About Us
Smile Politely is Champaign-Urbana's independent online magazine. We provide the community with a passionate, trustworthy, informed point of view on local music, arts, culture, food+drink, sports, politics and news. Our writers range in age from college undergrads to fifty-somethings, and with that diversity comes a wide array of political, cultural, social, and artistic bents, as well as an impressive wealth of experiences from which to reference. Such variety accurately reflects the hodgepodge that is Champaign-Urbana, a university town with a decidedly Midwestern flair. Smile Politely's editorial staff immerses itself in the community it calls home, and our writers' coverage of events reflects that dedication.
Whatever entertains you, informs you, excites you, or frustrates you, is all likely to be covered in our magazine. And if it's not, let us know. We're always open to suggestions that further expand our coverage. Readers are encouraged to establish their own free profile accounts to take advantage of our unique, interactive site.
Smile Politely publishes articles daily, Monday through Friday.
A note about comments
You are welcome to call us stupid, elitist, fuckheaded, pole-smoking, motherfucking, limp-dicked gashes, but be careful, because there's a line here somewhere around the area of personal appearance and our families (especially if it's not funny or involves the word "retarded", and especially if you're posting anonymously), that if you cross it, we'll be forced to delete your comment, woe unto you. We like making fun of people, too, so have at it, but it's our site, and we gots some rules.
Editors
Ben was born and raised in Champaign-Urbana, and now attends the U of I. He really likes live music and indian food.
Caleb Curtiss grew up in Champaign. He still lives there with his wife, Sarah, his dog Eileen (nickname: Floppy, Flopperella, Flopster, Flopper: the ugliest dolphin in the sea) and cat Buffy the Mouse Slayer (nickname: Taco, Fatty, Bufflecat). He likes giving his pets nicknames, and looks forward to having children so he can similarly humiliate them.
Jamie Newell can be found most weekends working on her novel at Aroma Café when she's not taking photos or sitting in a movie theater. After earning her bachelor's degree in creative writing at Columbia College Chicago, she settled in Champaign and has called it home for four years. Jamie loves to road trip, is a huge horse racing fan, and considers John Steinbeck a god. She also writes a blog about racing called Ghostsnapper.
Joel Gillespie grew up in Iowa, went to college in Indiana, and lives in Illinois. He tries to hide his prejudice against states that don't begin with I, but, let's face it, he is naturally suspicious of their intentions. If you have trouble sleeping, give him a call and ask about soybean processing. And whatever you do, never, never, never ask him for real estate advice.
John Steinbacher went to school here, then lived in Minneapolis, then lived in Toronto, now lives here again. His daughter is both Canadian and American, so he reserves the right to make fun of both countries. He has a Master's Degree in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota and has worked in health care and disability policy for some really cool organizations. He has edited all kinds of stuff, including a cake decorating magazine. None of this has anything do with music. Go figure.
Josh is a self-taught technologist with an interest in social justice. He spends much of his time at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, dabbling with hacking and activism for fun and lack of profit. If he ever makes money as SmilePolitely's webmaster, it may help keep his helpfulness from becoming terminal.
Justine Bursoni hails from Chicago. (Yes, really Chicago, not the suburbs.) She tried as hard as possible to leave here, graduating after three years of Art History school. It was Custard Cup that forced her to stay. She now lives in downtown Champaign, is working on her master's in art education, makes art when she can, and runs her own photo blog based on consumer culture. She always smiles politely.
Seth Fein was born in Urbana and now lives in downtown Champaign. He owns and operates The Nicodemus Agency, is the founder and curator of Pygmalion Music Festival, and is an assistant talent buyer at The Canopy Club. He loves the Purdue Boilermakers and his wife's marinara sauce.
Tracy grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, but escaped that hell hole in the mid-90s, never to return (the occasional wedding or funeral being the exceptions). She's a librarian for the University of Illinois for 40 hours a week, and spends the rest of her time wallowing in Earthly delights. She's a patron of the arts and a gay rights activist, and volunteering for Smile Politely is one of the best decisions she's ever made.
