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The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871

The Daily Illini
Felicity Abbott

Felicity Abbott, Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor

Hi! My name is Felicity, and I am a sophomore majoring in journalism and minoring in French. I am currently The Daily Illini’s Assistant Arts & Entertainment editor and could not be more excited! Outside of The DI, I spend my free time reading, hanging out with my friends and scrolling on Pinterest for hours. If you have any questions or suggestions for me, feel free to click the button below to send me an email.

The crowd roars after Illinois scores a field goal during the Illinois vs. Purdue basketball game on Mar. 7. Illinois went on to win the game 88-80

UI organizations fuel spirit behind the orange and blue

By Felicity Abbott, Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor • May 8, 2025
Delight Flower Farm's crew, including Toria Baez, Celeste Chandler, Kiki Koncel, Maggie Taylor, Remington Rock, Lauren White and the farm dog, Rosie, pose on the farm in 2023.

Delight Flower Farms sprouts roots of environmental sustainability, female empowerment

By Felicity Abbott, Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor • May 6, 2025
Sam Blaker (left), Iva Scekic (middle) and Paul Klapperich (right) make up the executive board of Crumbl Club. The trio sits and enjoys this weekʼs flavor selection outside of the Crumbl on Neil Street in Champaign on April 9.

Crumbl Club gives back to University, builds community of cookie-lovers

By Felicity Abbott, Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor • April 15, 2025
A massive blow-up globe adorns the Main Quad during Sustainapalooza on April 12.

Sustainapalooza boosts awareness for climate change, student sustainability initiatives

By Felicity Abbott and Drake Facchinello • April 13, 2025
Mattie Fash, a graduate student studying poetry, holds books on witchcraft at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana on March 5. Fash lives near the park and visits it often to reconnect with nature.

Mattie Fash wields witchcraft, poetry in self-discovery quest

By Felicity Abbott, Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor • April 10, 2025
The living room of the Champaign Garden Inn, located at 411 W. Hill St., on March 10.

Home away from home: Champaign Garden Inn charms CU

By Felicity Abbott and Chloe Barbarise • March 20, 2025
Local community members gather at Gallery Art Bar on March 12 for VOICE, a monthly reading series featuring University graduate students studying creative writing.

VOICE transforms Gallery Art Bar into literary stage

By Chloe Barbarise, Felicity Abbott and Mariana Quezada • March 15, 2025
A staff member of Jarling's Custard Cup scoops vanilla custard to make a Fudge Sunday on Mar. 3.

Best of CU ’25 | Best Ice Cream: Jarling’s Custard Cup

By Felicity Abbott, Senior Feature Reporter • March 6, 2025

UI professor ‘influencers’ design curriculum for digital era

By Felicity Abbott and Ryan Pearlman • March 4, 2025

Research Park start-up develops renewable energy storage solution

By Felicity Abbott, Senior Feature Reporter • March 3, 2025

Review | I scream, you scream, but no one screams for Coca-Cola Orange Cream

By Felicity Abbott, Senior Feature Reporter • February 27, 2025
Handmade soap by The Wright Soapery at the Mom's Weekend Craft Fair in the Illini Union on April 13, 2024.

The Wright Soapery develops unique soap, community

By Felicity Abbott, Senior Feature Reporter • February 18, 2025
Ye Olde Donute Shoppe donuts, photographed on Wednesday, Jan 29th 2025.

Ye Olde Donut Shoppe bakes up sweet nostalgia

By Felicity Abbott and Bryana Perez • February 13, 2025
Lucas Borges and Liam Dee strive to make LiQuid Dreams an environment where DJs and artists can come together to collaborate.

LiQuid Dreams immerses community in electronic music 

By Felicity Abbott, Senior Feature Reporter • February 11, 2025
Matthis Helmick, owner of Plant Mode, waters plants on Jan. 31 at the shop’s newly opened location in downtown Champaign. The store features a unique blend of greenery and artistic decor.

