December Events 2017

December is often a hectic time with holiday shopping to do, travel plans to make, and finals to study for. Fortunately, there’s plenty to do around campus and Champaign-Urbana to help take your mind off things. From the performing arts to adorable therapy dogs, there’s hopefully something here that will keep you sane until that sweet and much deserved winter break.

The Nutcracker

Darrell Hoemann/Champaign-Urbana Ballet during a rehearsal of CU Balllet's production of the Nutcracker at Krannert Center on Wednesday, November 30, 2016.

Darrell Hoemann/Champaign-Urbana Ballet
during a rehearsal of CU Balllet’s production of the Nutcracker at Krannert Center on Wednesday, November 30, 2016.

Friday, December 8th – Sunday, 10th (Times Vary) at the Tryon Festival Theater in the Krannert Center. $20-45.

The Nutcracker returns to Krannert this winter, performed by the Champaign Urbana Ballet and the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra. Performances started on December 1st, but run until Sunday, December 10th. Don’t miss your chance to see dazzling choreography and the enchanting music of Tchaikovsky this holiday season. Showtimes and tickets can be found by clicking the hyperlink above.

Destress Fest 

DeStress Fest Fall 2017

DeStress Fest

Thursday, December 14th, 12:00-11:00 pm

Do finals have you pulling your hair out? Have you resorted to doing mundane tasks such as folding your laundry as a form of procrastination? Do you like dogs, making paper hats, button making, or RPGs? Then Destress Fest is the perfect opportunity to be creative and let off some steam as we approach the end of the semester! Come to the Undergraduate Library on December 14th and take advantage of an entire day’s worth of fun, self-care, and maybe even some (tasty) surprises. Tune back in for another blog post with a detailed schedule next week!

Mottainai: Annual Japan House Bazaar

Japan House

Japan House

Saturday, December 16th 11:00 am-5:00 pm and Sunday, December 17th at the Japan House

“Mottainai” is Japanese for “what a waste” and is the title of Japan House’s annual bazaar featuring various Japanese and Asian goods from kimonos to tea equipment. The Japan House is also asking for donations of any Asian-related objects to help support the Japan House Internship Program. Come enjoy the crisp Winter weather and see the gorgeous Japan House and its gardens all while doing some last-minute holiday shopping and supporting an amazing cause.

University of Illinois Jeopardy!

Spurlock Jeopardy

Spurlock Jeopardy

Thursday, December 21st, 4:00-5:00 pm at the Spurlock Museum

How well do you know your school? To cap off its “Knowledge at Work: The University of Illinois at 150” exhibit, the Spurlock Museum is hosting a University of Illinois-themed round of Jeopardy! If you’re not confident in your U of I trivia, fret not because the Spurlock Museum started posting some facts on their Facebook page this month that just might help you claim victory. Admission is free and be sure to check out the “Knowledge at Work” exhibit before the game starts!

Hopefully we’ve covered most of the major events happening around Champaign-Urbana for the month of December, but if we missed anything, reach out to us on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages, and stay tuned for an events post every month!

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Celebrating Inclusive Illinois: Latin America and the Caribbean

Next Wednesday may be Inclusive Illinois Day (which you can read more about here), but no matter what day it is, it’s always enriching to learn about people, especially all the different cultures and histories that they can represent. If you’ve been wanting to learn more about Latin American and Caribbean cultures, you’re in luck – there are tons of events and resources available from the library and elsewhere in the CU that can expose you to new knowledge.

If you’ve never been to Champaign’s  Art Theater Co-op, you’re missing out. They show great movies, and you can get a student discount for most movies if you show your I-Card. Starting this Friday, in collaboration with the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, they’re holding the annual Latin American Film Festival. There are seven different Latin American documentaries and films to choose from, playing over the entire weekend – or you can go see them all! Check out the trailers on the Art’s website.

You can also tune in on the small screen (a television, if you have access to one) to watch ‘Latino Americans,’ PBS’s original miniseries celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs September 15th through October 15th. A new segment airs every Tuesday night.

Too busy with homework to go see a movie or watch TV? If you’re studying in the library, you can always take a short study break to check out the Unity in Diversity exhibit on the first floor of the main library, curated by the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Library. It features just a few of the wide-ranging resources that the library contains on Latin American studies. Or, if you have an afternoon free, mosey over to the Spurlock Museum to check out their Folk Art of Latin America exhibit.

And if you still can’t get enough, you can grab one of these movies or books by and about Latin American or Caribbean people on your way home from the library. Opportunities abound!

A Tree Within by Octavio Paz

A Tree Within by Octavio Paz (translated by Eliot Weinberger)

fruit of the lemon by andrea levyFruit of the Lemon by Andrea Levy

At the Bottom of the River by jamaica kinkaidAt the Bottom of the River by Jamaica Kincaid

Vivir para contarla by Gabriel Garcia MarquezViva para Contarla (Living to Tell the Tale) by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The Country Under My Skin by gioconda belliThe Country Under My Skin: A Memoir of Love and War by Gioconda Belli

Collected Fictions by jorge luis borgesCollected Fictions by Jorge Luis Borges (translated by Andrew Hurley)

La Sirga cover

La Sirga directed by William Vega

The Devil's Backbone coverThe Devil’s Backbone directed by Guillermo del Toro

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