Starved Rock Country Magazine - Spring 2021

Spring 2021

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MUST-SEE MURALS

30 outdoor works of art to see and explore Page 14

YOUR GETAWAY AWAITS Local B&Bs offer cozy vacations close to home Page 10

ARTISAN FLAVORS

Iniga brings Neapolitan pizza to Ottawa Page 44

Additional copies at 801 E. U.S. Highway 6, Utica 61373

BLAZE

Your

Old Joliet Prison Joliet

Ambler-Becker Gas Station Dwight

wn

TRAIL

The Gemini Giant Wilmington

Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame Pontiac

The Mother Road.

America’s Main Street.

From classic roadside attractions to nostalgic “Mom and Pop” diners, the ultimate road trip awaits.

Start in Chicago, buckle up, put on your sunglasses, and blaze your own trail on Route 66!

Get more information at 844-94-HCCVB (42282) or

TheFirstHundredMiles.com 2 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

CANAL TOWNS

ROUTE 66

STARVED ROCK

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Care Built on Our Community from m People You Know & Trust.

While St. Margaret’s Hospital and Illinois Valley Community Hospital (IVCH) have new names, St. Margaret’s Health – Spring Valley and St. Margaret’s Health – Peru, rest assured you can expect the same compassionate care from the physicians and medical staff you’ve always trusted with your health.

In addition to the Peru hospital campus, you will find the names of all locations changing soon to reflect the affiliation. Be at ease knowing you will see your physician at the office where you have always seen them. Should any changes arise concerning your medical provider, St. Margaret’s Health will make it a priority to let you know.

For the latest news and announcements, Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 3 as well as a complete list of all our locations and providers, visit: Starved aboutsmh.org

Inside

ON THE COVER

LODGINGS 10 YOUR GETAWAY AWAITS

Get some R&R at these local B&Bs, which offer cozy vacations close to home

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 14 MULTITUDE OF MURALS

Take a self-guided tour through Starved Rock Country to see more than 30 outdoor works of art

The Peltier Glass Factory mural in Ottawa was designed and painted by E. Colin Williams and Murals by Jericho.

Photo by Tom Sistak

21

DRAWN TOGETHER

Ottawa’s and Peru’s arts communities continue their creative endeavors in virtual, imaginative ways

MUST SEE 24 SKY IS THE LIMIT

Veterans, fans eagerly await May return of Peru’s air show

28 30

4 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

A DAY IN DWIGHT

An up-and-coming meadery, a bank designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and more, all found in this village off Route 66 FIND YOUR CALM

Streator’s Balanced Wellness Center offers yoga, Reiki sessions, massages and more

PAST TENSE 36 RESTORING A LANDMARK

The founder of Somonauk once resided here — now, Angel and Doug Bright live in and care for it

DINING & DRINKING 40 IN THE KITCHEN WITH ESTHER

For fans of Esther’s Sueño, it’s “like walking into their mom or grandma’s kitchen”

44

INIGA’S ARTISAN FLAVORS

It’s amore when it comes to this Neapolitan pizza restaurant in Ottawa

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Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 5

| EDITOR’S NOT E | R

appy spring! By the time this magazine comes out, we’ll be hopefully welcoming the first signs of warmer weather and longer evenings.

Reading on my porch, walking outside without being bundled up and starting my garden are all on my short-term list for nicer weather. What’s on yours?

Our cover story for this spring issue focuses on the breadth of murals in Starved Rock Country.

Outdoor artwork can be appreciated regardless of the pandemic. With spring approaching, it sounds nice to stretch your legs, see some art and learn more about the region’s history.

Editing the murals feature (P. 14) and our story about arts weeks in Ottawa and Peru (P. 21) made me think about my own experiences with art.

From a very young age, art was accessible and encouraged in my house.

At all times, it seemed, my mom kept a huge roll of white paper, which she would roll out over the length of our kitchen table whenever we got bored.

We’d draw detailed, imaginative scenes: carnivals, farms, zoos, you name it. One summer, we made gigantic — as tall as a small child, and several times as wide — papier-mache fish, which we painted and hung in the basement. I learned to sew and created Halloween costumes and holiday presents. My dad showed us how to appreciate outdoor art: among them, rock formations, plants and architecture. (If architecture is up

6 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

your alley, we toured a bank designed

by Frank Lloyd Wright on P. 28.)

