Welcome to Smile Politely’s rundown of weekend events in our fair cities. As always, if you have a suggestion for this weekend, add it to the comments thread below. And don’t forget to send us your recommendations for future weekends.
FRIDAY
One hand on ya: While music isn’t the focus of Boneyard Arts Festival, it certainly plays a role. One such show we’re excited about is Mhondoro meets Bolokada at Canopy Club starting at 7 p.m. tonight. In case you were wondering, Bolokada has a last name: Conde. He is also a Visiting Lecturer in the Center for World Music, who is considered to be one of the world’s premeire djembe artists. This show is ony $5.
C-U Confidential Local Movie Show: Head to Caffe Paradiso from 6 to 10 p.m. for “the supernatural drama Prelude by Essence Films of Urbana, the horror-comedy The Transient by Illini Film & Video of the University of Illinois, the character piece Celeste Above directed by Johnny Robinson of Rochester, N.Y., an an episode of the student drama One Fine Day! by Premonition Pictures of Chicago, all filmed in Champaign-Urbana. More than 20 shorts, music videos, and trailers will be presented.”
30 bands in three days: The IMC Festival is bringing you the best in local bands this weekend. Check their site for the full schedule, but highlights include Headlights, Santa, and Common Loon on Friday, Curb Service, Agent Mos, and New Ruins on Saturday, and Casados and the Duke of Uke on Sunday.
Or if you’re exclusively an art snob: The Boneyard Arts Fest has plenty to offer this weekend, too. Friday’s focus is on campus, while Saturday is downtown Urbana. Sunday you’ll need your car to check out the rest of the county.
SATURDAY
Tired of all this talk of teabagging?: Check out the Mother and Daughter Afternoon Tea Party, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hays Recreation Center (1311 W. Church St., Champaign). It’s for kids 4 to 12 with their parent/guardians. Signage in poor taste not necessary.
The Sharks or the Jets?: The IUB Spring Musical is a classic tale of two star-crossed lovers named Glenn Beck and Stephen Colbert. Their paths are destined to meet on Fox News but… oh, wait. Well, that’s not really the same story, but you know the drill: updated version of Romeo and Juliet. Star-crossed lovers. Lots of hair grease and dancing and singing. It will likely be awesome. Tickets in the A section (good seats) are just $15.
Outerworld Dimensions: Ferrocene3, the newest musical project of improv percussionist Jason Finkelman will be taking it to the next level on Saturday at Staerkel Planetarium. His band will perform three shows (two matinees and a full on light show) in one day starting at 2:00 p.m. But the real deal is the 7:30 p.m. show. It will feature Planetarium director Dave Leake on the “stars” and “lights.” Bongs not included, but recommended. At least for the late night show. Tickets are cheap-o at $3 in the day and $5 in the evening.
Buy some records already: This Saturday is “Record Store Day,” an excuse for music geeks to revel in the few brick and mortar stores remaining that sell vinyl. We’re lucky to have a few in town, including Parasol Records in downtown Urbana and Exile on Main Street in downtown Champaign. Exile is having a party of sorts all day Saturday, with local bands playing all day long and free pizza. Both stores will be open and offering up a slew of “Record Store Day releases,” exclusive releases made especially for this day by wide-ranging groups: Tom Waits, Blitzen Trapper, Bob Dylan, The Flaming Lips and the Black Keys (who are releasing a split seven inch), Sonic Youth and Beck (ditto), My Morning Jacket, Slayer, The Smiths, The Stooges, and The Decemberists, to name just a few. (What more will it take to get you to buy local?)
SUNDAY
Need your Sunday football fix?: Boardman’s Art Theatre is focused on the gridiron this week with the a flick about the legendary 1968 clash between Harvard and Yale. (No, this is not a joke.) Harvard scored 16 points in the final 42 seconds to force a tie game. Interesting side note: Famous actor Tommy Lee Jones played on the offensive line for that Harvard team.
Gophers or Wolverines: If it’s live sporting action you crave, the UI baseball team hosts Minnesota on Sunday at noon, and the softball team follows with a 2 o’clock game against Michigan.