Buzz Magazine: Dec. 3, 2009

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Champaign-Urbana’s community magazine FREE

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week of DECEMBER 3, 2009

Drunk Dining  7    Obvious movie title #34  9    Holiday dangers  23

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VOL7 NO47

DECEMBER 3, 2009

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IN THIS ISSUE THE BOYS ARE BACK

6

The BBQ delight that is Po’ Boys returns

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ANDREW BIRD 10 ON THE217.COM COMMUNITY Did you know one in six people in the United States don’t get enough food? Find out what you can do to help needy CU families in this week’s “Weekly Environmentalist,” online now.

MOVIES AND TV A review of Up in the Air will be up on Saturday. This film is being hyped as one of the best of the year, with star George Clooney getting a lot of buzz for his performance as a man whose job requires him to fly around the country firing employees. Directed by Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking, Juno), Up in the Air will possibly garner some attention come Oscar time.

FOOD & DRINK Celebrate National Prohibition Repeal Day is this upcoming weekend. Find out more about this monumental day in this week’s Food Holiday piece, only online.

buzz’s PHOTO CORNER

DREARY FALL buzz

11

Find out what WPGU’s inaugural festival is all about

CALENDAR

14

Your guide to this week’s events

EDITOR’S NOTE

MUSIC Our newest column, “Music Mentalist,” takes a weekly glimpse into thoughts on first concerts, the art of naming a band, mix tapes and more on Thursday.

2

8

Eternal Sunshine for the Spotless Mind still shines

Topless Female Dancers (Always Hiring, We’ll Train)

6

Red Star Liquors opens in downtown Urbana

PHOTO BY JASON STANBURY

TOMMY TRAFTON

The other day I was planning a meeting with a coworker and I caught myself reverting to the “I’ll just e-mail you some times that work for me and we can figure it out that way.” We were in the same room at the same time and for some reason, I thought that communicating our schedules later through e-mail would be more convenient then discussing it face to face in the present. The sad thing is, for some reason, that probably was the case. I’ll be the first to admit my sick addiction and reliance on the Internet, being disgusted at myself after realizing that I’ve wasted the past half hour mindlessly flipping through bookmarked webpages multiple times over despite me knowing that there’s nothing new to view on them anyway. The computer screen can be a hypnotizing wealth of information and there is no denying its usefulness, but for as much good as it does, I wouldn’t argue with all the research claiming that technological advancement has only made people less happy. I recently received my invitation to Google Wave, a new product by the massive web application developer. Google Wave was first announced last May, promising to revolutionize what we know as e-mail and instant messaging, fusing the two online communication methods together and, according to developer Lars Rasmussen, defining what “email would look like if it were invented today.” The new application is a lot like G-mail except everything you type can be viewed in real time as you’re typing it (similar to instant messaging). It should serve well for online collaboration, meetings or casual conversation for as many people as you desire. I tried it out the other day with a friend, and while it did seem to work pretty well, I just wish technology would slow down for one second. I found myself thinking of all the ways I could use this Google Wave to my advantage but had to pause and tell myself that I shouldn’t get so excited over another reason to trap my existence in the frame of a glowing 15” monitor. While there is no denying that I’ll never refuse these kinds of conveniences, let’s just hope that mankind remembers how to function unplugged.


HEADS

UP!

Celtic Harper Patrick BAll to perform at Heartland Gallery by Hannah Chin Having been open for a little over three years, Urbana’s Heartland Gallery is no stranger to a spectrum of diverse performers and events. Next week is no exception, as Celtic harper and spoken word artist Patrick Ball will take the stage to showcase his talents. A spoken word artist’s program can be described as rehearsed pieces that range from poetry to storytelling — anything that is spoken and not music-based. In between those pieces, music is usually interwoven. Over the past few years, Ball has recorded three spoken word and nine instrumental albums. His albums have sold half a million copies collectively. They have also earned him several national awards, including the National Association of Independent Record Distributors’ award as the best independently released spoken word recording. He has toured throughout the United States and Canada, and as far as England, Scotland and the United Kingdom. Jan Chandler, owner of Heartland Gallery, said that musicians often look for venues in-between the places they’re performing. This benefits smaller cities, such as Urbana, because people who have no means of transportation can still enjoy hearing his music without travelling far. Chandler thinks it’s important to keep an open mind about diverse arts and entertainment cultures. “It’s good to expose yourself to different kinds of art, or you may not realize what you’re missing,� said Chandler. “It’s a whole new cultural experience that everyone should have.�

TALK TO BUZZ

buzz staff

Patrick Ball will perform at the Heartland Gallery on Monday, Dec. 7 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. Cover Design  Jillian Rahn Editor in Chief  Tommy Trafton Managing Editor & Copy Chief  Mark Grabowski Art Director  Claire Keating Photography Editor  Wallo Villacorta Image Editor  Rebekah Nelson Photographers  James Kyung, Paul Habeeb, Claire Keating Designers  Kamil Kecki, Jillian Rahn, Louis Lee Music Editor  Amanda Shively Food Editor  Maggie Carrigan MovieS Editor  Matt Carey ArtS Editor  Abby Wilson Community Editor  Michell Eloy CU Calendar  Bonnie Stiernberg Copy Editors  Danielle Perlin, Jean Kim, Molly Durham Sales Manager  Sarah Gleason Marketing/Distribution  Brandi Willis Publisher  Mary Cory On the Web  www.the217.com Email  buzz@readbuzz.com Write  512 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820 CALL  217.337.3801

We reserve the right to edit submissions. buzz will not publish a letter without the verbal consent of the writer prior to publication date. buzz Magazine is a student-run publication of Illini Media Company and does not necessarily represent, in whole or in part, the views of the University of Illinois administration, faculty or students. Š Illini Media Company 2009.

Used with permission from Patrick Ball

the217.com ††December 3 - 9, 2009

LET

IT

OUT

On a scale of one to fat, how much did you eat on Thanksgiving? christine groesbeck

“On the scale, moderately fat. I ate a ton of stuffing, but not nearly enough deep-fried turkey.� Julie mahieu

“Whatever 11 corresponds to on the one to fat scale. I ate a lot and it was really good. I had turkey, stuffing, pie, and a lot more.�

rob anderson

“Superfat. I had 8 lbs of turkey, 4 lbs of mashed potatoes, a gallon of gravy, and 20 rolls. And yes, I ate all that and it was the best meal I had. Ever.� tracy colin

“Disappointingly not fat. I was too distracted on Wii Bowling to focus on eating. I was too busy winning and throwing it in my families’ faces, instead of throwing food in my face.�

LIKES

&

Hot Cocoa Free Gift Wrapping Personal Shoppers

GRIPES

James kyung photographer

likes

 Black Friday: I did Black Fridayright this time by waiting in line all night for one store to open up. Even though I didn’t end up buying much, staying up all night was worth it because I told everybody in line that I was there for the great deals on the candy, Skittles, or that I was hoping that the movie Justin to Kelly was still a door-buster (both proved to be false, sadly).  Christmas Trees: My favorite part of the year has got to be getting a tree and decorating the crap out of it with enough ornaments and lights to would make Santa proud. But I’m also not one of those people that decorate way too early in November or keep up the lights till late May, like my festive neighbors.  Thanksgiving leftovers: Nothing says America better than having oversized meals for a whole day then eating said meals as leftovers for the next three or four days. That’s probably why I never eat turkey the rest of the year, but also the reason why my tummy never goes empty the whole week. Mmmm, I’m going to go eat now.

Stop by the Illini Apple Center to make the most of your education discount this holiday season. Only at Illini Apple Center

Save up to $100 on MacBook Pros Find more deals and gift ideas at

www.illiniapplecenter.com

molly durham the217.com producer

gripes

 Wisdom teeth: I may have gotten them taken out over break, but they’re still giving me troubles!  The fact that I had never seen Arrested Development until last night: It’s amazing, I hadn’t seen it despite all the buzz about it and I was crying from laughter when I watched the first few episodes.  My finals schedule: Done on the last day.

512 E. Green Street, In The Heart of Campus www.illiniapplecenter.com 217.337.3116

Store Hours: Mon–Sat: 9am–6pm buzz †â€


DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

the217.com

Real or fake

Which trees should you buy this Holiday season?

by Alexandra Morgan Real or artificial Christmas tree? With the myriad of choices that abound each holiday season, shoppers may be reluctant to consider making a change in their conifers of choice. Yet this seemingly personal holiday decision has sparked a flurry of debate within the Christmas tree industry, raising health concerns, environmental issues and economic questions alike. On one hand, artificial trees are decidedly easier for homeowners. They require little setup and no maintenance. Plus, artificial trees don’t shed their needles like natural trees and necessitate little cleanup. A lot of artificial trees even come pre-lit, saving precious time and effort during the busy holiday season. “I hate all the needles and the mess of a real tree,” said homeowner Peggy Rounsfull , who’s been using an artificial tree for years. Artificial trees might also be a more affordable option —a huge selling point in these tough economic times. There’s a wide range of prices for artificial trees. For example, Home Depot offers simple trees beginning at $20 and luxurious trees that range up to $2,000. However, most average sized artificial trees run from about $50 to $200 at larger stores like Home Depot and Target. Home Depot also offers real trees in a slightly lower price range (anywhere from $40 to $150), but a new tree must be bought every year. In fact, the American Christmas Tree Associa-

tion, an organization that promotes artificial trees, claims on their website that “artificial trees save 70 percent over real trees.” This is because of their longer lasting power. The same association noted that artificial trees can last upwards of 10 years. This definitely makes them money-savers in the long run. On the other side of the debate are the real tree advocates. Their biggest argument is related to environmental factors. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, artificial trees aren’t stellar for the environment. The website goes on to say that the trees are manufactured from synthetic materials and many are shipped from China and other overseas countries. The needles from artificial trees are made from polyvinyl chloride, more commonly known as PVC. Not only is PVC not biodegradable, the EPA also flagged it as a potential health hazard. The EPA notes that PVC has carcinogenic properties. Real trees also have a few environmental drawbacks, mainly the fertilizers used in growing them, but in general, are a lot more environmentally friendly than artificial trees. According to the University of Illinois Extension , two to three seedlings are planted for every Christmas tree harvested. These farmed trees absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen into the atmosphere; plus, they’re often grown on land that wouldn’t support other crops. Rick Dungey,

of the National Christmas Tree Association said that this might have a big impact on people’s decision to buy a real tree. “Making a good eco-choice is important to a lot of people,” said Dungey. And while artificial trees end up in a landfill once their lifespan is up, real trees are biodegradable. Most towns, including Champaign, offer Christmas tree recycling programs. Champaign’s Christmas tree waste collection program allows residents to leave their natural trees on the curb to be picked up and recycled. But for some families, these controversial issues might have little sway compared to one, all-encompassing factor — tradition. Whether it’s using the same familiar artificial tree each year or picking out a fresh tree with the family, the holidays are steeped in tradition. Dungey said that buying a real tree is very often a part of these important traditions. “People just crave the tradition of the experiences — the memories, the feelings of going out and picking their special tree every year,” said Dungey. “It just makes you feel like Christmas.”

CU Sound off

by Lauren Hise

... on the Global Climate Summit and the United States

G

iven the current mania surrounding the “go green” movement, most United States citizens are, at the very least, aware of our country’s efforts to reduce the damaging aspects of our impact on the environment. Unfortunately, while many Americans have traded their SUVs in for hybrid cars, we still have

a long way to go before reversing the effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Though the responsibility for putting these emissions in check will be shared among all countries, the European Union believes that the United States and China need to go a few steps further, one decade further to be precise, in their commitment.

At the upcoming Global Climate Conference, countries are being asked to submit 10 year plans outlining their strategies for reducing pollution. Given the sheer volume of emissions the United States and China produce, is it right to ask them to instead submit 20 year plans?

Kim Klinger

lana moy

charles terry

jackie peacher

sophomore in molecular and cellular biology

sophomore in applied health sciences

graduate student in history of education

cu resident

“If we’re messing everything up more, we should have to have to clean it up better.”

“We should have the bigger responsibility since we are doing the most damage instead of spreading it out to other countries.”

“I think it’s fair. We are the biggest emitters of pollutants. Only makes [sense] that we have to cut back most.”

“It’s totally unfair. They should all have to come up with a ten-year plan or all have to come up with a twenty.”

buzz


the217.com   DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

“The Cranberries are the best band that ever existed.” — Stonewall Jackson

The art of the fold Urbana Free Library offers Holiday Origami by Tolu Taiwo If you’re in the mood to get in touch with Japanese culture, the Urbana Free Library (UFL) has what you’re looking for. On Dec. 5 from 2 p.m to 3 p.m., Children’s Services is hosting Holiday Origami at the UFL, open to all members of the CU community. Holiday Origami is a craft program tailored toward wintertime festivities. However, the concept isn’t new, according to ShihMei Carmody, the coordinator of the event, who said the UFL held a similar event a few months ago. “Patrons really like it,” said Carmody. “So we decided to have another one, and then, it just so happened that it was around holiday time.” Like previous origami lessons at the UFL, Chinese and Japanese community members skilled in the art of paper folding will lead the event. And true to the name, this origami session will be themed appropriately. “With Holiday Origami, we’re going to concentrate on holiday things, like sleighs, Christmas trees, things like that,” Carmody said. Apart from being something to do on a Saturday afternoon, the event also educates the public on the culture behind the craft. “Origami is a big part of Japanese and Chinese culture,” said Carmody. “I think this is another way to show patrons the culture and to teach kids about diverse cultures.” Holiday Origami is also a way to introduce the community to the array of books that focus on differen cultures of the world, said Barbara Lintner, director of Children’s Services. “There are a lot of good books on origami,” Lintner said. “When we do craft programs, it’s usually to make people aware of the books we have and other resources. That’s usually our main motivation for doing the program.” Though Holiday Origami is mostly aimed at children, Lintner said college students are welcome to join in the fun. “It is mainly a children’s event. I think that’s the main target,” said Lintner. “Not that we would restrict it. Especially to students — they’re busy, and it’s a good time to take a break.” Carmody agreed. “This program is for children and their families,” Carmody said. “College students will be welcome if they’re interested to learn about origami. If they’re very good at it, they are welcome to come in to volunteer, to help out.“

This week

Th Dec 3

5pm

// Marquee

7:30pm 7:30pm

Mo-Sa 10am-6pm One hour before to one half hour after performances 217/333-8300

UI Jazz Trombone Ensemble // School of Music Fr Dec 4

7:30pm

Looking for a quirky toy for that special someone? In need of a new scarf for cooler weather? On the hunt for the perfect card for your best friend? The Promenade has it and a whole lot more. From eco-friendly apparel to arts-themed gifts to scrumptious chocolate, The Promenade is your shopping treasure trove for any time of year.

