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Download this week's podcast here. In honor of Restaurant Week, we are joined for this episode by SP food writers Susanna Kline and Seth Fein. We talk about the ever changing landscape for local cuisine, focusing on new restaurants in Champaign. We discuss all the changes in Champaign’s north downtown area, plus we the buzz over Maize and Meatheads. (Photos by Justine Bursoni)
| Download this week's episode here. On this episode of SP Radio we talk to Drew Phillips, mandolin player for Big Bluestem Band, and Uncle John (aka John Coleman), the host of WEFT's weekly bluegrass show Old-Time Country Music for New Old-Timers. We discuss the current local string band music scene and the history of local bands. Plus, we play songs from each band performing at the Iron Post this Sunday. As mentioned above, Big Bluestem will be playing a special …
Download/listen to this week's podcast here. Is storytelling a dying art? Not if you go by the Champaign-Urbana scene, where there are several monthly, annual and one off events that celebrate the art of performing the “written” word in front of an audience. This includes For a Cold Winter's Night: Colder Lines in Colder Times, a storytelling/poetry show that will take place on January 21 at Indi Go Artist Co-op. Many of the best local storytellers will be performing, including …
Listen to the podcast here. On this week's edition of Smile Politely Radio, host Jason Brown sits down with Mathew Green, Katie Baldwin, and Rob Zaleski from the Station Theatre in Urbana. In the midst of the theater's 40th season, the director and crew are preparing for the opening of their next show, Gruesome Playground Injuries, and take time out to discuss the Station's history, the upcoming performance, and the joys and troubles of putting on quality shows without a …
Download this week's podcast here. On this week's edition of Smile Politely Radio, we are joined by SP Music Editor Ben Valocchi to talk about the year that was in C-U music. In this extra long edition of the show, we are visited in the studio by local bands Mean Lids and Easter. All the while, we play SP's top ten songs of 2011 and lots of others that didn't quite make the list. Plus, we debate why certain genres …
Download/listen to this week's podcast here. As mentioned in Chris's article, long-time keepers of the scene and one of the last bastions for indie music shoppers, Parasol Records will be suspending its mail order business and brick & mortar record store operations as of this Saturday, December 17. Last Friday, we had a chance to recollect all the good times and talk about the future of the label side of the business(which will still be going strong) with Jim Kelly, …
Skip to Yahoo! WebPlayer Download this week's episode here. This week on Smile Politely Radio, we talk to authors Josh Wild, Laura Adamczyk and Caleb Curtiss about the last Stories & Beer of 2011. Listen to hear an excellent original holiday tale centered around Goodfellas, the joys (or pains) of televangelists being the only thing on late-night television, and a poem about Christ taking a holiday from Christmas. Plus, poet Josh Wild shares a very non-Christmas poem, just in time …
Download or listen to this week's episode here. This was Chris Willis' first year covering Illini Football for Smile Politely, so we talk to him about the experience. He discusses what it's like to listen to the press box announcer coldly call the game's action and how impressed he was with the players' media skills. Plus, we go in depth on the season that was, from the mighty highs of the 6–0 start to the dark days toward the end …
Download this week's podcast here. On this episode of Smile Politely Radio, we welcome Midstress, the local punk rock group formerly known as the Fresh Kills. We talk about the group’s brand new album, Growing Up is Getting Old, which will officially be released on December 6. Also, we touch on the brand new C-U Collective, which some of the band's members are heavily involved with. Plus there is the band’s sterling live reputation, their upcoming Japan benefit show with …
Download this week's podcast here. On this podcast, we welcome Mark Taylor, Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Illinois. He is the faculty project manager of the University’s Solar Decathlon project, and has done extensive work around the world on innovative, sustainable, and affordable architecture and construction. His most recent projects have involved designing and building projects in Haiti. He joins us to talk about his work with students in the Solar Decathlon, how working in Haiti has …
Most Recent News Comments
Hi my name is Harry Huffman, professional speaker…. keynote humorist and above all story teller. I have also been a ballroom dancer, competitor and instructor over 45 years.I’m looking to get on the story telling circuit or radio. Can you give me some advice. Thank you. My web site http://www.speakdance.com
Man, I cannot wait for these four records to be released by Parasol/Hidden Agenda - seriously great music for them to be working with. Thanks for letting me hang out in the studio and see you at the party…
Rob, I’m slightly confused about the media player you are referring to.