Even though I wasn’t a natural at all of these projects, art never seemed off-limits. That has stuck with me today; just a few months ago, my mom came for a visit and lugged her sewing machine up to my second-floor apartment, where we spent the evening making throw pillows. I thought about that creative spirit, so natural in my parents, while editing this spring issue of Starved Rock Country Magazine. Spring is a time of new beginnings; if art hasn’t traditionally been your first mode of expression, maybe give it another try this season.

It can’t hurt!

Also included in this issue are two lovely dining features, one on Esther’s Sueño and the other on Iniga Pizzeria Napoletana. It’s almost impossible to overstate how important it is to support local restaurants and shops after the past year of uncertainty. If you’re in the mood for tacos or pizza, you’ve come to the right place.

Lastly, I hope this magazine provides some respite and relaxation for you. Sitting down with a new magazine can feel so peaceful and interesting — at least, to me it does!

While travel may still be limited, hopefully you feel transported into the stories and places mentioned here. As always, if you have any tips or recommendations, my email inbox is open. Thanks for reading.

H

ANNAH HOFFMEISTER Editor

Starved Rock Country Magazine is published quarterly or seasonally four times per year.

Shaw Media 110 W. Jefferson St. Ottawa, IL 61350 815-431-4014 starvedrockcountry.com Email photo or article submission queries to hhoffmeister@shawmedia.com.

Copyright 2021. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner, without permission, is prohibited.

Vol. 9 No. 1 Spring 2021 Edition 2021-3/25,000

PUBLISHER Dan Goetz EDITOR Hannah Hoffmeister GRAPHICS AND DESIGN Julie Barichello PRODUCTION Rhonda Dillon CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jonathan Bilyk Stephanie Jaquins Ryan Searl Diane Krieger Spivak Charles Stanley Steve Stout Chris Walker CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Ryan Searl Tom Sistak Steve Stout

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Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 7

LIVE THE HARBOR L I F E

| lodgi ng s |

Your

Await s

Getaway R&R at these

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&B

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so me

BALDWIN HOUSE

204 E. Kent St., Streator 815-510-0658 • Facebook: @StreatorsBaldwinHouse

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Story by Diane Krieger Spivak Photos by Shaw Media and provided by Brightwood Inn, Lander’s House and Tiskilwa Inn

If you long for a change of scenery from the same old hotel or motel scene for your next trip, why not check out a bed and breakfast in Starved Rock Country? We’ve located several, each with its own unique charm.

10 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

Looking for a longer stay? The Baldwin House lets you rent the entire historic 1880 home, fully furnished and equipped for your stay up to several weeks. “It offers total privacy because it’s only you and your travel mates,” says owner Toni Pettit. The two-bedroom home sleeps up to six. “It has french doors and a sunroom that everybody loves,” says Pettit. “Its three-sided windows overlook the City Park with beautiful views.” Baldwin House has maintained “Superhost” status from Airbnb for several years and hosts visitors worldwide. “It has a homey feel,” says Pettit. “People have referred to it as feeling like their grandma’s house.

That, and the privacy factor, are what sets us apart. You don’t have to share it with people you don’t know. You can stay in your PJs all day and cook when you feel like it.”

BLUE STEEL LUSTRON HOME

315 W. Main St., Grand Ridge Search “Blue Steel Lustron” on Airbnb; you can also book on VRBO. For those who have never heard of a Lustron home, the unique, all-metal, one-story houses were manufactured in Ohio as affordable housing during the 1950s for post-World War II families. “They are 100 percent steel construction exterior, interior and framing,’’ says co-owner Kim Hudgens, who used to take piano lessons in the house as a child, then later bought the home with her sister Karen Meagher.

The surf blue house is a fully functioning home, Hudgens says.

“It definitely stands out. It’s a charming, brightly

colored little blue house that makes you happy to look at it.” The 1000-square-foot, two-bedroom home is well designed with builtins, like the kitchen pass-through and a huge, well-lit vanity in the master bedroom. Guests rent the entire house, which is located on a half-acre with a back patio, fire pit and charcoal grill. “It’s a small town and it backs up to a farm field, so it’s great for star-watching at night,” says Hudgens. “Folks love the peace and quiet. A lot of folks come down who love midcentury modern so they can enjoy the architecture and design.”

BRIGHTWOOD INN

2407 N. IL-178, Oglesby 815-667-4600 • www.brightwoodinn.com Located on 14 acres inside Matthiessen State Park, Brightwood Inn is just 4 miles from the Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail and less than 10 minutes directly south of Starved Rock State Park.

