FRIDAY, May 29th
NCAA Baseball Regional Final, Illinois Field, 12 p.m. & 7 p.m., $10
You’ve got a pick of two really good baseball games today. At noon you can watch Notre Dame play Wright State and then at 7 p.m. is the matchup up between the Illini and Ohio University. This Illini team is great, don’t miss your chance to see them at home this weekend. (TP)
Friday Night Live Kickoff, Downtown Champaign, 6-8 p.m.
Friday night street concerts in Downtown Champaign kickoff this week featuring music from country to blues to pop. Kurt Bielema, Kittens Incorporated, Wildwood, North of 40, JMT Trio, and The Diva & the Dude/Kathy Harden & Andy Baylor will perform. There will also be a balloon artist, and Homer Soda samples (a preview of Saturdays Homer Soda Fest). See their Facebook page for set times and locations. (MR)
Urbanalove Summer Movie Night, Downtown Urbana, 6 p.m.
This event has something for everyone: a community bike ride, live music, and a screening of the classic 1949 Italian film The Bicycle Thief. Pick and choose what to do, or enjoy the entire event; see what time everything goes down here. (MR)
Touring the stars at “Prairie Skies”, William M. Staerkel Planitarium at Parkland College, Champaign, 7-8 p.m., $5 for adults, $4 for children under 12, students, and seniors (all at door)
Shoot for the stars, or at least get a bit closer to them at the Staerkel Planetarium. The Prairie Skies exhibit is a live planetarium experience, where a guide points out and tells stories about constellations and other stars visible in C-U. After visiting, take your new-found star knowledge out to your own background, bring some mosquito repellent, and marvel at the world around us. (AH)
Rebecca Rego & The Trainmen, Daniel & The Lion, Waterfowl, Kenna Mae Reiss, Mike N Molly’s, 8 p.m., $7
This is truly a terrific bill lined up at Mike N Molly’s on Friday evening, which should have beer garden weather at its finest for some live music. Rego and her team of Trainmen put out one of the best local records last year, and they’re joined by a cast of characters, including Daniel and the Lion out of Nashville. Don’t sleep on this. (PS)
SATURDAY, May 30th
Grabbing the county’s best croissants, Art Mart, Lincoln Square Mall, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., ~$2, though whatever they charge is reasonable
We all love Art Mart for its bright Le Creuset displays and cute owl mugs. But its bakery is nothing to be trifled with. Even though it’s right next to the Market at the Square, and you’re already loaded down with baked goods, dash in and grab a few croissants. Butter, chocolate, apple, cherry, blueberry, and cinnamon and walnut are generally available. After sampling all of them liberally, I can say with full confidence that butter is the way you want to go (though cherry is also delightful). Why decide? Just eat them all. (AH)
Homer Soda Festival, Downtown Homer, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m., free admission, tickets required for food and soda
The Homer Soda Festival is back again, with new improvements and expansions. There will be more food and activities, including more things for the kids to do, and outdoor laser tag. The soda and food line up seem to be about the same as last year. The forecast is indicating thunderstorms on Saturday, but the event is rain or shine, so check the weather before you head out. Image from Homer Soda Festival website. (JH)
Far From the Madding Crowd, Art Theater Co-op
Back for another weekend and playing pretty much non-stop, it’s Far From the Madding Crowd. From the Art website: “Directed by Thomas Vinterberg (The Hunt, The Celebration). Based on the literary classic by Thomas Hardy, Far From the Madding Crowd is the story of independent, beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene (Oscar-nominee Carey Mulligan), who attracts three very different suitors: Gabriel Oak (Matthias Schoenaerts, Rust and Bone), a sheep farmer, captivated by her fetching willfulness; Frank Troy (Tom Sturridge), a handsome and reckless Sergeant; and William Boldwood (Golden Globe nominee Michael Sheen), a prosperous and mature bachelor. This timeless story of Bathsheba’s choices and passions explores the nature of relationships and love – as well as the human ability to overcome hardships through resilience and perseverance.” (MG)
His Girl Friday, The Virginia Theatre, 1 p.m. & 7 p.m., $6
A true Hollywood classic! If you’ve never seen this one, I highly recommend it. The interplay between Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell is hilarious and fascinating, coming as it does from a time when film-writing was an art form (and still about the words, words, words, words). If the plot feels a little familiar, it might be because this script has been adapted a few times, borrowed from on countless occasions, and outright stolen from over and over again. Why? Because it’s that good. From the Virginia website: “His Girl Friday is a fast-talking 1940 American screwball comedy directed by Howard Hawks, from an adaptation by Charles Lederer, Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur of the play The Front Page by Hecht and MacArthur. A newspaper editor uses every trick in the book to keep his ace reporter (and ex-wife) from remarrying. With Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell.” (MG)
PechaKucha Night, Krannert Art Museum, 8:20 p.m., free
Stop by the next volume of PechaKucha to hear a variety of stories told in less than six minutes and forty seconds. Stories will cover everything from “Pulp, Sweat, and Beers” to how we talk about beauty in C-U. WCIA’s Drew Wilder will emcee the event. (RP)
SUNDAY, May 31st
Take a paddle boat ride, Lake House in Crystal Lake Park, 206. W. Park, 12-7 p.m., between $7-12
Why not go out for some good old fashion exercise in the outdoors this Sunday. Crystal lake is a great place to do. Renting a canoe or boat is easy but does require A valid driver’s license or major credit card as a deposit. Boat rentals last for half hour to a full hour and anyone under 16 requires adult supervision. (SL)
The Gravy Train, bacaro, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., about $20 per person, cash only
We recently told you about the new biscuits and gravy-themed Sunday brunch at bacaro. I’m sure it’s delicious, and worth the hefty price tag. (JH)
Go hear a metaphysical interpretation of the bible, School of Metaphysics, 1009 E. Main St., 6 p.m., free
Going to the School of Metaphysics is a trip. So, I am not telling you to go because they’re interpreting the bible, no. I am telling you to go because entering into the school is an experience–no matter what the subject matter. Trust me, you’re in for something you have likely never experienced. (SL)
Sounds at Sunset featuring Upshot, Robeson Park, 6-8 p.m., free
Bring a blanket to Robeson Park to relax at the end of the weekend and enjoy one of the best live bands around: Upshot. And stay tuned for the rest of CPD’s Sounds at Sunset series, which features bands like Elsinore, Sun Stereo, and Kilborn Alley later in the summer. (RP)
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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.