FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
The Room, Art Theater Co-op, midnight
It’s baaaaaack! Fan-favorite and strong candidate for best bad movie ever, The Room will once again play to disbelieving but appreciative audiences at the Art Theater Co-op. This will be the midnight feature Friday and Saturday, so you have plenty of time to…prepare yourself. (MG)
Meat & Potatoes Shopping, Old Time Meat and Deli Shoppe, 2018 South Neil Street, Champaign
Surely you’ve driven past this little deli on Neil dozens of times. You should stop in this weekend and check it out. In addition to a lot of meat, they also have all sorts of things you’d expect to find in a deli. My personal favorite item is the twice baked potato with bacon — it’s awesome, and huge. Those are on special this week, and are a perfect complement to a grilled slab of meat. (JH)
ELLNORA: The Guitar Festival, Night 2, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, price and time varies
Depending on what time you plan on heading over to Krannert Center for the terrific ELLNORA festival, you’re in for a real treat on Friday night. Tons of shows happening, including J. Spaceman (pictured), who you might know as the frontman of legendary acts like Spiritualized and Spaceman 3, Buddy Guy, El Ten Eleven, Luther Dickinson and the Wandering, Buke and Gase and a number of others on Friday night. Honestly, it’s a must see in Champaign-Urbana music this weekend. This is night 2 of the festival, as Thursday night opened up with Jonny Lang and many more. And this is just night 2. Look below to Saturday for night 3. (PS)
Works from the Yunnan School of Painting, Free
On display in this exhibition is a selection of artwork by a group of Yunnan artists representing a variety of styles within the Yunnan School of Painting, including the important work of Zhao Zhong Xiu.
Beginning in the early 1970s, a group of Yunnan Chinese intellectuals and artists dissatisfied with the repressive political and artistic climate of the time began to push for an expanded form of artistic expression. After Chairman Mao’s death and the end of the “Cultural Revolution” in 1976, the efforts of this group gave rise to an entirely new school of painting, which became known as the Yunnan School.
The Yunnan School was characterized by clear line work, bold use of color, a love for overlapping geometric design, and a daring combination of both traditional Chinese form and Western abstract forms depicting subjects that centered on the indigenous ethnic groups, culture, and myths of the Yunnan region of Southwestern China.
The current generation of Yunnan artists has yet another, more complex task than the previous generation. With globalization and China’s rapid economic development, the art of this generation of Yunnan artists carries within it a deep consciousness of recent Chinese history, while responding to these undeniable developments in contemporary society.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
ELLNORA: Saturday day/night, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, all day
Zappa Plays Zappa. Lucinda Williams. Paco Pena. Kaki King. Dan Zanes and Friends. Gyan Riley. Shall I continue, or are you convinced you should be at ELLNORA on Saturday as well? There are a bunch of shows throughout the day and into the night for round 3 of the festival, and I have a feeling you’ll find something you like, no matter what type of music you’re into. (PS)
Dinner at Escobar’s, Downtown Champaign (6 East Columbia Street), 5-10p.m.
Escobar’s is just north of all the hustle and bustle of Downtown Champaign, and I think that people often forget that it’s there. So I’m reminding you. This week, you can get a complimentary sampler of three flavors of homemade gelato (one per table). That’s a pretty sweet deal! Oh, you need another reason to stop by? Parking is free across the street from the restaurant. Photo is from their Facebook page. (JH)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Live Jazz, Curtis Apple Orchard, 12 p.m., free
This Sunday at Curtis Orchard, you can enjoy an apple-themed drink and listen to live jazz courtesy of Derick Cordoba. Live music starts at noon, with all the usual family-friendly activities (including a petting zoo, apple picking, games, and food) available all day long. Free admission to the orchard, and no charge for the smooth sounds. (MG)
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