FRIDAY, February 20th
Get a barbershop haircut, Dave & Gene’s Barber Shop, 509 E Green St #2Champaign, between 8 a.m.-5 p.m., about $20
If you haven’t gotten a barber shop haircut, it is worth your time for the experience alone. Plus, you need a fresh cut for the weekend. This barbershop is touted to have a pool table “a ton of Garfield comics,” and friendly service. They may even offer a hot shave. Check it out. (SL)
‘Appy Hour, Silvercreek, 402 N Race Street, Urbana, 5:30-6:30 p.m., prices vary
Each Friday Silvercreek’s happy hour features different drink specials and half-off bar bites. There’s also live music until 7:30 p.m.–this week you can catch Candy Foster. (JH)
The Sparrow, Parkland College Theatre Second Stage, 7:30 p.m.
Directed by Gary Ambler, this imaginative and original drama tells the story of Emily Book (played by Karen Hughes), a shy and guarded teenage girl who returns to her small town high school ten years after a tragic accident rocked the community. When Jenny’s life is threatened in a dangerous stunt at the homecoming basketball game, Emily reveals her true powers as she saves Jenny’s life in a stunning display of heroism. Thus, Spring Farm’s own darling superhero, “The Sparrow,” is born. The Sparrow taps into the fundamental aching of adolescence — fearing that we’re somehow different while hoping that we’re somehow special. (MG)
PHOX, Field Report, The Highdive, $12 advance/$15 door, 7:30 p.m.
Wisconsin outfit PHOX have become somewhat Champaign-Urbana sweethearts over the past few years, playing in town a few times and gaining a reputation as one of the better live acts to come through town on a yearly basis. They performed right in the heart of Downtown Champaign last summer for Mariposa Festival alongside Braid and Common Loon, and this time they’re taking the stage at the Highdive for the Pygmalion Festival’s Show Series installment. This one will fill up quickly, so grabbing your tickets in advance would be a recommendation of mine outside of just getting to this show, period, on Friday night. (PS)
Floyd Collins, The Station Theatre, 8 p.m.
Based on real events and directed by Kyle A. Thomas, this lesser-known but very engaging musical is set in 1925 when, while chasing a dream of fame and fortune by turning a Kentucky cave into a tourist attraction, Floyd Collins himself became the attraction when he got trapped 200 feet underground. Alone but for sporadic contact with the outside world, Floyd fought for his sanity and his life as the rescue effort above exploded into the first genuine media circus. This haunting musical – one of the most acclaimed in recent years – tells the transcendent tale of a true American dreamer. (MG)
Upshot, Andy Mo & the Dead Possums, and the James Jones Trio, Cowboy Monkey, 9 p.m., $5
Upshot puts on one of the best live shows in town, in my humble opinion, and they’ll be joined on Friday by two other fantastic local bands. Kick off your weekend (and warm up from the cold weather) with this great line-up plus a whiskey or three at Cowboy Monkey. (RP)
SATURDAY, February 21st
Buy some Autumn Berry Inspired stuff, Common Ground Food Coop, Lincoln Square Mall, 7 a.m.-10 p.m., $10 or less
I recommend the jam if you have a sweet tooth (might pair nicely with almond butter) or the blazing jam if you’re looking for a savory application (might make a nice glaze for a ham). Or, if you’re looking for some snacks, pick up some of the delicious fruit leather. (JH)
Kowabunga! Kid, Broken Prayer, Military Police, Bullnettle, Dingbat Dungeon, 7 p.m., $5
If you can’t already tell, this lineup is so very stacked. Local surf-punk-pop band Kowabunga! Kid hasn’t played a show in what seems like forever, and Chicago’s insane synth-core band Broken Prayer, who has a new album in the works, are playing too. Yes, I just made up the genre “synth-core.” Convinced? Come out to the Dungeon, but not at 7. Punk time is pretty much guaranteed. (MR)
Trust Your DJ (No Requests), Guido’s Bar and Grill, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., no cover
Last month, when Guido’s kicked off this event, was super fun, and I’m expecting nothing less from Feburary. DJs Tim Williams, Kirkwood West/Reed Richards, Ricky Wells, Belly, and Kosmo will each be spinning one-hour sets in Guido’s lowel level while you dance, drink, or whatever. (RP)
James and the Giant Peach, Urbana High School, 7 p.m.
“James and the Giant Peach is packed with rich vocabulary, which allows students to learn new words and synonyms for other words that get overused in their writing and literature. It uses a lot of ‘spicy words’ as I like to call them,” Medenis said. “The book also allows the students to dive into a deeper understanding of the main character, James. An area we look at in 3rd grade is character traits, and how a character’s actions, motivations, and words help contribute to the events in the story.”
A “Character Carnival” is also being held on Saturday, February 21, from 10:00–11:30 am in the Urbana High School Commons (enter through the Iowa Street doors). The Carnival will feature the high school student actors in full costume for children to meet and take photos with, as well as storytelling, activities, peachy treats and refreshments, prizes, and balloons. Admission to the Carnival is $3 for kids ages five and under, and $5 for people six and up.
The box office opens at 6:30 pm for the 7:00 pm Saturday performance at Urbana High School’s Cobb Auditorium (1002 S. Race St.). There is also a Sunday matinee at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $5 for students and children and $10 for adults. (MG)
SUNDAY, February 22nd
To Kill a Mockingbird, Central High School, 2:30-5:30 p.m., $7 adults/$5 students
I bet you are pumped that 55 years after To Kill a Mockingbird was published, a new book by Harper Lee is being printed. In celebration of the new book, go see this play and revisit the story that captured your heart, long ago, in a poorly lit high school classroom. So come “chew up the scenery” this afternoon. (SL)
Illini Basketball vs. Michigan State, State Farm Center or your neighborhood pub, price varies, 6:30 p.m. tip off
Alright, so, I realize that the last Illini Basketball outing wasn’t the greatest (you know — that game that we lost to Wisconsin by nearly 20 points), but that’s OK. We weren’t supposed to win that game anyhow. A win AT the Kohl Center against the number 5 team in the country? Doubtful. Go back to the game before that, where they beat Michigan in overtime at home. Now that was a game we should’ve won, and did just that. Illinois is back at home this weekend against Michigan State, a team that we edged out in East Lansing just a few weeks ago. Catch it at your favorite neighborhood bar like Esquire, the Icehouse, or wherever, or try to snag tickets to the game — they will be at a premium, though. (PS)
Black Sacred Music Symposium Concert, Krannert Center, 7:30 p.m., $10
The University has been hosting a Black Sacred Music Symposium for the past few days, and the final performance — which features the University of Illinois Black Chorus — takes place this Sunday. Professor of piano, Rochelle Sennett, and the Jupiter String Quartet will join Dr. Ollie Watts Davis, conductor, and the Black Chorus for the Symposium Concert. (RP)
The Cristin Colvin Quartet, Pizza M, 9 p.m., $4 suggested donation
Opera singer turned jazz improvisor Cristin Colvin is gracing Pizza M with a quartet, two members of which she’s never played with before. Sunday night will see this place sounding as good as it smells. (MR)
Bookmobile! w/ Bad Catman, Loose Cobra, 9 p.m., donation at the door
Seeing a show at the Loose Cobra in Tolono is awesome. It’s like your favorite dive bar with your favorite bands. This weekend, it’s Bookmobile! bringing the garage punk jams for as little as a donation at the door. Drink about five Blatz and rock out at the Loose Cobra. (TP)
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