Friday, November 3rd
Eat a sandwich, all over C-U, all day, prices vary
Friday is National Sandwich Day. I freaking love sandwiches, so I will be celebrating. Champaign-Urbana has so many great sandwiches. This Philly steak sandwich from Niro’s was delicious, and I included it in my November Five Things. For less than $10, it comes with crispy fries and a fountain soda. In Urbana, go for the Sicilian sandwich shop Baldarotta’s which serves boss sandwiches like the meatball smash, Italian beef, and the incredible porketta on housemade focaccia. And if you want one more spot, check out Cheese & Crackers’ awesome sandwiches in the plaza with Sushi Siam and Grovestone. My favorite is the blue ox sandwich: roast beef with caramelized onions and blue cheese on buttered bread. (AB)
Get a head start on holiday shopping, Link Gallery, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., prices vary
Halloween is over, so that means that it’s officially holiday shopping season. Students from Art and Design at U of I are helping you get a head start with a vendor fair. Support these talented students who will be selling their wares. Guaranteed you’ll find unique items for your loved ones, and maybe yourself! (JM)
See a new play, The Station Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $13-17
This weekend is your last chance to see Without Rule of Law, the latest production from The Station Theatre. The play follows a group of “eighth graders who take a stand against environmental and social justice issues that we still face to this day.” You can read Michael’s review of the play, but beware of spoilers. (SSO)
Saturday, November 4th
Attend an art fair, Savoy Recreation Center, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free, but you can buy things
This weekend is the 40th annual Craft League Art Fair, which will feature 38 artists. If you can’t make it Saturday, the fair is also happening Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. While you are out on Saturday, you can also head over to the Champaign-Urbana Spinner and Weavers Guild show, where you can find household linens, socks and mittens, wraps, handwoven baskets, and more. (SSO)
Do all of the things, Postmark Urbana, 12 to 4 p.m., Broadway Food Hall, free but bring money
40 North and the Urbana Arts and Culture Program are teaming up to bring the second iteration of Postmark Urbana. Pick up an event map at Broadway Food Hall. There will be so much to do including live music from Alfonso Valdes and Tessa Turner, board game playtesting with CUDO Plays, a letterpress and printmaking workshop with Lisa Kesler Studio, a leaf art demo, and many other vendors. (LKG)
Help launch the world’s first public quantum network, Urbana Free Library, 1 to 4 p.m., free
The University of Illinois’ Grainger School of Engineering is launching the world’s first public quantum network. What does that mean? Honestly, I don’t really know. Marvel movies have tried to teach us about quantum stuff, but I’d rather learn directly from the scientists studying the teeny tiny particles that make up life. According to the organizers, if you attend this event you will “see for yourself how quantum particles can “affect” each other no matter the distance between them, through a live demonstration of the experiment for which the Nobel Prize in physics was awarded in 2022.” Sounds pretty awesome. (JH)
Watch and discuss an important film, Urbana Free Library, 2 to 4 p.m., free
Compassion & Choices is a non-profit group in our area that wants to empower people to know their options and make their own end of life choices. They will be showing the documentary film How to Die in Oregon a “journey through the myriad issues and emotions surrounding terminal illness and the right-to-die.” If you’re curious about the Champaign-Urbana branch of the organization, you can read my interview with Jim Hannum, the Compassion & Choices Action Team leader right here. (LKG)
Celebrate a new album, Kangaroo Court with Diet Lite and Venus Overdrive, Rose Bowl Tavern, 8:30 p.m, $10 adv, $15 door
The prodigal sons of Champaign-Urbana rock are back for another high-energy show at Rose Bowl Tavern to celebrate the release of their debut album, This is Kangaroo Court. If you never thought you’d see crowd-surfing at the Rose Bowl, then you need to be here. (DP)
Sunday, November 5th
Run and eat cupcakes, Carle at the Fields, 9 a.m., $40
Champaign Park District and CU Special Recreation are hosting their annual Cupcake 5K. This popular race is a fundraiser for CUSR, so they are able to make their programs financially accessible to all who want to participate. Not a runner? That’s okay! You can walk or even roll — the route will be wheelchair accessible. Then, you get to eat a cupcake! On-site registration is from 8 to 8:30 a.m. There will also be a 100 meter dash for kids 10 and under following the race. (JM)
Eat pizza, Flour & Fire Pizza truck at Triptych Brewing, noon to 6 p.m., $11.75
Fight off Sunday scaries with pizza and beer at Triptych Brewing this Sunday. The pizza food truck Flour & Fire Pizza will be there slinging personal sized pizzas, and Triptych will be pouring tasty brews. Try Flour & Fire’s Margherita pizza with mozz, basil, and olive oil — or go for any pizza that has the truck’s signature chicken on it. (AB)
Watch a Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, 2 to 4 p.m., $15
Twin City Theatre Company is presenting Seascape, the 1975 Pulitzer- and Tony-award winning play by Edward Albee. A middle-aged couple is hanging out on the beach when some highly evolved talking lizards approach them. The lizards are thinking about leaving life in the water behind for something new; the humans have some answers, a rich conversation ensues. (JH)
Indulge in reflective melodies commemorating the change of seasons, McKinley Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m., $20 suggested donation
AMASONG, Champaign-Urbana’s premier lesbian/feminist chorus presents their Fall Concert, Sure on This Shining Night, held at McKinley Presbyterian Church on the corner of 5th and John in Champaign. This November concert intertwines the contrasting themes of despair and hope, resonating with the solemness yet hopefulness of the season. (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.