FRIDAY, June 12th
Della Mae and Tara Terra, Outside at Research Park, 6:30 p.m., free
You can’t beat a free show, especially when it’s quality bluegrass from Nashville and local rock music one of C-U’s favorites. Della Mae and Tara Terra will play an outdoor stage in the first installment of this show series. (MR)
The Pirates of Penzance, The Harold & Jean Miner Theater at Parkland College, 7:30 p.m.
CUTC presents this year’s Kathy Murphy Student Production, directed by Dawn Harris. From the CUTC website: “Set sail with this classic comedy that boasts one of the most famous patter songs in musical theatre history. A fresh take on one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most popular comic operas, this updated version of The Pirates of Penzance took New York by storm when it premiered in Central Park in 1980, leading to a subsequent smash-hit Broadway run.” (MG)
A Minister’s Wife, The Station Theatre, 8 p.m., $15
It’s the first summer offering from the folks at the Celebration Company, directed by Stephen Fiol (with music direction by Aaron Kaplan). From the Station website: “Based on George Bernard Shaw’s Candida, this lovely chamber opera is set in London, 1898, in the swirl of a love triangle among an admired socialist clergyman, his strong-willed and beautiful wife, and an idealistic young poet who aims to win her love. When A Minister’s Wife opened at Lincoln Center Theater in 2011, The Wall Street Journal called it ‘the most important new musical since The Light in the Piazza.'” (MG)
Nick and the Nailed Its, Joe’s Brewery, 10:30 p.m., free
What? A music show at Joe’s? Yes. As weird and bizarre as that sounds, there’s going to be a pretty fun local show outside in the Joe’s beergarden. Venture on down to campus — the students are gone for the most part — and enjoy some pretty cheap drinks and some pretty good tunes in a different environment than you’re used to. (TP)
SATURDAY, June 13th
Breakfast at Huaraches Moroleon, 805 Philo Road, Urbana, 8 a.m.-10 p.m., $9
Two words: Nomad skillet. It’s tempting to get distracted by breakfast burritos and chilaquiles. But turn away from that siren call, and turn insted toward fluffy eggs atop mountains of potato, onions, and chicken, all lovingly nestled under a blanket of hollandaise. Red sauce tops off this perfection. Corn tortillas, never toast… why even offer toast? And if you get there aroundish 11, you get free chips (but also a fairly significant wait time). (AH)
Uncork Urbana, Downtown Urbana, 1-9 p.m., $10 entry and 5 tasting tickets, plus $1 for each additional tasting ticket
This is the second year the Urbana Business Association is hosting Uncork, and it’s sure to be even better than last. The response last year was positive, and it seems like people really like to drink some wine, eat some food truck food, and listen to live music. Check out Illinois wineries like Sleepy Creek and Alto Vineyards, and enjoy some Dragon Fire Pizza and ROKs Tacos. (JH) Photo by Sam Logan.
Rolling Stones Day, Exile On Main Street, 4 p.m., free
Exile On Main Street is celebrating its namesake with a Rolling Stones Day in conjunction with the re-release of the band’s 1971 record Sticky Fingers. Local bands Finer Feelings, Cody Sokolski of Cody & The Gateway Drugs, Penny Horses, The Inn Keepers, Mike Ingram and Brian Hilderbrand, and potentially more TBA will be performing sets of Rolling Stones covers for free in-store. (MR)
Urbanalove Summer Movie + The Chemicals + Bike Ride, 7 p.m. (bike ride at 5:30), 129 N. Race, Urbana, free
There will be lots of Urbanalove happening on Saturday evening. Folks are meeting at Neutral Cycle on 5th in Campustown for a meandering bike ride to and through Meadowbrook; The Chemicals will perform in the Busey lot at 7 p.m., and a showing of The Royal Tenenbaums will start at 8:15. Don’t miss it! (RP)
Red Hot Summer, 9 p.m., Cowboy Monkey parking lot, free
Hate him or love him Rod Sickler consistantly orchestrates entertainment in CU. Combine music with downtown Champaign scenery, mix in some booze and you’ve got yourself a party. A party that will probably be fun to at least stop into. Bands playing are Johnnie Mae, 90’s Daughter and The Brat Pack. So put it on your calendars. (SL)
SUNDAY, June 14th
Crane Alley’s 7th Annual Crawfish Boil, 1 p.m., $20 in advance, $25 at the door(if there are any tickets left)
Crane Alley’s all you can eat Louisiana crawfish boil features crawfish boiled in a seasoned stock with Andouille sausage, bell peppers, onions, and corn. There will be a beer truck with six different Victory brews on tap, as well as an outdoor bar serving Hurricanes and Red Bull specials. Get your tickets in advance (at Crane Alley), if you can, and definitely show up early — last year was so popular that they ran out of food! (JH) Photo by Kaya Tate.
Go see Mad Max: Fury Road
Yes, you should go to the local theatre productions being offered this weekend. Yes, you should go to Uncork Urbana and the Crawfish Boil at Crane Alley. You should do all of these things. But you should also go see this unbelievably good film. (In fact, you should probably do it after you’ve “uncorked.”) From frame one, this movie is going to rattle your eyeballs in the best possible way. Every good thing you’ve heard is true, film-lovers. Go have a fine local meal in a fine local establishment, then go check out a big freakin’ Hollywood movie star summer action movie. (MG)
EXPOSED: Anniversary Edition, 6 p.m., Soma Ultralounge, free
If you haven’t seen an EXPOSED show yet, you have the perfect opportunity this weekend. EXPOSED is celebrating its one-year anniversary with poetry, spoken word performances, comedy, short films, and live music at Soma Ultralounge. EXPOSED offers folks a smattering of C-U’s awesome art scene, with drinks available and free appetizers to boot. (RP)
Buy Southern Tier Pumking beer, B-Spirits, 306 W Main St Urbana, about $10 per bottle
OK, I know it is not Halloween or anything but do you remember that delicious, pumpkin flavored stout called Pumpking? Yeah, I dreamt about it too. Well, the B-Spirits has a bunch of it. As I type this I am shedding tears because you will probably go buy it up. But I love you, SP readers, I do. So have at it and try and leave me a few bottles. (SL)
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