FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Films at the Art Theater-Coop- Amour, Friday, 4:30, 7:00, & 9:30 p.m. | Saturday, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 p.m. | Sunday, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00 p.m.
- John Dies at the End, Friday–Saturday, 11:59 p.m.
- Chasing Ice, Saturday–Sunday, 11:30 a.m.
I usually only choose one film to highlight at the Art, but this weekend all three are so good, I couldn’t decide. If you read the brilliant site Cracked.com, then John Dies at the End needs no introduction, since for the past year (it seems) any time you go to the site an ad for this book pops up.
Chasing Ice and Amour have been favorably reviewed by Jeremiah Stanley and Chike Coleman, respectively. (TN)
Frosty Fridays, SoDo Theatre, 8–10 p.m.
The Zoo Improv hosts performances every Friday. This week, their guests are Odd Request Improv and DeBono.
Odd Request Improv is a student-founded and student-run improv troupe that specializes in short form improv (scenes or games which run for about five to ten minutes). DeBono performs long form and musical improv comedy.
Both groups are local and connected to the University of Illinois. (TN)
Ill Poets Society Release Event, The Show Studios, 8:00 p.m., free
The Show announces the public exhibition of Ill Poets Society, a film about poetry, and live performance featuring artists from the film and new artists from the community. The event is free to the public and all are encouraged to attend. The first fifteen attendees will receive a free copy of the film DVD and audio CD from this project.
Your host for this event is Raymond Morales, Host and Executive Producer of The Show, a radio program on WRFU, 104.5 FM filmed for TV. Ill Poets Society is his debut as a poet and his first album.
Seating is limited, so to secure yours (and to get directions to The Show Studios), register in advance. (TN)
Joan of Arc, Anna Karenina/Anna Karina, The Highdive, 8 p.m, $8
This show probably did not get enough love from me earlier in the week in The Overture, but I should probably stress how big of a steal this one is on Friday. Tim Kinsella has proven himself as one of the more prolific musicians out of the Cap’n Jazz crew, putting out tons of material on a fairly consistent basis. He’ll make his way back through C-U, a familiar place at this point in time for him, to play solo with his Joan of Arc material Friday night. Anna Karenina/Anna Karina joins, and has been climbing the ladder as one of my favorite local acts currently making noise in town. Stream Joan of Arc’s “Post-Coitus Rock” below. (PS)
[[mp3 joan_of_arc_post_coitus_rock]]
Cody put together a solid interview with Nathan Landolt, the man behind the Error Records label, last week discussing his plan to open an all-ages venue in C-U. With your help, he can do it. But he still has a little bit left to go before his campaign expires next Thursday. It’s a pretty cool thing Landolt is trying to do, and even if you can only spare a few dollars, it could go a long way in helping this project get off the ground. You can see Landolt’s message below, and contribute to the campaign linked in the title. He’s less than $700 from his goal of $3,000, so we’ll see how he does down the homestretch. (PS)
UC:Beyond EDM Presents: technicolor, Emerald City Lounge, 9:00 p.m.–2:00 a.m., $3
Local DJs present a night of deep house, tech house, and techno, with live sets by:
- khaldoun atassi
- dif-eq
- j.doya
- aaron frye
Visuals by Kirkwood West and Supernova. Warm-up session with Supernova from 9:00–10:00 p.m. (TN)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23
North Shore Distillery Cocktail Party, Sun Singer Wine & Spirits, 12:00–4:00 p.m.
I know where I’ll be at noon on Saturday: sipping cocktails and smiling politely at North Shore’s distillery ambassador, Sarah Macfarquhar.
For those not familiar with North Shore Distillery, it’s made up of a small group of artisan distillers in Chicago, the first distillery from that area. Everything is locally manufactured and it’s delicious.
This tasting is free and open to the public. (TN)
30th Annual Insect Fear Film Festival, Foellinger Auditorium, 6:00 p.m., free
This year’s theme of the U of I Department of Entomology’s 30th Annual Insect Fear Film Festival, is The InsX-Files: The Truth (About Insects) Is Out There. And their special guest is none other than creative genius Chris Carter. That’s right. The creator/writer/director/producer of the motherfucking X-Files.
The television episode “The War of the Coprophages” and the 1998 feature The X-Files: Fight the Future will be shown.
The Insect Fear Film Festival has exhibits of exotic insects from around the world, an insect petting zoo, and all kinds of things for kids. It’s an amazing event not to be missed. (TN)
Schedule:
- 6:00–7:00 p.m. – Exhibits, displays, & activities
- 7:00–7:30 p.m. – Opening remarks
- 7:30–8:15 p.m. – “War of the Coprophages”
- 8:15–8:45 p.m. – Q&A Chris Carter
- 8:45–10:45 p.m. – X-Files: Fight the Future
- 10:45–11:15 p.m. – Q&A Chris Carter
China National Symphony Orchestra, Krannert Center Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30 p.m., $10–46, depending on demographic
From the program (pdf): In addition to Strauss’ landmark Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life), conductor Xincao Li presents Xia Guan’s Earth Requiem, composed in remembrance of the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake, and Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D Minor with prodigy [violinist] Chuanyun Li, who was featured in Chen Kaige’s 2003 movie Together. (TN)
Guan: Earth Requiem, movement 1
Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47
Strauss: Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40
Talent Night, Emerald City Lounge, 11 p.m.–2 a.m.
These shows are always a hell of a lot of fun. And the prizes are pretty great too.
Drink specials, entertainment, and, of course, fabulousness (which goes without saying). What more could you ask for on a Saturday night? (TN)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24
The Prairie Ensemble, Holy Cross Catholic Church, 7:30 p.m., $18 (general admission), $8 (students and children)
The Prairie Ensemble will give the next concert of its Seventeenth season, with a Concert Conversation at 7:00 p.m.
Entitled “A Windy Affair,” this concert features the ensemble’s wind and brass sections (almost) exclusively, with special guests Prairie Voices (Laurie Matheson, director), a recently formed local choir. The concert opens with Handel’s grand celebration for winds and drums, the Music for the Royal Fireworks, and closes with the award-winning Serenade for Winds from 1898, by American composer Arthur Bird.
The resonance and beauty of Holy Cross Church will provide the ideal setting for the central portion of our program: Arvo Pärt’s ethereal Fratres (Brothers), Stravinsky’s spare Mass setting, and Maurice Duruflé’s Four Motets on Gregorian Themes (sung a cappella).
Order tickets online or call (217) 355-9077. (MG)
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