Writers
Past Writers
Abram Book
Adam Scott
Alisa DeMarco
Alyssa Schoeneman
Amanda Shively
Andrew Ang
Angela Delgado
Betsi Freeman
Bob Steltman
Brian Kagel
Brian Reed
Caitlin Cremer
Carlye Wisel
Chris Maier
Chris Wiberg
Clint Popetz
Donnie Ferguson
Ellyn Newell
Elyse Russo
Emily Carlson
Eric Heisig
Gordon Oyer
Jaclyn Smith
Jake Thomas
Jane Boxall
Jenna Weglarz-Ward
Joshi Fullop
Justin McLeod
Kristin McCann
Laura Bandy
Lena Singer
Lindsey Markel
Liz Jackson
Logan Moore
Marissa Monson
Matt Cohn
Matt Fender
mertz
Mike Armintrout
Mike Coulter
mrfred
Nathon Jones
Pat Schmitz
Patrick McCarthy
Phil Sudderberg
Ralph Petrella
Ria Roberts
Richard Anderson
Rose Marshack
Ryan Neaveill
Samantha Lee
Scott Frankel
Theo Long
Thom Herakovich
Thomas Gould
Tim Bailey
Tim Brookes
Tim Green
Tim Hayden
Tommy Griscom
Most Recent Comments
Jason, Savoy could easily join the CPL tax district, which is probably closer to most Savoy residents than the Tolono library is. But my impression is that Savoy residents as a whole don’t want to pay the cost of the CPL (Tolono’s library taxes are cheaper), even…
Sorry, but I am lagging behind on updates to the map. Also, some construction projects were delayed from their original start date. On a more positive note, I am putting together a map of haunted houses in Central Illinois. I have a few plotted already, and I…
I’ve never gotten the privilege of all the services CPL cardholders get. I just want to be able to go out of my way to drive to the CPL to check out books, pay fines, maybe buy some coffee, and enjoy the library. None of those activities…
These days, there is more to using a library than checking out books. At one time, paying into the Lincoln Trails system probably would cover the expenses incurred by other libraries in the system. Now, with Internet, videos, coffee shops, wireless Internet hubs, etc., I suspect the…
(speaking as a Savoy resident) By paying taxes to support a member of the LTLS, we are paying our “fair share” to use any LTLS library—Tolono, Champaign, Urbana, etc. This is how library systems work. The 6% of CPL’s circulation represented by Tolono users is NOT significant…
I would be interested to hear more about the “word on the street”—how are individual hauling companies fulfilling their promise to recycle?
Timbo makes a smart, sound argument. Reread it.
I joined on 09-09-09 after living here over a year, and having to listen to my dad tell me how his best friend is, like, #27 or something crazy like that, and how said friend never lived further than 50 feet from the Illini Inn while going…
And, I might add, no one is being prevented from using the Champaign library. They are just being asked to pay their fair share if they are going to use it as their primary library.
The equation is pretty simple here. If you want social services, then pay the taxes required to run those social services. These things only work if everyone puts in their fair share. As a heavy user of the Champaign Library, I say bravo to this new policy.
What is the increased marginal cost of serving a resident of Savoy or Mahomet? I suspect negligible. What is the increased revenue to be realized by this new policy? I suspect very little. Aside from these financial aspects, what are the most probable results from this new…
Looks like you are also all members of the killer sideburns club.
Thanks for the article, Ben. I was not familiar with this band until now and even though I won’t be able to attend the show on Friday they are now on my radar. A *good* jam band is hard to find, and these folks appear to fill…
Nice article, love the Dead quote in the beginning. If they can get down here to Central FL I’ll definitely be heading out to the show. Some of my friends have finally stopped wincing when I say “jam band.“ I’ve now tried my best at more descriptive…
@Annie: Yeah, my bad. That was the best part! Drinking + memory exercises = fun @Rob: According to Ask the English Teacher, “My dictionary says ‘drunk’ is an archaic past tense of ‘drink.‘“ We’re all about the new grammar around here.
Katie, have the residents of Savoy and Tolono thought about having their taxes raised a little to help their public library expand? That’s a possibility for them. And then everybody wins.
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Illinois has simply had no luck at all in these Mizzou games. None. I think maybe we’re do for a couple of bounces to go our way. If we get one or two (or sever or eight) breaks, I think it’s a win.