Do You Have Old Photographs of Downtown Champaign?

The City of Champaign’s 150th Celebration Committee is looking for old photos and artifacts from Downtown Champaign.  If you have any in your personal collection and would be willing to have them scanned please contact T.J. Blakeman with the City of Champaign’s Planning Department at terry.blakeman@ci.champaign.il.us or call (217) 403-8800.

The photographs will be collected and possibly used in the kick off event for Champaign’s 150th Anniversary in March.  The event will feature a three week long historical exhibition on the 4th floor of the Illinois Terminal in Downtown Champaign.  Photos and artifacts from Champaign’s past will be on display thanks for the generous contributions by community members and the Champaign County Historical Museum.

The Committee thanks you for your time and ask that you check back closer to March for more details on our year long celebration!

Ring in New Year’s 2010 in Downtown Champaign

Downtown is the place to be for New Years Eve 2010!

FAMILY EVENTS

The Virginia Theater – The Chorale: On Broadway @ 7:00 PM / $20.00

Orpheum Children’s Science Center – Noon Day Celebration @ 11:00 AM / Free

EVENING CELEBRATIONS

Mike & Molly’s – New Years Eve featuring New Ruins with Common Loon, Golden Quality, and Dottie & the Rail @ 9:00 PM / $5.00

Bentley’s Pub - New Years Eve Party with the Delta Kings @9:00 PM

Memphis on Main – New Years Eve Bash featuring Schizer @ 9:00 PM / Free

Cowboy Monkey – Dumstep Massacre @ 9:00 PM / $10.00 Advance Tickets

Highdive - New Years Eve Party @ 9:00 PM / $20.00 and up

Boltini Lounge- NYE 2010 with DJ Mertz @ 9:00 PM / Packages between $50-$70, Tickets Required

SOMA Ultralounge - New Years Eve Party @ 9:00 PM / $30.00 tickets, Table reservations available

Clark Bar – Stitches Goth Night with DJ Rickbats, DJ Kannibal @ 10:00 PM / Free

Art Theater Continues Under New Management

On January 1, the Art Theater will open under new management. The new operator, Champaign local Sanford Hess, promises that the Art will continue to show great Art and Independent films that the multiplexes may overlook. He also promises some changes in terms of the theater’s operations and concessions. First and foremost, Mr. Hess promises a greater emphasis on customer service, starting with having an on-site operator. New concessions features will offer treats from local Champaign businesses: baked goods from Pekara Bakery and gourmet popcorn from Popped Bliss.

The first film will be “Me and Orson Welles” an upbeat film about the famous staging of Julius Caesar by the fledgling Mercury Theatre. The film is directed by Richard Linklater (’Slackers’, ‘School of Rock’, ‘Before Sunrise’) and featuring a breakout performance by Christian McKay as Orson Welles.

Links about the film and showtimes are available on the Art’s website: www.theCUart.com

To read an interview of  new owner Sanford Hess by Smile Politely check out this article

http://www.smilepolitely.com/arts/a_new_era_for_the_art_theatre/