Friday, September 8th
Check out the Marie Watt Exhibit, Krannert Art Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free
There’s a brand new exhibition at Krannert Art Museum, and this weekend is a great time to check it out for the first time. Storywork: The Prints of Marie Watt, showcases Watt’s printmaking work from 1996 to the present. Although I also included this in my five things in arts this month, the exhibition will actually run until the first week of December, so don’t stress if you can’t make it this weekend or even this month. (SSO)
Order food from Bloom Bawarchi (or just go there), your house / Bloomington, order by 1 p.m., prices vary
Earlier this week I wrote about the wonderful lunch I had at Bloom Bawarchi, the Indian restaurant in Bloomington. They deliver to Champaign-Urbana Friday through Sunday. You just need to place your order by 1 p.m., and your food will arrive between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. (JH)
Be awestruck and starstruck by the talent at ELLNORA | The Guitar Festival, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, times vary, $10 to $80
Twenty-four Grammy Awards are represented by the performers at ELLNORA | The Guitar Festival this year, making it a truly star-studded musical affair. From Emmylou Harris to Ani DiFranco and Andy Summers of The Police, there is an unbelievable musical performance waiting for you at the Krannert Center on Friday and Saturday. (DP)
Saturday, September 9th
See some physics demos, Loomis Laboratory, 9:30 to 11:30 p.m., free
Society of Physics student at U of I will be offering up some demos and lectures all about how physics impacts our lives on several Saturday mornings this fall. Saturday Physics for Everyone is intended for high school students, as well as anyone in the community who might want to learn a little science on a Saturday morning. You can register for this first installment here. (JM)
Build a birdhouse, Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., $20
Donate $20 to Habitat for Humanity and receive a birdhouse kit. ReStore will have all the tools you’ll need to build it on site, as well as some assistance if you need it. You can drop by any time during the event window, and you can register ahead of time or same day. Donations go toward building affordable housing. While you’re there, you can check out the Raise the Woof teams building pet houses. (JH)
Take a garden tour, Japan House, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., $5
Japan House is participating in Gardens for Peace, a national event by the North American Japanese Garden Association. Gardens included in the project will rake a special pattern into their dry gardens. Japan House is offering two tours, where you can learn about the meaning of the pattern as well as the rest of the gardens. You’ll have the opportunity to write a wish for peace on a crane, that will be hung in the gardens. There is also a tea ceremony being offered that day, for an additional fee. Find tickets and more info on the event page. (JM)
Eat fast food, The Space, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., prices vary
The Space is serving up takes on fast food favorites like the McRib, beef and cheddar, the famous crunch wrap, and more. Here’s a teaser of the menu and a link to the Facebook event page. I’ve already had the McWeird from their Weird Meat Boyz Kitchen days at Collective Pour, and it was pretty damn good. This is a one-day menu, so if it sounds good to you, plan to eat there this Saturday. (AB)
Sip wine, Art Mart, 1 to 4 p.m., free
Have you bought wine yet from Art Mart? I shared my three favorite bottles from the Prospect Avenue shop in my Five Things for September list, and one of them I found out that I liked because of a Saturday tasting. It’s super casual. Just head to the back of the store, and they’ll pour little sips of whatever bottles they have. If you like it, you can purchase the wine by the glass or bottle. Don’t forget to pick up a chocolate croissant on your way out. (AB)
Sit in on a conversation with Jason Finkelman, Spurlock Museum, 2 to 3:30 p.m., Free
This was one of my suggestions in this month’s Get your Culture here article. You can join Philadelphia-based Asian American Studies scholar Rob Buscher and curator Jason Finkelman at the Spurlock Museum of Art as they discuss Nikkeijin Illinois, a current exhibition on the Japanese American Experience. They will discuss Buscher’s collection, collaborative work, and his connections to the Illinois stories on display. (LKG)
Celebrate Chinese Culture, Hessel Park Church, 5 to 7 p.m., free
The New American Welcome Center at the YMCA is hosting a festival to celebrate the culture and traditions of China. There will be two parts to the evening. The first part will be the festival and the second will be Chinese calligraphy. They are working in partnership with the Chinese Heritage Association with a mission of “promoting Chinese language and culture, and facilitating cultural exchanges.” (LKG)
See a dance documentary, Spurlock Museum, 7 p.m., $5-10
The Flatlands Dance Film Festival is back, and this year’s feature film is showing this weekend at Spurlock Museum. Moving Together, directed by Maggie M. Bailey, is a documentary that explores the collaboration between dancers and musicians. The film celebrates artmaking and “the power of community.” Admission is $10 for the public and $5 for students and seniors, with limited seating. (SSO)
Drink parking lot margaritas and listen to great local bands, Loose Cobra, 5 p.m., $10 suggested donation
Loose Cobra is celebrating it’s 9th year in existence by throwing a big outdoor bash, complete with a huge P.A., great local bands like Neoga, Falbonauts, The Clayton Burke Band, The Recliners and Big Daddy Pride, and the promise of experiencing “shopping cart fires”. Don’t get too close (I’m guessing). (DP)
Sunday, September 10th
Celebrate brooms, Downtown Arcola, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., free admission but you can buy food and things
Arcola is hosting their annual Broomcorn Festival throughout the entire weekend. The small town is known as the broom corn capital of the world. There are carnival rides as well as all sorts of crafty vendors. You can also buy all sizes of handmade brooms (made right there at the festival). Of course, there will be plenty of fair style food. Find the full weekend schedule of events on the Arcola Chamber of Commerce website. (JM)
Go to a Pollinator Party, Riggs Beer Company, 12 to 4 p.m., free but you can purchases beverages and other items
Buy some native plants from The Well Fed Caterpillar, honey and beeswax candles from Earth Bounty Farms, and sample some Cloud Mountain Kombucha while you take in a couple of free lectures. Veterinary student Holly Black will talk ticks at 12:30 p.m., and Maggie Murphree will speak on all things pollination as part of the U of I School of Molecular & Cellular Biology Science on Tap series. (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.