Buzz Magazine: Dec. 4, 2003 by Buzz Magazine

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QUIT YELLIN’ WE’RE GELLIN’ | DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003 buzz

There’s a great story about jazz in Champaign-Urbana. It holds chapters from the past. Sounds from the present. And ideas yet to be lived. Step into the groove of life in C-U.

z buz Dec. 4-Dec.10, 2003

Featuring Cecil Bridgewater December 1-12 March 1-7 April 29-May 2

Jazz Threads Underwriter

Creative Intersections Sponsor

Corporate Platinum Sponsor

Corporate Silver Sponsor

Corporate Bronze Sponsor Shouting Ground Technologies Patron Co-sponsor Sam Gove

FREE!

UI Jazz Band II Charts ranging from the swing era to contemporary bands Thursday, December 4, 7:30pm Colwell Playhouse at Krannert Center $2 to $5

Other Cecil Bridgewater Concerts at Krannert Center Saturday, March 6, 10am Java and Jazz, a casual morning concert Sunday, March 7, 7:30pm With Clark Terry, trumpet

UI Jazz Forum A masterclass for University of Illinois students, led by Cecil Bridgewater Friday, December 5, Noon Colwell Playhouse at Krannert Center Free

Jazz Threads is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts; and by the Heartland Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from General Mills Foundation, Land O’Lakes Foundation, Sprint Corporation, and the Illinois Arts Council.

UI Concert Jazz Band Chip McNeill, leader The premier ensemble of the U of I jazz division Friday, December 5, 7:30pm Tryon Festival Theatre at Krannert Center $2 to $5

Arts | Entertainment | Community

Cecil Bridgewater and guests in concert Dee Dee Bridgewater, vocalist, Ron Bridgewater, saxophone and the UI Concert Jazz Band Saturday, December 6, 7:30pm Tryon Festival Theatre at Krannert Center $17 to $25 Talkback after the show, free Corporate Silver Sponsor: WBCP 1580AM Corporate Bronze Sponsor: Shouting Ground Technologies Patron Co-sponsor: Sam Gove Kurt Elling with the Laurence Hobgood Trio Wednesday-Friday, December 10-12, 7:30pm Studio Theatre at Krannert Center $22 to $30 Tickets may not be available; please contact the Ticket Office for more information. Corporate Silver Sponsor: Patron Co-sponsor: Jane Bishop Hobgood

For information on all events 217/333-6280 800/KCPATIX KrannertCenter.com

You voted, We ve got the results

BEST IN C-U

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DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003 | ALL THE FUN STUFF IN C-U

insidebuzz 3

SCENE

FOOD & SPIRITS

C-U’s places Everything to eat and drink in C-U

CALENDAR

FILM & TV

ALL THINGS C-U

See all there is to do in C-U Cruise gets cultured in The Last Samurai Everyone’s favorite pastimes

Volume 1, Number 38 COVER DESIGN | Adam Obendorf

editor’snote

fter living in the Champaign-Urbana area for the last three years, I can honestly tell you I know little about this community. Part of the problem is that I lived inside the bubble known as Campustown for half of my college experience. Part of it is that I have only spent three years here. I do not think you can know an area after three years. Maybe you will know the superficial aspects of the community, such as the good bars or maybe the best Italian restaurant. But you will never know what makes those people tick, what makes them get up every day, what makes them love ChampaignUrbana. People in any city have a different way of life and a different outlook on how life should be lived. Yet, I do have favorites in ChampaignUrbana, certain spots that when I come back to this place years from now, I will never be able to forget. And I guess that’s the point of this issue. We all have places we remember; we all want these places to be recognized for their excellence and their ability to draw us in. It’s human emotion to want people to like what we like. What I have learned is that this community has much to offer. It has much more than I originally realized when I moved down here from the Rockford area. When I arrived, I thought Champaign-Urbana to be just some midsized farming town with little culture outside of campus. Honestly, I never knew of any-

thing except for Marketplace Mall until my sophomore year when I first had my car. Even when I had my car, I explored little and missed a significant part of my college experience by not seeing what the cities had to offer. Little did I know, the twin cities are bursting with culture and life, including a vibrant Champaign downtown that goes largely unnoticed and a scenic Urbana residential area. Now, I regret not having the courage to strike out on my own and discover the unknown. If I had, I may feel more complete leaving this city in a couple months. In the beginning, I came ignorant to C-U, believing everything worth seeing was contained in the eight by eight block area I lived in. I am leaving believing there’s another world out there worth knowing. I just hope more of you realize that and faster than I did. —TR

letterstotheeditor Dear Editor: God willing, Iraq will be a totally free, democratic, functioning country within two to four years, maybe less time, maybe more time. The highly admirable U.S. troops will get to come home, and the Bush administration (if Bush wins in 2004) can proclaim victory for real the second time around and pat itself on the back for a job well done. Except that I don’t think Bush should crown himself with a halo if and when all this ends to his liking. Why? Here’s a few of the major reasons:

BUZZ STAFF Editor in chief Tom Rybarczyk Art Director Meaghan Dee Copy Chief Erin Green Arts Katie Richardson Music Brian Mertz Entertainment Jason Cantone Calendar Marissa Monson Assistant Music Editor Jacob Dittmer Calendar Coordinators Lauren Smith, Cassie Conner, Erin Scottberg Photography Adam Young, Claire Napier, Christine Litas, Shirea Weissman, Paige Goldsworthy, David Solana Copy Editors Elizabeth Zeman, Jen Hubert, Suzanne Sitrick Designers Adam Obendorf, Carol Mudra, Jason Cantone, Marissa Monson, Amy Hanlon Production Manager Theon Smith Editorial Adviser Elliot Kolkovich Sales Manager Lindsey Benton Marketing/Distribution Melissa Schleicher, Maria Erickson Publisher Mary Cory All editorial questions or letters to the editor should be sent to buzz@readbuzz.com or 337-8137 or buzz, 57 E. Green St., Champaign, Ill., 61820. 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

—The go-it-alone mentality was arrogant and reckless; we needed accompaniment from other countries to accomplish regime change in Iraq, and the inspections should have gone on longer. —The hysteria of an Iraqi threat to the United States and world, manufactured beautifully by the Bush administration, was shamefully misleading. Clearly Bush and his cronies had a separate agenda on many levels. —Post war planning in Iraq was shoddy; the Pentagon has freely admitted this. —Bush was extremely slippery in coming out with the cost of this war in terms of human lives and money. In his furious drive to push tax cuts for the American public, he purposely left Congress ignorant of Iraq’s future fortune. In general, President Bush has not been forthcoming to the American public regarding anything about this war. For a man who supposedly “shoots from the hip,” I find his remarks during press conferences to be positively cringe-inducing. Though many disagree with them, at least Donald Rumsfeld and Colin Powell offer well thought out, even poignant explanations as to why we’re in Iraq. President Bush never comes up with anything poignant, and I’m confused as to why so many conservatives worship this guy. Sal Nudo Champaign

BROTHER BEAR (G) Fri. - Thu. LAST SAMURAI (R) (2 SCREENS) 1:05 3:10 5:00 Fri. & Sat. 12:45 1:00 3:35 4:00 6:30 7:00 9:25 10:00 12:15 Sun. - Thu. 12:45 1:00 3:35 4:00 GOTHIKA (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:45 6:30 7:00 9:25 10:00 3:00 5:15 7:45 10:00 12:15 Sun. - Thu. 12:45 3:00 5:15 7:45 CAT IN THE HAT (PG) (2 SCREENS) 10:00 Fri. & Sat. 1:10 1:30 3:00 3:30 4:45 5:30 6:45 7:30 9:00 9:30 11:00 11:30 LOVE ACTUALLY (R) Fri. & Sun. - Thu. 1:10 1:30 3:00 3:30 Sat. 12:45 4:00 7:00 9:40 12:15 4:45 5:30 6:45 7:30 9:00 9:30 Sun. - Thu. 12:45 4:00 7:00 9:40 ELF (PG) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 1:00 1:15 3:00 3:15 5:00 5:15 7:00 7:30 9:00 9:30 11:30 11:35 Sun. - Thu. 1:00 1:15 3:00 3:15 5:00 5:15 7:00 7:30 9:00 9:30 MASTER & COMMANDER (PG–13) (2 SCREENS) Fri. & Sat. 12:45 3:45 6:45 7:00 9:30 9:40 12:10 12:15 Sun. - Thu. 12:45 3:45 6:45 7:00 9:30 9:40

THE HUMAN STAIN (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:45 3:00 5:15 7:30 9:45 12:00 Sun. - Thu. 12:45 3:00 5:15 7:30 9:45 MATRIX REVOLUTIONS (R) Fri. & Sat. 1:15 4:00 7:00 9:35 12:10 Sun. - Thu. 1:15 4:00 7:00 9:35

◆ THE MISSING (R) Fri. 1:20

4:00 9:40 12:10 TIMELINE (PG–13) Fri. & Sat. Sat. 1:20 4:00 7:00 9:40 12:10 1:45 4:20 7:00 9:25 11:50 Sun. - Thu. 1:20 4:00 7:00 9:40 Sun. - Thu. 1:45 4:20 7:00 9:25 BAD SANTA (R) Fri. & Sat. 12:50 3:00 5:00 7:20 9:35 11:30 Sun. - Thu. 12:50 3:00 5:00 7:20 PIECES OF APRIL (PG–13) Fri. 9:35 & Sat. 1:00 3:10 5:00 7:15 9:20 11:30 HAUNTED MANSION (PG) Fri. Sun. - Thu. 1:00 3:10 5:00 7:15 & Sat. 1:15 3:15 5:15 7:15 9:15 9:20 11:15 Sun. - Thu. 1:15 3:15 5:15 7:15 9:15

Showtimes for 12/5 thru 12/11

buzz DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10 , 2003 | IT DON’T MATTER IF YOU’RE YOUNG OR OLD

AND ANOTHER THING...

Keep your child away from the king of pop BY MICHAEL COUTLER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ome friends and I play this game every so often. It involves picking a certain action and a certain person and seeing what amount of money it would take for us to perform that action on that person. For example: How much would it take for you to bang Rosie O’Donnell? Then we come up with the amount of money it would take for us to attempt such an act. Usually we’re drinking and that money figure gets to an alarmingly low level before it’s all said and done, but the whole process is sort of amusing. None of it is real, and it’ll never happen. Apparently, there are many parents who play this same game, except they play it for keeps— with their children. Look, I’m all for giving people second chances. If you’re an alcoholic and you get sober, you get another chance. If you’re a burglar and you serve your time, you get another chance. Second chances don’t work for everything though. If you’re a pedophile and you get accused of child molestation, you don’t get another chance, not with me, not with kids. I don’t even have children, and I can tell you right now you shouldn’t let them hang around with pedophiles. OK, maybe this pedophile was never convicted of molesting children. In the eyes of the law he’s innocent. Whatever. This still doesn’t mean you let your kids hang around him. It seems simple maybe, but if there’s even the slightest chance your child will be molested, you really need to air on the side of caution. Let’s face the facts. If there was a 45-year-old guy down the street who had countless plastic surgeries, wore a glove on one hand, carried around a monkey, had a Ferris wheel in his backyard and held his masked child over a balcony, would you allow your child to go to his house? If he was interviewed on the local news saying he really enjoyed having children stay over at this house and sleep in his bed, would that be acceptable? If anyone on that whole block had any stones, this neighbor would have the hell beat out of him, and his house would be burned. It’s apparently OK if he’s famous though, like Michael Jackson. In fact, it’s even better than OK if he pays you a million or so dollars for the privilege of molesting your child. What the hell are these parents thinking? “Suck it up, Johnny, we spent

your college money on that new boat, so you’re going to have to let the King of Pop molest you if you ever want to see the inside of Harvard. Your mother and I need some cash.” Michael has bought his way out of a few jams already, but a few million dollars and some public service announcements may not make this one go away. Now, he has to pretend he’s innocent. He says he just loves children. Yeah, whatever, and I just “sort of” like beer. His family is ready to go to war for him, though, according to his brother Jermaine. Jermaine says if you handcuff one Jackson you handcuff the whole family. Well, OK. That sounds like a fine idea to me. Handcuff the whole fucking family. Geez, this is a family where the child molester is really only the second creepiest one of the bunch, after LaToya. This is a family that considers plastic surgery a necessity. The whole Jackson clan in jail would make me sleep a little better at night. It’s not just his family though. It is the other celebrities that are running to his defense. My favorite is Superfreak Rick James who says the accusations are “lies.” He then adds, “They are untrue.” Um, yeah Rick, we know what lies are. If I’m ever on trial, the first guy I want jumping to my defense is a crackhead who kidnapped a girl and burnt her with a hash pipe. Hey Rick, how long can one man live off of one song? Just curious. Puffy Combs thinks we should give Michael the benefit of the doubt until all the evidence is in. That’s a swell idea, Puffy. You’re exactly the kind of person who gets his child molested. A few of his friends are declining comment. That’s probably OK, since it’s Elizabeth Taylor, Diana Ross and Macaulay Culkin. I bet Michael has already put in a call to R. Kelly asking him to also keep his mouth shut for a while. If there’s any justice, Michael Jackson should be in jail for a long-ass time. Hey, that’s just what I think. If you wanna know about Michael’s side of the story, he’s created a Web site to update his fans and the media on his case. Go there if you want, but I’d be really careful clicking on any of the links. It might be child porn, and you might not have enough money to buy your way out of the charges. buzz

DAVE’S DREAM DIARY

Late? Got something to say...

Michael Coulter is a videographer at Parkland College. He writes a weekly e-mail column, “This Sporting Life” and has hosted several local comedy shows.

email us at buzz@buzzread.com

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odds & end

DirtyTalk

David B -- You, me, acrylamide? Mikeeee Boot bearing, skirt sporting Serbian graduate students are smoking hot! Princess Pey-Pey -- I'd like to put my "junk" in your "trunk"--Poppy Dugan - I know we’ve been around each other for a while now, but don’t ever think of touching my box again. - Kirchner Keir - Whoootish, whoootish. Hope your hands are ready for many feet massages in the near future. Bjorlovich - Stevo and I are tired of you beating around the bush all the time, so why don’t you just come over and we’ll play till the early morning. Mason - I know I kept playing with your hat, but will you let me play with something else soon? John - You’re voice is so dreamy. What do you say you sing me a lullaby to sleep some night ;) Carol Ben - I know Murphy’s and dancing really doesn’t mix, but come on, you know you dug the camo. Joe - Happy 21st! Call me late for your special present. - Meaghan Jacob - You’re new flowing locks make my knees week.

DON’T YOU WISH YOU WOULD HAVE SENT A DIRTY TALK? | DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003

buzz

Meadowbrook park

FREE WILL ASTROLOGY ARIES (March 21-April 19): British performance artist Mark McGowan was offended by the widespread international mockery of his country's cuisine. In protest, he decided to express his pride by turning himself into an English breakfast. A store near London let him live in the front window for 12 days, during which time he sat in a vat of baked beans with a crown of sausages on his head and a deep-fried potato wedge lodged in each nostril. In the coming week, Aries, the astrological omens suggest you should be as bold and imaginative as McGowan in support of your own pet cause. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): If typical, you will make love about 2,500 times in your lifetime. But maybe only 25 of those encounters will offer this week's blend of physical rapture and spiritual breakthrough. I'm not exaggerating, Taurus. The cosmos is inviting you to be the recipient of a mind-expanding peak experience or two.To take maximum advantage, be as innocent and open as you dare. Find the place in you where lust and compassion overlap. (P.S.You don't necessarily need a partner to enjoy these gifts. If you're single, shed any shame you have about solo sex and explore its mysteries.) GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Every poll I've seen asserts that far more women than men make use of astrology. It was only a matter of time before macho dudes discovered this and sought to exploit it. One such guy is Gemini Pat Burrell, a baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. In an interview in a men's magazine, he marveled at how much success he'd had on first dates by talking about horoscopes. In the coming weeks, his experience will apply to you -- only more so. No matter what gender or sexual preference you are, discussing astrology will be a surefire way to advance romance. For that matter, initiating conversations about any subject that gives a mythic flavor to intimate matters will stimulate the flow of sexy vibes. You might want to check out Skymates: Love, Sex and Evolutionary Astrology, by Jodie and Steven Forrest. CANCER (June 21-July 22): I'm worried you'll suffer an attack of shyness or modesty this week. Instead of pushing to get exactly what you want, you might dream up lame excuses to explain to yourself why it's OK if you don't get exactly what you want. Or you may be satisfied too easily and retreat to your hiding place before fate has a chance to bestow the fullness of its unexpected blessings on you. Please fight off this trend, Cancerian. Give your inner wimp a dozen roses and send your inner warrior out to collect your just desserts. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Pop quiz! 1. You are so attractive these days that you risk rousing the envy of people whose support you

need. True or false? 2. You now have the ability to change the weather merely by wiggling your eyebrows or wrinkling your nose.True or false? 3. Since you are so exceptionally fertile -- with an equal power to supercharge the growth of beautiful blooms and nasty weeds -- you will have to be very discriminating about where you point your mojo. True or false? 4. You are unusually susceptible to being manipulated through flattery. True or false? VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The Chilean Congress has recently considered a bill that would mandate afternoon siestas for all workers. As a nap activist who has lobbied long and hard for everyone to get more dream time, I cheered this revolutionary proposal. Now I'm asking you, Virgo, to join me in the struggle to gain even more sleepers' rights. What specific action can you take? For starters, spend more time asleep and dreaming in the coming week than you ever have -- and don't let any workaholic, sleep-deprived cranky-head shame you for it. Your productivity will rise; I guarantee it. (P.S. The astrological moment is also ripe for you to rise up against the tyranny of Type A overachievers who think everyone should be as addicted to stress as they are.) LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Octopuses have eyes that can focus on two different scenes simultaneously. In some species one eye is specialized to see things in the murky depths while the other eye concentrates on sights in sunlit waters. I suggest you make this creature your power animal in the coming week. To keep apprised of the complex plots that will be unfolding around you in every direction, you will need the equivalent of the octopus's vision. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): For a mere $99.95, I could remove the curse you're suffering from. But I'd feel bad about taking your money when you could get rid of the damn thing yourself.In fact, why don't you do just that, and send yourself a check for $99.95? Here's all you have to do. Step one: Visualize an object that symbolizes the accursed influence. Picture yourself throwing it into a furnace. Step two: Visualize the person you feel is most responsible for the curse. Imagine that one end of a rope is tied around your waist and the other end around the person. Picture yourself cutting through the rope with a chainsaw as you call out, "You have no friggin' power over me!" Step three: Repeat steps one and two twice a day for 11 days. Step four: On the eleventh day, laugh so long and hard that you fall on the floor and cry tears of joyful release. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Master astrologer Steven Forrest believes you Sagittarians often thrive on learning things the hard way. I agree. Here are my three explanations of why this is so. 1. One of your main tasks in life is to cultivate wisdom, and

you'll never accomplish that if everything comes too easily for you. 2. To maintain your mental hygiene, you need to push regularly into the unknown, where the rules for success are as yet unwritten. 3. You are sometimes susceptible to being dogmatic, which can interfere with your ability to discern simple, obvious, up-to-the-minute truths. To shock you out of your tunnel vision, your higher self needs to trick you into making interesting mistakes.

of a kind, Meadowbrook Park on Windsor Road in Urbana offers a place where you can carve your name. The wooden maze peaks with towers, and the tire swing and slides dwell in the valley below. While sneaking around in the manmade labyrinth, you will be reminded of the calloused hands belonging to neighborhood dads who put it all together. Hands are reflected in movie star fashion upon the blocks of cement that lead up to the park. Unlike the numerous anonymous playgrounds that are so similar they seem to fall out of an overused mold, this park actually feels like a community’s place to play. “I love taking my kids here—this is their favorite park,” comments Sandra Wilson, Urbana resident. Not only a park for kids, Meadowbrook offers an expanse of prairie plants and tall grass with a path winding through it all, perfect for a romantic stroll or invigorating run. The field serves as a museum of sorts, preserving the native prairie that used to span the entire state. This area is the only place where you can find all the native Illinois plants in one place, according to the informational plaque located along the path. It’s hard to walk along the path and

Rob Brezsny's Free Will ☎ Astrology beautyandtruth @ f r e e w i l l a s t r o l o g y. c o m 415.459.7209(v)• 415.457.3769 http://www.freewillastrology. com P.O. Box 798 San Anselmo, CA 94979

Paige - How can you love a pink bunny so much? Lindsay - Sorry we’re so slow. Maybe one of us can make it up to you in CO.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Sohee - I know you’re married but I wish you weren’t. Jordan - Break up with your girlfriend... we all want your balls. - The girls in GD Hoopes - Stop eating Meaghan’s cookies, and eat something else of hers.

