On a dark and rainy Friday night, I strolled quietly down the sidewalk in downtown Urbana. I was on a mission: to find ‘Yellow Rabbit,’ Urbana’s newest secret.
I had walked on that same sidewalk dozens of times, but this time I saw Urbana with new eyes. Urbana is changing for the better I think (humans are more than resources), and yet a fear lingered – would I be able to find the secret door and the secret staircase?
Unfortunately, in the spirit of a speakeasy, I can’t give out the exact location and specific directions for Yellow Rabbit. But I have hidden a couple of hints in this post, so if you are willing to read the post, you might be able to figure it out. But probably not.
The Spot
If you see this picture of the yellow rabbit in the corner of a window in downtown, you’re in the right place. I will say, that this rabbit drawing could be removed at anytime so this is just what was there when I was there. But getting in to Yellow Rabbit is another story…so keep reading.
I arrived at the speakeasy at about 9p, and there were no more than 10 people there. The speakeasy has a stairway descending down to a basement. The staircase is hidden behind something, well, that I can’t really say.
In the basement, there’s a nice bar and booths, comfy sofas, and beautiful historical pictures of downtown Urbana from early in the 20th century. I choose the left most seat. Does the atmosphere of Yellow Rabbit feel like you are going back in time? Yes, yes it does.
The bar is well done, and fits the theme. There’s no dress code, but the other patrons were dressed for the occasion. Clothes more or less from an older era; nicer clothes. I felt a bit out of place because I was wearing more casual clothes. Next time I go, I will try to dress better.
I was there fairly early, and things were quiet. It was nice. As time went on, more and more people arrived, excited. I met friends without planning it, and they introduced me to new friends. Having the air of mystery seemed to let people’s guard down. I met a bunch of new people and we all agreed that the speakeasy was something to celebrate.
The only thing I will say though was that, there were so many people there, it was quite loud.
Urbana is changing. Urbana is becoming more vibrant. There are good businesses moving it. Urbana has great people who love where we live. It’s the great people that make Urbana, Urbana.