FRIDAY, October 10th
Make a reservation for Oktoberfest at Bayern Stube, 209 N Sangamon Ave, Gibson City, open 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m., 217-784-8304
Bayern Stube serves some really, really good German food. Ok, so you probably won’t be able to get a reservation for this weekend, but you should definitely call ASAP so that you can make a reservation for a time in the next two weekends, as the Oktoberfest celebrations only go through October 25. Here’s what Bayern Stube is offering on Friday and Saturday nights: “beer basted Pork Shanks, Beef Rouladen, Oktoberfest Sampler Platter, Oktoberfest Beer and a good time! 3 piece band on Friday and Saturday! Reservations required, we sell out fast call today!! 784-8304. Not accepting parties bigger than 10.” Photo from Facebook. (JH)
Immersed in Ink Tattoo Arts & Horror Festival, Fluid Events Center, $20-35
The Fluid Events Center is hosting a tattoo and horror expo all weekend. The show is a celebration of pop culture in tattoo arts and films and features some of the hottest tattoo artists from all over the US. Admission is $20/day or $35 for a weekend pass. (RP)
Leading Ladies, Parkland College Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
Another fast-paced farce from the mind of Ken Ludwig (playwright of Lend Me a Tenor and Moon Over Buffalo), this comic offering is directed by Sandra Zielinski and features a mix of student and community actors. From the Parkland website: “Two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, find themselves so down on their luck that they are performing Scenes from Shakespeare on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. When they hear that an old lady in York, PA is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost English nephews, they resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. The trouble is, when they get to York, they find out that the relatives aren’t nephews, but nieces! Romantic entanglements abound, especially when Leo falls head-over-petticoat in love with the old lady’s vivacious niece, Meg, who’s engaged to the local minister. Meg knows that there’s a wide world out there, but it’s not until she meets ‘Maxine and Stephanie’ that she finally gets a taste of it.” (MG)
A Kid Like Jake, The Station Theatre, 8 p.m.
Directed by Smile Politely’s own Katie Baldwin Prosise, A Kid Like Jake tells the story of an affluent New York couple and their hellish struggle to get their four-year-old into a prestigious preschool. As if this weren’t a dicey enough situation, there is another factor complicating matters: the fact that Jake has a penchant for dressing like Cinderella. Written by Daniel Pearle and acted by the impressive cast of Lindsey Gates-Markel, Mike Prosise, Kay Bohannon Holley, and Stefanie Senior, this is the first production of the Station’s 43rd season. (MG)
SATURDAY, October 11th
Biennial Conference Peer Support Groups: Access and Community for People Living with Challenges and Disabilities, Carle Forum, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Price varies
- $50 Professionals
- $10 CEU processing of 7 credits
- $30 Support group members and lay audience
- $15 Students
- Scholarship assistance is available – please call Self-Help Center to discuss
- $5 additional late fee for registration after October 4th
The purpose of the conference is to share stories and experiences of personal change and community through participation in support groups. The intended audience are facilitators and members of peer support groups, professionals working with or interested in peer support groups, ministers and pastoral staff, nurses, students in human service or health professions, and the general public. You may register at the door. Find more information by clicking here. (SL)
Salvation Army 125th Anniversary Community Celebration, Salvation Army Red Shield Center, 2212 N. Market S, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., free
There will be bounce house, balloons and other activities for kids; display booths, special guests, and tours of the facilities including the mobile canteen truck. To eat there will be free hot dogs with cake and punch while it lasts. Go check it out! (SL)
Second Annual C-U Oktoberfest, Washington & Neil, Downtown Champaign, 3 p.m. to midnight, $5 entry, food and beer prices vary
The second C-U Oktoberfest is happening this Saturday, and the event is looking even better than last year’s. The event benefits the Developmental Services Center; I encourage you to go support a good cause. This year you can get beer from The Bling Pig, JT Walker’s, and Triptych (our local Holy Trinity of breweries), and grab some Essen from White Horse Inn, Chester’s BBQ, and Destihl. Oh, and there will be plenty of polka. (JH)
Marshall Crenshaw, The Thin Souls, The Highdive, $20, 7:30 p.m.
For those of you more interested in a different style of rock ‘n roll music that might be skipping out on Grandkids down the street, here’s one for you this weekend at The Highdive. Jeff provided us with a pretty great rundown of Crenshaw and why you should be interested in going to the show. Check that out, and head over there for a bit if you’re into it. (PS)
Grandkids, DRGN KING, Red Frances, Ryan Groff, Mike ‘N Molly’s, $7, 9 p.m.
Plenty going on at this show to make it worth your while this weekend to spend time at Mike ‘N Molly’s. Grandkids make a trip back to C-U, which is always a wonderful thing. Even though they aren’t local anymore, they still hold a place in our hearts. This is one of many great shows around town this week, so it is my recommendation for you, Weekenders. (PS)
SUNDAY, October 12th
Screening of Unfreedom: Latino Immigrants in a Midwestern Town, Channing Murray Foundation, 1209 Oregon, Urbana, 2-4 p.m., free
Part of the UU Social Justice Film Screening Series, this screening features the documentary UNFREEDOM: Latino Immigrants in a Midwestern Town, which was filmed in both Bloomington, Indiana and Mexico City. The film registers personal and family experiences of people related to Latin America, who live their daily lives in the Land of Freedom, ironically without full freedom (RP)
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All event information is accurate to the best of our abilities, but sometimes we make mistakes and sometimes event information, times, prices, etc., change after we look them up. Whenever possible, we’ve provided a link to the original event page; you should always double-check the source before you make any firm plans. Thanks for your understanding.