FRIDAY, APRIL 20
Get baked on the Quad, or elsewhere, any time of the day on Friday April 20: Sure, it’s ridiculous to do recreational drugs just based on a hyper-pop-cultural reference made popular by hippies and neo-hippies and brahs across the country. But from its beginnings as a code for when a group of kids from San Rafael, Calif. decided to get high each day after school to its acceptance into pop culture lexicon run straight through the heart of Champaign-Urbana, like most things, it would seem, to a certain degree.
Our very own Steven Hager, who graduated from both Urbana High and UIUC, is the person who basically brought this term from being an underground code word to being used extemporaneously by just about anyone with any sense, assuming they own a televison. As Editor of High Times magazine, he declared 4:20 to be the “socially accepted hour” to get blazed, and despite the fact that I believe it to be a completely asisine concept, I like it any time someone from C-U impacts the world in any significant way.
So, spark one up for Steven Hager on Friday. He makes C-U proud, in his own unique way. (SF)
Boneyard Arts Festival – Emerald City Lounge Displays, 5:00 p.m.
Emerald City Lounge
Artist Meet & Greet Reception from 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Musical performance by UpShot
This event features visual art by Phil Strang, Gregg Rogers, Craig Pessman, Scottie Vanidestine, and Lena Choe.
Emerald City Lounge is already beautiful. With the addition of these artists’ works, the place is going to be divine. (TN)
To add to the Boneyard Arts Fest talk, there is a solid lineup of bands playing at Exile. Starting at 3:30 with Finer Feelings, Hank, That’s No Moon, Bate Calado, The Curses, Blueprints FAFT, The Chemicals, and New Ruins. (PS)
Studiodance II, Friday–Saturday, April 20–21, 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Krannert Center, Studio Theatre
University of Illinois faculty and students select the fresh pieces from Dance at Illinois choreographers that will be performed at Studiodance II. Please note that this production may contain adult content. (TN)
Our Town, Friday–Saturday, April 19–21, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, April 22, at 3:00 p.m.
Krannert Center, Colwell Playhouse
This production of Thornton Wilder’s 1938 play, won’t be that sentimental high school drama you might have been forced to attend (or perform in). The actual script “comments on both the ordinary and the profound aspects of life in a small town, the United States, the Earth, and the universe, [and] was an edgy theatrical experiment and a sophisticated philosophical examination in its time.” Henson Keys directs. (TN)
Green Street Hug In, 8:00 p.m.
Sixth and Green, Urbana, IL
Prep from 8:00–10:00 in the LGBT Resource Center
Hug In at 10:00 on the corner of Sixth and Green
Green Street Hug In is a yearly, peaceful demonstration to commemorate the homophobic attack that took place on Green Street (in front of Big Mouth’s across from Walgreens) on Mom’s Day in April 2008.
Demonstrators at the Green Street Hug In pass out candy, hugs, and flowers to promote awareness and solidarity across campus.
This event is one of many happening on Friday as part of the LGBT Day of Silence. You can read about other events going on throughout the day here, and in this week’s Rainbow Connection. (TN)
Mentalist David der Geist, 9:00 p.m.
SoDo Theatre
Doors: 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $10 in advance (Exile on Main Street or online), $12 at the door.
David der Geist of Psychic Joker Entertainment will explore “the farthest reaches of the mind,” at SoDo Theatre on Friday as part of the annual Boneyard Arts Festival. (TN)
ABCU Show, 6:00-10:00 p.m.
Indi Go Gallery, Downtown Champaign
If you know that Helvetica is a documentary and a typeface, this is where you should be tonight. The Champaign-Urbana Design Organization’s (CUDO) third annual exhibit and fundraiser features artwork donated by local artists and designers. Check out original artwork made in our own community with funky fonts and atypical typography. (SK)
Buy Fiddlehead Ferns, while supplies last
Common Ground Food Co-op
I strolled into the co-op this week looking for something fairly mundane when I spotted a case of bright, twirly, sexy, earthy fiddlehead ferns at $19.99 a pound. Yes, pricey, but you don’t need many to make a hearty dish, as a bed for roasted chicken or fish.
