FRIDAY, APRIL 18
Take out from Thara Thai, 912 W Bloomington Rd, Champaign, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Spring is dragging ass to get here, and even though we are all aching for warm weather and grilled food, savor the damp chill of early spring with some spicy Thai food. Call ahead for take-out (217/378-1986). Find your person (or furry creature) and snuggle on the couch while watching a movie. It’ll be super romantic until your heartburn kicks in. [Pad Thai with tofu (spicy number 3 or 4) pictured here.] (JH)
Opening Reception for Between the States + (Re)Reticulation, Figure One, 5-8 p.m., free
Figure One will be hosting two art exhibits, both which begin tonight. Graduating BFA candidates will be presenting their work, using and exploring different media. (JK)
Monty Python’s Spamalot, Parkland College Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
From the mind of Eric Idle (and a few others) comes this rollicking good time of a musical, featuring beloved comedy bits from one of the funniest films ever made. Join King Arthur, his right-hand man Patsy, the Knights of the Round Table, and… The Laker Girls as they thoroughly celebrate and send up the history of Britain. Director Dallas Street has a top-notch cast, and this will surely be a hot ticket. Go forth and enjoy. (MG)
C.O.P.E., Error Records, 8 p.m., $2
Jeff Denight’s one man show gives us a glimpse of a damaged young man, Jeremy, trying to cope with his haunting past. Years after his own traumatic experience at bereavement camp, Jeremy returns to camp, this time as a counselor. Through personal anecdotes and horror movie trivia, Jeremy confronts the monsters of his past while preparing his campers for horrors we find lurking in the forests of our future.
Contains strong adult content, including triggers for assault survivors. This impressive piece runs roughly 45 minutes. Doors at Error Records open at 7:30 p.m., show at 8 p.m. (KP)
SATURDAY, APRIL 19
Record Store Day, Exile on Main Street, Error Records, Record Swap, all day starting at 7 a.m.
It’s that time of the year again, C-U. Record Store Day is back again, and we have plenty of options here to fill your entire Saturday with live music and adding to your record collection if you’re up for it. Plenty of live music will be going down at Exile on Main Street and Error Records, so check out those links for the full schedule of what’s happening. Don’t forget about local mainstay Record Swap, as this is a day to support all local independent record stores. Have at it, people. (PS)
Last Middle Market of the season, Lincoln Square Mall, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
It’s the last Middle Market, which means in just a few short weeks Urbana’s Market at the Square will open (May 3rd), and warmer weather is closer. Stop by the last Middle Market for all sorts of locally made and produced items including honey, dog biscuits, dried wreaths, and baked goods. (JH)
Look at daffodils, your neighborhood, a sunny hour, free
The April frost didn’t manage to wipe out all the early blooms, so take advantage of the occasional sunshine we’re supposed to have on Saturday by checking out what’s growing in your neighbors’ yards. The best way to go about this is through walking around. If you need a destination, the neighborhoods near Carle Park in Urbana or Westside Park in Champaign are quite lovely at the moment. (RP)
Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, Krannert Art Museum, 5-7 p.m., free
Join in celebrating the opening of the annual Master of Fine Arts Exhibition at Krannert Art Museum. This event is hosted by the School of Art + Design and includes a cash bar provided by Corkscrew Wine Emporium. (RP)
Much Ado About Nothing, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m.
Full of scintillating wit, brimming with great character humor, and equipped with a psychologically rich plot, Much Ado About Nothing provides stimulus for a new look at the age-old battle of the sexes through the viewpoints of Beatrice and Benedick — one of Shakespeare’s most famous couples. The rich tapestry of the play includes a wonderful, broad comic quartet of buffoons with Illinois Theatre faculty member Robert G. Anderson playing Dogberry, master of malaprops. The production concentrates on the joyful, sensual Italian countryside, where fathers treat the community to feasts of all sorts and the youthful lovers push all boundaries of vivacious, celebratory living! Plus, go behind the scenes of the production at Dessert and Conversation at 6:30 p.m. (MG)
SUNDAY, APRIL 20
Sunday Brunch, Milo’s Restaurant, The Pines in Urbana, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Brioche French toast by Milo’s Restaurant.
If you’ve never experienced the brunch at Milo’s, do yourself a favor and try it out. Try regular menu items like black beans and eggs, eggs Benedict, and smoked salmon and goat cheese bruschetta. I personally recommend the Jane’s chicken salad sandwich, and don’t forget to try some of that apple wood smoked bacon. As this Sunday is Easter, I highly recommend making a reservation — (217) 344-8946. (KP)
#TheEvergreenExperience, Mike ‘N Molly’s, 9 p.m., $7
A handful of really great emcees will be taking the stage for this Sunday show this weekend. Makes sense, for 4/20 and all, but make sure you do your extracirricular business away from the establishment, kids. Don’t give anyone problems at Mike ‘N Molly’s. TheGr8Thinkaz are joined by Roy French, Nxffie, and OG. Hopefully the weather is nice enough on Sunday where you can hang out in the beer garden for a while in the afternoon, then make your way inside for some good hip-hop. (PS)
Spoonboy, Kamila Glowacki, Tim Reynolds, Self Proclaimed Narcissist, Error Records, 7 p.m., $5
Acoustic singer Spoonboy (Plan-it-X Records), will be playing a show with local musicians (Kamila Glowacki of Kowabunga! Kid, Tim Reynolds, and Self Proclaimed Narcissist) at Error Records. Come check it out for a night of folk punk. (JK)
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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.