FRIDAY, March 20th
View some of the best CU photographs, Larry Kanfer Gallery, 2503 S Neil St, Champaign, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., free
Larry’s photos of Champaign-Urbana and the surrounding areas are incredible. Seeing them in person, in the gallery, is 10x better than seeing them online. Go to the gallery, see the photos framed, experience art made from the beauty around you in CU. Plus, Larry is a really sweet guy! (SL)
Watch the NCAA Tournament, downtown bars, 11:15 a.m.
Two number three seeds out on the first day? Watch the rest of the madness unfold at your local watering hole. This stuff only happens once a year and, frankly, your boss is probably watching at their desk anyway. Enjoy the NCAA tournament with a beverage of your choice at your local watering hole. Kansas vs New Mexico State gets the Friday games rolling. (TP)
Make it a weird double-feature at The Art Theater Co-op
Starting Friday, you can see Argentina’s nominee for the Best Foreign-Language Feature Oscar, Wild Tales, paired with the comedy/horror hybrid What We Do in the Shadows! The Art’s website describes Wild Tales thusly: “Inequality, injustice and the demands of the world we live in cause stress and depression for many people. Some of them, however, explode. This is a movie about those people. Vulnerable in the face of a reality that shifts and suddenly turns unpredictable, the characters of Wild Tales cross the thin line that divides civilization and barbarism.” Of What We Do in the Shadows, which sprang from the minds of the creators of Flight of the Conchords, the only words you may need to hear are “cheerfully horrific.” More info here. (MG)
UI Wind Symphony, Foellinger Great Hall, 7:30 p.m.
The University Wind Symphony, under the direction of conductor Linda R. Moorhouse, will perform this Friday at Foellinger. Per the Krannert Center website: “A preeminent ensemble in the world, the UI Wind Symphony premieres new works, travels to national and international events, and sets the standard for band performance and training. Its members are undergraduate and graduate students who excel at playing the traditional band repertoire, works for small chamber groups, and innovative new pieces. Since its inception, it has served as an ambassador for the historic Illinois Bands program, and it is an innovator in the wind band field.” (MG)”
Marathon, Tender Mercy, Sad Man, Mike N Molly’s, 9 p.m, $5
Marathon is constantly evolving—at first it was a more or less passive solo drone project, then it morphed into the Guitarkestra form, a six-plus guitar assault. This show is a new iteration: a full band approach. Tender Mercy, ambient folk from Louisville, and local solo project Sad Man support. (MR)
Play a game of darts, Huber’s Bar, 1312 W Church St, free
Going to Hubers is an experience and playing darts ought to be apart of that experience. It is a true townie bar where you can drink beer, eat candy, popcorn, and, or pizza while you play darts, make friends, or watch sports. When you go in, note the smell. It is distinct and it has been that way since I was a kid, for at least 20 years. (SL).
DJ Delayney, Highdive, 10 p.m., $5
Get your dance on at the Highdive with DJ Delayney. Dancing might be the perfect way to blow off some steam from the weekend and there’s no better place to do it than the Highdive. Delayney spins everything from Top-40, hip-hop, R&B, reggae, to old-school dance tunes to help you kick your weekend off right. (TP)
SATURDAY, March 21st
Middle Market, Lincoln Square Mall, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
March’s Middle Market is this weekend, and is a much welcome reminder that there will soon be fresh produce. Although we still have a few weeks to go until Urbana’s Market at the Square, the Middle Market is a way to get acquainted with local vendors and stock up on all those pantry items you’ve depleted over the winter (including local wine). Honey, flowers, breads, sweets, and crafts will be available, too. (JH)
Go for a Hike, Kickapoo, Meadowbrook, your neighborhood, anytime, free
The weather has been a bit hit or miss this late March, so make sure to take advantage of Saturday’s predicted mid-60s and sunny weather by spending some time outside. Head over to Kickapoo if you’re feeling ambitious, or stay in town and take a stroll through Meadowbrook park while appreciating the fact that patio weather is basically here. (RP)
Spring Open House or breakfast with baby goats, Prairie Fruits Farm, 4410 N Lincoln Ave, Champaign, 9 a.m.-noon, about $8-$10 per person, I’d guess
PFF’s Spring Open House featuring breakfast on the farm begins today. In addition to checking out the farm and seeing the 100+ baby goats, you can have some breakfast. This week’s menu features gingerbread pancakes or egg, spinach, and chevre on a toasted bagel. There are a few sides and a children’s pancake option, as well as goat’s milk hot chocolate. Yum. (JH)
Underground, Guido’s Bar and Grill, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., free
Guido’s is hosting another free underground electronic event. Drink cheap beer and listen to DJs Tim Williams, Vader, Belly, Reed Richards, and Kosmo will be spinning one-hour sets starting at 9 p.m. (RP)
Terminus Victor, MegaMaul, Dr Responsible, Fiona Kimble, Mike N Molly’s, 9 p.m., $7
Local rock staple Terminus Victor will perform on Saturday night with a few others, including Chicago’s MegaMaul and locals Dr Responsible and Fiona Kimble. You can read more about Dr Responsible in Maddie’s interview piece from a short while back when he released his new record, Dryads. Stream that record over in the SPlog post for a preview of what is happening on Saturday. (PS)
Take a trip to Texture Home, 1107 Windsor Road, open hours (11 a.m.-6 p.m., I believe)
If you haven’t had the chance, make a trip to one of the new-ish shops in C-U, Texture Home. You can get a preview of what’s happening there, but most likely, you will find something that you will want to add to your own home when you go there. Cool couches, fixtures, lamps, and other decor all in one spot. It’s Saturday, so you have some time to make this happen. (PS)
SUNDAY, March 22nd
Drag show, Chester Street Bar, show at 11 p.m., $5 cover
Did you know that C-Street hosts an awesome drag show every single week? Hands down, it’s the most hoppin’ place downtown on any given Sunday night. Maybe you’ll sit back and sip a Vegas bomb from the sidelines while you watch the queens and kings do their thing on the floor, or maybe you’ll join in if you’re feeling it. Either way, it’s nice to know this happens every week, and it’s even nicer to hit it up every once in a while. (MR)
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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.