FRIDAY, March 11th
Photo Noir opening reception, Gallery217, 9 E. University Ave., 7-9 p.m., free.
Get the first look at the juried show of black and white photography from local artists. A wine and cheese reception will open the exhibition with a chance to meet and speak with the photographers. (RK)
Champaign Ladies Amateur Wrestling: March Melee, The Accord, 8 p.m., 19+
One of the best things in Champaign-Urbana is the existence of CLAW, or Champaign Ladies Amateur Wrestling. Backed by a punk band, and featuring some of the most badass athletes in town, CLAW is a real gem. My personal favorite thing about it? The great names (like The Dewey Decimator and Stone Cold Jane Austen). It’s gonna be a party. (BH)
Sit outside and drink, Cowboy Monkey, evening times
The weather forecast is calling for a high of 68 degrees and a 20% chance of rain for today. This past week CM put out their chairs, lit up the candles, and opened their doors to outside seating. So go for dinner or drinks and enjoy that sweet, sweet fresh air. (SL)
Watch Illinois beat Purdue, a television of your choosing (ESPN), 1:25 PM
Though our publisher may not care to admit it, Purdue sucks. Their president is a Tea Partier, Drew Brees is washed up and their best alumni was an astronaut whose steps on the moon may or may not have been fabricated in a Hollywood basement. Sure, our awful season is close to over, but at least we can relish in them making it exciting at the end. All the way to the big dance, just wait! (BH)
SATURDAY, March 12th
Engineering Open House, U of I engineering campus, 9am-4pm, and Sunday, 9am-3pm, free.
Plenty of cool things to see this weekend over at the Engineering Open House. Students will showcase projects, research, exhibits, and startups all over the enginnering campus of the U of I. Don’t miss the Tesla Coil Concert at 8:30 on the Bardeen Quad. (JK)
Save a life, Crossroads Corner Consignment, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., donations accepted
PetNet is an organization that helps foster and place dogs in area homes. The crew will be at Crossroads this weekend with applications for adoption, fostering, and volunteering, and they will have a few of the adoptable doggies there for you to meet. If you’re thinking about adding to your family, this is a lovely way to do it. If not, snuggle a pup, donate if you can, and leave with a smile (and maybe a few dog hairs on your coat). For more info, check out PetNet’s Facebook page. Image from Facebook. (JH)
Classical “Tweets” Sinfonia da Camera, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., $39 or less.
Not limited to 140 characters, this program features a mixture of classical and modern elements from around the world is designed around a theme of birds. Messiaen’s Oiseaux exotiques, Martins’ Concerto for Seven Winds, and Ravel’s Mother Goose are all masterful works that are rarely sighted in the wild. (RK)
Get a tattoo
Getting a tattoo is fun. A part of the fun is being able to enjoy it out in the open. A lot of times that means the summer season. So, if you start working on a tattoo now, it will be applied and healed by the time the warm weather is here. There are a lot of places to go here in town: No Regrets, Champaign Tattoo, New Life Tattoo, Flatland Tattoo Studio, 217 Tattoo Co, Civilized Gypsy Tattoo and many more. (SL)
Veronica Bleaus (and more), Chester Street Bar, 7:30 p.m., $3 from 5-7:30 p.m.; $5 after 7:30
Chester Street welcomes an eclectic lineup of performers, including Veronica Bleaus, the self-proclaimed “worst drag queen in the midwest,” to their early retro show this Saturday. Hear music from the 70s, 80s, and 90s and be tickled by the retro stylings of drag perfomers from across C-U (RP)
Lara Driscoll Trio, The Iron Post, 9:30 p.m.
Come check out former C-U resident Lara Driscoll as she returns to The Iron Post in Urbana. Former member of Bossa Nuevo and Beat Kitchen will be playing some original compositions as well as some jazz standards. (JK)
SUNDAY, March 13th
Breakfast at the Japan House with the Japan Illini Club, Japan House, 10 a.m., ticket required
Join the Japan Illini Club for a traditional Japanese breakfast, as well as conversation about Japanese breakfasts and etiquette, at the Arboretum’s Japan House. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available on Eventbrite via this Facebook page. (RP)
YMCA International Dinner, University YMCA, 1001 S Wright Street, Champaign, 6-8 p.m., $15 in advance; $16 at the door
The 33rd Annual International Dinner & Performance Night features food and performance inspired by all corners of the globe. Check out some Nepalese dance while chowing down on some galaktoboureko. This family friendly event is sure to entertain and fill bellies; why not try something new on a Sunday evening? Imagr from YMCA website. (JH)
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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.