weekend's looking good. Don your costume and get thee to the Market this weekend! Thursday night's freeze will have done some damage to tender plants. Here's some …
It seems like it was just yesterday that MW was admonishing all of you to bring extra water and sunscreen when you ventured out to the Market... and now here we are, with MW encouraging jackets, hats, and, yes, umbrellas this weekend. Fall is here, and the Market's season is winding down. Not to worry, though — there will still be fresh food to buy, even after the outdoor season ends — more on that in a jiffy. …
Ha — remember last Friday when MW told you that the Market's weather would be fabulous for last weekend's Market? Not being a meteorologist, MW went ahead and trusted those who are, and nearly drowned in the process. Yes, it rained, but that was then — this is now. High pressure is in control, and it'll be warm — into the 80s for Saturday's proceedings. It'll be just like late June, only with fall color! Here's some of what …
Most Recent Food Comments
Love CSR. Apart from making my way through the regular roasts in 1/2 pound increments, I also like to pick up some of the little sample packets of the flavored stuff for when the lady and I feel like getting crazy. Sticky Bun is pretty nice.
HUUUUUUGE fan of their Black Velvet roast…It makes up about 75% of my coffee intake. LOL CSR is definitely one of those Champaign institutions that I brag about to people not from here. :-)
We like CSR too! We french press at home and I leave the lid off while it steeps—letting the ground beans bloom. Then, like in your tasting, I scoop off the top layer before pressing. We really need to invest in a burr grinder though, as I…
I had their tea at the Urbana Farmer’s Market when they first started out and it was great! Their tins recently caught my eye at Walnut Street Tea Company and my guests used it all up before I could even try it! Way to go Tiesta, stay…
Im fine with missing ingredients and of course they fixed things what restaurant fights with the customer over things like that anymore. ( the way social media could affect them) My problem is that I am visiting you place of business within the first week of opening.…
The second visit to Meatheads included what tasted like a stale bun. That’s the end of going to Meatheads for a while.
That seems like an odd experience to me. Basically everything you mentioned, apart from price, is contrary to what I’ve witnessed or heard about. You ate at the restaurant and the burger was cold? Seems more like the complaint of someone who took something home. And if…
Unfortunately i did not have the same experiences that some of you may have had. I went to meatheads the 2nd or 3rd night it was open and I was very disappointed. My burger was cold and soggy. I ordered one of their specialty burgers. A spicy…
Ah, I finished it weeks ago—it was figuratively on ice over the holidays… I think each has its own appeal to various consumers, but I hit Buvons/Corkscrew most frequently. The current staff is extremely friendly and has never steered me wrong for a wine pairing, even when…
Most Recent Comments
Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR? It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.
Now you will be able to munch on pizza and shrimp cocktails in downtown Urbana (whilst a DJ spins?) after your dissolution of marriage http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/features/its-your-business/2012-02-05/its-your-business-new-pizza-place-downtown-urban Is this a franchise of a Reno pizza joint, or just a coincidence of name? http://www.blackrockpizza.com
Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…
That’s what she said.
Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.
Love CSR. Apart from making my way through the regular roasts in 1/2 pound increments, I also like to pick up some of the little sample packets of the flavored stuff for when the lady and I feel like getting crazy. Sticky Bun is pretty nice.
If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.
HUUUUUUGE fan of their Black Velvet roast…It makes up about 75% of my coffee intake. LOL CSR is definitely one of those Champaign institutions that I brag about to people not from here. :-)
We like CSR too! We french press at home and I leave the lid off while it steeps—letting the ground beans bloom. Then, like in your tasting, I scoop off the top layer before pressing. We really need to invest in a burr grinder though, as I…
Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha
just confirmed: there will be white russians served. the art abides.
big lebowski at the art. mark it, dude.
There’s a great video promo out for “Company” too: http://vimeo.com/36077847
Wow, His Majesty took the time to answer your polite plea. It’s been a while since I spoke fluent arrogance, but allow this attempt at a translation: “I deeply regret the embarrassment…” = I wish we hadn’t got caught and it wasn’t a big deal really. “...and…
I love the Guitars
I had their tea at the Urbana Farmer’s Market when they first started out and it was great! Their tins recently caught my eye at Walnut Street Tea Company and my guests used it all up before I could even try it! Way to go Tiesta, stay…
Im fine with missing ingredients and of course they fixed things what restaurant fights with the customer over things like that anymore. ( the way social media could affect them) My problem is that I am visiting you place of business within the first week of opening.…
Thanks for that, Louis CK.
Your call to stay pissed is precisely why global warming fanatics will fail. Emotion has no place in hard science. The problem with the issue of global warming is that is has been pumped full of emotion and politics, and the science is becoming a by-product. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204301404577171531838421366.html?KEYWORDS=global+warming
Clearly the Postal Officials in favor of this cannot make an economic argument, as this saves the post office $0. What is their rationale?
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Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR? It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.