Smile Politely is our way of filling a void. Champaign-Urbana has a rich history of creative media that diligently records the output of the community's most talented individuals, and in doing so, becomes a part of the creative process in and of itself. While some still exist in name, they no longer adequately engage our community. Champaign-Urbana needs media that wants to immerse itself in our local culture, not just settle for scratching the surface. This is the void that we see.
So, we created a home for wayward writers looking for a place to expound on what they see around them. Our home is nothing too sophisticated, but we have plenty of space to fill. Collectively, our writers will spotlight creative projects in town. We will discuss ways to improve your quality of life through opportunities and events in our cities. And we will expose the roadblocks thrown out to developing our community.
Smile Politely is run purely as a labor of love. We are not beholden to advertisers. We may work with them in the future, but it will never affect our content. That sort of independence is absent in other local publications and it shows in their coverage of Champaign-Urbana. We pride ourselves on maintaining our independence.
We want to talk about things we think are important. By we, we mean you. All of our writers have been engaged in this community for years. We are the people that organize rock shows. We are the independent artists that fill the galleries. We entertain you, inform you, excite and frustrate you. Chances are you know at least one member of our staff from their day (or night) jobs. Our writers provide a full disclosure of what they do, so you know where our allegiances lie.
Read what we think. If you happen to disagree, let us know. We will listen. And smile politely.
Justine Bursoni
Editor / Writer
Justine Bursoni hails from Chicago. 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 and works as a nanny and at the Orpheum Children's Science Museum.
Seth Fein
Editor / Writer
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.
Joel Gillespie
Editor / Writer
Joel Gillespie grew up in Iowa, went to college in Indiana, and is in the process of moving to 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.
Mason Kessinger
Web Master
Mason has lived in the Champaign-Urbana area for roughly eight years. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois' Graphic Design program and co-owner/founder of Poccuo—a multi-disciplinary collaborative who works across interactive, print, and identity projects with a focus on cultural and non-commercial work. He has been called "half-designer, half-developer and half-geek".
Chris Maier
Editor / Writer
Christopher Maier, a Pennsylvania native, came to Champaign-Urbana five years ago to earn an MFA in creative writing—and he's still here. He's written and edited for magazines, newspapers, trade publications, university presses, literary journals, corporate clients, and family holiday newsletters. At the University of Illinois, he's taught creative writing and composition, and was a founder of the literary/arts magazine Ninth Letter. He appreciates corn fields, but also misses the mountains.
Marissa Monson
Editor / Writer
Marissa Monson recently returned to Champaign-Urbana, where she earned a bachelor's of journalism from University of Illinois in 2004. She freelances fulltime and works parttime at Jane Addams Book Shop to support a serious book-buying habit. She loves hip-hop and soul music. The first album she owned was Janet Jackson's "Control." She never looked back.
Ryan Neaveill
Editor / Writer
Zack Adcock
Writer
Zack Adcock holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Memphis and a B.A. in Literature from the University of Illinois. He is also a freelance writer and a bookseller at Barnes & Noble and, come fall, hopes to hold a teaching position where he purports to mold young minds. Though he lives in the south, he longs to return to the midwest's four-season year, where he will again be able to experience the spring and fall. Until then he tries to stay indoors, in the central heat/air, where the climate remains tolerable enough to write.
Andrew Ang
Writer
Andrew Ang is a freshman at the University of Illinois. He enjoys music, movies, literature, street food, travel, walking, choices and new, spontaneous, radical, experimental, forward-thinking, weird run-on sentences. He also enjoys listing things he likes, to substitute for his lack of credentials.
Richard Anderson
Writer
Coming Soon
Mike Armintrout
Writer
Since 2001 Mike Armintrout has worked as the marketing manager and a talent buyer for Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment at the Canopy Club. He got married to his wife Heather in 2003 and bought a house in Urbana in 2005. Live music and spending time with friends and family are his passions.
Tim Bailey
Writer
Coming Soon
Abram Book
Writer
Abram is a master's student in journalism at the U of I. He is the consummate political junkie whom his friends have called "an encyclopedia of political knowledge." He also has friends who routinely call him "the king of useless information." Take your pick. Abram has volunteered on several political campaigns and has a great passion for helping others understand the political process at all levels. Out of college, he did a year long residency at a quarterly journal in the Chicago suburbs, where he wrote about everything from gambling to churches making mainstream movies. Don't be fooled, however. Politics is his passion.
