Weekender: September 4-7

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 4th

A table at Golden Harbor restaurant in Champaign is covered in many dishes of food. There are individual plates, water glasses, and tea cups, as well as many serving dishes of food on a lazy Susan. Photo by Jessica Hammie. — *Photo by Jessica Hammie.*

Order some holiday weekend food, your restaurant of choice, presumably all weekend, but probably ASAP, prices vary

It’s hard to believe that it’s already September, and that Monday is Labor Day. The last six months have really flown by at the most excruciatingly slow pace I’ve ever encountered. But never mind that — if you’re not grilling with your immediate family or housemates this weekend, I suggest you get a massive order of food from a place like Golden Harbor or Black Dog and eat that all weekend. No, you won’t get to eat in the restaurants like in the before times, and sure, it will cost you, but think of all the joy and free time you’ll have by eating something delicious and then lounging about — no need for doing the dishes. (JH)

Illustration of film camera and reel with event title and details. Photo from Facebook — *Photo from Facebook*

Attend an online, dance film festival, Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m., free

This celebration of dance for camera begins on Friday with a collection of feature films. On Saturday viewers will be treated to a line-up of juried short films. If you’ve never experienced dance for camera, you’re in for a treat. The addition of cinematographic perspectives serves to deepen the genre’s narrative capacity. Find out more about the Flatlands Dance Film Festival schedule here. (DD)

Saturday, September 5th

Get your tomatoes, Urbana’s Market in the Square, 7 a.m. to noon, prices vary

This is the time, people. If you haven’t gotten tomatoes from the farmers’ market yet this year, go get some now. They’re perfect on sandwiches, cooked into soups, or just sliced up with mozzarella, basil, and balsamic vinegar. (AB)

Photo of black girls seated in a circle. Photo by Jan Everett — *Photo by Jan Everett*

Schedule a time to visit Homemade, with Love, at Krannert Art Museum, free

This new multimedia exhibit will definitely make you want to visit the recently reopened Krannert Art Museum. As noted on the KAM website, “Homemade, with Love: More Living Room is a multimedia installation that brings together interior design, audio and visual art made with Black girls. The exhibition seeks to merge local, national and global critical arts engagement with Black girls to curate a homemade space that centers Black girls’ creativity, design, and lived experience.” Learn more about the exhibit here. Reserve your visit here. (DD)

Dalton Halls Band, Pour Bros Craft Taproom, 8 to 11 p.m., free

Dalton Halls Band hails from Danville, and they’ll make the trek over to C-U at Pour Bros to play an acoustic set on the patio. While summer winds down, if you are looking for a fix of live music, you should get out there and do it before the weather turns cold. (PS)

Sunday, September 6th

Watson's Shack and Rail avocado toast featuring mulitgrain toast with avocado, covered in mixed greens with a citrus vinaigrette with toasted sunflower seeds, chimichurri, and a poached egg. Photo by Alyssa Buckley. — *Photo by Alyssa Buckley.*

Brunch it up, Watson’s Shack and Rail, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., $9-14

Check out Watson’s special brunch menu here. Sunday morning offerings like avocado toast, eggs benedict over crab cakes, and double smash burgers are featured. Watson’s is open for limited indoor dining, extended outdoor patio seating, and carryout. Don’t forget to snag one of their adult slushies — you can get them to go, too. (AB)

Learn about being an election judge, online, 3 p.m., free

Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons is hosting one more info session about becoming an election judge for the November election. Those who are not in high risk populations are encouraged to consider this paid gig so that all polling places are able to run as usual. There is also a need for jobs related to mail-in ballots. Hop on the Zoom session to see what it’s all about and ask questions. (JM)

Urbana Backdoor Cajun Band, Rose Bowl Tavern, 6 to 8:30 p.m., donations encouraged

Urbana Backdoor Cajun Band is comprised of Matt Turino, Rob Krumm, Sam Payne, Charlie Harris, and Dave Pride, and they are serving up an evening of traditional Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco music to your ears at Rose Bowl. As always during COVID, this show is on their outdoor stage, and they have cold drinks to accompany it. (PS)

Monday, September 7th

Candidate yard signs are placed in a grassy area of a parking lot. There are many signs. One sign in the front says — *Photo by Julie McClure.*

Send us your questions about voting, your house, all weekend, free

What do you want to know about voting in November’s election? We’re putting together a list of questions for our next installment of Ask Politely, so put on your thinking or anxiety cap and send those worries our way. We’ll do our best to answer them, or find the answers from our elected officials (or other official sources). Email us your questions. (JH)

Gather up some produce to donate, your garden, anytime, free

This summer, an organization called Solidarity Gardens C-U has been helping to get fresh produce in the hands of people who need it. One way they do this is through community gardeners donating their garden surplus. Tomatoes out of control? Gather them (and anything else you have) up and bring them to the donation cooler at Sola Gratia Farm anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Some of the donations will be going to the new Mobile Market, which brings the produce out to the neighborhoods that have little access. (JM)

Top photo by Alyssa Buckley.

_____

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.

Smile Politely