Smile Politely

SPlog

An evening at Indi Go with Elizabeth Buckley

Time: Friday, Mar. 11, 7:00–8:30 p.m.Location: Indi Go Artist Co-opCost: $35.00 Join us on Friday, March 11th, as Indi-Go Gallery welcomes Mezzo-Soprano, Elizabeth Buckley. Fresh from her début recital at Carnegie Hall, Elizabeth will be …

C-U Blogfidential turns 5

We received this press release today from Jason Pankoke, and I thought it was totally worth sharing: Ebertfest and “1999” Issues of “C-U Confidential” Digest Coming Soon; New “MICRO-FILM” Threatened! (Champaign, Illinois, USA) March 9, …

The game changer

As of 7:56 p.m. on Monday evening, this video has 96 views, 0 likes, and 1 dislikes. Consider yourself pwned, Gerard. Welcome to the new politics.

Mayoral debate set for March 16

Per a press release (pdf) sent by the Gerard campaign this morning: There will be a debate between Mayor Jerry Schweighart and candidate Don Gerard. The debate will take place on Wednesday, March 16th from …

Illini women poised to make a run this weekend

Jolette Law’s Illini women’s basketball team looked pretty pathetic coming down the stretch of this year’s Big Ten season. They went 0 for its last 12 and landed in the cellar of the conference, and …

Indi go artist co-op: Paleo Exhibit & Branching Out

Paleo Exhibit & Branching OutLocation: Indi go artist co-opDate: Mar. 2–8, 2011 Reception: Friday, Mar. 4th, 7:00–9:00 p.m. Open Hours: Mar. 6, 2:00–6:00 p.m.                     Mar. 7–8, 5:30–8:30 p.m. In his showcase, Todd shares 22 new …

Hey look, a Grandkids EP

  Seemingly out of nowhere, local favorites Grandkids have dropped their second EP, entitled Sister Walls. over at their Bandcamp. Recorded by Jake Metz (who we can only assume is guitarist Evan’s brother), it showcases …

County EDC launches site promoting local schools

The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation has launched a site to promote local education to individuals and businesses thinking of relocating to the county. I applaud the effort to promote the local schools, though the …

One of these things is not like the other…

Electric Forest Festival in Rothbury, Michigan is replacing Rothbury Festival and will feature the hottest artists in the jam band and electronic music scenes worldwide.   Except, um, one… http://www.electricforestfestival.com/lineup/artists

Taste of the Town at Memorial Stadium

Time: Saturday, Mar. 5, 6:00–9:00 p.m.Location: Memorial Stadium Colonnades Club                1700 S. Fourth St.                Champaign, IL 61820 Join the Champaign Fire and Police Memorial Committee at the University of Illinois Memorial Stadium Colonnades Club for …

Plants and Animals ticket giveaway

Smile Politely is giving away two pairs of tickets to the March 1st Plants and Animals show at Canopy Club on Tuesday, March 1st. To enter, email your name to music@smilepolitely.com, and put “Plants and …

Egwu vs. Abrams, Friday on ESPN

Class of 2011 Illini basketball recruits Tracy Abrams (Chicago Mt. Carmel – below) and Nnanna Egwu (St. Ignatius – right) play Friday at 7:30 p.m. in a Pope League match-up. It’s rumored that the Holy …

C-U named one of NRDC Top 15 Smarter Cities

The Natural Resources Defense Council’s Smarter Cities project has named fifteen U.S. metropolitan regions leaders in transportation innovation and smart transit. http://smartercities.nrdc.org/topic/transportation/americas-smartest-regions-transportation In the Champaign-Urbana metro region in Illinois, the focus of the transit district …

UIUC MFAers to read at VOICE tomorrow night

VOICE Reading Series | Thursday | 7:30 p.m. | Krannert Art Museum The U of I MFA program’s VOICE Reading Series is back in action tomorrow night.  If you’re looking for reasons to come check …

Deron Williams traded to the Nets

Talk about drama in Mormon town. First, their coach of 150 years or so leaves mid-season, and now, they deliver their best player and soon-to-be-perennial-All-Star to the Nets. Hard to understand the thinking, but then …

Indi go artist co-op fundraiser for R.A.C.E.S

Read Between The Legs: She’s In There (A Fundraiser for R.A.C.E.S) Illini Art Therapy Association Workshop, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 7:00–9:00 p.m. A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant, and A Prayer, Friday, Feb. 25, 6:30–7:30 p.m. …

Hoosiers invade Urbana

Apparently the Democrats in the Indiana house have fled the state for our little burg to protect workers rights. So drive careful out there. “I’m not sure I can give you a reason for that …

Girl Talk to perform in Urbana

Mashup master Gregg Gillis, aka Girl Talk, will be making his first appearance in Urbana in roughly two and a half year at the Canopy Club on April 23rd. Tickets are $25 in advance, and …

Plane crash reported in Urbana

A pilot was rushed to the hospital this morning after a plane crashed in Urbana. Police say it went down in the 600 block of East Oaks Road. The plane crashed into the side of …

Author Anna Lappé at Allen Hall

Bestselling author on food politics, sustainable agriculture, globalization, and social change, Anna Lappé will be a Unit One/Allen Hall Guest-in-Residence February 21–24. All programs are open to the public and take place in the South …

Ron Guenther speaks

Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther spoke with members of the media Wednesday afternoon at tea time in the “executive conference room” of Bielfeldt Administration Building. There was no invitation sent. Official word reached Smile Politely …

Champaign goes to 11 — In your face Decatur!

According to the 2010 census data, Champaign jetted past Decatur (plus Arlington Heights, Evanston and Schaumburg) to become the 11th most populous town in Illinois with 81,055 people. Next, we’ll need to pass Cicero to …

Local family in the spotlight on ESPN.com

Check out this inspirational story of a local family by the name of Caulfield and their son Christopher’s dream to play college basketball despite some serious hearing limitations. Very inspiring, indeed: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=oneil_dana&id=6125964 True story: my …

Overheard around town

This is community: Picking up a couple of items for the Robyn tour today, I listened in as a new customer at Common Ground Food Co-op explained what she was looking for to an employee. …

County Board member nailed for DUI

Michael C. Richards, 31, who listed an address in the 500 block of North Elm Street, Champaign, was arrested Jan. 27 by a Champaign County sheriff’s deputy after he was seen driving the wrong way …

New census sees C-U housing vacancies spike

CU-Citizen Access posted a “teaser” article on Friday comparing vacancy rates of housing in Champaign and Urbana in 2000 and 2010, with accompanying maps. Housing units are up 11 percent since 2000, and vacancy rates …

Indi Go Artist Co-Op exhibition: “Just a Farmer”

Glenn Loving’s “Just a Farmer” showing at Indi Go Artist Co-Op Open Hours: Wednesday–Friday, Feb. 16–18, 3:00–8:00 p.m. Glenn Loving available at the gallery: Friday–Saturday, Feb. 18–19, 2:00–6:00 p.m. Reception: Saturday, Feb. 19, 6:00–8:00 p.m. …