Plant Mode carries on legacy with new location

By Felicity Abbott, Senior Feature Reporter • February 7, 2025
A University student peers at their phone displaying a public relationship.

Social media complicates college relationships

By Felicity Abbott, Senior Feature Reporter • February 5, 2025
buzz predicts 2025 Grammy Award winners

buzz predicts 2025 Grammy Award winners

By Annisyn Krebs-Carr, Felicity Abbott, Maaike Niekerk and Mariana Quezada • January 26, 2025
Professor Antonia Statt sits down with Senior Feature Reporter Felicity Abbott.

Engineering research group breaks down stress-responsive polymer research

By Felicity Abbott, Senior Feature Reporter • December 8, 2024
A model showcases a captivating outfit on the runway during the Circular Fashion Show’s biannual event, held Saturday at the Seibel Center for Design. The show emphasized creativity and sustainability, featuring designs made from upcycled materials and innovative techniques that promote environmental awareness in fashion.

Sixth annual CFE encourages UI divestment, sustainability

By Felicity Abbott, Senior Feature Reporter • December 9, 2024
Review | To drink or not to drink: Coca-Cola Freestyle flavors ranked

Review | To drink or not to drink: Coca-Cola Freestyle flavors ranked

By Felicity Abbott, Senior Feature Reporter • November 29, 2024
UI professors stress importance of including AI in courses 

UI professors stress importance of including AI in courses 

By Felicity Abbott, Senior Feature Reporter • November 27, 2024
Cynthia Erivo in Wicked (2024).

Review | ‘Wicked’ successfully transforms popular musical to addictive film   

By Felicity Abbott, Senior Feature Reporter • November 26, 2024
CSO visit provides unique experience for students, community members 

CSO visit provides unique experience for students, community members 

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • November 10, 2024
Madelyn Cline, Carlacia Grant, J.D., Madison Bailey, Chase Stokes, and Rudy Pankow in Outer Banks (2020).

‘Outer Banks’ split season release reflects changes in consumer behavior

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • October 30, 2024
buzz weekly new music rundown

buzz weekly new music rundown

By Annisyn Krebs-Carr and Felicity Abbott • October 13, 2024

Largest freshman class skyrockets dining hall foot traffic

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • October 4, 2024
The album cover of Luke Bryan's "Mind of a Country Boy"

Review | Luke Bryan’s ‘Mind Of A Country Boy’ highlights lifestyle changes

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • September 30, 2024
Books sit on a shelf in the University's Main Library on W Gregory Drive.

Banned Books Week sparks powerful conversations about freedoms

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • September 29, 2024
The cast of “Wind Walker” gathers around Director Daniel Zhang on set while shooting.

Student filmmaker flips the script, increases Asian American representation

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • September 25, 2024
An employee bags loose-leaf tea inside Walnut Street Tea Company's location at 2510 Village Green Place in Champaign. The store sells tea, coffee and mugs, and it serves drinks in the café and drive-thru.

Walnut Street Tea Company offers tea-licious experience

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • September 11, 2024
A goose in a body of water on April 21. Champaign Park District is offering free fishing lessons through the summer.

Holy carp! Free fishing clinics at Kaufman Lake

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • July 10, 2024
A guide to UI parties

A guide to UI parties

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • July 8, 2024
Protesters rest in tents stationed in front of Foellinger Auditorium early Thursday morning.

Live coverage: Encampment continues to day 5 on Main Quad

By The Daily Illini News Staff • May 2, 2024
Peter McPoland sings passionately at the Foellinger Auditorium on Thursday during his tour of the Midwest.

‘Were You There?’ Peter McPoland rocks Foellinger Auditorium 

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • April 21, 2024
A fresh sandwich from The Bread Company, a bread bakery located at 706 S. Goodwin Ave., on March 5.

