Just a reminder that Smile Politely’s regular updates will begin in earnest next Monday, January 10. We were going to start again this week, but NYE got a little crazy. Things were going so well …
Time: Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2:00–3:00 p.m.Location: Urbana Free Library / Lewis Auditorium School-age children are invited to make and test all sorts of paper airplanes. Set your compass for the library’s Lewis Auditorium paper airport …
One of our own, Jamie Newell, is in a horse racing photography contest and has a real chance to win and get her photo on the front of a magazine. The contest runs from today …
Champaign County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a program that works to advocate on behalf of children who have been abused, is in need of volunteers. From Monday’s Gazette: There is a great need for …
Today at 5:30 p.m. on 90.1 FM (or streaming at WEFT.org), William and Cristy will be live in studio reminiscing about Smile Politely’s most popular articles and playing our favorite SP Radio segments of 2010. …
Evidently, Urbana High School is done with losing on a shitty field. Come Spring, they’ll be likely losing on a new state-of-the-art football and track facility with artificial turf, and a new press box. As …
Those who mill about C-U long enough will run in to Kristin Tennant, a fabulous writer who is known community-wide and beyond for her blog, Halfway to Normal. Recently, however, her byline has started appearing …
Local folk-punk band Bad Catman and solo acoustic act Clayton Thompson (Smoke Coke, Elux Lucis/ex-Commodity) had to cut their Bearded Wisdom Tour early due to a robbery that occurred in St. Louis on Sunday, December …
Smile Politely Radio and the music section are very excited to release the second entry in our Songs in 90 Seconds series. This one comes from local “jazzabilly” outfit The Curses. It was recorded live …
Vanattica, a C-U based rock/alt/metal/pop band (and authors of one of our Top 25 Local Songs of 2010), announced today that they have signed with New Jersey-based Ignite Records. To celebrate they’ve posted the brand …
Looking for the perfect gift for someone who has lived in the Champaign area for many years? Then look no further than the book “Remembering Robeson*s” by Cal Acosta and Members of the Robeson Family. …
Today on SP Radio (5:30 p.m on 90.1 FM or weft.org): Rachael McMillan, Education Coordinator for Ten Thousand Villages and SP contributor, will discuss the importance of fair trade shopping and some last minute gift …
SUNDAY 1/16Mike IngramCurb ServiceBrother EmbassyKilborn AlleyLonely TrailerJobuScathe TUESDAY 1/18Roberta SparrowWithershinsThe Fresh KillsTractor KingsScurvineVanatticaWithnail THURSDAY 1/20Kayla BrownStan & Vivian from SantahHot Cops Jet W. LeeThe Sugar ProphetsAmy Mitchell TrioTo Be Announced
Any takers? Go here to buy the joint for $149K.
…that you don’t forget about this, Champaign-Urbana. I was just talking to a friend of mine today who’s working on the project. Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband: http://uc2b.net/
A Champaign-Urbana MTD bus driver runs over snowman. Should he have been forced to resign? The question is: Save the bus driver or save the snowman? Here’s today’s story taken directly from the Huffington Post: …
Cary Frye, the doyen of local sports photographers, presents his latest masterpiece: Referee Bo Boroski checks the ball to make sure it’s a #7. …
Two weeks ago, Wikileaks stunned the world by releasing a series of cables revealing the inner workings of international diplomacy. Many government officials (both here in America and around the world) have denounced Wikileaks as …
I can’t believe I waited up all night for this.
You know how you’re always talking about starting up a book club, but are always to lazy/illiterate/drunk to do so? Uncanny how I know this about you, isn’t it? So now that we’ve got that …
The Leadership has put together their first 8-song album, called Frontiers. Go here for more information.
