New Member - Green - Very Green -Tim Montague from Urbana, IL    Welcome to the 'Rain, Tim!  You have joined a group that mirrors your Motto - “Growth for the greater good!” At AR, we follow the AR Community Culture for the greater good as well. Check out the Weltanschauung  and the Community Guidelines and you will know all there is to know to settle in successfully here at ActiveRain. Check out the ActiveRain University to learn more about Blogging techniques and contact other members when you have questions. Participate in the January Blog Jumpstart. Contact other members.You will do well here playing in the 'Rain! All the best -Lynn From Tim's bio:"... Grew up  in the American Southwest (Albuquerque, NM) and my dad is a geek for new technology so I learned about solar power and sola... 07/26/2016

Urbana’s Market at the Square Season: May 4 – November 2, 2013 When: Every Saturday morning Time: 7 AM-12 noon, rain or shine Location: Corner of Illinois & Vine Streets in Downtown Urbana Market Map: Locate your favorite vendors and groups   Urbana’s Market at the Square is one of the largest and most diverse farmers’ markets in Illinois, and helps demonstrate Urbana’s firm commitment to sustainability. This gateway into Lincoln Square Village and historic downtown Urbana has enjoyed steady patronage since its inception in 1979, and a recent surge of interest in farmers’ markets nationally has translated into enviable growth for Urbana’s market. Urbana’s Market at the Square showcased over 150 registered vendors in 2012, and patron attendance reached into the thousands each weekend. Pa... 09/27/2013

Willow Springs subdivision in Urbana IL offers affordable condos for sale in a fantastic location just minutes from the University of Illinois. Most condos are 2-bedroom units on either the first or second floor with 1.5 baths and a 1-car detached garage, perfect for our midwest winters. Each typically has an eat-in kitchen, its own washer and dryer area, and a spacious back patio. Second floor condos boast a wood-burning fireplace. Occasionally a larger 2 or 3 bedroom unit becomes available with a 2-car attached garage as well as a larger and more private backyard space. The condos at Willow Springs average about 30 years old and prices for a 2-bedroom unit start around $70,000. Community Amenities At Willow Springs, you'll have access to tennis and basketball courts in multiple locati... 07/02/2012

For a local real estate report covering a broader area, check out our January 2012 Market Report for Champaign County IL. Here's the update specifically for and concerning only the City of Urbana:       Compared to 2010, there were more listings and fewer home sales in Urbana in 2011. With tougher competition, it's easy to understand why the average sale price dropped a little, as well. Interestingly, the neighboring city of Champaign saw fewer listings in 2011 (as well as fewer sales). Champaign also experienced an increase in sales in the highest price range while Urbana saw a decrease, though Urbana also doesn't have nearly as many "luxury homes," in general. One statistic which can be used to foresee future sales is a measure of the pending sales, meaning homes that are under contra... 03/05/2012

Urbana, IL Condo for Sale Overview Maps Photos Features Description Neighborhood $72,500 Single Family Home Main Features 2 Bedrooms1 Bathroom1 Partial BathroomInterior: 970 sqft Location 1203 Dean Dr.5Urbana, IL 61802USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Shannon Lewis Homeplace Advisors, LLC(217) 552-8059Shannon@HomeplaceAdvisors.comhttp://www.HomeplaceAdvisors.com  Listed by: Homeplace Advisors See more Urbana, IL real estate for sale 02/25/2012

Guess who I found strolling along Candlestick Lane this evening? None other than Santa Claus! Candlestick Lane, otherwise known as Grant Place, has for 50 years been an Urbana holiday tradition. It began in the early 1960s when the power company sponsored a house decorating competition. The homes on Grant Place won and ever since have decked their homes with lights, holiday decor and, of course, candlesticks during the weeks leading up to Christmas. During those weeks, all the homes are lit up from 5pm to 10pm daily and on some evenings, such as tonight, Santa hands out candy in the middle of the street as cars, bumper to bumper, slowly pass by with passengers marveling at the sight. The light show continues through Christmas day. Be sure to drive by...and please give my kind regards to... 12/21/2011

