FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18
Open-to-the-Public Yoga, Krannert Art Museum, 12 p.m., free
If the cooler weather has you feeling a bit stiff, remember that the Krannert Art Museum offers free yoga every Friday from noon – 1 p.m. through December 20th in the Collections Resource Laboratory. Each class introduces participants to the basics of hatha yoga. Bring your own yoga mat and wear comfortable clothes. Classes are limited to 20 participants, so arrive a few minutes early to grab your space. (RP)
Pizza FM Fundraiser, Error Records, 7 p.m., $5 suggested donation
Full disclosure: I am playing this show with Finer Feelings. That said, I’m really excited to see the other bands on the bill and support Pizza FM. Besides my own band, The Phantom Broadcast, Opus Dog, and Emily Otnes and the Weekdays are playing. The show should be a lot of fun and the proceeds will help out a (relatively) new organization that does good things for local music. Win-win. (CD)
Elsinore’s Push/Pull album release show with Cody Sokolski, We The Animals, The Highdive, 7 p.m., $10
Tuesday marked the next step as a C-U band for Elsinore with the release of their pretty great new release Push/Pull. Check out the album review from David Kierski to get a real idea of what you’re in for, plus stream the album yourself. It’s not exactly like the Elsinore we knew from Yes Yes Yes, but in many ways, they’ve built on what they started a handful of years ago. The opening acts are worthwhile as well, including a debut performance from a bunch of local musicians calling their outfit We The Animals. Should be worth the price of admission, without a doubt. (PS)
Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Art Theater Co-op, 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday
As part of the Art’s Shocktober Series, cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show will be playing Friday and Saturday nights at 10 p.m., with Friday’s showing featuring a live cast. If you haven’t seen the film, or seen it in live performance, here’s your chance to dress up, do the Time Warp, and engage in a true cult film. (JK)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19
Hard Cider Tasting, Art Mart, Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana, 8 a.m.–noon, free
Take a break from shopping for apples at the market and taste some hard cider. Think of Saturday morning as a full-on apple immersion. They also have free cheese tastings on Saturday mornings, too, so you can figure out which cheeses pair well with the market apples and hard ciders. (JH)
Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages, The Art Theater Co-op, 11:30 a.m.
From the Art’s website: “Witchcraft through the ages is explored with dark wit in this silent classic. Grave robbing, torture, possessed nuns, and a satanic Sabbath: Christensen’s legendary film uses a series of dramatic vignettes to explore the scientific hypothesis that the witches of the Middle Ages suffered the same hysteria as turn-of-the-century psychiatric patients. But the film itself is far from serious—instead it’s a witches’ brew of the scary, gross, and darkly humorous. Writer-director Benjamin Christensen uses a historical study of witchcraft as a jumping-off point for a fascinating film that is part science, part horror, and part social commentary.” (MG)
Central Illinois English Country Dancers 19th Century Ball, Phillips Recreation Center, 505 W. Stoughton, Urbana, 7–10 p.m., $5 or bring a snack to share and get $1 off
C-U’s got plenty of options for kicking up your heels this weekend, including an evening of dances from the 1800’s at the Phillips Recreation Center. You can take part in dances from the Regency period, the Civil War, and the Gay Nineties. Costumes are encouraged. If you’re feeling unprepared, not to fear: there’s a Waltz Workshop beforehand, from 6–7 p.m., to get you ready to whirl. (RP)
Illinois-Wisconsin, Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m., various prices
I’m not holding out much hope for an Illini win this Saturday, but it’s the first night game of the year and night games are always a good time. Before the game there’s a ton of stuff to do outside the stadium for families and people who haven’t even begun to think about having a family yet. During the game there’s a chance Illinois won’t completely screw everything up, I mean they’ve been better this year than last, so maybe something good could happen. Either way, it’s bound to be fun. (CD)
Before I Die… Wall, Corner of E. University & N. Market, Downtown Champaign, all day, free
Rumor has it that the wall will be taken down (well, not the wall, exactly, but you get it) this Sunday. This weekend is your last chance to share your hopes, dreams, and sexual fantasies with the world anonymously. Don’t forget to take a photo. (JH)
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Mike ‘N Molly’s, 9 p.m., $10
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, an indie band from Missouri, will be playing at Mike ‘N Molly’s Saturday night. A Great Big Pile of Leaves, from Brooklyn, will be opening. SSLYBY, signed to Polyvinyl, released their fourth album, Fly by Wire, in September. If there were an award for longest band names, these two bands could be in the running. (JK)
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20
National Theatre Live: Othello, The Art Theater Co-op, 10:30 a.m.
This is going to be good, folks. Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear star as, respectively, Othello and Iago in the National Theatre’s modern military staging of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. There hasn’t been a weak link in the chain of NTLive performances beamed into the Art’s cozy confines yet, and this one looks to be powerful and memorable. The production will continue the following week, but this might be your best chance to get in and check it out. (MG)
Viva Italia! with the Baroque Artists of Champaign Urbana, Chapel of St. John the Divine, 1011 S. Wright St., Champaign, 7:30 p.m., $20 for general & $10 for students
The opening performance of the Baroque Artists of Champaign Urbana (BACH)’s eighteenth concert season is taking place this weekend. The concert features music from Italy, including two pieces by Vivaldi, a double concerto for oboes, a sonata for trumpet, and harpsichord music. If your weekend plans are missing a dose of culture, nothing will set you straight like listening to some Frescobaldi and Albinoni. (RP)
Yellow Ostrich, Common Loon, Mike ‘N Molly’s, 8 p.m., $10
Sunday shows can be a burden sometimes, but for real — this is one you should be at this weekend. Locals Common Loon are opening things up, and they’re a sure bet to be damn good. Then, NYC’s Yellow Ostrich are in town, and released an album just about a year ago around this time, simply titled Ghost. Pretty timely name considering we’re around Halloween, and things are about to get cold and gloomy in C-U. Don’t miss it. (PS)
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