Friday, February 15th
Celebrate Valentine’s Day late, anywhere, prices vary
Valentine’s Day is a little bit of a scam, and a lot of bit of pressure on couples to perform their affection through capitalist measures. Why not celebrate a day or two late in the same way, but without the hassle of a prix fixe and a reservation? You can get all that candy for 50%; my hubby and I like to get an ice cream cake the day after and eat that. Go to your favorite fancy or casual restaurant (Silvercreek or Miga or Black Dog or Maize, for instance) or get some take out to enjoy on the couch. (JH) Top photo by Jessica Hammie
Support black-owned restaurants, see list below, all month, prices vary
February is Black History Month. As a country we choose to forget our painful histories. It’s important to look back at the centuries of pain and trauma and struggle. But it’s equally as important to look at the now and look forward, to support and celebrate the black community as members and allies. For a number of reasons, mostly structural and institutional, we don’t have a heck of a lot of black-owned restaurants in C-U. That makes it so much more important to support the few we do have: Caribbean Grill, Wood N’ Hog, Neil St. Blues, Smackin’ Food Truck (if I’m forgetting any, let me know!). Make a point of incorporating these restaurants in your eating rotations, not just this month, but all the time. (JH) Photo of Wood N Hog turkey tips by Jessica Hammie
C-U Folk & Roots Festival’s Winter Weekend, Friday at Iron Post, Saturday at Rose Bowl, $5-$20
The third annual C-U Folk & Roots Festival Winter Weekend actually kicked off last night at the Iron Post with a couple of acts T’Monde and Chickadee Sermon at the Iron Post, and over the next two nights there will be a lot more to check out on top of that. Tonight at the Iron Post, there are two shows — and early show with Meadowlark (5 p.m.) and a late show with Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle (8 p.m.), and Saturday, Timablu headlines over at the Rose Bowl Tavern. Check out the Facebook event for all the details.
You can buy a $20 pass for all of these shows? Holy moly, that’s a steal. (PS)
Watch the Champaign Park District Dance Arts Program’s production of The Wayward Girl, Virginia Theatre, Champaign, 7 p.m., $13 for adults, $10 for seniors and kids under 12
Mother and daughter match wits and dance battle circa 1792 classical ballet style. Moms bring your strong-willed daughters, introduce them to dance, and enjoy the catharsis of laughing your way through the age-old struggle across the generation gap. Additional performance Saturday, February 16th at 2 p.m. Tickets available online. (DD) Photo from the Champaign Park District Facebook page.
Saturday, February 16th
Eat a salad, La Mixteca, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily, $9
Look at this salad. Why wouldn’t you want to eat it? You have the moral superiority of telling everyone you had a salad for lunch, but you are actually full and satisfied, and you get all the flavors. It’s the best way to spend money on a salad; you won’t be disappointed. Need a refresher on the tasty options at La Mixteca? Read our review. (JH) Photo by Jessica Hammie
Engineering for Everyone, Grainger Auditorium at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Building, 10 to 11:15 a.m., free
Celebrate at Dandelion, 12 to 5 p.m., free
This past week Dandelion founder and owner Sara Hudson announced that she has retired and is handing the reins over to new owner Charlotte Wescott. If you want to offer your congrats and celebrate Sara’s 26 year tenure, stop on by and eat some cake. You’re encouraged to don your Dandelion purchases. (JM) Photo from Dandelion website
Winter Tales Cultural Performance, Spurlock, Museum, 2 to 3:30 p.m., free
The Great Cover Up, The City Center, $10 each night
As I previously laid out in the Overture, there are three(!) nights of the Great Cover Up which you can check out this weekend. Even though this is listed on Saturday, I wanted to situate it in the middle of the weekend — there are shows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Read up on last weekend’s festivities here, which even featured a proposal on stage. You never know what you are going to get at the GCUP. (PS)
Sunday, February 17th
Hear local legend Brandon T. Washington play for free at UFLive!, Urbana Free Library, 2 p.m., free
Brandon T. Washington is a multi-hyphenate musical force (singer/songwriter/guitarist/music educator/member of new blues trio New Souls) that you need to experience. This performance is guaranteed to turn your pre-Monday blues around. If you’ve got young music fans in your llife, bring them to hear and see Brandon T. Washington do what he does best: make great music and inspire everyone around him. (DD)
Check out the Urbana High School Theatre production of She Kills Monsters, Urbana High School, 2:30 p.m., $10 for adults, $5 for students
Relive your Dungeons and Dragons days with this comic adventure through the world of role playing games. Written by Qui Nuygen, She Kills Monsters is a guaranteed “heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior within us all.” Appropriate for older kids. Additional performances Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets available at the box office. (DD) Photo from Urbana HS Theatre Facebook page.
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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.