FRIDAY, April 24th
Big Ten Tennis Tournament, Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana, 10 a.m., free
The University of Illinois Men’s Tennis Team is #1 in the Big Ten and they take on Iowa in the second round of the tournament. With five All-Big Ten players on the roster, as hosts the Illini are poised to make a deep run in the tournament. If you haven’t had a chance to check out live collegiate tennis, do yourself a favor and head out to Atkins this weekend. You will not be disappointed. (TP)
Undercut Collective’s 1st Birthday Celebration, Indi go Artist Co-op, 7 p.m., $5 Suggested Donation
The Undercut Collective has worked to book more all-ages shows for the past year, and it’s celebrating it’s own birthday with an all-ages show. This one facilitates aspiring young artists themselves as well with an open mic (signup at the door). There will also be a performance by C-U rapper T.R.U.T.H. as well as a raffle and refreshments. (MR)
Into the Woods, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m.
All the fun! All the fairy tales! Absolutely none of the Johnny Depp! We promise! This weekend is your only chance to check out Lyric Theatre’s production of the Stephen Sondheim favorite. Into the Woods runs through Sunday under the dirction of Jessi D. Hill. Per the KCPA website: “An ambivalent Cinderella? A blood-thirsty Little Red Riding Hood? A philandering Prince Charming? Witches and wolves, giants and Jack (of beanstalk fame) — they’re all among the cockeyed characters in this rollicking, irreverent Tony Award-winning musical deconstruction of works by the Brothers Grimm. What begins as a lively fantasy becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility and the true meaning of the stories we tell our children.” Check out Meghan’s preview article on the show here, then make your plans to see this fractured fairy tale in person. (MG)
Tigerbeat, Penny Horses, Mayhew the Traitor, Mike N Molly’s, 9 p.m. $7
The April installment of our Smile Politely Show Series is happening tonight at our favorite haunt, Mike N Molly’s. Tigerbeat is performing, and they’ll have a bunch of new songs lined up to provide you with some new (and used) material to fill their set. You might’ve seen them slay Jesus & The Mary Chain at the latest Great Cover Up, thoguh if you didn’t, you can see mostly original material at a decent price tonight. They’re going to be joined by folk / American outfit Penny Horses and Urbana folk / rock outfit Mayhew the Traitor. We’re really excited to be presenting three outfits in general, let alone ones like this. Make some time on Friday night to stop in and catch at least one of the bands. You’ll have a good time, and if you see someone from SP, just tell us how you feel about us. It’ll be fine. (PS)
SATURDAY, April 25th
Watch the marathon, 6:55 a.m.-2 p.m., various locations throughout C-U, free
This is an obvious activity for the weekend but here are some pro tips: bring a poncho because the chance for rain is high; 6:55 a.m. is when the wheel chair racers start, the rest of the runners start at 7 a.m.; Race Street between Windsor and Florida is the prettiest spot to watch runners run, try parking at Urbana Middle School. See you out there! (SL)
Last Prairie Fruits Farm Spring Open House, 4410 N Lincoln Avenue,Champaign, 9 a.m. to noon, about $10 per person
This is the last Spring Open House/Breakfast with Baby Goats of the season. The menu is corned beef and sweet potato hash with a fried egg and malted chocolate chip pancakes with bananas, in addition to the sides that are available each week. The weather looks to be unpleasant, but there is seating indoors and you get to visit with some adorable kids. (JH)
Co-Op Explorers Event, Commong Ground Food Co-Op, 10 a.m.- 12 p.m., free 
Families can head to Common Ground on Saturday morning to celebrate Earth Week by enjoying hands on activities outdoors. You can recycle old t-shirts to make shopping bags and plant holders and aso create art and paint materials with with local produce. There’s a slight chance of rain Saturday, but don’t let that get in the way of a great opportunity to hang with your family and have a great time at Common Ground. (TP)
Go to a magic show at the fire station, Champaign Fire Department, 307 S.Randolph St., 11-11:30 a.m, entry costs a package of diapers or $7
Head to the fire station for a magic show from 11-11:30 a.m., game booths, craft booths and delicious refreshments until 1pm. This event will be especially fun for K-5 kids but all ages are welcome and encouraged. Find a young person and go have some fun! (SL)
CUDO Studio Crawl, 1-5 p.m., CUDO membership and RSVP required (contact info@thecudo.org)
This event gives you a behind-the-scenes tour of local studios and ad agencies, including Surface 51, The Living Letter Press, Norden, and more. CUDO membership is required; you can sign up here. Check their Facebook event page for a full lineup of the studios on display. (RP)
Bourbon, Beer, and Bacon Festival, 2-10 p.m., Fluid Event Center, free admission
Check out dozens of beers, bourbons, ryes, whiskeys, scotches, and bacon at the Fluid Events Center, along with seminars on brewing/distilling and music, all day on Saturday. Admittance is free, but samples cost tickets; the average price will be $4 – 6 per beer and $4 – 6 per shot, depending on how fancy you want to get. (RP)
The Drowsy Chaperone, Parkland College Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
This musical comedy (from the creators of the amazing Canadian TV show Slings & Arrows) is wall-to-wall fun. Directed by J.W. Morrissette and featuring a great pit band led by Musical Director David Zych, the show has hummable songs, snappy dances, and a crowd-pleasing story-within-a-story structure. The cast is uniformly great, with laugh-out-loud turns by Chelsea Zych, Lincoln Machula, Jace Jamison, and Marah Sotelo (as the confident but ditzy Kitty). Parkland Theatre has been consistently great all season long, and this is the perfect way to finish their season strong. Do yourself a favor and check it out. (MG)
Atmosphere, B Dolan, deM atlas, DJ Adatrak, Canopy Club, doors at 8 p.m., show at 9 p.m., $25 advance, $30 door
Minneapolis rap duo Slug and Ant, better known as Atmosphere, have this stuff down to a science. Whether you’re a fan from the way-back or you just heard of the guys, you’ll probably enjoy this show. Seriously, I saw Atmosphere with my dad once and he liked it! It’ll be a guaranteed good time. (MR)
SUNDAY, April 26th
Enjoy National Pretzel Day, Auntie Annie’s at the Market Place Mall, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., free pretzels all weekend
Today is National Pretzel Day and you can get a free pretzel from Auntie Annie’s. You have to download Auntie Annie’s mobile app in order to get a coupon you can show to the folks working at the mall pretzel stand. Then you can promptly delete the app. (JH)
Appropriate, Station Theatre, 8 p.m., $10
Directed by Station vet Mike Prosise, this new play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins will close out the Station’s regular season and run through May 9th. The synopsis, per the Station website: “Every estranged member of the Lafayette clan has descended upon the crumbling Arkansas homestead to settle the accounts of the newly-dead patriarch. As his three adult children sort through a lifetime of hoarded mementos and junk, they collide over clutter, debt, and a contentious family history. But after a disturbing discovery surfaces among their father’s possessions, the reunion takes a turn for the explosive, unleashing a series of crackling surprises and confrontations.” (MG)
———
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.