1 Subject of a court

order

8 Credit 15 Name after which the

New World is named

16 Infused with energy 17 Formative 18 Having some intelli-

Buckley - You’re the most beautiful dog in the world. Steve - Sorry about the problems you’ve been having with Jack. You know you can always cry on my shoulder. - Paulie Tabitha- There’s something on you I wanna grabitha.

gence

19 Some modern bill

payers, for short

20 Photo ID’s 22 50’s sitcom name 23 Set (against) 24 Divulge

Jen- Your hair looks great.

25 Literary monogram

Happy Birthday Joe- Watch out for amy, she wants your nuts.

26 “I’m not ___ complain

Heidi- I want to do things to you that are too dirty for dirty talks.

28 Gulf V.I.P.

Keir- Why don’t you come to the room next to yours for a good time- Adam “the big O”

31 Mezzo Berganza

Amy- I love ya. Even though you smell bad. Buzz- let’s get crunked.

7 Pleasant

46 March

8 Qintar spender

47 Bond, e.g.: Abbr.

9 Old letter

48 They must be satis-

fied

30 Anthologies 33 Common computer

icon

35 Correct 37 Sincere 43 Pass

opener

10 Early second-

50 Christmas, e.g.: Abbr.

century date

51 Disparage

11 Oregon college

53 Numbers holder

12 Classic work

54 Give (out) 55 Goes nuts 57 “The same,” in condi-

tion

with 34 cantos

24 Schlemiel

61 Very spread out

27 Bathwear

62 Neighbors, figuratively

29 Hopping John

DOWN 2 Last song recorded by

the Beatles

with bouquets

29 33

38 44

45 48

46 50

52 56

54 57

30 More suitable

32 Stand buys

Puzzle by Rich Norris

41 Dollface

40 Sticks

38 Not so bright

34 Airs

ingredient for a job

37 Front-of-car accessory

6 Yucca’s plant family

4 Tosser of the Apple of

smith

36 Fruity dessert

5 Material for a white-

3 Not so likely

Discord

14 Whirls

60 Kind of window

1 Cleaning vessel

tiously

21 One concerned

film

13 Business, face-

59 ___ City of story and

…”

39 Goes for DIRTY TALKS ARE NO LONGER... THEY SHAN’T BE MISSED.

44 Saucy sort

42 Ductless

organs

43 Big cuts 45 Lunchbox item, for

short

49 Detailed, briefly

52 Singular, to Caesar 53 ___ call 54 Turn 56 Field call 58 Sports page statistic

FILE PHOTO

ACROSS

Adam - Ha, ha... you kissed the teacher.

BY JACOB DITTMER | STAFF WRITER

people’s choice

Icutter n this modern world of plastic cookieplaygrounds, where nothing is one

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): You might enjoy Pearl Cleage's novel Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do. It's got soulful characters, a strong social consciousness, and a dramatic mix of suffering and redemption. But you don't have to read the book to carry out the advice in this week's horoscope. All you have to do is write your own personal version of "Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do" -- a two-page stream-of-consciousness essay is fine -- and then go out and start actually doing the things you've described therein. Tell what techniques you've discovered about feeding honey to crocodiles. Send your interesting good news to me at www.freewillastrology.com.

Best Coffee Shop

BY NIK GALLICCHIO | STAFF WRITER

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Psychotherapy obsesses on what's wrong with people and gives short shrift to what's right. The manual of the profession is a 943-page text called the DSM- IV that identifies scores of pathological states but no healthy ones. I often complain about this tragic fact and ask my readers to help me compile material for a proposed Anti-DSM-IV, a compendium of all the positive, noble, feel-good categories. One reader, Alka Bhargava, has suggested a condition that you Aquarians will be able to achieve regularly this week. He calls it "Joyful Poignance," and describes it like this: "The ability to be buoyantly joyful while remaining aware of the sadness, injustices, ancient wounds, and future fears that form the challenges in an examined life."

✍ HOMEWORK:

Espresso Royale Cafe

Best park

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): "Slashing through undergrowth and counting poop is an expensive, time-consuming, dirty, hot, and nasty business," said Dr. Richard Ruggiero of the African Elephant Conservation Fund. Quoted by Andrew Revkin in the New York Times, he was talking about studying forest elephants that are threatened with extinction. But I immediately thought of you when I read that, Capricorn. It's a good metaphor for what's happening in your life. An important and beautiful aspect of your animal nature is in peril, and the only way to save it may be for you to do work that fits Ruggiero's description.

scene

DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003 | RIGHT ABOUT NOW, FUNK SHOW BROTHER

best park Meadowbrook Park

honorable mention > > > >

Allerton Park Crystal Lake Park The Arboretum Hessel Park

not spot an admirer of nature taking in the scenery. The runners smile as they go by and the walkers grin. “This is the perfect park to rollerblade in,” says Matt Harring, University of Illinois student and a member of the registered student organization Inline Insomniacs, who often frequents the park. As if that wasn’t enough, Meadowbrook also houses oversized pieces of artwork—colorful sculptures that kids love to climb on. Everyone has a favorite, whether it is the hammers-in-astaring-contest by the park or the ominous wooden posts with amusing names, located along the path. Whether you’re itching for a nice place to walk, or the most original park in the area, Meadowbrook is definitely worth experiencing.

people’s choice

O h, the wonders of coffee! This is a statement that many can relate to with our growing dependence on this stimulant. But I am guilty of once abhorring coffee. Growing up in a rural community far from any sign of civilization gave me limited exposure to the coffee culture. Sure, I had my run-ins with Starbucks when it went big, and my parents are avid drinkers of the java, but I found my source of fuel in the wonders of caffeinated pop. (I am guilty of loving the yellow monster that is Mountain Dew.) Then came college. Going out late with my friends and staying up until the wee hours of the morn was not working well with my a.m. schedule. I needed an alternative and thus I tapped into the splendors of coffee, more so out of necessity than curiosity. I still remember my first trip to Espresso Royale Cafe and my complete lack of any coffee knowledge. I just ordered what I recognized—an espresso, assuming it was the chocolatey and foamy drink I had often seen around. Was I surprised when a small shot amount of a dark substance was given back to me. I tried to act like it was what I wanted, took a sip and eventually threw it away when no one was looking for the sake of my foolish pride. Back then I was a long way from a cultured coffee drinker. Now I can walk into Espresso with peace of mind, knowing full well what I will receive when I order. With so many choices of drinks, Espresso opened my eyes to the world of coffee shops.When I need that jolt of energy I can rely on a big cappuccino or chai latte to pep me up. Or when I am feeling ill I can rely on some feel-better tea or herbal tea to make things better. Daily specials and coffee blends make a trip to Espresso always different in drink selection. But Espresso is more than a source of fuel and drink for me. It offers a warm environment for me to relax and do my coursework without the annoyances or distractions of other places. The unique interior of the Goodwin Street Espresso always intrigues me and makes me pretend

best coffee shop Espresso Royale Cafe

honorable mention > > > >

Cafe Kopi Cafe Paradiso Green St. Coffee House Moonstruck

I’m not in East Central Illinois. The exterior seating for the warmer months provides a nice location to sit and relax, so much so that I went there for lunch on a daily basis during the summer. I’ve become a fan of the sophisticated atmosphere with students diligently working on their studies and professors discussing intellectual things. Sometimes I think back to my farm boy roots and imagine what some of my classmates would do in the Espresso environment. The people and environment keeps me appreciating what Espresso offers beyond coffee. They even have pinball and board games to put the mind at ease when fried from study. My childish abomination of coffee and tea has now died with my aging. Espresso has started what will likely be a long relationship with coffee shops for me. Sure, some of you are thinking it’s just a coffee shop, but for a farm boy from west Central Illinois, it’s a whole new world.

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THE QUAD SEEMS TO BE “WHERE IT’S AT” | NOVEMBER 13-NOVEMBER 19, 2003

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The Quad

PHONE: 217/337-8337 DEADLINE: 2 p.m. Monday for the next Thursday’s edition.

Best relaxing location, place to read & location for people watching

INDEX Employment Services Merchandise Transportation Apartments Other Housing/Rent Real Estate for Sale Things To Do Announcements Personals

BY BRIAN WARMOTH | STAFF WRITER

students place in it—a common area for socialization, recreation and study between classes, at least when weather allows. “I like the Quad because it’s a central location and I see lots of people I know there. It’s nice having the big grassy area,” says Nicole Holly, a sophomore at the University. On warm summer days, there is no more popular outdoor arena for students to meet and relax. Whether their purpose is to play ultimate frisbee, watch Preacher Dan or socialize with fellow classmates at a central location just a minute away from their next lecture, most undergraduates have undoubtedly spent some time on its lawn. The Quad as it has evolved has been more an organic product of students’ lifestyles than a result of technical planning like its surrounding buildings. In fact, there were no plans during the University’s early years of development to set the space aside. Rather, students began using the space amid their lecture halls as a natural place to congregate. Even the earliest dirt paths formed across the Quad were direct results of natural wear made by students going to and from classes. By 1913, the space began to resemble what it is today, with clearly defined sides.

people’s choice

best place to read

best relaxing location

best spot for people watching

The Quad

honorable mention

honorable mention > > > >

Home Illini Union Barnes and Noble Pages for All Ages

Boardman’s

> > > >

Illini Union Home Silvercreek Moonstruck

Art Theatre

126 W. Church St. Champaign, IL

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King at the Lorraine Tickets on sale now, online!

The Station Agent R, runs 88 minutes, presented in HPS-4000/DD.

Don’t just get a ticket, get a RESERVED SEAT!

Showtimes: daily at 5:15 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 9:30 p.m. Matinees on Sat/Sun at 3:00 p.m.

The multiplexes’ presentations pale in comparison!

eTickets/reserved seats: www.BoardmansArtTheatre.com

Also playing at the Lorraine Theatre in Hoopeston The Last Samurai.

BOARDMAN’S THEATRES www.BoardmansTheatres.com 1-800-BEST PLACE (800-237-8752) 217/355-0068 eTickets/reserved seats: www.BoardmansArtTheatre.com

Marketplace Mall Cowboy Monkey Illini Union Cafe Kopi

000 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900

Employment 000 HELP WANTED | Full Time Express Personnel Services 217.355.8500 101 Devonshire Dr., Champaign

HELP WANTED | Part Time Spring semester weekday hours. Enquire Rick Orr Florists. 351-9299

Services

100

CLEANING

• 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.

Exact Extraction. Carpet & upholstery cleaning. Free estimates. 6883101.

DEADLINE:

1107 S. 4TH AND GREGORY, C. For August 2004. 3, 4, 5 bedroom townhouse apartments. Best location. Completely furnished. Laundry, parking garage, elevator. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

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

RATES: Billed rate: 34¢/word Paid-in-Advance: 25¢/word Photo Sellers 30 words or less + photo: $5 per issue Garage Sales 30 words in both Thursday’s buzz and Friday’s Daily Illini!! $10. If it rains, your next date is free. Action Ads • 20 words, run any 5 days (in buzz or The Daily Illini), $14 • 10 words, run any 5 days (in buzz or The Daily Illini), $7 • add a photo to an action ad, $10

LAWN CARE FREE ESTIMATES: Tree trimming, Topping, Removal, Stump Grinding. 384-5010.

Merchandise 200 BOOKS COMPARE TEXTBOOK PRICES! Search 24 bookstores with 1 click! Shipping and taxes automatically calculated. http://www.bookhq.com

Apartments

400

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished **Private Home Room“s”. Kitchen, laundry, DSL, parking. Urbana. $300/mo. 367-4252.

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished 101 S. Busey, U. 1 bedroom apartment with

PAID UTILITIES! Living room, eat-in kitchen, porch, parking, laundry facilities, air conditioning, furnished. August 2004. www.mhmproperties.com 337-8852

New Security Building

Washer/dryer, AC, balcony, dishwasher, intercom, ethernet, contemporary furnishings, microwave. 605 E. Clark St., C. www.mhmproperties.com 337-8852 1005 S. SECOND, C Efficiencies and four bedroom penthouse Fall 2004. Secured building. Private parking. Laundry on site, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com 1006 S. 3RD, C. Aug 2004. Location, location. One, two, three bedrooms for fall. Covered parking & laundry, furnished & patios, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

101 E. Daniel, C.

New Security Building

2 bedroom and bi-level 4 bedroom, two bath. Imported furnishings, balconies, skylights, cathedral ceilings, washer/ dryer in each apt. Security underground parking. Aug. 2004 www.mhmproperties.com 337-8852

106 DANIEL, C. For August 2004. 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom apartments, ethernet available. Some townhouses Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

3 & 4 bedroom luxury apartments 205 S. Sixth St.

Security Building

Washer/ dryer, AC, balconies, dishwasher, ethernet, 48’ TV, microwave. www.mhmproperties.com 337-8852

411 Healey, C. Best Location Fall 2004 Spacious 3-4 bedroom apts. Fully furnished, microwave & dishwasher. Off-street parking. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

102 S. Lincoln Horizon Apts.

Green and Lincoln, U.

August ‘04. New 2, 4 bedroom luxury furnished apartments.Sundeck, Balconies, Skylights, 2 Full Baths, Cathedral Ceilings, Ceiling Fan, Laundry on each floor. Assigned parking. Sound proofing. Utility discount, security system. www.mhmproperties.com 337-8852 105 E. John 2 bedroom furnished, great location. Includes parking. ugroup96.com 352-3182 111 E. CHALMERS, C. August 2004. Four bedroom townhouse and one bedrooms. Furniture, skylights, off-street parking, laundry. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com 2, 3, 4 bedroom luxury apartment

1 Bedroom Luxury Apartments

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Furnished

New Security Building

808 S. Oak, Champaign Imported furnishings, sound proofing, A/C, 2 balconies, burglar alarms, laundry. Utility discount. Parking. Aug 2004. www.mhmproperties.com 337-8852 203 S. Sixth. C. For August 2004. Large 2,3,4 bedrooms, 2 baths. Balconies, laundry, covered parking. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com 207-211 JOHN Prime Campus Location 2-3-4 Bedrooms Phone 352-3182 THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com JOHN SMITH PROPERTY MANAGEMENT www.johnsmithproperties.com (217)384-6930 “believe the hype” 604 E. White, C. Security Entrance For Fall 2004, Large 1 & 2 bedroom furnished, balconies, patios, laundry, off-street parking, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroups96.com 509 E. White, C. Aug. 2004. Large 1 bedrooms. Security entry, balconies, patios, furnished. Laundry, off-street parking, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Ch. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

502 E. University, C.

Security Building 1 and 2 bedroom apartments, large rooms, AC, furnished, parking, quiet building. Aug. 04 369-0237. www.zhengrentals.com

506 E. Stoughton, C For August 2004. Extra large efficiency apartments. Security building entry, complete furniture, laundry, off-street parking, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Champaign. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

509 BASH COURT, C. Fall 2004 Great 3 and 5 bedrooms, near 6th and Green. Fully furnished, microwaves and dishwashers. Off-street parking. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

605 S. Fifth, C. Fall 2004 5th and Green location Outdoor activity area. 1, 2, & 3 bedrooms available. Garage off-street parking. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, Champaign. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

805 S. Locust, C. 2 & 4 bedroom luxury furnished apartments. Contemporary furnishings, bi-level, laundry, AC, large rooms, microwave, dishwasher, parking. Aug. 2004. www.mhmproperties.com 337-8852

ENGINEERING CAMPUS Large Studio APTS Fall 2004 50% renewal rate! Secured Bldg., ethernet available UGroup96.com 352-3182

HEALEY COURT APARTMENTS 307-309 Healey Court. Fall 2004. Behind Gully’s. Newly remodeled bathrooms. 2 & 3 bedrooms. Some 2 baths, ethernet available. Phone 352-3182. Office at 309 S. First, C. THE UNIVERSITY GROUP www.ugroup96.com

CAMPUS APARTMENTS Unurnished 606 S. Race. Attractive vintage 1 bedroom apt. hdwd flrs, sun room, parking. Non-smoker only $435/mo plus utilities and sec. dep. Flexible move in 649-8508. Brand new luxury 1, 2, 3, bedroom apartments available in Champaign. Call Manchester Property Management at 359-0248 for an appointment.

