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In 1969, a notice was posted in the Daily Illini seeking to form a group to play wargames. A meeting was held shortly thereafter in Altgeld Hall with about a dozen men in attendance. That day, the Conflict Simulation Society was chartered. Alan Conrad's memory of the circumstances behind that first meeting are a bit fuzzy. He recalls that all in attendance were students at the University of Illinois with an interest in board games, specifically wargames created in the …
You live near a major university and a community college. There are smart people that come here every week to talk to the general public about interesting topics. Perhaps you were not aware of this fact, or were overwhelmed by the sheer number of opportunities for possible enlightenment. If that's the case, Smile Politely understands and is here to help. Here are four events going on in town this week, and three of the presenters took the time to answer …
Social justice types like to point out that Martin Luther King Jr. did not use his faith to browbeat others into becoming Christian, but to demand social justice for everyone. In return, Christians like to point out that King would not have had the strength to risk his life and demand social justice were it not for his Christian faith. These two perspectives, along with a celebration of Dr. King himself, are peacefully and nonviolently celebrated every year here in C-U …
Tonight, the Green Initiatives committee is hosting a talk titled “A U of I Student’s Path to Sustainable Living” at 6:30 p.m. in the Illini Union. The free event will highlight ways to “live green” on a college campus and how to apply sustainability to professions (especially right out of school). There will be three speakers at the event, all offering their professional insight. Carol Augspurger, an ecology professor, will focus on decreasing your ecological footprint on campus. Tentatively, Don …
You live near a major university. There are smart people that come here every week to talk to the general public about interesting topics. Perhaps you were not aware of this fact, or were overwhelmed by the sheer number of opportunities for possible transcendence. If that’s the case, Smile Politely understands and is here to help. Here are some speakers that will be on campus this week, and one of them took the time to answer a few questions about …
You live near a major university. There are smart people that come here every week to talk to the general public about interesting topics. Perhaps you were not aware of this fact, or were overwhelmed by the sheer number of opportunities for possible transcendence. If that’s the case, Smile Politely understands and is here to help. Here are three speakers that will be on campus this week, and two of them took the time to answer a few questions about …
You live near a major university. There are smart people that come here every week to talk to the general public about interesting topics. Perhaps you were not aware of this fact, or were overwhelmed by the sheer number of opportunities for possible transcendence. If that’s the case, Smile Politely understands and is here to help. Here are five speakers that will be on campus this week, and three of them took the time to answer a few questions about …
If utility rates continue to rise, one of these days solar power will start to make economic sense for the majority of Americans. Right now, Dr. Patrick Chapman, Associate Professor of electrical engineering at the U of I and representative of the Solar Decathlon team, recognizes that solar power systems are right for people who “have the money to spend and good sense to realize that it is wiser than, say, getting a $50,000 luxury car as opposed to a …
There are so many opportunities to hear world-renowned experts speak on different topics every week in C-U, but it’s tough to figure out what’s happening when and where. “Listen Up” is a new feature where Smile Politely will highlight a few of the most interesting speakers, authors and panelists coming to Champaign-Urbana in a given week. Monday, November 3 @ 4 p.m.: “In the Trails of the Historic Diaspora: Africa’s New Global Migrations and Diasporas,” Paul Tiyambe Zeleza, University of …
Three different Qi gong workshops will be held at the U of I Activities and Recreation Center this week, and they are being facilitated by members of a delegation from China. The first workshop, “Chinese Health Qi-gong: 21st Century’s Body-Mind Exercise”, will be held Thursday, October 16 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in Multipurpose Room 6 at ARC. It is free and open to the public. “Chinese Health Qi-gong—Workshop I” will be held on Friday, October 17 from 9 – …
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@Jason: You’re right about that. I get groceries at Schnucks (they carry what I buy, which I can’t say of any other single grocery store in town), and if they have a beer I’m in the market for it’s usually a quarter or two cheaper per 6-…
Best Neighborhood Bar (& Grill) : Urbana - My ‘hood- the ‘Boom! http://www.boomerangbarandgrill.com Go on a Wing Wednesday or Fish Friday, or see a band play some night. Local blue-collar Urbana terroir galore. My only beer snobbish gripe is lack of a pale hopped ale, but you…
The one thing that’s bothered me for a while about the Friar is that, for most commonly purchased adult beverages, you can actually walk down the strip mall to Schnucks and get them cheaper. It makes no sense, but there it is. I suspect it’s because Schnucks…
Maybe I complained enough in person. One time I even explained to the (wholly uninterested) clerk how to navigate the Illinois Statutes web page, and Savoy’s Municipal Code database I wouldn’t know because I only go there when I want to pay 30% more for anything, which is never.
@Rob: You seem to have the weirdest experiences. I’m in Friar Tuck every other week (don’t tell my mom that I’m a lush). They never fail to ask for my birth date but never my age, they never card afterwards, and they often allow me to use…
This column affords me a long-awaited opportunity. I’ve wanted to write my own column called Fuck You Friar Tuck Liquors. but I always thought it’d be too pithy. Here, I can say Fuck You Friar Tuck Liquors and not feel bothered to stretch it out to 750…
Ha! Exactly. You, sir, are welcome at the bar in My House.
Why wait ‘til 3 pm?
I’m excited to go tonight- should be very fun!
Most Recent Comments
“It was at this point, before he started his business, that working with city employees should’ve raised red flags…” But they didn’t because: 1) The City Clerk’s office originally mis-interpreted the rules, or are indeed re-interpreting them. 2) Champaign’s brick-n-mortar merchants hadn’t yet started whining about The Crave Truck.
Super cool! Excellent track, Excellent band.
Looking forward to trying this place!
I’m in the middle (or the beginning or end, depending on how you look at it) of re-reading Slaughterhouse Five. What a great companion column.
Get yours early. The Rave’s CD will be available at Exile and at The C-U Flea on Saturday. C-U Flea details here: http://www.smilepolitely.com/news/sp_radio_podcast_c-u_flea_arrives/
I don’t know about Gerard and a random police sargeant. My (mild) outrage is based on this: “...he worked closely with Champaign City Clerk Marilyn Banks to make sure he was licensed properly as a transient food peddler, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a $225…
Local Yocal pretty much nails it here. I suspect there will be merchants who oppose food trucks because they arguably don’t pay their fair share to locate their trucks in high traffic (high rent) areas. The food trucks take away business from rent payers, park in city…
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
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The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!