Like a phoenix from the ashes, so rises the Weekender…
FRIDAY
Never forget: What better way to remember our fallen brethren than by tieing on some skates and pouring out a 40? Grab a buck to donate and head to Skateland at 208 W. Curtis Rd. in Savoy from 7 to 11 p.m. for the “September 11th Remembrace (sic) Skate.” Your cash goes to Families of September 11th, Inc., and you get an American flag.
You’ve got twenty seconds — go: This is simple. The best graphic designers in town are coming together at The Canopy Club at 8 p.m. on Friday night to celebrate each other’s work, and we get to watch them show their stuff. Pecha Kucha (which is prounounced quickly — syncopated and rhymes: pa-cha ku-cha) is an international sensation amongst those who live, breathe, and die by the sleight of hand on the mousepad. Credit the wonderfully young, active, and sincere work of CUDO, which stands for — you guessed right — Champaign-Urbana Design Organization.
Free Stuff at Ellnora: If you didn’t get tickets to one of the big-name shows at the Ellnora Guitar Festival for tonight or tomorrow night, fear not: there are a bunch of free shows going on as well. Check the event website for the full calendar, but here’s what’s shakin’ for gratis today and tonight:
Dan Zanes and Friends: Friday at 12 noon | Lobby | free
Brasil Guitar Duo: Friday at 3 p.m. | Stage 5 | free
Tune In and Tune Up: Friday at 4 p.m. | Tryon Festival Theatre Foyer | free
The Jerry Douglas Band: Friday at 5 p.m. | Lobby | free
Morning and Evening Ragas: Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya: Friday at 6:15 p.m. | Lobby | free
A Story of Floating Weeds with live music by Alex de Grassi: Friday at 8:30 p.m. | Amphitheatre | free
The Sisters Euclid: Friday at 11:15pm | Stage 5 | free
Old school barbeque, old school blues: Local blues band Killborn Alley are playing a show out at Po’ Boys for those of us who perfer eat a little barbeque while listening to their guitar music.
Killborn Alley: Friday at 8 p.m. | Po’ Boys in Urbana | $5
SATURDAY
Roosters in the Orchard: As if there wasn’t already enough reason to go to Curtis Orchard on a September Saturday, there’s a book signing in the morning. Morrisonville’s Mary Luanne “Grandmother” Stewart will be signing copies of her book George the Rooster Goes to the Apple Orchard from 10 a.m. to noon.
The home opener! <crickets>: Following the egg they laid in St. Louis last weekend, the Illini football team doesn’t have too much hype to deal with going into their home opener against Illinois State at 6 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. Let’s hope that takes the pressure off and they can perform well, with or without Arrelious Benn.
SUNDAY
Every time you close your eyes… Lies!: James Loewen, author of Lies My Teacher Told Me, begins a three-day residency at Allen Hall with a 7 p.m. world debut of his newest book, Teaching What Really Happened. Here are some other fascinating facts about Loewen that are guaranteed to impress that Elementary Ed major you’ve had your eye on: “[Lies My Teacher Told Me] has sold more than 1,000,000 copies and is probably the best-selling book by a living sociologist. Loewen taught race relations for 20 years at the University of Vermont and previously taught at Tougaloo College in Mississippi. His other books include Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism, Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong; The Truth About Columbus; and Mississippi: Conflict and Change, which won the Lillian Smith Award for Best Southern Nonfiction.” Check out Listen Up! on Monday for more info about his appearances at Allen Hall on Monday and Tuesday, which are, like this one, free and open to the public.
We may have mentioned this a couple of times yesterday: but it’s worth repeating. Matt and Kim are playing a free concert at the Inner Park at Parkland College. The show, also featuring Yea Big and Kid Static, starts at 6 p.m.