FRIDAY, October 13th
Eat lunch, Watson’s Shack & Rail, $10-15, 11 a.m.
Watson’s is now open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday, as I made mention of a little while back, so if you’re looking to get some chicken other fixens and want to during work day, now you can. (PS)
Sesquicentennial Garden Grand Opening, Arboretum, all day
The University of Illinois is celebrating 150 years of excellence with a new garden planted at the Arboretum (2001 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana). It’s an interesting, alternative way to honor a university so keen on its architecture and statues. Get a glimpse now, and take a picture so you can see how it grows over the coming decades. (DT)
Formerly the Fox, King of the Coast, Sipyard, 204 W Main St. Urbana 6 p.m., suggested $5 donation
Jam out to some groovy psychedlic tunes at Sipyard by King of the Coast and Formerly the Fox. Plus Formerly the Fox is making their official Champaign debut and last time I saw King of the Coast they did a cover of Mac Demarco’s Freaking Out the Neighborhood. (DS)
SATURDAY, October 14th
Check out Pandamonium Doughnuts‘ storefront, 1105 Windsor Rd, Champaign 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., about $3/doughnut
Pandamonium’s much anticipated brick-and-mortar is now open, and though still in the “soft opening” phase, which means there may be a few kinks working themselves out. The doughnuts are delicious, though, and you’re sure to leave satisfied. More info is available on Facebook. Photo by Jessica Hammie (JH)
Heartland Maker Fest, Lincoln Square Mall, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., free admission
Interact with local DIYers, creators, musicians, etc as Makerspace Urbana hosts their annual maker fest. The group hopes to “showcase talent from local creative communities who are eager to share and play with other each other and the community at large.” Check out the FB page to learn more about some of the makers, then spend a part of your Saturday being inspired. (JM)
Polyvinyl Pop-Up Shop, Polyvinyl Records, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., free
Polyvinyl Records is not usually a record shop, and for the second time, they are opening up their doors at 717 S. Neil Street to people wanting to buy items from them. Make a stop by there and pick up some of your old favorites, or new releases. (PS)
Hogchute Opry Harvest, Kaylx Center, Monticello, $15, 2 p.m.-2 a.m.
Hogchute Opry’s fall installment — Hogchute Harvest — is happening on Saturday afternoon and into the late evening. Read more here about what has become one of the best concert series in the area. (PS)
Girls Rock! C-U Benefit Show, Cowboy Monkey, 8 p.m., $7
Support Girls Rock! C-U, and listen to some great music, Mank N Sass and Jambana, that’s almost too good of an opportunity to miss. Jambana is recording their song Shine as part of a compilation album, and this might be a great time to check it out before it goes on the album! (DS)
SUNDAY, October 15th
Go get some pumpkins, various locations, prices vary
I’ve just realized that October is flying by and our family has not ventured out for our annual pumpkin and gourd gathering adventure. Whether you carve them or not, fall just doesn’t feel complete without a few colorful pumpkins on the front porch. If you want all the bells and whistles and cider and donuts, head to Curtis Orchard or the Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur. But my favorite spot, especially now that my kids don’t care about having a maze or bounce houses, is Negangard Pumpkin Patch. It’s no frills, just rows and rows of every kind of pumpkin and gourd you can imagine, and you can’t beat the prices. Plus you can hit Sidney Dairy Barn in the same trip. Be sure to check various websites for hours. (JM)
CU Indivisible Town Hall Series: Jon Ebel for Congress, Champaign Public Library, 200 W Green St, Champaign, IL 61820, 2pm-4pm
This is one in a series of events intended to help the community get to know a variety of candidates, ask questions, and become involved in the electoral process. This event will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. It will be town hall style question and answer session. Please feel free to prepare your question in advance. To learn more about Jon, head to his website – http://www.jonebel.com/ (CR)
Artisan Cup & Fork, City Center, 505 S Chestnut St, Champaign, 5 – 8 p.m., $75/person
The second Artisan Cup & Fork, a fundraiser for The Land Connection, is bound to be delicious. With chefs and farmers teaming up to offer meals, there’s little doubt that you’ll experience something unique and full of flavor. In addition to the eats, tickets also include tastings of local brews and sweets. You can read last year’s review here, and check back later next week for a review of this year’s event. (JH)
Kate Bornstein – World Peace Through Gender Anarchy and Sex Positivity, University Housing Allen Hall, 1005 W Gregory Dr, Urbana, IL 61801, 7-8pm
Kate Bornstein is an author, performance artist, and public speaker who has written several award-winning books in the field of Women and Gender Studies. Join her as she discusses how power (access to resources), identity, and desire are three of the best ways to make life more worth living for both individuals and civilizations. Sometimes, whatever it is that gives us the most joy, pleasure, or relief—like great sex or fun gender—also gets us into the deepest trouble—especially when we try to explain it to other people. Kate Bornstein uses gender and sexuality to examine the mechanics of oppression, and the fifteen cultural structures that hold them in place in the U.S. and around the world. And yes, you’ll learn how sex positivity and gender anarchy are legitimate paths to world peace. (CR)
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