FRIDAY, April 1st
DoCha, The Orpheum Theater, all weekend (check full festival schedule here), free
Come out this weekend to the beautiful Orpheum Theater for some free chamber music. Performing will be a number of University of Illinois School of Music professors including Stefan Milenkovich, Dmitry Kouzov, Yvonne Redman, and Michael Tilley. All events are free and open to all-ages. (JK)
Spring Book Sale, The Urbana Free Library, all weekend.
I usually try to avoid anything with the word “sale” in it, but when it refers to good books that are being sold for less than $1 each, then I’m interested. Last time I went I got Pissing in the Snow and other Ozark Folktales, which is a basically a collection of really dirty jokes and stories that were passed around during the late 1800s in the land of the Ozarks. Great stuff. Go check out the sale for yourself and see what you can find. (JK)
Secret art gallery show, Bentley’s Pub, leave for gallery at 7:15 p.m., free
The Basement Gallery is back with another local artist. This week Tyler Courtney displays 11 beautiful, black and white prints of local women’s lips. The show, titled ec(LIPS)e HATE is meant to start a conversation about race, features, and how we see one another. Pre-registeration is encouraged as spots are limited. Register here. (SL)
Mother Nature feat. T.R.U.T.H + Klevah, The Accord, 7 pm doors, $10 at the door, 19+.
I’ve been critical of Champaign-Urbana hip-hop before, but one of the certainly shining spots of the local scene over the past year is the combination of T.R.U.T.H and Klevah as Mother Nature. After an electrifying set at The Pygmalion Festival and a packed headliner at Cowboy Monkey, they set their sites on The Accord on Friday for what is sure to be a crazy night of awesome local hip-hop. Don’t sleep. (BH)
SATURDAY, April 2nd
Walk with the Mayors, Douglass Park, 9 a.m., free
Join Champaign Mayor Deb Feinen and Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing for a walk from Douglass Park in Champaign to Crystal Lake Park in Urbana. The weather is forecasted to be on point, so this is a good chance to stretch your legs and welcome spring. (RP)
Family Walk & Talk, Krannert Art Museum, 1-3 p.m., suggested donation $3/person
Children will find an especially welcoming atmosphere at KAM on Saturday, with special guides and activity books to engage them with the current exhibition. This is a great idea that will remove the hush and austerity of the usual gallery hours, and give kids good experiences with museums that are just for looking, and provide some quality family-time. (RK)
Have a drink, Sipyard, 2 p.m. to midnight, prices vary
How much have you missed being outside? Stop by Downtown Urbana’s newest drinking locale, which is now open for the season, and have a brew or two. Or, grab a hot coffee from Flying Machine and sit outside. Both options will warm you right up. Image from Facebook. (JH)
Gonglab Sound Healing, Amara Yoga, 6:30 p.m., $25/30 day of event
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to lie in a room and while people hypnotically play gongs all around you? If so, spend your Saturday evening at Amara, where gong specialists will lead participants in guided meditation and a musical experience designed to help participants disengage from stress and pain. (RP)
The Aging Magician, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., $27 or less
Kids singing backup to a bald accordian-playing cyclist opera singer also make puppets out of various objects while he tries to write a book allegory about all his forgotten dreams instead of repairing clocks or calling his mother. Other cool instruments are built into the set full of gears and other junk. Promises to be nifty, weird, beautiful and tragic. (RK)
SUNDAY, April 3rd
Purchase tickets for 15th annual YMCA Dinner and Auction, all weekend, $85 to $450
This annual fundraiser takes place on April 16th and is a fun way to support and engage with the University YMCA community. Tickets are at various price points (check website for more details), and you have the option of sponsoring a student dinner ticket. Dinner options are simple (veggie pasta, chicken, or salmon) and there will be dessert and wine. For more info, check out the Y’s webpage. Photo by Jessica Hammie. (JH)
Free 5k with food and prizes, 8:30 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. race, Arboretum
Ready to run? Get geared up and head out to the beautiful Arboretum to run a timed course. Adults and children are welcome and prizes for the top 3 runners in each age group will be handed out. After you run enjoy snacks and drinks. This event is sponsored by Avicenna Community Health Center, a local health clinic that provides free healthcare to the people of Champaign County. Donations accepted and greated appreciated. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. Register here. (SL)
———
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.