Every year on Saturdays from mid-November through Christmas there's a delightful holiday market inside Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana. Local businesses and artists participate in providing a wide assortment of goods for purchase from locally grown produce to handcrafted pottery and soaps. You could do every bit of your holiday shopping in one Saturday at the holiday market! Once you've finished shopping, just stop by the Urbana Business Association booth and have your gifts wrapped...all proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society and your gifts will look prettier than ever this year. Of course, no holiday market would be complete without the presence of Santa himself. Yes, Santa will be there to take your Christmas wish list. Then, for a donation of $6 you can have your own holiday ... 12/09/2011

All summer long construction crews worked busily to tear down the old Urbana High School Stadium and subsequently build a brand-new athletic complex. Finally, just weeks ago the new structure was unveiled! The Urbana Tigers are officially enjoying their new playing grounds which include a low-maintenance artificial turf field surrounded by a running track, a spacious concession area and plenty of storage for both sports and band equipment. From an outsider's perspective, the athletic complex is a beautiful sight. Congrats to the Urbana school district on a fantastic improvement that will, no doubt, see much use and bring much joy to the students. Go Tigers!!! 09/25/2011

This evening September 20th from 7-9pm the Parkland Early Jazz Ensemble of Champaign-Urbana will be playing at the Iron Post in downtown Urbana. Best of all, the show is free!!! This is a really talented group of performers and the music they play is loads of fun. There's no better way to spend your Tuesday evening, I assure you :-) Below is a short video clip I took of them playing previously. As you'll discover, the low-lighting in this venue really sets the mood for an evening of jazz when you're there in person, but makes for a somewhat mediocre video viewing experience. Regardless, the sound turned out pretty good. To get the full visual effect, simply head over to the Iron Post TONIGHT!!! 09/20/2011

Speechless Sunday: A Visit to the University of Illinois Arboretum   Right now is the best time of year (in my opinion!) for visiting the University of Illinois Arboretum in Urbana, IL. The plants have peaked in maturity and the autumn flowering plants are in full bloom. Entry to the arboretum is FREE and metered parking is available, though the meters are only checked during certain hours. With 160 acres of gardens to explore, a visit is well worth it. 09/18/2011

Follow the Red Brick Roads... One of my favorite things about West Urbana IL are the old brick roads interspersed throughout the neighborhood. I love thinking about the variety of vehicles from horse and buggies to present-day automobiles that have traveled these paths over a span of more than 100 years. The brick roads to me are a lovely reminder of all the people who have come before us. Recently while checking Google Analytics on my website, I noticed that someone had searched for a map of the brick roads in West Urbana, and even though I didn't have such a map on my website, that person landed there. I'm quite glad they did because it gave me the great idea for this project and blog. After driving the streets of West Urbana in every direction, I created this map which shows the bric... 09/14/2011

Speechless Sunday - King Queen of the World This is my beautiful girl, Sienna, who found a gigantic pile of mulch today at the Urbana dog park and decided to claim the throne as her own. After running around and socializing for quite some time with the other dogs, this was a great spot to take a breather while keeping watch on her surroundings. She and I both are big fans of the Urbana dog park :-) 09/11/2011

Spurlock Museum Presents Worldfest - an International Music and Dance Festival This Saturday September 10th head over to the Spurlock Museum in Urbana IL to enjoy a variety of performances as part of Worldfest, an international music and dance festival. Worldfest kicks off at 12:15pm on the front lawn with a Capoeira demonstration. (If you don't know what Capoeira is, go search for it on YouTube right now! It's pretty cool stuff.) Then head indoors to hear a traditional Chinese musical performance followed by American old tunes on the banjo and fiddle. Next up is a Balinese dance. To finish up the day, there will be a group from the university (including my husband!) playing the mbira, an African musical instrument, followed by a performance by a Master Drummer on the djembe drum. The c... 09/08/2011

