The buzz calendar is a compilation of events happening in the Champaign-Urbana area. Follow our top picks every Monday and Thursday for ideas on what to do on any night of the week, from where to eat to what to watch.
Want to submit an event? Email [email protected].
Monday, Dec. 11
Themed Photo Nights With Santa
5-8 p.m.
Market Place Shopping Center, 2000 N. Neil St, Champaign
Free, all ages
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Live up to Christmas’ festivity by taking themed photos with Santa Claus. You can also bring your pets (dogs and cats only).
Free Bicycle Maintenance Class
6:30-7:30 p.m.
Bike at Illinois, 1501 S. Oak St, Champaign
Free, all ages
This class centers on teaching how to check your bike’s tires, brakes, and chain. Bring your own flat bike to get a free demonstration on repairing a flat tire. Register at https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/7628317.
Home Alone (1990) News-Gazette Film Series
7-9 p.m.
The Virginia Theatre, 203 W Park Ave, Champaign
$6, all ages (PG)
Macaulay Culkin is the one of the first actors that pop up in our minds when it is Christmas. Watch, again, the younger Macaulay spending Christmas in his house without his family on the movie “Home Alone” for this year’s Christmas.
How Could You Forget About Us?
7-9 p.m.
Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, 202 S. Broadway Ave, Urbana
Free, all ages
This event will hold a discussion on Black women in popular culture, incorporating nationally famous as well as locally famous Black women who have made a significant impact on the Black community on campus, throughout the nation, as well as all over the world. Refreshments will be provided.
Open Mic Night
8 p.m.-2 a.m.
The Canopy Club, 708 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana
$3 under 21, free 21+, 18+
If you’re looking for a creative outlet, head over to Canopy Club with your instruments and your laptops. All genres and styles are welcome at Open Mic Night, but no full bands or DJ sets are allowed.
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Time varies depending on the screening time
The Art Theater, 126 W Church St, Champaign
$6.50-8.25, R-Rated
A mother of a murder victim sparks conflict with local police force who is reluctant to pursue her daughter’s killer. The movie illustrates dark-humor director Martin McDonagh’s latest take on dark-humor.
Tuesday, Dec. 12
Spiders in Indiana: Recent Discoveries
4-5 p.m.
Illinois Natural History Survey, 1816 S Oak St, Champaign
Free, all ages
Spiders are not just creepy beings. If studied, they can benefit human beings so hugely that there is the study of spiders, araneology. Find out what phenomenal discoveries in archeology have been made by joining the presentation by Marc Milne, Department of Biology, University of Indianapolis.
Broad Comedy Open Mic
7-8:30 p.m.
Pizza-M, 208 W. Main St, Urbana
Free, all ages
The final show of the semester will be hosted once by Andrew Schiver! Stand-up is the most common type of performance, but poetry, music, and storytelling also welcome!
Wednesday, Dec. 13
Matter in the Margins: Gwendolyn Brooks at 100
9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, The Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Main Library, Room 346, 1408 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana
Free, all ages
The exhibition is going to display literary works of Gwendolyn E. Brooks (1917–2000), Illinois Poet Laureate and the first black winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Brooks’s unconventional writing style working under black-owned presses produced a diversity of literary works such as youthful poetry and prose, and scrapbooks of pieces.
Members’ Half-Price Sale
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Champaign Public Library, 200 W Green St, Champaign
Free, all ages
The Friendship Bookstore offers more than 20,000 used books which discounts as high as 50%. Most items are priced below $2, and all the proceeds will be used to benefit Champaign Public Library.
Open Mic Night
6-8 p.m.
BrewLab Coffee, 630 S Fifth St., Champaign
Free, all ages
Love freshly brewed coffee? Love music performances? After their first show, BrewLab Coffee has decided to host another open mic night. Anyone is welcome to play. A sign-up sheet will be at the shop on the day of the show.
Wreath Making Workshop
7-8:30 p.m.
Delight Flower Farm, 4410 N. Lincoln Ave, Urbana
$50, all ages
This workshop offer participants the opportunity to craft a unique, seasonal decoration. Wreath decor includes fresh evergreen, berries, pine cones, tree nuts, ribbons, dried flowers, and more.
From Prince Igor to Black Square
7:30-10:30 p.m.
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, 500 S. Goodwin Ave, Urbana
Free, all ages
The performance will showcase scenes from the Russian Operas Prince Igor, War and Peace, Golden Cockerel, Eugene Onegin, and Black Square.
Miss Bennet, Christmas at Pemberley
8-10 p.m.
The Station Theatre, 223 N. Broadway Ave, Urbana
$10-$15, all ages
As the holidays approach, the Celebration Company invites local audiences to revisit their favorite Pride and Prejudice characters as they gather for Christmas at Pemberley. The show, directed by Joi Hoffsommer, is a true holiday delight, full of wit, warmth, music, and romance.