UI Symphonic Band II and UI Concert Band I // School of Music

Kr annert Center for the Performing arts

The Promenade has iT

Krannert Uncorked with Salty Strings, folk duo

UI Wind Symphony and UI Symphonic Band I // School of Music

7:30pm

The Nutcracker // Marquee

7:30pm

UI Jazz Band IV // School of Music Sa Dec 5

2pm

The Nutcracker // Marquee

7:30pm

The Nutcracker // Marquee

7:30pm

UI Concert Jazz Band // School of Music Su Dec 6

2pm

The Nutcracker // Marquee

3pm

Annual Carol Concert // School of Music

4pm

Winter Lights Festival

6pm

The Nutcracker // Marquee

7:30pm

UI Latin Jazz Ensemble // School of Music

// Kranner t Center Student Association

We Dec 9

7:30pm

UI Symphony Orchestra // School of Music Th Dec 10

CALL 333.6280

s

5pm

Krannert Uncorked // Marquee

7:30pm

Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra: The CUSO Holiday Concert // CUSO

1. 8 0 0 . K C P A T I X

Corporate Power Train Team Engine

Marquee performances are supported in part by the Illinois Arts Council—a state agency that recognizes Krannert Center in its Partners in Excellence Program.

40 North and Krannert Center—working together to put Champaign County’s culture on the map.

buzz


&

Drink

Po’Boys reopened under new management

Bring back the barbeque by Emily Siner For 53 years, Po’ Boys Bar-B-Que was a staple of Champaign barbecue. Hungry customers would line up out the door of the tiny restaurant Friday and Saturday nights to taste the famous sauce on polish sausage or beef brisket. When the owner, Arnie Yarber, said he was too old and tired to keep the business going in 2006, the lines of heartbroken fans stretched for hours. Does it sound like the kind of place CU needs again? The Rasner family thought so too. Earlier this year, they converted the old TK Wendl’s bar in Urbana to Po’ Boys part II: Po’ Boys BBQ & Pizza, a family establishment. “My brother and I have been talking for years about doing something together. It’s always been a dream to open something of our own,” Jean Rasner said. “This just kind of fell into our hands.” Jean co-owns the store with her dad Jim, brother Andy and sister-in-law Lindsay. Jim acquired the secret recipe for the sauce from a family friend and longtime Po’ Boys enthusiast, who got it straight from Arnie himself a few years ago. Now the family has assumed the duty of bringing back the barbecue. “People warned me about starting a business right now, but my dad has such strong faith in the recipes that we have. This is a legend in town,” Jean said. The new Po’ Boys extended the menu to give

Co-Owners of the improved Po’Boys (from left to right) Jim Rasner, Andy Rasner, Lindsay Lamanna-Rasner, Jean Rasner, and Elizabeth Rasner. Photo by James Kyung

buzz

patrons more home-cooked variety. In addition to the classic barbecue sausage, beef, pork and ribs, it serves pizzas salads and standard American favorites: burgers, grilled cheese, grilled chicken sandwiches, wings (10 for $7.50) and chicken fingers served with — you guessed it — barbecue sauce. Their famous sauce is vinegar-based, sweet and thin, although anything can be ordered with a more traditional thick sauce instead. It comes in three degrees of spiciness: mild, hot — which is “facesweating,” Jean warns — or a mixture of the two. Pizzas are thin crust, similar in style to the original Monical’s. They come by the slice, $4 to $5, or by the pie, $10 to $18.50, and are half price Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The restaurant also serves a healthy selection of beers, wines and cocktails. Unfortunately for college students, the old location did not come back with the food. Po’ Boys relocated to 1901 S. High Cross Road, close to the Urbana Walmart. While it is still local and only a few turns away by car, it is hardly accessible by bus. The closest stop is about a 20 minute walk away, according to Google Maps. The building is surrounded by cornfields (no surprises there for central Illinois) and a sports complex of softball fields, batting cages and volleyball courts. “It is really fun to come out on a weeknight in

summer to see the people playing softball and enjoying our great food and drink,” Jean said. But with a less centralized location came some benefits. The owners were able to expand Yarber’s carry-out stand into a restaurant seating 600. Their party rooms alone seat 400 with a private bar and stage and are completely free to rent. Still, locals are just now starting to realize the barbecue has been reincarnated, and TK Wendel’s bar converted into a family restaurant. “The hardest part is just letting people know that we’re here. This was for so long just a bar and sports complex,” Jean said. “I even have friends who live in Champaign and say that their neighbors don’t know that we’re here.” Popularity is growing as their name gets out. They also have specialty nights to attract customers. Monday and Tuesday nights host the pool league; Wednesday is euchre night; Fridays come with karaoke. On a recent Wednesday night, the crowd was small but dedicated, about 12 people playing euchre in the main dining area. They stayed long after the kitchen closed at 9 p.m., and, brother Andy joked to his sister, were threatening to stay all night. It was easy to see why — the family’s friendly banter makes for an informal, infectiously happy atmosphere. “It’s easy to work with family when you’re all pretty easy going,” Jean said cheerfully.

Shots of the new and improved interior of Po’Boys . Photo by James Kyung

New Kids on the block Red Star Liquors opens in downtown Urbana by Kate Kinsella

Photo by Claire Keating

Food

Looking for a new hangout to vary your old Friday night routine? You’re in luck. On Nov. 11, Red Star Liquors, located at 114 S. Race St, U., opened its doors for business. This unique venue, located in downtown Urbana where The Embassy Tavern used to be, offers a newly renovated, understatedly glamorous style. The red-flocked wallpaper, with raised velvet designs, immediately catches one’s attention upon walking in the door, as do the glamorously gold gilt frames around the three flat screen TVs. Red Star Liquors has really found its own distinctive niche in the Urbana scene. The art deco design of the interior, the glossy dark wood bar and the lounge booths that line the wall create, in the words of part-owner John Kosmopoulous, a “chill, loungy, neighborhood ‘dive’ bar ... but not in the sense where it’s crappy.” He added, “It’s just, there’s no dress code or anything. It’s like a neighborhood bar you might find in Chicago or New York.” As alluring as the interior décor is the drink selection. Along with the standard mixed drinks, Red Star Liquors offers a number of beers on tap, including Guinness, Stella Artois, Bass, 312 and Blue Moon. These drinks can be enjoyed Wednesday through Saturday, 9:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. Although food is not served, Kosmopoulous expressed the hope that they might get the kitchen up and running sometime next year. As of now, Red Star Liquors relies on word of mouth for business; most of the clientele includes friends of staff and local workers who stop by after their shifts for a drink. After the holidays, however, Kosmo assured that we can expect more aggressive advertising around campus and online. Upcoming events include DJ Jett Rokk aka Any Warfel on Dec. 5, Disco Phil on Dec. 9, and “Old-School” night will be every Wednesday starting in December; anything from old-school hip hop and R&B, to funk, pop and rock will be played. So next time you find yourself bored with the same old scene, head over to Red Star Liquors in the up and coming nightlife of downtown Urbana for a much-needed drink, unique atmosphere


the217.com   DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

Watching Finding Forrester while waiting for prescriptions only makes the wait more painful.

drunk dining

Follow the yellow brick road to Merry-Ann’s

by Jeff Girten When we showed up at Merry-Ann’s, I could tell that I was the only one who’d had too much to drink already. Sitting in the booth, everyone ordered water, except the Tin Man. “Chocolate milk,” he said to the waiter, and then turning to me said, “Hollywood.” Stupid Tin Man, thinking he’s better than me. We sit around, waiting to order. The Tin Man said, “You should get Salisbury steak.” “Forget Salisbury steaks,” I replied, “this isn’t grade school.” But the Tin Man was caught up in his own reminiscence, “That was my favorite part of grade-school.” The Cowardly Lion interjected, “Yeah, except the Salisbury steak was 50 percent fat.” The Tin Man quickly responded, “And 50 percent Salisbury.” The word Salisbury just makes me sick to my stomach, thinking about steak made from hamburger meat. The Tin Man continued, “I got the frozen dinner Salisbury steak, three years after grade school. I was like, ‘I can’t take it anymore!’” Maybe I wasn’t the most intoxicated after all; he was actively discussing the merits of Salisbury steak. Finally, our waiter showed up and took our order. The Tin Man and Cowardly Lion got up to

put something on the jukebox because the tunes are a little sad for six o’clock on a Thursday. I turned to Dorothy and asked, “Where’s Toto?” All she can say is, “Dead.” An awkward moment passed, I don’t even know who Toto was, but now he was dead. Looking over at the jukebox, where The Tin Man and Cowardly Lion were still perusing choices, I said, “Now! Seven is on there.” To which Dorothy could only respond, “One looks like Denzel Washington.” And she hasn’t even had anything to drink today. I was starting to wonder what could be taking them so long, but before I could articulate anything, Dorothy broke my thought process, “Have you seen Step Up 2?” “No.” “You should, it’s ridiculous.” Something finally started coming out of the jukebox, and I tried to sing along, but I can’t really remember the words. The Cowardly Lion shared his song selection with us, saying, “We go ‘Low’ by Flo’ Rida from Step Up 2 soundtrack.” After all that time, they’d only made one choice. The Tin Man returns, finally having made up his mind, “and then CCR, ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain.’” Our food showed up and I finally see why it is

that Merry-Ann’s is so popular with drunk diners — it’s greasy and there isn’t a vegetable on the table. Unless you count ketchup. “No gravy?” said the Tin Man to me, enticingly swirling the gravy on his plate around. He wanted me to beg him for some, but I wouldn’t do that. “For some-

one who wants a heart, you certainly aren’t nice to other people,” I said. When we finished, we started back to our apartment. Dorothy is headed back, but not to Kansas. For me, it’s more drinking, more stupid decisions to follow. There’s no place like home.

With two locations in Champaign, Merry Ann’s was voted the best 24 hour hangout in CU. Photo by Paul Habeeb

buzz


arts

&

entertainment

chairs, stairs and Chocolate Pudding The UIUC Dance Department’s senior thesis concert by Alyssa Schoeneman

briefbox

The 2010 UIUC Department of Dance senior class will present the first installment of their twopart concert series, “TruthGame,:” this weekend. The show presents group thesis works by seniors Maggie Phillips, Melissa Pillarella, Heather Smith and Carolyn Barry, in addition to their own solo performances. Kristen Walterman will replace Smith on the solo lineup to perform choreography by fellow senior Kaitlin Lang; Smith’s solo will be presented in the spring installment of the show. The title “TruthGame:” was chosen because it is a favorite pastime of the senior class; the soonto-be graduates often reveal embarrassing truths about themselves on their Facebook statuses. “TruthGame:” represents the idea that the senior class is presenting their truths in their group thesis and solo works, that they are exposing who they are as people and as artists. UIUC Professor Sara Hook has been helping the seniors to define their choreographic choices and artistic voices throughout the semester through peer feedback sessions. Hook’s senior seminar class allows the young choreographers to show their works-in-progress to the class and to discuss their choice of music, the structure of the piece and where to go next, among other topics. These discussions lend insight into the underlying themes of a piece of choreography and can result in a wealth of fresh ideas for a struggling choreographer.

truthgame: krannert center for the permorming arts dates: Friday, Dec. 4 & Saturday, Dec. 5 TIME: 7 p.m. LOCATION: 500 S. Goodwin Ave., U., Room 2500

Krannert Center Student Association offers a new night out by Sarah Alo

While rehearsing for “TruthGame:,” the Dance Department’s senior thesis show the choreographers and dancers develop a way of working that is unique to their creative process. Here, dancers rehearse “Not About Tomorrow,” a piece choreographed by senior Melissa Pilarella. Photo by Julia Radomyski; used with permission from Carolyn Barry

Senior Maggie Phillips said that she finds the rehearsal process to be both incredibly rewarding and frustrating at the same time. “My least favorite thing about the [creative] process is the uncertainty that creeps in when you least expect it,” Phillips said. “Sometimes it’s difficult to overcome the self-doubts you have as a choreographer.” In contrast, Phillips said that she loves having the freedom to make changes and to try new things in rehearsal. Every rehearsal process is different; choreographers and dancers develop a rapport and a way of working that is unique to their creative process. UIUC Alumnus Amanda Pesch has found redefining her creative process to be the biggest challenge in choreographing senior Barry’s solo. “I’m finding that with each piece and different cast members, the energy in rehearsal is dif-

Music mentalist

ferent,” Pesch said. Sometimes everything just seems to flow together and is almost effortless. There are other times when I’m up against what seems to be the biggest creative block I’ll ever hit.” It is in times like those, Pesch continued, that she removes herself from the rehearsal setting in an effort to view her work more objectively. The seniors have worked together to make “TruthGame:” a success, assuming roles on the production crew, in addition to roles in marketing and fundraising for the concert. The concert series is free but donations are welcomed; all funds will go toward funding the Spring installment of the concert. If modern dance intimidates you, take some advice from Pesch. “In terms of the audience, it doesn’t matter whether they absolutely love it or hate it,” she said. “I just don’t want my audience to be indifferent.”

