SPlog

When Scott and Amanda up and moved their retro and refurbished furniture business from 9 E. University in Champaign to 126 W. Main St. in Urbana, most folks embraced the change and enjoyed their new …

We’re hard at work in the Smile Politely bunker putting together our end of year music lists, which will include local songs, albums and shows. So please take a moment this week to send a list …

Long-time keepers of the scene and one of the last bastions for indie music shoppers, Parasol Records will be suspending its mail order business and brick & mortar record store operations as of Saturday, December …

It’s hard to keep spirits up after a long night, sitting at the far end of the bench, watching an awful performance. Devin Langford keeps things upbeat with a spontaneous piece of parody.

Shahid Khan, who earlier this year lost out in an attempt to buy the St. Louis Rams, is reportedly buying the Jacksonville Jaguars instead. Apparently, he would be the first non-white owner of an NFL …

The 21st Annual Great Cover Up has revealed the lineup for this year’s four day event at The High Dive.  The event is scheduled for January 14th, 15th, 17th, and 19th. Here’s the intial lineup, courtesy …

From the N-G: A Fithian man has been arrested for attempted murder and a hate crime for allegedly stabbing a man at the Illinois Terminal Wednesday morning. … A male witness told police the men …

This Saturday, December 10th, local OGs New Ruins will join the ranks of Santah and Headlights and record a Daytrotter session at 4 p.m. EST. If you’re not a current subscriber, you can purchase a …

From WBEZ: “Every governor, even our worst, helped someone and does good things for people,” federal Judge James Zagel said to the former Illinois governor. “The harm [of your crimes] is the erosion of public …

Noam Chomsky will be a guest of Bob McChesney on Media Matters Sunday at 1 p.m. From WILL: Noam Chomsky is a US political theorist and activist, and institute professor of linguistics at the Massachusetts …

From C-U Citizen Access: Over the past few months, we’ve reviewed hundreds of federal and state inspection reports on the quality of nursing home care. The results are startling. Many nursing homes have repeated safety …

Here’s your chance to not only shop local and buy handmade holiday gifts, but to buy from local artists and crafters who create items from recycled, reused, and repurposed materials. The inaugural edition of the …

Lots to look forward to: http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7319230/illinois-prove-mettle-next-month-stiffer-big-ten-competition-ncb

Click here to read all about it. The FBI reviewed the facts and circumstances surrounding a video of an arrest on 6/5/2011 by the Champaign Police Department. From a federal civil rights perspective, this review …

From the DIA: CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois officials announced Sunday that they have accepted an invitation to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, pitting the Fighting Illini against the UCLA Bruins at AT&T Park …

Today on Smile Politely Radio, authors Jason Wild and Laura Adamczyk join us to discuss the last Stories & Beer of the year, taking place this Saturday (Dec. 3rd) at The Iron Post in Urbana. …

SEEDS of HOPE is a series of five short documentaries by film-maker Dorothy Fadiman about the courageous efforts underway in Ethiopia to break the silence, encourage innovative approaches to prevention, and lift the stigma surrounding …

A co-op launch event will be held on December 16 at 10:00 p.m. at the Art Theater. Community members who want to lend their support to the Art Theater, in hopes of keeping it open …

An alert reader pointed out that Case #11CF000889 on the Champaign County Circuit Clerk’s website (click the link and then search by case number) is identical in its details to the June 5 incident captured …

To celebrate a year of dishing up the best ramen noodles south of Chicago, owner Shai Mauth (who also owns Xinh Xinh Cafe) has informed us that Doodles on John St. in Campustown, will be …

As part of its annual World AIDS Day rememberance, the Greater Community AIDS Project will have a free screening of the documentary We Were Here, which examines the early days of the HIV epidemic. The …

Parasol Records will be suspending the operations of its mail order and record store services, effective December 17. I think I speak for all of C-U and thousands of others around the world when I …

Oh sure, you’ve heard it before. You get invited to a party simply for having been hanging around some other people that were invited to a party, and got that kinda half-hearted invitation that reeks …

