Category > PreviewsQueer Notions
DJ Randall Ellison has called Champaign his home for most of his life. He was born in Madison, but grew up here and attended Centennial High School. After graduating from the University of Illinois in Chicago, he returned and has been working and DJing in the Champaign-Urbana area for about 12 years. Randall is mainly known through his work as DJ SorceryKid and through Nekromancy, his Monday night audio/visual mixshow of dark, alternative, industrial, and goth music. Tonight, Ellison will …
| For the past 24 years, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) has held a conference called National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change. This event is for LGBT activists, community organizers, staff and leaders of LGBT centers, foundations, schools, and offices of public officials (just to name a few). It is a training ground for leaders in our community, to help us become more effective agents for change. It’s for anyone and everyone who works for progress, equality, …
Tuesday, August 16th: Trivia Night Boltini Lounge's regularly scheduled trivia night will have a special evening with Fest-themed trivia. Enjoy Bolitini's signature drinks and their expanded menu while testing your Pride knowledge!
Brandon and Kevin Bowersox-Johnson
LGBT citizens of Illinois and their loved ones have been anticipating June 1st for months, ever since Governor Quinn signed Bill SB1716 ― the "Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act" ― into law on January 31st. This past Wednesday was the first day that couples could register for civil union licenses. At 7:00 a.m., a crowd (organized by the UP Center) of over 50 people began gathering at the Champaign County Clerk's office. The ages ranged from young …
This week, the University of Illinois is having its first Bi Fest, hosted by Bi Pride and co-sponsored by various university organizations. A variety of workshops and panels is being offered throughout the week, and three of them will be led by author, teacher, and activist Robyn Ochs. Robyn is a professional speaker and workshop leader, and the editor of the Bisexual Resource Guide and the Bi Women newsletter. Ochs is a co-editor of the anthology Getting Bi: Voices of …
This Friday, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Champaign-Urbana is screening the film Riot Acts: Flaunting Gender Deviance in Music Performance, a "'trans-fabulous' rockumentary representing the multi-dimensional lives of transgender and gender variant musicians" (Outcast Films). The film's creators — Simon Strikeback and Madsen Minax — are attending the screening, which is free and open to the public. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Riot Acts' producer, Simon Strikeback.
On Tuesday night, October 26th, politically active members of our LGBTQ community will gather at the Canopy Club in an effort to help Get Out the Vote. The organizers have billed this party as a "non-partisan event"; all political parties are invited and encouraged to attend. This Get Out the Vote party is your opportunity to meet your community leaders and ask them any question you may have. The event will be hosted by Out & About Illinois magazine, and …
If you read this, you're gay. ... Well, since you've already come this far (I can't believe you‘re still reading), consider that you also might be labeled "gay" if you're a male and are: fashionable, funny, sensitive, outgoing,...or a cheerleader. Having been considered all of those things myself ("fashionable" aside), my sexuality has been questioned more times than a straight man in today's society should admit. So why am I so open about it? Probably because I was a cheerleader. …
This past Friday, I was among 2,500+ people who attended Champaign-Urbana's first Pride Festival. Many of you were probably there, and though reportage of attendance has been greatly understated, you already know that it was an enormous success. The mall was packed; rumors of protesters turned out to be just that; Dr. David Gill made an appearance; the entertainment was incredible; the drinks at 88 Broadway were strong; and the food was delicious. Seriously, Piato Catering bakes the best cupcakes …
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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!