Smile Politely

06/09/2025

This week we learned that Arden Cho, the voice of Rumi in the Netflix hit KPop Demon Hunters, is a University of Illinois alumna. If you’re asking yourself “What in the demon hunting what?” then you should really take 90 minutes to go watch this animated movie.

This week I learned that Arden Cho, the voice of Rumi in the Netflix hit KPop Demon Hunters, is a University of Illinois alumna. If you’re asking yourself “What in the demon hunting what?” then you ...

05/09/2025

With this production, Heartland reemphasizes its commitment to presenting challenging works to the audiences of Central Illinois and executing them at an incredibly high level.

Like most two-person plays, the plot of David Ives’s Venus in Fur can be summarized fairly quickly. It portrays the intricate interplay between a director, Thomas Novachek, and an actor, Vanda Jordan, during an impromptu ...

05/09/2025

United Way of Champaign County's fifth annual Run to Remember, a five mile run and 5K run/walk, is taking place on October 4th at Crystal Lake Park.

The fifth annual Run to Remember, a five mile run and 5K run/walk, is taking place on October 4th at Crystal Lake Park. The memorial race will benefit the United Way of Champaign County and ...

05/09/2025

First opened in 2018, the casual eatery will no longer serve customers for dine-in after the Campustown location closure, but the food truck called Four American Grill will continue to operate in the area.

Four Breakfast & More restaurant on Green Street has closed permanently. First opened in 2018, the casual eatery will no longer serve customers for dine-in after the Campustown location closure, but the food truck called ...

04/09/2025

Black Dog Smoke & Ale House Champaign is temporarily closed after a fire earlier this week. Black Dog’s newly reopened original Urbana location remains open serving the legendary barbecue.

Black Dog Smoke & Ale House’s Champaign location is temporarily closed after a fire earlier this week. Black Dog’s newly reopened original Urbana location remains open serving the legendary barbecue five days a week. The ...

04/09/2025

Sweet, tart, and spicy, this drink at Gallery.artbar was amazing.

With Labor Day, this week was a short week, and I don’t know, everything felt off. I thought Tuesday was Monday for far too long and yet somehow it’s still not Friday yet? Golly, I ...

04/09/2025

Though soon we’ll see the end of tomato season, this month brings fresh-picked local apples and winter squash galore, plus even more seasonal produce and pastries.

This month marks the second to last month of Champaign-Urbana’s outdoor farmers market seas (before market moves inside the mall for The Land Connection’s winter farmers market starting in November). In September, there’s still lots ...

04/09/2025

Another gorgeous weekend encourages you to get out and explore the area through live music, food, drinks, and brooms. (Yes, brooms.)

04/09/2025

The Children's Discovery Museum, Normal, IL is hosting its 21st annual Day of Play, which includes touch-a-truck, STEAM activities, a giant sandbox, and more.

The Children’s Discovery Museum is hosting its 21st annual Day of Play Event on Saturday, September 27th. Attendees can enjoy the free event and/or reduced admission for after the event. Activities include a touch-a-truck, STEAM ...

04/09/2025

Krannert Art Museum is now over half a century old, but Thursday proved that it is not fixed in time.

The first thing I noticed last Thursday evening at Krannert Art Museum was the crowd. Students were still meandering about after campus move-in, retirees attended with decades of openings under their belts, brand new faculty ...

04/09/2025

Local saxophonist Dr. Reginald “Reggie” Lewis released his first jazz album last week.

Local saxophonist Dr. Reginald “Reggie” Lewis released his first jazz album last week. Featuring Lewis on tenor and alto sax, Echoes of Cherry Street also features Derrick Gardner on trumpet, Jeremiah St. John on trombone, ...

04/09/2025

You can join the Spurlock Museum of World Cultures Book Club, taking place this month at The Literary.

Wow, I love both those things: museums and indie bookstores. If you do, too, then you can join the Spurlock Museum Book Club taking place this month. And if you’re one of the lucky first ...