Finding your musical niche

by Caity LeValley Have you ever stopped to think about how much music you know? It’s really quite remarkable. I’m not actually sure how I’m able to remember new things on a daily basis with the ridiculous amount of songs that are backlogged in my head. Back in the golden days of yesteryear we learned “The Alphabet Song,” “Happy Birthday” and “The Itsy Bitsy Spider.” The “I Love You” song from Barney may even still echo faintly in your mind. These classics have served us well. But, inevitably, we left kindergarten and Disney soundtracks, and started listening to what I shall fondly call “real person” music. I’m relatively certain my first album was Pieces of You by Jewel on cassette tape. Despite that archaic reference, I am positive that I’m a normal college senior. What about your first CD? It’s almost embarrassing now, isn’t it? Was it a bright and shiny B*Witched, No Doubt or NOW compilation, perhaps? I was an ‘N Sync girl all the way, a teeny

buzz

Winter Lights bring holiday cheer to cu

bopper extraordinaire until a kid in middle school did a spot-on Nirvana tribute at the talent show. I found Green Day, drank some Red Bull and then the world of indie rock opened its ever-loving doors. No matter where you started on the music spectrum, I think everyone begins to find his or her niche in college. You’re free of the prescribed roles of high school and your parents’ house. There’s no need to listen to angry music just because you’re rebelling against curfew, but rather, you crank it up because your new roommate needs to learn more profanity. Or hey, you read about a free show in buzz and you decide to attend, and they become your new favorite band. Most people aren’t solely defined by their musical tastes, but it’s definitely a big way we judge each other. If you’re an early Rilo Kiley fan, generally speaking, you may not have run to download Jay-Z’s new album. One word: Nickelback.

Is there a more unanimously hated-upon group out there? I see people on the Quad wearing shirts from Britney Spears’ latest tour, and I can’t help but wonder if they actually like her or are just trying to be ironic. You see what I mean? My point is, we all know a lot of music — more than we even realize, or are willing to admit. Whenever the Top 100 Songs of the ‘90s special comes on VH1 you can count me unproductive for a good chunk of the day. We embrace our lapses in snobby selectivity and belt out Creed songs, like “With Arms Wide Open.” Soak it in, my friends. Sing it out. We aren’t all pitch perfect. We can’t predict who’ll be a one-hit-wonder or who’ll be the next “Best Musician” of our time. All we can do is keep listening. If it’s got a good groove, and it makes you move, it can’t be that bad. And you never know when your word for word memorization of “Don’t Speak” will come in handy. Trust me.

The Krannert Center Student Association (KCSA) presents The Winter Lights Festival as a celebration of all things winter this season. The Winter Lights Festival, free to the public, will be an evening of food, fun and entertainment held at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 4:00 p.m. “The Winter Lights Festival is a new incarnation of our holiday celebration put on by the Krannert Center Student Association,” said Bridget Lee-Calfas, the public information director for Krannert. “The KCSA has been hosting this event for a number of years, but it was renamed last season in order to be more inclusive of the many religious and cultural celebrations that occur around this time of the year.” During the night of the Festival, the icicle lights around the Ampitheater at Krannert will be lit for the first time. Carolyn Roloff, president of the KCSA, commented on the goal of the showcase. “[It’s] to celebrate the many winter holidays that occur around this time of year in a fun way that brings together campus and community,” she said. There will be a variety of performances by groups on campus that focus on different winter holidays as well as food and craft activities for the public. Roloff listed paper snowflakes as just one of the holiday crafts that attendees can enjoy. “In addition, there will be booths set up by various groups on campus that wish to give information about their group or about a winter holiday tradition,” Roloff said. The Festival will last until 6:00 p.m. that evening, which is when the final performance of The Nutcracker starts. “Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in the fellowship and fun of this annual event,” said Lee-Calfas.

Illustration by Maureen Walrath


the217.com ††DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

Being at home is so shitty.

movie review R

Ninja assassin

★★✊✊✊

by Allison Kennedy

SAVOY 16

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Fists of Fury (1971)

Photo used with permission from Warner Bros. Entertainment

W

hile the title was written by a person with the creativity of an eight-year-old, Ninja Assassin had the potential to be an epic action film. Directed by James McTeigue (V for Vandetta) and produced by the Wachowski brothers (The Matrix), the film was greatly anticipated by martial arts fans and anyone with an appreciation for what ninjas represent. However, a lack of substantial plotline and an overuse of gushing blood left me unsatisfied. Raizo (Rain) is one of the world’s deadliest assassins. Taken in as an orphan by the Ozunu Clan, Raizo is trained to kill. But after his friend is executed by the clan, Raizo escapes and waits to seek his revenge on the only family he’s ever known. Meanwhile, in Berlin, Europol agent Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) discovers financial records linking multiple political murders to an underground society of assassins from the Far East. Digging deeper into secret files in the agency, Mika becomes a target of the Ozunu clan. The deadly Takeshi (Rick Yune) is sent to kill Mika in order to protect their

movies of the decade

ancient secret. Raizo saves Mika, but knows they must run because the clan will kill them at any cost. Running through the streets of Europe, Raizo and Mika must rely on each other if they wish to stay alive and defeat the Ozunu Clan. &2%15%.4 -/6)%'/%23 I do admit some of the killing3IGN UP AT WWW GQTI COM FOR THE scenes are worth &REQUENT -OVIEGOER #LUB %ARN POINTS SEE MOVIES FOR A BARGAIN PRICE seeing, as long as blood doesn’t make you squeamish. In the opening scene alone, several bodies are chopped to pieces, setting the viewer up for a film based on bloodlust. Also, don’t forget your night-vision goggles, as most of a ninja’s work is done in the shadows. But don’t worry, if you forgot them, you’ll still be able to see the bright red contrast of blood. As for Rain, a pop singer turned actor, he falls a little short of the mark. Though he had the six-pack and loud scream, for some reason his long hair and boyish smile didn’t intimidate me or sell me on his ninja status. “He doesn’t look like a killing machine to me,� an enemy said. “He looks like he belongs in a boy band.� But as long as Lance Bass doesn’t try the same, we should be fine.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2003)

After nearly a decade of Hollywood roles and a season of television’s The Green Hornet, Bruce Lee went to Hong Kong to become a megastar in martial arts films directed by Wei Lo. In this film, Lee is a simple country guy named Cheng who takes a vow of peace and finds a job at a local ice factory where his cousins work. After several men mysteriously disappear from the factory, Cheng realizes his vow must be broken and he must fight back. The film has crude suspense and builds up to a fantastic battle where Lee takes on 15 or so of the boss’s thugs.

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The Chinese Connection (1972)

by Katharine O’Brian Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of the most unique films I have ever seen. Like many movies about failed relationships, it is sweet and sentimental, but it is also bizarre. The narrative is so complex and the images so unusual that it can be difficult to follow the first time. The best things are worth working for, though, and Eternal Sunshine truly is one of the best. Eternal Sunshine tells the story of Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) and how they each erase their failed relationship from their memories. Clementine goes to Lacuna, Inc. to request the procedure. After a heartbroken Joel discovers what she has done, he requests the same procedure. After one night in which lab techs remove the specific memories as Joel sleeps, he won’t remember a thing about Clementine. As the techs go backwards through their relation-

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When Chen Jeh’s (Lee) grand old teacher dies mysteriously at his Shanghai school, Chen becomes immediately suspicious of a rival Japanese school and swears revenge. Under Wei Lo’s direction as Chen Jeh, Lee defines his star image as cocky and aggressive with his skills, screaming in battle and flying in mid-air with electrifying finesse. In one key battle Lee meets the awesome challenge of an entire karate class of more than 30 with his bare hands and nunchakus (kung fu sticks).

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ship, Joel realizes that he wants to remember, and he fights to keep a piece of their relationship in his memory. The backwards narrative of their relationship mixes with the narrative of the present to reveal that everything at Lacuna is not as perfect as it seems. The great thing about this movie is how it seems so real despite the sometimes surreal storyline. The relationship between Joel and Clementine seems genuine even as portrayed in memories that are literally deteriorating around them. The visuals are amazing as faces and places are erased before Joel’s and the audience’s eyes. Eternal Sunshine combines the talents of Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman, a director and writer known for making bizarre films. This film is one of the best, though, because it combines the real and the surreal to make a beautiful effect.

Enter the Dragon (1973)

Now with a huge Hollywood budget, Lee plays a spy who must help authorities find evidence of criminal activities of a mysterious Han, the host of an international martial arts tournament on a secluded island near Hong Kong. With the feel of a stylish Asian James Bond film, Lee is in action from the get-go. There are multiple fights with Han’s best masters including a showdown battle in a room of mirrors, reminiscent of Orson Welles’ Lady from Shanghai finale. This film also starred John Saxon and Jim Kelly and was completed just months shy of Lee’s untimely death.

EVERYBODY’S FINE PG13 (2:00) DLP (11:00 Sat & Sun) 1:45 – 4:00 – 7:00 – 9:35 (12:00 Fri & Sat) BROTHERS R (2:10) DLP (11:00 Sat & Sun) 1:30 – 4:00 – 7:00 – 9:30 (12:00 Fri & Sat) TRANSYLMANIA R (1:52) DLP (11:00 Sat & Sun) 1:40 – 4:10 – 7:15 – 9:45 (12:00 Fri & Sat) ARMORED PG13 (1:48) DLP (11:00 Sat & Sun) 1:40 – 4:15 – 7:10 – 9:40 (12:00 Fri & Sat) CREED: LIVE NR (2:08) DLP 7:30 Monday Only – Special Engagement with Special Pricing of $12.50 per ticket THE NUTCRACKER BALLET NR (2:15) DLP 7:00 Thursday Only – Special Engagement with Special Pricing of $15.00 per person or a couple for $25.00 OLD DOGS PG (1:48) DLP (11:00 Sat & Sun) 1:30 – 2:00 – 4:00 – 5:00 – 7:00 – 8:00 – 9:30 (11:00 – 12:00 Fri & Sat) BOONDOCK SAINTS 2: ALL SAINTS DAY R (2:18) (11:00 Sat & Sun) 1:30 – 4:05 – 7:00 – 9:30 (12:00 Fri & Sat) NO 7:00 OR 9:30 MONDAY ONLY NINJA ASSASSIN R (1:59) DLP (11:00 Sat & Sun) 1:40 – 4:10 – 7:15 – 9:45 (12:00 Fri & Sat) FANTASTIC MR. FOX PG (1:47) DLP (11:00 Sat & Sun) 1:45 – 4:15 – 7:30 – 9:45 (12:00 Fri & Sat) THE BLIND SIDE PG13 (2:29) DLP (11:00 – 11:30 Sat & Sun) 1:45 – 2:15 – 4:30 – 5:00 – 7:15 – 8:00 – 10:00 (11:00 Fri & Sat) NEW MOON PG13 (2:30) DLP (11:00 Sat & Sun) 1:30 – 2:00 – 4:30 – 5:00 – 7:30 – 8:00 (10:30 – 11:00 Fri & Sat) PLANET 51 PG (1:51) DLP (11:00 Sat & Sun) 1:30 – 4:00 – 7:15 – 9:30 (12:00 Fri & Sat) 2012 PG13 (2:58) DLP (11:00 Sat & Sun) 1:30 – 2:15 – 4:45 – 5:30 – 8:00 – 9:00 (11:30 Fri & Sat) A CHRISTMAS CAROL 3D PG (1:56) DLP 3D SURCHARGE WILL APPLY/NO DISCOUNT TICKETS ACCEPTED (11:00 Sat & Sun) 1:30 – 4:15 – 7:00 – 9:30 THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS R (1:50) DLP 1:40 – 4:10 – 7:15 – 9:30 (12:00 Fri & Sat) NO 7:15 OR 9:30 THURSDAY ONLY OLIVIA: WINTER WONDERLAND G (1:26) DLP 11:00 Sat & Sun

buzz †â€


MUSIC

the mysterious production of andrew bird

Multi-instrumentalist brings popular show to Foellinger

I saved you

the set lisT Hot Cops at Mike ‘n’ Molly’s

by Dylan Sutcliff

getting

to know ...

Good Luck Jane

Used with permission from the band.

The members of Champaign’s Good Luck Jane have started to make themselves known locally with the release of their first EP Word of the Week this past summer. The band now has plans to publicize as much as possible to make themselves known on a national level. With fun-loving melodies and smooth, captivating vocals, thanks in large part to lead singer Joey Busse, Good Luck Jane has something big in store. Busse took the time to speak with buzz about the band’s journey and future. » buzz: Good Luck Jane is new to the CU music scene. When and how was the band formed? 10

buzz

songs and storytelling. I’m going to do a lot of songs from Useless Creatures. I’m going to have extra enormous horn speakers on stage and then it will be kind of over-the-top visual element.”

