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Today on SP Radio: Your audio guide to new C-U restaurants
Today on SP Radio, we are joined by Smile Politely food writers Susanna Kline and Seth Fein. They will talk about the ever changing landscape for local cuisine. We’ll be discussing the emergence of new options in Champaign’s North West downtown area (NOWEDO*), Meatheads, Maize, the rotating restaurants in Southwest Champaign, and those that have moved on including Kennedy’s, Jim Gould’s and more. We'll also ask Seth and Susanna what they look for in a restaurant and what standards they use for evaluation.
Tune in today at 5:30 p.m. on 90.1 FM or WEFT.org.
*I am officially trademarking this term.
| Today on SP Radio: Drew Phillips from Big Bluestem Band
Today on SP Radio we'll have Drew Phillips from Big Bluestem Band. We will discuss the band, it's musical repetoire and the local string band music scene. Plus we'll probably play some actual music!
Big Bluestem will be playing a special show with Ol' 97, Strings Attached and Black Ridge Road on Sunday, January 29 at 5 p.m. at The Iron Post. There will also be drawings and prizes. The donation is $10 with all proceeds benefit WEFT.
Smile Politely Radio airs locally on WEFT 90.1 FM Fridays at 5:30 p.m. The podcast is available on the website and iTunes the following Tuesday.
Today on SP Radio: Ward Gollings and The Great Cover Up
Today on Smile Politely Radio, we are joined by local concert booker Ward Gallings. He will be in studio to discuss the 2012 edition of the Great Cover Up, which is celebrating its 21st year this week. For those of you who are unaware, the Great Cover Up is an annual concert where local bands play sets covering famous national and international acts.
We’ll also talk to Ward about his role as a local concert promoter and how that role has evolved over the years.
For more information about the history of the Great Cover Up, be sure to read this piece.
Smile Politely Radio airs locally on WEFT 90.1 FM Fridays at 5:30 p.m. The podcast is available on the website and iTunes the following Tuesday.
Today on SP Radio: The cast and director of Gruesome Playground Injuries
Tonight on Smile Politely Radio, we chat with the director and actors from the upcoming show Gruesome Playground Injuries at the Station Theatre in Urbana. Mathew Green, Katie Baldwin, and Rob Zaleski offer up some insights on local theater, the 40th anniversary of the Celebration Company at the Station Theatre, and what it's like to work literally within arm's reach of an audience. The conversation was so good we had it twice (due to a recording error by your relatively incompetent host). Regardless, listen in tonight and look for the podcast version on Tuesday.
Smile Politely Radio airs locally on WEFT 90.1 FM in Champaign, Fridays at 5:30 p.m. The podcast is available on the website and iTunes the following Tuesday.
Today on Smile Politely Radio: Our Annual Local Music Year in Review Extravaganza
Tonight on Smile Politely Radio, we're doing our annual Local Music Year in Review. It will be an extra long 2 1/2 hour show featuring appearances by New Ruins, Easter and Mean Lids and possibly others! Plus, we'll play as many of SP's Top 20 Songs of the year as we can fit and talk about the year that was in Champaign-Urbana with SP Music Editor Ben Valocchi.
Smile Politely Radio airs locally on WEFT 90.1 FM in Champaign, Fridays at 5:30 p.m. The podcast is available on the website and iTunes the following Tuesday.
Today on SP Radio: Parasol Records
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 Saturday, December 17. We'll recollect all the good times and talk about the future of the label side of the biz (which will still be going strong) today with Jim Kelly, Parasol’s label manager/PR specialist/jack-of-all trades. He joins us in the studio to discuss the reasons for the change in operations, its impact on local and national music distribution, and everything the business has meant to him and to the community over the years.
The store is currently offering steep discounts on merchandise and will be hosting a Whimper vs. Bang concert next Saturday from noon until 3 p.m.
Smile Politely Radio airs locally on WEFT 90.1 FM in Champaign, Fridays at 5:30 p.m. The podcast is available on the website and iTunes the following Tuesday.
Today on SP Radio: Stories, beer and the holidays
Today on Smile Politely Radio, authors Jason Wild and Laura Adamczyk join us to discuss the last Stories & Beer of the year, taking place this Saturday (Dec. 3rd) at The Iron Post in Urbana. We'll talk fiction, poetry, and favorite holiday stories (real, imagined, and all points in between). Family names and embarrassing holiday moments may or may not be changed to protect the innocent.
Smile Politely Radio airs locally on WEFT 90.1 FM in Champaign, Fridays at 5:30 p.m. The podcast is available on the website and iTunes the following Tuesday.
Today on SP Radio: Midstress
Today on SP Radio, we welcome Midstress, the local punk rock group formerly known as the Fresh Kills. We’ll talk about the group’s brand new album, Growing Up is Getting Old, which will officially be released on December 6, but is currently streaming on the band's Bandcamp page. Also, we’ll touch on the brand new C-U Collective, the band's upcoming Japan benefit show with Take Care and Common Loon, and how you go about changing your band name while keeping your fans.
Be sure to tune in to 90.1 FM or weft.org at 5:30 p.m.
Today on SP Radio: Architecture as an agent of change
Today on SP Radio, 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 on the show to talk about some of the latest developments in sustainable building practices, and how you can make a difference in the world one building at a time
Tune in to 90.1 FM or weft.org at 5:30 p.m.
Today on SP Radio: The Miller article and SP’s role in the local media
On today’s show we’re going to take a look at Smile Politely and its role in the local media landscape. The impetus for this conversation is the recent article we published on Calvin Miller, which drew a lot of local attention and commentary. Many of the accounts in that article have been discredited by the recent release of the police video, but does that mean we should not have published it? We're going to take a look inside the process. And instead of focusing on this one issue though, we are going to open up to a larger conversation about what SP does and how it compares to traditional journalism and other local outlets.
In addition to SP editors Caleb Curtis and Joel Gillespie, we will be joined by Eric Bussell, who is the founder of HalfwayInteresting.com. Eric is also a frequent commenter on Smile Politely, including many about the Miller piece.
Lisen live at 5:30 p.m. on WEFT.org or 90.1 FM.
As of todayish, we have officially had this radio gig for a year. So if you’re reading this, you’re invited to come help us celebrate from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Mike n’ Molly’s. There will be cake.
Most Recent SPlog Comments
Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.
If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.
Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha
So it is.
It’s on Saturday, B.
Anyone who reads the article with an open mind and who knows what has happened to C-U in the last few years would know the conclusion is not a stretch. It’s very true. Sensible people looking for a future outside attending dull Illini games, eating mediocre, over-priced…
Stuart, my reason for leaving C-U had nothing to do with my ability to maintain employment. (I actually still work for my C-U-based employer).
And you live and work where, Doug? But seriously, the yahoo (in both senses) headline of “destroyed” is ridiculous, but the data is not. Despite some disagreement with a previous comment of mine, it really is a one industry town, and when it dips the whole place…
Ummm, that seems like a ___________stretch___.
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Most Recent Comments
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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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