Stories & Beer | The Iron Post | Saturday | 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Free With the semester coming to an end, Team Stories & Beer has been reflecting on its performance thus …

As our commenters so often like to point out, this probably makes Bruce Webber the highest paid State of Illinois employee. At least for the time being. http://www.illinihq.com/sports/illini-sports/football/2011-11-27/zook-fired.html

The annual blowout goes down on January 14th, 15th, 17th and 19th this year at Highdive. That’s a whole ‘nother day! They’ve also set up this nifty facebook page so you can keep track of all …

See 11:00 and 15:40 The Illinois State Police has concluded a review of the incident that occurred on campustown on June 5, 2011, and found that the officer involved followed Department policy under the Champaign …

From the SID: Cancun, Mexico – Chester Frazier has left his position as video coordinator in order to return to a professional playing career overseas, Illinois head coach Bruce Weber announced Wednesday. Frazier, a former …

According to the Huffington Post, the Princeton Review recently named UIUC as the third best at being the worst for professors. Yeah!? Check it out here.

From the wonders of Facebook: The pepper spray moment happens just into the 11 minute mark and the alleged choking incident takes place after the 15 minute mark. UPDATE: Illinois State police review says officer …

Just found this, buried in Saul Bellow’s collected letters — he’s writing from Chicago about one of his buddies who spent some time down in C-U: “What the hell is the idea of two towns …

Following a press release last night from the City of Champaign (which hasn’t been posted to the City website), the News-Gazette has a story this morning entitled “Probe sought in ‘troubling’ arrest in Champaign.” You …

I’m proud to say I’ve served this woman alcohol. You go Linda! University Launches Probe After Officer Pepper Sprays Sitting Protesters It’s too bad we lost her. But I’m happy to say her successor, Richard …

Patrick Wade is reporting that the library decided to change its controversial policy, mostly for fear of losing out on state grants. http://www.news-gazette.com/news/politics-and-government/2011-11-18/champaign-library-rescind-fee-impose-limits-non-resident-use Still, Champaign residents can rest easy knowing that those freeloaders from Tolono …

Chapter 1 1: And the people in the land of the Illini knew not Zuppke; they worshipped no more the Galloping Ghost; and had no chief among them for the Empire had so decreed.  Then …

Today on SP Radio, we welcome Midstress, the local punk rock group formerly known as the Fresh Kills. We’ll talk about the group’s brand new album, Growing Up is Getting Old, which will officially be …

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/illini/x1821246794/Illinois-parents-plan-to-pray-for-team

As part of the “One Book, One Campus” lecture series, Annie Leonard, the filmmaker and author of The Story of Stuff, will be speaking tonight at the Illini Union Illini Rooms at 7:00 PM. Be …

When I was a kid, my family used to occasionally splurge on the ultra-authentic Mexican food of Mrs. Lady’s restaurant in Okoboji, Iowa (it’s still there, and still getting mediocre reviews!). They had an Insane …

With ten years under its collective belt, the U of I Research Park is likely to finish its crowned jewel after long last. Seattle-based Cray, Inc. will finish the project by next year, if all …

Illinois football player Trulon Henry was hit in the hand by a gunshot at an off-campus party early Sunday morning. It appears Henry was called to the party to encourage other players to leave. He …

Hey everybody out there. This town deserves a rich music section from Smile Politely, and I just haven’t been able to put in the time to compliment Ben’s good work lately. (It turns out the …

Today on SP Radio, we welcome Mark Taylor, Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Illinois. He is the faculty project manager of the University’s Solar Decathlon project, and has done extensive work around …

I could go for a cup of this. Immediately. From the website: We started Peter Asher coffee and tea with one goal in mind to bring the customer the best possible cup of coffee or …

Rob Collins, Anne Dill and a pup with two turds. Here at 5:12:

Hey Chambana. It sure has been a while since we’ve gotten together and listened to some folks read from their literary doggerals, hasn’t it? Well, now that the time has changed, putting us all at …

Long known for our wheelchair athletics here in C-U, the hits keep coming: this weekend Amanda McGrory, thought be to one of the best pushers in the world, set a new NYC Marathon Record, finishing …