SUBLETS 2 bedroom, 2 bath available January- May. Furnished, utilities included. W/D, AC, ethernet. Melrose. 278-0323

3 Bedroom Spring ‘04. 305 N Lincoln. 5 min. from campus. $261/person/month. Free parking! 344-1585 Kent, Phil.

CUTE 2 BR apartment for $595/mo! Off of Green, 4 blocks East from Lincoln. Furnishing, heat, and parking included. Grace 721-7101

One Br. Second and Greg! Spring semester ‘04. Free Parking. $350/mo. AC, ethernet available, furnished, laundry. (847)951-6696.

We’ll sell it for you

Spring 2004 Sublet. Efficiency near Beckman. $355 per month bbayer@uiuc.edu.

Spring Semester. 3 BR/2ba. 309 E. Healey. Rent negotiable. Utilities included. 309-467-3120.

Spring/ Summer 04. Spacious furnished 1 Bdr apartment with parking. Some utilities paid, cheap rent, negotiable. 217-390-1045

Other Rentals 500 HOUSES Remodeled 3 BR. 1.5 mi. from campus on busline. 1213 S. Anderson, U. $850/mo. + deposit. No pets. Available now. 621-8325.

ROOMS Efficiency rooms on campus $250-$310, all utilities paid. 3676626

Things to Do 700 VACATION | TRAVEL

JOHN STREET APARTMENTS 58 E. John August 2003. Two and three bedrooms, fully furnished. Dishwashers, center courtyard, on-site laundry, central air, ethernet available. Call Jon or Heather, resident managers, at 384-5416 anytime for your appointment. 352-3182 University Group

You name it

Available January 1st 2004. One bedroom, one bath. 800 Sq. feet. W/D, Dishwasher. Free parking, no security deposite. Nice location, $600/mo negotiable. Pets welcome 352-8962

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Few outdoor arenas exist elsewhere on campus which are as widely used as the Quad. Sophomore at the University Maureen Gombas appreciates the large communal space it provides. “I like it because I feel like I’m in the middle of campus, especially right near the Union; I especially like it because it’s the best spot to people watch without them noticing you and not looking like a creep,” says Gombas. Its central location and busy space make it ideal for people watching. One needs to look no further than its sidewalks and bikeways to appreciate the diverse behaviors and appearances of the student population. The Quad is also the go-to place for reading and studying during the spring, summer and early fall months of class. “It’s better than sitting in the (Illini) Union, which is fine when it’s cold but too quiet for me. I like being outside, and it is easier than walking to the other end of the Quad to the Union,” comments Leesa Moore, a freshman at the University. As a prime example of the natural, functional and communal evolution of space on campus, the Quad is the crossroads of recreation, socialization and study at the University of Illinois.

FILE PHOTO

Ta metaphor he Quad at the University of Illinois has historically been for the value most Liberal Arts and Sciences

DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003 | WE KNOW YOU ARE SICK OF ALL THAT LEFTOVER TURKEY, BUT WE DON’T WANT IT EITHER!!

call 217.337.8337

Page 1

OOPA! | DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003

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Krannert Art Museum

Silvercreek

BY SUZANNE SITRICK | STAFF WRITER

people’s choice

afe Verde inema Art reative Art Studios arkland Community College

The faculty show displays art from different media created by the faculty and also has weekly talks with some of these artists. This Wednesday, for example, faculty member Kevin Hamilton will discuss his work in painting at 12:00 p.m at the Krannert Art Museum. The eShow highlights contemporary artists in Illinois, said Assistant to the Director and Exhibitions Coordinator Cynthia Voelkl. “The curators and the directors discuss and balance what has been shown, from different media to different origins of art, to keep the changing exhibitions diverse,” Voelkl said. “As part of the University one of our main goals is education and using art in that context. We want to introduce students and the community to different cultures through art.” Beginning Jan. 23, 2004, a new exhibition begins, entitled Beyond East and West: Seven Transnational Artists.“The exhibition features contemporary art by Middle Eastern artists,” Hewitt said. “It is going to be stellar and very, very interesting.”

For dancers of all ages www.austinsportswear.com

Sous Chef Matt Taylor of Mizzoula, Mont., prepares Brandy Flame Spicy Tomato Sauce Monday afternoon at Silvercreek Restaurant in Urbana.

Downtown Champaign 105 North Walnut Champaign, IL 61820 217-352-8200 FILE PHOTO

Biaggi’s Radio Maria Courier Cafe Timpones

Nov. 28–Dec. 23 10 a.m. –8:30 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 7, 14, 21 12 –5 p.m.

FAIRLY TRADED HANDICRAFTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Silvercreek

honorable mentions > > > >

C C C P

HOLIDAY HOURS

PHOTOS | SHIRA WEISSMAN THE DAILY ILLINI

best overall restaurant

> > > >

ol H iday

people’s choice

honorable mention

coined as the best restaurant in Champaign-Urbana. With best place for a first date restaurants of seemingly every ethic delicacy served in every Silvercreek possible way, Silvercreek entered the cornucopia of cuisine as one of the healthiest. honorable mentions No, not because it served > Biaggi’s fat-free food from some fad > Courier Cafe diet of the early ‘90s but, > Movie instead, because manager > Moonstruck Allen Strong declared the restaurant to be smoke free. Silvercreek belongs to the Illinois Smoke-Free Restaurant Recognition Program and was the first smoke-free restaurant in Illinois, Strong said. Now in its 13th year of operation, Silvercreek has been named both Best Overall Restaurant and Best Place for a First Date. Maybe 13 isn’t such an unlucky number after all. Strong believes that three things set Silvercreek apart from the rest of the town’s restaurants. “First, the ambience is unsurpassed,” Strong said. Silvercreek is housed in a beautifully restored building which is constantly making improvements to better serve its patrons. While being interviewed for this article, the loud sound of construction equipment muddled some of his responses. A new parking lot is currently being constructed to help patrons before the restaurant’s busy holiday season. Strong also said the food served is made with the highest quality ingredients. A unique menu greets each new patron. In fact, the iChampaign.com Web site states that Silvercreek has 71 items on its menu from Smoked Salmon Crostini to a delicious dessert known as Death by Chocolate. Strong also stated that there’s a wonderful staff at the restaurant and the entire experience wouldn’t be as great without them. Knowing all of these factors that make Silvercreek great, Strong said many people get engaged at Silvercreek and then come back for reception dinners and weddings. All in all, Silvercreek is one of Champaign-Urbana’s finest restaurants.

Krannert Art Museum

Dance Apparel & Shoes 12 Main St. Downtown Champaign 359.2231

ce an t of D t he gi f

BY JASON CANTONE | ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

best art gallery

Giv e

rannert Art Museum, located at 500 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign, first opened in May 1961, with the help of its primary donors Mr. and Mrs. Krannert, said Director of Membership and Marketing Diane Schumacher. The museum is a unit within the College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois. “The museum is a visual arts center for everyone, not just a museum on campus,” said Associate Director Karen Hewitt. In 1998 the Kinkead Pavilion was added, nearly doubling the size of the building. There was no bookstore or cafe until 1988, when the Kinkead Pavilion opened, said Schumacher. The museum is the second largest art museum in Illinois. The museum is home to a permanent collection of 8,000 works of art. There are 10 different galleries which display a large portion of the permanent works, said Schumacher. According to the museum’s Web site, the architecture of the building incorporates neo-Egyptian decorative elements in an overall post-Modernist design. The goal of the museum is to design exhibitions and programs that appeal to the entire learning community, said Hewitt. As stated on the Web site, “the museum aims to serve as a matrix for cul-

tural engagement with the visual arts in the state of Illinois and beyond, through its exhibitions, educational programs and outreach.” The outreach program is about making connections with the public, Hewitt said. “Outreach consists of different kinds of programs, such as lectures, colloquia and guided tours,”Hewitt said.“There is also an educational resource center which loans out art to grades K-12, as well as The Art To Go program.” The Art To Go program has three types of programs, designed for kids, schools and senior citizens. The kids program is geared toward after-school programs and clubs, providing an introduction to the pieces of art and offering hands-on art-making activities, said Hewitt. The other two programs are geared to schools and senior citizens in residential facilities.These programs are followed up by an invitation for a guided tour of the museum. “This program takes the collection out into the community, but it also brings the community into the museum,” Hewitt said. Besides the permanent collection, the museum also has many changing exhibitions each year, bringing in art from other collections and museums from places all over the world. Currently there are a number of exhibits on display through Jan. 4, 2004, which include the School of Art and Design Faculty Show and the eShow.

people’s choice

Best art gallery

Best overall restaurant Best place for a first date W hen Silvercreek opened in 1990, it wasn’t immediately

scene

DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003 | GO TO KRANNERT ART MUSEUM AND GET SOME CULTURE

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“JUKEBOX HERO” IS AN AWFUL SONG | DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003

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all things c-u

buzz DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003 | HOT LIPS!!!

Canopy Club

Murphy’s Pub

out’ nights.” The Canopy Club features one of the largest performance spaces in Champaign-Urbana. In addition to the main performance space, The Canopy Club’s Garden Grill also can provide space for performers and has been consistently used by local blues act Kilborn Alley for a weekly blues jam. BY BRIAN MERTZ | MUSIC EDITOR In addition to the national acts that were brought in, this year the Canopy hat once was an old brew and view Club hosted a weekly hip-hop night, an movie theater has seen The Smashing open mic night and a local showcase Pumpkins, The Flaming Lips, G Love and sponsored by Special Sauce, Maceo OpeningBands.com. Parker and O.A.R. grace The variety is someits expansive stage. thing that Goldberg Located in Urbana, just attributes to the east of the University Canopy’s success. of Illinois’ quad, The “I think it is the Canopy Club has been diversity of programbringing major nationming,” said Goldberg. al musical acts and “You can come see your local talents to the favorite touring band, Champaign-Urbana hang out on open community. mic/open jam, see After a stellar year The Flaming Lips – May 4 some of Champaign of booking shows (see Urbana’s up and comers the accompanying at OpeningBands night and, of course, sidebar for some of the major highlights), people love the drink specials.” The Canopy Club was voted C-U’s Finest The variety in performances is Music Venue. expanded even more when thinking “Awesome!” said Ian Goldberg, proabout the different genres represented at gramming director for the Canopy Club The Canopy Club. Jam bands like Ekoostik when told the results of the voting. Hookah and Umphrey’s McGee played the “We work hard to provide the best possiCanopy in 2003. Indie rock stalwarts like ble entertainment ranging from some of The Flaming Lips and Ween played the the biggest national acts to fun ‘hang Canopy. Hip-hop acts like Digital Underground and Atmosphere played the Canopy. And the Canopy not only had performances from metal bands like Cold and Sevendust, but even hosted a Midwest Metal Fest. That variety in national acts is because of a conscious effort by the Canopy Club’s booking staff. “We are looking for bands that will draw people,” Goldberg said.“We try to be as diverse as possible, bringing in active rock, jazz, jam bands, hip hop—a little bit of everything.” Some of Goldberg’s favorite performances at The Canopy Club over the years include Ween, The Flaming Lips, Victor Wooten and the Smashing Pumpkins. Third Eye Blind – But don’t get the wrong idea. The April 12, November 2

Best concert venue

Best jukebox

BY JACOB DITTMER | STAFF WRITER

ello, my name is ROWE AMi. But you probably know me as the Murphy’s jukebox. I love my home, wedged here between this wooden booth and this damn Dracula pinball game. Pinballers are always shaking Dracula and cramping my style, but I don’t mind because I provide music for the whole bar to enjoy.Unfortunately,my music doesn’t come free and people shove their wrinkled bills in, forcing me to spin the chosen songs. I have a nice glow about me, with blinking lights determined to entice even the most sober of bargoers. Over here near the stairs, I am often spotted and accosted by some drunken fool determined to play some recent chart-topper. But alas, you won’t find the new Outkast hits or Lil’ Jon and the East Side Boyz in my CD selection. Scrolling through my 100 CDs, you’ll be pleased with the vast selection. Personally, I prefer the classic rock and folk of the ‘60s and ‘70s like the Beatles and Van Morrison. Who knows why I am so popular? I don’t offer a good selection of dance songs, nor do I offer ‘80’s glam rock like Poison, both of which seem to be popular when college students drink alcohol. But people don’t seem to mind; apparently my selection of classic rock gives Murphy’s the laid-back feel that so many enjoy. My classic pop hits and rock songs seem to inspire a feeling of nostalgia for everyone. Even still, I have a vast array of artists and albums from Frank Sinatra to the White Stripes.

The classics are all here—the Beatles’ White Album, Bob Marley’s Legend, Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited, U2’s Joshua Tree, Radiohead’s OK Computer and even the Best of the Doobie Brothers. I’ve even got some good old ‘80’s tunes like Thriller and some Madonna. Fans of country will be pleased with my Charlie Daniels and Johnny Cash CDs. All of the above are favorites on any given night. But the weekends are when I come alive with variety. On any given Friday or Saturday night you’ll likely hear me spewing the infamous chorus to “Stuck in the Middle with You.” Yes, the soundtrack to Reservoir Dogs is always a favorite with the singalong masses.“Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle with you”—bet you didn’t know that was by Stealer’s Wheel. Then last call comes and I’ve got a backed-up playlist of about 20 songs and I know people are going to be pissed if their song isn’t played. Here I am stuck playing Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” yet again. Soon the man in the green shirt will come to unplug me and in the sea of people shuffling toward the door I will hear someone’s “aww.” But that is not the end of me. I rest dormant until Murphy’s opens the next day, and with each day comes a new lineup of songs that will be different than the day before. All this change makes me worry, but one thing will remain constant. People will keep putting money in me and I’ll keep spinning some quality tunes for all to enjoy

people’s choice best jukebox Murphy’s Pub

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITAS

honorable mention > > > >

Crane Alley Jupiters The Highdive Legends

people’s choice best concert venue Canopy Club

honorable mentions > > > >

Assembly Hall Highdive Cowboy Monkey Krannert

C a n o py ’s B i g S h ow s i n 2 0 0 3 Ekoostik Hookah February 8 December 11 Chris Robinson February 15 O.A.R March 18 OK Go April 2 Allister April 6 Fallout Boy April 6 Lucky Boys Confusion April 18 September 7 November 15 The Used May 7 Thrice May 7 Saliva July 5 Ziggy Marley July 19 Cold July 28 Clutch August 23 Leftover Salmon September 6 Digital Underground October 1 Bret Michaels October 2

Canopy Club isn’t a venue that sticks its nose up at the wealth of local music in this town. Just the opposite. For over a year, The Canopy Club has worked with OpeningBands.com to bring local artists to the stage. Local bands also competed in the Budweiser True Music Live competition at the Canopy. And bands like The Red Hot Valentines and Absinthe Blind held their CD release parties at the Canopy. “We’re always trying to build a strong local scene,” Goldberg said. “We work hard to support local music and feel it will pay off in the end with a stronger overall scene.” With Champaign-Urbana’s entire music scene continuing to grow, there seems to be no end in sight for big shows at The Canopy. But don’t expect to get any hints from Goldberg.

Jet October 6 Static X October 18 Sevendust October 22 Robert Randolph and the Family Band November 6 Living Colour November 8 Medeski Martin and Wood November 13 Superjoint Ritual November 21 Atmosphere December 2 Fuel December 13 Kill Hannah December 13

Medeski Martin & Wood November 13

Ween – May 8

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Absinthe Blind Best local band BY BRIAN MERTZ | MUSIC EDITOR

FBlindor alldoesn’t intents and purposes, Absinthe exist anymore. At least not the Absinthe Blind that dominated the Champaign-Urbana music scene and took major steps to establishing themselves as a presence on the national indie rock scene. Nonetheless, Absinthe Blind walked away with the title of C-U’s Finest Band. 2003 was a good year for Absinthe Blind. It saw the release of their fifth studio album, Rings. Since that release in January, Adam, Erin and Seth Fein, along with Tristan Wraight and Brett Sanderson started touring nationally for a whopping 85 days on the road. Praise for their album and their live shows came from fans and critics alike. Publications as diverse as Uncut, Under The Radar, The College Music Journal and even the Los Angeles Times praised this year’s winner of C-U’s Finest Band. Songs from Rings received airplay on college radio stations around the country, and at home,“The Break” was one of The Planet’s most requested songs. “It’s a very big honor to be voted best band,” Erin said.“It feels really good.” But with all the progress at home and away, Absinthe Blind faced the hard reality of

THE ABSINTHE OF YOU MAKES ME GO BLIND | DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003

losing its lead singer and founder, Adam Fein, who decided to leave the band to avoid being on the road so much. His farewell show at The Canopy Club in September featured a packed crowd and a lineup of other local talents. The decision to pack the lineup with other local acts isn’t surprising considering the efforts that the members of Absinthe Blind took to support other acts in the scene. Even when told about winning this award, the conversation steered back to the other members of the Champaign scene. “I feel like The Blackouts in particular deserve this award and that they had an incredible breakout year and their set is tighter than it’s ever been,” said Seth. “Given the fact we’re not even a band anymore,” Seth said with a self-deprecating laugh,“I would hereby like to disqualify ourselves from the race and give it to The Blackouts.” Since Adam’s departure, Wraight has been on tour with the Athens, Ga., band Maserati. The remaining three members of Absinthe Blind have focused on performing new material in Champaign-Urbana and the Midwest under a new name—Orphans. “We’re just at the very beginning at what we want to do with Orphans,” Erin said.“But the new stuff seems to be really well-received.” “Being the members of Absinthe Blind helped attract people to those early shows at first,” Erin said.“But if people didn’t like what they were hearing, we would have gotten hit pret-

people’s choice best local band Absinthe Blind

ty hard with criticism.” The band is currently debating which name to retain when Wraight returns from tour (or whether to come up with a completely different name than Orphans or Absinthe Blind). But there appears to be no disagreement on the idea that the remaining four members plan to hit the road hard with their new project and record new material. “We will have a new band name on a new label,” Seth said. Erin said that the band is looking for an independent label that can support a touring band. The band will also be trying to get signed by a booking agency for their tours. “We know we’ll be on the road. We don’t know if anyone will like us,” Erin said with a chuckle. “But we know we’ll be on the road.” Both Seth and Erin hinted at the possibility for an Absinthe Blind greatest hits album that also might possibly feature new material Absinthe Blind wrote before Adam left but didn’t have a chance to record. Still, even after accomplishing more than many independent rock bands do in a year, Absinthe Blind remains grateful to the town they call home. “Thank you to anyone who voted for

buzz

The Highdive

honorable mentions > > > >

scene

DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003 | “SWEET CAROLINE” SUCKS

