Yet again, this year’s installment of The Pygmalion Festival is welcoming more additions into the fold. These additions include XXYYXX, Earth, King Dude, Berwanger, Modern Kin, and locals The 92s and Motes. Not only that, …
The Champaign Center Partnership is thrilled to once again welcome Bud Light Summer Stage back to Campustown this summer! This event will take place at the corner of Sixth St. and John St. in the heart of …
From an Indi go Co-op release: The August 1st opening at the Indi go Gallery in Champaign will feature new work from Champaign artists Lisa Kesler and Beth Darling as well as guest artist Robert …
In Downtown Champaign, there may be no better place to grab a drink outside than Memphis on Main. And the 32 oz. Mason Jars are the reasons why: It starts with a massive jar, lemons, …
We’re happy to bring you the new record from longtime local staple The Chemicals, Mono, streaming exclusively on Smile Politely via Heirship Records. You can check it out below, and listen before their album release show …
Local alt-country act The Fights have announced their debut record, which is due out on July 29th via Parasol’s imprint Spur Records. Check out the album artwork above, a track streaming below, and more information …
The Independent Media Center, located at 202 S. Broadway in Urbana, is hosting three interrelated media workshops on Saturday, July 26th. Radio Production on WRFU 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn how to produce awesome, clean audio with …
Happening this weekend, Champaign Cycle (now located in both Champaign AND Urbana) has teamed up with Kickapoo Mountain Bike Club to present a suspension set-up clinic at Kickapoo State Park just east of C-U. You …
From the U of I events calendar: Join the Rare Book & Manuscript Library as it celebrates the acquisition of the Tennyson Library of Crochet. There will be an exhibit on the first floor of the Main …
According to Pizza M‘s Twitter account, it is now open for lunch and dinner on Tuesdays. Yes, please. Thank you. Pizza M is located at 208 West Main Street, Urbana (Cafeteria & Company). Restaurant hours …
Come celebrate with us this weekend. We’re celebrating our 12th birthday throughout the weekend, and you can find information below, as well as over at the Facebook event listing to see what we have planned. …
I’ve posted a few times recently about the new Braid record, which comes out today on Topshelf Records, because this is their first record in 16 years. Pretty big deal in my mind at least, …
From the press release: EDDIE MONEY TO HEADLINE THE 2014 URBANA SWEETCORN FESTIVAL URBANA—The Urbana Business Association is pleased to announce that Eddie Money will headline the 2014 Urbana Sweetcorn Festival. He will perform on …
This distinctly heartwarming Americana group from Champaign will be performing their original folk-country music, 1-4 p.m. inside Sleepy Creek’s tasting room. Free, no reservations needed. Plus: Winey Mary Bar all day. Our tomato jalapeno wine …
The Made Fest is the vintage and handmade component of The Pygmalion Festival, and it’s entering year two in 2014. They’ve recently announced a ton of vendors that will be participating this year, which you …
Well, July is here, and we almost have outdoor seating. There is some other stuff happening, too. Local cold pressed Italian soda. Every week, we are picking up some fresh fruits from Urbana’s Market at the …
Here’s an event that’s coming up in Downtown Urbana that’s worth your time. The City of Urbana has partnered up with a handful of other organizations and businesses, including CoLab, Neutral Cycle and others, to …
Community members are invited to join in a discussion about the future of Central Illinois’ most important source of drinking water. Area Disposal Company (aka Peoria Disposal Company) has a permit to accept toxic wastes like …
On Saturday, July 19th, at Faith United Methodist Church (1719 S. Prospect Ave., Champaign), The Prairie Ensemble will perform its final concert. The concert will include Benjamin Britten’s Soirées musicales, George Butterworth’s “The Banks of …
From the press release: Champaign Park District Announces Virginia Theatre Inaugural 2014-2015 Performing Arts Schedule Season to include Bill Cosby, Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, Straight No Chaser, The Second City, The Canadian Brass, Mike Birbiglia, …
From a CU Schools Foundation press release: Clorinda D’Agnolo brings over 15 years of sales, marketing and management experience to her new role as General Manager of The I.D.E.A. Store. The position is a great …
Pizza-M is a solid enough place as it is, but when you pair that with spinning some vinyl, things get even better. That’s what they do every Monday over at Cafeteria & Company — Bring …
Look at that face! Look at that smile! That’s the smile of a man who worked for 40 years as Managing Director of MTD, one of the longest tenures in the history of mass transit …
Caribbean Grill has posted July’s lunch specials. If you haven’t been yet, find a way to get yourself to the Refinery any Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Until then, feast your eyes on my …
It has been a while since the last Braid record came out, and the time has come to hear the new one they’ve been working on for a bit. Head over and stream the new …
I found an injured baby hawk in my front yard this weekend. I called UI Wildlife Medical clinic (ph: 2172441195) and asked for their advice. They said that this time a year a lot of …
Longtime local rock outfit The Chemicals have unveiled the details of their new record, Mono, which is out July 11th on Heirship Records. Their last record came in 2007, so it has been quite some time …
The folks over at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center have put together their summer issue of the Public i, which you can find here and read for yourself. Some topics they discuss include James Kilgore (which …
You might remember the Kickstarter campaign that I posted about a few weeks back for local shoegazers WIthershins to fund their new record Mt. Fuji In Blue. Well, that campaign was funded, and now they’ve announced their …
Check out Living Yoga Center‘s new location on 1st Street in July.
