SPlog

Each year, Rape, Advocacy, Counseling, and Education Services (R.A.C.E.S) of Urbana puts on an art show, accepting submissions from survivors of sexual violence and the people who support those survivors. True to the spirit of validation …

The Urbana Sweetcorn Festival is taking place next month, and today the performance schedule was released. Check out:

This is a really neat little video that just documents a day of Urbana’s Food Truck Rally. Check it out:

Typically when one thinks of old Hollywood fashion the classics come up. The Ivy League style popularized by Paul Newman and James Caan and Clint Eastwood (yeah, seriously) — the sack suits, Bass loafers, oxford …

As I just noticed, there are only 276 days until the next Illinois Marathon, which could be more significant to some of you than myself. However, if you’re interested in signing up for 2016’s race, …

According to ESPN CU’s Jeremy Werner, Tracy Abrams, a senior point guard for Illinois, has torn his Achilles tendon and will miss the entire 2015-16 season. #illini confirm senior point guard Tracy Abrams tore his …

Mark Hartstein, aka Shades, aka Rhizome Productions, has launched a Kickstarter campaign for Shady Dawgs. His plan is to have a pop-up hot dog cart in time for the first annual Craft Beer Festival. There aren’t many …

Rape Advocacy, Counseling, and Education Services (RACES) is welcoming its new director with a community open house on Tuesday, August 4 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  RACES offer a variety of services to victims/survivors of sexual …

Adult recreational sports leagues are awesome. Even those who are not athletically gifted or even really all that interested in the outcomes of sports games can participate and have a good time. From experience, playing …

Ah, a nice stroll on a warm summer night in Urbana. Or it was until this creeper appeared from the shadows to stare into my soul with her soulless eyes. If you’re on Fairfield, be …

I went to the mall today with my girlfriend to do some shopping. If you ask an old townie about the difference between “the mall” and “the shopping center” they may tell you that there …

Boycut, the electronic duo of Feral States’ Joe Meland and Tara Terra’s Emily Otnes just dropped a banger of an EP called Alien. The 5-track EP, which debuted this morning on Ghost Track, and features …

We publish Monday through Friday here at Smile Politely, and between features, articles, and SPlogs, there are a bunch of things to take a look at and read. Sometimes, things slip through the cracks, which …

Now is the perfect time to visit campus for eating. There are fewer students, which means shorter wait times and available metered parking spots around Green Street.  If I’m choosing a Campustown eatery, I’m choosing …

Champaign is a brunch city. Rain or shine, we’re nursing our hangovers with a bloody mary and some kind of bacony, pancakey, biscuity hodgepodge before we finally retire for a Sunday afternoon meganap. Frankly, a …

One of the best things about living in Urbana is the commitment that the town and larger local community gives to fostering the arts.  This Autumn is certainly no exception, as 40 North and the …

After more than 10 years years away, GirlZone will return for one weekend only (July 31 – August 2) to offer fun, challenging, and affirming hands-on workshops for local girls and young women.  Workshops are …

For the second year in a row, The Land Connection is inviting the community to its agricultural spin on speed dating: Weed Dating!  Starting at 6 p.m. on August 20, daters will come out to …

Makerspace Urbana is happy to announce that this year we will be hosting our annual celebration of local makers on Saturday, October 3rd at Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana. Last year was a grand success …

Agrible, Inc., an agriculture technology start-up that focuses on predictive analysis, announced today that it received $4.1 million in Series A funding. Serra Ventures leads this round of funding, along with Archer Daniels Midland Company …

With any youth program, beit sports, arts, or academic, one goes in expecting variations in skill level and talent. All that said, there are some truly great reasons to go see Urbana Park District’s The …

Join us this Saturday, July 25th from 3-6 p.m. at Champaign Surplus for live music, beverages, giveaways and much more at the Decked Out Party. The outdoor deck is covered so we’ll be out there …

The News-Gazette uncovered some gold when they sought information regarding how much money University of Illinois coaches made in the last year. Of course, it’s interesting and cool to realize that golf coach Mike Small can …

Today, Champaign Park District announced that Grammy-nominated act Gin Blossoms and one of the best live acts in Chicago, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, are scheduled to headline this year’s Taste of Champaign-Urbana. The …

