Friday, February 10th
Check out the Pond Street pop-up, Po’ Boys, 3 to 6 p.m., $13
The new food business Pond Street is having another pop-up, this time at Po’ Boys. Pond Street will serve a hot ham and cheese sandwich. The sandwich will have thinly sliced smoked ham with a tomato jam, horseradish aioli, and white cheddar on a poppyseed brioche bun, and it comes with fries. Po’ Boys is also offering a special dish for the pop-up: a dill pickle pizza, which will have creamy garlic dill sauce, Muenster cheese, and pickles. (AB)
Visit Fire Doll Studio’s new space, 29 E Main St, Downtown Champaign, 4 to 8 p.m., free, but you’ll want to buy candles
Fire Doll Studio, the Champaign chandlery, quickly outgrew its former space. It’s now moved into a larger space, still in Downtown Champaign. The grand opening is from 4 to 8 p.m., and you’ll be able to not only see the new space but also have drinks and snacks and listen to live music. More details on the Facebook event page (linked above). (JH)
Attend Queering Faith, Community United Church of Christ, 7 p.m., free
This is the sixth installment of the event series, which brings all discourse, emotion, and connotations that surround the words “queer” and “faith” into a space where they can be explored. The event will feature Matthias Roberts, speaking on the topic “Moving Beyond Sexual Shame”. It’s free and open to the public, and can also be viewed on Zoom. (JM)
Saturday, February 11th
Get a Super Bowl doughnut, Industrial Donut, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., $2.33
It’s a big Sports Ball day this Sunday, and if you want to be the MVP, pick up these football doughnuts from Industrial Donut. Each sporty doughnut is $2.33 with tax. The shop is closed on Sunday, so pick up is on Saturday. Fill out this form to order. (AB)
Buy art, Groove is in the Art, 303 W Griggs St, Urbana aka Parasol Records, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free but you’ll want to buy art
Groove is in the Art is a cute little art pop up market featuring the work of several beloved C-U makers. Stop by to pick up a gift for yourself or someone you like. (JH)
Take in some burlesque and vaudeville with Carnivale Debauche, Rose Bowl Tavern, 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) $20-25
Heartstrings & Heartbreakers is the latest offering from C-U’s own burlesque troupe. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a little weirdness, a little sexiness, a little tenderness, and a lot of fun. Tickets are going fast, so buy them now. You won’t regret it. (JM)
Immerse yourself in Latin love songs, Recital Hall at Smith Memorial Hall, 7:30 p.m., free
The Latin American Ensemble from U of I will woo you with bolero, bachata, bossa nova, landó, tango, and more. Learn more about them in our interview with Guido A. Sanchez-Portuguez, a professor of guitar. Make an evening of it and have a little Valentine’s dinner before. Maize, Silvercreek, and Homegrown, are a few spots offering a special prix fixe menu this weekend. (JM)
Travel back to the 80s and 90s, Neil St Blues, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., $10 before 11 p.m.
DJ SILKEE will be spinning tunes from the 80s and 90s for this Black History Month dance party at Neil St Blues. Don’t worry, the kitchen will also be open so you can grab some delicious snacks while you’re dancing. As a child of those times, I have to admit that a 10 p.m. start time is mildly upsetting, but we only live once. A Saturday afternoon nap, some comfortable dancing shoes, and maybe a package of Tums will make this an excellent way to relieve youth and celebrate Black History Month. (JH)
Sunday, February 12th
Cheer on Illini Women’s Tennis, Atkins Tennis Center, 12 p.m., free
There’s more than just a football game happening on Sunday. Catch the Illini Women’s Tennis team vs. Illinois State. If you get there early, there’s free pizza and wings! (JM)
See Bella White, Rose Bowl Tavern, 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.), $12-15
The bluegrass singer-songwriter will be taking the stage to share her songs accompanied by acoustic guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and an upright bass. Tickets are available online, or at the door. Check out our interview with her before heading out. (JM)
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.