Photo by Cameron Wittig; used with permission

time to write my own music I would use those influences. I was exhausted on influences and I got tired of doing it, and for the last four records I started going off my own. You’ve always got to do something worth listening and make a contribution to the universe,” Bird shared. In 2005 Bird came out with Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs, which became an instant classic. The album received rave reviews and finished the year on almost every top ten list. Since then, Bird has put out two more albums, Armchair Apocrypha, and Noble Beast, which feature more of Bird’s original vocal styles, obscure lyrical witticisms and have kept him on the mind of music listeners everywhere. Andrew Bird will visit Foellinger Auditorium on Tuesday, Dec. 8, with local openers You & Yourn. He will be playing a solo show that, “will be more Photo by Brandi Ediss; used with permission

I don’t think anyone will argue with me when I say that Andrew Bird is easily one of the biggest names on the indie music scene today. The multi-instrumentalist from Chicago has generated a lot of publicity over the past few years due to his original songwriting and lyrics and fantastic live performances. Bird first started playing the violin when he was four years old, and when he was 15 he bought the violin that he still uses today from it’s original maker who required a tryout before the purchase. “I’ve had it since I was 15 and I’ve never envied another instrument. It’s kind of become infused with my arm, but every time I smash it I get this post mortem thing. I’ve had kind of a love hate relationship with it,” Bird said. After graduating from Northwestern University with a bachelors degree in musical performance, Bird released his first album, Music of Hair, which was by in large an instrumental piece heavily featuring violin. Soon after, he formed the band Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire and released three more albums under this moniker, Oh! The Grandeur, Thrills, and The Swimming Hour. The first two are heavily influenced by jazz and early 20th century swing, while The Swimming Hour is an eclectic take on pop and indie-rock music. After the Bowl of Fire informally disbanded, Andrew Bird began to develop a new style, one which he now calls his own. “When I was in my 20s I was very thirsty for new sounds. When it came

Joey Busse: The band was actually formed in high school with Jake [Cooper] and Drew [Slutsky]. Once they found out they were both going to U of I, they decided to keep pursuing a band in college. Freshman year they found me to sing lead vocals, and Dan [Wywrot] to play rhythm guitar. Under the name The 22, the four of us played with a temporary bassist our freshman year. We decided to change our name and start a new path when we finished recording our debut EP. The band became complete when we found Danny to play bass for us at the beginning of our sophomore year. » buzz: Has it been difficult to balance such a time consuming extracurricular with academic demands? JB: It has definitely been tough balancing our school work with creating music and working on our live show. We’ve found time to do what we need to get done, though. This spring semester Drew and I are taking time off to focus on spreading the word about our music by playing acoustic around the Midwest. » buzz: This past summer you released your first EP Word of the Week. How was the process of putting together your first professionally recorded CD?

by Candice Norwood

JB: We finished our Word of the Week EP in June of this year and we’re all happy about the turnout. We worked hard in the studio to make sure all of our ideas were brought out. It was our first time professionally recording in a studio. We used to record at Drew’s house and he would engineer the sound. It was nice for him to not have to worry about that in addition to the music. » buzz: How would you describe Good Luck Jane’s sound? What influences it? JB: We think Good luck Jane’s sound is mainstream enough that all types of people can enjoy it. It also has a real original tone to it that makes us unique. Instrumentally, we are influenced by The Rocket Summer, John Mayer, Fall Out Boy, Rockwell Church, and a few others. Vocally, I have really been inspired by Jason Mraz, John Legend, John Mayer, and Michael Bublé. » buzz: What do you think is the key to putting on a great show? JB: You have to get into your own music on stage if you want others to get into it. We are still learning how to do that. It’s one thing to just play our songs, but it’s another to play them in a way that makes it fun to watch.

by Todd Hunter In their two years together, shoegaze quartet Hot Cops have cultivated an air of mystery that could perhaps be attributed to a lack of promotion. I went to see the act open for a “Swedishness Day” show on Friday, Nov. 6, hoping for Scandinavian variations on the Hot Cops songs “Ew Blueberries” and “Frogs Romancing.” They no longer play those songs, but I was not shortchanged. Frontman Nik Allen was frank about both the lack of promotion and the set list. “This is a song about applying adhesive to one’s face,” he explained in the introduction to “Face Tape.” Jon Hasselbring took over vocals on the track, which sounded like So Many Dynamos by way of Germany with its barked vocals and growled choruses. “Face Tape” was the first of three songs in a row from the EP Everyone’s an Animal; the last of which was “Get Outta Dodge,” which in the span of seven minutes settled into the nicest groove of the night. Hot Cops ended with the debut of “Burn the Sheets,” structurally like the song “The Crystal Lake” by Grandaddy, but with screaming rather than singing. I am not sure I agree with the shoegaze label for Hot Cops, but it at least fits the instrumental endings to their songs. I am curious as to whether the future holds less shouting and more singing for the band. Whatever the case, Hot Cops have down-to-earth charm and a very ‘90s sound with solid alternative-rock instrumentation.

Hot Cop’s Setlist: » 1. Death of a Young Dark Horse » 2. Erin [9er 9er on set list] » 3. Exiles [Exïlés on set list] » 4. Face Tape » 5. Exploding Monkeys » 6. Get Outta Dodge » 7. Burn the Sheets Todd Hunter hosts WEFT Sessions and Local 901, two hours of local music every Monday at 10 PM on WEFT 90.1 FM.


the217.com

Seeing parents on campus during game days scares me a little bit.

DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

ROCK AND KICKS AND GIGGLES Inaugural Laughing Prairie Dog Festival hits the Canopy Club by Amanda Shively

O

n Friday, Dec. 4, Illini Media locals WPGU will host the first Laughing Prairie Dog Festival at the Canopy Club. Featuring six of Illinois’ finest, the evening is an equal mix of Chicago based acts and Champaign-Urbana locals representing a broad range of genres. WPGU Program Director Liz Rush explained that the idea for the event was sparked while looking at past station event Planet Fest. “After some discussion, we came to the conclusion that a public music event was not only something that was station appropriate, but one that we could entirely pull off,” Rush said. In the planning stages since the end of summer, festival organizers were able to confirm a date and begin booking bands by September. The festival is an accurate representation of the diversity of the station designed with “the help of local concert promoters, looking at the music WPGU already plays, and seeing what type of response [WPGU] was able to receive from bands,” Rush explained. Planned as the first annual Laughing Prairie Dog Festival in hopes for a continued tradition, the evening is not only representative of CU’s diverse population, but also cost efficient at $10 for the six-band show. The following is a preview of what to expect from the varied LPD acts. » The Hood Internet: Composed of duo Aaron Brink (ABX) and Steve Reidell (STV SLV), Chicago’s The Hood Internet return to Urbana to headline the Laughing Prairie Dog Festival. Last seen at the Canopy Club in September for the Pygmalion

Music Festival, The Hood Internet specialize in mashing the seemingly incongruent genres of hip-hop and indie rock. For a snapshot of what may be heard on Friday, check out the band’s blog at http://www.thehoodinternet.com where they regularly post their music for download. » Smoking Popes: Chicago pop-punk legends Smoking Popes visit the Canopy Club with their infectious blend of brotherly love. Currently composed of three Caterers — Josh on lead guitar and vocals, Eli on guitar, and Matt on bass — as well as multi-act drummer Neil Hennessy, the reunited group is in the process of rereleasing their back catalogue through Asian Man Records. » Headlights: Both locally and nationally renowned for their dreamlike indie-pop, Polyvinyl Record Co.’s Headlights return on the success of recent release Wildlife. Fluctuating between the whispy vocals of Erin Fein and pressing guitar of Tristan Wraight, the act never fails to delight a Canopy Club crowd. » Common Loon: Champaign-Urbana duo Common Loon have had a busy fall season. In the midst of a tour that has taken them across the midwest, the men return home for the inaugural Laughing Prairie Dog Festival with an impressive live show of layered elements of guitar, synthesizer and masterful melodies. » Pet Lions: Chicago’s own Pet Lions made at splash on the Quad this fall while performing for WPGU at the University’s annual Quad Day celebration. If the success of the band’s recent EP, Soft Right, is any indication, the men of Pet Lions

will be around for quite some time to come. » Santah(hhhh?): Regardless of how you (or the band) choose to spell it, the name Santah always means a upbeat show for a Canopy Club crowd. The local boys have been hard at work on their latest album, and will hopefully showcase a new track or two at the festival. Note on Disclosure: The Laughing Prairie Dog Festival is organized and hosted by WPGU, one of the the departments of Illini Media Company, which also owns buzz magazine.

QUICK PICK ALBUM REVIEWS ARTIST:

Various Artists

ALBUM:

Kings of Convenience

by buzz Music Staff

The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack

Only truly talented musicians can create music so profound that it muddles fantasy and reality together. The original soundtrack for New Moon, the recently released sequel in the Twilight series, combines efforts from such artists of the contemporary music scene to bring the vampire drama/love fest to life. Musicians ranging from Thom Yorke and Death Cab for Cutie, to Muse and Grizzly Bear contribute their sometimes resonant, sometimes raucous, but always enticing flavor to

ARTIST:

Common Loon. Used with permission from the band

ALBUM:

the soundtrack. Lykke Li’s soft, wispy vocals on the track “Possibility” are sublime and bone-chilling, while artists like OK Go contribute a rougher and more energetic aspect to the soundtrack. However dynamic the album may be, every track embodies the supernatural essence of Twilight, creating something truly biting. Ironic? Hardly. Opinions on the romantic vampire saga aside, New Moon’s original soundtrack is definitely an album to check out. — Megan Creighton

Declaration of Dependence

Together again, the Norwegian duo who brought us the beloved “I’d Rather Dance With You” have released their third and again, ironically-titled album, Declaration of Dependence. Tracks like “Rule My World” and “Peacetime Resistance” are elegantly styled through bossa nova-like instrumentation. Their lyrics dispel interesting romantic and philosophical sentiments through a somber honesty. However, since we’re speaking of Kings of Convenience, all of this is to be expected. So I wonder — would it be so

terrible if they budged a notch, or several notches, above their determined “Quiet is the New Loud” level, and try mingling with, perhaps, Erlend Øye’s techno background, or whatever the two had been experimenting with during their separation? Although we love Kings of Convenience for their cool flirtatiousness, Declaration, in spite of its individual integrity, lacks the daring creative direction their discography sorely needs. — Eli Chen

buzz

11


DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

the217.com

the217.com

The surest way to end a friendship is to live with someone.

DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

WHAT’S YOUR POISON? by Michell Eloy

B

eer often gets a bad rap as the drink of choice of couch potatoes, frat boys and hobos alike, making it difficult to believe that a brewery could give a town a sense of identity and help bring it together. But in a town like CU, full of highereducation focused folks with a penchant for a good time and really good beer, beer is the perfect catalyst for beer culture and comradery. Or, as Chris Knight, owner of The Blind Pig bluntly stated in his crisp, English accent, “There’s nothing much to do in Champaign-Urbana but drink.” However, before a brewery can even exist, some inkling of beer culture ought to exist, and CU is definitely not lacking in that department. Simply take a look around the downtown areas of CU. The sheer number of bars and pubs dedicated to providing patrons with an immense selection of beer is overwhelming; Radio Maria and Crane Alley host beer dinners and Seven Saints holds beer classes every Thursday. DESTIHL Restaurant and Brewery, originally from Normal, IL, will open its second location at the M2 Building in 2010. But Knight insists it wasn’t always this way. The original Blind Pig first opened in 1990. At the time, any semblance of beer culture and awareness didn’t exist at all, according to Knight. Voted one of the top 50 places to drink beer in the U.S.A. by Beer Advocate and considered one of American’s top 100 bars by Imbibe magazine, the Pig was the first bar in the area to offer Guinness and in actual pints, said Knight. It’s hard to believe that a town that boasts such an impressive number of beer bars today — and now a brewery — was only introduced to pints not too long ago. According to Knight, having a brewery or two in town is beneficial to the townspeople. Besides providing more people with jobs, Knight explained that a brewery is also something a town like Champaign can hang its name on. “A brewery is a kingpin in a community,” Knight said. “It helps give a community an identity. It gives a community something to be proud of.” To Knight’s knowledge, the Blind Pig Brewery, affectionately nicknamed by the community Blind

IM

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Pig II or the Piglet, is the first microbrewery, or a craft brewery that produces a limited amount of beer at a time, of its kind in the area since Prohibition. Although Joe’s Brewery did brew its own beer in the mid-‘90s, it was an extract brewery, meaning it did not brew its beers from fresh ingredients, like The Blind Pig Brewery does, said brew master Bill Morgan. Morgan was also the brew master at Joe’s for five years. “It’s kind of like making cookies with freezer dough,” Morgan explained. “You didn’t make it from scratch.” Knight named towns like Bloomington, Ind., Lawrence, Kan., and Boulder, Colo. as part of his inspiration to open the Brewery; these towns have similar demographics to Champaign-Urbana and are all somewhat isolated areas that are also host to universities. “These places have at least two breweries each,” Knight said. “There’s no reason Champaign shouldn’t have a few.” The Blind Pig Brewery has 10 taps, four of which are dedicated to the Brewery’s own concoctions. The Brewery currently has its own English bitter, hard cider and Weizenbock. After the initial batch, the beer styles will change at the brew master’s discretion. “It’s more of a personal experience and there’s more trust, rather than sitting there and drinking something that all you can imagine is made in a robotic factory somewhere,” Morgan said. Morgan also said breweries were always a local phenomenon. He said it wasn’t until the invention of refrigeration and highway systems that brewers even began to consider shipping their beers. The Brewery seems to be making every effort to engage the locals and be local. Morgan said the Brewery is collaborating with local farmers in an effort to use as many local ingredients as possible. For example, the Brewery’s hard cider was made from apples from Curtis Orchard and was a success, he said. “People feel a sense of ownership,” said Morgan. “They can say ‘Hey, this is the brewery of my town and I can watch him while he’s making beer.’”

Chris Knight, the owner of Blind Pig Brewery, stands by his brewing apparatuses found in the bar located in downtown Champaign. Photo by James Kyung

Step inside any bar with an impressive beer menu, and you might be intimidated with its myriad of offerings. Pilseners? Lagers? Ales? All you wanted was a nice cold one. What’s the difference? For starters, remember that ale and lager are both just names for types of beers. Beer can generally be divided into two categories: ales and lagers. Ales are produced by top-fermenting yeasts, which ferments the beer quickly, generally giving them a sweet zing of flavor. In the past, brewers used to cease ale production in warmer weather because ales were unstable. Once they began storing reserves in cool environments, brewers found that the yeast would sink to the bottom. This storage process is called lagerung in German, which is where the term lager came from. Lagers, unlike ales, are made with bottom-fermenting yeasts.

TYPES OF ALES

TYPES OF LAGERS

Ales typically have secondary flavors and aromas like apple, pear, pineapple, banana, plum, to name a few. Many also contain hops, which give them a bitter taste to balance the sweetness.

Cooler fermentation periods inhibit the natural production of esters and other byproducts, which results in a crisper tasting beer.

» Pale ale » Amber ale » Porters » Stouts » Belgian specialty beers

» Pilseners » Bocks » Dopplebocks » Maerzens/Oktoberfests » Dortmunders

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CALENDAR

DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

Complete listing available at

THE217.COM/CALENDAR

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT TO THE CALENDAR: Online: forms available at the217.com/calendar • E-mail: send your notice to calendar@the217.com • Fax: 337-8328, addressed to the217 calendar Snail mail: send printed materials via U.S. Mail to: the217 calendar, Illini Media, 512 E. Green St., Champaign, IL 61820 • Call: 531-1456 if you have a question or to leave a message about your event.

THURSDAY 3

markets

fundraisers

IUBazaar and Winter Craft Fair Illini Union, U, 10am Optimist Christmas Tree Sale Country Fair Shopping Center, C, 1pm The Champaign-Urbana Optimist Club is holding their annual Christmas tree sales to raise funds for youth related programs and activities.

Toys For Tots Toy Drive Bentley’s Pub, C, 11am Each new, unwrapped toy brought in to either location will enter you in a drawing to win a $100 gift certificate to Bentley’s and a dinner for four including a bottle of wine at Carmon’s.

