32. Skating in Champaign - Urbana

Are you interested in Skating? Looking for a place to do so in bone-dry Chambana area? Though we don't have any good sized lakes here, there are some places where you can go to enjoy skating.


1. University of Illinois Ice Arena

This is perhaps the best venue for skating in Champaign-Urbana area. The Arena is located at 406 East Armory, Champaign (between Fourth and Fifth Streets).
Phone: (217) 333-2081

Public Skate General Admission

(Does not including skate rental_

• UI Student or Campus Rec Member (with valid i-card): FREE
• Children (under 3): Free
• Youth (4-12): $4.00
• Adult (13 and older): $5.00
• Family Pass: $20 (good for 5 family members and skate rental)

Group Passes

For groups of 8 or more skaters.

• $4/person when payment is made at least one day in advance*
• $5/person for groups paying at the door

* Prices include admission and skates.

Credit cards are accepted over the phone, (217) 333-2212, or stop by to purchase passes in person.

Discount Public Admission Cards

For individuals.

• $30/youth (10 session pass without skates)
• $40/youth (10 session pass with skates)
• $40/adult (10 session pass without skates)
• $50/adult (10 session pass with skates)

Skate Rental

• UI Student or Campus Rec Member: $1.00
• Public: $2.00

Skate Sharpening

• $5/pair of skates
• $8/new or custom skates

UI Ice Arena Fall 2008 Hours

• Monday-Friday: 11:15 am-12:45 pm (Noon Skates)
• Wednesday: 7-9 pm
• Friday: 7:30-10 pm (when no Illini Hockey games)
• Saturday/Sunday: 1:30-4 pm

2. Skateland

This is a facilty located at 208 W Curtis Rd, Savoy
Phone: (217)359-3335

Here is the rate info+schedule


Wednesday

Family night: 6:30 - 8:30 PM $5.00
FAMILY PRICE $15.00
(SKATE RENTAL EXTRA, UP TO 6 IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS
WITH A PARENT SKATING)

FAMILY SPECIAL $25.00
(SAME AS ABOVE PLUS
A 16" - 1 TOPPING PIZZA & 2 LITER OF POP)

THURSDAYS
AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE PARTIES

FRIDAYS
7:00 - 11:00 PM $8.00

SATURDAYS
1:00 - 4:00 PM $5.50
7:00 - 11:00 PM $8.00

SUNDAYS
1:00 - 4:00 PM $5.50
EVENINGS AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE PARTIES

SKATE RENTAL
REGULAR SKATE RENTAL $2.00
SPEED/ INLINE SKATE RENTAL $4.00

Enjoy!!!!

26. Monsters and the law in Urbana

While reading about funny laws throughout the world, in particular the "funny Illinois law" section, I suddenly came across this interesting entry:

It is against the law for a monster to enter the corporate limits of Urbana, Illinois.

I felt intrigued and safe ... wow, the city is off limits to monsters!! So if the day comes when Godzilla or Freddy or Chucky or other monsters wander around the cornfields (so typical hang-out place for monsters), all I need to do is to cross Wright street to the East side and enter Urbana. The monsters should obey the law, and stop dead on their tracks ... honest law abiding monsters won't have the "courage" to come after the citizens of Urbana. (How lucky that I've moved from monster friendly Champaign to Urbana a few years ago!!)

But seriously, is it really a law?

After some googling, I came across this page, which gives the following explanation, an act from 1872,

Third. Circuses, menageries, caravans, hippodromes,side-shows and concerts, minstrel or musical entertainments given under a canvas, exhibitions of freaks of nature or monsters, and all exhibitions that may be given in the open air or under a canvas, not herein specifically mentioned, shall be known as entertainments of the third class.

Sec. 2. No person or persons shall give any entertainment mentioned in this chapter, within the corporate limits of the city, for gain, without a license therefor, first had and obtained from the City Clerk, under the corporate seal, under a penalty of not less than ten dollars nor more than
two hundred dollars for each offense.

So, there you go ... its TRUE!!! Monsters can't just walk into Urbana doing their usual Monster stuff ... they need to get a License!! Otherwise, they have to pay a fine between $10 and $200!!

So, next time the Chidlren of the Corn or Godzilla start heading towards Urbana, you can just whip out this statute, and tell them it's illegal for monsters to enter Urbana sans a license ...

[Image: Domo kun , from Commons]