It was 10 p.m. I had a cocktail list in my hand, a DJ projecting art media to my left, and a young, hip crowd around me. Suddenly, I wanted to say, “Toto, I don’t think we’re in downtown Urbana anymore.” But we were. Buvons, the wine bar attached to Corkscrew, which I talked about in Wine Bar Wars: part two, recently began hosting themed cocktail nights on the last Friday of every month, with a cocktail list created …
For Triptych Brewing, three is the magic number. A triptych, by definition, is comprised of three parts—often referring to a work of art. And that’s just how Anthony Benjamin, head brewer, sees Triptych Brewing. “I want to combine me, beer, and [the] community to move forward on this work of art,” Benjamin said. “We wanted a name that made you think but you could explain in one sentence.” The significance of three doesn’t end there. Triptych’s creation and logo …
Stovetop Mac and Cheese Macaroni came to the United States in the later half of the 18th century. Originally the food of the elite, the pasta was cooked for half an hour, drained, smothered with cheese and cream, and baked. Despite the fact that it was overcooked by more than three fold, the dish grew in popularity and made its way to working class tables by the mid 1800s. Of course, this caused it to be removed from the …
Winter Pantry Soup I’ve been bored with everything I’ve cooked since taking my husband to June in Peoria Heights for his birthday in January. Like Thad Morrow, Josh Adams does wonderful things with local food. So much so, that I feel inadequate in my kitchen for days afterwards. Not wanting to waste time that could be spent in the sunshine standing in line at the grocery store, I decided to go for a walk and make due with what …
When I was a youngster growing up in the hot, dry, massive suburban metropolis that is San Diego, coffee didn’t mean a whole lot to me. Neither did local stuff, except maybe the Pacific Ocean and carne asada tacos. But then I left it all behind for college in Seattle, while my parents relocated to Portland. All of a sudden, I found myself wandering on foot through rainy, grey neighborhood streets and ducking into independent neighborhood coffee shops, where …
It was September 2010 when I first visited Tiesta Tea, a company that had just started about six months prior. Co-founders Patrick Tannous and Daniel Klein, two University of Illinois students, were operating out of their college apartment at the time, enlisting the help of any of their friends who were willing. Klein has since graduated with a finance degree and Tannous left school, but is still considered a student. Despite the business's success, he said that he hopes …
In August 2008, while we were all busy watching the Olympics and could have really cared less, the Blockbuster Video at 1305 S. Neil St. closed its doors. For the next three years the building stood vacant, listed “for sale or for lease,” but without any takers. You may have driven past it, just north of Kirby, its blue-and-yellow marquee still intact, moldering in decay. It was starting to seem as if the building would just remain in that …
For the third and final stop of the Champaign-Urbana wine bar plus retail tour, my compadre and I visited Wines at the Pines, a shop nestled among other stores in the The Pines at Stone Creek Commons development at Windsor and Philo Roads in Urbana. This wine bar also moonlights (or perhaps “sunlights” would be a better term) as a coffee shop during the day. I will freely admit that I thought this combination seemed odd and incompatible until …
One of the funny things I have encountered when I tell people that I am a vegetarian is the person who suddenly and apologetically lists to me all of the reasons they are not vegetarian, and the funniest reason of all is, "There's nothing to eat at restaurants." I am not an evangelical vegetarian and the point of this article is not to convert any omnivores. I believe food has a personal meaning and diet is an individual's choice. …
David Spears doesn’t just collect garbage at his restaurant — he collects garbage for it. The former University of Illinois art and design graduate has been creating art for as long as he can remember. Only recently, though, has he begun to restore it. Spears, who is a sculptor by background, said that his inspiration comes from bringing life to old, discarded items. The Champaign-Urbana area has a fair amount of entrepreneurial spirit and initiative that drive the personal …
Most Recent Food Comments
it’s quite choice. looking forward to seeing how it and its patronage grow and develop over the course of the year. could be a neat little ecosystem.
“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.
Looking forward to trying this place!
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…
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.
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.
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Most Recent Comments
High-profile whining. AKA Lobbying.
it’s quite choice. looking forward to seeing how it and its patronage grow and develop over the course of the year. could be a neat little ecosystem.
“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…
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High-profile whining. AKA Lobbying.