For those with a love of cabaret-style singing, Classical music, or fundraising events (or, heck, all three), there will be a cabaret-style fundraising event on Wednesday, July 2nd to benefit The Prairie Ensemble. Taken from …
I know, I know, I know… This is a Hollywood movie playing in a chain movie theater. That’s not the sort of thing we like to promote ’round these parts. I don’t know what to …
Thanks to Aubrey (Elaine) Lutz for this submission, as it captures a really cool spot in Downtown Urbana that exists in the 208 West Main Alley behind Cafeteria & Company. Solid mural by Langston Allston, as …
Finally? The universe must have been listening when I complained about the lack of a second location of Maize in our WORST edition a few weeks ago. The News-Gazette reports that Maize owner Armando Sandoval …
Pretty awesome show announced for this upcoming September at the Canopy Club — as they just announced the Drive-By Truckers will be coming through town. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. CST …
Market monday Menu Monday June 23 40 USD Barbacoa!! shrimp ceviche, cucumber water, shaved radish, lemon oil, chili flake triple s pork barbacoa, curried vegetables, rice, grilled roti bread tres leches, whipped cream, pineapple, mango …
As you probably know by now, that huge hotel that has been under construction for several months now is ready to go. The Hyatt Place in Downtown Champaign will officially open and start booking rooms …
I was sitting outside of Crane Alley yesterday, and noticed that these CUrbanas were set up. These will allow additional seating for patrons — and are now set up at Crane Alley and Cafeteria & …
Figure One in downtown Champaign is pretty flipping awesome. Join us this evening as we learn about their upcoming exhibits and events, how they create dialogue between students at the School of Art + Design and …
Sad, but true it is. The Urbana Butcher Shop announced via Facebook yesterday that it would be closing its doors after this weekend. Since the lease on the space is good for another year, though, …
I tried out the new korean BBQ in downtown Urbana. The food was good and the cooking was entertaining as they cook the meat on the built-into-your-table grill. The dishes appear small, so make sure …
By way of a public comedy service announcement, we at Smile Politely thought we would let you know that you can get tickets for Mike Birbiglia’s upcoming appearance at The Virginia Theater starting Friday morning, …
From a Parkland press release: Parkland College Art History Instructor Laura O’Donnell and Gallery Director Lisa Costello have curated “Through the Decades: Selected Student Artwork from the Permanent Collection,” a group exhibition at Giertz Gallery …
Surely you remember Carmon’s, and surely you remember the delicious pop-up ‘shacks’ that happened a few summers ago. Lucky for us Joshua Boyd is doing it again at his Urbana Butcher Shop. These themed dinners …
Check out some swinging “antique pop” this Saturday at 8 p.m. at Sleepy Creek Vineyards. How to describe antique pop music? It’s the stuff Bonnie and Clyde would have listened to… fast, bawdry, and pushing …
From the press release: COMMON GROUND FOOD CO-OP ANNOUNCES MOVING FORWARD WITH CHAMPAIGN LOCATION Common Ground Food Co-op will move forward with formal lease negotiations for undisclosed central Champaign location for their second retail location …
Silvercreek is teaming up with Dogfish Head Brewery to create a BBQ dinner inspired by four of brewery’s Ancient Ales. The dinner is Wednesday, June 25 at 7 p.m., and tickets are $44.95 (does not …
The Urbana Butcher Shop is hosting a four-course dinner on Sunday, June 22 featuring local ingredients from PrairiErth Farm, Autumn Berry Inspired, and Kilgus Farmstead. Tickets are $40, and purchase is required prior to the …
Check out this stand up event this Friday, June 12th, over at the Iron Post. You can see the lineup of comedians above — but I’ll list them here anyway: Nick Martin, Driff Roberts, Blake …
