FRIDAY, August 14th
Illinois State Fair, 801 Sangamon Ave., Springfield, IL, 7 a.m.-midnight, $7 for adults, $3 for children 5-12 (prices vary so check out the site)
Guys, it’s the State Fair! It actually runs from August 13-23, so if you can’t make it now, you have some time. But you’ll want to get there the first Friday it opens. Come for the corndogs, stay for the butter cow sculpture. Of course, this requires a little bit of travel, but well worth it. (AH)
Dance for people with Parkinson’s, Krannert Center Drama Rehearsal Room, 10 a.m., free
Dance instructors Laura Chiaramonte and Kate Kuper invite anyone to participate in this full-body dance workshop. It’s a comfortable space to practice gentle movement if you have Parkinson’s or if you know someone who does. (AH)
Hay Fever, The Station Theatre 223 N. Broadway, Urbana, 8 p.m., $15
It’s the last weekend to catch Noel Coward’s comedy at the Station Theatre, with a strong cast of veterans who will leave you gasping for breath between laughs. There’s still time, there’s still tickets, and you can find out what question this guy is about to ask–I guarantee it is not fraught with emotion, and is probably slightly bawdy. Good times, noodle salad. (RK)
Terminus Victor, Vaudevileins, The ACME Principle, Mike N Molly’s, 9 p.m., free
The Mike N Molly’s beergarden is one of the nicest places to watch a band play, and throughout the warmer months, great bands consistently play there—but those $7+ shows can add up. Free Friday is here to save the day with a free show featuring local bands Terminus Victor and The ACME Principle, and Chicago’s Vaudevileins.
SATURDAY, August 15th
Chicken & Waffles, Hendrick House food truck, Urbana’s Market at the Square, 7 a.m. to noon, $7
Look, I love Cracked just as much as the next person, but too often there is a lenghty line at the Cracked truck and virutally no line at the Hendrick House truck. Chicken and waffles might not be your typical breakfast, but it will fill you up with a tasteful combination of protein, carbs, sweet, and veggies. Order a fruit salad on the side for dessert. Photo by Jessica Hammie. (JH)
YMCA Dump & Run Donations, UIUC Stock Pavilion 1402 W. Pennsylvania Ave. Urbana, 9:00 a.m.-Noon.
When I was a freshman in college, one of my fondest memories comes from the YMCA’s annual Dump & Run. Got an old couch taking up space in your garage? Bring it to the Dump & Run and donate it so some college kid can get it for cheap, and in doing so, support the campus YMCA, which provides a plethora of great programs. The list of everything they’ll accept can be found here. (BH)
Third Annual Pens to Lens Screening & Awards Gala, The Virginia Theatre, 1-9 p.m., cover
A project of the Champaign Urbana Film Society, Champaign Movie Makers, and Champaign Urbana Design Organization, Pens to Lens invites K-12 students to write and submit original screenplays, which are then made into short films by local filmmakers with original posters by the local design community. At this special third annual gala screening, the whole community is invited to see the finished films, walk the red carpet, and celebrate student writing. Students age 18 and under can pick up a free festival pass at the box office. The 2 p.m. screening features films by K-8th grade students and the 6 p.m. screening features 8th-12th grade students. (RP)
Laugh-a-Palooza CU, Mike N Molly’s, 7-11:30 p.m., cover
Nationally known comedian and writer Mark Roberts will return to Champaign-Urbana to host Laugh-A-Palooza C-U. Roberts, an Urbana HS alumnus and former student of Chew, is creator of the hit television series Mike and Molly. He also wrote and produced for another popular series, Two and a Half Men, and has made numerous featured appearances on television and in film over the years. The evening is a night of music and comedy to benefit the Greg Chew Theatre Scholarship. Check out Seth’s conversation with Roberts here. (RP)
SUNDAY, August 16th
Eat on Green Street, your choice of locale, all day, prices vary
Quick! Do it before the students return! I recommend Sakanaya if you’re looking for a lovely date night, with some delicious froyo from Cocomero (get the taro). Photo by Jessica Hammie. (JH)
UFLive! presents Dalipop, Urbana Free Library 210 W. Green St, Urbana, 2-3 p.m., free.
Kenna Mae Reiss and Dave King have joined forces with some familiar local musicians to form Dalipop, and what better way to kick off UFL’s free concert season? You’ll have plenty of time after brunch to get over to Race & Green and check out the new sound. (RK)
Get your car washed, Mach 1 gas station, at the corner of Bloomington Rd. and Prospect Ave., anytime, $5-$12
Your car deserves a nice wash after a long week and an on-the-go weekend. For the last month I’ve put Rainstorm car wash and Mach 1 car wash head to head and determined that Mach 1 is going to be your best bet for a great wash. However, Rainstorm (located near the corner of Prospect Ave. and Bradley Ave.) is also a good option. (SL)
Go enjoy campustown
Campustown in the summer is wide open and beautiful. Already some student havecrept back to Red Lion and Joe’s. But wait, there is still time for you to take a stroll through the quad, eat at Legend’s, or bicycle amongst all of the old brick educational buildings without there being masses of people sneezing mumps on you and yelling drunkenly about your outfit or car. Take your camera with you too! (SL)
Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, The Art Theater, 10 p.m.
Go see the controversial first officially authorized documentary about Kurt Cobain, screening Sunday and Wednesday at the Art Theater. Inside interviews with some of Kurt’s closest acquaintences and exclusive footage offer a deeper look into the life of the misunderstood Nirvana hero. (MR)
———
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.