Boneyard Pottery, C, 12pm SATURDAY 5 A Christmas Carol live music Parkland College Theatre, live music Traditional Jazz OrchesC, 7pm, $18, $12 students UI Jam Band tra and seniors, $8 youth Bentley’s Pub, C, 12pm Iron Post, U, 5pm, $5 Dinner with Panache markets Lynn O’Brien and AnJim Gould Restaurant, neliese Booth Optimist Christmas Tree C, 5pm Courtyard Cafe — Illini Sale Desafinado Union, U, 7pm, $3-$5 Country Fair Shopping Iron Post, U, 6pm, $3 AM Taxi with Vanattica Center, C, 1pm Good Luck Jane with The karaoke Canopy Club, U, 9pm, Least of These and The mind/body/spirit $7 CG Productions presents art exhibit Hatters Mad Karim Yengsep Quintet Lunchtime Yoga at Amara RockStar Karaoke featur- “commUNITY” Canopy Club, U, 6pm featuring Holly Holmes Yoga & Arts ing Crazy Craig Asian American Cultural Icy Demons and Traveling art exhibit Zorba’s, C, 9:30pm, Amara Yoga & Arts, U, Senator’s Bar & Grill, SaCenter, U, 8am By Sea $3-$5 “commUNITY” $12 voy, 9pm Courtyard Cafe — Illini Geovanti’s Live Band Asian American Cultural Ashtanga Prep Class at CG Productions presents art Union, U, 7pm, $3-$5 Geovanti’s, C, 10pm Center, U, 8am Amara Yoga and Arts RockStar Karaoke “The Four Elements: Smile Politely Two-Year J.Viewz — The Israeli Amara Yoga & Arts, U, Geo’s, U, 9pm Open Your Mind, Expand Anniversary Party lectures Music Project 5:30pm, $12 Dragon Karaoke with Your World” Mike ‘n’ Molly’s, C, 8pm Cowboy Monkey, C, Is a New Agenda for Yin Yoga Class at Amara Paul Faber Urbana-Champaign InFeudin’ Hillbillys 10pm, $8 Russian/US Relations Yoga and Arts Rosebowl Tavern, Ltd., Possible? Amara Yoga & Arts, U, U, 9pm dj Levis Faculty Center/Visi- 7pm, $12 Scathe/Neverwell/Last Country Night with DJ tor’s Center, U, 4pm Night’s Disaster Halfdead and Free Line Archaeological Institute miscellaneous Memphis on Main, C, Dance Lessons from of America Lecture University of Illinois’ 9pm Scotty Van Zant Krannert Art Museum presidential search comBig Grove Zydeco Radmaker’s Rock & Roll and Kinkead Pavilion, C, mittee public forum Iron Post, U, 9:30pm, $4 Tavern, Tolono, 8pm 5:30pm Spurlock Museum, U, EOTO with Dub Step No cover before 8pm. 3pm Massacre DJs recreation DJ Belly Faculty, students, staff Canopy Club, U, 10pm, (217) 586 2612 Boltini Lounge, C, 10pm Champaign County and the general public $12 WWW.EARLYAMERICANMUSEUM.ORG Stitches Goth Night Audobon Society have an opportunity to dj with DJ Rickbats, DJ Urbana Free Library, U, 7pm discuss qualities needed Kannibal for the new president. DJ Hollywood literary The Clark Bar, C, 10pm It’ll Do 2, C, 9pm VOICE Reading Series FRIDAY 4 Hip Hop at Bradley’s II karaoke Krannert Art Museum Bradley’s II, C, 9pm, $5 live music DJ Hollywood Karaoke and Kinkead Pavilion, C, Kosmo at Soma It’ll Do 2, C, 8pm 7:30pm Prairie Dogs CJ Dane’s, Tolono, 9pm dependent Media Center, Soma Ultralounge, C, DJ Bange Iron Post, U, 5pm Karaoke with the Outlaw U, 6pm 10pm Rosebowl Tavern, Ltd., U, volunteer Appy Hour & Live Music D.R. Diggers, C, 9pm Dance Pop lectures 8:30pm Holiday Gift Wrapping at Silvercreek Karaoke with DJ HolChester Street, C, 10pm, CG Productions presents Market Place Shopping Silvercreek, U, 5:30pm lywood Friday Forum: Ecology $3 RockStar Karaoke featur- Center, C, 8am Laughing Prairie Dog Po’ Boys, U, 9pm of Place and Sustainable Saturday Night Throwing Crazy Craig UC Books to Prisoners Festival Urban Areas down featuring DJ Mertz stage Senator’s Bar & Grill, Sawork session Canopy Club, U, 7pm, University YMCA, C, Boltini Lounge, C, 10pm voy, 9pm Urbana-Champaign In$10 It’s a Wonderful Life 12pm DJ Tim Williams Liquid Courage Karaoke dependent Media Center, Shandy Wilsey University YMCA, C, Highdive, C, 11pm volunteer Memphis on Main, C, U, 2pm Memphis on Main, C, 7pm, $5 No cover for students be9pm 9pm This James W. RodgHoliday Gift Wrapping fore 11pm, $5 cover after. CG Productions presents kids & families The Sugar Prophets ers adaptation reimagMarket Place Shopping concert RockStar Karaoke featur- Preschool Story Time Iron Post, U, 9pm, $3 ines Bedford Falls for the Center, C, 8am ing Karaoke Opie Urbana Free Library, U, Beat Kitchen with Rumba stage. Amasong’s Winter fundraisers Bentley’s Pub, C, 9:45am Na Biso The Nutcracker Concert 9:30pm ARTfusion Cowboy Monkey, C, Krannert Center for Toys For Tots Toy Drive McKinley Presbyterian CG Productions presents Douglass Branch Library, 10pm, $5 the Performing Arts, U, Bentley’s Pub, C, 11am Church and Foundation, RockStar Karaoke featur- C, 4pm 7:30pm, $34, $25 stuC, 8pm, $10 suggested dj mind/body/spirit ing DJ Switch dents, $16 children donation lgbt Fireside Bar and Grill, C, Top 40 Dance with DJ The Great American Yoga Classes karaoke 10pm Live and Let Live GLBT Substitute Trailer Park Musical Krannert Art Museum Alcoholics Anonymous Chester Street, C, 9pm, Gregory Hall, U, 8pm, $8 and Kinkead Pavilion, C, Dragon Karaoke with holidays Meeting $3 12pm Paul Faber holidays Sinai Temple Gift Shop McKinley Presbyterian DJ Delayney Happy Hour Flow Yoga CJ Dane’s, Tolono, 9pm Chanukah Showcase Church and Foundation, Highdive, C, 10pm, $5 Boneyard Pottery Holiday Amara Yoga & Arts, U, CG Productions presents Sinai Temple, C, 10am C, 6:30pm No cover before 10pm Show 5:30pm, $12 RockStar Karaoke featurwith U of I or Parkland ID. DJ LEGTWO and DJ Belly Radio Maria, C, 10pm DJs Ian Procell and Reflex Boltini Lounge, C, 10pm Latin Fever at Clark Bar The Clark Bar, C, 9pm No cover before 11pm.

EARLY AMERICAN MUSEUM–MAHOMET local artist consignment gallery

14

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ing Matt Fear Senator’s Bar & Grill, Savoy, 9pm

Lincoln Square Village, U, 8am

movies

Holiday Gift Wrapping Market Place Shopping Center, C, 8am UC Books to Prisoners work session Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center, U, 2pm

The News Gazette Film Series presents: It’s a Wonderful Life Virginia Theatre, C, 1pm, 7pm, $5

stage It’s a Wonderful Life University YMCA, C, 7pm, $5 The Nutcracker Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, U, 7:30pm, $34, $25 students, $16 children The Great American Trailer Park Musical Gregory Hall, U, 8pm, $8 The Nutcracker Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, U, 2pm, $34, $25 students, $16 children Comedian Doug Benson 88 Broadway, U, 9pm, $15

volunteer

kids & families

Kids at Krannert Family Festival Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion, C, 10am Kids’ Garden Club — Decorate for the Holidays Naturally Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, Mahomet, 10am, $5 Fairies and Fairy Houses Playshop for Kids — with Rebecca Flores Amara Yoga & Arts, U, 10am, $75 for six week session sporting event To Grandmother’s House Fighting Illini Men’s Bas- We Go ketball vs. Boise State Early American Museum, Assembly Hall, C, 6:30pm Mahomet, 1pm

holidays

fundraisers

Boneyard Pottery Holiday Show Boneyard Pottery, C, 12pm A Christmas Carol Parkland College Theatre, C, 7pm, $18, $12 students and seniors, $8 youth Breakfast With Santa Fundraiser El Toro Bravo Restaurante Mexicano, C, 7:30am, 9:15am, $10 Breakfast With Santa Silvercreek, U, 8:30am, 11am, $12.50 Optimist Christmas Tree Sale Country Fair Shopping Center, C, 10am Christmas Program Urbana Free Library, U, 11am Holiday Origami Urbana Free Library, U, 2pm Winter Lights Festival Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, U, 4pm

Toys For Tots Toy Drive Bentley’s Pub, C, 11am Greater Community AIDS Project’s Annual Holiday Gala Levis Faculty Center/Visitor’s Center, U, 6:30pm, $55 per person, $25 students and those arriving after 8pm

markets Lincoln Square Village Holiday Market

SUNDAY 6 live music Dinner with Panache Jim Gould Restaurant, C, 5pm Brunch with Panache Jim Gould Restaurant, C, 11am Emerald Rum Blind Pig Co., The, C, 6pm Live music at Carmon’s Carmon’s Restaurant, C, 6:30pm Elmwood with Daphne Willis Canopy Club, U, 9pm, $7 Surreal Deal Rosebowl Tavern, Ltd., U, 9pm


dj

mind/body/spirit

stage

dj

Patio Party Cowboy Monkey, C, 5pm Country Western Dance Independent Order of Odd Fellows Arthur Lodge 742, U, 5pm, $2 Casual dress.

Vinyasa Flow Yoga Classes with Amanda Reagan Amara Yoga & Arts, U, 1pm, $12 Prenatal Yoga with Tami Mor Amara Yoga & Arts, U, 5:15pm, $12

Monday Night Improv Courtyard Cafe — Illini Union, U, 8pm

Retro Night Chester Street, C, 9pm

holidays

Star Course presents Andrew Bird Foellinger Auditorium, U, 8pm, $23-$25

concert Amasong’s Winter Concert McKinley Presbyterian Church and Foundation, C, 4:30pm Avenue Q Assembly Hall, C, 7:30pm, $35-$48

karaoke Rock Band Sundays Hosted by MC Remy Bentley’s Pub, C, 8pm

open mic Anything Goes Open Mic Night with Jeremy Harper Memphis on Main, C, 8:30pm

movies Pizza, Pitcher, & A Movie Canopy Club, U, 7pm

stage The Nutcracker Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, U, 2pm and 6pm, $34, $25 students, $16 youth

holidays Sinai Temple Gift Shop Chanukah Showcase Sinai Temple, C, 9am Optimist Christmas Tree Sale Country Fair Shopping Center, C, 10am A Christmas Carol Parkland College Theatre, C, 2pm, $18, $12 students and seniors, $8 youth

game-playing Trivia Night at The Blind Pig Brewery The Blind Pig Brewery, C, 7pm

volunteer Holiday Gift Wrapping Market Place Shopping Center, C, 8am

fundraisers Toys For Tots Toy Drive Bentley’s Pub, C, 11am

classes & workshops W. African Drum Classes Capoeira Academy, C, 4pm, $15, $12 students Lego Club Orpheum Children’s Science Museum, C, 4pm, $4-$5 West African Dance Classes with Djibril Camara Channing-Murray Foundation, U, 7pm, $10-$12

Sinai Temple Gift Shop Chanukah Showcase Sinai Temple, C, 10am Vriner’s Candy Cane Making Jim Gould Restaurant, C, 11am Family Fun at the North Pole Virginia Theatre, C, 5pm

markets Optimist Christmas Tree Sale Country Fair Shopping Center, C, 1pm

art exhibit

concert

karaoke MCJS Karaoke American Legion Post 24, C, 7:30pm Liquid Courage Karaoke Memphis on Main, C, 9pm CG Productions presents RockStar Karaoke featuring Crazy Craig Geo’s, U, 9pm Paul Faber hosts Dragon Karaoke The Clark Bar, C, 9pm CG Productions presents RockStar Karaoke featuring DJ Switch Bentley’s Pub, C, 9:30pm CG Productions presents RockStar Karaoke featuring Matt Fear Boltini Lounge, C, 10pm

monday 7

“commUNITY” Asian American Cultural Center, U, 8am

live music

game-playing

MayDay Parade Canopy Club, U, 6pm, $13 One Dollar Wild Mondays Canopy Club, U, 9pm Monday Night Live Boltini Lounge, C, 10pm Mayhew The Traitor Memphis on Main, C, 10:30pm

Trivia with Evan and Monte Bentley’s Pub, C, 7pm Board Game Night with DJ Casanova Radio Maria, C, 10:30pm

dj

kids & families

Industrial Night: DJ SorceryKid presents Nekromancy Chester Street, C, 9pm, $2 ‘80s Night Highdive, C, 10pm Maniac Mondays Cowboy Monkey, C, 4pm

O Baby! Champaign Public Library, C, 10:30am, 11:15am Rookie Cooks Douglass Branch Library, C, 4pm

Boneyard Pottery Holiday Show Boneyard Pottery, C, 12pm Vriner’s Candy Cane Making Jim Gould Restaurant, C, 11am

fundraisers

markets

Toys For Tots Toy Drive Bentley’s Pub, C, 11am

karaoke

mind/body/spirit

Optimist Christmas Tree Sale Country Fair Shopping Center, C, 1pm

MCJS Karaoke American Legion Post 24, C, 7:30pm CG Productions presents RockStar Karaoke featuring Matt Fear Mike ‘n’ Molly’s, C, 10pm Acoustic Karaoke with Steve Meadows Bentley’s Pub, C, 10pm

