SPlog

40 North has recently released their new Artist at Work video, this one featuring this year’s Boneyard Arts Festival Signature Artist Charlest Wisseman.   Charles Wisseman is the 2016 Boneyard Arts Festival Signature Artist! Charles …

This is the best. Someone on the Champaign-Urbana Craiglist has posted a “Vintage Air Guitar” for the low, low price of $799. This air guitar has certainly been around the block and seen some shit, …

Amy Williams, the Marketing and Outreach Coordinator for Rape Advocacy, Counseling, and Education Services (RACES), joins us this week to talk about her organization’s work in the community. Smile Politely Radio airs each Friday at …

Extremely talented a cappella groups from Urbana High School, VCR (Vocal Chords Required) and VHS (Vocal Harmonies Supplied), will be doing a fundraising performance this Saturday, April 9, from 6-7:30 at Lincoln Square Mall in …

I went to Golden Harbor last night and found a sign posted saying that the restaurant was no longer a bring your own beer friendly venue. I asked the cash register worker about the sign …

Check it out below, and revisit my review form earlier this year.  Menu images from Facebook. Top photo by Jessica Hammie.

This Spring, Rocky Votolato is embarking on a nation wide “living room tour” that brings him through Urbana’s Flying Machine Coffee on Sunday April 10th at 9:15 p.m. No stage, no PA system, no opening …

The Upper Bout is bringing its Guitar Club back into action for 2016, starting on April 18th at 7 p.m. at the store, located on South Neil St. The club is open to all players …

On Tuesday, April 12th, Cunningham Township (Urbana) and the City of Champaign Township will hold their Annual Township Meetings, where any resident is able to vote on agenda items. On the agenda for both townships …

Rumours Hat Shoppe will be opening soon in Midtown Champaign — located at 75 E. Chester Street. They’ll be celebrating their grand opening April 15th.   Posted by Rumours Hat Shoppe on Monday, April 4, 2016

LAIT, the Laboratory for Audience Interactive Technologies, is an app available for both iOS and through Google Play, and DanceIllinois is creating programming for it to augment a performance happening this weekend.  LAIT director John …

Bayern Stube‘s Maifest is happening May 6th, 7th, 13th, and 14th. Make your reservations now, as spots fill up über-quickly. Call 217-784-8304. Top photo by Jessica Hammie. 

Any interested individuals can adopt any of the 100 MTD bus shelters across Champaign-Urbana with the newly released Adopt-a-Shelter program. You’ll be given a one-time monthly bus pass and cleaning supplies in return for the …

Exile on Main St. will be back this year for their annual Record Store Day sale and in-store show. The show is completely free and open to the public and kicks off 8 AM and runs …

Audiofeed Music Festival is taking place July 1-3, and they’ve announced their lineup for their 4th annual festival. See the poster below and check out the lineup at their website. Check out Tom’s photo recap …

Langston.  FEW distilleries. Columbia Street Roastery.  So my boyfriend sends me a photo while I’m at work this morning, with the caption “Gin barrel coffee!” — because we love both — with the FEW logo prominently …

This event exists because there is a problem. Commercial Sexual Exploitation is a complex global issue affecting virtually every nation on earth. It is driven by numerous factors. When those factors converge, the results can …

Is there a better way to spend your Summer than gaining knowledge? I am hard-pressed to find one. Luckily, Parkland College offers a plethora of Summer courses in all sorts of disciplines. For a full …

Beer-loving citizens of Champaign-Urbana, unite. Our favorite hometown brewery, Triptych Brewing, has just released a new video that shows off their canning machinery, and ends with a simple yet poignant message: “4-packs are back.” This …

Yesterday, as part of our April Fool’s Day issue, I posted an article that was an attempt at satire. My intention was to make fun of the transphobic politicians currently perpetuating un-American laws and bigoted …

Last year, we decided to take a dive into the world of SPorn — which we found was just a complete disaster. Not entirely sure why, but as a magazine, we thought that it would …

After years of punning on “Lit”, the written portion of Pygmalion Festival will finally deliver the punchline.  Despite the reputation of being an unofficial requirement for any advanced degree in English, the local marijuana dispensaries …

Starting this May at Urbana’s Market at the Square, Pandamonium Doughnuts will offer therapy pandas as service animals to help ease the anxiety of customers waiting in long lines for doughnuts. “There were a couple …

Just two months after leaving Champaign, and not but a month after it was reported in Smile Politely that Mike N’ Molly’s would be sold to CMT Ventures, John Hoeffleur has decided to move back, …