Pat Brown
Writer
Coming Soon
Emily Carlson
Writer
Coming Soon
Matt Cohn
Writer
Coming Soon
Mike Coulter
Writer
Coming Soon
Caitlin Cremer
Writer
Caitlin Cremer was born and raised in Aurora, Ill. She's a journalism student at the U of I and now calls Champaign-Urbana her home while she calls a trip to Aurora a visit. She doesn't own or operate anything, she hasn't founded all too much either, but she has assisted the music section of the buzz, WPGU music selections and has a personal interest in knowing and listening to local music. Regardless, she most definitely has an opinion about music and likes to think she has some reasons to be trusted on it too.
David Cubberly
Photographer
David Cubberly has lived in Urbana off and on since 1998, pursing two degrees in music composition at the University of Illinois. Having happily finished school for good now, he is glad to call Champaign-Urbana home. David's passion for photography started nearly 10 years ago when he received a very old film camera from his dad. He has been using it ever since to capture the energy and beauty of live music on film. While not pursing this very serious hobby, he works in the audio department at Volition, Inc. and loves every minute of it.
Alisa DeMarco
Writer
Alisa DeMarco lives in Champaign with her husband Jeff and cat Wayne. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in 2001, Alisa spent several years cooking in Austin before returning home to Champaign-Urbana. She is the chef/owner of Big Spoon custom culinary services and is an assistant at Prairie Fruits Farm goat cheese farm in Urbana.
Rachael Dietkus
Writer
Rachael Dietkus, a Danville native, is back in her hometown after years away. She is an activist and musician and has written, recorded and toured with a variety of bands over the past fifteen years. Rachael received her BA in Sociology from the University of Illinois and is currently the director of a not-for-profit focusing on economic development and historic preservation.
Adam Fein
Writer
Adam Fein is an online programs director at the University of Illinois. He holds a BA in Speech Communication and a Masters in Human Resource Development and Learning Technologies. He has spent his entire life living in either Champaign, Urbana or Savoy. Currently residing on the quiet side in Urbana, his first loves are (the inclusive) Jesus, his wife and his son...closely followed by Slowdive, The Chicago Cubs, Old Style beer, and our very own Curtis Orchard.. He does not love bigotry, licorice, or vomiting.
Scott Frankel
Writer
Scott Frankel is a senior in journalism and cinema at the University of Illinois. He works as a film reviewer for Buzz Magazine and as an opinion writer for College News. Scott was a former Champaign-Urbana beat reporter, writing features about the organic food industry. He has written a number of screenplays and short stories, and is in the post-production stages of a documentary about religion on a college campus. Scott encourages you to visit his weblog, thehotpop.com.
William Gillespie and C.D. Scoggins
Writer
William Gillespie and C.D. Scoggins live in Urbana and edit the rock scholarship website Rock Geek Chic.
Thomas Gould
Writer
Thomas Gould grew up in a house, near a farm, by a creek, on an August day in 1979. He attended a parochial grade school and a public high school before attending U of I in 1998. He graduated in 2002 with an English degree and no future prospects for employment. He went "on the lam" for four years and then positioned himself back in Champaign-Urbana with a job in the transportation industry. After the winter solstice of 2005, he landed a career in human resources as a recruiter. He currently resides in Urbana, IL and is intent on adapting to the recyclable, arboresque paradigm set forth by its municipality.
Tommy Griscom
Writer
Tommy moved to Champaign-Urbana from Louisville, KY in 1997. He briefly studied German at the University of Illinois before realizing he didn't like sauerkraut. He delivers buckets of sheep brains at the Parkland Instruction Materials Center, runs shows at the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, sits on couches at the Nicodemus Agency, and runs the local promoting group bleebloop.
Tim Hayden
Writer
Civil servant by day, record store clerk at night. Music lover, bird enthusiast and avid bike rider. Regular library patron. Performed the music of John Cage with The Chance Operation Collective of Kalamazoo. Hopes to get accepted to grad school before he retires. Tim also likes to eat food.