Lunchtime Yoga at Amara art exhibit Yoga & Arts Amara Yoga & Arts, U, $12 “commUNITY” Asian American Cultural classes & workshops Center, U, 8am Ashtanga/Mysore lectures Classes Lincoln Square Village, U, CAS MillerComm Music 7am, $12 and Politics: A Lyndon B. Johnson Oratorio on Race tuesday 8 and Vietnam Spurlock Museum, U, live music 4pm The Piano Man game-playing Canopy Club, U, 9pm Corn Desert Ramblers Boltini TNT with Cara Rosebowl Tavern, Ltd., Maurizi U, 9pm Boltini Lounge, C, 7pm

open mic Open Stage for Bands/ Musicians Memphis on Main, C, 8pm

volunteer Holiday Gift Wrapping Market Place Shopping Center, C, 8am

stage Zoo Improv at Indi Go Gallery Indi Go Art Gallery, C, 9pm, $2

holidays

buz z ’s WEEK AHEAD The News Gazette Film Series presents: It’s a Wonderful Life Virginia Theatre Saturday, Dec. 5 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. $5 It’s not Christmas until I watch Jimmy Stewart standing on a snowy bridge yelling, “Well whaddaya know? My mouth’s bleedin’, Bert!” This holiday classic also happens to be my mom’s all-time favorite movie, and every year I give her a hard time about making us watch it again, but come to the Virginia Theatre on Saturday and you’ll see how this movie always manages to transform me into a weepy mess by the end. — Bonnie Steirnberg, Calendar Editor

TheNutcracker Nutcracker The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts 500 S. Goodwin Ave., U. Friday, Dec. 4 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 2 p.m. & 6 p.m. Single: $34 Student: $25 Youth (12 and under): $16 The Holiday season is here, and for me, that means my annual attendance of a performance of my favorite ballet, The Nutcracker. Tchaikovsky’s magical suite coupled with the graceful movements of the Champaign Urbana Ballet dancers is just what I need to kick of this season right. I’ll be humming the “Nutcracker’s Suite” all the way to December 25. — Michell Eloy, Community Editor

A Christmas Carol Parkland College Theatre 2400 W. Bradley Ave., C. Friday, Dec. 4 7 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. Adults: $18 Student and Seniors: $12 Youth: $8/$50 Family rate: 5 tickets for $50 To me, Christmas festivities begin on December first. I know that is too early for some of you, but suck it, Christmas is great. I’ve never seen A Christmas Carol live, but it seems like it’ll be a good time. It might not be as good as A Muppet Christmas Carol, but I’m willing to maintain my expectations in order to enjoy the show. — Matt Carey, Movies & TV Editor

Breakfast with Santa El Toro Bravo Restaurante Mexicano 461 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign Saturday, Dec. 5 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. $10 I love breakfast food, and I still believe in Santa, so this is pretty much the end-all-say-all of events for me. The all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet includes pancakes, sausage, eggs, bacon, potatoes, juice and coffee to stuff my face with. There will also be Christmas crafts and, most importantly, the chance to sit on Santa’s knee. All proceeds will go to the Eastern Illinois Food Bank, which is another awesome plus to this event. — Maggie Carrigan, Foods Editor

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15


« VENUES OF CU » Aroma Café 118 N. Neil, C. 356-3200

As-

202 S. Broadway Ave, U. 344-8820 The Iron

sembly Hall 1800 S. First, C. 333-5000 Bac-

Post 120 S. Race Street, U. 337-POST

aro 113 N. Walnut, C. 398-6982

The Blind

Brewery 706 Fifth, C. 384-1790

Pig 120 N. Walnut, C. 398-1532

Bentley’s

E. Daniel, C. 337-3300

Pub 419 N. Neil, C. 359-7977

Boardman’s

Joe’s

Kam’s 618.

KoFusion 1 E. Main,

Krannert Art Museum 500

C. 531-1166

Krannert

Art Theatre 126 W. Church St., C. 355-0068

East Peabody Drive, C. 244-0516

Borders Books & Music 802 W. Town Center

Center for the Performing Arts 500 S.

Blvd, C. 351-9011 It’s Brothers Bar & Grill

Goodwin, U. 333-6700

613 E. Green, C. 328-5531

Boltini Lounge

211 N. Neil, C. 378-8001

The Brass Rail 15

E. University, C. 352-7512

Bunny’s Tavern

119 W. Water Street, U. 367-8175

Café Kopi

109 N. Walnut, C. 359-4266 Caffe Paradiso 801 S. Lincoln Ave., U. 384-6066

The Cano-

py Club 708 S. Goodwin Ave, U. 367-3140

La Casa Cultural

Latina 1203 W. Nevada, U. 333-4950 ends 522 E. Green, C. 355-7674

Leg-

McKinley

Church & Foundation 809 S. Fifth, C. 344Memphis on Main 55 E. Main, C.

0297

Mike ‘n Molly’s 105 N. Market,

398-1097

Murphy’s Pub 604 E. Green, C.

C.355-1236 352-7275

OPENSOURCE Art 12 E. Washing-

Parkland College Theatre 2400

Cinema Gallery 120 West Main, U. 367-3711

ton, C.

Chester Street Bar 63 E. Chester, C. 356-

West Bradley Ave, C. 351-2528

Radio Ma-

5607

The Clybourne 706 S. Sixth, C. 383-

ria 119 N Walnut, C. 398-7729 Radmaker’s

1008

Curtis Orchard 3902 S. Duncan, C.

Billiard and Sports Bar 4 E. Holden, To-

359-5565

Early American Museum 600

N. Lombard, Mahomet. 586-2612

Esquire

Lounge 106 N. Walnut, C. 398-5858

Fal-

Rantoul Theater 914 Ar-

lono. 485-3531

ends Boulevard, Rantoul. 892-1121

Rose Bowl

Tavern 106 N. Race Street, U. 367-7031

Sil-

lon’s Ice House 703 N. Prospect, C. 398-5760

vercreek Restaurant 402 N. Race Street,

Farren’s Pub & Eatery 308 N. Randolph, C.

U. 328-3402

4171

Soma Ultra Lounge 320 N.

Fire Haus 708 S. Sixth, C. 344-

Neil, C. 359-7662 Springer Cultural Cen-

The FuBar Lounge 306 E. Green, C.

ter 301 N. Randolph, C. 398-2376 Spurlock

359-6977

384-0500 Geovantis 401 E. Green, C. 344-

Museum 600 S. Gregory, U. 333-2360

4600 The Great Impasta 114 W. Church, C.

Station Theatre 223 N. Broadway, U. 384-

359-7377

Green Street Café 35 E. Green,

4000

The

Station 211 211 E. Green, C. 367-9915

Guido’s 2 E. Main, C. 359-3148

Tumble Inn Tavern 302 S. Neil, C. 356-0012

Heartland Gallery 112 W. Main, U. 337-

University YMCA 1001 S. Wright, C. 217-337-

The Highdive 51 Main, C. 356-2337

1500 Urbana Civic Center 108 East Water

C. 367-6844 4767

Huber’s 1312 W. Church, C. 352-0606

Hu-

St., U. 384-2375

Virginia Theatre 203 W.

manities Lecture Hall, IPRH 805 W. Penn-

Park, C. 356-9053 Wind Water and Light

sylvania, U. 244-3344 Illini Inn 901 S. Fourth,

Gallery 10 E. Main, C. 378-8586

C. 344-5209 Independent Media Center

Restaurant 627 E. Green, C. 344-0710

Zorba’s

Did we make a mistake? Did we miss your venue? Let us know! E-mail calendar@readbuzz.com.

WPGU presents Trivia Diner hosted by Fishing With Dynamite Canopy Club, U, 7pm

Story Time Champaign Public Library, C, 6:30pm

wednesday 9 live music

Donnie Heitler Great Impasta, U, 6pm Rainbow Coffeehouse Traditional Irish Music at literary Wesley-United MethoBentley’s Pub Table Talk Book Club dist Church & Wesley Bentley’s Pub, C, 7pm Douglass Branch Library, Foundation, U, Eleni Moraites with VivC, 6:30pm 6:30pm ian McConnell Red Herring Fiction Aroma Cafe, C, 7pm fundraisers Workshop Dave Cooper and Joni Channing-Murray Toys For Tots Toy Drive Dreyer Foundation, U, Bentley’s Pub, C, 11am Senator’s Bar & Grill, Sa7:30pm voy, 8pm mind/body/spirit U of I Jazz Vocals volunteer Lunchtime Yoga at Amara Iron Post, U, 8pm, $2 Holiday Gift Wrapping Yoga & Arts Caleb Cook Market Place Shopping Amara Yoga & Arts, U, Rosebowl Tavern, Ltd., Center, C, 8am $12 U, 9pm UC Books to Prisoners Slow Flow Yoga dj work session Amara Yoga & Arts, U, Urbana-Champaign In5:30pm, $12 Hillbilly Humpday with dependent Media Center, Tarot Card Readings DJ Halfdead U, 7pm Carmon’s Restaurant, C, Radmaker’s Rock & Roll 5:30pm, $15 Tavern, Tolono, 8pm kids & families Ashtanga Yoga Class Weekly Top 40 Babies’ Lap Time at Amara Yoga and Arts Chester Street, C, 9pm Urbana Free Library, U, Amara Yoga & Arts, U, Physical Challenge Dance 9:45am 7pm, $12 Night Canopy Club, U, 9pm DJ LEGTWO Boltini Lounge, C, 9pm DJ A-Ron HOTBOX Highdive, C, 10pm I Love the ‘90s holiday map - ONLINE NOW! Soma Ultralounge, C, Starting today, the217.com will have a 10pm holiday season event map, featuring events Tango Night with DJ Joe around CU from Dec. 3 to Jan 3. Look here for Grohens all holiday-related opportunities to celebrate. Cowboy Monkey, C, 8pm If you have any events you’d like to add, or if Swing Dance your event is canceled at any point during Illini Union, U, 9:30pm this time, please email calendar@the217.com Weekly Salsa Night with your info. Cowboy Monkey, C, 10pm

lgbt

the217.com

Luxurious accommodations.

Starbucks at the iCafé with To-Go parking & Spa at the I Hotel.

Call 217.819.5484 to book a room, reunion, or banquet.

karaoke CG Productions presents RockStar Karaoke featuring DJ Switch The Corner Tavern, Monticello, 8pm The Legendary Karaoke Night with The Outlaw White Horse Inn, C, 9pm “G” Force Karaoke/DJ every Wednesday at Fat City Fat City Bar & Grill, C, 10pm

open mic

                   16

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|

,  

|

  .       .   

Open mic at Green St. Green St. Cafe, C, 8pm Open Stage Comedy Night

Memphis on Main, C, 9pm Open-Mic Night Radio Maria, C, 10:30pm

holidays Vriner’s Candy Cane Making Jim Gould Restaurant, C, 11am Boneyard Pottery Holiday Show Boneyard Pottery, C, 12pm

markets Optimist Christmas Tree Sale Country Fair Shopping Center, C, 1pm

art exhibit “commUNITY” Asian American Cultural Center, U, 8am

volunteer Holiday Gift Wrapping Market Place Shopping Center, C, 8am

kids & families Storyshop at the Branch Douglass Branch Library, C, 10:30am Toddler Story Time Urbana Free Library, U, 10:30am

fundraisers Toys For Tots Toy Drive Bentley’s Pub, C, 11am

mind/body/spirit Lunchtime Yoga at Amara Yoga & Arts Amara Yoga & Arts, U, $12

classes & workshops Parkland Jazz Improv Class Iron Post, U, 5:30pm, $2 Mastery of Consciousness: How to become a stronger force for good in the world School of Metaphysics, U, 7:30pm, $20

support groups Coming Out Support Group Illini Union, U, 7pm Safe place to listen, talk and learn about sexual identity and coming out issues.


the217.com ††DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

Boys look weird after haircuts.

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217-352-9899

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Friday, Dec. 4th at the Canopy Club!

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of Christmas

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Santa

TICKETS are only $10 buzz †â€

17


Classifieds Place an Ad: 217 - 337 - 8337 Deadline: 2 p.m. Tuesday for the next Thursday’s edition. Index Employment 000 Services 100 Merchandise 200 Transportation 300 Apartments 400 Other Housing/Rent 500 Real Estate for Sale 600 Things To Do 700 Announcements 800 Personals 900

• PLEASE CHECK YOUR AD! Report errors immediately by calling 337-8337. We cannot be responsible for more than one day’s incorrect insertion if you do not notify us of the error by 2 pm on the day of the first insertion. • All advertising is subject to the approval of the publisher. The Daily Illini shall have the right to revise, reject or cancel, in whole or in part, any advertisement, at any time. • All employment advertising in this newspaper is subject to the City of Champaign Human Rights Ordinance and similar state and local laws, making it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement which expresses limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, color, mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, prior arrest or conviction record, source of income, or the fact that such person is a student. • Specification in employment classifications are made only where such factors are bonafide occupational qualifications necessary for employment. • All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, and similar state and local laws which make it illegal for any person to cause to be published any advertisement relating to the transfer, sale, rental, or lease of any housing which expresses limitation, specifications or discrimination as to race, color, creed, class, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, physical or mental handicap, personal appearance, sexual oientation, family responsibilities, political affiliation, or the fact that such person is a student. • This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. Our readers are informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal oppportunity basis.