After the print version of Smile Politely came out a few years ago — called Bonfire — as a publication, we’ve made the executive decision to donate all remaining copies of the magazine to upcoming …

Governor Bruce Rauner was arrested last night at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield after he was seen through his master bedroom window ripping a 6-foot bong with glowing red eyes. The witness, who was a …

Friday evening, Scott Schwartz of the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music joins us on Smile Politely Radio. We’ll chat about the U of I’s archives and music program and, of course, Sousa. Smile Politely …

Mother Nature, the local duo of T.R.U.T.H and Klevah, is celebrating the release of their debut self-titled album this weekend at The Accord. We have the exclusive stream of the record, below, for you to …

This Saturday, Big Grove Tavern in Downtown Champaign will be hosting one of Champaign-Urbana’s most delicious events: Porkapalooza. This year, the event’s official name is Porkapalooza VII: Rise of the BaconBot, and will be an awesome …

From the U of I News Bureau: U. OF I. ALUMNUS JEFF HUBER, GRAIL CEO AND EX-GOOGLE EXEC, IS 2016 COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER Illinois alumnus Jeff Huber, whose company is developing a revolutionary blood test to …

The Red Herring in Urbana is hosting this event next week, as per their Facebook post:   Sign up for our class next Tuesday April 5th from 7pm-9pm, come and learn about Herbal Body Care! …

The Illinois Marathon is only one month away, and if you aren’t interested in running in any of the races but still want to do something that makes you feel good about yourself, then volunteer! …

Weiskamp has recently revealed their latest Lightbox display by artist Jenna Richards. The display was made from knitted fabric remnants and will be up until June 15th at Weiskamp’s office and print-house on South Neil St. …

Theatre-inclined young people:  Audition sign-ups are now open for Urbana Park District’s production of Willy Wonka. And despite the fact that it is more than a month away, people are already grabbing their times, so …

This Friday, The Basement Gallery will host an anti-racism photography exhibit designed by Tyler Courtney. The event takes place at 7 p.m. Advance registration is required and only 50 spots are available. Attendees will meet at …

Good news, breakfast sammie lovers: Cracked has now partnered with Grubhub, which means you can have your Morning Bender delivered to your front door, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Order your …

Join the march against sexual violence. This event is sponsored by Rape Advocacy, Counseling, and Education Services & the University of Illinois Women’s Resources Center. WHERE: Gather at the corner of Race St. and Green St. …

Champaign’s Central High School’s Art Club and Culinary II students are working together to offer their first Empty Bowl Soup Dinner at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7th.  This event isn’t only a good deal, …

Parkland College’s 2016 Art and Design Student Juried Exhibition 2016 will be held April 11–30 in the Giertz Gallery.   Audiences will enjoy an impressive body of student work in photography, painting, drawing, metals, sculpture, three-dimensional …

After the discussion surfaced about the City of Urbana potentially lowering fines for marijuana possession from $300 to just $5 — the News-Gazette is reporting that the new agreement lowers the fine from $300 to $50. …

Join us for a special screening of the award-winning film, Living for 32, Colin Goddard’s story of survival through the Virginia Tech shooting. Since the shooting, Colin has been an activist for the Brady Campaign …

Ever known about cricket but haven’t learned the rules? Now you’re in luck, because Urbana Park District is offering various cricket events at Lohmann Park in April. First is a free introductory cricket demo for those …

Jupiter’s Pizza is known for, well, pizza and billiards, and as the first “new” bar to open in Downtown Champaign for a long while, back in 1997. It’s a place that has true regulars; it’s …

Have you ever wanted to live out Animal House but in real life? You’re in luck. As it happens, we live in a college town with a massive fraternity/sorority population, and occasionally these houses go unused, …

Yesterday there was an egg hunt at West Side Park. The park was alive with children and families hunting eggs, drinking smoothies, listening to tunes, playing in the park and enjoying the sunshine. Spring is …

Last weekend, CUDO Plays held its Grand Exhibition for Season 3, allowing the public to play all the games that had entered the final judging, and awarding honors (and prizes) in eight categories.  In addition, …

Who doesn’t love breakfast? If you don’t, you’re probably not human. The good news for us humans is that Common Ground Co-op in Urbana will start offering breakfast sandwiches as of this coming Monday. In …

Per Facebook:  You have to order your doughnuts here, and pick them up on Tuesday, March 29th.  Photo from Facebook.