Smile Politely

Weekender: November 22-24

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22

Dance for People with Parkinsons, 10 a.m., Krannert Center, free

Come to the Krannert Center Drama Rehearsal space and experience the fellowshipof communal dance with instructors Marianne Jarvi and Kate Kuper of Dance at Illinois. If you or a loved one is living with Parkinson’s, join us to explore gentle movement in a safe, welcoming environment. Set to uplifting, familiar music, this 70-minute monthly class may assist with the preservation and improvement of balance, flexibility, and strength. Please dress comfortably for this full-body workshop with music by Beverly Hillmer. (MG)

Wish the Illinois women soccer team good luck

Congratulations to the Illinois soccer team, as they are set to continue in the NCAA tourney. The girls beat Washington in a penalty shootout and have advanced into the second round of the NCAA tournament. This year is the third season in a row that Illinois has reached the second round in the NCAA tournament. They will play on Friday at 11 a.m. against powerhouse Portland who will be more challenging as their records stands 17-2-1. Illinois has only played Portland once and lost back in 2009. Send the luck as tomorrow will be the second time in history Illinois will faceoff Portland, so good luck to them. Sure, this game isn’t happening in C-U, but it’s worth mentioning. (AB)

Prairie Skies, Parkland Staerkel Planetarium, 7 p.m.. $5 adults/$4 students, seniors, children under 12

A narrated tour of the sky,  Find out what constellations and planets are visible for that night and how to find them.

This show is updated seasonally and is intended for all ages. (PY)

Closing night for Art Gallery, Common Ground Food Co-op, 7 p.m.

Celebrate the last night of art gallery for elizBeth Simpson; Call for Participation: Art in Collabortation. Her work has been on display since September. This Friday, you will have a chance to meet the artist and there will also be refreshments and wine. elizaBeth Simpson has worked as a performance artist. While working with others, her art specializes in collaborative composition. Follow this link for more information. (AB)

Terminus Victor, Hype War Machine, The Stars, They Beckon, Acker, Shadelite Studios, 7 p.m., free

Although I’m not so familiar with the space Shadelite Studio is working with, this looks like it will be a good show on Friday night to attend. Terminus Victor is the headliner, and if you haven’t listened to Prevention vs. Intervention yet, do yourself a favor if you’re interested in going to this one. Three others lined up to play as well, including a couple of great locals in The Stars, They Beckon and Acker. Did I mention it’s free as well? It’s free. (PS)

Big Trouble in Little China, The Art Theater Co-op, 10 p.m.

The Late Night feature at The Art this Friday and Saturday night is none other than Big Trouble in Little China! Join the fabulously coiffed 80s Kurt Russell, a very pre-Sex & the City Kim Catrall, and more goofy magical martial arts mayhem than you coudl possible shake a masculine stick at. This might be the quintessential 80s action film (no it’s not) or at minimum the high point of Russell’s career (no it’s not); in any event, it’s well worth your time to check out some over-the-top fight sequence and spectacularly cornball dialogue. Highly recommended. (MG)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23

Thanksgiving veggie shopping, Holiday Market at Lincoln Square Mall, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.

Thanksgiving is next week. Why not pick up some local produce for your veggie dishes this weekend? There were plenty of items available, and there is no comparing store bought produce to local produce. You can also pick up a gift for the host of the party. (JH)

Jazz Talks, The Iron Post, 6–7:30 p.m., $10

The Community Center for the Arts‘ Jazz Talks event this Saturday will feature the stories and sounds of three local jazz enthusiasts and musicians: Morgan Powell, Shab Wirtel, and Gary Peyton. Each performer has been part of C-U’s jazz scene for decades and will share experiences that document the history of C-U’s vibrant musical scene. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Community Center for the Arts. (RP)

Fusion of Theatre and Stand-Up, Virginia Theatre, 7:30 p.m. $45/$22.50 for students.

A one-man fusion of theatre and stand-up starring Peter Story, this show at the Virginia Theatre is based on the New York TImes #1 best-selling book by John Gray.

The show is recommended for adults due to mature material which covers dating, marriage, and sex. Check out an intro sneak-peak video clip from the show by clicking here.  (PY)

Move Around, anywhere, anytime, (mostly) free

It’s starting to get really, seriously cold, the kind of cold that’s tough to walk through, let alone be active in. Don’t let this weekend’s cold give you the excuse to be sedentary. Rather than waiting for post-Thanksgiving regret to catch up with you next weekend, may I suggest getting a head-start on a winter workout routine? Take a walk, go for a run, or take a chilly bike ride. Or, if you’d prefer to stay indoors, Amara Yoga has a great introductory offer for first-time students: $20 for a week of unlimited yoga classes. (RP)

Grab a beer (or a handful of them) at Quality, anytime in the evening, $4-$12+

It’s been too long, but I’ve been meaning to head over to Quality in Downtown Champaign to see what new beers they are carrying on tap. Take a seat at the bar and hang out for a while, go play some pinball for a game or two, go play darts, then come back and make conversation with the bartenders. They’re typically friendly from my experience, so you have that going for you. All of those things should supply at least a three or four beer time to say the least. You might end up staying for more. Check out the taps that are pretty reasonably priced as well. The photo here was posted recently, and is their line up of beers on tap as of November 16th. Should be pretty close. (PS)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24

Founder’s Fall Cookout, Crane Alley, 115 W. Main Street, Urbana, 1 p.m., menu prices

Crane Alley will have fourteen different Founder’s beers on tap for this special event. Oh, they’ll also use the super-concentrated beer from the bottom of a 55-gallon bourbon barrel used to age Founder’s Backwoods Bastard to make BBQ sauce. Then they’ll hack up that wood and smoke some meat. Yes, please. (JH)

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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.

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