FRIDAY, January 6th
First Fridays, Urbana, 4-11 p.m., cost varies
There are a variety of activities that you can participate in this Friday in Urbana. Cohen building tour, free wine and chocolate tasting, sales at local shops, discount appetizers, curry specials, game night, free laughter yoga, discounted puzzle rooms, and you can even learn how to cut your own bangs. Check out the Facebook event for info on all of these great activities. (SL)
Eat some Dragon Fire Pizza, find the truck here, about $10 per pizza
Cosmo recently included Dragon Fire as one of the 50 best college town pizzerias in the US, and for good reason. It’s tasty pizza. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out yet, do yourself a favor and find the truck. Eat some pizza this weekend. It’ll be delicious. Photo by Jessica Hammie. (JH)
Go Ice Skating, U of I Ice Arena, 406 E. Armory, Champaign, 7:30-9:30 p.m.
If you’re gong to be cold, you might as well skid across some frozen water on metal blades, right? Even if it does mean countless instances of falling down, it’s more fun than walking literally anywhere. (BH)
Lonely Trailer (and guests), Iron Post, 120 S. Race St., Urbana, 9 p.m., $5.
I don’t know what it is about these guys: maybe it’s the banter, maybe it’s that they’re older than me, maybe it’s nostalgia for the first years I lived in C-U. It’s definitely the music, and whatever else extra, but every time I have the chance, I will pay to see Lonely Trailer, and encourage others to do the same. This time they have Bristle and Weed Whacker Johnson along with, and it will be a good time. (RK)
SATURDAY, January 7th
Watch Illinois Basketball vs. Indiana, Anywhere that gets ESPNU, 4 p.m., Free (plus the cost of beer)
Well would you look at that – we beat Ohio State on Sunday – maybe things aren’t as bleak as they seem. Either way, it looks to be a pretty slow (and cold) weekend, so kicking back at your home or at a bar looks like the move this Saturday. Even if we do lose. Mike Pence sucks. Go Illini. (BH)
Body Image / Pryss / Hush, Ghost Planet, 7 p.m., $5
Ghost Planet’s first show of the year is of the hardcore variety, and set to put up a stink. Body Image and Pryss are in from Schaumberg and Springfield respectively, and Hush are local. All are prepared to thrash. Ring in the New Year with Ghost Planet and support DIY music venues in C-U. (JM)
Jam out with JaM, Iron Post, 9-11 p.m.
The Iron Post is a great place to watch live music. Check out this two person band that wields an acoustic guitar and a voice that fills the room. Listen to them play out great folk rock covers and even some music of their own. Be sure to have some cheap drinks and classic bar food while you’re there. Check out the Facebook event page for more and JaM’s page to hear their music. (SL)
SUNDAY, January 8th
Game (afternoon) night, Riggs Beer Company, 1901 High Cross Road, Urbana, 2-5 p.m., no cover.
Riggs Beer Company has a decent collection of typical board games, but they also have a huge fireplace and tons of nice big tables. So grab some friends, grab a boardgame of theirs or your own, or show up and see who’s game. Cozy up to the fire and settle the crap out of Catan or play an even less appropriate game of Scrabble than pictured. (RK)
Check out a new (to you) restaurant, Champaign and Urbana, all weekend, prices vary
There are plenty of interesting things happening in the food and drink scene of late. A few new spots have opened up in the past few months — in no particular order: Baxter’s American Grille, Hamilton Walker’s, Koh-i-noor, Bangkok Thai (on Cunningham), Rigg’s Brewery (bring your own food). Pick a place you’ve never been, grab a friend or two, and check it out. Photo by Emily Cross. (JH)
Old Fox Road / We Love You / Pictures of Vernon and more, Blips and Chitz, 6 p.m., $5 donation
The intention of this event is to showcase up-and-coming touring bands as they ramble through Central Illinois. Almost all of the five (or six) performing acts are from different corners of the country and prepared to give you all they’ve got. Genres skew emo and punk, with lots more. Make sure to be on time for this early show so you don’t miss any of the action. (JM)
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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.