FRIDAY, January 16th
Inherent Vice, The Art Theater Co-op, every two hours or so
In a film adapted by Paul Thomas Anderson from Thomas Pynchon’s novel, the always interesting Joaquin Phoenix leads a cast that includes Josh Brolin, Martin Short, Reese Witherspoon, Benicio del Toro, and many more. The New York Times opined, “Mr. Phoenix’s note-perfect performance flows on the story’s currents of comedy that occasionally turn into rapids, as the funny ha-ha, funny strange back-and-forth abruptly gives way to Three Stooges slapstick.” That sounds fun, right? (MG)
Lunch at Masijta Grill, 202 N Race Street, Urbana, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m., about $15
There are a few ways to warm up during this frigid cold, and eating hot food is one of them. Lunch portions are huge — check out this bento box! I’m a super fan of the hot stone bowl, too. Bring a friend, or go it alone. No one will judge you when you eat all of the food and then take a nap. (JH)
The 24th annual Great Cover Up, The Highdive, $7, 7:30 p.m.
It’s back for the 24th time, folks. The annual cover up festival at the Highdive returns, and there are plenty of bands lined up on Friday and Sunday night this weekend for you to check out. The Great Cover Up will also be happening next Thursday and Friday as well, so check out the Facebook page for more info there. Check out the lineups and set times listed below for this Friday and Sunday.
Friday:
10:35-11:00 p.m. Mike Ingram + New Souls
9:50-10:15 p.m. Beat Kitchen
9:15-9:35 p.m. abnormous
8:40-9:00 p.m. The Ars Nova
8:05-8:25 p.m. Seventeen Sisters
7:30-7:50 p.m. Katie Flynn
Sunday:
11:55-12:30 a.m. 90s Daughter
11:10-11:35 p.m. Brother Embassy
10:30-10:50 p.m. Andy Moreillon & Dead Possums
9:50-10:10 p.m. CURB SERVICE
9:10-9:30 p.m. Decadents
8:30-8:50 p.m. James Jones Trio (PS)
Generationals, ELEL, Mike N Molly’s, 9 p.m., $10
The Pygmalion Show Series continues on Friday night with a couple of awesome bands heading through at Mike N Molly’s. They’ll pack it in for Generationals, who hail from New Orleans and are a part of the Polyvinyl Records team. They recently put out a few video for their song “Reviver”, and this is so close to the Highdive, you can pop back and forth to catch your favorite bands at the Cover Up on Friday night and still see these two bands. (PS)
Grifters, Cowboy Monkey, 10 p.m., $15
Unbashed 90s grunge is what the Grifters do best. Come out and headbang to that original rock ‘n’ roll sound. J Fernandez opens. (MR)
SATURDAY, January 17th
Celebrate Pekara’s 10th birthday with free cake, Middle Market at Lincoln Square Mall, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., free (while it lasts)
If locally made goods and food aren’t enough to get you to the Middle Market this Saturday morning, then free cake should do the trick. Pekara has become an essential part of downtown Champaign over the last ten years; where else can you can your coffee and breakfast sandwich and salad and sweet treat and freshly made loaf of bread? No where. Photo from Facebook. (JH)
Read a good book, free, indoors, dress code totally negotiable
You know what? It’s cold as Dante’s hell out there, and there might be no better way to spend a wintry day that curled up with a good book. There are plenty of good ones out there, as virtually every media outlet has announced its picks for the best books of the previous year. If you’re looking for a recommendation, might I suggest An Untamed State by Roxane Gay? (If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll find that, yes, I definitely might recommend it. In fact, I’ve done it repeatedly.) (MG)
Inhabit Your Body Workshop, Amara Yoga, 1:30-3:30 p.m., $30
Amara Yoga is hosting a two-part “Inhabit Your Body” workshop with Kelsey Bourgeois. Join the first of these to tune into your body and prepare yourself to stick with New Year’s resolutions for the long haul. (RP)
Read a book to a dog, Orpheum Children’s Science Museum, 2-3 p.m., free
This is actually not as crazy as it sounds. Take your kid to the museum and let them read to one of C-U’s registered therapy dogs. Organizers say that this helps kids practice their communication and reading skills. Plus you get to curl up with a friendly dog. (SL)
Dr Responsible Record Release Party, Mike N Molly’s, 8 p.m., $5
As the release show for Dr Responsible’s new tape Dryads, this event celebrates andshowcases the best of what C-U has to offer in terms of solo noise, ambient, and instrumental music. Jeremiah Fisher, Marathon, ((Husband Material)), and Luke R. Bergkoetter will also play. (MR)
SUNDAY, January 18th
MLK COMMEMORATION: A Service of Celebration Event, Krannert Center, 5 p.m.
In Foellinger Great Hall, Speaker Rev. Claude E. Shelby Sr. will lead this commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, which marks the 30th anniversary of celebrations on campus. The theme will be “Developing a World Perspective: Building Global Communities.” The event is free and will last approximately 2 hours with no intermission. (MG)
More Veronica, Boltini Lounge, 5 p.m., free
Veronica Bleaus, the self-proclaimed “worst drag queen in the midwest,” is back at it this week for C-U’s one and only Sunday afternoon drag show at Boltini. Come for the drinks, stay for the bad wigs and questionable dance moves. (RP)
Go get acupuncture, Urbana Acupuncture, Lincoln Square Mall, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., $15-35
If you have any pain or stress in your life or you want to try some alternative methods to achieve better health you might want to try the more than 2,500 year old practice of acupuncture available to you here in Urbana. The Urbana Acupuncture people say they can help you with headaches, anxiety, premenstrual pain, digestive upset and more. The staff use sterile, disposible needles only. (SL)
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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.