Due to the short season, this was the only shipment the co-op could get, but they still had some left when I called. (Find safe cooking instructions online, and don’t eat these raw!) (SK)
SATURDAY, APRIL 21
Celebrate Earth Day/Arbor Day at West Side Park and the Art Theater, starting at noon, free
Technically Earth Day is on Sunday and Arbor Day is on April 27, but John Steinbacher is just innovative and ahead of the curve. He celebrates it when he decides to do so. And I can’t argue when he says that “trees are pretty freaking awesome.” Be sure to check out SP Radio Friday night at 5:30 p.m. on 90.1 FM or WEFT.org to get a sneak peak at this free family event and to get a peak into the mind of the man himself.
As part of its Earth Day/Arbor Day celebration, the International Society of Arboriculture is hosting a “Trees are good” walk and educational film screening at the Art Theater. (JS)
Drink a liter of specialty punch at Carmon’s Bistro: Open hours
Despite the fact that swilling fruity type drinks ups the chances that you might get woozy come night’s end, I must say, the warm weather makes me feel like a cocktail. And sometimes, I just want one that is going to make me feel like I am eight years old again. Enter Carmon’s Bistro and the brilliant bar staff, who have decided to start offering a full LITER of a specialty punch each week for just $15.
Yeah.
That.
I am going to go to that. And drink it all with my mouth and lips. (SF)
Check out today’s article on other speakeasy-style drinks at Carmon’s that you can also drink, uh, with your mouth and your lips. Although you might not word it that way unless you’ve had a few. (SK)
Record Store Day 2012 – Everywhere in the United States and parts of the world, but here especially – Exile on Main Street Records – all day starting at 11 a.m.
Alright — so we’ve all probably been that asshole who downloads albums off of the internet and has no remorse for doing so. By no means am I advocating that you should feel bad (I don’t, so there), but out of all 365 days that it should matter, this is it. Local groups that play in this town for basically nothing all year round are playing for free all day at Exile on Main, a place that should be appreciated more because of the gems you can pull out of the used LP bin (I pulled out a decent copy of Born To Run there last weekend for $5). It’s also a good excuse to buy all that shit you’ve been wanting to buy, but could never justify doing so. (PS)
WEFT Wine Tasting Benefit at Corkscrew, 3:00–6:30 p.m., $10 donation
Come out to raise funds for WEFT during their Spring Drive wine tasting and art exibition, part of The Boneyard Arts Festival. Black Dog will provide the food. Wines from around the world will be available from Corkscrew and Buvon’s Wine Bar. Artisit Ed Hadley’s work will be on display and there will be a silent auction. Sounds like a no-brainer to me. (JS)
The Something I Love Show Opening Reception at the art coop gallery (Lincoln Sqaure), 6:00–9:00 p.m.
Well, this only adds to the plethora of things that are all a part of The Boneyard Arts Festival. A mural of 5×5 pictures, in a variety of mediums, will be on display. The theme: make it about something you love. The Art Coop encouraged the community to create these works for display on their walls and offered materials to the public. Half of the sales were donated to the Saturday School Art Scholarship Fund. Twenty percent of any art sales will be donated to a local non-profit. (JS)
Chicago: The Musical, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Tickets: $12–18, available at box office or call (217) 333-5000
The Illini Union Board presents Chicago, “A story of murder, greed, corruption, violence, exploitation, adultery, and treachery — all those things we all hold near and dear to our hearts.”
The behind the curtain images on the IUB Facebook page are great and make this show really tempting. (TN)
Lesbian Attack the *Pajama Jam*, 10:30 p.m.
Emerald City Lounge
Cover: $2, starting at 10:00
It’s time again for Lesbian Attack Pajama Jam. Amy Myers will be your host for the evening. Play Truth or Dare, Spin the Bottle, and take part in the Pajama Contest at Midnight!
Enjoy drink specials, Lollie Pop shots, dance music, and games with prizes. (TN)