FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
Tennessee at 100 at Parkland Theatre, Fri/Sat 7:30 p.m., $14 and down
Check out several one-act plays from Tennessee Williams, with a different mix each night. (JG)
Magician Dennis Watkins8:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. $2 Students, $3 Public
Magician, Dennis Watkins, takes the stage at the Illini Union Courtyard Cafe. (TN)
Peak oil prophet and American Archdruid (!) John Michael Greer set the blogosphere on fire this week as he departed from the usual discussion of small-scale energy sources and traditional artisanry to march headlong into a full endorsement of the use of magic for consciousness raising. I’m hoping that, in addition to cutting someone in half, Dennis Watkins will address this controversy. (RH)
Jace Hoppes Attempts to Set a New Guinness World Record!
10:00 p.m.
Hoppes has already unofficially broken this record. He has recently breathed flames as high as 30 feet (the current record is 26’5″). On Friday, at Mike N Molly’s, he’ll make it official. This is going to be very cool.
Also, performing: DJs Koffin Keith and Chelsea Bandita of Surfabilly Freakout.
There is no cover and cameras are welcome. (TN)
Jace hates the people of Guinness, which is why he’s torching their logo. (RH)
Sarah’s Key at the Art Theater, Fri 5:15 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Sat/Sun with add’l. 3 p.m. show, $6.50 before 6 p.m., $9 after
If you’re up for a French mystery/thriller/drama then this one’s for you. Kristin Scott Thomas stars as Julia, a journalist researching the events surrounding a family during the Holocaust. (JS)
Stake Land at the Art Theater, Fri. & Sat. night at 10:00 p.m., $3
If you’re up for a movie at the Art Theater this weekend and Sarah’s Key just seems too heavy for you, then you have an alternative here. It’s a tale of rampant vampirism, good ol’ vampire killin’ and vengeance. Don’t expect any glittery vampires. Look for my review on Saturday. (JS)
Homecoming Parade and Pep Rally
The parade will run from 6–7 p.m. It starts at Sixth Street and Taft Drive in Champaign, will travel through Campustown, turn south on Mathews Avenue in Urbana, and end at the Quad.
The pep rally begins on the Quad after the parade and will feature performances by UI organizations, as well as head football coach Ron Zook and the football team. The UI Alumni Association will present the Lou Liay Spirit Award. (AR)
Pages for Pennies Fall Book Sale
Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center at 202S. Broadway Ave., Urbana
The fundraiser is for the benefit of Books to Prisoners and features $0.75 soft covers, $1 hardbacks, and bag sale Sunday, where you can fill a bag for $5. (AR)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1
Club Courtyard Presents: Salsa Night
8:00–11:00 p.m.
Featuring DJ Ollie
I don’t enjoy dancing. But maybe you do. And maybe you’re talented enough to Salsa to Latin music rhythms, instead of simply hopping in place. And maybe you’re in good enough shape to dance all night without moaning, “Ow, my sciatica!” the next day. If so, then Saturday night is all about you!
$2 with I-Card
$3 Public
(TN)
If you want to find out more about Salsa in CU, this is a good place to start.
Bonnie Bitch’s Sweet Dreamzzzz Comedy HypnosisShow
10:00 p.m.
Psychic Joker Entertainment and SODO Theatre are pleased to welcome Bonnie Bitch, America’s first and only Female Impersonator Hypnotist.
This show is one night only at the SODO Theatre, and you can get your tickets here.
Doors: 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: $7 in advance, $10 at the door
Age: 19+ (21+ to drink)
(TN)
Death Cab for Cutie at Assembly Hall, 7:30 p.m., $26–$35
Death Cab is touring in support of their newest album,”Codes and Keys,” their seventh studio release. Watch the video for “Stay Young, Go Dancing,” released this past Monday on their site. Telekinesis opens. (JS)
My dog peed on their sound engineer’s bed. He has good taste. (RH)
The Miles Davis Experience at Krannert, 7:30 p.m., $35 and down
I like that Krannert tries to sell this by asking you to visit a time when the country was bogged down in a foreign war of dubious design and purpose, when powers-that-be ran around screaming, “Communist!” and “Socialist!” in an attempt to ferret out the traitors hell-bent on bringing this proud nation to its knees. Oh, but hey, the economy was booming, and that’s both different and awesome! Listen to a would-be beat poet pretend the Tryon Festival Theater is City Lights Bookstore and go go go about how America (When will you be angelic?) is smack addled on black tar petroleum junk all while he’s smack addled on black tar heroin junk.
In all seriousness, this could be pretty cool. And I’m pro-everything Miles. Whether it’s this:
or this:
but especially this:
(RH)
Jeff Helgesen’s Trumpet Mayhem at Krannert, 9:30 p.m., Free
The Jeff Helgesen Quartet, along with guest trumpeters Tito Carrillo and Nathaniel Banks, will play at the Krannert Center for a free Afterglow series event on Saturday, October 1. The performance will begin at 9:30 p.m. and will last an hour and fifteen minutes.
Jeff Helgesen is a freelance musician based in Champaign who spent three years touring and recording with the Ray Charles Orchestra from 1987–1990. He has an active performing schedule leading several jazz ensembles. (AR)
Market at the Square7 a.m.-12 p.m
Lincoln Square Mall at 300 S. Broadway Ave. in Urbana.
The market will be in the parking lot of Lincoln Square Mall. Residents can select locally-grown foods and browse art and craft vendors at the
Farmer’s Market. (AR)
Tour de Fruit starting at UC-IMC, 5:45 p.m., Free
This event will take participants around C-U to several publicly-accessible fruit trees and shrubs. Urban scavengers, take note. (JG)
Lupe Fiasco with The Cool Kids
7:30 p.m.
Assembly Hall
Cost: $40 (floor), $36 (sections A, B, C), $29 (GA floor); $8 discount for UI-Urbana students
(AR)
West African Dance Class with Djibril Camara
Channing-Murray Foundation at 1209 W. Oregon St. in Urbana
6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
$10 students/$12 non-students
Djibril Camara is from Boke, Guinea in West Africa. He was a principal dancer and choreographer for the Ballet du Afrique Noir of Senegal, as well as two other ballet troupes in Africa and Europe for seventeen years. In the US he danced with the Ballet du Afrique at the Kennedy Center in New York. The class is open to all beginners as well as advanced dancers and will also feature live drumming. Students and residents can sign up for a block of sessions to receive a discount. (AR)