Best bar

Blackouts Kilborn Alley Red Hot Valentines American Minor

BY BRIAN MERTZ | MUSIC EDITOR

Tpouring here’s more to getting drunk than just alcohol down your throat. If that

us and for all the support people have given to Absinthe Blind and Orphans,”Erin said. “We’re all really grateful and we appreciate all the support the community has given us.”

isn’t the case, then the bar industry has tricked the American public. The bars of this fine land have duped us even better than George Bush has duped many jingoistic Americans into thinking that Iraq has any weapons other than a bunch of old rusty rifles and a pile of rocks. But back to the topic at hand—C-U’s finest bar. Other bars may have the same amount of available alcohol, but The Highdive just seems to have all the little extras that make getting drunk so much damn fun. Depending on what local establishment you frequent, you are either going to think I’m crazy or you’re going to raise a glass in agreement the next time you sit down at The Highdive. Considering more people voted for The Highdive than any of the multitude of other bars in town, there will probably be a fair amount of pints hoisted into the air in praise of this great establishment that opened on July 1, 1999. The Highdive can definitely handle a mob of patrons. Not only is the physical space of the building one of the biggest in all of Champaign for shows and dancing, but the actual hardwood rails of The Highdive’s bar stretch as far as a blurry eye can see. You could gather up all of your friends and still not take up all the stools along the bar. And even if you are Mr. Popular and could occupy every stool, there are a multitude of booths to sit in and sip your spirits. And there are spirits of every type on tap at The Highdive. If you are a beer connoisseur—or as we are often called in insult, a beer snob—The Highdive has beers like Lindeman’s Frambois, Bell’s Oberon and Newcastle all on tap. For those of you trying to up your sheik indie cred, they have Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap. And then there are the traditional Miller Lite, Bud Light and Guinness spouts to imbibe from. For me, it’s just a simple Harp poured from the tap. All in all there are 24 beers on 36 taps at The Highdive. And of course they’ve got all the bottles and mixed drinks you could ever want. Those who have strolled in and stumbled out of The Highdive know that what also makes The Highdive a special bar is the ambiance. From the decorative art hanging from the walls, to the rotating bubble lights way above the taps, to the tree tastefully adorned with red Christmas lights in the corner, The Highdive gives off an air of class.

PHOTO | COURTESY OF HIGHDIVE

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PHOTO | PAIGE GOLDSWORTHY

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There are no tacky flashing neon signs, no sleazy “Drink this cheap beer with a hot model” posters, no video poker games for meandering alcoholics to collapse into and certainly none of the foul smells you can’t avoid in some of the raunchy bars in this town. In short, The Highdive is a genuinely classy bar. But it is not just class that draws people back to The Highdive. In fact, it probably is just the opposite. Because even though the place always looks immaculate, patrons rarely feel like they are entering some kind of museum or snooty art gallery where they have to watch their every step. Feeling at ease is something that just comes with The Highdive. For every nice touch of ambiance, there is also a genuine feeling of acceptance at The Highdive, no matter what you want to do. Everyone is welcome, whether it is the fans of goth and industrial music on Tuesday nights, or the hip-hop heads that chill on Wednesdays, the rock fans that come out for some of the best shows in this town, or even the sororities and fraternities that want to play “thugz” for a Thursday night exchange and overcrowd every square inch of the building while they shamelessly bump and grind to cheese-tronica. The Highdive seems to take on the personality of whatever inhabitants it has

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that night without losing its own character. I guess I’d call it the chameleon of the C-U bars. Whatever mood I am in, I know that mood will be welcomed at The Highdive. That is a rare quality for any bar in any corner of the world. And that is why I love The Highdive. I’m sure everyone who voted for it had their own reasons. A great night of drinking at The Highdive conjures up many amazing feelings that all can’t fit into newsprint, so you’re stuck with mine. But reminiscing about those feelings sure as hell would make for a great conversation over a few beers. Order me a Harp, and I’ll see you at The Highdive.

people’s choice best bar The Highdive

honorable mention > > > >

Cowboy Monkey It’s Brothers Murphy’s Pub Esquire and Crane Alley

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food & spirits

MMM WINNERS | DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003

Boltini

Za’s Italian Cafe

Best Martini

Best $5 Lunch

BY JANELLE GREENWOOD | STAFF WRITER

ver since James Bond requested that his martini be “shaken, not stirred,” people have been pouring this famed drink to capture the sophistication of the Hollywood starlets who put it on the map. Today, however, this classic cocktail has taken on a new persona, with the help of martini bars like Boltini Lounge.Their martinis give a nod to the drink’s past, while boldly entering into new territories of their own. A popular drink on the menu at Boltini is the Cosmopolitan, which was thrust into American pop culture with the show Sex and the City, and it is definitely a new classic that’s sure to please. Boltini uses Absolut vodka blended with orange liquor and a splash of cranberry and lime juice, giving it a blush color that even Carrie Bradshaw would swoon for. As for new territory, Boltini also offers the Metropolitan, which uses Absolut Kurrant in lieu of regular vodka. This switch gives the palate a burst of berry flavor that makes it a bit stronger than its predecessor. When deciding on a martini, several things must be considered for personal preference other than a drink’s popularity. One thing, above all, is most important when deciding on a martini—not all liquor is created equal. Many of Boltini’s cocktails are made with premium liquor only, which is why they are consistently great drinks. My personal favorite is a dirty vodka martini made with Vox vodka, which has a smooth flavor that doesn’t overpower the drink. Boltini also offers a great one made with Three Olives vodka and stuffed olives as well. A wide selection of reasonably priced beers come in bottle or are on tap, and Boltini also serves a variety of delicious appetizers like cheese plates and artichoke dip before 10 p.m. on weekdays. Aside from their excellent drinks, Boltini’s ambience alone makes the experience a place worth trying out. White Christmas lights adorn indoor trees throughout the space, providing much of the dimmed glow, and candles are placed throughout the bar. On many nights a live DJ spins cool sounds of techno, while on other nights they play classics like the Beatles in the background.

people’s choice best martini boltini

honorable mention > > > > >

silvercreek clybourne cowboy monkey 02 main barfly

BY JANELLE GREENWOOD | STAFF WRITERS

Tlocated he original Za’s Italian Cafe, in the heart of

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people’s choice 1st

most C-Unique anything

za’s

Curtis Orchard and Morrow Plots

honorable mention > > > >

courier cafe panera jimmy john's zorba’s

honorable mentions > > > >

all things c-u

DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003 | THAT’S WHERE THEY KEEP DEAD PEOPLE

people’s choice

best $5 lunch

Campustown, is certainly a treasure to be discovered. What was once thought of as an area for burgers or late-night Mexican has flourished by bringing this wonderful little cafe to Green Street. The great thing about Za’s is the flexibility that the menu items offer. Whether it’s pizza or pasta, and sandwiches too, the choices are almost endless. While waiting in line, Za’s provides cards to fill out for whatever makes your hungry heart content. The pasta and sandwiches are easily customized to fit whatever tastes come through the door, and Za’s offers fresh vegetables to toss into the mix along with fresh garlic or basil. The pizza has the same aspect of personalization, though many of the pizza options created by Za’s are quite delicious in their own respect. The barbeque chicken pizza blends the proper amount of herbs and spices to intensify the barbeque while on top of a thin crust. Za’s quality exceeds the menu’s extremely reasonable prices by offering many of its items at the same prices as many fast food restaurants, and the service is just about as quick. When sitting down, the smells in combination with Za’s ambiance marks its individuality. The main floor seating area feels relaxed and the dimmed lighting and artistic nuisances lend a little extra to the atmosphere. Some bar style seats also face Green Street and offer a good view of the bustling street outside for people dining alone during a lunch break. And like any traditional Italian cafe, Za’s also offers a wide selection of 10 different coffees that are brewed individually for each customer. The restaurant’s popularity has also spawned another location at 2006 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign, which adds a convenient drivethough and breakfast to please its followers anyDan Reem makes a pizza. where in town. PHOTO | ADAM YOUNG

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Quad Assembly Hall Courier Cafe Mirabel’s Bakery

Morrow Plots continued from page 24

architectural marvel of a spaceship the Illini basketball team calls home. What more can the hometown of Roger Ebert, Miss America 2003 and rock legends REO Speedwagon really do but denote a cornfield as their most prized possession? But maybe the Morrow Plots represents more than all of that. Boston College student and lifelong townie Joe Costello says the Morrow Plots contains a certain symbolism. “Nowhere else in America is there such a perfect blend of tradition and school spirit,” Costello says. “It’s a benchmark for innovation, but sitting in the middle of one of the greatest campuses; on any given night, you can also see a number of students streaking the plots after partying at Kam’s just to say they did it,” Costello adds. “It may not be the most exciting thing in the world, but you have to respect what that stands for.” It is true that the Morrow Plots is the longest-running continuously tilled research land in the world to popular knowledge, but it is so much more. Not a Mom’s Day goes by in the spring without the greek community’s Atius-Sachem production at Foellinger Auditorium bringing the plots to the center of a play for every mother on campus. And what’s really impressive is that no matter where these viewers come into town from, everyone somehow knows what they’re talking about. Situated so close to Indianapolis, St. Louis and Chicago, it can be hard for this little college town to demonstrate the glitz and glamour of its neighbors. But the plots signify something that can only be Champaign-Urbana’s; this spirited dedication to academia with college-aged zest for life. And that’s something that’s just ours; that’s the reason we build libraries underground just to keep this tradition going.

Station Theatre Best Theater Troupe BY BEKEELA WATSON | STAFF WRITER

TBroadway he Station Theatre is located at 223 N. Ave. in downtown Urbana. The building was formerly a train station built in 1923. This Urbana train station was a part of the Big Four Railroad also known as the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway Company. Urbana passengers were able to travel from Indianapolis, Ind., to Pekin, Ill. The Big Four Railroad was one of three railroads serving Urbana. The other two railways were the Wa b a s h R a i l ro a d a n d t h e I l l i n o i s Terminal Line. Urbana passengers could also use the Wabash Railroad, which passed the south side of the building. In the early 1900s, the Urbana station was one of the city’s largest industries with over 400 employees at its peak. East of the station was a large roundhouse that could serve 15 steam engines, about 12 machine shops and switching yards. To run these things, a large power plant with a smokestack was constructed. This smokestack was a landmark in the Urbana area with a height of 133.5 feet and a base of 13 square feet until it was demolished in 1959. In the 1950s, multilane highways pushed out the demand for rail service. As a result, the station was closed in 1956, the same year construction began on Interstate 74. The Celebration Company currently owns the building, and over the years they have renovated the building to create a historical landmark as well as a

LIVE JAZZ at

"Catherine," Holley Fain, listens to a shade of her father, Steven Keen, during a rehearsal of Proof at the Station Theatre in June.

place for the performing arts. The Celebration Company is a nonprofit organization and relies on volunteers for its productions. There is no experience necessary to volunteer to get involved in any aspect of the production.

The company’s goal is to provide a place to grow in theater skills and to allow the audience to see theater shows for “evaluation, appreciation, entertainment and education.”

people’s choice

honorable mentions

best theater troupe

> > > >

Station Theatre

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24all things c-u

DUDE! YOUR APPLES ARE SHOWING! | DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003

buzz

food & spirits

DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10 | MMM STEAK

Alexander’s Steak House

Curtis Orchard

Best Steak

Best place to take kids

BY PAUL WAGNER | STAFF WRITER

BY EMILY WAHLHEIM | STAFF WRITER

Despite the cold, Randy Graham wears a smile on his face

as he helps a family decide on a perfect Christmas tree. In fact, he doesn’t even seem to notice the cold as he hoists a large everbest place to take kids green atop the family’s minivan. As part owner of Curtis Curtis Orchard Orchards and Pumpkin Patch, Graham is used to braving the honorable mentions elements to make sure his customers are happy. > Meadowbrook Park Curtis Orchards has been a > McDonald’s Champaign-Urbana landmark for > Quad almost 20 years. The land for the > Marketplace Mall orchards and pumpkin farms has been in the Curtis family since 1872. In 1980, Graham’s in-laws, Paul and Joyce Curtis, decided to convert some of their 80 acres of farmland into an apple orchard. Over the next few years, the Curtis’ expanded the orchard to include acres of pumpkins. Their partnership also expanded as their daughter married Graham and the two joined the family business. “We have really followed our dreams as far as expanding has gone,” said Graham. “We haven’t thought so much as what would make more money, but instead, what would be more fun for our guests.” Currently, Curtis Orchards is much more than just apples and pumpkins. There is something for all members of the family. Besides being able to pick their apples and pumpkins, visitors can enjoy homemade apple cider, a petting zoo, a corn maze, cookouts and the bakery. The bakery is most well-known for its apple doughnuts. People from as far as Texas have called Graham to request a box of the doughnuts. Though fall is Curtis Orchards busiest season, it is open through Dec. 23. Visitors are now able to purchase Christmas trees and wreaths, as well as pies, cider, jams and other decorations for the holidays. During the winter, Curtis Orchards is planning an expansion of the bakery and seating to better accommodate their guests.

warm, thick, sweet air wafts toward the open door of Alexander’s Steakhouse, providing a cozy atmosphere and the promise of a good time. Alexander’s seems like any other quality restaurant at first glance: a nice and friendly hostess leads patrons to their seats where they are met by skilled waitstaff who aid them in their meal decisions. This illusion of normalcy lasts until one truly experiences Alexander’s Steakhouse. Although the menu offers a variety of appetizers, seafood, beef, chicken and desserts, Alexander’s sets itself apart from other restaurants by offering any cut of steak, a salad bar and never-ending Texas toast for a set price, depending on the cut of meat desired.This may not seem special, because any restaurant can offer such a

best steak 1st

deal, but what makes Alexander’s different is the way the meal is prepared. The salad bar is self-explanatory; the patron makes a salad and eats it. Once finished with the lighter salad, the diner is led to a large grill with a chef and a large freezer. The freezer houses the numerous cuts of meat from which the patron can choose. The grill is for cooking, though some might be curious about the its vastness. Alexander’s gives its patrons a choice: have the chef cook the selected cut of meat for them, or grill their own steak.The patron can choose how much of what seasonings and spices to apply to their cut of meat, and they can decide how long to cook their meat, leaving it as bloody or as crispy as they wish. Allowing patrons to prepare their own meat gives them a feeling of importance and pride in their meal. And,

alexander’s steak house

honorable mention > > > >

silvercreek the ribeye outback ned kelly’s

although it means more work for patrons, they get to choose from the best cuts of steak in Champaign-Urbana, a luxury many do not have in their homes. The massive grill and cooking smells fill Alexander’s with the mouth-watering smell of steak and fire. The air is thick and the atmosphere warm, giving customers at Alexander’s a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Upon inquiry, the staff at Alexander’s was too inundated with customers to be interviewed; apparently Alexander’s great reputation has spread quickly through the Champaign-Urbana community.

PHOTO | SHIRA WEISSMAN THE DAILY ILLINI

people’s choice

Suzanne Cinnamon of Champaign picks out apples from the assorted varieties Oct. 20 at Curtis Orchard in Champaign. "I love coming for the doughnuts and apples. This is the best time of year to come out because of the colors and variety of activities offered for the children," said Cinnamon.

Morrow Plots Most C-Unique anything BY ANDREW CREWELL | STAFF WRITER

Iderfully n determining the most unique attribute the wonquaint community of Champaign-Urbana boasts, there are many important factors to consider. Or you could just let Buzz readers vote and call it quits

when the Morrow Plots wins. The Morrow Plots is special in countless ways. First of all, there’s the corn. Where in Central Illinois, or the Midwest in general, can you find corn growing? Moreover, this corn is so important that they choose to grow it in the middle of a city, where the wind isn’t as strong or something. But on a serious note, there has to be a perfectly good reason the plots are still there instead of an apartment building. Champaign-Urbana, for its size, has bragging rights to some significant landmarks and individuals. On the corner of First Street and Kirby Avenue, there is not only the oldest major football arena in the United States, the stadium of Red Grange, who was the best college football player ever, but across the street is an

PHOTO | SHIRA WEISSMAN – THE DAILY ILLINI

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food & spirits

MMM FOOD | DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10 , 2003

buzz

buzz DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003

Drive-thru Reviews

Basmati

Best Ethnic Restaurant BY EMILY WAHLHEIM | STAFF WRITER

Tof time, he staff at Basmati Indian Restaurant tries to greet every customer by name. Most the staff will also remember the customer’s favorite dish as well. It is person-

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BAD SANTA ★★★ BILLY BOB THORNTON AND BERNIE MAC Any way you cut it, Bad Santa accomplishes something that has never been done before. It makes an absolute travesty of something as wholesome and serene as Christmas, and does it without falling completely on its face. Just don’t take the little ones to see it, or you’ll have a lot of explaining to do. (Andrew Crewell) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

PHOTO | ADAM YOUNG

al touches such as this, as well as exquisite Indian cuisine, that set Basmati apart from other restaurants. Basmati, located at 302 S. First St. in Champaign, boasts a large menu. Some of the restaurant’s specialties include Tandoori Malai Jhinga, described as jumbo shrimp marinated in spicy yogurt sauce, and the Dum Biryani, which is a Basmati special combination of chicken, lamb and shrimp spiced to the chef’s consistency. Aside from their specials, Basmati offers dishes to meet a variety of tastes. There are dishes prepared without curry, which are less spicy for those new to Indian cuisine. Basmati also features several vegetarian dishes. Vincent Rodrigues, manager of Basmati, said the quality of the food also stands at Basmati. “I have seen other Indian restaurants, ones in Chicago and Miami, and according to Indian standard, Basmati is one of the best,” said Rodrigues.“We will not compromise for quality.” Basmati’s emphasis on quality can also be seen in the atmosphere of the restaurant. The dining room, with its pristine tablecloths and attentive waitstaff, is a peaceful place to enjoy a meal. As one of the few Indian restaurants in town, Basmati fills a void for many residents. “I am glad Basmati is in Champaign,” said frequent visitor Dean Grosshandler. “When we have friends in from out of town, this is where we would take them.”

