“I think my style and persona are quite apparent within the results of whatever medium I happen to be working in.” As a guitar practitioner, Andy Summers pauses to let his assertion take effect. It’s …
Need some ideas for this last weekend in August? Our editors have some solid picks.
It’s late August and the students are BACK. Which means it’s time to head to campus for another back-to-school edition of B/F/L! A BUILDING 508 S. Sixth Street Just the other day, I was eating …
Students, welcome! While sometimes we may casually lament about the difficulty in getting around campus when you’re here, or do a little celebrating about the summer pace when you’re not, ultimately, your presence is very …
“I humbly meet you in the place where you stand today. That is how I serve my community, I’m going to recognize and acknowledge where you are at, why fake it?” This is how Lola …
We have a great selection of taco trucks in the Champaign-Urbana area, and Guerrero Azteca truck might possibly be my new favorite. Now I’m a person that really enjoys Mexican food; it is always one …
The Overture is a rundown of live music and performances happening in and around Champaign-Urbana each week. All of the information is as accurate as we can publish; however, all shows and performances are subject …
A lot of food news happened late last week, and into the weekend, and wow did our Monday morning postings sure reflect that: We got yet another big piece of news about a beloved restaurant yesterday. We …
Whether you choose to venture near Campustown, or stay the hell away, we have some suggestions for your weekend.
As the summer winds down to make way for autumn, it’s almost time to dust off the old leaf blower and rake and get ready for fall yard work. Or is it? It turns out …
Out of all the art forms we cover in this section, theatre is probably the area that I know the least about. I’ve gone to theatre productions, of course, but when the Station Theatre announced …
Shannon McFarland wants to change the world. Sitting on the bleachers overlooking McFarland Field (named after her family) McFarland laid out how baseball is positively influencing the youth in the surrounding area and beyond. As …
Tasting dinners are having a moment at restaurants in Champaign-Urbana right now, and I love to see it. Little tastes of special dishes are fun with little sips of special drinks. Food and drink were …
With move in beginning next week, I’ve been thinking about something that I often find myself saying to people, when talking about where I live: “I really love living in a university town.” I definitely …
Our editors have some solid suggestions for your weekend plans.
Earlier this summer, the Village of Savoy put out a request for expression of interest (REI) from developers to build out a “postcard worthy” downtown at the intersection of Church and Dunlap. In theory, this …
Last month, I spent a sunny late afternoon ambling through the land newly acquired by Sola Gratia Farm, as part of the Urbana Amble garden tour. The 29 acre expanse of new land is tucked …
“This item is currently under review and is not available to the public.” A digital stroll through the Archive of Native American Recorded History turns up this phrase more than once. It represents the heart …
Last weekend was the fifth year for the Crystal Lake Art Fair, hosted by 40 North and the Urbana Park District (you can read about last year’s fair here). This was my first year attending, …
We really do have just one more week before school starts for Unit 4 and District 116, and before U of I students begin the move-in process. Parkland isn’t far behind. How does it happen so quickly …
It’s August, suddenly. But that doesn’t mean that summer is over! Check out what we’re recommending this weekend.
After the relative calm of July, August always hits with full force. If you are a teacher, student, or parent, it’s back to school chaos. (And if you are none of those things you still …
From his humble roots in Delavan, Illinois, Cody Diekhoff’s (Chicago Farmer) journey into the world of music began with earnest simplicity. “I started out on a barstool with just my guitar and harmonica, playing songs …
After last week’s heatwave, it may be hard to believe, but the end of summer is near. The pools are closing soon, kids go back to school in a few weeks, and campus and fall …
After a couple of solo adventures to small communities near Champaign-Urbana, I decided it was time to bring my husband along for the ride. This particular trip was going to take me a bit farther …
Whether you’d prefer to beat the heat in some air conditioning, or venture outside, we have some ideas for your weekend.
The realities of climate change are more apparent each year, and this summer, it has been particularly real around here. For two days at the end of June, smoke from wildfires in Canada enveloped the …
Doug “Boomerang” Burgett came to Champaign in 1998 to attend the University of Illinois. Since then, he’s gotten married and started a family while making Champaign-Urbana home. He currently works at the U of I …
As a ballroom dancer, I know how to swing dance, but I’ve never tried lindy hop before. I was completely surprised to learn that there is an entire Swing Dance Society of Lindy Hoppers here …
The slogan for Mama Duke’s Food Truck is: “Get you a taste!” and I got a taste. Opened in May of this year, the Black-owned business began as a catering company in 2018 and serves …
Glancing through the highlights in this week’s Smile Politely Digest made me smile. Where else can you find such an eclectic examination of C-U culture? In one swoop you can begin to plan your PYGMALION …
Summer keeps rolling on, and there are a plethora of great events happening this weekend.
PYGMALION is back and ready to fascinate and entertain you come this September 21-23. The 19th PYGMALION will be another assault on the senses as artists of all mediums converge on Urbana for three days …
In the midst of the climate emergency, the stripping away of rights to certain groups, crumbling Democracy, gun violence, and the other routine horrors of the 21st century, we want to take a moment to …
Opened in March this year, NAYA Indian Cuisine offers delicious Indian food in a modern artistic atmosphere on campus. I enjoyed the warm aroma and aesthetic colors that welcomed me once I entered. The restaurant has …
Recidivism rates among formerly incarcerated youth have reached alarming levels, posing a significant challenge for our society. Upon release from detention centers around the country, youth often find themselves caught in a revolving door of …
We have written about the amazing new mural at Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) a few times already since it made its debut. As someone with no talent for drawing or painting, I could not …
We are now past July 4th, which is the official mid-point of summer. I don’t know if that’s actually true, but that’s what we all feel in our hearts, right? Regardless, we are well on the …
What are your plans for this midsummer weekend? We have a few suggestions.
I’ve been to Casa del Mar just once before to meet a friend for lunch. This time my partner and I went for an early dinner during the week. Located at the Pines in Southeast …
It’s July, which means my kids’ bedtimes keep getting later, I only know what day it is because of the farmers market, and there is nothing better than spending as much time as possible outside. …
We may already be fully into the month of July, but there is still plenty to do in the remaining weeks when it comes to the arts. Whether you want to embrace the heat in …
You would expect a band treading dangerously close to infringing on the copyright for a notorious biker gang to be such a loving band of troubadours, but Banditos are just that. They think of each …
This week has been wild, huh? Apocalyptic, even. Seems like a good time for us to take a bit of a break. Next week, Smile Politely will be taking a publishing break. And no, it’s not actually …
It seems the air is becoming breathable again. We have plenty of suggestions for you to get out and about again this weekend.
In April 2020, a handful of weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, we published an article thinking about what life could be like after the emergent nature of the pandemic subsided. We asked two questions: …
This month’s summer adventure took me about 25 to 30 minutes south on I-57 to Tuscola, on a morning tinged with wildfire smoke. I was glad that this excursion wasn’t going to include a hike. …
To say I’m impressed by Katie Carrillo is an understatement. Born and raised in Champaign-Urbana, she’s worked at more than 20 different Champaign-Urbana restaurants, bars, and a brewery — and she’s not done yet. Carrillo knows …
On June 17th the Champaign County Master Gardeners hosted its 27th annual Garden Walk. This year “Inspirational Gardens: Old, New, Reimagined” included six private and two public gardens throughout Champaign and Urbana. Each garden had …