HELP WANTED

020 APARTMENTS

Part time

Furnished

OfďŹ ce Coordinator

Fall 2010 studio and 4 bedroom penthouse. Secured building. Private parking, laundry on-site. Value pricing. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

Fall 2010 5th and Green location Outdoor activity area. 1, 2, 3 bedrooms available. Garage offstreet parking, laundry, value pricing. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

GREAT VALUE 306-308-309 White, C August 2010. Furnished studios, 1, 2, and 3 bedrooms. Balconies, patios, laundry, dishwashers, off-street parking. Behind County Market. Starting at $265/person. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

Survey takers needed: Make $5-25 per survey. www.getpaidtothink.com

BUSINESS SERVICES 110 Survey takers needed. Make $5 - 25 per survey. www.getpaidtothink.com

APARTMENTS

Furnished/Unfurnished

410

Furnished

203 S. Sixth, C.

411 HEALEY, C.

For August 2010. Large 4 bedrooms, 2 bath. Balconies, laundry, covered parking. Starting at $300/person. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

Best Location - Fall 2010 Spacious 3 and 4 bedroom apts. Fully furnished, dishwasher, laundry, and value pricing. Covered parking. Phone 352-3182. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com

1107 S. 4TH, C.

203 Healey, C.

For August 2010. 4 and 5 bedroom lofts. Best location. Completely furnished. Laundry, parking garage, elevator, at screen TV available. Starting at $360/person. Phone 3523182. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com

Fall 2010. Great location on the park. Private balconies. Fully furnished 3 bedrooms. Parking, laundry, value pricing. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

2, 3, 4 BR. Great Location, on-site laundry, parking. 3 BR with 2.5 bath/ spa with own washer/dryer. 4 BR with leather furniture plus at screen TV. Value pricing. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

104 E. Armory, C.

307, 310 E. White, C 307, 309 Clark, C

Fall 2010. Location!! 4 bedroom, 2 bath. Some skylights and at screen TVs. Covered Parking. Laundry. Starting at $375/person. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

Fall 2010. Large studio, double closet, well furnished. Starting from $350/mo. Behind County Market. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

18

††buzz

509 Bash Court, C.

509 E. White, C.

Fall 2010 Great 3 and 5 bedrooms, Behind Legends. Fully furnished, dishwashers, laundry. Off-street parking. Starting at $330/person. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

August 2010. Large Studio and 1 bedrooms. Security entry, balconies, patios, furnished. Laundry, off-street parking, value pricing. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

509 Stoughton, C Fall 2010 Near Grainger, spacious studios and 2 bedrooms, laundry, value pricing, parking. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

602 E. Clark Champaign

$500 off first month’s rent.

602 E. Stoughton, C

Check out our reduced fall rates on ALL floor plans! 1 and 2 bedroom apartments • FREE parking • 24-hour computer lab/business center • Brand New 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments available • In-unit washers and dryers • Quiet Lifestyle • Unique floor plans • Pet friendly (cats and dogs) • On-site management • 4 Swimming Pools • Minutes to U of I, shopping, and restaurants • 24-hour answering service

APARTMENTS

503 - 505 - 508 White 2 Bedroom with den $790 3 Bedroom $830-950

theuniversity

1032 E. Kerr Ave. Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 344-7717

Furnished

NEW KITCHENS

group

Fall 2010. Unique 1 & 2 bedroom apartments. All furnished, laundry, internet. 2 Bedrooms starting at $387/person. Parking available. Must see! THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

Stop in for a tour!

420 APARTMENTS

Furnished

604 E. White, C. Security Entrance For Fall 2010, Large studio, 1, 2 bedroom, Loft Apartment. Furnished, balconies, patios, laundry, off-street parking, value pricing. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

420

Contact Justin at 618-304-8562

1006 S. 3rd, C.

Completely Furnished On-Site Parking & Laundry On-Site Resident Manager

Fall 2010 1, 2, 3 bedrooms. Location, location. Covered parking, laundry, furnished, patios. Value pricing. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

universitygroupapartments.com 217-352-3182

Leasing for Fall 2010! For virtual tours, leaing information and more please visit:

Photo Sellers

• 20 words, run any 5 days (in buzz or The Daily Illini), $20 • 10 words, run any 5 days (in buzz or The Daily Illini), $10 • add a photo to an action ad, $10

506 E. Stoughton, C. For August 2010. Extra large efďŹ ciency apartments. Security building entry, complete furniture, laundry, off-street parking, value pricing. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

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Furnished studio apartments. Block east of Beckman. Leasing for August 2010. Wampler Property Management 217-352-1335 www.wamplerapartments.com

Rates: 

30 words in both Thursday’s buzz and Friday’s Daily Illini!! $10. If it rains, your next date is free.

Furnished

111 E. Chalmers, C.

Furnished Apartments Studios $355 - $390 1 Bedrooms $450 2 & 3 Bedrooms $595 & up THE UNIVERSITY GROUP OfďŹ ce @ 309 S. First., C universitygroupapartments.com 217-352-3182

2 p.m. Monday for the next Thursday’s edition.

Garage Sales

420 APARTMENTS

August 2010 studio, 1 and 4 bedrooms. Furniture, skylights, offstreet parking, laundry. Starting at $360/person. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

106 Daniel, C.

Deadline: 

30 words or less + photo: $5 per issue

Furnished

For August 2010. 1, 2, 4 bedroom mardi gras balconies and townhouses. Parking, laundry. Starting at $360/person. OfďŹ ce at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

Available January

BEST OFFER CAMPUS 1 BR Loft 2 BR 3 BR 4 BR Campus. 367-6626 Available August 2010

420 APARTMENTS

207/211 John C.

605 S. Fifth, C.

030

Full/Part time

420 APARTMENTS

Furnished

1005 S. Second, C.

The Daily Illini and Buzz advertising ofďŹ ce is looking for a U of I student to ďŹ ll a clerical position beginning January 11. Keep our dynamic ofďŹ ce and staff working smoothly by providing support to our student salespeople and ad managers. Duties include computer database entry and maintenance, ad order processing, payroll, phone customer service, ďŹ ling, organization and more. Mornings 9-12, M-F. The ability to work during breaks is a big plus. This job is a great resume builder; a great way to learn about advertising, business and more. To apply ASAP, email your availability and a statement of interest to: nelliott@illinimedia.com. EOE

HELP WANTED

420 APARTMENTS

217-359-6108

Apartments Studios

108 S. Fourth, C 307 E. Armory, C Clark St. Studios, C

www.jsmapts.com

505 S. Fifth Street, Champaign, IL 61820

1 Bedroom

108 S. Fourth, C 203 E. Stoughton, C 507 E. Clark, C 601 & 603 E. Clark, C 512 E. Clark, C (Completely Remodeled) 701 S. Gregory, U Busey Court, U The JSM VIP Program gives our residents exclusive discounts at local businesses!

2 Bedrooms

1001 W. Clark, U 108 S. Fourth, C 701 S. Gregory, U 303 S. Wright, C 413 W. Main, U 3 Bedrooms

206 S. Sixth, C

4 Bedrooms

601 W. Green, U (Completely Remodeled)

301 S. Water, C 207 S. Fifth, C

(Completely Remodeled)

608.5 E. Green, C Look for JSM on Facebook!

Want to bring your pets with you? Free parking? Balcony? Close to the Quad? Find out where. classifieds.dailyillini.com/apartments


the217.com   DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

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on page 7 APARTMENTS Furnished

420 APARTMENTS

HEALEY COURT APARTMENTS 307-309 Healey Court, C. Fall 2010. Behind FU Bar. 2 and 3 bedrooms. Parking, laundry. Starting at $343/person. Office at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

105 E. John, C. Available Fall 2010. Large 1 & 2 bedroom furnished, great location. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com

John Street Apartments 58 E. John, C. August 2010. Studio, two and three bedrooms, fully furn i s h e d . D i s h w a s h e r, c e n t e r courtyard, on-site laundry, central air, parking. Starting at $298/person. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

Old Town Champaign 510 S. Elm, C. Available Fall 2010. 2 BR close to campus, hardwood floors, laundry, W/D, central air/heat, off-street parking, 24 hr. maintenance. Value pricing. Office at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

Furnished

420 HOUSES FOR RENT

705 W. Stoughton, U Fall 2010 3 bedroom apartment. Spacious living area. Communal balcony, great backyard. Plus a bar area in kitchen, dishwasher, washer/dryer in each unit, value pricing. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

307, 310 E. White, C 307, 309 Clark, C Fall 2010. Large studio, double closet, well furnished. Starting from $350/mo. Behind County Market. Office at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP universitygroupapartments.com 352-3182

APARTMENTS Unfurnished

430

800 W. Church, C Centrally located. 2 BR. Near shops and transportation. Now Available. $490/mo. No Pets. 217-352-8540 for showing. www.faronproperties.com

HOUSES FOR RENT

510

10 Bedroom On Campus. $3500/mo. Fall 2010 367-6626 Spring Semester Only! 4 Bdrm House near Engineering Quad. 1.5 BA, W/D, DW, parking, $299/person, pics available, 217-714-3330, 217-898-4697

510 ROOMMATE WANTED 550 ROOMMATE WANTED 550 ROOMMATE WANTED 550 ROOMMATE WANTED 550

Large 4 BR by Beckman Fall 2010 4 BR house w/ 1.5 BA, DW & WD. Lots of Space in 2 story home. Includes water, trash, lawn service and parking. Close to Beckman & Engineering Quad. Nearby stores and buslines. $1400/mo. 217-714-3330, 217-898-4697

107 S. Birch, Urbana Near Downtown Urbana. 4 BR, 1 BA, bsmt, indoor laundry, fully furnished, free parking. $300/bedroom. Rick 217-239-7153 or http://chambana.craigslist.org/apa/ 1478096986.html

2 Bedroom Apt. Pay half utilities, close to campus $395/mo. 367-6626

Available Now 1107 S. FOURTH $300/mo. includes utilities Fully furnished apartment Private Bedroom Located @ 4th and Gregory Flexible Leases Available Office at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP 352-3182 universitygroupapartments.com

Buzz is your source for entertainment, art food, music and local events. Buzz is published every week on Thursdays.

Remodeled 9 Bedroom House 801 W. Iowa: 8-9 bedroom house Remodeled & furnished: widescreen TV, fireplace. Free 8 car lot and free laundry. $4165/mo. Call Missy (217)202-6412

11 Bedroom On Campus. $3600/mo. Fall 2010 367-6626

CONDOS/DUPLEXES 520 Capstone Quarters Room for rent: college students. 4 BR condo with private bath. $500/ mo includes utilities. 708-243-9169

ROOMS www.sabbaticalhouse.com

Campus Rooms from $350 (217) 367-6626

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19


DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

the217.com

$10 ILLINOIS STUDENT DISCOUNT!

THIS SUN., DEC. 6 • 7:30 PM U OF I ASSEMBLY HALL • CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS

Tickets available at the Assembly Hall Box Office, Illini Union, all Ticketmaster outlets including ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 217/333-5000. For more information visit www.uofiassemblyhall.com.

GRANTING

Childrens ’ Wishes THIS HOLIDAY SEASON WPGU is raising money to make Christmas a little brighter for local children!

Donate Now at

217-337-1071 Benefiting the Champaign Crisis Nursery and Parent Wonders of Rantoul

Sponsored by WPGU 107.1FM and Illini Media 20

buzz


the217.com   DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

I don’t think food can be a collectors item.

DOIN’ IT WELL

by Jo SangEr and Ross Wantland

Down the Slippery Slope

Coconut Oil and Condoms

Dear Jo and Ross, My doctor suggested that I use coconut oil as a sexual lubricant. Everything I’ve read says that oilbased lubes including coconut oil will cause my partner’s condom to break, but my doctor assured me that wouldn’t happen. What do you think? Coconut Conundrum Dear CC, Thanks for writing us with your important question. Sexual lubricants are an important component of many people’s sex lives. Although our bodies make their own lube in some instances (pre-cum, saliva, vaginal fluid), many people find that additional lube makes for more pleasurable (and comfortable) sex. But the number one warning with lube and safe sex is that oil-based lubricants degrade latex barriers, such as condoms and dental dams. We think that this warning can sometimes be a slippery slope used to promote public health, but may not be the whole truth. Oil + Rubber

Here’s a quick sexy science experiment that sex educators have been using for years. Blow up a latex condom and tie it like a balloon. Placing a few drops of baby oil on your fingertips, massage it into the condom. Within a few seconds, the condom will pop. Why? Baby oil, lotion, vegetable oil, and many other oils cause latex to lose its elasticity and break down. Obvi-

SEX 411

Lube, lube, lube! » If the lube you are using isn’t cutting it, there are many variations to experiment with. » Non-latex condoms, including the female condom, can be used with a wider range of lubricants.

particular lube causes irritation, discontinue that lube, perhaps talk to your healthcare provider, and try, try again.

based on the physical and chemical properties of the oil. One reason this message has been spread so thick is to ultimately promote safer sex. For many people in the public health field, it is important that individuals change behaviors; rather than provide a complex message about which specific oils may be safer and when, it is much easier to just rule out all oils and other oil-based lubricants. “Doin’ It Well” supports this message. It is important to be wary of using oil-based lubricants with latex condoms. At the same time, your doctor may have prescribed coconut oil for several reasons. As oils go, coconut oil’s properties may make it easier on your system than synthetic lubes. Also, there’s not much research out there on coconut oil’s particular effect on latex. It may be that coconut oil doesn’t (or doesn’t quickly) degrade latex condoms, and in the absence of other factors (lack of lubrication, long penetrative sex, poor fitting condom), coconut oil may work almost as well as water-based lubricants. If your healthcare provider’s advice makes you nervous, you should feel free to seek a second opinion from another qualified health provider (we don’t count!).

Cuckoo for Coconuts

Staying Flexible

Coconut oil is found in the baking aisle in most grocery stories. At room temperature, coconut oil is a white, greasy paste; applied to the skin, coconut oil warms and becomes a clear oil. Although coconut oil got a bad rap in the ‘90s as unhealthy, coconut fans talk at length of the health benefits of coconuts and coconut oil specifically. While more commonly used as a massage oil, we have heard of coconut oil being prescribed as a sexual lubricant for use with condoms. Although many oil-based lubes degrade condoms, including semi-natural oils like vegetable oil, Crisco and olive oil, the degree that an oil causes a condom to break may not all be the same

If you enjoy the feel of coconut oil, but prefer to be on the safe side, there are also other types of condoms you could be using. Polyurethane condoms (Durex Supra or Trojan Avanti) are available at most stores, and do not respond to oil-based lubricants like latex condoms. Although less elastic than latex condoms, polyurethane provides a similar feel and strength, without the worry of breakage. Join us next week as we explore the fear of a queer planet.

Illustration by Kate Lamy

ously, the condom isn’t much of a barrier if it has a hole in it. In addition to breakage, however, oil-based lubricants are also found to cause the condom to slip off the penis, decreasing the condom’s effectiveness. Looking for Lube

Find the right lube for you can be a delightful task. When looking for lube, consider the sexual acts you’ll be using lube with. For vaginal intercourse, it’s important to find a lube that isn’t too sweet (sugar in the vagina = yeast infection). For anal intercourse, a thicker lube may be necessary. Vaseline, in addition to being oil-based, can also hang around in the rectum or vagina, allowing bacteria and other particles to accumulate. Generally, marketed sexual lubricants are best for internal use. For masturbation that doesn’t involve penetration, you may find that you have a wider range of lubes that you can enjoy. If a

Send Jo and Ross your questions, comments, and fan/hate mail to buzzdoinitwell@yahoo.com

ILLINI UNION COURTYARD CAFÉ THURSDAY

Getting you there. Fast.

