FRIDAY, October 14th
The Tempest, 7 p.m., University Place Christian Church-Disciples of Christ (403 S Wright St, Champaign), $7
On Friday and Saturday the 15th, the What You Will Shakespeare Company will be staging The Tempest. The Tempest, William Shakespeare’s last solo play, begins as a revenge driven tragedy but ends as a comedy. Driven by murder plots and unfulfilled attempts at vengeance, it explores the idea that love teaches us how to forgive and move on. With its combination of comedy and thoughtfulness, spirits and monsters, love and romance, and magic, The Tempest has something for everyone. (RP)
The Night Alive, The Station Theatre, 223 N. Broadway Ave, Urbana, 8 p.m., $15
Let it be said that when the Celebration Company comes to the table, they bring a few extra aces along with. If this play was a poker hand, it would be five of a kind and no one would challenge it just because of the sheer brazenness of the act. Every player is all-in, the script deals the feels, and the house wins because it is absolutely no gamble that you will leave the show feeling satisfied. (RK)
Rosemary’s Baby, The Art Theatre (Downtown Champaign), 10 p.m., $10
With Halloween coming, there is no better way to celebrate than a classic, Rosemary’s Baby, at C-U’s best late-night feature spot, The Art Theatre. You don’t want to miss this one, folks. This is part of the reason Champaign-Urbana is so great. (BH)
C-U Jazz Festival, various venues in the area, mostly evening shows, priced at $5
The C-U Jazz Festival is set up in a multi-venue format, with shows going on at different places in both towns. This is a great way to get a sampling of the diverse jazz music culture here, as the musicians participating are from all walks of life and subgenres. It’s four days long, so although it started Thursday, you’ve still got three days left to experience it. Visit the website for specific times and locations. (JM)
SATURDAY, October 15th
Watch Illinois vs. Rutgers, 11 a.m., any tv set that you can find that gets ESPN News
Yeah, Illinois Football is garbage. We know that. Remember last week when they lost to Purdue at home? Regardless, this is one of the best chances we have of seeing an Illini win for the foreseeable future, so might as well tune in to find out, right? Maybe Rutgers will wear red and we’ll wear orange and everyone will be confused. That could be entertaining, I guess? (BH)
Start your day off with some “kegs ‘n eggs” at Blind Pig. The Cracked Truck will be on hand with hot food, and you’ll have an opportunity to drink brews from both Stone and Blind Pig (and Stone brewed by Blind Pig). For every pint of Arrogant Bastard sold, $2 will be donated to the Champaign County Humane Society. Oh, there’s a football game on the TV, too. Image from Facebook. (JH)
Hogchute Opry Harvest, Kalyx Center in Monticello, 2 p.m. – 1 a.m. (roughly), $10 at the gate
The annual Hogchute Opry, C-U music’s folky introduction to summer, now has a fall counterpart. Hogchute Opry Harvest will bring local folk, country and rock bands together for another festival that is off the beaten path (literally). A dozen bands will play until the sun goes down, and then a big bonfire will help keep things going the rest of the night. The hosts invite you to camp if desired, and bring your own instrument for band-audience jamming. (JM)
Learn to make pasta and ravioli, Common Ground, 2-4:30 p.m., $15 owner/$20 non-owner
Dry pasta is great and all, but once you have fresh pasta, you’re done for. It’s the best, and it doesn’t (have to) take all day to make. Sign up for this class and you have an opportunity to develop a cooking skill that will impress anyone. “Oh this homemade pasta? Yeah, I just whipped it up in no time!” Tickets are available here. Screenshot from event page. (JH)
Open Scene Open House, 5-7 p.m., Independent Media Center (202 S. Broadway, Urbana), free
The IMC is going to be showing off the fruits of Open Scene’s $50,000 Our Town grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Through Open Scene, the City of Urbana and the UCIMC will partner together to create a plan for reclaiming the city’s center through arts-based dialogues that directly incorporate the experiences of youth. The five-phase project will be led by a team of community stakeholders, a dozen youth, and four artists from varied disciplines, who together will lead community workshops and create art that identifies the cultural needs of all of Urbana’s diverse residents. Saturday’s open house will include live performances, information about Open Scene, a Q&A, and will give young people, applicants, supporters, donors, and selected adult stakeholders a chance to meet and learn more about the Independent Media Center. (RP)
The Art of Time Sings Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., $45.
It’s in my head that they are no Beatles, so it’s just as well that this fusion-group of chamber music and pop singers has created their own arrangement and take on the classic songs of the Fab Four’s most notorious album. I’m most excited about St.Ace and Craig Northey taking the stage in our town, it’s a good weird feeling. If you can’t make it, take a moment instead to look up the lost catalogue of The Odds, one of the early-oughts least-known best pop bands. (RK)
SUNDAY, October 16th
Buy a fall/winter coat, Champaign Surplus, 303 S Neil Street, Champaign
Champaign Surplus has, well, a surplus of great coats and jackets for you to choose from. I would recommend getting one that has multiple layers inside of it so you can wear it in cool, chilly and cold weather. Yes, such coats exist at Champaign Surplus. Hours are 12-5 p.m. Sunday. Pre shop on their website and find more cool stuff. (SL)
Eat a warm bowl of soup, Siam Terrace, 212 W Main St, Urbana
Tom Kha Gai is one of my favorite soups ever. It is warm, sweet with lime and spicy with chili. It is a coconut milk based soup so the liquid is a white color. Here is the description: Thai spicy coconut milk and galangal chicken soup with mushrooms, green onion, and cilantro. Cup 4.99/ Bowl 8.99/ Steam Pot 10.99. (SL)
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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.