SPlog

Starting Friday night at The Art Theater Co-Op, it’s the return of SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD! From the director of Shaun of the Dead and boasting a great cast (Michael Cera, Jason Schwartzmann, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Chris …

Pictured from left to right: Jodi Thomas, aka Therafist; Kelly Hill (Habitat); Deb Sosnowski, aka Dame Sangre; Kim Gollings (Habitat); and Jocelyn Spitzer, aka Cruel la la. Photo by Tom Schaefges From the press release: …

The Art Theater Co-Op is hosting two special screenings of A Place at the Table. From the peope who brought you Food, Inc. comes a new documentary starring Jeff Bridges, that tackles the issue of food insecurity …

From the press release: Champaign County Health Care Consumers is celebrating 36 years of grassroots organizing for health care access and justice. CCHCC’s Annual Awards Dinner will be held on Friday, April 19 at 6:00 …

From the press release: Walter Dean Myers, the critically acclaimed author of Monster, Sunrise Over Fallujah, and many other books for children and young adults, will be in Champaign to share a hard-hitting message for …

For those who grew up here, this was a foregone conclusion. For those who went to school here, it was quickly learned. And no matter how many haters are out there, Papa Del’s will always …

The Illini Independent Film Festival is accepting submissions through March 30. The second annual festival, which ran last year under the name “Movies to the MACS,” hopes to provide student filmmakers with an opportunity to …

For those who remember Big Daddy Sun and The Outer Planets, the man with the big sound, and big heart, Ron Cannon, Big Daddy Sun himself, sadly passed away last Friday, March 15, at Carle …

Local author, Lania Knight, is a finalist for the 25th Annual Lambda Literary Awards. She’s been nominated for the category LGBT Debut Fiction for her book Three Cubic Feet. Mark Laughlin interviewed Ms. Knight last …

Per Dusty Rhodes, of the U of I News Bureau: Harpist Naoko Yoshino, who has been performing with orchestras around the world since she was 17, will perform in a recital March 26 (Tuesday) at …

In a recent interview with buzz, Kyle Lang, better known for his work under the name Easter, reveals he was diagnosed and treated for “a cancerous tumor in the pineal region of his brain.” More from …

The Social Justice Committee at Urbana High School (UHS) is collecting women’s and men’s formal wear and accessories to stock an affordable/vintage boutique for their fellow students to use for prom should they have the …

From the press release: City of Urbana Announces 2013 Urbana Arts Grant Recipients The City of Urbana Public Arts Commission is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2013 Urbana Arts Grants. Created in 2009, …

 Love books? Love food? Come to the 2013 Edible Book Festival at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, April 1 at the University YMCA. All edible entries have a connection to books as shapes or content. Prizes …

The Chapel of St. John the Divine presents a Luncheon Organ Recital Series. 30 minute programs – Thursdays at noon March 14 – Catherine Elliott April 4 – Yohei Endo April 11 – Kevin Chunko …

Let your voices be heard!

Today on Smile Politely Radio, Jenna Frye, manager at Memphis on Main, joins us in the studio to discuss the downtown Champaign scene and some of the unique events and projects they are trying to …

The Homer Soda Fest happens on June 1 — yes, we know it’s a little early to be telling you about it, but not if you want to start testing your soon-to-be-world-famous BBQ recipes to …

The popular noodle joint on campus will be selling nothing more than available retail space as of 3pm today. It’s sad to see them go. Very few affordable and consistently delicious places to eat near …

Illinois Theatre alumni, Nick Offerman, made a video that encourages students to reaffirm the Krannert Center fee, and gives some pretty interesting reasons why they should.

New Champaign Non-Profit to Hold French Market Urbana, Illinois, March 1, 2013 – Join central Illinois artisans and other local vendors on Saturday, March 23, 2013, for a French Market to benefit Hospice Hearts Sanctuary, …

For those of you who are longing for a new brunch spot in C-U (aren’t we all?), according to the Big Grove Tavern March Newsletter, they’ll be serving brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 10 …

Come to Illinois Public Media’s free screening and discussion of a film that traces the fascinating evolution and legacy of Wonder Woman. From the birth of the comic book superheroine in the 1940s to the …

Illinois Theatre, the producing entity of the Department of Theatre at the University of Illinois, has announced that it will not present its Summer Studio Theatre season in 2013. Jeffrey Eric Jenkins, head of Illinois Theatre, and …