Jazz in the Courtyard Noon, Free

Rock Concert featuring

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Student Band Showcase

Winter Carol Night

Sponsored by Illini Union Board 9pm, Free

Doors open at 7pm $3 Students/$5 Public

Lynn O’Brien & Liesel Booth

217.355.3553 Put us in your phone! Open 24/7

Doors open at 7pm $3 Students/$5 Public

www.union.illinois.edu/funspots/courtyard

Accommodation for hearing impaired patrons is available by calling 244-8938 at least 7 days in advance of the event.

buzz

21


DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

the217.com

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY ARIES

(March 21-April 19)

When Carolee Schneeman was a kid, her extravagant adoration of nature earned her the nickname “mad pantheist.” Later, during her career as a visual artist, she described her relationship with the world this way: “I assume the senses crave sources of maximum information, that the eye benefits by exercise, stretch, and expansion towards materials of complexity and substance.” I hope that you’re attracted to that perspective right now, Aries. To be in most productive alignment with the cosmic rhythms, you should be in a state of nearly ecstatic openness, hungry to be stretched -- like a mad pantheist.

TAURUS

(April 20-May 20)

“Dear Rob: Last night my son and I were star-gazing. When we focused on the constellation Cassiopeia, an owl started hooting. Then a brilliant shooting star zipped by as a huge bat flew right over our heads. Was this a bad omen? Bats are creepy -- associated with vampires. And in Greek mythology Cassiopeia got divine punishment because she bragged that she and her daughter were more beautiful than the sea god’s daughters. But I don’t know, maybe this blast of odd events was a good omen. Owls are symbols of wisdom and shooting stars are lucky, right? What do you think? Are we blessed or cursed? -Spooked Taurus.” Dear Spooked: The question of whether it’s good or bad luck is irrelevant. Here’s what’s important: You Tauruses are in a phase when the hidden workings of things will be shown to you -- the mysterious magic that’s always bubbling below the surface but that is usually not visible.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20)

The week ahead will be a ripe time to pull off magic reversals. May I suggest that you try to transform dishwater greys into sparkling golds? Or how about recycling the dead energy of a lost cause in such a way as to generate raw fuel for a fresh start? I’m confident, Gemini, that you’ll be able to discover treasure hidden in the trash, and that you’ll find a way to unleash the creative zeal that has been trapped inside polite numbness. Now ponder this riddle, please: Do you think there’s any mystical significance in the fact that the word “stressed” is “desserts” spelled backwards?

CANCER

(June 21-July 22)

Lately you remind me of the person Robert Hass describes in his poem “Time and Materials”: “someone falling down and getting up and running and falling and getting up.” I’m sending you my compassion for the times you fall down, and my admiration for the times you get up, and my excitement for the times you run. It has probably become clear to you by now that the falling down isn’t a shameful thing to be cursed, but rather is an instrumental part of the learning process that is teaching you marvelous secrets about getting back up and running.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22)

“I burn for no reason, like a lantern in daylight,” writes poet Joseph Lease. I think that’s a succinct formulation of one of your central issues, Leo. Burning for no reason, like a lantern in the daylight, can be the cause of either failure or success for you, depending on subtle differences of emphasis. This is how it can be failure: When you’re mindlessly and wastefully burning through your prodigious reserves of fuel without any concern for the benefits it may provide you and others. This is how it can be success: When you are exuberant and self-disciplined in shining your light and radiating your warmth just because it feels so good and so right and so healthy, and without any thought about whether it’s “useful” to anyone.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

In one of his short poems, John Averill (twitter.com/ wiremesa) describes a scene that I think captures the essence of your current astrological omens: “Today is the day of the photo of moonrise over Havana in a book on a shelf in the snowbound cabin.” Here’s a clue about what it means: The snowbound cabin is where you are right now in your life. The moonrise over Havana is where you could be early in 2010. How do you get there from here? 22

buzz

December 3 - December 10

LIBRA

jonesin’

“B a n k J o b ”-- yo u ’ r e

getting colder.

by Matt Jones

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

An estuary is a bay where the salt water of a sea mixes with the fresh water of rivers. These days you remind me of such a place. You are two-toned, Libra. You’re dualpurpose and double-tracked. You’re a hybrid blend of the yes and the no, the give and the take, the extravagant and the traditional. And somehow this has been working out pretty well for you. You’re not so much a dysfunctional contradiction as an interesting juxtaposition. You’re not being crushed by a squeeze of opposites so much as you’re getting massaged by the oscillating throbs of complementary influences. Keep doing what you’ve been doing, only more so.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Big shiny egos with flashy tricks may be mucking around in everyone’s business, calling narcissistic attention to themselves as they pretend to do noble deeds. Meanwhile, I hope you’ll be doing the hard, detailed work that must be done to serve the greater good -- quietly and unpretentiously improving people’s lives without demanding major tribute. That approach will stir up some sleek, silky karma that will come in handy when you undertake the building of your masterpiece in 2010.

“Dear Rob: I love to be proven wrong. That’s not an ironic statement. I actually get excited and feel creative when I acquire new information that shows me I’ve been operating under a misunderstanding. One of my very favorite life moments occurs when I am convincingly liberated from a negative opinion I’ve been harboring about someone. As you can tell, I’m quite proud of this quality. The way I see it, emotional wealth and psychological health involve having so much self-respect that I don’t need to be right all the time. -Sagittarian Freedom Fighter.” Dear Freedom Fighter: Thanks for your testimony. The capacity you described is one that many Sagittarians will be poised to expand in 2010. And this is an excellent week for them to start getting the hang of it.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

In an early version of the tale of Pinocchio, friendly woodpeckers chiseled his nose back to its original size after it had grown enormous from his incorrigible lying. From a metaphorical perspective, Capricorn, a comparable development may soon occur in your own life. A benevolent (if somewhat rough) intervention akin to the woodpeckers’ assistance will shrink an overgrown, top-heavy part of your attitude, allowing you to proceed to the next chapter of your story with streamlined grace.

“There is light enough for those who wish to see,” wrote French philosopher Blaise Pascal, “and darkness enough for those of the opposite disposition.” I’m hoping you will align yourself with the first group in the coming week, Aquarius. More than ever before, what you choose to focus on will come rushing in to meet you, touch you, teach you, and prompt you to respond. Even if all the smart people you know seem to be drunk on the darkness, I encourage you to be a brave rebel who insists on equal time for the light.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20)

White dwarfs are small and extremely dense stars. They’re typically no bigger than the Earth but as heavy as the sun. You currently have a resemblance to one of those concentrated balls of pure intensity. I have rarely seen you offering so much bang for the buck. You are as flavorful as chocolate mousse, as piercing as the scent of eucalyptus, as lustrous as a fireworks display on a moonless night. Personally, I’m quite attracted to your saucy and zesty emanations, and I think most people with strong egos will be. But some underachievers with lower selfesteem may regard you as being more like astringent medicine. My advice: Gravitate toward those who like you to be powerful.

Solution in Classifieds.

Across

1 Leon Uris novel “___ 18” 5 Enter 9 Uses as a source 14 Shape of some mirrors 15 It now includes Lat. and Lith. 16 Muhammad Ali’s daughter 17 Macho way to say “dandruff”? 19 How bad grades are sometimes written 20 Jackson or Johnson 21 Category for everything else: abbr. 23 Night before 24 They may get stroked 26 Drying-out stage 28 Watch chain 31 “Hedwig and the Angry ___” 33 Wine refused in “Sideways” 36 “He’s a complicated man/but no one understands him/but his woman” 38 Shankar on the sitar 40 “Slithy” “Jabberwocky” creature 41 Like Shaquille O’Neal 42 Rocky and Bullwinkle’s nemesis 43 Graceful swimmer 44 Airport near Paris 45 2007 NBA Draft #1 pick Greg 46 He voices Shrek 47 Currency replaced by the euro 49 Musician descended from Herman Melville (hence the name) 51 “Marble” deli loaf 52 Perot, formally 54 Exhaled response 56 Blood-type system 58 Ticket leftover 60 Childbirth assistants 64 Fictional typing tutor Beacon 66 What somehow happens to the vegetables in your TV dinner? 68 Beyond husky 69 Muppet with his pet fish Dorothy 70 Bullring yell 71 Cobb, for one 72 “Liquid sunshine”

73 Word that can precede either word in 17- and 66-across and 11- and 30-down

Down

1 N.Y.C. gallery 2 “One Day in the Life of ___ Denisovich” 3 Arrive at the airport 4 Woodard of “Desperate Housewives” 5 Chew, as with a rawhide bone 6 “Charter” tree 7 Prop, really 8 Polite refusal 9 “Think outside the box,” for instance 10 James Bond creator Fleming 11 That sharp nail in the road you just ran over? 12 Abbr. on a mountain sign 13 “No Ordinary Love” singer 18 For real 22 Mid-tournament rounds 25 Atlantic catch 27 Bohemian 28 Camera setting 29 Frequent site for flight layovers 30 Tool used to clean out the pits in kiddie playlands? 32 Group of wives 34 Egg producer 35 Edgy 37 It may get jammed under your windshield wiper 39 Italian restaurant selections 42 Be a braggart 46 “___, it’s full of stars!” (“2001” line) 48 Threw out 50 Tries for, in an auction 53 Awesome 55 Smarts 56 “Good Times” actor John 57 The Who’s “___ O’Riley” 59 Horror actor Lugosi 61 Mane man? 62 Fuzzy style 63 Put away your carry-ons 65 “Love ___ Battlefield” (Pat Benatar) 67 “___ dreaming?”


the217.com   DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

Robble, robble.

AND ANOTHER THING ...

by MICHAEL COULTER

0 Dangerous Playthings Give the gift of bodily harm this holiday season I love this time of year. is, but it looks like a skateboard that has bouncy There’s just a lot to like about balls on the bottom of it so you can bounce and Christmas. The shopping is flip around. It actually looks sort of fun to me, even the main thing that comes to at this age, and I’m also fairly certain that I would mind, of course, and also all of injure myself quite badly in about three minutes if the brawling at Walmart that I were to get on it. Children are much more pliable goes along with it. There’s the than adults though, and it seems like it’d be sometime with family, which can also end up in some thing they might enjoy. Could they get hurt? You sort of brawl. There’s unread Christmas cards, bet. Even if they do get hurt, I bet they still can’t wait uneaten fruitcake, drunken parties, last-minute to get back on the damned thing. The bigger quesscrambling and all of those other things that make tion is, can they get hurt badly enough to stop? The Dark Knight action figure also made the list, us forget what Christmas is really about. It’s all great, and even though I’m making fun of it, I’m because Batman has those pointy ear things on the still a complete sucker when it comes to Dec. 25. top of his cowl. Children could fall on these points I have to admit though, all of the things I listed and puncture themselves. It could happen, but is above are beginning to take a backseat to my favorite part Sure, rocket launcher sounds dangerous ... of the season. Obviously, I’m talking about when the most until you put the word “foam” in front of dangerous toys of the year it. As a kid, it’s great to shoot things and list comes out. Children all over the world sometimes it’s fun to shoot things at other should probably just call it people, or dogs, or televisions, or even “Buzz kill Day.” First of all, dangerous toys are often the at yourself. The fact that it’s foam takes most fun of all toys. Second of away some of the joy, but we have to be all, how the hell do they still make this many unsafe toys? reasonable, I suppose. I assume toy companies are like other big corporations, with highly trained re- it really ever too early to learn that Batman is one search and marketing department that can give bad son of a bitch? He’s dark, he’s a knight and he kids the exact toy they want in a completely safe will puncture your ass if you aren’t careful. That way. Apparently, this isn’t the case. This is because is how the Batman rolls. It might end up being a kids love lead paint, projectiles, sharp edges and good lesson to learn about staying away from scary small things to swallow. If children would simply things. The same goes for the Wolverine action be happy with a big piece of foam they could carry figure, which is also apparently very dangerous, around, it’d be easier for everyone. but because of his blades, not his hat. Since children actually like fun toys though, Just Kidz junior musical instruments also made the each year World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. list, because they present a choking hazard. This de(WATCH) puts out a list of the most dangerous toys vice of death has a drumstick that could possibly be as a warning to parents who want their children to pulled from the xylophone and swallowed. That’s no grow up to be candyasses. Personally, I think they good. I would wager, however, that it’s far more danshould all start a group call GAP, which would stand gerous for the child to play the G-d-awful thing for for Grow A Pair, but whatever. Let’s take a look at a over three or four minutes, because this can cause few of the toys they picked this year. virtually any adult to go freaking crazy and begin First on the list is the Wall-E foam rocket launcher. to destroy the toy. This could lead to much smaller Sure, rocket launcher sounds dangerous — until pieces that could also be swallowed. you put the word “foam” in front of it. As a kid, it’s None of the toys on the list this year strike me great to shoot things, and sometimes it’s fun to as all that dangerous. In all fairness, I grew up on shoot things at other people, dogs, televisions or lawn darts and BB guns, so I probably have no idea even at yourself. The fact that it’s foam takes away what I’m talking about. Either way, I’m still walking some of the joy, but we have to be reasonable, I and seeing out of both eyes, so even those couldn’t suppose. WATCH says it’s dangerous because the have been that bad. If the toys are that dangerous, toy has a projectile that can go up to 20 feet. They maybe the kids should get them but only be able worry that someone could poke an eye out. Sure, it to play with them while under adult supervision. could happen, but a kid can also get their eye poked Something like that takes quite a bit of time though, out by a stick. Does this mean we have to cut down probably more time than most adults would like to all the trees before the upcoming holiday? spend these days. It might work out better if we just Another toy on the list is the Moon Board Pogo gave all the kids those big pieces of foam to carry Board. I’m old, so I have no idea what the hell this around for a few days.

buzz

23


DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2009

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