I’ve looked at this page with two different browsers, and four different operating systems. I’ve decided that the embedded media player is just plain busted.
$100K for a toy house? No wonder my taxes are killing me. http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/solar-decathlons-rainy-start_594112.html
You’ll be delighted to know that the entire remainder of Urbana is low income housing. Also no income housing.
Will there be low income housing? Thought not. Class warfare is on!
Don’t feel so good about this business. It’s the worst I’ve ever dealt with.<span> </span>The office staff is terribly rude, childish, and belligerent toward customers.<span> </span>Requests to speak with a supervisor are refused.<span> </span>Before thinking about using this company, check their rating with the Better Business Bureau…
Just a point of correction. The vote was 7-1. Councilman Faraci was not present. What I find interesting on this “non-partisan” council is that those most often interpreted to be the “liberals” on the council, felt it necessary to excuse themselves and hum and haw to…
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Pamela - Are the roasteries in Seattle as clean as CSR? It always disturbs me a little that it is so clean in there.
Now you will be able to munch on pizza and shrimp cocktails in downtown Urbana (whilst a DJ spins?) after your dissolution of marriage http://www.news-gazette.com/news/business/features/its-your-business/2012-02-05/its-your-business-new-pizza-place-downtown-urban Is this a franchise of a Reno pizza joint, or just a coincidence of name? http://www.blackrockpizza.com
Signs someone is “fishing” for a factual anchor: 1. Starts call to radio with: “I’ve been an Illini fan for (XX) years” or “I’m a diehard fan,” as if somehow that unverifiable claim will justify the 5 minutes of B.S. that follows. 2. Makes reference to KenPom…
That’s what she said.
Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.
Love CSR. Apart from making my way through the regular roasts in 1/2 pound increments, I also like to pick up some of the little sample packets of the flavored stuff for when the lady and I feel like getting crazy. Sticky Bun is pretty nice.
If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.
HUUUUUUGE fan of their Black Velvet roast…It makes up about 75% of my coffee intake. LOL CSR is definitely one of those Champaign institutions that I brag about to people not from here. :-)
We like CSR too! We french press at home and I leave the lid off while it steeps—letting the ground beans bloom. Then, like in your tasting, I scoop off the top layer before pressing. We really need to invest in a burr grinder though, as I…
Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha
just confirmed: there will be white russians served. the art abides.
big lebowski at the art. mark it, dude.
There’s a great video promo out for “Company” too: http://vimeo.com/36077847
Wow, His Majesty took the time to answer your polite plea. It’s been a while since I spoke fluent arrogance, but allow this attempt at a translation: “I deeply regret the embarrassment…” = I wish we hadn’t got caught and it wasn’t a big deal really. “...and…
I love the Guitars
I had their tea at the Urbana Farmer’s Market when they first started out and it was great! Their tins recently caught my eye at Walnut Street Tea Company and my guests used it all up before I could even try it! Way to go Tiesta, stay…
Im fine with missing ingredients and of course they fixed things what restaurant fights with the customer over things like that anymore. ( the way social media could affect them) My problem is that I am visiting you place of business within the first week of opening.…
Thanks for that, Louis CK.
Your call to stay pissed is precisely why global warming fanatics will fail. Emotion has no place in hard science. The problem with the issue of global warming is that is has been pumped full of emotion and politics, and the science is becoming a by-product. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204301404577171531838421366.html?KEYWORDS=global+warming
Clearly the Postal Officials in favor of this cannot make an economic argument, as this saves the post office $0. What is their rationale?
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I love the Guitars