Friday, May 18th
Get some ice cream, Red Bicycle, Grovestone, Art Mart, wherever, about $5 per person
It’s no secret that here at SP, we love ice cream. Grovestone now has it available, and it’s delicious. There is a good selection of flavors, as well as two non-dairy options for those who are lactose intolerant. Red Bicycle is now offering vegan options made with a coconut milk base. There are a good handful of places to grab a scoop (or two). You can even get goat milk gelato from Prairie Fruits Farm at the market on Saturday morning. Bring your friends, the kids, and even your pets (but no bears). (JH)
Those Who Teach, Can, 1300 S Neil Street, 5 to 9 p.m., free
Check out the talents of Unit 4 art teachers as they display their personal work for the public. The exhibit will be at 40 Point One art space. This is the opening reception, but the art will be on display throughout the summer. I’ve been in the past, and it’s a really great event, especially if you have a connection to the school district. Take your kids and let them see what their teachers are capable of. (JM)
Ryan Groff, Kayla Brown, Paul Kotheimer, Flying Machine Avionics, 7 p.m., $5
Attention: The first 10 people to go to this show and pay the cover charge at Avionics will receive a free 6 oz. bag of coffee beans from Page Roasting Company. I’ve written about Groff recently, Elsinore’s front man has been piling up solo shows, including this one. He’s joined by couple of other local singer songwriters Kayla Brown and Paul Kotheimer. Kotheimer released some new music this year. (PS) Photo by Michael Heldebrandt
Saturday, May 19th
Walk, Stroll, or Roll with the Mayors, Anita Purvis Nature Center, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., free
This is a family friendly event that begins at Anita Purves and ends at Douglass Park. There will be refreshments, bounce houses, face painting, and an exhibition baseball game between local fire protection and law enforcement at McFarland Field. (JM) Photo from Facebook
Puppy Yoga, Flatlander Farm, 10:30-11:30, $15-20
I mean, seriously people. If you’re looking for some serious yoga practice this probably isn’t for you, but if you want to attempt some yoga and interact with some puppers, then this is definitely something that should be tried. The class is hosted by GypsyPawz Canine Services, and will be led by Maggie Taylor, local yoga instructor and owner of Delight Flower Farm. It’s $15 if you register ahead of time (which you can do by messaging the FB page), and $20 the day of. (JM)
Spend the evening Jazzercise-ing, Jazzercise Champaign (2906 Crossing Ct), 4:30-5:30 p.m., $15
Some things from our past come back to haunt us deeply. Some other things come back to remind us that we did something right, but maybe it was ahead of its time. I do not know into which of those two categories Jazzercise falls, but I do know that there is something to be said for jiggling and wiggling your way into feeling better. This dance party will have a “fun club atmosphere” that will undoubtedly “get the party started.” I don’t think the “fun club atmosphere” includes unwanted sexual advances, so we should all be okay. More details are available on Facebook. (JH)
The Merry Travelers, Pressure Fit, Zecca Bom, Blackbird, 9 p.m., $10
The Merry Travelers have been busy as of late, playing a show a few weeks back at Sipyard, and now venturing down the street to neighboring Blackbird for a show that will cost you a few bones. The bones go to a good place, and you should pay a visit to Blackbird and support some locals while you’re at it. Pressure Fit is Reginald Chapman’s project which we featured last week, and they are worth seeing as well. (PS) Photo from Merry Travelers’ Facebook page.
Sunday, May 20th
Play some tennis, Sunset Ridge Park, 3-4:30 p.m., free
The Champaign Park District will hold a special free workshop/lesson for folks interested in potentially learning to play tennis. Tennis is fun, and there are plenty of free courts in C-U, so it’s not as expensive a hobby as it could be elsewhere. Attend this lesson to see if it’s something you’re wanting to commit to. Here’s when to go, based on your age: 3 to 3:30 p.m. Adult Beginner (ages 15+); 3:30 to 4 p.m. Pre-Teen Future Stars (ages 10-15); 4 to 4:30 p.m. Young Future Stars (ages 6-9). (JH) Photo from Facebook
Chachi and the Bandidos, The Loose Cobra, 4 p.m., free
Here is one way to extend your weekend nights into Sunday afternoon: Check out the Loose Cobra on at Sunday afternoon/early evening for Chachi and the Bandidos. The Loose Cobra is always a good time, but be sure to get a DD if you’re planning on sippin’ too much and heading to and from C-U. (PS) Photo from Chachi and the Bandidos’ Facebook page.
Enjoy some campus quiet, anywhere, anytime, price varies
This is really one of the best weekends to hit up campus, if you don’t want to contend with the student crowd. It’s a bit of a ghost town, during this time after graduation and move out, when the summer session hasn’t begun. Stroll the quad and find a spot under a tree to read a book. Grab some coffee at Espresso Royale, take advantage of shorter wait times at Sakanaya (do this on Friday or Saturday though…they’re closed on Sundays), or grab a beer at Murphy’s or Legends. (JM) Photo by Tom Ackerman
Top photo by Jess Hammie
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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.