Best of C-U

Sad thing is I'm leaving the area soon. So I figure I'll pay homage to my favorite haunts and peeps of the fabulous Champaign-Urbana before I go!

Allow me to present: My favorites!

Sandwich: Crane Alley
Place to take the parents: Radio Maria (instantly impressive, with amazing food)
Salad: Red Herring
Park: West Side in downtown Champaign, across the street from the IRS/RCS building
Ambience: KoFusion for the out-there funky vibe, Bread Company for the earthy funky vibe (sorry, as you can tell, I really like my funky vibe! And not in that way you sicko!)
Ice Cream: Jarling's Custard Cup (it's custard that's totally worth waiting in line for)
Burger: Guido's
Fries: Blues Barbecue (they call 'em potato wedges!)
Place to snore in public: Anywhere your GWS professor isn't
Politician: Tony Fabri (yes, I know that I should be bi-partisan, but you've seriously gotta hand it to a guy who remembers everything about you and shows up to all the big Fem Maj events! Hell, he wasn't even intimidated by Sex Out Loud! He just strode right in and struck up a conversation with the NARAL lady. Go Tony!)
Pancakes: Anything the newest RSO, the Lumberjack Guild, serves up. You guys rawk!
Fine dining: Timpone's all the way, although I do want to check out Bacaro sometime
Diner: Merry Anne's (dude, I think they're gonna sweep the awards!)
Barbecue: Blues (this is what REAL southern comfort tastes like)
Vintage: The amazing deals, wild outfits, and fabulous accessories obviously make Le Shoppe the best of the best! And you gotta love the dresses fluttering in the wind.
Used store: Exile on Main Street for CDs, Jane Addams for books, and Le Shoppe for clothes
Stir fry: KoFusion
Mexican food: Chevy's Fresh Mex with El Toro a close second
Asian food: Basil Thai of Urbana with Siam Terrace as second
Bookstore: Jane Addams Bookstore (Best selection around of books and a wonderful place to explore with a friend. Make sure the friend knows the basics of used-book-shopping first. It is a fine skill s/he must acquire before stepping foot in this lovely place.)
Fast food: Sandella's Flatbread Cafe
First date location: Aroma Cuban Cafe (come when they've got live music!), Cafe Luna for dinner and dancing. OR, go to Aroma on Thursday when they have the music and Luna on Friday when they have the dancing and watch your date be impressed. Either that or take him/her to the Boneyard or Pygmalion festivals.
Makeout spot in public: On the South Quad, under a lamp post...you heard that right.
Place to bowl: Illini Union rec room (cosmic bowling, anyone?)
Place to watch the Sunrise: At your friend's house, after a nine-hour party, when you're both sober and talking each other's ears off and then you're all like, "Holy shit, is it 6 AM already?? Let's get breakfast!" And then you do. It's great.
Chicken wings: I used to like the ones at The Office, but sadly, they closed. Guess I like Buffalo Wild Wings too, but they're a chain and I don't often go to chains.
Milkshake: Courier Cafe
Pizza: Garcia's
T-shirts: Anything sold at Sex Out Loud in March. How can you not love something that says "My sexual preference is safe and often" or "This is what a feminist looks like"?
Grocery Store: World Harvest (the variety and prices helps World Harvest beat out my former favorite, AmKo, for the #1 slot), County Market for 24-hour variety and good prices
Band to watch at a bar: Three-way tie between the Lumus (for their eclectic appeal), Angie Heaton (for her attitude and sass), and Zmick (for their sense of fun and the fact that they dedicated their schmaltziest song, "Sexy Crazy" to ME on my birthday!).
Concert venue: Highdive
Act at Assembly Hall: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Campus bar: Does Canopy count?
Downtown bar: Crane Alley in Urbana, Highdive in Champaign.
Place to buy music: Exile on Main Street
Drink selection: Boltini
Chill bar: Soma Ultra Lounge
DJ bar: C-Street (Chester Street, the only club with a triple-decker dance floor!)
Bar food: Guido's
Concert venue: Highdive and Krannert Center
After-hours food: Merry Anne's
Coffee shop: Cafe Paradiso
Art gallery: Krannert Art Museum on campus, Cinema in Urbana, Wind Water and Light in Champaign. Or, check out the Boneyard Festival and see them all!
Video store: That's Rentertainment
Local website: http://the217.com/ That is literally my Bible/Koran/Torah/Kitab-i-aqdas/Analects/Bagavad Gita/Bayan all rolled into one!
Radio Station: 107.1