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Weekender: January 20-22 – Smile Politely — Champaign-Urbana’s Culture Magazine

Flatlands Dance Film Festival on Facebook

Friday, January 20th

Attend the Flatlands Dance Film Festival, Spurlock Museum, 7pm + Saturday, 7pm, $10

The Flatlands Dance Film Festival is Friday and Saturday at 7 pm, and will feature a curated selection of short dance films each night. Friday night’s selection will feature LatinX/e choreographers. The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday night after the screenings. (JH)

A robot with red lights for eyes seems to be in a glass case. CU Adventures in Time and Space website

Try The Rise of Icarus, CU Adventures in Time and Space, times vary, $25-30 per person

CU Adventures has a new room! Rise of Icarus involves an alien spaceship and Antarctic glacier. It’s meant for 4 to 8 players, so grab some pals and give it a shot. (JM)

Saturday, January 21st

A pineapple margarita slush with a wedge of pineapple sits on a concrete ledge in Downtown Champaign outside of Esquire Lounge.  Photo by Alyssa Buckley.Alyssa Buckley

Check out Pineapplefest, Esquire Lounge, 11 am to midnight, free to attend but bring money for drinks & food

Pretend it’s not freezing and head over to Esquire Lounge’s Pineapplefest in Downtown Champaign. There will be a menu of pineapple-themed food and drinks including the bar’s famous pineapple margarita. The specials start at 11 am, and live music by Live Yacht Rock with Jake and Jackson Tatar begins at 7 pm (AB)

Attend a book club — yes, you still have time read the book, The Literary, 2 pm, free

This month’s book club selection is Heartstopper, Volume One by Alice Oseman. This graphic novel is a fast read, so if you can get your hands on a copy you can certainly have it read by the time the club meets. Coincidentally, I also just started reading this series; I finished volume two earlier this week. It’s a heartfelt, charming, adorable look at high school love through Brits Nick and Charlie (a jock and a nerd). The graphic novel series was also made into a Netflix series (season one is available). (JH)

View from above of an orchestra arranged on a large stage with light wood floors. Sinfonia da Camera on Facebook

Listen to some Beethoven and Dvořák, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 pm, $5-40

Sinfonia da Camera, the chamber orchestra in residence at Krannert Center, will be performing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral”, as well as Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104. They’ve invited renowned cellist Ko Iwasaki to join in for the latter. Purchase tickets through the Krannert website. (JM)

Learn a little about about the universe, Staerkel Planetarium, 8 pm, $5-6

Listen to the soothing voice of Patrick Stewart while you take in Violent Universe, a show that features star explosions and black holes and asteroids hitting planets. Sounds like a wild Saturday night! (JM)

Sunday, January 22nd

An overhead photo shows two grilled fish in a yellow broth with a metal ladle.  Photo by Xiaohui Zhang.Xiaohui Zhang

Celebrate Chinese New Year with grilled fish, Szechuan Taste, 11 am to 9:30 pm, $34.95

Chinese New Year begins this Sunday, January 22nd. Food + Drink Writer Xiaohui recommends the house special grilled fish at Szechuan Taste for a Chinese New Year celebration. The fish has an aromatic garlic flavor and is served on a bed of mixed veggies in a flavorful broth. Read more about this dish and four more dishes in Xiaohui’s Chinese New Year article which publishes today at 11 am (AB)

Drink beer and play Euchre, Riggs Taproom, 12:30 pm, free to play but bring beer money

Are you a Euchre player? Riggs has an every other Sunday tournament, and there’s one happening this week. You’ll rotate partners through the event, so no need to come with a partner. This is just for fun, no cash or prizes at stake. All skill levels are welcome. (JM)

Groove to Afro D & Global Soundwaves, Rose Bowl Tavern, 4 to 6 pm, free, but donations appreciated

Afro D & Global Soundwaves is a six-piece socially-conscious hip hop/jazz/funk/soul band from right here in CU. They’re playing this family-friendly show at Rose Bowl. no covers; donate what you can. They’re really good, so go check them out. (JH)

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.

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