Friday, March 24th
Revel in English painters, poets, and playwrights, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., $5-40
Sinfonia da Camera and Lyric Theatre at Illinois are combining creative forces for an evening of classical music and theater inspired by all things English. Portsmouth Point Overture evokes a painting of the same name. There is a Willow Grows Aslant a Brook refers to a tragic scene from Hamlet. London Everyday Suite, evokes London’s Convent Garden, Westminster, and Knightsbridge areas. Then enjoy a version of Gilbert & Sullivan’s Trial by Jury staged by Lyric Theatre performers. (JM)
Get your groove on with Dance Music Therapy, Soma Ultralounge, 8 p.m to 12 a.m., free
DJs Terrance, KamauMau, and TDM are bringing old school hip hop and rap to Soma. Friday night is the perfect time to cut loose and dance the week off of you. Dance Music Therapy has been around since 2016, providing a place where people are “invited to come as you are, and enjoy others’ company while listening to good music.” (JM)
Saturday, March 25th
Get a start on your garden, Prairie Gardens, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., free, but bring money for plants
Prairie Gardens Spring Open House is here! The first event will be this Saturday, March 25th and the second will be on April 1st. See new spring plants, enjoy free food samples, shop exclusive specials, and enter to win prizes. There will be plenty of garden experts to answer your questions and craft tables for kids with pinwheel making, fairy door decorating, and beanstalk planting. (LKG)
Celebrate National Waffle Day, Heavy Spoon, all day, $15 for Heavy Banana Cream on a waffle
This Saturday is National Waffle Day, and the best way to enjoy a waffle is with a ton of ice cream, am I right? Heavy Spoon specializes in wild desserts with waffles, breakfast cereal, ice cream, and so many toppings. Matt wrote that the waffle was the highlight of the Heavy Banana Cream dessert in his review of Heavy Spoon last month. The Heavy Banana Cream had vanilla ice cream, bananas, Honey Bunches of Oats, honey graham cracker crumbs, honey drizzle, and a warm waffle. (AB)
Check out a comic book show, Box Seat Cards and Collectibles, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., free, but you can buy stuff
Box Seat Cards and Collectibles is hosting this comics show, with several vendors selling comics, toys, and other collectibles. There will be some Pokémon stuff for sale, too, so maybe bring the kids (or not). (JH)
Watch Cenicienta- A Bilingual Cinderella Story, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 10 a.m, $10-$60
Part of the Krannert Center Youth Series, Cenicienta is a one-woman, bilingual, modern retelling of Cinderella. The fifty minute performance is a story within a story, depicting ten-year-old Belinda as she acts out the classic tale of Cinderella while trapped in a basement away from a party hosted by her own stepmother and stepsisters. Tickets are available through Krannert’s website. (SO)
Check out The Tiny Art Show, The Literary, 6 p.m., free, but you can buy things
The Literary is hosting a reception for its first ever Tiny Art Show. The show is made up of pieces that are inspired by a favorite book, author, or illustrator and limited in size to 36 square inches and smaller. The Tiny Art will be on display at The Literary through the end of Boneyard Arts Festival on April 16. (SO)
Go see BNNY, with special guests NIIKA, Rose Bowl Tavern, show at 8 p.m., $12
Chicago-based quintet Bnny will take the stage, led by singer Jess Viscius. Bnny’s debut album Everything is a raw and poignant chronicle of love and loss, written over several years. Bnny’s music is hauntingly beautiful and deeply personal, showcasing the band’s ability to transform grief into a work of art. Supporting acts also include Fiona Kimble and Tessa Turner. Get tickets through Eventbrite. (DP)
Explore your own grief, Amara Yoga, 2 p.m., $30 for members, $35 for nonmembers
The Equinox Grief Ritual at Amara Yoga Studio is led by Melanie Sheckels, a grief, death, and trauma educator. To create space for all types of grief there will be a guided meditation followed by reflection and journaling, and a chance to share your thoughts with others if you feel inclined. This is a great opportunity to be present, explore your own grief, and connect with others. (LKG)
Sunday, March 26th
Go for brunch, Maize at The Station, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., prices vary
Huzzah! Maize at The Station is now open for brunch on both Saturday and Sunday. During brunch hours, there will a limited brunch menu with dishes like the French Toast with fresh fruit and guava maple syrup. (AB)
Enjoy some Winey Mary, Sleepy Creek Vineyards, noon to 6 p.m., prices vary depending on how much you drink
Sleepy Creek Vineyards’ Winey Mary is a wine made from tomatoes and jalapeños. It’s kind of strange, but also good. It’s the perfect booze for a Bloody Mary, and that is what Sleepy Creek is offering you every Sunday: Bloody Marys with Winey Mary. If you’re looking for something to get you out of town, this is it. Just be mindful of not drinking and driving, please! (JH)
See Terminus Victor, Djunah and Sweetmelk in a new venue, The Space, 7:30 p.m., $10 cover
Brand new C-U music venue The Space has its opening night with a triple bill. Punk band Sweetmelk, led by Kenna Mae, will be the first band to officially take The Space stage, followed by Chicago-based Djunah C-U and shoegaze vets Terminus Victor. (DP)
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.