FRIDAY, April 15th
A Benefit for R.A.C.E.S., The Accord, 6 p.m., $5+ donation.
R.A.C.E.S., which provides vital service to a ton of area residents, is under constant threat from budget cuts from the state’s budget crisis. As such, a ton of awesome artists, musical and otherwise, will be joining together to donate their time to saving the extremely important institution — and you should, too. Great music, great cause, can’t lose. (BH)
Illinois Baseball, 6 p.m.
Baseball season is upon us. Thankfully, college baseball is still one of the college sports where the ticket prices are reasonable and the overall atmosphere feels like a college game, not a professional one. There are games all weekend- check the schedule for more details. (JK)
Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra Brass Blowout!, Krannert Center Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30 p.m., $40 or less.
It’s CUSO’s season finale, and they’re going out strong, with the loudest and most forceful section featured. Wagner, Schumann, Falla, and Ravel are featured in a program to get your heart pumping. (RK)
SATURDAY, April 16th
Record Store Day, Exile on Main St., 8 a.m.-10 p.m., free
Check out the list of new releases for this year by visiting this webpage. Exile is said to be ordering as many RSD released as possible and they’ll be posting pictures as they arrive to their Facebook page. There also be two stages, outdoor sales, special discounts at Exile and at Dandelion, food, and more. (SL)
Walnut Street Tea Company’s Re-opening, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., 115 S. Walnut, free
Walnut Street Tea Company is reopening with new ownership, and they’re celebrating the change with drawings, discounts, and a liquidation sale of warehouse inventory. Stop by to check out what’s new. (RP)
Cupping, Columbia Street Roastery, 10 a.m., free
Perhaps you prefer “tasting” to cupping, but regardless of how your ears digest it, the coffee tastes good. These monthly tastings are a free and fun way to learn more about coffee and try some different varieties. With all the newfound knowledge, you can surely impress a family member or a date. In fact, this is the perfect non-traditional date. So invite someone you think you might like. Photo by Jessica Hammie. (JH)
Sonified Sustainability Festival, 1-5 p.m., free
Sonified Sustainability is a festival to celebrate sustainability in the arts. Brooklyn-based artist Ken Butler will be joined by local musicians in a series of performances that feature instruments constructed from found and recycled materials. Find out more about the festival here. (RP)
Ebertfest double-feature: Love&Mercy and Blow Out, Virginia Theatre, 4:30 & 9 p.m., $15 each.
I can’t decide which of these two films to recommend more highly, so make it a night out. Hit the star-studdend Beach Boys biopic in the late afternoon, take advantage of the dinner break (maybe hit Watson’s Shack & Rail?) and come back for Brian de Palma’s classic political thriller starring John Travolta. (RK)
The Inn Keepers, The Phantom Broadcast, Fargo, and The Underwerewolves, Mike N Molly’s, 8:30 p.m., $5
The Inn Keepers have been a Mike N Molly’s favorite as of late, and on Saturday, the student band bids farewell to our beloved venue. Also joining them are The Phantom Broadcast, Fargo (Chicago) and The Underwolves, so it should be an evening full of bangers. And for only $5, no less. (BH)
SUNDAY, April 17th
Start thinking about making Mother’s Day reservations, all weekend, free-ish (until you take her out for a meal)
Mother’s Day is May 8th. Early, I know. But be a good kid and make some arrangements for brunch, or lunch, or dinner, or drinks, or something. Perhaps you’d like to special order her favorite cake or doughnut (from Pandamonium), or put together a little gift basket of fancy chocolates. Or, swing by Art Mart for some very cool and cute and hip and fun stuff. If that’s too much work, just make a reservation for Silvercreek’s Sunday Brunch. Photo by Jessica Hammie. (JH)
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