FRIDAY, AUGUST 12
Live Music With $3 Tapas at Café Luna
5–7 p.m.
Is there a more underappreciated beer garden in the city than the one at Luna? Likely not, quite frankly, if what you want in an outdoor seating setup that includes plants growing, interesting wall art, and the chance of a hobo hopping off a speeding train looking for a midnight cocktail. Hats off to Raquel Aikman and her team for utilizing what could consistently be named the finest place to hang outside in downtown by offering up $3 tapas (Luna serves really great food, FYI) and a live band, all for the cost of nothing. Here’s to hoping this happens more often than not.
New Riders of the Golden Maize will be performing on the outdoor patio from 5–7 p.m. (SF)
The Music Man at Parkland College Theatre, Fri/Sat 7:30 p.m., Sun 2:30 p.m., $16
I don’t want to spoil the fun for those of you who haven’t yet seen a production of The Music Man, but if you haven’t yet — now would be the time. At $16, it’s a steal. And seeing as how we’re in the Midwest, it’s all the more fitting. The story takes place in the cornfields, mid-summer, and is peppered with references to the world with which we’re far too familiar: mid-summer heat in the cornfields.
Parkland College frequently does right by its productions, and their version of The Music Man, which is produced in conjunction with the CUTC, is no exception. With the heat wave still in full effect, the time is ripe for something as perfect as this. (SF)
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan at the Art Theater, $6.50 before 6 p.m., $9 after
Animalia: A Karma Yoga Event for Animal Welfare at Amara Yoga, 7-9 p.m.
Amara Yoga will host an art show and animal-inspired Yoga class benefiting the Piatt County Animal Shelter. The class is for all ages and skill levels, although you don’t need to participate just to take in the art and opening reception. (BV)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13
C-U Across the Prairie Bicycle Ride, Lake of the Woods Park, 7 a.m., $25/$30
What’s this you say? You don’t ride a bike? Well, that’s about the stupidest most ridiculous thing I’ve heard since Johnny Stein told me that Jarling’s serves up slop called custard. If there were any chance to decide to reinvigorate that old habit from childhood (c’mon, you know you had a Huffy or a Schwinn), now would be the chance. Lake of the Woods offers Champaign County its one true respite from city life, complete with trails, wildlife, a golf course (hey, I’m workin’ it here), and even, yes, a body of water.
A more gorgeous setting you won’t find in Champaign County. That’s a promise. (SF)
Cheeseburgers & Fun! at Kennekuk County Park, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
This event is called Cheeseburgers & Fun! (RH)
Warriors, Guardians, and Demons
This could be LARP…
or an exhibition of Asian carvings at the Spurlock Museum from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. I hope it’s some combination of both. (RH)
Olympic Brain Games at Urbana Free Library, 2-2:45 p.m., free
Remember “Braingames” on HBO?
That show kicked ass. (RH)
Spoken Word Showcase at Indi Go Artist Co-op, 6 p.m.
From an event announcement: “HBD Storytellers, the producers of Speak!, are proud to bring downtown Champaign a summer spoken word showcase. Featuring: Al Harris, Benjamin Matheson, Dan Keding, Jamie Marlow, Gerry Maestro Welch, Hal Southern, Stage Presence, Julia Pyatesky, …and pre-show musical entertainment by Cara Maurizi. Stick around for the DJ and drinks afterwards.”
Happy Birthday Alfred Hitchcock Concert @ The Red Herring
8–11 p.m.
Performers: Fictional Characters and Beast from Sea
Honestly, I don’t know what the fuck this is all about, but with honors going out to the man that brought us Rear Window, Vertigo, and The Birds, amongst too many others to count, wouldn’t be worth it to check it out?
I thought so, too.
Plus, live music from two artists that deserve more than a look these days. Fictional Characters is the brainchild of Ryan Willis, who hails from Monticello, but seems dead set on making a name for himself 20 miles east in Champaign. This name keeps popping up more and more, and now would be a good chance for you to see what the hubbub is all about. (SF)
Champaign-Urbana Days at Douglass Park, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sat, 4 to 8 p.m. Sun, Free
Champaign Streetfest featuring The Brat Pack and Autumn Zero, 7 p.m., Free
One name to remember: Brian Mertz. (SF)
Mike & Kayla’s triumphant return to Bentley’s!
9:30 p.m.
Location: Bentley’s Pub
From 9:30–12:30 Mike Ingram and Kayla Brown will be “laying down tons of awesome tunes and testing our theory that Coffee Bombs really do make everything better.” (TN)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 14
State of the Art at the Art Theater, 1 p.m., Free
According to an email from the Art: “Operator Sanford Hess will give a speech entitled ‘The State of the Art’ about the present status and future of the Art Theater. The event is one hour long. Admission is free. The speech will be at the Art Theater. The presentation will last for about 30-40 minutes, and the remainder of the hour will be set aside for questions. In addition to answering the question ‘How is the Art Theater doing?’ from a business perspective, Sanford will lay out three different future scenarios to keep the Art Theater going.”
Friendshop Used Books Open at Champaign Public Library, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
I’m hesitant to bring this up too often as increased visibility might mean fewer books for me, but I suppose increased literacy is a net positive. Good books, ridiculously cheap. My last haul included Thomas Pynchon, Roberto Bolaño, William Gibson, and a depressing but highly-relevant tome on the history of the American Empire’s small wars and military “exercises.” All hardback. All for a dollar. (RH)
Calamari Frito at Escobars, $9, all day
If you think that calamari is limited to the little round pieces you get, sliced thin and then deep friend in a flour breading, please, think again. Escobars serves up its version with calamari steaks — which is simply the same thing, squid, but from a bigger cephalopod, which gives is a thicker body than the smaller baby squids we are most accustomed to eating.
They fry theirs fast after having breaded it in a panko crust and serve it with a garlicky aioli, along with their standard greens and dressing. It’s listed as an appetizer, but believe me, it’s enough for most anyone looking to satisfy their craving for seafood, even this far inland.
I have no picture offhand. You’ll just have to trust me on this one. (SF)
U of I Golf Course: Twilight Golf, 18 Holes for $16 after 2 p.m.
Remember that time you went golfing with your grandfather? Remember how he yelled at you? How he called you a bum when you ran over his ball with your cart? Remember how you couldn’t stop yourself from crying, and how he got out of the cart and walked the rest of the course, by himself? Well, he’s dead now, and you haven’t been golfing since. So why not use $16 out of your inheritance and hit the links? It’s cheaper than a therapist, and it’s one of the Best Golf Courses for CEOs. Whatever that means. (CDC)
Wow. Those are some low-rolling CEOs. (RH)