Did you know? UIUC Edition

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, effectively referred to hereinafter as UIUC, is starting up again. The freshman parents are saying there goodbyes, the freshman are feeling a new sense of freedom, and UIUC’s hidden gems are dying. Isn’t that a bit harsh? The gems are dying? No. Characterizing the university’s gems as dying is not harsh at all. Infact, the passing of time causes knowledge to change and potentially be relearned at a later point if the knowledge is not transcribed. Therefore, I give to UIUC my knowledge of the hidden gems in a hope to prevent these gems from being disappearing.

  1. Touring Altgeld Bell Tower is available every Monday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
  2. Tours of the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) are available on request for the center’s:
  3. View late night movies at the Art Theatre located in Downtown Champaign.
  4. Relax at one of the local parks run by Urbana Park District, Champaign Park District, or UIUC.
  5. Japan House - Contained within the Arboretum, walk through tea gardens, drink tea (Fall only), and learn about the Japanese culture. + 2000 South Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL
  6. Plant Biology Greenhouse - Plants from tropical areas all around the world!
  7. Allerton Park and Recreation Center - “the best escape from campus”
  8. Eclectic shops are located in Lincoln Square Mall, which resides in Downtown Urbana.
  9. Fresh Food is everywhere. Really, what else would you expect going to school in the middle of corn fields…
  10. University of Illinois Meat Science Lab
    • Specialities: Any kind of meat you can imagine and crates of eggs for a very good price from butchers in training.
    • Open: Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
  11. Strawberry Fields
  12. Bevier Cafe - “the poor man’s lunch”
    • The College of Agricultural Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) trains world-class culinary students using the cafe as a restaurant setting.
    • Open: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
  13. Jarlin’s Custard Cup
  14. The Bike Project - “bike’r’us”
  15. Krannert Center for Performing Art
  16. The University of Illinois Parking Department makes the following lots available after 5 PM each weekday and allows campus visitors to park in these lots over the weekend for free:
  17. University Calendar
    • Look up events happening all over the university.
    • Download event schedules to iCal or Outlook.
  18. Gas prices for the ever commuting college student
  19. To be continued…

As time permits, I may add more to this list… This article has contributions from: AJ C., John B., and Megan P.

Market Information

|—————–+————+—————–|

MARKET LOCATION DATES/TIME
Local Food Coop 300 S. Broadway Suite 166 Urbana, IL 61801 Days: Monday - Sunday
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m
Season: Year Round
—————–+————+—————–
Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department Farmers Market 201 W. Kenyon Rd., Champaign, IL Days: Tuesdays
Hours: 1:00 - 5:30 p.m
Season: June 6 - October 1
—————–+————+—————–
Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery 4410 N. Lincoln Ave., Champaign, IL Days: Wednesday
Hours: 4:00 - 6:00 p.m
Season: Mid-June - Mid-August
—————–+————+—————–
Sustainable Student Farm Illini Union on the Quad Days: Thursdays
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Season: Through Mid-Fall Semester
—————–+————+—————–
Urbana’s Market at the Square Corner of Illinois & Vine Streets in Downtown Urbana Days: Saturdays
Hours: 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Season: May 5 - November 3
—————–+————+—————–
Prosperity Gardens 302 North First Street, Champaign, IL Summer Months TBA
—————–+————+—————–
comments powered by Disqus