1203 Dean Drive #5, Urbana IL Condo for Sale Residents of this lovely community in north Urbana enjoy access to the tennis courts and swimming pool, which are just a block away from this second floor unit. Condo fees cover all exterior maintenance, lawn care and snow removal, and the neighborhood is well situated within biking distance to the university. For more information or to schedule a showing, give us a call or send us an email (contact info is to the right)     09/07/2011

People bustled through the streets last weekend during the Sweetcorn Festival, but a lucky break in the crowds provided me the perfect opportunity to snap this shot of a beautiful, familiar spot on Main Street. With the heat wave we've experienced over the past week or so, Urbana nights are a welcome relief. This particular night was no exception.   09/04/2011

Urbana, IL's Sweetcorn Festival 2011 Starts Today!!! We are only hours away now from the start of the 36th Annual Sweetcorn Festival in Urbana, Illinois! Once again, admission is free. In fact, it's the largest free festival in Champaign County! Come hang out with "Corny" the sweetcorn, hear some great live music, and, of course, fill your tummy with lots of local foods. Not to be missed is a performance Saturday night from 9-10:30 by the headliner band...Survivor!!! Tonight I will be there, also, as Homeplace Advisors is volunteering with other local businesses to ensure that the festival is a hit. If you'd like to say "hi", just stop by the Miller stand at Broadway and Main where I'll be serving up cold ones :-) I'd love to see you! Here are the festival details: Dates and Times: Frid... 08/26/2011

Low on Maintenance, High on Lifestyle ~ Urbana IL Condo Overview Maps Photos Features Description Neighborhood $72,900 Condominium Main Features 2 Bedrooms1 Bathroom1 Partial BathroomInterior: 970 sqft Location 1203 Dean Dr.#5Urbana, IL 61802USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Shannon Lewis Homeplace Advisors, LLC(217) 552-8059Shannon@HomeplaceAdvisors.comhttp://www.HomeplaceAdvisors.com  Listed by: Homeplace Advisors See more Urbana, IL real estate for sale 07/06/2011

I checked. Neither Little Red Riding Hood nor her grandmother is listed in the tax records as owning this house. Still, as I took this shot I half expected her to come skipping out the front door carrying her wicker basket and offer me a slice of Mother's homemade bread. Yummm. A walking tour of our West Urbana community is certain to reveal surprises and delights, even to a resident such as myself who's walked these sidewalks many times before. Today was no exception. This remarkable dwelling caught my eye and out came the camera. What makes this neighborhood special, perhaps even magical, is its rich history combined with the fervent dedication of its residents to preserve its unique qualities. Many of the homes in West Urbana are nearing or have gracefully surpassed a hundred years ... 05/08/2011

Liveable, Loveable, Affordable! Overview Maps Photos Features Description Neighborhood $75,900 Single Family Home Main Features 3 Bedrooms1 BathroomInterior: 910 sqft Location 304 ScottswoodUrbana, IL 61802USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Shannon Lewis Homeplace Advisors, LLC(217) 552-8059Shannon@HomeplaceAdvisors.comhttp://www.HomeplaceAdvisors.com Listed by: Homeplace Advisors Nearby properties for sale 04/27/2011

Serenade Your Sweetheart And Support the Arts in Champaign-Urbana IL Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, and if you haven't planned something special for your sweetheart it's not too late! This year you can hire two professional musicians from the Community Center for the Arts to serenade that special someone in your life on February 14th. For the modest price of $50, these talented musicians will stop by the location of your choosing and deliver 20 minutes of musical delight. What a unique way to show someone you care! And it gets better... Proceeds will go to support the Community Center for the Arts' scholarship fund and working musicians. It's a gift that keeps on giving. For more information visit the Community Center for the Arts website or just call 217-384-5150 to schedule a... 02/04/2011