FRIDAY, November 11th
YIKES! A Showcase on Survival, Independent Media Center, 6-11 PM, all ages, recommended $5 Donation.
Scary times, friends. If you’re in the need of a space to let it all out, to express your fear about the future and our country, Yikes! the Showcase is for you, featuring some of the best local music C-U has to offer, all for a donation. Why not, right? We need something like this right now. (BH)
CUDO Pro Show, Gallery 217, 5 p.m.
The annual CUDO Pro Show, which is a fundraiser for the organization, is dedicated to the late Matthew Farrell and takes place starting tonight. You can check out all the details about the CUDO event here. (PS)
Portugal. The Man, Canopy Club, 9 p.m.
Yes, friends — this show is super sold out. But the idea of highlighting it here in the Weekender is meant to showcase that live music still has relevance in the scene. I, for one, am glad to see such a show uber sold out — Portugal. The Man is most deserving of this type of 1,000 capacity sell out, and if you were lucky enough to grab tickets, you are in for a treat. Though, I’m sure if you are trying to snag tickets, you can find a way to do so over the next 12+ hours or so. Canopy has been on fire this semester, and this is a reassuring sell out here, no question. (PS)
SATURDAY, November 12th
Craft League of C-U Art Fair, Urbana Civic Center, 108 E Water St, Urbana, free
Basketry, wood-working, ceramics, glass, bookbinding, painting, drawing, photography, fiber, leather, metal and more. With over 25 individual artists spanning for 2 days this is going to be a great place to add some local art to your collection. Check it out online. (SL)
Gadget Garage Grand Opening, 1833 S. Oak St., 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
This will be a public introduction of the space, where you’ll learn some tips and tricks on how to speed up your tech, watch videos of tech tear-downs, and observe live tear-downs of individuals who will be walking through repairs of their own tech. Check them out online. (SL)
Watch some men’s tennis, Atkins Tennis Center, 1800 S Wright St, Urbana, free
The JSM Challenger kicks off this weekend, and continues through November 19th. This free event is an opportunity to watch (in very close proximity) some up-and-coming tennis stars, including a good handful of young Americans. These are some dudes who go on to be top 50 players. Just a couple of years ago Jack Sock played the event, and now he’s an Olympic medalist, and ranked 23 in singles and 14 in doubles. (That’s in the world.) It’s a fun event. Image from Atkins’ Facebook page. (JH)
Dance at Illinois’ November Dance, KCPA Colwell Playhouse, 7:30 p.m., $22 or less
Endalyn Taylor, principal dancer for the Dance Theatre of Harlem, curates this fall’s showcase of dance. Including African diasporas, humorous looks at relationships, and physical work that will challenge every dancer, the soundtracks range from Stravinsky to the Stooges and all reflect upon the vast history of dance. (RK)
Twin Peaks, The Accord, 8 p.m., $14 advance/$16 door
This weighty week definitely calls for an easy and light weekend. The Twin Peaks dudes are back in Champaign again, and they never fail to put on an entertaining show that isn’t too mentally taxing. Enjoying their wonderfully sloppy garage rock tunes will be a welcome respite, and you can even jump into the sweaty mosh pit if you prefer a more aggressive approach to stress relief. (JM)
SUNDAY, November 13th
Practice self-care, all weekend, prices vary
It’s been a rough week. Take some time this weekend for some self-care: eat a cupcake, have a fancy coffee, drink a glass of wine, take a walk. Get a face sheet mask. Get a mani/pedi (yes, dudes, too). Binge-watch something uplifting or funny. Do some of those things on the couch or in the bathtub. Treat yourself. Live in Urbana? Stop by the Market IN the Square, grab a coffee from Common Ground, walk to Mirabelle, get a pastry. Live in Champaign? Art Mart has all the things you need (sweets, wine, coffee); Pekara and Aroma also offer hot beverage and pastries. Ask a friend out to breakfast. Eat all the pumpkin things at Courier Cafe. Photo by Jessica Hammie. (JH)
Poppea, KCPA Tryon Festival Theatre, 3 p.m., $35 or less
The opening opera for Lyric at Illinois’ 2017 season promises to be entertaining and very unique. Renowned director Madeline Sayet has been given free range to re-imagine one of the world’s oldest operas, which is unexpectedly relevant even without too much doctoring. The addition of technology that UIUC is known for and a futuristic setting are just two of the modifications we know about, but this plot of betrayal and ambition is simple and classic. Add $7 and go an hour early for “Dessert and conversation“. (RK)
Stare at the moon, Green Island Gardens, 7 p.m., free
This weekend sees the rise of a massive super moon, and Green Island Gardens is having a moon gazing party to experience it. Some local musicians will create ambient soundscapes in the background as you sit amongst golden autumn foliage and space out into space. A bonfire will provide warmth, as will your BYOB libations. The forecast calls for a crisp and clear evening, so come forget about humanity for a bit as you contemplate the cosmos. (JM)
———
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.