Matt Harshbarger
Videographer
Coming Soon
Doug Hoepker
Writer
A proven winner with ice water in his veins, Doug Hoepker writes with a reckless abandon that clearly shows off his killer instinct and nose for the ball. This is one consummate pro, a real throwback, who is finally getting his due as the best player you’ve never heard of.When not watching sports, editing sports non-fiction, or recycling sports clichés, Hoepker enjoys writing about music. He is a semi-retired rock and roll DJ (The Noiseboy) and a former music editor at The Octopus and CU Cityview.
Liz Jackson
Writer
Raised on the Oregon coast, Liz Jackson wandered all over the Americas, Europe, and North Africa before moving to Urbana. She is currently writing her dissertation on how Islam is represented by U.S. media and public schools and applying for tenure-track positions in educational policy and global studies. By writing for Smile Politely she can avoid this work while also rationalizing her fear of grocery shopping and food preparation. When not hovered over her Macbook you can find her running or at the Brass Rail.
Brian Kagel
Writer
Born and raised in Bloomington, Ill., Brian has been coming to the Champaign-Urbana area for concerts since high school. He now lives in Champaign, goes to school at the University of Illinois where he studies English and Creative Writing. Brian works at the Spurlock Museum moving artifacts. He loves listening to music, going to shows, playing music, writing, reading, and arguing, so this blog was the perfect project for him.
Chuck Koplinski
Writer
Chuck Koplinski was born and raised in Kankakee before setting out for the windy city where he studied film at Columbia College and earned an education degree at University of Illinois-Chicago. Having moved to Champaign-Urbana 17 years ago, Koplinski has been spouting off about film in the area's various local independent newspapers for the last 12 years. Completely confused as to why Caddyshack and Fargo are held in high regard but confident that Judge Dredd and Big Trouble in Little China are films that time will reveal to be classics, he's forever in his father's debt for having introduced him to the cinema of the 1930s and '40s.
Samantha Lee
Writer
Samantha Lee is currently a media studies undergrad at the University of Illinois. By the end of summer, she will have completed an epic road trip out to the Badlands, Redwoods and Yosemite. She's become a master at making potstickers, macaroni bake and kimbap. She is also currently working on delicious veggie sandwich ideas that she'll sell for 11 dollars a piece. If her sandwiches can't support her, she'll plan on working in media reform and fight the good fight against the man.
Suzanne Lewandowski
Writer
Coming Soon
Theo Long
Writer
Theo Long grew up in Jacksonville, Illinois and was attacked by a dog in the sixth grade; the assailant managed to remove some flesh from his rear end. He moved past this tragic event and eventually moved on to the University of Illinois. He graduated in 2002 with a degree in English. He spent some time in Chicago and Indianapolis before returning to Urbana. He currently works full time and plays drums for Lucky Mulholland.
David Longwell
Writer
Coming Soon
Rose Marshack
Writer
Rose Marshack moved to Champaign in 1983 and frequently vows never to leave. She graduated University of Illinois with some degrees in Computer Science and New Media, taking a break in between to spend a decade (or two) performing in the bands Poster Children and Salaryman. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Music and Arts Technology at Illinois State University. She also teaches tae kwon do at the Urbana Park District, and is currently obsessed with capoeira. Rose blogs at www.whyamistillawake.com.
Patrick McCarthy
Writer
Pat McCarthy is a sophomore advertising student at the University of Illinois who spends his spare time cultivating neuroses. He lives in Urbana but finds few reasons to leave his apartment. His overinflated sense of self-worth gives him the confidence to offend each and every person he meets. He is ultimately harmless though and can be easily vanquished by commenting on his giant nose.
Rob McColley
Writer
Rob McColley spent his formative years under an 8' 7" hoop on the playground of Leal School. He's an attorney, a musician, a bartender, a bike rider, a Discworld enthusiast, a whisky snob, a jogger, a hamster's parent and Heather's chef.
Ryan McComas
Writer
Coming Soon
Justin McLeod
Writer
Coming Soon
Logan Moore
Writer
Logan Moore has deep, tangled and inextricable roots in the Champaign-Urbana community. This music writing gig provides him an opportunity to procrastinate on his master’s degree in library and information science at the University of Illinois.
Edward Moses
Writer
Edward Moses, the "Nerd King" and a Chicago south side native, has been rocking stages with his infectious, verbose brand of hip-hop since the age of 14. Having found himself comfortably trapped in Champaign-Urbana for the past five years pursuing degrees, he's managed to increase his music and sneaker collection enough times to make moving back home an adventure each time. A subcultural mutt by nature, he finds himself crawling under the bright lights of Downtown Champaign and rocking shows. C-U Local Music Award Winner Agent Mos only resigns himself to schoolwork when he knows that he'll fall asleep face-first in the folds of the book.
