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Our movie and media Calendar appears every Friday\/Saturday on <\/em>C-U Blogfidential<\/span><\/strong> and caters to the downstate region anchored by Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, USA.<\/em><\/p>\n ~~~~~<\/p>\n MILESTONES | Happy Birthday to You!<\/strong><\/p>\n 8\/18: Jeff Brandt (owner, Exile on Main Street, Champaign, IL)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n FIELD REPORT DU HQ | From Wherever It May Be Said<\/strong><\/p>\n This Report<\/strong> is for the comrades who get dirt under their fingernails as citizens of the C-U where they work and play hard. As many of us know, we\u2019ve lost a pair of friends in the counter-and behind-the-counter culture while expecting to bid a transcendent farewell to a third in the near future, all of whom rate highly in the overused \u201cone of a kind\u201d category that few persons are fated to achieve. Social activities have been scheduled to shine a light on them, and our main purpose here is to share the details so we can join in with good company to mourn and heal. I am going to hold on my own reflections of them for now.<\/p>\n A gathering for Stephen A. Swords<\/strong>, a professor emeritus in English at Eastern Illinois University<\/strong> who was a ubiquitous presence at the java shops and rock shows of our fair Twin Cities, will take place on Wednesday, August 17<\/strong>, from 5<\/strong> to 8 p.m.<\/strong> at Flying Machine Avionics<\/strong>. The coffee house is located at 202 S. First Street<\/strong> in Champaign<\/strong>. Grab a hot brew and engage in conversation with one another as would Swords in a heartbeat, although you might want to put down that hardcover for the occasion. Thanks to his children Faith<\/strong> and Shannon<\/strong> for sharing via Facebook<\/strong>; Dr. Swords passed on July 19<\/strong> at age 67.<\/p>\n Two hoedowns will go down in memory of Aaron Davidson<\/strong>, a hardy service worker at many a fine establishment who was also a loyal friend to the scene. The Rose Bowl Tavern<\/strong> at 106 N. Race Street<\/strong> in downtown Urbana<\/strong> will host a celebration of A-Rock<\/a><\/span> on Saturday, August 27<\/strong>, from 1<\/strong> to 5 p.m.<\/strong>, and one month later we\u2019ll have \u201cSkid Fest<\/strong>\u201d at Skid\u2019s ultimate place of employment, The Brass Rail, 15 E. University Avenue<\/strong> in downtown Champaign, starting at 7:30 p.m.<\/strong> on Sunday, September 25<\/strong>. The line-up for this free show is Kayla Brown, The Falbonauts, Dave Pride & The East Side Five<\/strong>, and The Dirty Feathers<\/strong>, according to Facebook<\/a><\/span>. Share his lust for life at the former and groove mightily at the latter, just like he would famously do at the drop of the proverbial hat. Davidson left us on July 22<\/strong> at age 48.<\/p>\n Finally, the Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center<\/strong> at 202 S. Broadway Ave.<\/strong> in downtown Urbana will open an exhibit this Sunday, August 14<\/strong>, at 2 p.m.<\/strong> called \u201cMonk in Retrospect<\/strong>.\u201d It presents a set of \u201csilkscreens, photographs, and memorabilia\u201d<\/a><\/span> that relates to the lifelong work of David Monk<\/strong>, a Midwest prairie preservationist and activist who is still with us at age 90 and resting comfortably in hospice at a local hospital.\u00a0 Sunday\u2019s event will also feature live performances by Night Groove, Ther\u2019Up.Y, Dorothy Martirano & All-Star Friends<\/strong>, and The Prairie Dogs<\/strong>. \u201cRetrospect\u201d can be viewed by the public from 2<\/strong> to 5 p.m.<\/strong> on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through August 28<\/strong>, and you can learn more about Monk\u2019s conservation efforts through his Heartland Pathways<\/strong> website<\/a><\/span>. A loving overview written by Glen<\/strong> and Kathy Martin<\/strong>, which gives insight into his curious and generous characte<\/a><\/span>r, was published recently by the News-Gazette<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\n These are the faces, minds, and souls of Champaign-Urbana that I miss encountering on a regular basis. While many of us will go on to enliven and impact those college towns in positive ways, it is always sad to reckon with the loss of fellow residents who did the same. Misters Monk and Swords only had tangential relationships with the cinema, although A-Rock harbored a bounty of concepts and dreams in that fertile head of his that will most likely never go before camera. Alas, it\u2019s time to change the reel again.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOCAL FILMS & EVENTS | Support Your Media Storytellers<\/strong><\/p>\n @ Savor Cinema, St. Lauderdale, FL<\/strong> @ Champaign County History Museum, Champaign, IL<\/strong> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n NOW PLAYING | Champaign-Urbana Area<\/strong><\/p>\n @ AMC Champaign 13, Champaign, IL<\/strong> @ Phoenix Savoy 16 + IMAX, Savoy, IL<\/strong> @ Main Quad, Illini Union, UIUC, Urbana, IL<\/strong>
\nPopcorn Frights Film Festival presents FINAL SUMMER* world premiere (8\/13, 11 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\n\u201cHistory Talk\u201d series feat. \u201cVirginia Sale \u2013 Urbana\u2019s Hollywood Starlet\u201d hosted by Perry C. Morris (8\/18, 7 p.m.)<\/p>\n
\nBODIES BODIES BODIES, EMILY THE CRIMINAL, LAAL SINGH CHADDHA (in Hindi), RAKSHA BANDHAN (in Hindi), SUMMERING, BULLET TRAIN, DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS, EASTER SUNDAY, NOPE, THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER, TOP GUN: MAVERICK, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (8\/12 on), BEAST, DRAGON BALL SUPER: SUPER HERO (anim\u00e9) (8\/18 on)<\/p>\n
\nBODIES BODIES BODIES, E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (2-D IMAX), INU-OH (anim\u00e9), MACK & RITA, THE BLACK PHONE, BULLET TRAIN, DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS, EASTER SUNDAY, ELVIS, MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU, MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS, NOPE, THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER, TOP GUN: MAVERICK, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING (8\/12 on), DIRTY DANCING 35th anniversary (8\/14, 3 & 7 p.m.; 8\/17, 7 p.m.), SUPERMAN THE MOVIE (8\/14, 3 & 7 p.m.; 8\/17, 7 p.m.), CORALINE (8\/15, 3 & 7 p.m.), Rifftrax Live!\u201d feat. THE RETURN OF SWAMP THING (8\/18, 7 p.m.), BEAST, DRAGON BALL SUPER: SUPER HERO (anim\u00e9) (8\/18 on)<\/p>\n
\nIllini Union Board presents \u201cSummer Films on the Quad\u201d feat. DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (8\/18, 9 p.m., free)<\/p>\n