Whether it’s visual or performance art, literature or film, Champaign-Urbana has always nurtured a vibrant arts community. We are looking for new contributors for our Arts section: You can see shows before they debut, talk to …
University YMCA recently opened a new exhibition featuring painter Steven Boyd Hudson‘s work. The collection is on display now through August 11th. From the University YMCA’s website: The paintings in this new body of work …
There is an unbelievable amount of programming being offered through Urbana Park District this summer, and you should take a look at their Summer program guide to show you the way. From Crystal Lake Art …
Last year, MTD debuted their inaugural Juneteenth bus as part of their effort to commemorate the holiday. They’ve announced that tomorrow, Saturday, April 13th, they’ll be revealing their next one. The photo you see above …
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of Champaign-Urbana’s favorite new restaurant/live music venue, The Space, we asked part owner, and also the drummer for Snack’d Out, Doug Hodge some strange questions to commemorate the occasion. Smile …
The 4th Annual Cheap Instrument Sale, happening on May 12th at Rose Bowl Tavern, offers a quiet opportunity for musicians and enthusiasts to explore a variety of used instruments and music gear. This event, hosted …
Both of Downtown Champaign’s The Blind Pig locations have new owners now. This weekend, the dual bars will reopen with fresh paint and a new theme for Boneyard Arts Festival, which starts tomorrow, April 12th. …
Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justice has partnered with the Midwest Access Coalition to provide residents with access to free emergency contraceptives. While EC is available over the counter, the price tag (over $50 per dose) can make …
Remember when we did that Instagram Story Takeover with Prairie Rivers Network, wherein they discussed the spread of herbicides and how they drift into the community in ways you might not have otherwise known? The …
Tyler James Williams, the actor known for his work in Everybody Hates Chris, Abbott Elementary, and Let It Shine, is coming to the Illini Union on Tuesday, April 23rd from 7 to 9 p.m. Williams …
On May 29th and 30th, Hamilton Walker’s is hosting their next wine dinner alongside Napa Valley’s Robert Mondavi Winery. Chef Zach will be preparing a five course dinner to pair with the winery’s offerings. In …
Back in February, the beloved Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery (and their amazing goats) were acquired by the same ownership as Martinelli’s Market. They’ve announced that they have some surprises in store (“big announcements” forthcoming), …
Urbana’s BakeLab is expanding their coffee and delicious baked goods offerings to Champaign. BakeLab will open a new location inside the Lodgic coworking space this summer. The Champaign café will be called BakeLab Pâtisserie and …
This week, I’m all about the billion dollar dream cocktail at Seven Saints in Downtown Champaign. I like pretty much every drink on the restaurant’s cocktail menu (especially the Flight of Icarus), but when I …
Set against the backdrop of the Champaign County Fairgrounds, the Audiofeed Music Festival 2024 will unfold July 4th through July 7th, offering a contemplative escape into the world of music and fellowship. This year’s lineup, …
Sure, Easter has come and gone, but the weather is looking up and that means it is time for Champaign County Forest Preserve District’s egg hunt. As you can see, they’ve hidden large, creatively painted …
Community Foundation of East Central Illinois hosts a variety of free and engaging workshops that are tailored towards helping those in the nonprofit sector. Coming up on April 23rd from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., …
While we refer to ourselves as Champaign-Urbana’s culture magazine, our Culture section occupies a specific space within that. It attempts to capture the essence of this community that we call home. We write about the …
Himalayan Chimney’s lassoni gobi is flawless in my opinion. Yesterday, I ordered the lassoni gobi appetizer ($9.99) as a vegetarian lunch, and that plate of hot, saucy fried cauliflower was totally delicious just like every …
Next weekend, there’s an opportunity to perhaps see Allerton Park & Retreat Center in a way that you haven’t before: by running a race throughout the park. This year’s Allerton Races takes place April 19-20 …
The Perimeter Road Music Festival 2024, happening on Saturday, May 4th from noon to 6 p.m. at the Student Union Parking Lot (B1), is a cozy gathering for music enthusiasts of all ages. This free, …
Next week on Tuesday, April 16th, Mad Goat Coffee will open on Main Street in Downtown Champaign. This will be Mad Goat Coffee’s third location but the first in Champaign-Urbana. The first location opened in …
Joy Harjo, the 23rd United States Poet Laureate and member of the Muscogee [Creek] Nation, will be visiting April 23-24 as part of Humanities Research Institute‘s programming on campus at the University of Illinois. There …
My family and I went to check out this year’s Engineering Open House this past weekend on campus at the University of Illinois. Packed full of programming, there really is something for everyone and acts …
