While we encourage you to check out what’s happening around C-U this weekend, please use precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you are out and about, please wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands, and most importantly, respect the people around you, especially the employees that work at these establishments.
Friday, September 18th
Explore the Great ARTdoors, throughout C-U, anytime, free
The park districts, 40 North, and the Urbana Arts and Culture program have selected 10 artists to create public art works in parks throughout Champaign and Urbana. Take some time this weekend to hit up some parks and admire unique works by artists right here in our community. You can find the list of artists and locations here. (JM)
Photo of drinks from Hamilton Walker’s by Alyssa Buckley.
Throw yourself a cocktail party, your house, anytime, prices vary
You certainly don’t need to go anywhere to have a boozy evening. Start the weekend by picking up drinks curbside and taking them home to drink. You don’t even have to wear pants. So many restaurants are offering cocktails, beer, and wine to go. Place an order from your favorite place and take it home to drink. (AB)
Look at some art in blacklight box, 2204 S Lynn St, Urbana, 7 p.m., or when it’s dark, free
The U of I MFA students and others have curated an art box in Urbana that features little snapshots of artwork from a variety of artists here in C-U. This Friday marks a new mini-exhibition, so do yourself a favor and check it out. (JH)
Saturday, September 19th
Photo from The Great Pumpkin Patch Facebook page.
Check out the Cucurbit Market, The Great Pumpkin Patch, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., free to entry but bring money for purchases
The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur opens Saturday, though it won’t be quite the experience youre used to. To help facilitate easier distancing, they’ve closed the activities area and transformed the location into a giant market for all of your gourd, pumpkin, and fall decoration needs. The Homestead Bakery will also be open so you can snag some pumpkin bread or other delicious goodies. Also, I just learned that “cucurbit” is the family that pumpkins and gourds belong to. (JM)
Photo by Alyssa Buckley.
Order some garlic naan, Himalayan Chimney, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 5 to 10 p.m. $2.99
I know you don’t want to cook, so order some food online. Might I suggest this insanely good bread option from Himalayan Chimney? For only $3, you can have a giant piece of naan. Check out my review of Himalayan Chimney here to see if there’s any other dishes you want to add to your order. Stay home, don’t do the dishes, and eat your carbs. (AB)
Join the Migration Stories Workshop online, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., free
During a 2016 artist residency, San Antonio-based artist Mark Mejivar and graduate students from the Illinois School of Art + Design conducted oral history interviews on the Main Quad which explored “how we arrived to where we are now.” Now you can discover when Menjivar learned from these and other. Find out more and register to attend via Zoom (DD)
Sunday, September 20th
HogBowl Not-pry, Rose Bowl Tavern, 12 to 9 p.m., $10 suggested donation
Hogchute Opry is not happening like it usually would this year, but they are trying their best to make the most out of it this coming Sunday. All afternoon you can find a bunch of bands performing, including Superior State, Tractor Kings, Emily Anne, Chickadee Sermon, and more outside at the Rose Bowl. They are asking for a $10 donation, which is a no-brainer, so chip in that and a little bit more if you’re able. Wear a mask and see some live music. (PS)
Photo by Anna Longworth.
Make plans to give feedback to the City of Champaign, your house, all weekend, free, save for the mental anguish
The City of Champaign is asking for feedback about public safety, that is, what you want the money that goes to the police department to actually fund. Want to #DefundThePolice? Here’s how you begin to make that happen. This weekend, take some time to organize and prepare your thoughts, so you may make the most of your Zoom time at these meetings. (JH)
Image from Facebook
Join a online discussion about reading Black literature, 4 to 5:30 p.m., free
This month’s READ (Racial Education, Activism, and Discussion) event focuses on Black authors, with particular attention to science-fiction, fantasy, and Afrofuturism. Leading the discussion will be Jamillah Gabriel, founder of Call Number, a subscription box for Black literature; Damian Duffy, a Glyph Comics, Eisner Comics, and Bram Stoker Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling graphic novelist, and Stacey Robinson, a graphic design professor whose work discusses ideas of “Black Utopias.” Register here. (DD)
Top photo from 40 North Facebook page.
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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.