FRIDAY, December 11th
Common Ground Owner Party, Champaign location, 5:30-7 p.m., free
If you’re an owner at the Common Ground Food Co-op, you can get a sneak peek at the new space that will be the Champaign location of the store. There will be food, music, wine, and discussion about the new space (located at 500 N Walnut, Champaign, currently Simply Amish). If you’re not an owner, you can sign up to become one. If you’re an owner, you can bring a guest. (PS)
Candy Foster Unplugged, Silvercreek, 402 N. Race St, 6-8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.-midnight
Foster is damn near a local legend and has enough soul to make you want to sing the blues. Silver Creek is an upscale fine dining restaurant in Urbana. If you’ve never seen Foster or eaten at SilverCreek this is a perfect opportunity for a romantic date night that both of you are sure to enjoy. (SL)
St. Thomas Moore’s Madrigals performance and meal, 3901 N Mattis Ave, Champaign, $30, 7 p.m.
At STM, Madrigals is a holiday banquet with medieval or renaissance acapella vocal performance. This year, performances will be on Friday, December 11th and Saturday, December 12th, at 7:00pm in the cafetorium. Tickets are $30 per person, and include the performance as well as a 3 course catered meal. New this year will be a special staff and student ticket that includes dessert only and show for the special price of $10. (SL)
Terminus Victor, Pale Dian, Snayl, Mike N Molly’s, 8 , $7, 19+
If there’s one thing that Jamie xx has me excited about, it’s electronic music, and it just so happens that Snayl is the leader of a new brand of electronic music that has recently developed a cult following in Champaign-Urbana. Come out Friday to see what all the hype is about. (BH)
A Very Kush Christmas: Toys for Tots Benefit Show, Cowboy Monkey, 9 p.m., $7/$5 with a toy
Ever heard someone tell you “do it for the kids!”? Well, this is an opportunity to do something good for kids this holiday season. A Very Kush Christmas is an amazing enough name (and not to mention, look at that poster) for a show like this, but Cowboy Monkey will host Resinater, The Phantom Broadcast, Frontier Folk Nebraska, and Grand Ambassador. Good music and a good cause goes a long way.
Art Theater Secret Screening: Christmas Edition, 10 p.m., free
It’s happening again…Downtown Champaign’s Art Theater will be hosting a super stellar secret screening. Can they top the Halloween secret screening? We shall see. As per the secret screening facebook event page:
Join us for our next secret screening, the content of which is the stuff of legends. You’ve heard tale of it, perhaps seen a grainy outtake on the internet, a glimpse of fur and metal. This is your one shot to see it on the big screen, for free.
It is time for the holidays in a galaxy fairly far away.
The show starts at 10 p.m. sharp and is free to the public. (BC)
SATURDAY, December 12th
Urbana Makerspace Open Hours, Urbana IMC, 11am, free
Need some time to finish up those last minute Christmas gifts? Urbana Makerspace open hours is the perfect time to get your crafting, programming or any other various hobbies accomplished. The makerspace room comes equipped with sewing machines, 3d printers, soldering irons, and able-bodied members with the knowledge and know-how to help you complete your latest project. Go on, give it a try! Open hours are every Saturday morning in Urbana IMC basement room #16. (BC)
Winterfest, Sipyard, noon to 6 p.m., prices vary
This could be the last week Sipyard will be open until warmer weather returns. Enjoy unseasonable warmth whilst boozing and buying gifts. There will be booze (duh), vendors, snacks, gluhwein, and music. And according to a Facebook post, dudes in speedos drink for free. Photo from Facebook. (JH)
Lockout Rockout, 5-11 p.m., 1005 N. Dunlap, Savoy, $10/adult and $5/child
This is a local event and fundraiser benefitting workers at Clifford-Jacobs, who were locked out of their jobs on September 29. Entry includes dinner by Andersons Catering, acoustic music by Andy Mo’, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, a raffle, and live music by Killer Bee Honey (8-11 p.m.). (RP)
Celebration of Black Business Expo, 6-10 p.m., Urbana Civic Center, 108 E. Water St., Urbana, free
Check out the first annual celebration of black businesses in Champaign County at the Urbana Civic Center, sponsored by the Champaign County Black Chamber of Commerce. This will be a family friendly event with door prizes and food samples. (RP)
Church Booty, Tara Terra, The Evening Attraction, 9 p.m., Cowboy Monkey, $10, 19+
Over the past couple of years, a couple of local bands that have made names for themselves are Tara Terra and Church Booty. Individually, they have each advanced beyond the norm, and together, we’ve got one rad-ass show on the books at Cowboy Monkey on Saturday. This may be one of the best local shows of the year, but maybe I’m a little biased. (BH)
SUNDAY, December 13th
A German Baroque Christmas, 7:30 p.m., Holy Cross Catholic Church, 405 W. Clark Street, Champaign, $20 general/$10 student.
Baroque music is intricate and beautiful, and this concert is a benefit for the Eastern Illinois Foodbank. Featuring the Uni-High Madrigals and the BACH Chorus and Orchestra, the program will include the Brandenberg Concerto No. 2 and a hymn & carol sing-along as well as a Christmas cantata, directed by Dr. Chester Alwes. Tickets available online or at the event. (RK)
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, 8 p.m., The Station Theatre, 223 N. Broadway Ave., Urbana, $10
Take a seat in the house of Beatrice, Ruth, Tilly, and Nanny as they try to navigate a rapidly changing world from wildly differing perspectives. Things are bad enough inside these walls, and outside waits Janice Vickery, and others like her, who see nothing wrong with boiling cats in the name of science. (RK)
Bonus listing!
Think about spring and summer, consult your calendar; attend Monday December 14th’s CSA Fair, Urbana Civic Center, 4-7 p.m., free
Check out the Second Annual CSA Fair on Monday, December 14th to see what sort of community supported agriculture suits your needs. You’ll have options for everything from produce, bread, flowers, art, and wine. (JH)
———
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.