Thursday, February 15th
Take a road trip to see Glen Davies: Moments of Mystery, Illinois State Museum, Springfield, all weekend, free
Glen Davies is a Champaign-Urbana mainstay, graduate of and former visiting assistant professor at the University of Illinois, and artist behind several murals you’ve seen around town (like the one on the wall of Courier Cafe). The Illinois State Museum has an exhibition of his work up through the spring. You can take a ride out there, stopping along the way in Monticello for lunch, and Decatur for custard at Krekel’s. Admission to the museum is free; check hours before you head out. (JH)
Watch amazing athletes from all over Illinois, State Farm Center, Noon, tickets start at $50
The 2024 IHSA State Wrestling Finals are a chance to see the best wrestlers from all over the state (including many from Champaign County) compete against each other. There will be sessions all weekend as athletes from the different weight classes wrestle for the state title. Tickets for passes or individual sessions are still available online or at the door. (LKG)
Enjoy the dialogue of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Parkland Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $20
Parkland Theatre presents Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, the Hamlet play told from the perspective of two minor characters. You might also recall this play was made into a film in 1990 and was recently screened at The Virginia Theatre; here’s your chance to see it enacted by real life humans. It will be a delight. (JH)
Friday, February 16th
Order the house special angel hair, First Wok, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., $12.25
Skip cooking and get some delicious Chinese food in Urbana. Mindy reviewed the restaurant’s egg rolls, crab rangoons, and more. The house special angel hair has shreds of Chinese roast pork, egg, small shrimps, and minced vegetables, and it’s delightful. (AB)
Twirl, bop, and sway to some EDM music, The Canopy Club, 9 p.m., $15-22
Enjoy evening of EDM music with Twinsick at The Canopy Club, where the Minneapolis-based duo will showcase their unique blend of dance music. Known for their energetic performances and innovative sound, Twinsick promises a night of bombastic rhythms and beats. (DP)
Saturday, February 17th
Celebrate National Women and Girls in Sports Day, Atkins Tennis Center, 12 p.m., free
The Illini Women’s Tennis team is taking on Brown, then they will be doing a meet and greet and autograph signing after. Seems like a great opportunity for your kids to see some amazing athletes! (JM)
**This has been postponed to February 24th** Feel your feelings about Meadowbrook’s PrairiePlay, Meadowbrook Park, 1 to 2 p.m., free
The Urbana Park District is hosting one last playdate at the PrairiePlay playground before it’s torn down and replace by one that is more accessible and easier to maintain. It’s okay to be sad about it! I am! They will have hot chocolate and the Urvana van will be there with games and activities. If you can’t make it, you have until March 1st to get your last memories in. Thankfully the weather has been decent! (JM)
Celebrate the history of Gospel music, The Virginia Theatre, 7 p.m., free
I wrote about this event in the February edition of “Get your Culture here.” This history series by Henry Louis Gates Jr., GOSPEL: Where Song and Sermon Meet, takes a deep dive into the origin of Black spirituality through sermon and song. Especially through the lens of Black gospel music, from “[the time after] slavery, blending with the blues tradition, and soaring to new heights during the Great Migration… gospel music has become the dominant form of African American religious expression and provided a soundtrack of healing and uplift to those at the front lines of protest and change. (LKG)
Hear an accomplished violinist from C-U, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., $10-$40
C-U native Lucia Lin is joining Sinfonia da Camera for their February concert. She will be performing Korngold’s Violin Concerto. The orchestra will also be treating the audience Leonard Bernstein’s Overture to Candide and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”. (JM)
Unleash your inner deadhead, Rose Bowl Tavern, 8 p.m., $10 to $15
Sunshine Daydream, a Grateful Dead tribute band, captures the iconic band’s unique blend of rock, psychedelia, and improvisation. Their shows promise a faithful homage to the Dead’s storied legacy, inviting audiences on a nostalgic trip through classic hits and deep cuts alike. (DP)
Unwind and dance, Gallery Art Bar, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., free
Darker than Blue, an artist / DJ collective, will be spinning house, disco, and world beats. Go hang out without the pressure to imbibe alcohol. You can just find your groove and move to the music. (JH)
Sunday, February 18th
Sip a cup of melted chocolate, Lucky Moon Pies, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., $5
Enjoy French sipping chocolate at the new location of Lucky Moon Pies & More. The Mahomet bakery offers drip coffee in addition to the baked goods, but if you like chocolate, go for this cup of sipping chocolate. It’s just a little cup of delicious melted delicious milk chocolate and dark chocolate! (AB)
Groove to jazz history with Reginald Lewis, Urbana Free Library, 2 p.m., free
Reginald Lewis & Friends offer a tribute to jazz’s golden age, celebrating Black History Month with soulful melodies and rich harmonies. Held in Urbana Free Library’s Busey Mills Reading Room, this ensemble brings a piece of Philadelphia’s jazz scene to life, showcasing a fusion of tradition and innovation. (DP)
Wrap up Valentine’s weekend with some anti-Valentine’s drag, The Canopy Club, 7 p.m., $5-$7
If you still have some anti-Valentine’s Day feelings to work out, why not do that with some amazing drag performers. There will be drag from The Queens of Canopy, music, games, dancing, and an opportunity to commiserate with others. Doors open at 6 p.m. (JM)
Dance some Lindy Hop, Hamilton Walker’s, 7 to 9 p.m., free (but buy a drink or snack if you can)
Illini Swing Society’s springtime Lindy Hoppers event returns this weekend. This free event is super fun — you don’t even need a partner. Read up on what to expect in our review from last summer. (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.