Friday, February 4th
Get a Restaurant Week meal, 30+ restaurants, Friday and Saturday, prices vary
Right in the middle of our annual Restaurant Week, the town shut down for two days, but this weekend, it’s the last two days of RW and restaurants will be open. Friday lunch seems like a good plan, and Friday takeout dinner is definitely something I’ll be doing. Check out all the Restaurant Week menus and specials, our editors’ reviews of this year’s RW meals, and our recomendations of what to order. (AB)
Image from Rose Bowl Tavern’s Facebook page.
Get your socks rocked off, Rose Bowl Tavern, 9 p.m., $10
This is a truly stacked lineup with some of the best bands in town. The Dirty Feathers, Ancient Ways, Kangaroo Court, and Ocean Child. Rose Bowl never fails to put together wonderful bills. If you’re looking for a night of rock/punk/psychedelic music, this is your event. (SW)
Saturday, February 5th
Photo by Rafay Khan.
Get a coffee and get away, Flying Machine Avionics, Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., $2.50
You’ve been stuck home enjoying coffee that you had to make yourself. If you’re like me, in a home full of wet snow jackets, laundry, and children hyped up on snow days. You probably want to get out of the house, so why not start your Saturday at the very chill coffeeshop on First Street? Order a coffee, soak in the cozy ambiance, and revel in a little time to yourself. (AB)
Photo from Walnut Street Tea Company Facebook page.
Visit the new Walnut Street Tea Company, Village at the Crossing, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., free but you should buy some stuff
Walnut Street Tea Company, which has been a Downtown Champaign mainstay for nearly 40 years, now has a second location at Village at the Crossing. For their grand opening, they will have giveaways and prize drawings, and of course you’ll have the opportunity to browse their extensive selection of tea and coffee and other fun things. (JM)
Learn about butterflies, Anita Purves Nature Center, 10 a.m. to noon, free, but registration required (call 217-384-4062)
The Urbana Park District is hosting this free program about butterfly species in Taiwan and North America. What a nice way to think about warmer climes after two several days of winter weather. James Yang, Fulbright Scholar at the U of I, will lead the discussion. (JH)
Celebrate Pride with Illinois Men’s Gymnastics, Huff Hall, 2 p.m., free
Check out the first home meet for Illinois Men’s Gymnastics. Pride Progress buttons will be given to the first 200 spectators, and Uniting Pride will be tabling at the event. If you want to see all the gymnastics this week, you can also see the women compete at Huff at 2 p.m. on Sunday. (JM)
Photo from the Urbana Dance Company Facebook page.
Turn on the heat with this two day Salsa and Bachata Intermediate Level Workshop, Urbana Dance Company, $15 per hour, $35 for one day, $50 for both
This two day dance workshop is guaranteed to bring some much needed heat to your post-Snowpocalypse weekend. Led by Cinnamon, owner of Cinnamon’s DanceWorks and Flow Dance Therapy, and assisted by UDC’s Kim Hubbard, choose your own adventure with hourly and single day pricing, or opt for the full two-day experience. (DD)
Sunday, February 6th
Photo from artist Marc-Anthony Macon’s Facebook page.
Editor’s Note: Due to inclement weather, this event has been postponed until February 13th.
Say a fond fairwell to the Eggsploitation exhibit, Independent Media Center, 2-5 p.m., free
If all good must come to an end, then kudos to Eggsploitation to saying fairwell with a bang. Eggxit: a hard-boiled art closing, will offer “eggs.art. [and] nummies.” Listen to host Marc-Anthony Macon and “bring your whimsy.” (DD)
Support some local jazz, Rose Bowl Tavern, 7 p.m., free
The weather this week has been brutal. What better way to warm up then with some jazz? Saxophonist Matthew Storie is putting out his debut album Hwy 538 and this is his release show. His quartet also features Jesus Fuentes on piano, Emma Taylor on bass, and Frank Kurtz on drums. Come out and support Matthew Storie and the band. (SW)
Photo by Jessica Hammie.
Order dinner and watch a movie, your house and your favorite restaurant, prices vary
After a mid-week winter storm, ordering take out or delivery is a nice relief. Take inspiration from our Food + Drink column of the same name. Have kids? Watch Encanto and order food from El Paraiso in Urbana, which is about as close to Colombian food as you’ll find in these parts. Want to relive some 90s romps? Pam & Tommy (yes, that Pam and that Tommy and that boat) is on Hulu; order your favorite pizza or wings or whatever brings you joy as you watch two people’s lives grossly exposed without their consent. Or swing by Champaign Public or the Urbana Free libraries and pick up a movie on your way to pick up your food. (JH)
Top photo by Anna Longworth.
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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.