FRIDAY, October 30th
Eat somewhere new (to you), anywhere, all weekend, prices vary
Is there a restaurant in town you’ve been meaning to visit? How about a new place that just opened? Szechuan China and Snow Meets Coffee in Champaign opened up in the last two weeks, and Sipyard in Urbana (204 W Main Street) opened just yesterday. Some places with seasonal menus have changed things up to reflect the cooler temperatures. Don’t forget about those seasonal cocktails. Image from Facebook. (JH)
Spooky Skate, UI Ice Arena, 6-8 p.m., free skate rental with costume
Sure, ice-skating and dressing up for Halloween are both fun activities, but what if you could do both…AT THE SAME TIME? Well, my friend, this weekend you are in luck. Plus it’s free if you wear a costume, so there’s no reason not to do it, honestly. (BH)
Illini Volleyball vs. Michigan State, Huff Hall, 7 p.m., $6
U of I sports are generally underwhelming, but a shining exception of late has been the Illini Volleyball squad. This weekend, they take on Michigan State in a game where they will be wearing pink jerseys for breast cancer awareness. What’s better than a good team playing a good game for a good cause? (BH)
Halloween Hell Raiser concert, Mike N Molly’s, 8 p.m., $5 with costume $7 without
Rock out with Resinater, Capys, and Airacorbra while enjoying craft beer, a hell of a whiskey selection and costumes. There’s not much better then dressing, going to see some rock and roll and howeling at the moon with some local bands. (SL)
Penny Horses, Waterfowl, Flamingo, Finer Feelings, Cowboy Monkey, 8:30 p.m., $5
A couple of local acts are releasing albums on the same night — this Friday at Cowboy Monkey — Penny Horses and Waterfowl. I made a post last week about the albums, and both will be available in a variety of capacities. This is a good one to kick off the weekend, as four bands for $5 on a Friday evening is quite the steal. (PS)
Peelander-Z, Bookmobile!, Teddy Bomber, Highdive, 8:30 p.m., $10
Not to argue with my illustrious editor-in-chief, but Peelander-Z at the High Dive will be a different sort of fun. (My kind of fun) If you have not seen Squid Bowling, or screamed about knowing “Too Many Mike” while beating a pie pan with a spoon, then you need to be not just witnessing, but participating in this particular spectacle. Or going to Ninja High School. Or both. (RK)
SATURDAY, October 31st
Give out candy, 5-7 p.m.
You remeber what it was like to be a kid, right? The more candy the better. And remember when you found a house that gave out kingsized candy bars? Me either, those were a myth. But you can be that myth now that you have a 9-5er! Ok, maybe you don’t need to get king sized candy bars to give out but have something read. Turn on your porch lights and get ready for the kids of C-U between 5-7 p.m. for trick or treating. (SL)
Pumpking in a pumpkin cask and costume party, Crane Alley, 7 p.m., free
Come drink Southern Tier’s famous Pumpkin beer, Pumpking, from a 100 lb functioning pumpkin cask. The Crane employees have transformed a very large pumpkin from the Great Pumpkin Patch into a working cask, filled with bourbon soaked oak and coconut, and will tap Pumpking from their pumpkin cask. The cask will be tapped at 7 p.m., with a costume contest to follow. I will be there (rather, the Day of the Dead skeleton version of myself) imbibing the deliciously infused Pumpking before heading to Downtown Champaign Halloween festivities. (BC)
Ghost Stories: Stories from the Other Side, Spurlock Museum, 7:30 p.m., $8 adults / $6 students
Stop by the Spurlock Museum for a Halloween-flavored ghost story concert, featuring local storytellers Dan Keding, Kath Brinkmann, and Kim Sheahan, as well as tellers from UIUC faculty, staff, and students. This ghost story concert features tales with adult themes or heightened fear factors. It is for adults only (age 16 and above). (RP)
Night of the Living Dead-Live Score, Mike N Molly’s, 8pm, $3-$5
Los Guapos will give a spooky serenade Saturday evening at Mike N Molly’s that might even awaken the undead. They will be playing the soundtrack to Night of the Living Dead, live. Cover is $5 for non-costume patrons and $3 for those donning Halloween costumes. Be sure to bring your zombie dagger, lest you be cornered in the beer garden by the walking dead. Either way, it ought to be a good time. (BC)
Sun Stereo, Bones Jugs N Harmony, The Highdive, 8 p.m. $10
Of course, it is Halloween weekend. There’s plenty going on in terms of costume parties and such, but if you’re looking to kill two birds by doing that plus seeing a couple of the best bands in C-U, look no further. This Saturday at the Highdive, Sun Stereo and Bones Jugs N Harmony co-headline this Halloween bash at the Highdive. Not only that, but it’s only $10, which is probably what you’d pay to see either one on their own anywhere else in town. (PS)
Hit It Run: Halloween Edition, Cowboy Monkey, 9 p.m., cover
Stop by Cowboy Monkey for Old School Hip Hop/Funk/Soul and RnB. Featured DJs include Kosmo, Delayney, Legtwo, and Belly. Come dressed to impress your competition in the costume contest. (RP)
SUNDAY, November 1st
Order your Thanksgiving Pies, choose your bakery, all weekend, about $20-$30
A couple of years ago I ordered some Thanksgiving pies. It was an easy process, and one less thing I needed to worry about whilst preparing to host. Hopscotch: Cakes & Confections is currently taking orders for Thanksgiving pies ($25), and I’m absolutely certain they will be amazing. You may also check out The Cake Artist’s Studio or The New Sweet Indulgence. Photo by Jessica Hammie (JH)
National Theatre of England presents Hamlet, Art Theatre Co-Op, 1 p.m., $18 (non-member)
Face it, the day after Halloween is probably not the best day to do something active. So sit in a darkened theatre for four hours, buy a little hair of the dog, and watch Benedict Cumberbatch portray an iconic Shakespearean role. Members get a discount and pay only $12.50, consider doing that, too. (RK)
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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.