Here are 3 things to do for the weekend of Feb. 2-4, 2023, curated by WGLT's Lauren Warnecke. You can find more coverage on our Datebook - Arts & Music page or by subscribing to WGLT's Weekend Scoop email newsletter, which goes out every Friday.
Don’t call it a farewell tour: Backyard Tire Fire frontman Edward David Anderson plays his last Twin Cities show before moving above the state line. It’s not a farewell tour, per se; a staple of Bloomington-Normal’s music scene for decades, Anderson will continue making semi-regular appearances and curating the excellent Tour Bus Concert Series in Destihl’s Barrel Room—of which this roots rock set is a part with opening guest John Till. 7:30 p.m. Friday; tickets $20 at destihl.com.
A kindness story slam: The Next to Normal Story Slam is Bloomington’s occasional version of Moth Radio Hour, with unscripted stories told live at the McLean County Arts Center. Like any open mic, you never really know what you’re gonna get. But with an overall theme of kindness—random acts of, good Samaritans and the like—you’re guaranteed to leave with filled with feel good joy and faith in humanity. 7:30 p.m. Friday; donations benefit Eastern Illinois Food Bank. nexttonormalstoryslam.com.
Coffee and ice cream: At least two area sweet treat parlors open up early on Saturday for National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. Theo’s Microcreamery in Uptown Normal—which recently brought home three blue ribbons for their flavors—has special breakfast-inspired flavors and a donut ice cream sandwich for the occasion; Front Street Creamery in El Paso has a donut sandwich, too, plus waffles a la mode and an amalgam of those—what they call “the motherload of breakfast + ice cream.” 8 a.m. Saturday at Theo’s Microcreamery and 9 a.m. Saturday at Front Street Creamery (reservations for Front Street at frontstcreamery.com).
