Friday, January 13th
Drink a hot buttered rum, Bentley’s Pub, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., $7
If you’ll be out and about in Downtown Champaign on this chilly Friday night, sip this warm seasonal adult beverage from Bentley’s Pub. Made with clove, cinnamon, and ginger spices, the drink has a delicious buttery taste with a finish of rum and brown sugar. Read more about this cocktail (and four foods) in my January list of things to eat or drink in C-U. (AB)
Watch Illinois men’s basketball take on Michigan State, State Farm Center (or your couch), 8 p.m., price varies
This has been quite the up and down season thus far for the youthful Illinois men’s hoops squad, and as the team is in the thick of Big Ten play, these games hold a little bit more water as the season rolls on. With some big wins and not so great losses so far, the team played well against Nebraska on Tuesday, and took down a ranked Wisconsin crew last weekend, so there is a little momentum on their side. Tom Izzo’s Spartans make the trek to C-U with their 4-1 Big Ten record in hand. Whether you’re trying nab some tickets to go to the game at SFC or watch from the comfort of your own home, a Friday night game is always fun to tune in to. (PS)
Learn some Latin dance moves, then show them off, Urbana Dance Company, lessons at 8 p.m., dancing at 9 p.m., $10
Urbana Dance Company’s Latin Dance nights are back. From 8 to 9 p.m., take some lessons in salsa, bachata, cumbia, and merengue. There’s a social dance from 9 p.m. to midnight. New year, new you, right? (JH)
Saturday, January 14th
Shop the farmers market, Lincoln Square Mall, 8 a.m. to noon
Why not kick off your Saturday with a trip to the farmers market? Located inside Lincoln Square Mall and hosted by The Land Connection, the Winter Farmers Market offers locally grown produce, baked goods, and more. Check out the cabbage, onions, and garlic by Sola Gratia Farm. Pick up a baguette and maple-bacon cronuts from Central Illinois Bakehouse. Pop into Cloud Mountain Kombucha to pick up a few bottles for the weekend. If you’re up early on a Saturday, this winter market is the place to be. (AB)
Work on your fitness, Hatha Yoga and Fitness, 1:30-3:30, $5-15
It’s the new year, so maybe you are thinking about shaking up your exercise routine. Hatha is hosting a New Year Fitness Palooza, where you can try out a whole bunch of class styles, with multiple instructors in the span of two hours. You’ll do a little balancing, a little pilates, a little hot yoga, and more, and you’ll spend some time setting goals. There will be refreshments too! Register online soon, space is limited. (JM)
Submit your artwork to be shown at the Red Herring, all weekend, free
Have some artwork you’d like to exhibit at the Red Herring? You’re in luck: They’re looking for artwork to hang on their walls. Send an email to [email protected] and ask for more information. (JH)
Motel Breakfast, 4×4 Animal Style, Bum Rush, Rose Bowl Tavern, 9 p.m. $7-$10
Sean highlighted this one in the Overture on Monday, but it is worth mentioning here again ahead of the weekend. Chicago’s Motel Breakfast are trekking around a bit on tour and their stop at Rose Bowl features a couple of locals as well. If you’re looking for a fun Saturday night show, head over to Downtown Urbana’s mainstay spot, pay the cover to support the bands, and enjoy yourself. (PS)
Sunday, January 15th
Shop for LPs, See You CD + Vinyl, 12-4 p.m., prices vary
Jesse Grubbs has accumulated quite the storefront of vinyl records tucked away in Downtown Urbana. I always find myself popping in and picking something up when I visit Cafe & Co., and you should too if you’re a collector. He has a ton of new arrivals and is always promoting what’s hot or what unique LP you could find in one of his bins. Grab lunch around Downtown and stop in for a little shopping this weekend. (PS)
Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr., Krannert Center, 5 p.m., free
Every year, the cities of Champaign and Urbana, Village of Rantoul, University of Illinois, Parkland College, and Champaign County host this countywide celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy. There will be three community members receiving recognition for their acts of service, and Reverend Joel King will be giving a keynote address. Doors open at 4 p.m. (JM)
Make some plans to do fun things this winter, your computer, all weekend, free
Plenty of people make resolutions for the new year, and that’s all good and fine. But if you are not that type of person, exactly, but are interested in doing something new, why not take an hour this weekend to peruse the Champaign or Urbana Park District websites for classes or workshops you might like to join. Or, check out our local libraries’ websites to see what sort of free programming is happening in the next few weeks. Midwest Winter Gray™ is here to stay for a while, so why not give yourself something to look forward to? (JH)
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.