Ellyn Newell
Writer
Elly is your average southside of Chicago girl. She is a sophomore at the University of Illinois majoring in journalism. She also writes for the newsworthy Booze News. She enjoys witty banter, anything sarcastic, awkward moments and a good nap.
Jamie Newell
Writer
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 three years. Jamie loves to road trip, is a huge horse racing fan, and considers John Steinbeck a god.
Brock Peoples
Writer
After earning his B.A. in English literature and professional writing from Millikin University in 2003, Brock Peoples spent some time in the north woods of Wisconsin before returning to his hometown, C-U. He now lives with his wife and son in Savoy, working as a freelance writer and editor. Brock also edits Riverbed Haiku. A beer snob and bicycle commuter, he spends as much time as possible outdoors cursing those who litter trails with empty cans for all their poor choices.
Brian Reed
Writer
Brian Reed was born on the south side of Chicago and currently resides in a dainty little apartment next to that wretched bar known as Station. He enjoys tapping his foot to a good tune and is proud of his overly-obvious and bland sense of humor. He, like John Lennon, also believes the Beatles were bigger than Jesus.
Pat Schmitz
Photographer
Pat Schmitz was born and bred in Central Illinois. An avid cyclist, you may see Pat on the road commuting to work or riding a goofy bike, just give him room (chopper-tall bikes are prone to crashes). He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Plant Biology and foresees a newfound, healthy and rewarding relationship with Champaign-Urbana.
Dan Schreiber
Writer
Dan Schreiber arrived in C-U in 1990, allegedly only to stay until his wife finished graduate school. He is still here, quite willingly, and has worked at Spyglass and SourceGear (the latter as a partner). He has recently left the software industry to pursue freelance writing, sometimes as a Minor Mennonite. He worries that he is not making adequate progress in his attempts to convince people that war is bad and violence is wrong.
Adam Scott
Writer
Before Adam Scott came to the Champaign-Urbana area, he went to film school and worked on such memorable projects as Super Sucker, 13 Conversations About One Thing, and Strangers with Candy. He grew up in California and currently teaches English at Parkland College. He is working on a novel about the 1000th suicide off the Golden Gate Bridge.
Lena Singer
Writer
Lena Singer was raised on a farm in Central Illinois. She went to journalism school in Champaign, was an editor in Chicago for a couple years, then came back to Champaign for more school. Now she writes and edits here. She plays records once a week (at Mike 'n' Molly's) and hosts a trivia night once a month (also at Mike 'n' Molly's). She loves food, periodicals, pop music, and ABBA; separately or together, always with complete seriousness.
Jaclyn Smith
Writer
Coming Soon
Jake Thomas
Writer
Coming Soon
Sam Vandegrift
Writer
Samuel Vandegrift began loving the smell of wine while visiting a winery with his sister's Girl Scout Troop at the age of 6. That aroma stayed with him, and he started working in bottle shops while attending university. Many years and thousands of bottles later, he still looks for the next unique wine find. Other interests include growing Heirloom vegetables, political ranting and perfecting his pie baking. He hopes to never need to move from Urbana.
Carlye Wisel
Writer
Carlye Wisel is a University of Illinois student and the former music editor of Buzz Weekly who currently runs In The Aeroplane, Over UC, a local music blog. As a music snob who loves bluegrass-folk bands and anything edible, she'd refer to herself as a foodie if she didn't view the term as an adult, chic way of calling herself a chubster. Regardless, when she's not relentlessly making fun of people on her blog Awkward City, Population 1 or writing for a variety of publications, she's most likely reading fashion blogs or eating a wheel of brie by herself.
Paul Young
Writer
Paul Young is a townie who graduated from the University of Illinois twice: once with a bachelors in graphic design and then again with a masters in education. Paul has been a foodie all his life (even though he didn't know what a foodie was until recently). He has eaten his way through New York City (eight years) and Milwaukee (two years), but has finally settled down here in Champaign-Urbana (since 1994). When he's not eating, he is either doing graphic design or teaching at Parkland College in order to earn money to buy food. In a former life, Paul was the founder and publisher of The Octopus, a weekly newspaper where he wrote about food every now and then.