Today on SP Radio (5:30 p.m on 90.1 FM or weft.org): We’re going to have local band The Curses in for an interview and live performance. We’ve never done a live performance before, so tune …
$5 gets you a night full of music, spoken word, local celebrities, prizes and more! Champaign’s Teen Awareness Group is hosting Chambana’s Got Talent! tonight at the IMC. Doors are at 5:30 p.m. and all …
According to WILL-AM 580, Mark Shelden will leave his post as our elected election czar to serve as U.S. Rep Tim Johnson’s top aide, leaving a vacuum to be filled by the soon to be …
From December 8-20, 2010, the students of Eater Junior High will be collecting non-perishable food for the Community Service Center of Northern Champaign County. By doing this in their classrooms, Eater Junior High students hope …
Santah has recently had the good fortune of being nominated for The Deli Chicago’s Artist of the Month. They are up against some great bands, some of which they have shared the stage with, and …
Time: Saturday, Dec. 11, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.Location: Lewis Auditorium @ The Urbana Free Library From there event page: Come celebrate the release of Newbery Award-winning author Robin McKinley‘s latest novel, Pegasus, at a dessert …
Another reason to buy local. And pay by cash or check please. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Amazon-for-Dumping-Wikileaks/174975139187861
Do you have an opinion about the future site of Champaign Central High School? Then attend a community meeting at the Savoy Recreation Center at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 7th (tonight!!). This meeting is …
Some frightening news from Elsinore’s Facebook page about drummer Dave Pride: Hey everyone…While we were getting ready to leave Columbia on Saturday night a drunk driver hit Dave as he was about to get into …
Ron Zook’s 6–6 Illinois football team today accepted a Texas Bowl bid. They’ll challenge Baylor University in the Ultimate Battle for Mediocrity. Baylor’s new President is American überprude & constitution eviscerator-in-chief Ken Starr. BAYLOR QUICK …
On today’s episode (5:30 p.m. on 90.1 FM or streaming at weft.org): Kristen Tennant, Jason Berg, and Laura Huth from the Flatlander Fund will be in studio to discuss their upcoming chocolate auction and the …
That’s right, y’all. Snoop Dogg will be appearing at the Canopy Club on January 31. More details are forthcoming, but tickets go on sale this Saturday, as in, tomorrow. Expect a hazy Monday night.
Stories & Beer | Iron Post | Sunday, December 5 | 4 p.m. | Free I know you must be thinking that we just had one of these things, but as the end of the …
Pretty cool: http://www.tinymixtapes.com/chocolate-grinder/watch-elsinore-wooden-houses
“See You” Psychedelic Freedom Friends blog wants you to check us out! Daily updates on daily themes of music, art, exotica, short stories/, photos, etc… Details are on the page, but Wednesdays are local music …
From Fall 2007 to Spring 2009, Zmick held down a weekly residence at the Canopy. Whether you called it Monday Night Rage, MNR or simply “Rage”, Monday nights in the Void Room could always be …
Greg, Jake and Drew have been dancing alone all night.
The Flatlander Fund, established to support the late Dan Schreiber’s dream of opening a community kitchen, will be hosting a fundraiser next Thursday (December, 9) at the Highdive. Interested? Read Meg Thilmony’s article about it …
From the Chicago Tribune: SPRINGFIELD — Civil unions for same-sex couples would be allowed in Illinois under historic legislation the state Senate swiftly sent today to Gov. Pat Quinn, who is expected to sign the …
Please note that the Smile Politely community events calendar will cease to exist on December 31, 2010. Thanks to everyone who submitted events, as well as those who read the calendar. We gave it a …
There are newly-painted bike lanes on Main Street in Urbana on the three-block stretch from Vine to Grove. (Info and photo courtesy of Jennifer Selby at the City of Urbana Public Works.) …
From the Huffington Post: The Illinois House of Representatives passed a historic civil unions bill Tuesday evening after many moving speeches on the House floor. SB1716, the “Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act,” …
Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL)’s Champaign Teen Awareness Group (TAG) will host Chambana’s Got Talent! on Friday Dec 10th from 5:30-9pm at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center. Chambana’s Got Talent! will showcase the talent of …
Prior to practice Monday, Illini supermen gathered in the Fortress of Solitude for a display of superhuman feats. Mike Tisdale fielded balls heaved from Section C by Meyers Leonard, and from Section B by Tyler …
Good news, everyone! Robyn (who you may recall absolutely killing at Pitchfork back in July) will make an appearance at Canopy Club on February 15th. Ticket are $23 in advance or $25 at the door. …
From the SID: Former Illini Star Al Brosky Passes Away at 82Still Holds Multiple NCAA Interception Records CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Former Illinois football standout defensive back and College Football Hall of Fame member Al Brosky …
On today’s episode (5:30 p.m. on 90.1 FM or streaming at weft.org): Regular SP contributor Mark Laughlin interviews UI Assistant Dean John Clarke about Innovators Improv. You can read Mark’s original article on Innovator’s Improv …
Saturday, Nov. 27 is Small Business Saturday. There are many independent local shops throughout Chambana that are run by your friends, neighbors, and fellow community members. Most of the money spent at a local indie …
