The sun is shining, and it’s certainly heating up in Champaign-Urbana. Even though there’s no Taste of Champaign this weekend, there’s still a ton of stuff to do! In the ‘taste’ vein, Taste of Chicago has begun — and we’ve got our WPGU stamp on it. In Grant Park, the Dew Tour will be making its first appearance in Chicago! Today and tomorrow, first-class BMXers will be putting on the action-sports show of a lifetime — Dave Mirra, Ryan Nyquist, and Jamie Bestwick will not only be performing, but signing autographs as well! We’re support this event with a huge prize giveaway, including gifts from Ogio, Nike, and other great sponsors! For more info on the whole show, be sure to check out allisports.com . If you’re not looking to travel out of town this weekend, just visit the217.com’s extensive calendar — if there’s something going on in Champaign-Urbana, it’s on the calendar.
Archive for June, 2009
One o-clock, two o-clock, three o-clock rock!
Four o-clock, five o-clock, six o-clock rock!
Seven o-clock, eight o-clock, nine o-clock rock!
Ten o-clock, eleven o-clock, MIDNIGHT!
I, along with my brothers and most of the kids in my neighborhood, were pretty intense Ghost in the Graveyard players when we were younger. We would meet in somebody’s backyard as soon as it got dark, designate a “base” and the game boundaries, and then begin our game. The game usually didn’t last too long because an argument would errupt or our bedtimes would cause our parents to call us home.
Nonetheless, it was always a fun time.
As I got older, I began going to an overnight summer camp. At least one of the four nights we were there, the counselors would plan a game of Capture the Flag. The camp took place on a small college campus. Counselors would designate boundaries and teams and then supervise as the game was going on. This game definitely had more room than a few backyards and more people than a few neighborhood friends and siblings like we had during the Ghost in the Graveyard days.
Capture the Flag has always provided fond memories for me, largely because of camp.
Now, people tell me I ramble a lot. Whether it is in person, while I’m DJing on the radio… or… well… right now in this blog.
So let me get to the point.
(If you have dealt with my ramblings up until now. Thanks. Brownie points for you.)
The point-
WPGU IS HOSTING “NIGHT GAMES ON THE QUAD” EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT THIS SUMMER!
Games start at 8pm.
Tonight’s game: Capture the flag!
(Other games throughout the summer include: Ghost in the Graveyard, Kickball, and more!)
Check it out and relive your favorite childhood games!
Looking for something to do tonight (or any other random Tuesday, for that matter)?
Head out to the Canopy Club at 7pm for the Trivia Diner Live Game Show! Get into teams of 1-4 and answer fun trivia questions for the chance to win great prizes!
Need more incentive? How about a chance to hang out with the WPGU staff? Thats right, all your favorite DJ’s will be there and I promise, we’re a fun bunch. I went a few weeks ago and I can say from personal experience that it really is a great time. You just might surprise yourself with all the random knowledge stored up in your head.
Oh, and the show is hosted by Fishing With Dynamite, one of the (if not the) best sketch comedy groups on campus. What does that mean? Well obviously that it’s also going to be a night that will keep you laughing.
Need more details? Check ‘em out right here:
See you there!
Earlier this week I blogged about my excitement of attending the Taste of Champaign-Urbana. This evening I was asked to work at the WPGU tent. Work, meaning handing out T-shirts, chat with the locals, you know. The usual. Be the friendly face of WPGU.
This evening I got in my car and began driving to West Side Park. As I was driving, the rain started. Shortly after the wind. Next came the lightening and then the hail.
I call WPGU’s station manager, Jon Hansen, and tell him the situation. Him, being in Chicago for the night, didn’t know the extent of what was going on. I follow orders from Jon to stick around and wait out the storm in my car.
In the end, the Taste of Champaign-Urbana was cancelled for the night. On the plus side, I got some pretty intense pictures of the damage at West Side Park.
Now, all I’m curious about is why my roommate didn’t have enough common sense to close all the windows in our apartment while this storm was going on…
WPGU is going to be at the Taste of Champaign all weekend! Make your way over to West Side Park and enjoy the festivities — we’d love to see you there! Chances are, you’ll be able to hang out with your favorite DJs while basking in the sights and sounds of Champaign, IL.
In other news, Thirteen Thursdays is well under way. This means special deals on merchandise, food, and much more all around Campustown! For a full listing of the businesses involved, check out CUcampustown.com . It’s totally worth your time.
Along with Thirteen Thursdays comes live music outside the WPGU Studio! Yesterday, we hosted a special performance by Larry from Curb Service. As if that wasn’t enough, he even performed some new material. In case you’ve missed out, make sure you’re at the WPGU Studio next Thursday. And the next one, and the next..all throughout the summer.
After living in the suburbs of Chicago my whole life, I would have never imagined staying in Champaign for a summer. Nonetheless, I am here and I am loving it!
One event that I have been looking forward to is the Taste of Champaign. Food, local businesses, music… what more is there to ask for?
WPGU of course!
The WPGU staff will be out at the Taste of Champaign-Urbana! Make sure you head out to the Taste to come see us. I’m sure we will be giving away free stuff (though I can’t tell you what yet) plus WPGU people are awesome and great to hang out with! (We are humble too.)
I will be with the WPGU staff on Friday night at the Taste of Champaign.
I hope to see you there!
For more information (maps, times, places, etc.) CLICK HERE!
If you’ve been around campus town any of the last few Thursdays, you maybe be wondering what’s up with all the balloons lining Green St. For those of you who have heard about this so many times your ears and eyes are bleeding, bear with me.
Introducing Champain-Urbana’s 13 Thursdays! The name is pretty self-explanatory unless you’re not so good with numbers–such as yours truly. Every Thursday this summer (yes, there are 13 of them) local Campustown Business are partnering up to bring you great deals on shopping and meals throughout campus. It’s a perfect way to discover (or re-discover) some great spots on campus.
Not incentive enough? How about swinging by a local bar for a drink and the cross-town classic? WPGU will be at different locations throughout campus each week with great music and lots of fun events.
Still not convinced? Really? At this point, you must just be crazy.
Who doesn’t love saving money and having a rockin’ good time all at once?
Check out http://www.cucampustown.com/ if you still need more convincing.
See you there!
I started a new segment every weekday at 4pm on WPGU: “The Freaky Fresh at Four.” The idea behind it is to play a new track everyday and ask for our listeners to give their opinion on it. The response has been pretty strong so far, but hopefully it will continue to get better. Wiith that, I have had to keep up even more than usual with new artists and the new albums being released each week.
I cannot say enough about how thrilled I am with so much of the new music I have heard this month. I’ve heard of Christmas in July, but not June. The new Wilco album, although not officially out until the end of the month, is already fighting its way to the top of the best release of the year list. New Dinosaur Jr. is out. Placebo is releasing Battle for the Sun today, as is Ha Ha Tonka releasing Novel Sounds of the Nouveau South, and Mark Oliver Everett (Mr. E, E, Eels for all intents and purposes) started the month off well with Hombre Lobo.
I would rank my favorite releases of the month, but I feel it would be far better for you to check them out yourselves. Remember “The Freaky Fresh at Four” happens every weekday at 4pm and for an hour’s worth of new music every week make sure to listen to Shrinkwrap Tuesdays at 9.