BROTHER BEAR ★★

From left to right: Top: Vincent Rodrigues, Bobby Gomes, Mark D'Souza, Rohit Fernandes. Bottom: Frank Gomes, Jose Rebelo, Surbir Rawat.

people’s choice best ethnic restaurant basmati

honorable mention > > > >

k d b e

a o o l

makura s reales mbay grill torero

JOAQUIN PHOENIX AND PHIL COLLINS While American animators still have a long way to go to achieve the sheer grandeur and exhilarating imagination of foreign animation, such as in last year’s Spirited Away, Brother Bear shows they do have their moments. It’s just unfortunate that their visuals have to be spoiled by rudimentary plots, discardable characters and downright ugly music. (John Loos) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

CAT IN THE HAT ★ MIKE MYERS AND ALEC BALDWIN With many offensive jokes meant for adults and few witty remarks for kids, The Cat in the Hat barely even tries to satisfy its target audience and should only repel their parents. It is a foul film I do not recommend, and I would not, could not, sit through it again. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

ELF ★★★

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WILL FERRELL AND JAMES CAAN The film itself really makes no attempts to hide its basic premise as a Christmas movie.There’s Santa, perfectly played by Ed Asner.There’s the head elf, portrayed by Bob Newhart.There’s the grumpy, anti-Christmas guy, James Caan. (Dan Maloney) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

GOTHIKA

HALLE BERRY AND ROBERT DOWNEY JR. Halle Berry looks unattractive and Robert Downey Jr. doesn’t do drugs. If that’s not totally crazy enough, Berry also plays a psychiatrist who becomes a client. This film is doing modest business. (Jason Cantone) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

355.1236 105 N. Market St. Downtown Champaign

THE HAUNTED MANSION

EDDIE MURPHY AND JENNIFER TILLY Ever since he started making kid comedies, Eddie Murphy has become sweeter than sugar candy. To scare parents in this haunted film, he should jump into some of his raunchy, language-laden monologues from the 1980s.This continues the trend that Eddie Murphy only makes terrible, terrible, terrible movies. that no one could possibly like if they are older than a grade schooler. (Jason Cantone) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION ★★ JENNA ELFMAN AND STEVE MARTIN On paper, Looney Tunes: Back in Action has all the pieces in place to equal Who Framed Roger Rabbit. But on the screen, the film is occasionally entertaining, and, in terms of laughs, doesn’t even equal Space Jam. (Andrew Vecelas) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy.

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| TIME FOR THE STATION TO GET AN AGENT.

HUGH GRANT AND EMMA THOMPSON The film’s delicate blend of outrageous comedic scenes, which also prove that Brits can perform slapstick and dry humor equally, mix well with heartwarming confessions from each of the characters. Needless to say, keep a lookout for a wonderful dance sequence with Grant’s character. A holiday romantic classic for people of all generations. (Janelle Greenwood) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

MASTER AND COMMANDER ★★★★ RUSSELL CROWE AND PAUL BETTANY Weir buffs will get a kick out of watching this film and remembering The Truman Show. While Truman’s aquatic-oriented scenes introduced the director’s ability to craft stimulating scenes of sea-swept peril, Master and Commander achieves a far higher degree of oceanic fanfare. It’s a glorious tale of adventure on the high seas sure to put wind in any landlubber’s sails. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy.

THE MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS ★★ KEANU REEVES AND LAURENCE FISHBURNE In the utterly disappointing The Matrix: Revolutions, the Wachowskis simultaneously step away from that which made the previous films worthwhile and indulge in the elements that made them hollow. Gone are the eye-popping action sequences of high-tech originality and legitimate conceptions of a machine-oriented future spun out of control. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy.

THE MISSING ★★★ TOMMY LEE JONES AND CATE BLANCHETT Despite its historical resonance, there’s something missing from The Missing, and after more than two long hours that something is, surprisingly, heart. What begins as a brave, passionate story of one family’s resolve winds up as little more than a sprawling, forgettable rescue mission. (Matt Pais) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

RUNAWAY JURY ★★★ DUSTIN HOFFMAN AND GENE HACKMAN Based upon the best-selling John Grisham novel, this story was originally about tobacco farms, but becomes a tale of guns. Featuring two of the greatest actors alive, this film is exactly what a summer beach novel is good for: a lot of fun, provided that you suspend disbelief. (Jason Cantone) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

SCARY MOVIE 3 ★★★ CHARLIE SHEEN AND DENISE RICHARDS With the Wayans brothers gone, slapstick king David Zucker does his best to reinvent this dying franchise. Occasionally hilarious, but often stupid. (Andrew Crewell) Now showing at Beverly and Savoy

TUPAC: RESURRECTION ★★★ NARRATED BY TUPAC SHAKUR It is Shakur’s demigod status that shines through in the film— the same status that made the original creator of “thug life” the greatest rapper ever before being killed at the young age of 25. (Andrew Crewell) Now showing at Savoy.

OPENING THIS WEEKEND HONEY

JESSICA ALBA AND LIL’ ROMEO Just when critics around the world were ready to peg the Ben Affleck-Jennifer Lopez bomb Gigli as the worst film of the year, this little gem comes out. Think of it as Glitter without the singing, which could be a bad thing. Who would have guessed someone in America would miss Mariah Carey’s preposterous attempt at acting? (Jason Cantone) Opening at Beverly and Savoy

THE LAST SAMURAI ★★★★ TOM CRUISE AND KEN WATANABE The Last Samurai is an epic adventure with a great soul and a great message. With so many bad samurai movies in the vaults, it is refreshing to see a film finally relate the concept of the samurai to moviegoers in a way they can understand: a Tom Cruise flick. (John Piatek) Opening at Beverly and Savoy

PIECES OF APRIL ★★★ KATIE HOLMES AND PATRICIA CLARKSON Katie Holmes yet again proves to be one of Hollywood’s greatest young talents in this heartwarming and heartsmashing black comedy. A true treat, if maybe a little late for the Thanksgiving theme it oozes. (Jason Cantone) Opening at Beverly

THE STATION AGENT

PETER DINKLAGE AND PATRICIA CLARKSON With his only friend dead, a man born with dwarfism moves to New Jersey in this well-reviewed film. (Jason Cantone) Opening at Boardman’s

moviereview

THE SINGING DETECTIVE ★★★

BY SYD SLOBODNIK | STAFF WRITER PARAMOUNT CLASSICS

1204buzz1023

ou cannot help but like parts of director Keith Gordon’s new film adaptation of the BBC miniseries The Singing Detective. It’s quite a clever takeoff on the dark and cynical 1940’s and 1950’s style film noir, pulp detective stories made famous by cheap paperback novels and Hollywood B-films. The film features Robert Downey, Jr., in his most substantial and impressive part since his recent drug problems sidelined his acting career, as a bitter and frustrated writer of the fictional cheap detective stories. Downey’s character, and detective alter ego named Dan Dark, is suffering in a hospital from a bizarre skin disease, which make all movement painful and most clear thinking impossible; so Downey spends his time working through his physical and emotional pain conjuring up episodes for a screenplay for one of his most famous works. This stream of consciousness narrative blends bits of many side stories and flashbacks, almost in a Quentin Tarantino fashion: from the main character’s cynical responses to his medical care, a young boy’s memory of his unfaithful mother, a running tale of two hit men, a femme fatale wife, who may be plotting with another guy, and lots of cliched visual references to classical film noir conventions like low-lit, smoke-filled bars, neon street signs, and dark, cluttered alley ways, straight out of films like The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep or Out of the Past. Punctuating these strange, and at times, confusing blend of tongue-in-cheek riffs of voiceover narration are also some very campy musical numbers, which utilize a variety of late 1950’s and early 1960’s pop tunes. These scenes are lip synced by the characters in the imaginative ruminations of the depressed writer, as he slowly breaks through his fits of writer’s block and deals with the real and imagined problems in his life. Production numbers spoof songs

THE SINGING DETECTIVE | KATIE HOLMES like: “At the Hop,” “Mr. Sandman,” “Poison Ivy” and “The Game of Love;” but for those under 40, the success of such spoofing will be harder to relate to. Throughout these episodes director Gordon allows Downey’s personal charms to really shine; he’s a likable hard-boiled loser, somewhat of a modern Humphrey Bogart or Robert Mitchum. The film’s dialogue, adapted by Dennis Potter from his own teleplays, is a lot spicier than those of past 1940’s censored scripts, with realistic foul language and plenty of sexual innuendo. Gordon also adds a number of surprising casting choices with many of his secondary characters. Recent Oscar winner Adrien Brody (The Pianist) plays one of the roaming hit men with some real comic verve; Robin Wright Penn is a wonderful parody of the attractive and deceptive femme fatale as Dark’s wife, and you’ll need to look twice to see Mel Gibson as a balding frumpy doctor who tries to soothe Dark’s constant pains. But for all The Singing Detective’s attempts at inventive depictions of an author’s creative writing process and the mix of crime and musical genre conventions, the film should be more compelling, funny and coherent. Narratively, it tries what Tarantino does, but not nearly as well. Other than an odd character study of a confused author and his typical grab bag of nihilist views on life, Gordon’s film is not a complete satire, not a well-thought parody and only a mildly humorous collection of characterizations you usually don’t see in mainstream films.

Do you love movies? Casablanca? The Godfather? Star Wars? Citizen Kane?

Submit your choice for the best movie of all time to cantone@uiuc.edu for the Dec. 25 issue!

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film

TOM CRUISE CAN SHOW NICOLE KIDMAN WHO’S BOSS. | DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003

SAVOY 16 Route 45 & Burwash Ave. (217)

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SNEAK PREVIEW

SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE (PG-13)

SATURDAY 6:40 THE LAST SAMURAI (R) 3 PRINTS / 3 SCREENS 12:15, 12:40, 3:15, 3:40, 5:00, 6:15, 6:45, 8:00, 9:15, 9:40 FRI/SAT LS 11:00 HONEY (PG-13) (SAT/SUN 11:00) 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:40, 9:50 FRI/SAT LS 12:00 THE HAUNTED MANSION (PG) 2 PRINTS / 2 SCREENS (SAT/SUN 11:00) 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, 9:00 FRI/SAT LS 11:00 STADIUM SEATING 11:30, 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30, 9:30 FRI/SAT LS 11:30 BAD SANTA (R) 11:35, 1:35, 3:35, 5:35, 7:35, 9:35 FRI/SAT LS 11:35 THE MISSING (R) FRI/SUN-TH 1:00, 3:50, 6:40, 9:30 SAT 1:00, 3:50, 9:30 TIMELINE (PG-13) 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40 FRI/SAT LS 12:00 THE CAT IN THE HAT (PG) 1:15, 3:05, 5:05, 7:00, 9:00 FRI/SAT LS 11:00 GOTHIKA (R) 2 PRINTS / 2 SCREENS 1:40, 3:45, 5:50, 7:55, 10:00 FRI/SAT LS 12:05 STADIUM SEATING 7:15, 9:20 FRI/SAT LS 11:25 MASTER AND COMMANDER (PG-13) STADIUM SEATING 1:25, 4:10, 6:55, 9:40 LOONEY TUNES BACK IN ACTION (PG) 1:10, 3:05 ELF (PG) STADIUM SEATING (SAT/SUN 11:05) 12:35, 1:10, 2:40, 3:25, 4:45, 5:30, 6:50, 7:35, 8:55, 9:40 FRI/SAT LS 11:00, 11:45 BROTHER BEAR (G) STADIUM SEATING COUPON (SAT/SUN 11:20) 1:15, 3:10, 5:05 20 OZ.DRINK LOVE ACTUALLY (R) with $2.50 purchase (SAT/SUN 11:00) 1:40, of 46oz. bag of buttery popcorn one per ad @ Savoy 16 Exp. Dec. 2003 "DI" 4:15, 6:50, 9:25 BEST DEAL in eNewsletter at www.savoy16.com FRI/SAT LS 12:00

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moviereview

THE LAST SAMURAI

★★★★

BY JOHN PIATEK | STAFF WRITER

aptain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise), hero of the Civil War and the Indian Wars, wanders aimlessly during late 19th century America in a drunken daze, haunted by the atrocities of war and the life of death he has led. Between whiskey drinks, he uses his celebrity to sponsor new rifles for a gun company in a desperate attempt to find meaning in his empty life. With nothing left for him in America, he reluctantly travels to Japan to train the Japanese army to crush a rebellion. While in Japan, he begins to question why he has chosen the life of a warrior, especially when the Japanese elites are the only people who will benefit by crushing the rebellion. Nevertheless, he is ordered into battle, but is captured by the rebels, who then force him to live among them in a remote part of Japan while they await the end of winter. The movie follows him as he begins to learn about the rebels’ culture and their warrior ways. It’s the classic battle of East versus West, as he struggles to understand the Japanese peo-

dvdreview

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featuring food by Foudini’s

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Pauline York Band A fantastic blues diva from Chicago - 10 PM

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FICTION ★

BY ALAN BANNISTER | STAFF WRITER

iroyuki Nakano’s Samurai Fiction is a blackand-white film filled with vacillating tendencies. The story line wavers between a love story and a tale of recovering one’s honor. Samurai Fiction also swings between beautiful and bland cinematography and music. At the end, most audiences will be left feeling let down by a well-shot movie that fizzles out quickly and lacks any final emotional or cinematic punch. At best, some might find it mildly amusing, though the quick and reoccurring attempts at slapstick comedy and the transient success of a few comedic moments could hardly be maintained as entertaining for a normal audience. But if one gets their kicks from Japanese men in underwear screaming and dancing together, then why not? Narrated from today by the spirit of Heishiro Inukai (Mitsuro Fukikoshi), Samurai Fiction takes place in the year 1696. A ronin by the name of Rannosuke Kazamatsuri (Tomoyasu Hotei) steals a sacred ceremonial katana presented to his surrogate lord, Kanzen Inukai,

ple while they resent his presence. However, his path converges with rebel leader Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), who teaches him of the rich tradition of the samurai. Whereas most Hollywood movies have rigorously stereotyped and cliched the samurai as a yelling, acrobatic ninja, this film seeks a richer understanding of the samurai as a way of life. From the Samurai Katsumoto, the great Western warrior Algren finds peace in his heart by letting go of his belief that he is only meant to be a killer, and instead embracing the samurai mantra of “life with every breath.” At peace with himself, he leads the rebels into combat against the Japanese army. This film is a breathtaking portrayal of how soldiers struggle with finding themselves after seeing so much evil in war. Soldiers often falter with life after war, when their sense of life and God have been distorted by having to do such difficult things in combat. Algren’s touching journey to self-discovery took him all the way across the world to find the place where he could be at peace with himself. Tom Cruise turns in perhaps his best acting performance ever for The Last Samurai. He successfully walks the fine balance between rugged American moxie and spiritual samurai grace. Comparisons to Mel Gibson in Braveheart will likely be made because Cruise shows a such a wide range of talents in the movie, portraying a character who can break down in tears, hack an enemy with a sword, fall in love and be a father figure. Cruise, the all-American boy, was such an excellent choice for this movie because his charplayed by Taketoshi Naitô. Heishiro pursues Kazamatsuri to revenge the insult done to his father as well as the killing of another aide in the whole process. Although a graduate of fencing school, Heishiro can hardly wield a sword in comparison to Kazamatsuri. Facing him on the road, Heishiro and his two best friends—the three of them dubbed “The Three Stooges” by their clan mates—are quickly defeated. The pacifistic ronin Hanbei Mizoguchi (Morio Kazama) saves the badly wounded Heishiro. Mizoguchi nurses him back to health, but Heishiro’s desire for vengeance grows rather than shrinks in the constancy of Mizoguchi’s pleas to forget the insult and follow the path of peaceful nonviolence. While staying with Mizoguchi, Heishiro falls in love with his adopted daughter, Koharu Mizoguchi (Tamaki Ogawa). The rest of the movie follows the typical plot setup that one can imagine from such circumstances. Kazamatsuri is the typical renegade, never satisfied and always looking for the ultimate challenge. Mizoguchi is the best swordsman around, but his opposite, and most of the last half of the movie centers around Kazamatsuri’s desire to fight him. The film culminates with the two fighting, good-naturedly overcoming evil. Samurai Fiction would be a worthwhile film if it kept the occasionally well-shot, well-contrasted shots throughout the movie. However, Nakano veers heavily toward poor shots, especially in the end. The smoothly flowing, unique perspectives turn into

buzz

food & spirits

DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10 | MMM PIZZA

Papa Del’s Best Pizza BY JASON CANTONE | FILM & TV EDITOR

Truns he white substance starts to ooze off of her lips. It down her chin, over her neck, down to the long,

THE LAST SAMURAI | TOM CRUISE acter’s difficulty with the Japanese way of life is so utterly believable. Director Edward Zwick does a spectacular job of portraying 19th century Japan in all of its beauty. From the agriculture to the costumes to the cherry blossom trees, this film looks and feels like Japan. As Algren explores it for the first time, the audience also gets to explore and learn about Japan in perhaps its most beautiful portrayal in a recent Hollywood film. The Last Samurai is an epic adventure with a great soul and a great message. With so many bad samurai movies in the vaults, it is refreshing to see a film finally relate the concept of the samurai to moviegoers in a way they can understand: a Tom Cruise flick.