Giertz Gallery at Parkland University has made it known that most of the works displayed at their current exhibition, Around the Block are for sale. Gallery monitors have price sheets, just ask if something catches your …

Prosperity Gardens is parked outside of Francis Nelson health center at 819 Bloomington Rd. every Wednesday from 2:30 to 5 p.m. with their home grown produce. The cost of produce? It is whatever you can …

Local singer-songwriter Morgan Orion has released a new single you can stream on YouTube, and buy as a digital download for $1 on his Kickstarter campaign. Listen to the slide guitar riddled love song “Genevieve” …

UPTV has won a handful of awards in 2015 and this week they’re taking home the Home Town Media Award from the Alliance for Community Media for their work with WPGU’s Illini Drive. From the release: …

Perhaps the next Public Address Announcer for U of I Athletics could be you? Per their website, they’ve opened things up to the public across Illini Athletic programs.  Check out the information below. What I …

Urbana native Tommy Craggs resigned from his post as the executive editor of Gawker Media today. It’s obviously huge news in the journalism world, but the entirety of the current media culture is affected by …

Per bacaro’s Facebook page:  Looking for a birthday gift? Anniversary gift? Staff Appreciation Gift? Starting tomorrow and ending July 26th we are having a gift certification sale. $75.00 gift card for $60.00; $100 for $80; …

Mediterranean food on Green Street, you say? Oh yes. Mashawi Grill, which just opened this year, has super good, relatively cheap food. We got a six-piece falafel, a chicken schwarma sandwich with fries and a …

They have grapefruit butterscotch sauce. And Earl Grey tea shortbread. And perfectly manicured cupcakes. But this is the best offering by Hopscotch: Cakes & Confections yet. Meet their new logo, C-U’s most adorable bunny. (I …

I love Destihl. 95% of the time I experience great service and delicious food and so I go there about once every month if not more. So, you can imagine how shocked I was to …

Join us tonight on Smile Politely Radio as we get to know Undercut Collective, a program that puts together all-ages concerts for the teens of the Champaign-Urbana area. They had their first show on July …

Here are the specials Pekara is offering during happy hour this summer:

Prairie Fruits farm has announced that the book signing this Saturday, featuring agricultural columnist Alan Guebert and his daughter Mary Grace Foxwell, is now free to the public, and will still include a tasting of …

I just discovered this mini home skeleton in my neighborhood. According to the sign, the Restoration Urban Ministries folks are working on it in conjunction with some others in the community. However, it appears that …

The Pens to Lens competition gives young screenwriters from East Central Illinois the chance to have their scripts turned into short films by area directors. This year’s gala will take place at the Virginia Theatre …

13,552,543. That’s a huge number of riders for MTD during the last year and it was their highest ever. That number speaks to how great our public transportation is in C-U. It’s great and hopefully …

Local singer-songwriter Kenna Mae launched a Kickstarter today looking to raise money for the mixing, mastering and printing of her debut record, Blue Darlin’. The perks look pretty good too — they range from a …

Boycut is a pretty awesome new duo of Emily Otnes (Tara Terra) and Joe Meland (Feral States, Church Booty), and they’ve debuted a new video for their song “Wave” which you can see below. This …

The Firebird Band posted that they’re crowdfunding their new album. There is a video as well as pledge amounts that went live last week. The Firebird Band features Chris Broach of Braid, and others (John …

It seems like it’s been a minute since our fair cities were part of a nationally publicized list. That’s no longer the case, though, as Merry-Ann’s Diner was featured in Paste Magazine‘s “40 College Town Diners …

A musical opened this weekend, featuring a character dressed in redface. Honestly, C-U, I feel like we have the same argument over and over. It’s not OK. It’s really not OK. Sure, the play is …

Are you on the Fresh Fish email list from Cheese & Crackers? If not, check out this weekend’s selections (which include softshell crab and lobster) and order by 7 p.m. today. For more info, contact the store …

Join us tonight on Smile Politely Radio as we learn the ins and outs of CLAW: Champaign Ladies Amateur Wrestling. CLAW recently vanquished its Kickstarter cmapaign and presents its first performance this Saturday at 6 …

Free live music tonight on Houlihan’s patio featuring WJCM which is project group headed up by Steve Meadows (Prairie Dogs). Drink specials are $4.95 martinis and $3 domestic beers. Music will be played from 6:30-8:30 p.m.