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Get some free breakfast on Tuesday

Posted in SPLOG to Photo by Joel Gillespie on Friday, January 20, 2012 at 12:13 pm

Smile Politely would like to be your go-to source for free food information in Champaign-Urbana. If you hear about free food being available, shoot us an email at info@smilepolitely.com.

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Illini make front page of a section of US’s 15th-best sports website

Posted in SPLOG to Photo by Joel Gillespie on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 10:07 am

Well, not the actual front page of cbssports.com (it is a Wednesday in January, after all), but the front page of the college basketball section. Check out the clever headline:

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Pitchfork shows one of our own some love

Posted in SPLOG to Photo by Tracy Nectoux on Saturday, December 24, 2011 at 9:17 am

Guess who took that photo. And guess whose hand that is.

Oh, and there's some other stuff about Bon Iver.

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ESPN has no idea where Champaign, Ill. is located

Posted in SPLOG to Photo by Seth Fein on Friday, December 23, 2011 at 2:40 pm

Now that Urbana-native Tommy Craggs is running the show at Deadspin, we can be sure that our little burg will get more attention than usual from the infamous sports magazine.

http://deadspin.com/5870772/espn-really-doesnt-know-where-champaign-ill-is

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Merry Treasures DIY holiday bazaar

Posted in SPLOG to Photo by theideastore on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 9:47 am

Here's your chance to not only shop local and buy handmade holiday gifts, but to buy from local artists and crafters who create items from recycled, reused, and repurposed materials.

The inaugural edition of the Merry Treasures DIY holiday bazaar will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Dec. 10 at The I.D.E.A. Store, 28 E. Springfield Ave., Champaign. The bazaar will feature one-of-a-kind stocking stuffers and other wee gifts, both practical and whimsical.

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Doodles to offer FREE food on Thursday to celebrate Year 1

Posted in SPLOG to Photo by Seth Fein on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 4:01 pm

To celebrate a year of dishing up the best ramen noodles south of Chicago, owner Shai Mauth (who also owns Xinh Xinh Cafe) has informed us that Doodles on John St. in Campustown, will be offering the humans who enter the doors FREE food from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday December 1. 

Some fine print for ya:

Limit 1 per customer; Toppings and add ons will be extra.

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Tiny review: Merry Ann’s taco salad

Posted in SPLOG to Photo by Joel Gillespie on Monday, November 14, 2011 at 3:30 pm

When I was a kid, my family used to occasionally splurge on the ultra-authentic Mexican food of Mrs. Lady's restaurant in Okoboji, Iowa (it's still there, and still getting mediocre reviews!). They had an Insane Taco on the menu, which was actually a huge taco salad. It was in no way insane, but I loved it anyway, mainly because most of my childhood was spent trying to eat way more food than I should have.

In the spirit of nostalgia, I ordered the taco salad at Merry Ann's in Urbana last night, and it was pretty good, honestly. (Although, in a twist, I settled on the taco salad because the Railsplitter seemed like it would have been too much food.) The shell was freshly-fried, crunchy, and still warm. The iceberg lettuce was crisp, the ground beef was flavorful, and the cup of pickled peppers on the side added a nice kick. I'd recommend it, although in retrospect, I wish I would have got a slice of pie, too.

Photo by Seth Fein

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Tonight, Urbana-Champaign’s a drag queen.

Posted in SPLOG to Photo by Justine Fein-Bursoni on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 9:16 pm

Singer Urbana-Champaign (played by Shangela) debuts on NBC's Community tonight. Can you feel Pierce Hawthorne's (Chevy Chase) enthusiasm? Read more here.

Photo taken from aoltv.com by NBC.

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Bruce Weber gets a pay raise

Posted in SPLOG to Photo by Rob McColley on Friday, October 28, 2011 at 10:06 am

... an additional $200,000 per year, bumping his salary to $1.5 M

If any of you feels capable of guiding the Illini basketball team to no more than 14 losses per season, and is willing to do it for less than a million  ...

Oh, never mind.

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RIP Terry Masar of Nature’s Table, and so much more…

Posted in SPLOG to Photo by Seth Fein on Monday, October 24, 2011 at 9:10 am

There's not much information out there, but I learned this morning that Terry Masar has passed away.

On a personal note, Terry represented Urbana so well, as a venue owner in Nature's Table — the last true jazz and blues club that C-U had all to its own — and then again as a restaurateur, at Sweet Betsy's.

He was a wonderful man, and a great friend to myself, my family and so many, many others. He leaves behind a wondeful family, with so much talent, one could compare them to the Royal Tenenbaums.

And goddamnit if he didn't make the best cinnamon rolls and sandwiches in town for a very long time; I'd do anything for one of his massive Gondolette hoagies right now.

In 2007, Paul Young did a small feature on him for Smile Politely when he was running the deli at Sunsinger Wine and Spirits.

Our best wishes go out to the Masar family. He brought to life so many people, and his legacy will live on, for years and years to come.

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JPSherrill avatar

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

Posted by JPSherrill to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/06/12.
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Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.

Posted by Ryan to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/04/12.
Rob McColley avatar

If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.

Posted by Rob McColley to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/03/12.
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Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha

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So it is.

Posted by Caleb Curtiss to the entry 'Illini District Dental Society providing free cleanings, exams for kids on 01/30/12.
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It’s on Saturday, B.

Posted by Mike Ingram to the entry 'Illini District Dental Society providing free cleanings, exams for kids on 01/30/12.
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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…

Posted by Q-Tips to the entry 'C-U listed as #4 in "5 American Cities Nearly Destroyed by the Recession" on 01/30/12.
Doug Hoepker avatar

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).

Posted by Doug Hoepker to the entry 'C-U listed as #4 in "5 American Cities Nearly Destroyed by the Recession" on 01/28/12.
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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…

Posted by stuart to the entry 'C-U listed as #4 in "5 American Cities Nearly Destroyed by the Recession" on 01/28/12.
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Ummm, that seems like a ___________stretch___.

Posted by Doug Hoepker to the entry 'C-U listed as #4 in "5 American Cities Nearly Destroyed by the Recession" on 01/28/12.

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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.

By Brian to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/06/12.
JPSherrill avatar

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

By JPSherrill to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/06/12.
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That’s what she said.

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Black dog and Siam terrace is where I always go after my divorces.

By Ryan to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/04/12.
Mike Ingram avatar

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.

By Mike Ingram to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/04/12.
Rob McColley avatar

If you happen to be getting a divorce, or fighting a DUI prosecution, downtown Urbana is a great place to eat.

By Rob McColley to the entry 'More C-U restaurants come and go on 02/03/12.
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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. :-)

By Mertz to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/03/12.
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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…

By Kirstin to the entry 'Columbia Street Roastery blends with the best on 02/03/12.
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Confidential? In this state? Hahahahahahahhahahaha

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big lebowski at the art. mark it, dude.

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I love the Guitars

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Thanks for that, Louis CK.

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