SAMURAI FICTION| TMARI NATSUKI straightforward shots, and the flashes of color that seem to bring the movie up to a higher artistic level are all but dropped. As a DVD, Samurai Fiction borders on worthless for American consumers. It has superior quality to VHS, yes, but it lacks all the extras expected from a DVD, or rather, it lacks an English equivalent to what little it does offer. The trailers and colored scenes lack subtitling, and the film information and cast biographies are entirely in Japanese. Without English equivalents, these extras are pointless for those who don’t speak Japanese. This, combined with an uninteresting, nearly humorless film, makes this DVD a horrible buy. It almost makes one stop to wonder why it was reproduced on DVD for the English market.

thick thing sitting in front of her. Yes, she’s eating cheese pizza from Papa Del’s in Champaign, recently voted the best pizza in ChampaignUrbana by Buzz readers. “This pizza is just phenomenal,” said one University student who wished to remain nameless. “There’s Chicago pizza and there’s Papa Del’s pizza. Both are stupendous.” Chicago serves as the home to pizza and with famous names like Lou Malnati’s, Gino’s East and Giordano’s absent from central Illinois, Papa Del’s stepped in and started offering Chicago-style pizza (particularly the stuffed crust variety) to students and community members alike. Of Ron Bennett of Champaign removes a pizza, that has just come out of the oven, from its pan, Monday afternoon at Papa Del's. course, a true comparison cannot be made, because Papa Del’s offers a crust distinct from the high-class Chicago pizza makers. At www.pizzamaking.com, run by Steven C. Zinzki, fans of Papa Del’s pizza can look through recipes for making the dough, sauce and cheese in a manner very reminiscent of Papa Del’s. The Web site also provides assembly and baking instructions. But do these recipes provide the true methods to make Champaign-Urbana’s finest pizza? Calls to Papa Del’s were unanswered because of their hectic schedule making food for the masses. Papa Del’s doesn’t just offer pizza. Fans can get a variety of Italian foods, from sandwiches to appetizers, or can just sit in the restaurant’s bar and watch a game while drinking a beer. In a Daily Illini story last year, manager Jerry Grimes said 11 different toppings are offered, but sausage and sausage-mushroom are the favorites. But whatever your favorite is, you’re bound to find it at Papa Del’s on Green Street. PHOTO | CLAIRE NAPIER

3:39 PM

WARNER BROTHERS FILMS

12/3/03

ONE WORLD MEDIA

1204buzz1122

people’s choice best pizza papa dels

honorable mention > > > >

jupiters papa john's monical’s za’s

1204buzz1221

12/3/03

3:38 PM

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food & spirits

MMM BURGERS | DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003

Courier Cafe

VOTED ONE OF CU’ S FINEST RETRO STORES!

turquoise * amber * moonstone

necklaces * rings * earrings vintage * used clothing gift certificates

Tday,herun-of-the-mill Courier Cafe is not just your everycafe. Aside from hav-

9 E. Taylor St. • 355-WEED Mon-Wed 11-6 • Thu-Sat 1-9 • Sun 1-5

Th Dec 4 Wine Tasting 5pm, free UI Jazz Band II 7:30pm, $2-$5

Fr Dec 5 Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra 7:30pm, $10-$28

Th Dec 11

Annual Carol Concert 3pm, $4-$7

Wine Tasting 5pm, free

Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony 4:30pm, free

UI Symphony Orchestra 7:30pm, $2-$5

UI Jazz Combos 7:30pm, $2-$5

Mo Dec 8

UI Concert Jazz Band 7:30pm, $2-$5

Murder Mystery Dinner 7pm, $16-$18

Sa Dec 6

Tu Dec 9

Cecil Bridgewater 7:30pm, $17-$25 Talkback: after the show, free Patron Co-sponsor: Sam Gove Jazz Threads Corporate Underwriter:

UI Steel Band, UI World Percussion Ensemble, I Pan 7:30pm, $2-$5

Corporate Platinum Sponsor:

Corporate Silver Sponsor:

Kurt Elling with the Laurence Hobgood Trio 7:30pm, $22-$30 Patron Co-sponsor: Jane Bishop Hobgood Corporate Silver Sponsor:

We Dec 10 UI Concert Bands IIA and IIB 7:30pm, $2-$5 Kurt Elling with the Laurence Hobgood Trio 7:30pm, $22-$30 Patron Co-sponsor: Jane Bishop Hobgood Corporate Silver Sponsor:

Corporate Bronze Sponsor: Shouting Ground Technologies

Season Sponsors Coporate Season Underwriters

Patron Season Sponsors

CAROLE AND JERRY RINGER

Support for Krannert Center’s 2003.2004 season is provided in part by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Champaign-Urbana Symphony concerts are supported in part by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. Cecil Bridgewater’s Jazz Threads performance and residency activities are supported by the Heartland Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded by the National Endowment for the Arts with additional contributions from General Mills Foundation, Land O'Lakes Foundation, Sprint Corporation, and the Illinois Arts Council.

KrannertCenter.com 217/333-6280 or 800/KCPATIX 217/333-9714 (TTY) 217/244-SHOW (Fax) 217/244-0549 (Groups) kran-tix@uiuc.edu Ticket Office Open 10am to 6pm daily; on days of performances open 10am through intermission.

PHOTO | ADAM YOUNG

Some Krannert Center programs are supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Illinois Arts Council, and patron and corporate contributions.

courier cafe

honorable mention > > > >

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ing the best hamburgers in ChampaignUrbana, the Courier Cafe also has an interesting history. The land the Courier Cafe was built on was home to the first building in Urbana, a two-room log cabin built in 1837. In 1916 the land was sold to Alvin T. Burrows, the owner of the Courier Newspaper. Until the newspaper’s demise in 1979, it was run successfully from the site where the Courier Cafe now stands. In the 1950s the building housing the Courier Cafe nearly burned down, but was saved, and the damaged parts of the building were rebuilt. Charred timbers can still be seen inside the cafe, allowing for an old-time feel for the patrons. Adding to the comfortable atmosphere are the numerous antiques scattered throughout the cafe.These include a biplane ceiling fan, a large self-correcting master clock from 1925 and a 1914 brass cash register. All of the antiques in the cafe are authentic. They demonstrate the historical aspects of the Courier Cafe and add to its aged, cozy atmosphere. Antiques are not the only thing the Courier Cafe offers its patrons. It also has the best hamburgers in the Champaign-Urbana area; half-pound cuts of meat that come in a variety of styles; including, of course, the classic burger. The Courier Cafe also serves breakfast and other lunch and dinner foods, ranging from sandwiches to seafood. The friendly waitstaff, authentic antiques, cozy atmosphere and great food make the Courier Cafe a favorite dining destination in the Champaign-Urbana community. Whether one is looking for an omelette, French toast, pancakes, a quesadilla, salad, soup, ham and cheese sandwiches, strip steak, shrimp or award-winning hamburgers, the Courier Cafe will deliver. The Courier Cafe is located at 111 N. Race St., Urbana, just a few minutes from the University of Illinois campus—a short journey for a satiating meal and friendly atmosphere.

krannert center

Su Dec 7

best burger

BY PAUL WAGNER | STAFF WRITER

Unique Gifts Within Your Budget

this week

people’s choice

Best Burger

Tokyo Bay Watches flasks * cigarette cases

buzz

Brendan Hanlon

buzz

DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003 | NOT TO CAUSE A CONTROVERSY, BUT ...

Return of the box office king BY JASON CANTONE | ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

his Christmas, the journey ends, or so states the tagline for The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, this winter’s most highly anticipated film. But while the mythical journey of the fellowship of the ring terminates, a battle between an art theater and a film company on the rise is set to begin. In November, eager film fans went to Boardman’s Art Theatre, looking to purchase advance tickets for the film. It would be the first big-budget film to play on the theater’s screen since the managers chose to show Spider-Man to celebrate the theater’s opening. The free showing allowed Boardman’s to show off their high-quality sound system, which Greg Boardman states is the area’s best. But last week, things changed. After starting to sell advanced tickets, a New Line Cinema representative informed Boardman’s Art Theatre that they would not receive the film after all. The theater’s Web site, http://www.boardmansarttheatre.com immediately posted a message about the problem, hoping to let the theater’s most loyal fans know that the decision was made by New Line and not by any of the Boardman’s managers. “I understand it’s a done deal. No print of (The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King) for the Art Theatre after all,” Boardman stated. Because of the last minute c h a n g e , Boardman b e g a n refunding about $500 in tickets.

“The Lorraine theater has sold more than able for comment after repeated attempts to $2,000 of tickets and one of the first shows contact their corporate office. “I do understand why they don’t want to be already has the entire center section sold out, saturating the market, but if Savoy and weeks in advance,” Boardman said. Boardman said that many fans approached Beverly are each going to have about four screens each, him after the change what’s one more stating that they would s c r e e n ? ” rather go to the Boardman said. Lorraine theater, which Pre-ticket sales at is an hour away in Goodrich Savoy Hoopeston, than stay 16 Theatres are in Champaign-Urbana still on target to to see the film. Greg Boardman surpass sales for “They bought (tickLord of the Rings: ets) with many friends,” Boardman said. “Now they’re telling The Two Towers, according to Savoy manager me that they will go see the movie multiple Jeremy Curtis. Curtis expects about 800 people to attend times and drive an hour or more to see a stuthe midnight shows for the film’s release. dio-quality presentation in a movie palace.” Curtis said he heard about the problem the When he contacted New Line, he said they stated that there were two reasons why the Art Art Theatre was having with New Line Theatre would not receive a copy: precedence Cinema and stated “it’s up to the movie company, really.” and distance between theaters. Although competitive, Curtis only had pos“Because the Art never played day and date equally with other theaters, they said we did- itive things to say about the Art Theatre. “The Art Theatre offers the whole package n’t have the history needed to show the film,” for people who go to see smaller, art films,” he Boardman said. However, he stated that the theater has only said. “We have a focus on blockbusters and been open since June 21, so it doesn’t have a don’t always get to show the types of films history of anything yet, including whether or that they show.” Despite New Line’s reasoning, not it can be competitive with the multiplexes. Boardman also said New Line commented Boardman still believes they should have shown the film. on the closeness between He said that “if Peter Jackson Champaign-Urbana’s three theknew the quality we offered aters: Savoy, Beverly and the Art. people, he would be insistent “I told them I was five miles that we got a copy of his from the others, but they pulled newest film.” out MapQuest and I guess I’m three and a half or something,” Boardman said. “They then said five miles was their limit.” New Line w a s unavail-

[

If Peter Jackson knew the quality we offered people, he would be insistent that we got a copy of his newest film.

film

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20film moviereview

THE MISSING ★★★ BY MATT PAIS | LEAD REVIEWER

s a director, Ron Howard has been drawn largely to the powerfully uplifting (Backdraft, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind) and the placidly amusing (Splash, EdTV), and even rougher films such as Ransom have been a little soft around the edges. With The Missing, however, Howard reveals a new stylistic toughness that might finally put all Richie Cunningham jokes to rest. Employing the expansive country atmosphere of Far and Away but with a much different historical emphasis, the film centers on Maggie Gilkeson (Cate Blanchett), an unwed mother of two working as a healer in 1885 New Mexico. When Apache Indians kidnap her eldest daughter, Lilly (Thirteen’s Evan Rachel Wood), in order to sell her in Mexico, Gilkeson and her youngest (Jenna Boyd) take off in pursuit with the help of Maggie’s estranged Indian-wannabe father (Tommy Lee Jones). Based on Thomas Eidson’s novel The Last

moviereview

BAD SANTA ★★★

BY ANDREW CREWELL | STAFF WRITER

hristmas movies are supposed to be cute, cuddly and representative of the most family-oriented time of year. Beware: Dimension Film’s latest effort, Bad Santa, doesn’t just crack this mold; it shatters it. Warnings for pervasive language, strong sexual content and violence are all well-earned, as production execs everywhere made sure to do their best to keep the begging kids away from this one. Billy Bob Thornton leads a raucous cast into one of the funniest caper films of all time, which just happens to be set at Christmas. Thornton’s character, Willie, is an acid-mouthed raging alcoholic who pulls himself out of the gutter for one month every year to dust off a Santa suit and pose as a philanthropic do-gooder. He and his partner in crime, an equally foul-mouthed midget named Marcus (Tony Cox), learn the intricacies of the mall where they work in order to rob the bank’s safe on Christmas Eve and skip town with the loot. In what is to be their last hoorah, the two run into more problems than ever, including Willie’s increasingly unruly boozing and one intuitive security officer. Along with an 8-yearold who becomes strangely enamored with Willie, there are roadblocks everywhere. Above

WHAT'S UP? | DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003

Ride, The Missing begins with undeniable strength, building tension and establishing an old-fashioned sense of slow-moving society. Before she is kidnapped, Lilly begs her mother to let her go into town to view an expo of futuristic products such as the phonograph (“You can actually hear your own voice played back to you,” she tells her), simultaneously referencing the expanding technological world and showing that pre-1900 teenagers can be feisty too. But unlike Open Range, which equates crawling monotony with Western nostalgia, Howard launches his story cautiously but carefully; consequently, there are slow-burning sparks of murmured mystery planted in the serenely bare forest that surrounds the Gilkeson cabin. This is a traditional film that avoids the familiar, particularly through inspired casting and well-constructed music. With her stretched face and gaping eyes, the Australian-born Blanchett has always looked too eccentric for conservative roles, but she fits surprisingly well into The Missing’s rough and tumble portrait of 19th century America. Aaron Eckhart doesn’t last long as Maggie’s suitor and protector, Brake Baldwin, but his stern intensity generates a genuine feel of old-time responsibility and masculinity early on in the film. While Jones underplays appropriately, Wood and Boyd produce a gentle force from their frail characters. James Horner’s willowy score breezes gently beneath glorious shots of the Western landscape, occasionally threatening to float away with its persistently whispering wind and distant Indian wails. all is Willie, who has seemingly lost his mind— berating children in public, moving in with the 8-year-old and his grandmother without invitation and drinking on the job. It’s easy to see why Dimension Films, a subsidiary of Miramax, owned by Disney, got this film passed down to it from the mother corporation. There are more kinds of humor than colors in a Crayola box, and between Santa Claus’ vomiting in a garbage can outside a bar and his having sex with a patron in the plus-size department of a clothing store, Bad Santa resembles George Carlin much more than Frosty the Snowman. Though this film is too funny to be passed over, mothers across the world would have a field day with Disney if they trotted this stud out next to Brother Bear. The omnipresent vulgarity of Thorton’s character is flamboyant for effect, but plain unbelievable when addressing the children in the film. The plot is a bit run-on at times as well, as it seems the audience always expect what’s around the corner. But there is no mistaking that the plot turns and situations are hilarious. The rag-tag cast comes together to be lovable and diabolical all at the same time. Thornton and Cox work fabulously together to be perfectly despicable. Bernie Mac is underused, but funny, as the mall’s malevolent security director. And Lauren Graham, of Gilmore Girls fame, shows up as a wickedly hot bartender with a penchant for loving men in Santa costumes. Most of all, this film could also be remembered as John Ritter’s final venture. Against the grain, Ritter plays the good-natured but not-so

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Red Herring

Even then, however, it contributes a haunting shiver to the misty mountain atmosphere of The Missing, which manages to be alternately thrilling and stultifying in its presentation of familial desperation and early American brutality. The villain is Pesh-Chidin, more commonly known as the Brujo (Spanish for “witch”), an appallingly ugly and mercilessly violent Apache who slays white men with disturbingly nonchalant malice. Played with furious menace by Eric Schweig, the Brujo is a fantastically evil antagonist, an unremitting killer whose spiritual and cultural beliefs present death as the only compromise. As impossible as it becomes to like or sympathize with the Brujo, it is even more difficult to take our eyes off Schweig. His performance is mesmerizing and memorable even when the film loses focus and settles into a repetitive groove of gun battles and relentless chases on horseback. There’s a delicately powerful story to work with here, and writer Ken Kaufman does an effective job of placing the ignorant white settlers with a great deal of the responsibility for the Indians’ violent resentment. The film paints a captivating picture of life in the stark, isolated Western environment, where small-town hospitality clashes with ever-present paranoia. American ethnocentricity and Indian heritage both create a complex political territory, through which the film treads warily rather than provocatively. Still, Howard moves swiftly and smoothly between the docile and the deadly and attempts to sustain a story in which cultural and ancestral loyalties are constantly at

Best Vegetarian Meal BY KATIE RICHARDSON | ARTS EDITOR

THE MISSING | CATE BLANCHETT war. He delivers his most confident, relaxed direction in years, giving the film’s many action sequences a self-assured semblance of dangerous urgency. Despite its historical resonance, there’s something missing from The Missing, and after more than two long hours that something is, surprisingly, heart. What begins as a brave, passionate story of one family’s resolve winds up as little more than a sprawling, forgettable rescue mission. Sure, there are plenty of foreign languages, vicious killings, archaic surgeries and majestic horseback riding. But by its predictable, unsatisfying end, the film’s frantically affecting search has become little more than a galloping, historical road movie, and as far as Westerns go, that’s a horse of a different color.

C-UViews LOVE ACTUALLY

Tindulge hough the Atkins diet may be the current rage, some people don’t like to in meat and cheese. Society calls these extremists vegetarians. Certainly everyone has heard of them. You know the kind, eats a lot of bean sprouts and lettuce, right? Not so. There are some very creative dishes out there that are totally meat free. One of the best places to get them is The Red Herring, a vegetarian restaurant that is open weekdays from 11-3 p.m. It is primarily studentrun and offers vegan and vegetarian fair. It’s also a great place if you don’t have a lot of cash. For less than $3 you can get a pretty darn good meal. A favorite is the hummus sandwich, but you can choose from a wide array of salads, soups, pastas, spreads and breads. Dig coffee and tea? Get it hot or cold and put some Silk brand soy milk in it. Everyone needs their soy isoflavans! And if soy milk isn’t your thing, you can be sure that they’ll be offering either an ethnic or American dish that uses multitudes of tofu. Other vegetarian protein sources, namely setay and tempeh, are also offered. Setay is wheat gluten, and tempeh is a mixture of soy and brown rice. Sounds yummy, doesn’t it? Well, all you carnivores out there should put your vegetarian protein source prejudices aside and come and check it out. Soon after doing so, you’ll be eating crow. Metaphorically, that is. And for those of you watching your weight, a recent study suggests that the thinnest people on the planet are those with “vegetarian and vegan” lifestyles. But if you’re into obesity lawsuits, keep going to McDonald’s.

people’s choice best vegetarian meal

★★★★ red herring

BAD SANTA | BILLY BOB THORNTON business-savvy manager at the store where Thornton and Cox set up shop. His role is lackluster, but he is funny and makes the audience reminiscent at the same time. Any way you cut it, Bad Santa accomplishes something that has never been done before. It makes an absolute travesty of something as wholesome and serene as Christmas, and does it without falling completely on its face. Just don’t take the little ones to see it, or you’ll have a lot of explaining to do.

