Desperately Seeking C-U...

Today I'm looking at a few sites that are flying under the radar in regards to finding community resources for information and entertainment. Since I already have the Chambana Live Journal, Craigslist Chambana, and OpeningBands.com linked permanently here on the blog, I'll not waste time on them. They're great, and you should check them out and contribute. So, without further ado (or Freddy Adu, for that matter)...

Do you ever wonder just how many blogs are out there in Champaign-Urbana? Well, evidently, Jason Frye does, because he started cublogs.com in order to try and build a database for all of us in the local blogosphere. It's pretty under-represented at the moment in terms of submitted blogs, but I think a lot of people could benefit from using it. There are five categories to submit under, so it makes searching a little more refined, as well.

It also says they are supported by another local web site, culocalbiz.com. The design is a little cheezy, but has some pretty decent information for people looking for nightlife in CU. It needs more contributors to truly be considered a viable resource, though. Google could probably give me more results in less clicks, but best of luck.

A more developed site for local search is champaignyp.com. They're backed by R.H. Donnelley, so it's definitely more thorough as far as results are concerned. There are apartment listings and local news nuggets, too.

CU-today.com is a still-developing news and business site. It includes information about surrounding communities in addition to it's coverage of Chambana. It includes rather large sections on clubs, associations, and places of worship, which is a stand-out feature from other sites.

Another good place to check out is the CU Conventions And Visitors Bureau. Their site is fairly comprehensive, and includes a good selection of contacts for transportation in and out of town, in addition to local business selections broken down by category.

The University of Illinois at U-C also has a great portal for local business, services, government and education. It has all of the categories listed right on the front page, and links for them, as well. Definitely the most user-friendly info site for Chambana; great for locals and visitors alike.

If you're looking to lend a hand to a non-profit organization, here's a list for CU.

Do you have a favorite site for news and search for Champaign-Urbana? Feel free to post your suggestion in the comments.