Spring is springing, which means Urbana’s Market at the Square will soon return. The City of Urbana announced the opening date for this year’s season is Saturday, May 4th (Star Wars fans are very excited). …
As the week closes out, readers have determined a winner in our 2024 March Food + Drink Tournament, and our Spring Donation Campaign is nearing its end. While the opportunity to vote for your favorite foods in …
Approximately a half-hour into his March 20th show at Anthem in Downtown Champaign, John Hoeffleur asked the crowd of around 20 people, “You guys ever been to prom?” In Anthem’s darkened space reserved for music …
Cornfields are a common sight around these parts. There’s corn pretty much everywhere once we get out of the business-lined streets and onto country roads. A lot of restaurants serve dishes with corn, but there’s …
The University of Illinois women’s basketball team won the inaugural WBIT tournament, marking the first postseason title the team has ever won. The Illini beat Villanova 71-57, and were led by Makira Cook, who scored …
Circle April 20th on your rock ‘n’ roll calendars because that’s when the Didjits are set to blast through your speakers with Strictly Dynamite: The Best of Didjits. This isn’t just any release; it’s a …
The Illini women’s basketball team has been dominating in the National Invitational Tournament. They beat Missouri State, Stony Brook, Tulsa, and Washington State to make their first ever appearance in the championship round of a …
Hit the road with the Lyric Theatre @ Illinois’ program’s Fugitive Songs, where every note is a mile, and every lyric is a landscape. Under the direction of voice professor Sarah Wigley, the University of …
Champaign-Urbana’s newest restaurant Aroma Garden opens this weekend in the space that was once the Urbana location of Rainbow Garden Chinese restaurant. Tentatively scheduled to open this Friday, April 5th, Aroma Garden will offer Chinese …
Coverage of the local music scene has been a core component of Smile Politely since its founding. Our music section covers a wide variety of genres — from rock to hip-hop to classical and more …
The University of Illinois men’s basketball team had a great run in this year’s NCAA tournament, and even though UConn put a stop to it this weekend, it’s worth remembering that Coach Brad Underwood and …
Alas, the time has come for the Championship round of Smile Politely’s Food & Drink Tournament 2024. During the tournament rounds, readers voted for their favorites in chaotic head-to-head matchups of local foods, and last …
If you have old electronics that are taking up space and gathering dust, you’re in luck. Registration opens today for the Champaign County, City of Champaign, City of Urbana, and Village of Savoy’s collection event. …
Champaign-Urbana knows how to do National Poetry Month. With so many luminous writers and poets in town, it can be hard to keep up. But this month, I’ll be dropping bits and bobs about readings …
Thank you to those who have donated to our Spring Campaign already. We so appreciate your support! Those additional funds are allowing us to pay writers and editors more, and build a featured article budget to do …
And just like that – April is nearly here and the full lineup for Ebertfest just dropped. With Bob Fosse’s Star 80 headlining opening night and Malcolm D. Lee’s The Best Man featured center stage, …
40 North has announced this year’s MTD ART featured artists: Top left: Cris Hughes, An Invitation (3D botanical collage); top right: Alex Harvey, Rolling to the Rhythm (ink gel pen); bottom left: Kamila Glowacki, No …
Ms. Jones If You Nasty is a local hip-hop artist, and she’s opening for Trouble Chasin’ and Haki ‘N Dem this Saturday, March 30th at Rose Bowl Tavern. We sent her our three weird questions, …
Smile Politely is and always has been a community magazine, and the articles that you read week to week are written by community members just like you. Some of them have a writing background, many …
If you missed the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol when it premiered on PBS’s hard-hitting series Frontline last November, now is your chance to watch it on the big screen at Spurlock’s Museum of …
This Thursday, sip my go-to coffee order: an iced Americano with white chocolate cold foam at Espresso Royale. I used to be a latte girlie, but I fell out of love with drinking so much …
Holi, the Indian festival of colors that happens every spring, fell on March 25th this year. But, you can still celebrate over in Normal on April 13th. The Asian American and Pacific Islander Club and …
Meteorologist Andrew Pritchard will be presenting for the James Kaler Science Lecture Series at Parkland Community College. He’ll talk about tornado formation, what makes North America a prime spot for the storm systems, tips to …
Downtown Champaign’s Tenkyu Izakaya opened in January this year in the old Miga space with a menu of small bites, chef specialties, ramen, and rice bowls. Because I loved Miga, I love being back in …
Cowboy Monkey is making a return to downtown, reigniting its legacy as a venue for live music enthusiasts. With its doors swinging open for a Grand Re-Opening weekend, the venue is set to entertain audiences …
