FRIDAY, March 27th
Big Band in the Mansion at Allerton Park, 6:30-10 p.m., $10, Allerton Park, 515 Old Timber Road, Monticello
This year’s Allerton Park Concert Series is kicking off with the Tons O’ Fun Band, which fills the stage with ten talented and experienced musicians including a powerful four piece horn section. Drinks (including select brews from J.T. Walker’s Restaurant and Brewery) will be available for purchase. (RP)
Chain’s Gang, Horrible Things, Earth Girls, Nectar, Ding
bat Dungeon, 7 p.m., $5
This show was already stacked before a reunited Chain’s Gang was added to the bill, but their appearance, along with C-U’s Horrible Things (who will probably play some songs off their brand new album) and Nectar, AND Chicago’s Earth Girls, makes this show unmissable. (MR)
Mothers & Sons, The Station Theatre, 8 p.m., $15
This is the first of three weekends to see Terrence McNally’s recent Broadway play as directed by Celebration Company Artistic Director Rick Orr. Per the Station’s website: “At turns funny and powerful, Mothers and Sons portrays a woman who pays an unexpected visit to the New York apartment of her late son’s partner, who is now married to another man and has a young son. Challenged to face how society has changed around her, generations collide as she revisits the past and begins to see the life her son might have led.” The play runs through April 11th. The Friday, March 27th performance will conclude with an audience “talkback” featuring representatives of the Greater Community AIDS Project of Eastern Illinois. (MG)
Goose Island Bourbon County Series Tasting, 8 p.m., cost of drinks, Cowboy Monkey
If you’re a beer drinker, this is the place to be on Friday night. The Goose Island Bourbon County Series is usually a tough find in this area. Cowboy Monkey will have taster and full snifter pours available from the 2012-2014 series until the kegs run out. (TP)
The Tasers, Engine Summer, NXT, 9 p.m., $7, Mike N Molly’s
A Friday night set featuring wailing psychedelia, some surf, and some straight up rock ‘n’ roll? Sounds like a party and Mike N Molly’s is the place to be to get it on. Have a PBR or don’t and hang out with the cool kids. (TP)
SATURDAY, March 28th
Home and garden expo, Fluid Events Center, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., free
join the WC I ate at the food event center to get ready for spring. There will be over 80 exhibitors to help you plan your residential or commercial masterpiece of a garden. The event is free admission and free parking. So get out your green thumbs and get out there! (SL)
Take the kids to a free movie, Savoy 16, 9 a.m.
I don’t know about you, but I love watching movies with my kids. And, because I have kids, I also love it when things are free. On Saturday and Sunday, the Savoy 16 cinema will host free screenings of Rio 2 at 9 and 10 a.m. The synopsis, as if you need one, goes like this: “It’s a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids after they’re hurtled from Rio de Janeiro to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets his father-in-law.” You may have missed the first installment (which is actually pretty good), but I doubt it will matter. Jesse Eisenberg returns to voice Blu, along with Anne Hathaway as Jewel and Jemaine Clement as Nigel. Obviously it’s great to spend quality time out-of-doors in the fresh, invigorating air playing some sort of positive smile-game involving cooperation; but, on the off-chance that the weather is uncooperative (imagine that), there are definitely worse ways to spend 90 minutes.(MG)
Springtime table setting workshop, The Glasshouse, 303 GH Baker drive, Urbana, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
The workshop will focus on current color trends in table design, the mix and match approach to table setting, and ways to incorporate elements from the outdoors in your centerpiece. So go check out this workshop and says your table settings for your next dinner party! Plus you’ll get to check out the open house. (SL)
Crackle & Pop Vinyl Sale, Institute 4 Creativity, 1 p.m., free ($5 at 8 p.m. for the show)
During the day from 1-6 p.m., the I4C is hosting a record sale with several individual sellers. Who knows what the selection has shaped up to be? At 8 p.m. the fun starts with vinyl DJs spinning everything from disco to reggae until 1 a.m. Check the Facebook event for the full lineup. (MR)
Wicked Walls, The Chemicals, Loose Cobra, 8:30 p.m., $5 (though no price is listed)
Simply stated in the Facebook event (linked above) — “It’s a rock show.” Hell yeah, this is a rock show. Two locals, one badass bar south of C-U in Tolono. I’ve only been there once, admittedly, but it was for Bobby Bare a few months back, and it ruled. Matt Talbott’s spot is definitely worth checking out if you have a couple of friends who are into live music in a snug, yet comfortable, venue. Wicked Walls released their debut record roughly a year ago at this time, and the Chemicals opening is icing on the cake. (PS)
SUNDAY, March 29th
Mayoral Debate, Jupiter’s at the Crossing, 4 p.m.
We’ve teamed up with Chamabanamoms.com to present this event on Sunday afternoon as we’re getting closer and closer to the April 7th election. We’re happy to have these fine candidates joining us: Don Gerard, Deb Feinen, Joe Petry and Karen Foster for a friendly debate. Submit your questions to us at info@smilepolitely.com and we’ll do our best to fit them in if it makes sense. (PS)
Ishmael Ali’s Zebec Workshop and Concert, Institute 4 Creativity, 5:30/8:30 p.m., workshop $20/$15 students, show $10/$5 students
I4C is hosting two events with Ishmael Ali’s Zebec, a jazz group from Chicago. At 5:30, Ishmael Ali and his group Zebec will discuss various approaches to structured improvisation including different organizational principles, regarding pitch, rhythm, and open score notations.The group will demonstrate these principles followed by an open discussion. At 8:30, the band will perform. (RP)
Become an owner, Common Ground Food Co-op, Lincoln Square Mall, all weekend (and indefinitely), $60
Last week we told you where Common Ground is opening its second location. The co-op will need to build up its owner base by about 900 people in order to begin the process of the owner loan campaign, so if you’re interested in having a Common Ground location in Champaign, put in your $60. It will be well worth it. (JH)
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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.