Other notable performances include the Hot Club of Urbana jazz combo, who will take the stage at 7:25 PM, and Rory Book & The Volumes, closing out the night at 9 PM. The full lineup includes Roseli, Kevin Elliott, Flapjaques, TV Blues Band, Tessa Turner, DJ Froztbyte, The K-Tels, Paul Kotheimer, 94 Cove, Broadmoor Quartet, Jules Rose, Curb Service, and gravefruit.
Donations accepted at the Rose Bowl on Sunday will go directly towards the repair expenses. Fans can also make donations online at weft.org/support or through PayPal.
WEFT, a non-commercial radio station locally owned by Prairie Air, Incorporated, has been serving the diverse communities of East Central Illinois and worldwide since 1981. The benefit concert is a testament to the community's support for the station and its mission to provide an accessible, responsible, and responsive radio alternative.
Here is Sunday's lineup:
URBANA - A crowd of well over 400 shoppers were on hand for the grand opening of H Mart, the nation’s largest Asian supermarket chain, Thursday morning in downtown Urbana. Kick-off activities included a Lion Dance, giveaways, remarks from the mayor, and a ribbon cutting. The 32,000-square-foot store is located at 220 N. Broadway Ave. in downtown Urbana, across the street from the Black Dog Smoke & Ale House, which closed during the pandemic and has plans to resume operation in the future. Here is a look back at the first day of business for the first H Mart store operated outside of the Chicagoland area.
One of two lions performs for customers waiting to enther the store after the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the H Mart grand opening on Thursday morning.
Lion dancing is believed to bring success and chase away evil spirits. In Chinese culture, the lion symbolizes power, wisdom, and superiority. Martial artists generally and trained dancers perform lion dances at festivals or special occasions to bring good fortune.
Moments before opening H Mart's neatly stocked shelves wait for the first day of customers. The store hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and will remain open 365 days a year. The Urbana store is the sixth location in Illinois. There are more than 80 stores spread across the country started by a South Korean immigrant in 1982.
Rows of freezers packaged with seafood, meats and other Asian specialty items were filled to the brim. The store also features the "Market Eatery" food court, offering various Asian cuisines in a sit-down dining environment. Shoppers will find a extensive selection of produce for homemade kimchi, tonkatsu, onigiri, spring rolls and more.
A Korean dance group perform a traditional routine to bless the new location and celebrate the grand opening.
H Mart employee Henry Chung tries to manage crowd control allowing a limited number of shoppers in at a time after the doors open on the first day of business.
Nearly 400 people wait patiently to enter the new store and purchase their favorite treats and goods to prepare Asian dishes at home.
Officially opening at 10 a.m., customers wait for their chance to enter the store.
The Korean dance group perform in the parking lot, entertaining customers waiting for their chance to enter the store and start their shopping experience.
New H Mart at 220 N. Broadway in Urbana set to open on Thursday at 10 a.m.
Photo: oursentinel.com
URBANA - H Mart, America's largest Asian supermarket chain, will open its first downstate Illinois location Wednesday in downtown Urbana, marking a significant expansion beyond its Chicago-area presence.
The 32,000-square-foot store at 220 N. Broadway Ave. will celebrate its grand opening with traditional festivities beginning at 9:50 a.m., including a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Korean dance performance and Lion Dance.
The store represents H Mart's sixth location in Illinois and brings authentic Asian grocery options to the diverse Champaign-Urbana community. The new location occupies a renovated former Save-A-Lot building, demonstrating the company's commitment to adaptive reuse.
"H Mart is excited to bring an authentic taste of Asia to your neighborhood," said H Mart President Brian Kwon in a statement. "Our market is all about celebrating the richness and variety of Asian cuisine, making it easier than ever to find the flavors you love, right here at home."
The store features the "Market Eatery" food court, offering various Asian cuisines in a sit-down dining environment. Shoppers will find extensive selections of packaged good, Asian produce, seafood, meats and Asian specialty items.
Opening day shoppers can participate in several promotions, including free gifts for purchases over $50 and complimentary reusable shopping bags with $30 purchases. New members joining the H Mart Smart Rewards Card program will receive a free thermos mug cup and 2025 calendar.
Urbana Mayor Diane Wolfe Marlin welcomed the investment, noting the store's potential impact on downtown vitality and job creation.