SCREEN REVIEW GUIDE

★★★★ ★★★ ★★ ★ no stars

Flawless Good Mediocre Bad Unwatchable

food & spirits

DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003 | MMM VEGGIES

PHOTO | CHRISTINE LITIS

3:38 PM

WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES

12/3/03

DIMENSION FILMS

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Julie Wiechert Champaign

"It was good but it had a lot of loose ends."

★★★ Danielle Tripicchio Champaign

"Both my friend Lindsay and I loved it! It's a great holiday movie."

★★★★ Stacey Brooks Champaign

"It was good; not as predictable as most romantic comedies."

honorable mention > > > >

strawberry fields courier cafe silvercreek radio maria

Volunteer Sonal Aggarwal gives change to a customer at the Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant on Tuesday.

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MMM BREAKFAST | DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003

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DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003 | WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com

12/6 Blank Theory @ Metro 12/7 Hey Mercedes @ Metro 12/8 Fun Lovin’ Criminals @ Double Door 12/9 Wayne Wonder @ House of Blues 12/11 Kurtis Blow, Rob Base @ Double Door 12/12 Coheed & Cambria @ House of Blues 12/12 Aquabats @ Metro, all ages 12/12 Atmosphere, Mr. Dibbs, Others @ Abbey Pub, 18 & over 12/12 Neko Case @ Old Town School of Music 12/13 Ryan Adams @ Riviera 12/13 Wyclef John, Baby Bash @ House of Blues 12/13 Death in June @ Empty Bottle 12/19 Beyonce, Bow Wow @ United Center 12/19 Dwele, Slum Village @ Metro 12/19 Los Straitjackets @ Abbey Pub 12/31 Aretha Franklin @ Chicago Theater 12/31 Flaming Lips, White Stripes @ Aragon Ballroom 12/31 Guster @ House of Blues

CHICAGOVENUES House of Blues 329 N Dearborn, Chicago, 312.923.2000 Congress Theatre 2135 N Milwaukee, 312.923.2000 Vic Theatre 3145 N Sheffield, Chicago, 773.472.0449 Metro 3730 N Clark St, Chicago, 773.549.0203 Park West 322 W Armitage, Chicago, 773.929.1322 Riviera Theatre 4746 N Racine at Lawerence, Chicago Arie Crown Theatre 2300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, 312.791.6000 Schubas 3159 N Southport, Chicago, 773.525.2508 Martyrs 3855 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, 773.288.4545 Aragon 1106 W Lawerence, Chicago, 773.561.9500 Abbey Pub 3420 W Grace, Chicago, 773.478.4408 Fireside Bowl 2646 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, 773.486.2700 Schubert Theatre 22 W Monroe, Chicago, 312.977.1700

ART LISTINGS Portraits – Award winning portrait artist Sandra Ahten is currently accepting commissions for portraits for holiday giving. Portraits are priced at an affordable range and professional exchange or barter may be accepted. For examples of work and a quote, contact Sandra Ahten at (217) 367-6345 or spiritofsandra@hotmail.com Creation Art Studio Art Classes for Children and Adults – All classes offer technical instruction and the exploration of materials through expressive, spontaneous art and experimentation. Independent studies of personal interests and ideas, dreams, etc. are expressed and developed through collage and assemblage art and through drawing, painting, sculpture and ceramics. Children meet Mon-Thu 3:30-5pm. Adolescents meet Fri 4-5:30pm. Adults meet Wed at 10am and Sat 1-3pm. Open to beginners and advanced students. Adult Open Studio meets Tue 7-9pm. Drop-ins welcome. Come with a friend. Call to make special arrangements for a group. For more information contact Jeannine Bestoso at 344 6955. CPDU’s offered. Studio is located in east Urbana at 1102 E Washington St. www.creationartstudios.com

Le Peep

Best Breakfast BY JANELLE GREENWOOD | STAFF WRITER

Although this popular chain is most famous for their enticing breakfast menu, Le Peep also offers an eclectic ensemble of traditional and unique lunch items. Salads, pastas and a variety of sandwiches seem simple enough, but it’s the little differences that give the menu its flare.These extras, like the fresh fruit or the Peasant Potatoes, make the meals more than a typical lunch or breakfast. As prices go, Le Peep’s menu is more than reasonable for its quality, and it offers many items around the $5 mark. The fajita pita with a side of fresh fruit offers the flare of the Southwest while keeping it simple

enough for a light lunch. Le Peep’s salads also compliment the menu with their version of the Caesar salad and the Alaskan salmon salad. For those people who love breakfast, Le Peep’s most delectable dishes come from their brunch menu. All of the Panhandled Skillet Dishes blend their famous Peasant Potatoes with various choices of eggs, depending on what is ordered, and they carefully blend each one with various vegetables and cheeses to create the perfect skillet. I personally recommend the Nomad, which adds chicken and covers it in a delicious Hollandaise that enhances the dish without being too overbearing. As for the atmosphere, the restaurant

is very casual and often busy in the morning and early afternoon, which can cause a 10-minute wait occasionally. Overall, the Champaign location attempts to play up a French bistro decor, but it still has the feel of a chain restaurant. Its ambiance goes somewhat unnoticed; however the real atmosphere here comes from the food itself. After ordering a glass of freshly squeezed juice or a cup of coffee, the background will inevitably fade into anticipation for the meal to come. The servers are more than obliging and they bring out the food quickly with a smile, which only gives another reason to make this popular breakfast restaurant a place to try for lunch.

people’s choice best breakfast le peep

honorable mention > > > >

courier cafe IHOP merry ann’s sam’s cafe

Join Artists and Workshops at Gallery Virtu – Gallery Virtu, an artist-owned cooperative, now invites applications from area artists. The Gallery also offers workshops for adults, teens and children in knitting, embroidery, photography, jewelry making, printmaking, papermaking, bookbinding and ribbon flowers. Gallery Virtu offers original works by the members including: jewelry, pottery, collages, sculptures, journals, hats, handbags and other textiles. For more information please call 762-7790, visit our Web site at www.galleryvirtu.org, e-mail workshops@galleryvirtu.org or visit the gallery. Regular hours: Thu 12-4pm, Fri 12-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm. 220 W Washington St in Monticello. Art Classes at High Cross Studio – All classes are held at High Cross Studio in Urbana. 1101 N High Cross Rd. Email or call for reservations and details. (217) 367-6345 or spiritofsandra@hotmail.com. “Portrait Paintings with Oils” – This course will provide instruction in painting portraits from photographs. Paint a portrait of your loved one or yourself. Mon-Fri daytime class and weekend workshop offered. “Collage for the Soul” – Students will learn a variety of collage techniques, including photo and photocopy transfer, papermaking and manipulation, and frontage, while exploring a particular subject, such as a place, a memory, an experience or a relationship. No art-making

experience necessary. “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” – For adults who have always wanted to learn to draw, but felt as if they lacked talent or confidence. Other Classes:“Making Monoprints,”“Art With Intention” (Open Studio). For information on these visit http://www.spiritofsandra.com and click on “classes,” then e-mail or call for reservations.

LaPayne Photography – Specializes in panoramic photography up to 6 feet long of different subjects including sporting events, city skylines, national parks and University of Illinois scenes. 816 Dennison Dr, Champaign. Mon-Fri 9am-4pm and by appointment. 356-8994.

ART GALLERIES & EXHIBITS

Old Vic Art Gallery – Fine and original art, hand-signed limited edition prints, works by local artists, art restoration, custom framing, and periodic shows by local artists. 11 E University, Champaign. Mon-Thu 11am-5:30pm, Sat 11am-4:30pm. 355-8338.

Aroma Cafe – “Micrograms: Photos and Collage” by Rohn Koester on display through Dec 14.118 N Neil. Open 7 days a week, 7am-midnight. 356-3200.

Steeple Gallery – Vintage botanical and bird prints, antiques, framed limited edition prints. 102 E Lafayette St, Monticello. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 762-2924. www.steeplegallery.com

Boneyard Pottery – Ceramic Art by Michael Schwegmann and more. 403 Water St, Champaign. Tue-Sat 11am-5pm. 355-5610. Broken Oak Gallery – Local and national artists. Original art including photography, watercolors, pottery, oil paintings, colored pencil, woodturning and more. Refreshments served by the garden all day Saturday. 1865 N 1225 E Rd, White Heath. Thu-Sat 10am-4pm. 7624907. Cafe Kopi – 109 N Walnut, Champaign. Mon-Thu 7am11pm, Fri-Sat 7am-12pm, Sun 11am-8pm. 359-4266. Cinema Galley – Local and regional artists including many University of Illinois and Parkland College faculty members. Currently on display through Dec 24:“Dennis Rowan: New Works on Paper and Artist’s Books.” 120 W Main, Urbana. Holiday Hours: Tue-Sat 10am-7pm. Sun 15pm. 367-3711. Creation Art Studios – joins in the Old East End Art Hooha Dec 5, 5-9pm and Sat 10am-5pm. Open House reception Dec 5, 7-9pm. The studio features recent child and adult works in ceramics, paintings, drawings and assemblage art. Works by other local artisits include Shoshanna Bauer, Audrey Martin and Jennifer Martin, Amy Richardson, Joe Miller, and Jeannine Bestoso. Exhit on display until Dec 13. 1102 E Washington St, Urbana. Mon-Fri 3-5:30pm Sat 1-4pm and other scheduled studio times.344-6955. Country in the City – Antiques, architectural, gardening, home accessories. Custom designing available. 1104 E Washington St, Urbana. Thu-Sat 10am-5pm 367-2367. Framer’s Market – Frame Designers since 1981. Ongoing work from local artists on display. 807 W Springfield Ave, Champaign. Tue-Fri 9:30am-5:30pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 3517020. Furniture Lounge – Collection of fine art photographic images by local artisan Glenn Harriger on display Nov 24Dec 24. Also specializing in mid-century modern furniture from the 1920s-1980s, retro, Danish modern, lighting, vintage stereo equipment and vinyl records. 9 E University, Champaign. 352-5150. Sun-Mon 12-4:30pm, Wed-Sat 11am-5:30pm. Glass FX – New and antique stained glass windows, lamps and unique glass gifts. Gallery is free and open to the public. Interested in learning the art of Stained Glass? Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Stained Glass Classes offered. 202 S First St, Champaign. Mon-Thu 10am-5:30pm, Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm. 359-0048. www.glassfx.com. Griggs Street Potters – Handmade functional and decorative pottery. 305 W Grigg St, Urbana. Mon-Fri 11am-4pm, or call for appointment. 344-8546. Gallery Virtu Cooperative – Original works by the nine artist-owners: jewelry, pottery, paintings, collages, hats, handbags and other textiles, sculptures and journals. The Gallery also offers workshops. 220 W Washington St, Monticello. 762-7790. Thu 12-4pm, Fri 12-8pm, Sat 10am6pm. www.galleryvirtu.org Hill Street Gallery Inc. – Oil and watercolor paintings, hand painted T-shirts, handmade jewelry. 703 W Hill, Champaign. Sat 12-5pm or by appointment during the week. 359-0675. International Galleries – Works from local artists – Lincoln Square Mall. Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 125pm. 328-2254. Larry Kanfer Gallery – U of I images by photographic artist Larry Kanfer. Unique diploma frames and other UI gifts. Sepia Champaign-Urbana Collection also on display. Available now: 2004 Prairiescapes and University of Illinois calendars. 2503 S Neil, Champaign. Free and Open to the Public. Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm. 398-2000.

Verde Gallery & Verdant News and Coffee – Magazines, newspapers, coffee, beverages and fine pastries along with the Verde Fine Art Gallery. 17 E Taylor St, Champaign. Cafe hours: Mon-Sat 7am-10 pm; Gallery Hours: Tue-Fri noon-10pm, Sat 10am-10pm. 366-3204. www.verdant-systems.com/Verde.htm Ziemer Gallery – Original paintings and limited edition prints by Larry Ziemer. Pottery, weavings, wood turning and glass works by other artists. Gallery visitors are welcome to sit, relax, listen to the music and just enjoy being surrounded by art. 210 W Washington, Monticello. Tue 10am-8pm, Wed-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 10am-4pm. 762-9786. www.ziemergallery.com

ART-ON VIEW NOW “Ethereal Organics” – Photographs from Jim Hultquist on display at Cafe Aroma. Hultquist:“A project in the study of light interacting with natural forms.” 118 N Neil, Champaign. Open 7 days a week, 7am-midnight. For information contact Amanda Bickle. 356-3200. art4aroma@yahoo.com “Nevertheless: That’s Our Guarantee!” – Solo exhibit focusing on graphic design by local artist John Havlik on display through Dec 12. Show will display works demonstrating Havlik’s ability to visually respond to a wide range of artistic presentations and a series of pieces created to demonstrate the range of products a graphic designer is involved with. With tongue-in-cheek humor, Havlik provides an insider’s look at the graphic designprofession. Visit www.nevertheless-guaranteed.com for a peek at this exhibit. 115 E University, Champaign. Mon-Fri 10am-3pm and Mon-Thu evenings 6-8pm, Sat 12-2pm. 351-2485. Handicapped accessible and open and free to the public. “E-Motion2: Our Reality as Seen and Unseen” – A unique dance/technology installation in which programmer Ben Schaeffer, choreographer Luc Vanier, and composer Bradford Blackburn come together through motion capture technology to create an alternate version of reality. On display at the Krannert Art Museum through Jan 4. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Suggested Donation: $3 “Anna Pottery: Plagiarism as Art” – Reintroduces Illinois to its greatest potters, the brothers Cornwall and Wallace Kirkpatrick, and their Anna Pottery (1859-96). The exhibition focuses on the brothers’ large-scale incised works that obsessively reproduce texts from quirky yet mundane sources like telephone books and corporate reports. Ahead of its time, the Kirkpatricks’ work is a forerunner to the outsider art and pop art of today. Anna Pottery: Plagiarism as Art is on view through Jan 4. “Whistler and Japonisme: Selections from the Permanent Collection” – Marking the 100th anniversary of James McNeill Whistler’s death, this exhibition highlights his works on paper and examines the influence that Japanese woodcuts had on his artistic technique. On display at the Krannert Art Museum through March 28, 2004. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, Thu-Sat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Suggested Donation: $3 “Faculty Art Exhibition” – Features the newest work by current faculty in the School of Art and Design. This exhibition, a major event in the Urbana-Champaign art community, is one of the oldest, continuously-running faculty exhibitions in the country. Recent works of painting, sculpture, installation art, photography, glass, graphic design and other media will be on display through Jan 4. Faculty members will give talks about their work at noon on the following Wednesdays: Dec 10, Melissa Pokorny; Dec 17, Gerald Guthrie. 500 E Peabody, Urbana. Tue, ThuSat 9am-5pm, Wed 9am-8pm, Sun 2-5pm. 333-1860. Suggested Donation: $3

calendar

ON STAGE LISTINGS Hamlet Q1: The First Quarto 1603 – A shorter, actionpacked version of Shakespeare’s play performed with nontraditional gender casting by the University of Illinois New Revels Players. Performances will be held Sat, Dec 6 at 3pm and 7pm and Sun, Dec 7 at 3pm at the McKinley Foundations Westminster Hall, 809 S Fifth St, Champaign, Ill. Tickets are $5 at the door. For reservations, e-mail tllyons@uiuc.edu or call (217) 384-5462. The Celebration Company at the Station Theatre presents 110 Degrees in the Shade. 110 Degrees in the Shade is a musical with score by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt of The Fantastiks fame. It is based on the hit play The Rainmaker by N. Richard Nash, who also wrote the book for this show. All rights to this show are administered by Tams-Whitmark Music Library, Inc. The Celebration Company production of 110 in the Shade at the Station Theatre will be directed by Jim Dobbs and Music directed by Debra Myers Dobbs. Shows will run through Sat, Dec 6. All shows are at 8pm. Call (217) 384-4000 for reservations. Ticket prices: Wed 2 for $10, Thu $10, Fri $12, Sat $12, Sun $10 Parkland Theatre presents its 13th annual student show, Out of Order by Ray Cooney. This British farce takes place one fateful night in a London hotel, as a Conservative Government Member of Parliament attempts to have an affair with a secretary of the Opposition. Filled with an odd assortment of characters including a conniving waiter, a suspicious hotel manager, an alert private detective, an angry wife, a furious husband, a bungling secretary, an unconscious nurse and a dead body, nothing is going to go as planned. Performances are Dec 4, 5, 6 at 8pm and Dec 6 and 7 at 3pm. General admission tickets are $8 for adults; student and senior tickets are $5. Call (217) 3512528 for tickets and information or e-mail theatre@parkland.edu. Amasong Winter Concert – “Come Dance and Sing” – Featured music of Ireland,Wales, Canada, Byzantine Chant. Music by historical women, composers and much more. – McKinley Presbyterian Church, 509 S Fifth St, Champaign, Dec 6 at 8pm, Dec 7 at 3pm

MIND BODY SPIRIT Sunday Zen Meditation Meeting – Prairie Zen Center, 515 S Prospect, Champaign, NW corner Prospect & Green, enter through door from parking area. Introduction to Zen Sitting, 10am; Full Schedule: Service at 9 followed by sitting, Dharma Talk at 11 followed by tea until about noon. Can arrive at any of above times, open to all, no experience needed, no cost. For info call 355-8835 or www.prairiezen.org Clear Sky Zen Group – Meets on Thursday evenings in the Geneva Room of the McKinley Foundation. Newcomers to meditation and people of all traditions and faiths are welcome – McKinley Foundation, 809 S Fifth St, 6:25-9pm Prairie Sangha for Mindfullness Meditation – Monday evenings from 7:30-9pm and monthly retreats on Sunday. Theravadan (Vipassana) and Tibetan (Vjrayana & Dzogchen) meditation practice. Meets in Urbana. More information call or e-mail Tom at 356-7413 or shayir@soltec.net. www.prairiesangha.org Formerly-Fat Persons’ Support Group – Free social meeting every Saturday at 2pm at Aroma Cafe, 118 N Neil St, C. For more information contact Jessica Watson at 3534934. Simplicity Discussion Group – Dec 4, 7pm, we’ll discuss the book Inner Peace for Busy People by Joan Borysenko. Borders Bookstore, 802 Town Center Blvd, Champaign (217) 351-9011. Life Map Workshop – A life map is a collection of visual images, a method of connecting with your intuition, a tool for visualizing your dreams or goals. Come explore life mapping—approaches, uses, and the opportunity to create your own life map. 9:15am-1:00pm on Sat, Dec 6 at McKinley Foundation, C. $45. To register or for information, contact Jo Pauly, MSW, Whole Life Coach at (217) 337-7823 or jopauly@prairienet.org Overeaters Anonymous meetings held at Fellowship Circle, 718 S Randolph, C on Tue and Fri at 5:30pm (Contact Lin, 359-4449); at First Presbyterian Church, of Green and Orchard Street, U on Mon at 7:30pm (Contact Lin 359-4449 or Marcey 356-8748) and on Thu at 5:30pm at Channing-Murray Foundation contact Marcey 3568748 or Toni 369-6218 or Sat at 9:30pm

