FRIDAY, MAY 3
The Place Beyond the Pines, Art Theater Co-op, Friday, 6:00, 9:00 p.m. | Saturday, 12:00, 3:00, 6:00, 9:00 p.m.
I’ve not yet seen this film, but check out Jeremiah’s excellent review in which he described The Place Beyond the Pines as “a carefully crafted, haunting, dramatic thriller.” And then head out to the best theater in C-U. It’s playing Friday night and all day on Saturday. (TN)
Next to Normal, Station Theatre, 8:00 p.m., $15
The propulsive, relentless rock musical by Kitt and Yorkey, directed by Station artistic director Rick Orr, is now in its second weekend. This Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner about a suburban family’s struggle with bipolar disorder must be seen to be believed. Of lead Jodi Prosser, Smile Politely’s Vicki Hoskins said, “Prosser is a dynamic force, candidly portraying Diana’s inescapable descent into madness. Prosser’s Diana is at times flirty, sexual, and witty, which makes her periods of confusion and rage even more heart wrenching.” (MG)
Elsinore, Grandkids, Minor Characters, Cowboy Monkey, FRIDAY, 9 p.m., $10 OR Elsinore, Common Loon, KO, Mike ‘N Molly’s beergarden, SATURDAY, 9 p.m., $10
Elsinore have been hard at work on their upcoming record, PUSH / PULL, which we would imagine is due out later this year. This weekend they’re performing on back-to-back nights, once on Friday night with Grandkids and Minor Characters at Cowboy Monkey, and again on Saturday at Mike ‘N Molly’s (beergarden, hopefully) with Common Loon and KO. Instead of listing these seperately for this version of the Weekender, I thought I would list it on Friday in attempts to decrease confusion. They haven’t performed in quite some time, so for all you Elsinore diehards out there, this is your weekend (whether you’re going to one or both). (PS)
Technicolor 2, Emerald City Lounge, 9:30 p.m.–2:00 a.m.
Technicolor 2 offers an “intimate club vibe with deep house, tech house, and visuals.” Also, special guest HeyCasey is coming in from Chicago. And check out the Friday night drink specials. (TN)
Lineup:
- 9:30–11 p.m.: Kirkwood West
- 11 p.m.–midnight: HeyCasey
- Midnight–1:00 a.m.: SuperNova
- 1:00-2:00 a.m.: J.Doya
Watch a popcorn movie at Harvest Moon Drive-In, Friday and Saturday night, 8:00 p.m.
Harvest Moon pulled off the huge fundraising hurdle they faced last year (digital upgrades totaling over $100,000) and reopened their doors last month. The snack bar is bigger and better (get some Green River Soda and a BIG pickle) and more renovations are coming. One of their best additions is Throwback Thursday Retro Cinema (yep, stuff happens on Thursdays also), which makes going to the drive-in more of the nostalgic paradise that draws me there. Last night, I saw Twister in a thunderstorm (The Goonies also played), which offered natural, free special effects. And, while I don’t need red meat, there’s plenty of it for those of you who “crave sustenance.”
Sure, the IMAX opening in Savoy sounds tantalizing this weekend, but don’t forget about the drive-in over in Gibson City. This weekend Iron Man 3 and Jurassic Park (not in 3D) are playing. (JS)
SATURDAY, MAY 4
Vintage Vinyl Sale 2013, 40 E. University Avenue, Champaign, $5 before 8 a.m., free after noon
Vinyl collectors rejoice. This is your time to go pick up a ton of records at the Vintage Vinyl sale this year in Downtown Champaign. The sale offers thousands of used LP records, CDs, DVDs, 45s, cassettes, and audio equipment at bargain prices, and provides funding for Illinois Radio Reader (IRR). Proceeds of the sale allow IRR services to reach more visually impaired people with services that enable users to remain self-sufficient by providing recorded readings of local newspapers and other print media, including sales flyers.
The sale opens with a $5 admission fee from 8 to 11 a.m. There’s no fee from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Doors close from 3–4 p.m. to prepare for the half-price sale from 4–6 p.m. (PS)
The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Parkland College Theatre, 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., $8–$14
The Whodunit musical has two shows on Saturday, a 2:00 p.m. matinee and a 7:30 p.m. evening performance. Come see the show that Smile Politely calls “an entertaining and amusing night at the theatre.” With book, music, and lyrics by Rupert Holmes, based on an unfinished story by Charles Dickens, and directed by Dallas Street, this energetic, audience-participation experience will have you smiling and humming long after the final curtain. Featuring engaging and lively performances by a host of local actors, including Marah Sotelo (pictured), Michael Steen, Grant Morenz, and Malia Andrus as the titular Drood him/herself. (MG)
Juleps and Junior League, Jupiter’s at the Crossing, 3:00–6:30 p.m., $25
We’re not entirely sure why the Junior League of Champaign-Urbana (JCLU) planned this Kentucky Derby Day event at Jupiter’s at the Crossing — but we think it was a great choice — because if you want to place bets on the race, the OTB is just downstairs. A $25 ticket will get you entrance to show off your best hat, drink some tasty mint juleps, watch your favorite horse win (or lose, let’s be realistic). Best of all, the proceeds all support Books by the Bushel. You can buy your tickets here.
If you don’t know anything about the JCLU, their website says it best. They are “an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.” …and that they want to get together and wear silly hats and drink makes us like them even more. (SK)
Derby Day, Corkscrew/Buvons in Urbana, all afternoon, no prices listed
On Saturday, Buvons will make you feel as close as you can get to Kentucky, without actually being in Kentucky. They will display the derby on the big screen — of course, because you can’t have a Derby party without the derby. Both mint juleps and flights of bourbon will be served, and most importantly for the full Louisville experience, you can get a Hot Brown, an open-faced sandwich that is basically a stack of turkey and bacon with Mornay and baked until crisp.
If you don’t know about The Hot Brown, you should. (Don’t think too much about the name — it doesn’t do the open-faced sandwich justice.) A Louisville staple, the Hot Brown has been served since the 1920s, and began as essentially a hangover food for dancers who’d been going all night at the Brown Hotel.
Ridiculous hats optional, but encouraged. (SK)
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