Category > Photo
ESPN has no idea where Champaign, Ill. is located
Now that Urbana-native Tommy Craggs is running the show at Deadspin, we can be sure that our little burg will get more attention than usual from the infamous sports magazine.
http://deadspin.com/5870772/espn-really-doesnt-know-where-champaign-ill-is
Merry Treasures DIY holiday bazaar
Here's your chance to not only shop local and buy handmade holiday gifts, but to buy from local artists and crafters who create items from recycled, reused, and repurposed materials.
The inaugural edition of the Merry Treasures DIY holiday bazaar will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Dec. 10 at The I.D.E.A. Store, 28 E. Springfield Ave., Champaign. The bazaar will feature one-of-a-kind stocking stuffers and other wee gifts, both practical and whimsical.
Doodles to offer FREE food on Thursday to celebrate Year 1
To celebrate a year of dishing up the best ramen noodles south of Chicago, owner Shai Mauth (who also owns Xinh Xinh Cafe) has informed us that Doodles on John St. in Campustown, will be offering the humans who enter the doors FREE food from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday December 1.
Some fine print for ya:
Limit 1 per customer; Toppings and add ons will be extra.
Tiny review: Merry Ann’s taco salad
When I was a kid, my family used to occasionally splurge on the ultra-authentic Mexican food of Mrs. Lady's restaurant in Okoboji, Iowa (it's still there, and still getting mediocre reviews!). They had an Insane Taco on the menu, which was actually a huge taco salad. It was in no way insane, but I loved it anyway, mainly because most of my childhood was spent trying to eat way more food than I should have.
In the spirit of nostalgia, I ordered the taco salad at Merry Ann's in Urbana last night, and it was pretty good, honestly. (Although, in a twist, I settled on the taco salad because the Railsplitter seemed like it would have been too much food.) The shell was freshly-fried, crunchy, and still warm. The iceberg lettuce was crisp, the ground beef was flavorful, and the cup of pickled peppers on the side added a nice kick. I'd recommend it, although in retrospect, I wish I would have got a slice of pie, too.
Photo by Seth Fein
Tonight, Urbana-Champaign’s a drag queen.
Singer Urbana-Champaign (played by Shangela) debuts on NBC's Community tonight. Can you feel Pierce Hawthorne's (Chevy Chase) enthusiasm? Read more here.
Photo taken from aoltv.com by NBC.
Bruce Weber gets a pay raise
... an additional $200,000 per year, bumping his salary to $1.5 M
If any of you feels capable of guiding the Illini basketball team to no more than 14 losses per season, and is willing to do it for less than a million ...
Oh, never mind.
RIP Terry Masar of Nature’s Table, and so much more…
There's not much information out there, but I learned this morning that Terry Masar has passed away.
On a personal note, Terry represented Urbana so well, as a venue owner in Nature's Table — the last true jazz and blues club that C-U had all to its own — and then again as a restaurateur, at Sweet Betsy's.
He was a wonderful man, and a great friend to myself, my family and so many, many others. He leaves behind a wondeful family, with so much talent, one could compare them to the Royal Tenenbaums.
And goddamnit if he didn't make the best cinnamon rolls and sandwiches in town for a very long time; I'd do anything for one of his massive Gondolette hoagies right now.
In 2007, Paul Young did a small feature on him for Smile Politely when he was running the deli at Sunsinger Wine and Spirits.
Our best wishes go out to the Masar family. He brought to life so many people, and his legacy will live on, for years and years to come.
Go see that Voltron sh*t at the Phoenix on Tuesday
We get a lot of emails asking us to cover music going on in C-U, and some of them are insulting, but few are as entertaining as this one that we got last night:
didn't know if ya all know but there is 5 one man bands playin at the phoenix on October 25th. now I know the phoenix isnt a place you would frequent but I don't think there has ever been 5 one man bands ever assembled in this town. shit's like voltron niggah. I dare you to send someone out to review it. heres a flyer for ya...
sorry its not emo indy pop rip off shit. there's no content. no one is gonna show up. its at the phoenix. so you know what that means, its gonna suck. just like your website. horrible....
Regards
A'shadieeyah
Thanks for reading, A'shadieeyah! I'm headed to Red Lobster on Tuesday, unfortunately, so I can't make it. Anyone up for a review?
Lindsey Lohan hearts Saints Row The Third
If it wasn't apparent that Volition Inc.'s new game, Saints Row The Third, is destined for greatness, well, People magazine reports: http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20536841,00.html
And for good measure:
Seriously, though: congrats to our local video game moguls for producing what looks to be another blockbuster video game, and doing folks around here real proud!
Most Recent SPlog Comments
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
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.
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Dollars to waffles says the study session will conclude that there is parking available in the Hill Street Parking Deck.
I can see requiring them to plug meters where they park, but the license fee thing sure sounds like some established business doesn’t like the competition and has an in with the city gummint staff.
This is pretty much ridiculous. However, I would hope that local businesses that aren’t opposed would step up and allow the Crave Truck in their private parking lots. That won’t solve the licensing issue though… (Insert not-so-subtle reference to Snell being behind the grand conspiracy to kill…
How convenient.
Most Popular SPlog Articles (60 days)
- Tim Johnson is leaving Congress at the end of term
- Three local bands make national news
- Local news headlines for Friday, May 11
- Win a signed poster by Sigur Rós
- Local news headlines for Thursday, May 10
- Chambana Moms awaiting dads’ return from store with gallon of milk, pack of smokes
- Singer/songwriter Bill Mallonee is in town this weekend.
- Stories & Beer returns Saturday the 14th
- C-U Tweets of the Week
- We bought a new server, along with some whiskey and cigarettes
Most Recent Comments
As a liberal conservative, and a person who favors taxes & services ... and also a sense of proportion; I savor the comic potential that still exists in this comments section. I’m pretty sure we can goad more anti-government rhetoric from confirmed progressives and government employees. If…
Did the Crave Truck get a permit to park in city metered spots and city right of way? Or did they just get a permit? The city clerk’s office seems to be a suspect here, but it’s not clear they did anything wrong. Did the Crave Truck…
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…
Facebook
Twitter
Full Site
Super cool! Excellent track, Excellent band.