7.5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Indi Go Artist Co-Op This Friday

Indi Go Artist Co-Op is kind enough to support the Emergency Shelter for Families Project by allowing us (us being a small group made up of members of the Emerging Community Leaders Program through United Way) to host an art fundraiser starting this Friday!

This fundraiser has been so awesome to plan and I am truly blown away at the many people willing to donate pieces they've worked so hard on to this cause. We've got photography, paintings, glass etching, jewelry, and more!

What cause are they helping? The Emergency Shelter for Families Project. This project serves homeless families in need of shelter and guidance. Far too often, families seeking help are split up. Divided in an extremely stressful time in their lives is not a way to breed success. This project aims to increase the success rate of families moving on to permanent housing by keeping them together and through counseling/education. It has already aided over 32 families since its inception as a pilot project in February, with 26 moving on to permanent housing. It is making a huge impact, and deserves as much support as we can give!

Here is some info about the event:

Click to view larger!

Opening Reception: Friday, October 11, 6-8pm, at Indi Go Artist Co-Op. $5 Suggested donation to enter, music and complimentary wine at the event. Click here to view Facebook event page.

Can't do the reception? The gallery will be open Oct 12-16, 6-8pm so breeze through and see the amazing works that have been donated!

Below are 7.5 reasons why you should go to our opening night!

1) View beautiful art by local artists
2) Beautify your home with said art
3) Complimentary wine
4) Donate to the Emergency Shelter for Families Project
5) Live Music
6) You really need to get out more...
7) Celebrity doodles
7.5) I'll be there!

The last one is only worth half a point because, well, the cause is much more important than me... but come on, I'm totally a selling point, right?

Thank you for reading this and hearing me out. I am so humbled by the love Chambana has for its people. The support we have received through Indi Go Artist Co-Op, United Way, the Center for Women in Transition, artists, and community members is astounding.

If you are interested in learning how you can better your community, I highly recommend applying for the Emerging Community Leaders program. It has been an amazing year of learning to work with non-profits and now how to benefit these non-profits.

Beer in Champaign

Champaign is a a beautiful place. A beautiful place with flowing taps of delicious beer! With places like Blind Pig Brewery, Triptych Brewing (okay, Savoy), and Desthil making it in-house; and then places like Dublin O'Neil's and Big Grove Tavern serving up an awesome selection of delicious crafts brews, you can drink the good stuff until the cows come home... which is all fine and dandy, until you get knocked up.

I'm 13 weeks pregnant, and have known since week 5. That's 8 whole weeks I've endured people, and approximately 26 to go. Yes, I remember the last beer I drank. Sea Dog Blueberry Wheat Ale at Guido's, April 26, 2013
. It was great.

So what's a preggo to do? Non-alcoholic beer? Many of the local joints do offer it, but I had the misfortune of reading some forum that said most non-alcoholics have .5% alcohol and that the baby can't handle it. Say what you will, but because of this, I'm avoiding.

So NOW what's a preggo to do? Well, there is alcohol-FREE beer. Sadly, I haven't seen any menus rockin' alcohol-free beers. Hoping to keep this thang local, I visited Piccadilly and called Common Ground Food Co-Op (I mean, they don't have their Champaign location YET... i'm not driving alllll the way over there on hopes and dreams, ha) and sadly neither had alcohol-free beer. Friar Tuck and Binny's, however, both offer Bitburger alcohol-free beer.

Bitburger is the only option I've found locally. The first sip feels natural... but after the first sip and especially after it warms, you're out. It's over.

There are quite a few options online if I want to spend cray-cray amounts of money. Honestly, after having a few of these I'm not that interested. I guess it did its job, eh?

There will be a day when I will enjoy the delectable flow of beer bubbles into my mouth again. I look forward to trying Triptych Brewing, I haven't had the chance yet! Until then, friend, please... go have a beer for me at a wonderful C-U pub. My, I mean.. your first recommended stop should be Dublin O'Neils.

CU Bike to Work Day - My Newbie Experience

CU Bike to Work Day was about a week ago. I went for it, I biked to work! Being someone that does not normally bike anywhere, I was excited about the challenge and a little nervous about being on the road.

Luckily for me, I live only a mile away from work. This was gonna be CAKE, right?!

Sadly, there weren't any official CU Bike to Work Day stations with free stuff on my side of town. I left 15 mins early, since I had no idea how long it would take. I got to work with plenty of time to spare, which was pretty cool. I ride an old Schwinn (maybe.. it has been repainted), it is probably from 1950something. Single gear. There was an uphill moment that I really had to pump on, but other than that it was a decent ride. I wore a different shirt in case I got too hot, which really I didn't because it was 8am.

At work, everyone that noticed I biked mentioned it and was in awe a bit. It was strange to get so much recognition for a mode of transportation. But then again, I bet if I showed up on a Harley there'd be a lot of talk too ;)

I had a meeting outside of my office that luckily was close, so I rode to it and back.

Lunchtime was approaching and I realized I hadn't brought anything. I normally go home for lunch to eat with my husband. Damn.. I was going to have to bike back home for lunch! I was getting a little tired of all this morning biking, but had to do it so I loaded up and headed back home. This was the harder ride because I was hungry, it was warm, and I was already a little tired from my morning excursions. I survived though, and the ride home after work was pretty gentle.

I'm glad I tried biking to work. When I started my new job and realized its close proximity to my home, I figured I should try to bike every once in a while. All kinds of things like nerves and the extra planning got in the way. CU Bike to Work Day made me get off my ass and onto my bike.

Since then, I haven't rode. Even though the weather has been beautiful... I realized I should really wear a helmet, which I don't have. Well, I have a roller derby helmet, but from what I understand it is not the same, and would not do.

To sum things up, let me list what I learned about biking to work:

• Biking to work is great because it gets you moving and your heart pumping! Plus, it saves gas, etc.
• Bring your lunch if you think the extra trip will be a bit much for you...
• Learn the rules of the road - there was a point where I was turning left and didn't know where to be in the lane...
• You won't get that sweaty, especially if your only trip is in the morning/after work. Although bringing a shirt to change into might make you a bit more comfortable.
• Keep deodorant at work or bring with you.
• Plan your errands. If you have places to go, you'll need to figure out how to bike there or save them for the car after work.
• Less road rage - unless cars don't share the road, which luckily.. I didn't encounter.
• Biking to work feels good. Although I was a bit tired at the end of the day, I know I would get used to it and to the great feeling of getting yourself somewhere without relying on a big car and gas $$.

Whew! So that was my experience. Did you do it? Would you do it?