"Our diverse community is excited to shop the full line of Asian and American groceries, meats, seafood, produce, housewares and ready-made meals," Marlin said.
The store will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., including holidays. Opening day promotions include free gifts for purchases over $50 and reusable shopping bags for purchases exceeding $30, while supplies last.
Founded in 1982 in Queens, New York, H-Mart as grown to more than 100 stores across 18 states. The Urbana location marks the chain's sixth Illinois store and its first venture outside the Chicago metropolitan area.
URBANA - 40 North and the Urbana Arts and Culture Program will host the year’s first PostMark Urbana event this Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Elm City Roastery, located at 208 W. Main St. in Urbana.
PostMark Urbana is a family-friendly event series that highlights the fun things to do in Urbana through interactive activities, art, and food. PostMark - short for "post market" - is a monthly program designed to promote downtown Urbana as a cultural and shopping destination.
This weekend’s theme focuses on recycled and repurposed art and activities. The Elm City Roastery will serve as the hub for attendees to explore journal-making and vision board design, with materials sourced from Lincoln Square’s IDEA Store. More than 50 pieces of recycled art created by Urbana School District 116 students will also be on display at various participating locations.
40 North will have a table offering PostMark maps and hosting a puzzle exchange. Visitors are encouraged to bring old puzzles and swap them for new ones to enjoy during the winter months.
Other featured events include a free mindfulness session with crystal singing bowls led by instructor Vivianne Velazquez at Gallery Art Bar. The Gilbert Gallery will showcase new works from local artists, and The Enchantment Alley will display a collection of beautifully crafted junk journals.
Additionally, the event will feature a raffle for a $50 gift card. Raffle entries can be submitted at participating PostMark businesses.
Emil "The Button Man" Cobb creates a new button for a customer last Thursday at Urbana's first Night Market at the Square at Lincoln Square Mall Thursday evening. Night Markets will be held every Thursday for the next five weeks in the Southeast parking lot, showcasing local artists, craftsmen, and food vendors. Next week, Panc8s will be the featured band for the event, sponsored by The Market and the Urbana Arts and Culture. Cobb creates photo buttons and keychains on the spot from customer social media feeds or phone albums.
A shopper browses earrings at a booth at the Night Market at the Square in the southeast lot at Lincoln Square Mall. Market attendees enjoyed a variety of offerings including chocolates, ice cream, custom pork rinds, and popcorn from vendors, while Samba Soul provided live music entertainment at the free event on Thursday. Night Markets will be held every Thursday for the next five weeks, showcasing local artists, craftsmen, and food vendors. Next week, Panc8s will be the featured band for the event, which is sponsored by The Market and the Urbana Arts and Culture.
Jill Van Voorst, owner of DeLIXcious, talks to customers about her custom-made chocolates at the Night Market at the Square. The Market teamed up with Urbana Arts and Culture to create a new weekly outdoor event from 6 - 9 pm until October 10. While produce vendors will be limited weekly, the event features arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, snack booths, and live music starting at 7 pm every Thursday. Works of art, DeLIXcious' selection included Milk Chocolate Hazelnut, Peanutbutter Salted Caramel, Vanilla Buttercream, Expresso Ganache, and Salted Caramels. The booth will return in two weeks on Thursday, September 19.
Vivian Felicio performs with Samba Soul at Urbana's first Night Market at the Square at Lincoln Square Mall Thursday evening. Playing select classical Brazilian and contemporary songs from Elis Regina, Joao Gilberto, and other popular Brazilian musical artists, the five-member band entertained over a thousand shoppers and area residents, enjoying the mild weather and outdoor market. In addition to Felicio, the band includes George Turner on guitar, bass player Armand Beaudoin, saxophone player Chip McNeil, and the talented Ricardo Flores on drums. Night Markets will be held every Thursday for the next five weeks. The market will include live music, food trucks, and vendors offering food and artwork. Next week's entertainment features Panc8s.
URBANA - Lead singer Ben Jenkins belts out soulful notes while singing with the Wise Guys at the 6th Annual Prairie Crossroads Blues Festival on Saturday. Also appearing on stage during the day were Rory Book and The Volumes, Cobalt Blues Band, and Funky Mojo Daddy. Over 200 music lovers filled the parking lot next to Bunny's Tavern, enjoying Jenkins and his fellow musicians on a beautiful fall day.
New Illinois law protects people attending court, making them “privileged from civil arrest inside state courthouses and with...
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