FRIDAY, August 22nd
Lunch from Hendrick House Food Truck, Research Park, 11 a.m to 2 p.m.
You need to eat lunch tomorrow, and you should probably eat some chicken and waffles. Or whatever special Hendrick House is cooking up. Since campus is a mess with students moving in, take Windsor Road. (JH)
Urbana Sweetcorn Festival, downtown Urbana (between Race and Vine), 5-11 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., free admission, tickets requried for food and drink
The Sweetcorn festival is here, which means students are back in town and summer is just about over. In addition to checking out this year’s music line-up, swing by the festival to have some food and a ridiculously over-buttered piece of corn on the cob. This is the only time and place in which it’s socially acceptable to publically rub hot, buttered corn on your face. (JH)
Feral States album release party, Cowboy Monkey, $5, 10 p.m.
Feral States is the project of the quite talentend Joe Meland, formerly known as the band Fauve, and his outfit is releasing their new EP on Friday night. It’s appropriately titled Dark, as opposed to their Light EP from last year. Do yourself a favor and check out some of their tracks before the show. They’re playing with Opposite Box on Friday night. (PS)
El Topo, The Art Theater, 10 p.m., $9.50
Once in a while The Art shows a movie from the 70’s that looks frightening, off the wall, and unlike anything else I’ve seen. Judging from the trailer on YouTube, El Topo one of those movies. It appears to be about crossdressers and cowboys fightingabout something in the desert. It reminds me of “The Holy Mountain” movie they played a few months ago. (SL)
SATURDAY, August 23rd
It Happened One Night, The Virginia Theater, 1-7 p.m.
You know, Steve (may I call you Steve?), it’s not every movie that can brag about influencing both Bugs Bunny and a major upheaval in the men’s underwear industry. And what better place to watch a classic Hollywood romance like It Happened One Night than the historic and lovely Virginia Theater. In case you don’t know the plot: “A spoiled heiress (Claudette Colbert) runs away from her family and is helped by a man (Clark Gable) who’s actually a reporter looking for a story. The film was the first to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and Screenplay).” Plus, organist David Schroeder will be performing on the Virginia’s Wurlitzer Pipe Organ prior to the screening. If you’ve never seen it or haven’t seen it in far too long, this is the perfect chance to revisit a great, great film. Also (and this cannot be understated), there’s something to be said for going to a movie that little kids won’t give a damn about. (MG)
C-U Across the Prairie, Parasol Records, 303 W Griggs, Urbana, various departure times, $5/$10/$15
Prairie Cycle Club’s Annual Cycling Extravaganza takes place on Saturday. There are lots of ride choices: a 10-mile loop, 15-mile loop, 25-mile loop, a 38-mile loop, or a 63-mile loop. Bagel breakfast, prizes and surprises, and SAG vehicle support until 2 p.m. Registration is open from 7 – 10 a.m. If you prefer to watch and not ride, the event is still seeking volunteers. (RP)
Go pick an apple, Curtis Orchard
I don’t want to alarm you, but were you aware that Zestar apples (pictured, right) are almost out of season? (Were you, Steve?) And did you further know that you could be spending your Saturday at Curtis Orchard picking some of the last of said Zestar apples, as well as some nice Ginger Golds? (Ginger Golds, by the way, are apparently sweet, tangy, and great for baking.) In addition to these “U-Pick” apples, Curtis Orchard has available, in its store, Lodi and William’s Pride apples, as well as broccoli, cantaloupe, cucumbers, green beans, onions, peaches, potatoes, squash, sweet corn, watermelon, and zucchini. All of this is great, of course, but the thing I really want to hip you to is these Zestar apples because, let’s face it, they sound like they’re from the future. (MG)
Wicked Walls, Blonder, In Heat, Mike ‘N Molly’s, $7, 9 p.m.
Top to bottom, this is one you should pay attention to if you’re not over at the Sweetcorn Festival on Saturday evening. Wicked Walls put out one of the best local records of the year, their self-titled debut, a few months ago, so they’ll be showcasing that. They’re joined by Blonder, and a newer local outfit called In Heat, which also put out a pretty great record earlier this year. (PS)
SUNDAY, August 24th
Kickapoo Fat Tire Festival 2014, 10906 Kickapoo Park Road, Oakwood, IL, starts at 8 a.m., $35 on-site registration, Kids’ Race is free
Head over to the Kickapoo Fat Tire Festival on Sunday to burn off the calories you consumed during Sweetcorn Festival. There are tons of categories at this event, including a free kids’ race and a novice category. This race provides the bulk of Kickapoo Mountain Bike Club’s operating budget for the year. (RP)
Decorate your new apartment, Crossroads Corner Consignment Shop, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Crossroads is located at 723 South Neil Street right next to the El Toro. They have two shops full of all sorts of neat antique and resale items. Right now they have a ton of old school Fighting Illini apparel, old beer cans, neon lights, decanters, t-shirts. And if you were a fan of Carrie’s shop downtown, you’ll be happy to know that they’ve moved into the Crossroads building. Anyways, great shopping. Go check it out and post the treasures you find. (SL)
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