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ThursdayDecember4 LIVE MUSIC

WANT TO GET YOUR EVENT LISTED ON OUR CALENDAR? Send your listings to calendar@readbuzz.com | DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003 buzz

DJ The Noiseboy – Mike ‘n Molly’s, 10pm, $1 DJ Hipster Sophisto – Barfly, 9pm, free

ON STAGE Murder Mystery Dinner – help solve the mystery at the Krannert Center Student Association Murder Mystery Dinner. Proceeds from the event help support the outreach activities of this vital Krannert Center student volunteer group – Studio Theatre, Krannert Center, 7pm, $1618

In Your Ear Big Band – Iron Post, 7pm, TBA Acoustic Music Series: Mike Ingram – Aroma, 8pm, free Lamonte Parsons Jazz Trio – Senators Pub, 8pm, TBA Jeff Helgesen’s Jazz Quintet featuring Chip McNeill – Zorba’s, 9:30pm, $3 Mushroomhead, Avenged Sevenfold, The Agony Scene – The Canopy Club, 10pm, $12 Asylum Street Spankers – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $8

WORDS

MUSIC PERFORMANCES

LIVE MUSIC

Cecil Bridgewater – renowned jazz trumpet player, educator, producer, composer and arranger – Tryon Festival Theatre, Krannert Center, 7:30pm, $17-25 Amasong Winter Concert – “Come Dance and Sing” – Featured music of Ireland, Wales, Canada, Byzantine Chant. Music by historical women, composers and much more. – McKinley Presbyterian Church, 509 S 5th St, Champaign, 8pm

Jars of Clay, Caedmon’s Call – Assembly Hall, 7pm, $19.50 Verde Hootenanny – Verdant News & Coffee, 7pm, free Open Mic Night – Espresso Royale Cafe, 7:30pm, free Open Mic/Open Jam hosted by Openingbands.com and Larry Gates – The Canopy Club, 10pm, $2 Adam Wolfe – Iron Post, 10pm, TBA The Invisible, Via Satellite, TBA – Nargile, 10pm, $3 Adam Wolf’s Acoustic Night – Tommy G’s, 9pm-1am

ON STAGE

Hamlet Q1: The First Quarto 1603 – A shorter, actionpacked version of Shakespeare’s play performed with nontraditional gender casting by the University of Illinois New Revels Players – McKinley Foundation, 3pm, 7pm, $5

Drew Patterson – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free Seduction DJ Resonate – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Hoff – Mike ‘n Molly’s, 10pm, $1 NOX: DJ ZoZo – The Highdive, 10pm, TBA

FILM

COMEDY

Night of Chocolate – Courtyard Cafe, Illini Union, 9:30pm, $2

Spicy Clamato Comedy – Courtyard Cafe, Illini Union, 9pm, free

SundayDecember7

UI Steel Band, UI World Percussion Ensemble – A concert of the lush and fully mellow music of the steel bands of Trinidad and the West Indies – Colwell Playhouse, Krannert Center, 7:30pm, $2-5

DJ Bozak, DJ Virus – The Highdive, 10pm, $5 In The Red Room with J-Phlip – Barfly, 10pm, free

WORDS Meet author Kaylie Jones –author of A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries – Pages For All Ages, 7pm

MUSIC PERFORMANCES UI Jazz Band II – An exciting program of music for jazz ensemble, with charts ranging from the swing era to today’s contemporary bands, awaits audiences – Colwell Playhouse, Krannert Center, 7:30pm, $2-5

ON STAGE Passport to Asia – cultural performance by Asian Cultural Student Association – Courtyard Cafe, Illini Union, 8pm, free

FILM The Original Latin Kings of Comedy – La Casa Cultural Latina, 9pm

FridayDecember5 LIVE MUSIC Desafinado – Cowboy Monkey, 5pm, free The Prairie Dogs – Iron Post, 5pm, TBA The New Amsterdams, Murder By Death, The Snake The Cross The Crown, Equinox – Courtyard Cafe, 8pm, $5 Heartsfield – The Highdive, 8pm, $10 Mike & Joe – The Canopy Club, 10pm, $4 Kilborn Alley – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $3 Opening Preview Night: Orphans, At Knifepoint, Jason Finkelman’s Nu-Orbit Ensemble – Nargile, 10pm, free Al Ierardi – Tommy G’s, 5-7pm, free Pauline York Band – Tommy G’s, 10pm-2am Reasonable Doubt – Hubers, 8-11pm

DJ DJ Bozak – Barfly, 9pm, free DJ Tim Williams – The Highdive, 10:30pm, $5

MUSIC PERFORMANCES Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra – Enjoy a jazzy holiday celebration when the Champaign-Urbana Symphony welcomes vocalist Margaret Carlson and pianist Frank Mantooth as its Holiday Pops concert special guests – Foellinger Great Hall, Krannert Center, 7:30pm, $8-23 UI Concert Jazz Band – This program features the premier jazz ensemble of the U of I Jazz Division in a concert packed with exciting big-band jazz—modern and swing, standard and unusual, high-energy and introspective – Tryon Festival Theatre, Krannert Center, 7:30pm, $2-5 Jazz Forum with Cecil Bridgewater – As part of Cecil Bridgewater’s second Jazz Threads residency week, he engages U of I jazz students in a master class open to the public – Colwell Playhouse, Krannert Center, noon, free

WORDS Poetry Slam – The Blue Room Open Mic – Illini Union Art Room, 10pm, free

SaturdayDecember6 LIVE MUSIC Melodic Scribes, Daily Bridge Club, Apollo Project – Nargile, 7pm, $5 Low, Haley Bonar – The Highdive, 7pm, $10 The Beat Kitchen – Iron Post, 9pm, TBA New Twang City – Hubers, 8-11pm Jakehead, Crooked River Playboys – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $3 Umphrey’s McGee, J. Davis Trio – The Canopy Club, 10pm, $10 X-Krush – Tommy G’s, 10pm-2am

Holmes for the Holiday – open house with coffee, cider, cookies and Sherlock Holmes displays – Jane Addams Book Shop, noon-5pm Meet author Anto Bilek – author of No Uncle Tom, his story of survival through the Death March and his imprisonment – Pages For All Ages, 2pm

LIVE MUSIC Broken Grass – Iron Post, 9pm, TBA The Blues Jam hosted by Kilborn Alley – The Canopy Club, 10pm, $2

DJ Blends by Otter – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, free Fresh Face Guest DJ – Barfly, 9pm, TBA

SPOKEN WORD Open Mic – Poetry and spoken word hosted by Illusion The Canopy Club, 7pm, $2

MUSIC PERFORMANCES Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony – The Krannert Center Student Association hosts this annual event with music, a visit from Santa, and an opportunity to make the holidays merry for others by selecting a gift recipient from the Giving Tree – Lobby, Krannert Center, 4:30pm, free UI Jazz Combos – an evening of creative improvisation featuring talented students of the Division of Jazz, coached by Chip McNeill, Ron Bridgewater – Colwell Playhouse, Krannert Center, 7:30pm, $2-5 Annual Carol Concert – A special celebration from the UI School of Music Choral Division, the Carol Concert features short groups of seasonal pieces interspersed with traditional carols and holiday songs – Foellinger Great Hall, Krannert Center, $4-7 Amasong Winter Concert – “Come Dance and Sing” – Featured music of Ireland, Wales, Canada, Byzantine Chant. Music by historical women, composers and much more. – McKinley Presbyterian Church, 509 S 5th St, Champaign, 3pm

ON STAGE Hamlet Q1: The First Quarto 1603 – A shorter, actionpacked version of Shakespeare’s play performed with nontraditional gender casting by the University of Illinois New Revels Players – McKinley Foundation, 7pm, $5

MondayDecember8 LIVE MUSIC Matchbox Twenty, Fountains of Wayne – Assembly Hall, 7:30pm, $35 Sick Day, THC Squared, TBA – The Canopy Club, 10pm, $3 The Watchers, The Situation – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $5

DJ DJ Betty Rocker – Mike ‘n Molly’s, 10pm, free 2ON2OUT – Barfly, 9pm, free

COMEDY De Bono Improv Comedy – Courtyard Cafe, 9pm, free

TuesdayDecember9

MUSIC PERFORMANCES

WednesdayDecember10 LIVE MUSIC Urbana Dog Park Fundraiser: ParaDocs – Iron Post, 6pm, TBA Finga Lickin’, Groovatron – The Canopy Club, 10pm, free Open Mic Night hosted by Brandon T. Washington – Cowboy Monkey, 10pm, $2 Hippus Campus – Iron Post, 10pm, TBA Erik Nelson – acoustic performance – Courtyard Cafe, Illini Union, 8pm, free Kilborn Alley – Tommy G’s, 9pm-1am

DJ Joel Spencer – Mike ‘n Molly’s, 10pm, $1 Salsa Abor: Salsa DJ’s with Jose and Bris – Nargile, 10pm, $3 DJ Spinnerty – The Highdive, 10pm, free DJ Chef Ra Reggae – Barfly, 9pm, free

MUSIC PERFORMANCES Kurt Elling with the Laurence Hobgood Trio – Studio Theatre, Krannert Center, 7:30pm, $22-30 UI Concert Bands IIA and IIB – Foellinger Great Hall, Krannert Center, 7:30pm, $2-5

C-UVENUES Assembly Hall First & Florida, Champaign, 333.5000 American Legion Post 24 705 W Bloomington Rd, Champaign, 356.5144 American Legion Post 71 107 N Broadway, Urbana, 367.3121 Barfly 120 N Neil, Champaign,352.9756 Barnes and Noble 51 E Marketview, Champaign, 355.2045 Boltini Lounge 211 N Neil, Champaign, 378.8001 Borders Books & Music 802 W Town Ctr, Champaign, 351.9011 The Brass Rail 15 E University, Champaign, 352.7512 Canopy Club (The Garden Grill) 708 S Goodwin, Urbana, 367.3140 C.O. Daniels 608 E Daniel, Champaign, 337.7411 Cosmopolitan Club 307 E John, Champaign, 367.3079 Courtyard Cafe Illini Union, 1401 W Green, Urbana, 333.4666 Cowboy Monkey 6 Taylor St, Champaign, 398.2688 Clybourne 706 S Sixth, Champaign, 383.1008 Curtis Orchard 3902 S Duncan Rd, Champaign, 359.5565

D.R. Diggers 604 S Country Fair Dr, Champaign, 356.0888 Embassy Tavern & Grill 114 S Race, Urbana, 384.9526 Esquire Lounge 106 N Walnut, Champaign, 398.5858 Fallon’s Ice House 703 N Prospect, Champaign, 398.5760 Fat City Saloon 505 S Chestnut, Champaign, 356.7100 The Great Impasta 114 W Church, Champaign, 359.7377 G.T.’s Western Bowl Francis Dr, Champaign, 359.1678 The Highdive 51 Main, Champaign, 359.4444 Huber’s 1312 W Church, Champaign, 352.0606 Illinois Disciples Foundation 610 E Springfield, Champaign, 352.8721 Independent Media Center 218 W Main St, Urbana, 344.8820 The Iron Post 120 S Race, Urbana, 337.7678 Joe’s Brewery 706 S Fifth, Champaign, 384.1790 Kam’s 618 E Daniel, Champaign, 328.1605 Krannert Art Museum 500 E Peabody, Champaign, 333.1861 Krannert Center for Performing Arts 500 S Goodwin, Urbana, Tickets: 333.6280, 800/KCPATIX La Casa Cultural Latina 1203 W Nevada, Urbana, 333.4950 Lava 1906 W Bradley, Champaign, 352.8714 Legends Bar & Grill 522 E Green, Champaign, 355.7674 Les’s Lounge 403 N Coler, Urbana, 328.4000 Lincoln Castle 209 S Broadway, Urbana, 344.7720 Malibu Bay Lounge North Route 45, Urbana, 328.7415 Mike & Molly’s 105 N Market, Champaign, 355.1236 Mulligan’s 604 N Cunningham, Urbana, 367.5888 Murphy’s 604 E Green, Champaign, 352.7275 Nargile 207 W. Clark St., Champaign Neil Street Pub 1505 N Neil, Champaign, 359.1601 Boardman’s Art Theater 126 W Church, Champaign, 351.0068 The Office 214 W Main, Urbana, 344.7608 Parkland College 2400 W Bradley, Champaign, 351.2528 Phoenix 215 S Neil, Champaign, 355.7866 Pia’s of Rantoul Route 136 E, Rantoul, 893.8244 Pink House Routes 49 & 150, Ogden, 582.9997 The Rainbow Coffeehouse 1203 W Green, Urbana, 766.9500 Red Herring/Channing-Murray Foundation 1209 W Oregon, Urbana, 344.1176 Rose Bowl Tavern 106 N Race, Urbana, 367.7031 Springer Cultural Center 301 N Randolph, Champaign, 355.1406 Spurlock Museum 600 S Gregory, Urbana, 333.2360 The Station Theatre 223 N. Broadway, Urbana, 384-4000 Strawberry Fields Cafe 306 W Springfield, Urbana, 328.1655 Ten Thousand Villages 105 N Walnut, Champaign, 352.8938 TK Wendl’s 1901 S Highcross Rd, Urbana, 255.5328 Tommy G’s 123 S. Mattis Ave, Country Fair Shopping Center, 359.2177 Tonic 619 S Wright, Champaign, 356.6768 Two Main 2 Main, Champaign, 359.3148 University YMCA 1001 S Wright, Champaign, 344.0721 Verde/Verdant 17 E Taylor St, Champaign, 366.3204 Virginia Theatre 203 W Park Ave, Champaign, 356.9053 White Horse Inn 112 1/2 E Green, Champaign, 352.5945 Zorba’s 627 E Green, Champaign

CHICAGOSHOWS DECEMBER 12/5 Donna The Buffalo @ Martyr’s 12/5 They Might Be Giants @ Vic, all ages 12/6 Autumn Defense @ Schubas 12/6 Rufus Wainwright @ Vic, all ages

buzz

food & spirits

DECEMBER 4-DECEMBER 10, 2003 | MMM WINE

Corkscrew

Best Wine Selection BY TOM RYBARCZYK | EDITOR IN CHIEF

S ome would think a wine emporium would have finely carved, sophisticated pine shelves, giving off an air of

people’s choice best wine selection corkscrew

honorable mention > > > >

silvercreek bacaro clybourne biaggi’s

prestige and wealth. It might have crystal chandeliers with Roman statues flanking the entrance, pouring the cheaper wines into a fountain. Those places concern themselves only with presentation; Corkscrew, at 203 N. Vine St. in Urbana, worries more about the quality of products and selection than the presentation, said manager Michael Alberty. Corkscrew looks more akin to a London wine shop, Alberty said, with some of its selection housed in short wooden frames, designed to be more functional than aesthetically pleasing. In London, Alberty said wine shops cram their boxes against the wall, allowing for more selection for the customer. Similarly, Corkscrew’s walls have boxes piled 3 or 4 feet high with wine for their customers’ selection. “We like the idea of chaos,” Alberty said.“It keeps us on our toes. Our philosophy is: It’s what’s in the rack that counts.” But the madness has a method, with the store sectioned off into regions of wine. Within the regions, customers will find their favorite chardonnay, merlot, shiraz and other wines. Along one wall sits the selection of fine spirits, including bottles of cognac and scotch. Another wall has exotic beer from around the world. Prices in the store range from a $3.99 bottle of California wine to a $1,200 bottle of cognac. Corkscrew, which has been open for four years, has wines from such obscure places as Lebanon to France and Italy to California. It also has the largest selection of wines from the Pacific Northwest in the state of Illinois, Alberty said. Part of Corkscrew’s success comes from the staff, Alberty said. He split up the regions for each employee, allowing them to do thorough research on the areas. Alberty said he gives his employees “carte blanche” when it comes to finding new wines for the store. “You see wines you wouldn’t see anywhere else,” Alberty said. “Some of them are so obscure. We really hustle to find the obscure.”

1204buzz1617

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3:34 PM

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buzzpicks Low plays at The Highdive

Nargile (nar-jee-lay) Grand Opening Here’s your chance to get a sneak peek at what is certain to be one of ChampaignUrbana and the Midwest’s coolest clubs. Nargile (where Ruby’s used to be) is run by the same people that brought you Barfly. Nargile will be a live music venue upstairs, a sound lounge/dance area downstairs, a regular bar and a hookah bar featuring water pipes for enjoying flavored tobacco.

Since Low’s debut release in 1994, they haven’t stopped. Pumping out albums, EPs and videos, and opening for Radiohead, the Duluth, Minn., dream pop trio, Low, has been compared to whimsical indie rock outfits like Bedhead and Palace. On Thursday, Low plays The Highdive’s early show at 7pm, $10.

Over the next three weeks, you can see some major hitters in the Champaign music scene. To get things started this Friday night, for no cover, Nargile will feature Orphans, At Knifepoint and Jason Finkelman’s Nu-Orbit Ensemble upstairs and DJ ImpacT downstairs. Saturday night, for a mere $5, you can see hip-hop acts Melodic Scribes, Daily Bridge Club and Apollo Project upstairs and the deep house sounds of DJ Mertz downstairs. Nargile is located at 207 W. Clark St. in downtown Champaign.

Owned and operated by local artists since 1971 W A S H P O T

I M E M I N E

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S C R I B I V E N E R I E F E S D E S R W R A N A I L B O X C I L E L E C T T R O O T S H O H M E T O W O R S R I V E I O N E S E

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