Smile Politely

Weekender: October 9-11

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, October 9th

Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons, State Representative Carol Ammons, and other Champaign County elected officials pose for a photo around a vote by mail ballot return box. The box is anchored to the ground, bright yellow with blue text that says “Vote Here.†Photo from the Champaign County Clerk’s Facebook page.

Photo from the Champaign County Clerk’s Facebook page.

Get your voting plan in order, your home, all weekend, free

Do you know how you will vote? Are you registered? Did you double check? Now is the time to do so. We recently answered a bunch of your voting questions, so double check that before you give up. This election is more important than ever. (JH)

Vegetable fried rice served on an white, oval plate. There is a metal spoon nestled into the rice. Photo by Jessica Hammie.

Photo by Jessica Hammie.

Order Peking Garden, your house, all weekend, prices vary

Peking Garden is my not-Golden-Harbor-Chinese-Food choice. I’m still obsessed with the veggie fried rice. Recently I’ve been very much into the black pepper chicken. There are plenty of leftovers for the next day, and delivery is super freaking fast. You can order online. They owners are super nice. Do you need more reasons? (JH)

Saturday, October 10th

Get a miniature pumpkin, Urbana Market in the Square, 7 a.m to noon, 50 cents each

It’s October, and if you don’t have pumpkins on your table or your porch yet, you need to get on it. The Urbana farmers’ market has lots of vendors selling pumpkins, and it’s the final month of the market for this year. Check out the October market update to see what you can find at the markets this month. (AB)

Shop artist Cindy Sampson’s pop-up, 1011 S Elm Blvd., Champaign, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., bring $$$ to shop

Cindy Sampson has been spending the lockdown making powerful work, including her Sister Art portrait series. Now, thanks to her one-day front yard sale, you can pick up her paintings and earings, some of which will be available at a discounted price. So put on a mask, stop by the sale and stay six or more feet apart. Find out more here. (DD)

Photo of comedian Paul Lynde in a gold space suit in front of a yellow background with event information on the right side. Image from Facebook.

Image from Facebook

Get S P A C E D O U T and shop this socially distanced maker sale, 508 E Sunnycrest Ct., Urbana, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., bring $$$ to shop

Watch five Chambana makers turn the Sunnycrest Tot Lot into a safe, socially distanced, maker fest. If you follow these makers on social media, you know they’ve been busy creating new work. You know you need some of Crass Stitching’s on point gems. Wear a mask. Sanitize your hands. Stay at least six feet apart. And support your local artists and makers. They need you now more than ever. (DD)

Sunday, October 11th

A close up of BBQ chicken from Wood N' Hog BBQ in Champaign on the third night of the Artisan Cup & Fork event. Photo by Alyssa Buckley.

Get a half BBQ chicken, Wood N’ Hog, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., $5.99

The Sunday special at Wood N’ Hog is a half BBQ chicken, and you need to try it because it’s the dish that won the restaurant Grand Prize for the 2020 Artisan Cup & Fork event. This half BBQ chicken is a lot of food for one person, but I believe in you: you can finish it. The special is served with your choice of fries, baked beans, coleslaw, or potato salad. Call in your order to the Champaign location by calling 217-607-0120 or the Urbana location at 217-367-1018. (AB)

The writer is way off in the distance at the top of a grassy hill, raising both arms in the air. There is a thin dirt path that runs up the length of the hill. Photo by Andrea Black.

Photo by Andrea Black.

Hike the great rugged peaks in Chambana, locations vary, anytime, free

Did you catch Tom’s review of five “great” Chambana “hikes”? See if you’re up for the challenge. If you make it through all five you can reward yourself with Portillo’s after the last feat. (JM)

Have some Halloween fun at the drive in, Harvest Moon Drive In Theatre, doors open at 6 p.m., prices vary

The drive in has been a fun way to see movies on the big screen while staying in your own outdoor space during the strange pandemic summer. For the month of October, they are doing Fright Fest events each Friday-Sunday, with scary and Halloween-themed double features, as well as added themed concessions, a Haunted Graveyard, decorations, and more. Sunday evenings are a better bet for less people. A fall bonus: movies start at 7 p.m. rather than the 8:45 start time at the peak of summer. This weekend is Hocus Pocus and Beetlejuice or Scream and The Ring. (JM)

Top photo by Alyssa Buckley.

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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.

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