FRIDAY
Celebrate the “Sun”: In the seventies, every community in the U.S. worth a damn had their own version of a classic rock band, mixing all the right components together to create one soulful, inspired mix. In Champaign, we had plenty. One of them, however, has decided to bring it back for a special reunion performance tonight at the Red Herring. Pravda recording artists, Big Daddy Sun, helped define the rock scene during the disco era. They will be reforming for one night, just a day before the country’s big celebration. The band features Ron Cannon, one of the more instrumental players at Red Herring during its heyday, and one of the recent reasons that it’s been so active as of late. Good chance to catch up on some of Champaign-Urbana’s rock history.
Asada for your tummy: Much has been said already about Mas Amigos, the new Mexican restaurant in the revolving door that is 40 E. Springfield Ave, in Champaign (Piefull Delight, Murphy’s Deli, etc). And while it’s up for debate still, their Carne Asada is perhaps the best around. For $8.95, they serve you a more-than-sizeable portion of some of the best marinated skirt steak around. Stop in for dinner, and sip a cool margarita to beat the heat, that you know is coming back around,
No Mythical creatures, but still good rock: July 3 at Mike N’ Molly’s had been something of a tradition for local rock band Centaur, who used each pre-Independence day no-work-the-next-day night to drink as many beers as Murph would allow while turning it up past eleven for as long as they could. But this year, no Centaur. All is lost? Hell no! At least not with three great bands performing at Mike N’ Molly’s in beer garden. Come out early and catch Hathways, with downtown mainstays Dottie and the Rail, alongside The Duke of Uke and his Novelty Orchestra. Having a good time won’t be hard.
SATURDAY
Protest, or celebrate — you choose: The Fourth of July Parade hits the streets of Urbana and Champaign once again at 1:05 p.m., starting on Lincoln and Illinois and wrapping around Florida Ave, until it transmorphigates (not a word, but fun) into Kirby Ave. before hooking a right on 4th St. to finish up in front of the Illini’s football practice facility that cost way too much money and still hasn’t produced enough wins to justify. America! Fuck yeah!
Lighting up the sky — somewhere else: OK. Seriously. Don’t even bother with the local fireworks display. Traffic is terrible, and what’s more, there are other more quaint celebrations where you still run the risk of being burnt by firework debris — and that’s way more fun.
The name rings true: Fuck America, you know? Well, perhaps not officially, but head to 700 W. Illinois on Saturday to catch one of C-U’s best underground punkers in We Must Dismantle All This, as part of a 4th of July show featuring six bands for the stupidly low price of $2. Yes. $2.
SUNDAY
Perfect pickin’ time: Just twenty minutes southwest of here lies Pontious Farms, a small family-run corner of Piatt County with a blueberry patch worth literally hundreds of pounds of blueberries, and guess what? You can have ’em! At just $1.75 per pound, this is a family fun type of activity, or a great place for your third date. Just be prepared: you will be in the middle of a field with no shade. Wear sunscreen. Trust us.
Learn from a Master: If you aren’t familiar yet with Bolokada Conde, you should be. He is considered to be one of the best hand drummers in the world, and he lives here, and he teaches lessons at the Capoeira Academy at 30 E. Springfield on Sundays to folks for $12. Seriously, we are in the presence of greatness.
Run it off, Johnson: Johnsonville, that is. You know you are going to eat too many bartwursts or tofu dogs this weekend. Take a run in Meadowbrook Park for a change, yeah? You could even get inspired and steal a sculpture or two, as well. We’re sure Julia Rietz won’t mind. Just make sure it’s materials are worth under $300 to keep it at a misdemeanor crime. That’s key.