FRIDAY
Get your thrills in Pesotum (just like every other weekend): Head south on I-57 and check out the second weekend of the Pesotum House of Horrors. Here’s the basic info: it’s in the basement of the old St. Joseph’s Church at the corner of Madison and Church in Pesotum, admission is $13, and there’s no admittance for children under 13.
Hard up for some good pre-tailgating jazz music?: Slide on by the Indi Go Gallery at 9 E University Ave (where the Furniture Lounge once was) to hear The Lara Driscoll Trio. The fun starts at 8 p.m. and ends by 10 p.m. so you can rest up for the impending disappointment of Saturday’s game. $5 at the door, cash bar by Bolitini.
SATURDAY
No haggling: Head over to West Side Park today for the Really Really Free Market: “The Really Really Free Market is a festival where no money is exchanged, no bartering or trading takes place. Everything is free. The community is invited to bring under-used items (like that skateboard in your attic or sewing kit you never use) and skills and services (think: free back-rubs and bike tune-ups) and give them away. Food Not Bombs will be serving free food. The Really Really Free Market will happen on Saturday October 10th from 3 to 7 p.m. at West Side Park in Champaign. Everyone is welcome to a party where there’s no distinction between those that have and those in need. And of course, the event is really really free.”
The real deal: Months ago, our co-founder Seth Fein — resident food writer / bullshitter — wrote about the re-opening of Po’ Boys out at the old T.K. Wendls on Highcross Road. This week, our newest editor Robert Hirschfeld enlightened us about some certain truths regarding the restaurant’s history. This weekend, the “new” Po’ Boys is hosting their grand opening, which is ironically taking place at the same time that the “real” Po’ Boys is hosting their second annual fundraiser at the original location. We’ll just say this, and try to be polite: there is a clear choice in terms of which place to choose to go, and we’ll let you make that yourself. We know where we’ll be: in line.
Clinging to some hope: Juice is riding pine. McGee is in the game. The Illini are 1–3, and with the way things are looking, could be on the road to reprising their glory days from the mid-aughts. But it’s homecoming, and a Big Ten game is just that: always fun and entertaining. Our guess is that you’ll be able purchase a ticket from a scal… ticket re-seller for under face value come game time. So, head on over to Memorial Stadium and support the Orange and Blue. You know Dan Schreiber’ll be there in full Chief regalia, too.
Santa with a new letter: Perhaps they are simply unwilling to step out and accept it, but the band name Santa without an H on the end of it is perhaps one of the worst band names in the world. Strangely enough, Santah with an H on the end of it appears to be one of the best names for a band since Honcho Overload. So, what’ll it be fellas? In any event, they headline the Monkey on Saturday in a show featuring On Again Off Again, Color Radio, and Jonathon Childers that will be sure to pack the little joint out in no time. Get there early, or face the elements in the worst beer garden in town.
SUNDAY
Veggie eats: The International Vegetarian Food Fair will be held at the University YMCA from 1 to 3:30 p.m. It’s put on by the Adventist Campus Fellowship, and it features “delicious dishes for you to enjoy; Complimentary Recipe Book (limited supply, so come early; Booths featuring information on health and cooking; A Kids Corner, with healthy snacks the little ones will love; Choice Cookbooks and Lifestyle material; freebies and prizes.”
Bare shelves got you down?: Well then fill ’em up with books! And DVDs! And CDs! Swing by the Champaign Public Library from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. today and shop at the FriendShop where “the Library Friends sell used books for $1 or less, plus CDs, videos, and DVDs for $1.50. You‘ll also find recent bestsellers from the library rental collection for $3, plus a selection of individually priced items in the “special” collection. All sales benefit the library.”