Smile Politely

Weekender: December 14–16

Smile Politely Editors

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14

INDEPENDENCE, The Station Theatre, 8:00 p.m., $15

This weekend is your last chance to see Lee Blessing’s tough, emotional family drama Independence at the Station Theatre in Urbana. Directed by Deb Richardson and featuring a strong quartet of local actresses, this play will be presented Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m..

Read SP’s review of the production here. For reservations, call (217) 384-4000 or visit the Station website. (MG)

Seven Psychopaths, The Art Theatre Co-Op, 10:00 p.m., $3

Martin McDonagh’s killer comedy and its ridiculously good cast are back for late shows and hysterical, maniacal laughs. In this deranged opus, a struggling screenwriter inadvertently becomes entangled in the Los Angeles criminal underworld … as one does. Among the excellent cast are: Colin Farrell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken, and the one and only Tom Waits.

“This is one of the best times I’ve had at the movies in years.”—Richard Roeper

Tickets are only three measly dollars, so check out the available showtimes and have fun. (MG)

 

 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15

Winter Concert: Tree of Life, McKinley Presbyterian Church, Saturday, Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m. | Sunday, Dec. 16, 4:00 p.m.

Trees illustrate the glorious seasons of our lives. Featuring music of Hildegard von Bingen, Sarah Hopkins, Ysaye Barnwell, Stephen Hatfield, and other composers who write for and about women, Amasong will remind us that women have a right to the tree of life in all its bloom and beauty!

Suggested donation: $15–25 (More if you can, less if you can’t).

Amasong is Champaign-Urbana’s premier lesbian/feminist chorus. There will be sign interpreted for the hearing impaired. For more information, go here. (TN)

Christmas Extravaganza, Emerald City Lounge, 10:00 p.m.

It’ll be a busy weekend for Emerald City. Celebrate Christmas early at Saturday’s holiday show, featuring:

As always, VIP tables are available and include ticket and wait service. Call 552-9445 to reserve yours. (TN)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16

Breakfast with Mrs. Santa, Emerald City Lounge, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Sunday brunch at Emerald City is always fantastic. Delicious food, strong, rich coffee, and excellent drink specials are a given. But this Sunday, we’ll be treated to the beautiful Brooklyn Styles is Mrs. Santa. You’ll be able to sit on her lap, ask for anything you’d like, and even get a photo taken. Performances will be at noon and 1:00 p.m. (TN)

 

 

Watch the Illinois Men’s Basketball squad take on the (also) undefeated Eastern Kentucky Colonels, 5 p.m. on ESPNU

Alright, you might have been skeptical before, but you’ve probably jumped on the Illini bandwagon by now. Regardless, you can either go to the game or watch it from your couch (if you have ESPNU), but either way you should check out the game. Eastern Kentucky might play in the Ohio Valley Conference, which I know a thing or two about, being from Charleston and witnessing the depression of Eastern Illinois Panther basketball program for about a decade now. The OVC has some potential, and we even saw it last year when the Murray State Racers made a serious run at history. They weren’t messing around, and I don’t think EKU will be messing around when they visit Assembly Hall Sunday.

The McColley has been breaking down the games for us here at SP, so if you didn’t see them live, you can read about how the Illini didn’t really show up to the last game (despite getting the W) against Norfolk State on Tuesday. Let’s hope they turn things around and play like the team that took down the Zags. Either way, you’ll probably see John Groce being a hardass, like he should be. (PS)

CORK-SCREWGED, Buvons, 6:00–11:00 p.m., $5 cover

Go eat some decadent food and drink ridiculously good cocktails Saturday while listening to some music on a grand piano. I mean, don’t get on the grand piano to drink the cocktails. Just listen to the music from the pianists while you’re eating:

  • Bratwurst Undone: crispy pork belly, coriander-mace rub, braised blue moon vegetables
  • Currywurst: thuringer sausage, hashbrown potatoes, curry sauce
  • Truthahn: turkey kielbasa, sauerkraut, grilled apples, mustard
  • Mainze rolls: roasted mushrooms, herbed cucumber, sour cream

Or wintry desserts, including chocolate covered marshmallows, chocolate truffles, sweet spiced almonds, and gingerbread. Specialty winter cocktails include, among others, the Rye yer eyes out, Douglas Fir, Spiked Cider, and most importantly, a flaming rum drink. (SK)

THINGS TO DO DURING OUR LONG WINTER BREAK

Astronautalis, Swords, Busdriver, JEL at Mike ‘N Molly’s on Friday, December 21 at 9 p.m.

I guess this is my chance to put something into the Weekender that is next weekend since the Overture won’t be running next week. Astronautalis, the alt-hip-hop artist from Minnesota is coming through C-U. This dude has been working with Justin Vernon, the mastermind of everyone’s now-favorite-album-made-in-cabin-alone story and leader of Bon Iver. Vernon has dipped his foot into the waters of hip hop before, but this is a little more than surface level stuff if he’s made an entire album with him. Either way, there’s good stuff happening here.

Despite this going down over break, there should be a crowd here because it’s doubtful a big percentage of the student population knows anything about Astronautalis. Tickets are $12 and will be available at the door starting at 8 p.m. on the day of the show. This will hold you over until you have to decide what show you’re going to for NYE. (PS)

December 25

Celebrate Christmas, all day

  • Sleep late.
  • When you wake up, enjoy a generous serving of Bailey’s Irish Cream in your coffee.
  • Look out the window and think about the fact that the previous week, temperatures got as high as 46 degrees. In December. Silently curse your neighbor’s SUV.
  • When your significant other wakes, initiate morning sex with him or her. Be sure to say, “Oh, God,” many times. It’s Christmas after all.
  • Go out for lunch at Peking Garden, or pick up food at County Market. Stop by Blockbuster to rent A Christmas Story on your way home. They’ll all be open. When the employees passive aggressively grumble about having to work on Christmas, cheerfully and loudly respond, “We’re Jews!”
  • If you see anyone wearing Christmas jewelry or clothing, say, “Happy Holidays!”
  • Ignore the Salvation Army. If they speak to you, just say that your money is crawling with The Gay.
  • Go home and watch A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and also A Charlie Brown Christmas.
  • Eat too much, drink too much. Job well done!

Or:

  • Wake up early and make hot chocolate.
  • Drink cider and eat Christmas cookies while the kids open their presents.
  • Go to a really cool church and sing pretty Christmas songs.
  • Enjoy Christmas dinner with the family. Argue politics with Uncle Melvin. When you’re leaving, give him a kiss and hug anyway. It’s Christmas after all.
  • Watch It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, and also A Charlie Brown Christmas.
  • Get to bed early. Job well done!

Or:

Anything in between. Happy Holidays! (TN)

 

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.

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