Looks like Kopi is going smoke free for the outdoor seating. I, Sam Logan, like the idea. Being a former smoker, registered nurse, and having had family members with cancer I try to minimize my risk factors for cancer and disease as much as I can. I think this is a step in the right direction. But, that's just my opinion. 

Friday Night Live is great. But what makes it better is hearing the blues from Candy Foster. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better Candy walked across the street, away from the band and walked through the crowd on Neil street singing the blues. Good show Candy. 

Radio Maria has added some more coverage for outdoor patrons. The lights are a nice touch and I think it makes customers feel more cozy. Great addition Radio!

FRIDAY AUGUST 8th AT KRANNERT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

PechaKucha Night C-U is excited to partner with Krannert Center for the Performing Arts to present PechaKucha Night C-U Vol. 16!

In addition to nine unique presentations, PKN C-U Vol. 16 will include free admission, music by DJ Mertz beginning at 7:45 pm and continuing throughout the night, and a beer and wine bar.

Topics and perspectives vary widely, but the high energy and diverse creativity have undeniable appeal to all. 

THE NITTY GRITTY
Friday August 8th, 2014
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
500 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana
Doors open 7:45pm with music by DJ Mertz
Show starts at 8:20pm.
Possible mature content; must be 18+ to enter
FREE ADMISSION

Matt Metcalf of CILiving will host as emcee for the night.

Attendees are encouraged to RSVP on Facebook!

THE EVENING'S LINEUP
Champaign-Urbana’s Sixteenth PechaKucha Night will feature nine presentations:

Muni Adebimpe & January Boten — Spring Break Civil Rights Pilgrimage
Amanda Baker | Wegmans — Best Grocery Store in the World
Andrew Graumlich — Shadow Work
Cathy Murphy — Cycling Is the Answer
Thomas Nicol — Pens to Lens
Noam Segal — Designing for Dating
Ankit Singla — Internet at the Speed of Light
Rachel Lauren Storm — Outta the Mouths of Babes
Ella Van Wyk — Beasts of English

Tweet to #pkncu during the night. Hope to see you there!

First devised by a pair of Tokyo architects in 2003, PechaKucha Nights have become international phenomena that use a simple concept to create big community exchanges. Presenters have 20 images and 20 seconds per image to share their ideas, works, and passions for a total of 6 minutes and 40 seconds flat.

DON’T FRET! THERE’S MORE WHERE THIS COMES FROM.
For additional information or if interested in presenting at a future PechaKucha Night Champaign-Urbana, please contact us at pechakuchaCU@thecudo.org. Check out the www.pechakucha.org global website to get a sense of the magnitude of the event as well as our city page, http://www.pechakucha.org/cities/champaign-urbana

Follow on Twitter: @pechakuchaCU
Become a fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pechakuchaCU
Get the PKN C-U Newsletter after signing up at http://www.pechakucha.org/cities/champaign-urbana
For more information about CUDO visit thecudo.org

Looking for fun ways to get involved in the community? Volunteer with the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival. There are a variety of options available for volunteering from serving beverages to keeping the event green, delivering ice or playing Corny the mascot. With ten different types of volunteer opportunities and eight different shifts throughout the weekend, you're bound to find the perfect fit. The fun is open to ages 14 and over with some areas specific to those 21 and over.

All volunteers will receive a free Sweetcorn t-shirt, a Corn Buck, and have access to food and drinks at the volunteer station.

For more information visit www.urbanasweetcornfestival.com, email volunteer@urbanabusiness.com, or call (217) 344-3872.

We have the perfect shirt size ready for you!

Good afternoon, readers. Smile Politely is a magazine full of opinions written by our community writers and editors, and now we're looking to fill our vacant Opinion Editor position. The ideal candidate will be a very engaged and interested community member with a penchant for the written word, a knack for managing a small team of community writers, and a good sense of grammar. In addition, the right candidate will be willing to write at least once or twice per week, and develop other authors from the community along the way.

There is an ample amount of topics in the C-U area to discuss, especially in the Opinion section, so we're looking for someone who is interested in helping us cover the bases in that section, while seeking out writers in the community to contribute to the section each week.

If you're interested, please get in touch with us at info@smilepolitely.com with qualifications and other necessary information that might be relevant to us.

Join us tonight at 5:30 as we chat with Cayla Waters, one of Illinois Extension's Consumer Economics Program Coordinators. She'll be chatting with us about Illinois Extension's Money Mentors program, a free financial mentoring program that pairs a volunteer with a person in need in the community. 

Smile Politely Radio airs each Friday at 5:30 p.m. on WEFT 90.1 FM in Champaign and is available as a podcast the following week. You can find our past episodes here. 

Silvercreek will host a Polynesian-themed luau dinner Saturday, August 2nd. Reservations are required (call 217-328-3402), and tickets are $23, which does not include tapas or drinks. Guests must be 21 to attend. 

For $23 you get:

Whole Suckling Pig
Grilled Pineapple Skewers
Chicken Teriyaki Skewers
Portabella Mushroom Skewers
Cole Slaw
Purple Potato Salad
Fresh Fruit Skewers

Additional menu items:

Tapas * available a la carte

Tuna Poke...14 
Soy-marinated Ahi Tuna - Pickled Vegetables - Lettuce Wraps

Crab Stuffed Mushrooms...10

Pineapple Salsa

Coconut Shrimp...10
Cherry Orange Rum Sauce

Seared Pork Belly...14
Sweet Soy Glaze - Spicy Soba Noodles - Pickled Vegetables

Red Cabbage Bowls...8
Rice Noodle Salad - Almond Ginger Sauce

Drink Specials

Blue Lagoon...12
Malibu Rum, Vodka, Madori, Orange Juice,  Pineapple Juice

Pirate's Treasure...12
Coconut Rum, Tequila, Passion-Mango Juice

Blue Hawaiian...12
Coconut Rum, Blue Curacao, Citron Vodka, Pineapple Juice

Tsunami...12
Absolute Vodka, Mango Puree, Passion-fruit Juice, Mango-Passion Liquor

Boozy Hawaiian Shaved Ice...9
Tropical Punch, Coconut, Pineapple, Kiwi

Photo from Silvercreek email announcement. 

Prosperity Gardens is open today until 5:30 p.m. Stop by and pick up some delicious vegetables from them. I choose carrots, an onion, a cabbage, and some home grown banana peppers (my mouth literally just watered). They're located on first street, just north of the police station on the west side of the street. Support local gardens and your health! 

Chris detailed the situation of Champaign Central High School not too long ago, but this coming today from the Champaign Park District, which ruled out Dodds Park as a potential location for the new CCHS.

From the press release:

For immediate release: Champaign Park District Responds to Central High School Land Request
 
Champaign, IL - In response to a letter dated July 7, 2014 from Champaign Unit 4 School District to the Champaign Park District regarding sites for a new Central High School, the Champaign Park District Board has reconfirmed its position that Dodds Park is not available as an option for the new Central High School. 
 
The Park Board recognizes Dodds Park as one of its signature parks and as a valuable asset to the community and its residents. It views Dodds Park as a crucial element in accomplishing the mission of the Park District: “To enhance our community's quality of life through positive experiences in parks, recreation, and cultural arts."
 
In addition, based on the content of the letter, the Park Commissioners acknowledge that the School District has made a decision that Spalding Park is not a good site for a new Central High School. Accordingly, the Park Board will proceed with plans to enhance Spalding Park for the benefit of the community in the near future.

For more information contact:
Joe DeLuce
Executive Director
217-819-3821
Joe.deluce@cparkdistrict.com