March 9 – Parkland College Theatre – Battle of the Bands Local teenage musical groups of all styles are encouraged to enter and experience what it’s like to play at a live venue. First place …

From the press release: Food security and food justice will be the focus of a panel discussion on the University of Illinois campus on Thursday, March 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. This public colloquy, …

Today on Smile Politely Radio, we will be speaking with Champaign Unit 4 Schools Superintendent Dr. Judy Wiegand. Dr. Wiegand has now been superintendent just over a year, so it seems like a good time …

Champaign — 40 North | 88 West – Champaign County’s Arts Council – is pleased to announce the fourth annual Eric Show, a juried exhibition featuring artwork from several area high schools. This extraordinary show …

It’s not too late to apply for TEDxUIUC 2013!  TEDxUIUC will be a day-long conference on April 7, 2013. The day will feature speakers that will embody the conference’s theme of Initiate, Innovate, and Inspire.  …

John Wayne will soon be appearing in Champaign. Well, a lot of John Wayne wannabes that is. As soon as Illinois adopts a law that allows Illinoisans to carry weapons in public, you can bet …

As you may or may not know, the next show in ouir Smile Politely Show Series is coming up this weekend. On Saturday, March 2, the Dirty Feathers will headline “A Party of Special Things …

Carry the Fire — a student-run organization dedicated to investigating and speaking out about human trafficking — is hosting an Open Mic Night this Thursday, February 28, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. The event will take place …

When: Sunday, March 10, 6:00–8:00 p.m. Where: University YMCA-UIUC, Latzer Hall, 1001 S Wright Street, Champaign, IL 61820 Details: Tickets are on sale now for $10 and can be purchased at the University YMCA, 1001 …

From a Champaign Public Library News Release:  Bestselling author Kimberla Lawson Roby, creator of the popular Reverend Curtis Black series, will visit Champaign to talk about her life as a writer and introduce her newest …

During Come and Get It! Your Family Dinner Favorites, airing on WILL-TV on Monday, March 4, 7:00 p.m., central Illinois home cooks and local chefs will join host Lisa Bralts to prepare foods that families …

Last Saturday, I attended my first Insect Fear Film Festival. I’ve lived in Champaign for over a decade and it’s been on my To-Do list for years, but I only just made it to my …

Ever wonder why some streets are built or how decisions are made regarding where bike lanes go? Today you can find out at the kickoff workshop for the Long Range Transportation Plan for Champaign-Urbana from …

Let those little brains vote next week; it’s all for naught.

From the Press Release: What: The University YMCA has announced that Friday Forum will feature Rev. Dr. Cindi Love from Soulforce. The talk will focus on the challenges faced by marginalized communities, who are often …

Just letting you know that the New Art Film Festival, a community cinema event, is returning for its fourth year to the Art Theater Co-op on Friday, April 12, 2013, and we’re looking for locally-produced …

Read Across America happens this Saturday, March 2, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Lincoln Square Mall. Come and enjoy fun, hands-on, literacy-related activities for young children. There will be storytelling throughout the mall, including stories in …

On Thursday, February 28, at The Levis Faculty Center, 919 W. Illinois St. in Urbana, at 5:30–8:30 p.m.  and  On Friday, March 1, at Salem Baptist Church, 500 E. Park St. in Champaign, at 5:30–8:30 …

From today’s News-Gazette dot com

The UP Center of Champaign County is preparing for its Fourth Annual Turn It UP variety show, a fundraiser that supports The UP Center and local LGBTQ efforts within our community. The event happens on …

Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery will open the ticket sales for their 2013 farm dinner season tonight, Monday, February 25. Descriptions of the dinners can be found on the Prairie Fruits website, and you can …

On this week’s edition of Smile Politely Radio, we take a road trip down to Savoy to speak with Anthony Benjamin owner/brewmaster at Triptych Brewing. The brand new brewery just opened this week and has …

Screen Printing How-To Demo starting this Saturday, Feb. 23, 10 a.m. @ Weiskamp Screen Printing, 312 S. Neil St. This workshop is free and open to the public. Please email for more info.

Gerrymandering helped them maintain control of the House. In fact, they call it a “blessing.” Last Friday, the Daily Kos discussed this, and named our own District 13 as an example: IL-13: This story is …