Best of CU | Best Sandwich: The Bread Company

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • March 28, 2024
The darkness of the underground tunnel network leading from Bevier Hall toward Turner Hall on March 1. They connect several campus buildings to each other.

Best of CU | Best Secret Spot: Steam tunnels

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • March 28, 2024
Bottles of spiced coke sit in the ISR shop fridge on Wednesday Mar. 20.

Review | Coca-Cola Spiced falls flat of its promises

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • March 21, 2024
Left to right: Jacob Deters, Andrew Simek, Kimmy Schofield, and Melissa Goldman in Station Theater's Falsetto production.

The Station Theatre brings ‘Falsettos’ to life

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • March 14, 2024
Movie poster of Bob Marley: One Love.

Review | ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ needs a ‘Redemption Song’ after plot misses the mark

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • February 21, 2024
Soundtrack to student living: Each UI residence hall captured in a playlist

Soundtrack to student living: Each UI residence hall captured in a playlist

By Felicity Abbott, Jack Larson, Kristina Muharremaj, Pratim Vasireddy, Riddhima Patllollu and Maaike Niekerk • February 21, 2024
TWINSICK performance. The DJs performed at The Canopy Club on Friday.

TWINSICK ‘Hard Launch Tour’ takes The Canopy Club by storm

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • February 19, 2024
Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson in 2003 romantic-comedy “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."

3 rom-coms to cure your Valentine’s Day loneliness

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • February 14, 2024

Popular culture sets realistic and not-so-realistic college housing expectations

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • February 9, 2024
DJ F.O.H. applies stage effects to unite the crowd at Canopy Club on Saturday.

The Canopy Club honors Mac Miller with themed charity event

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • January 22, 2024
Avantika, Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp and Bebe Wood in "Mean Girls" released on Jan. 12.

Review | ‘Mean Girls’ adaptation misses opportunity to deepen franchise

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • January 17, 2024

The third day of buzzmas | Local beverages to help you stay warm during winter

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • December 16, 2023

Review | Ana Gasteyer brings Christmas spirit to KCPA with album ‘Sugar and Booze’

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • December 9, 2023
"The Nutcraker" performance at the Kranert Center for Performing Arts on Nov. 28. buzz columnist Felicity Abbott reviews the holiday play which was held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3.

Review | Champaign Urbana Ballet kicks off Christmas season with ‘The Nutcracker’

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • December 5, 2023
Photo Cover of "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes". The film was first released on Nov. 17.

‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ brings powerful prequel to life

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • November 24, 2023
Gary Mullen & The Works performs cover music from the band Queen at State Farm Center on Friday night.

Gary Mullen & The Works take over State Farm Center

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • November 4, 2023
The audience enjoying the Jose Gobbo Duo with Maxwell Beckman performing during a Jazz Brunch on Sunday for the CU Jazz Fest 2023. This event took place at Seven Saints in Downtown Champaign.

CU Jazz Festival connects community, local artists through jazz brunch

By Felicity Abbott, Staff Writer • October 30, 2023
Polyvinyl and American Football House, located at 704 W. High St. in Urbana on May 5.

Polyvinyl Records announces pop-up event at American Football House

By Felicity Abbott and Kiran Bond • October 24, 2023
Arpeggia outreach member Philip Vu, sophomore in business on Oct. 5.

Arpeggia equips CU students with accessible music education

By Felicity Abbott, Contributing Writer • October 17, 2023
Taylor Swift at an event for "Taylor Swift: Eras Tour." Swift's new film brings impact to the cinemas with packed theaters.

Taylor Swift redefines movie theater etiquette with new concert film

By Felicity Abbott, Contributing Writer • October 16, 2023
The Musikmeisters performs at Champaign-Urbana's Oktoberfest, hosted at the corner of Washington and Neil St. on Saturday.

CU Oktoberfest celebrates German culture, 10th anniversary

By Felicity Abbott and Jahzara Norris • October 1, 2023