Built in 1996, Brightwood offers a romantic, peaceful stay in nine bedrooms, each with an in-suite bathroom and fireplace, six with Jacuzzis. “We also have three common areas,” says Sharon Ryan, who owns the inn with her husband, Kevin. “Our gathering room is set up like a living room.” Both the gathering room and dining room have fireplaces. The common room seats eight and includes a full-size refrigerator and two microwaves.

“Everybody loves Kevin’s breakfasts, says Ryan.

“They’re second to none.”

Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 11

TISKILWA INN

155 High St., Tiskilwa 815-646-1300 • www.thetiskilwainn.com

LANDER’S HOUSE

115 E. Church St., North Utica 815-667-5170 • www.landershouse.com A Victorian house dating from 1863, the charming Lander’s House is 2 miles from Starved Rock State Park and 6 miles from guided tours at the Hegeler Carus Mansion. Each room and cottage sports a different theme, from southwest to western, safari, sportsman’s bungalow, log cabin and lodge. “All our cottages have their own entrance,” says owner Peter Wang, noting that works well during COVID-19. “Our courtyard has an easy, no-contact entrance.” Each cottage has its own screened patio for privacy, and the fenced yard includes a firepit for each bedroom. The Lander’s House’s location right in the downtown area puts it in close proximity to restaurants and more.

“You don’t need to drive for a good time,” says Wang.

12 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

Guests of the Tiskilwa Inn enjoy partaking in the growing business of agritourism. The renovated 1848 Italianate-style brick, two-story home is located on a farm outside the village of Tiskilwa. “We have five guest rooms, all with a private bath, and we serve farmto-table local meats, eggs and veggies in summer,” says innkeeper Jeremy Gassen. Like all the B&Bs listed, Tiskilwa has COVID-19 restrictions in place for the safety and comfort of guests.

At Tiskilwa, that includes breakfast in bed. “Your tray is dropped off at your door,” says Gassen. Starved Rock State Park is about 30 miles away, and there’s “tons of stuff to do between here and there,” says Gassen. Located near Bureau Creek and S R the Hennepin Canal, the inn also offers bike and kayak rentals. C

SM-CL1852906

Marseilles Montage mural in Marseilles

Welcome to Seneca mural in Seneca

s l a r u M | Arts & Entertainment |

MULTITUDE OF

Take a self-guided tour through Starved Rock Country to see more than 30 outdoor works of art Story by Jonathan Bilyk Photos by Tom Sistak

14 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

T

he spinning brick wall seems to first come into view as the cars exit the Veterans Memorial Bridge, heading north into Ottawa’s vintage Midwestern downtown.

The bridge spans the distance from the bluffs above the south banks of the wide confluence of the Illinois and Fox rivers, down to the valley, to the brick buildinglined streets below.

And as the vehicles come around the bend on Columbus Street and find solid ground once more, the eye can’t help but be drawn up and to the right, to the towering mural depicting a group of flappers from the Roaring ’20s, navigating their way through and around revolving sections of the south wall of the fivestory brick structure known to locals as the Central Life Building.

“It really grabs your attention,” says Curt Bedei, executive director of the Ottawa Visitors Center.

Completed in 2019 by muralist John Pugh, the mural, titled “Revolution,” tells the story of Ottawa’s Radium Girls — young women who used radioactive paint to create glow-in-the-dark watch dials — and the part those women played in turning the world inside out as part of the women’s rights movements of the early 20th century and beyond. “With the trick of the eye it causes, looking like a wall is being pushed out, and the story it tells, it’s definitely one people talk about,” says Bedei.

“Revolution,” however, is but the latest addition to the ever-growing collection of towering public murals adorning the walls not only in downtown Ottawa, but throughout Starved Rock Country.

This story began in the early 2000s, with A Brush with History.

Years before Bedei arrived in Ottawa, a group of volunteers set to work, putting together a plan to attract quality muralists to pictorially depict the people, places and events that shaped

The Heritage Park vintage wall mural in Streator

Ottawa’s history — and in the process, revitalize Ottawa’s downtown. The murals tell the story of the community from its precolonial period through the 20th century, with stops along the way at the world-changing Lincoln-Douglas debates, the Civil War and the Industrial Revolution, among others.

In the past two decades, that inspiration spread throughout Starved Rock Country, producing a gallery of outdoor public art from Morris to Marseilles, Seneca and Ottawa, south to Streator and west to Princeton. The works beckon visitors and locals alike to explore these communities.

The movement reached a fever pitch in 2018, when Streator was selected to host the Walldogs event, a gathering of hundreds of muralists from throughout the country and the world, who come together in one community for several days each year to literally paint the town.

In Streator, the effort resulted in an array of new murals, seemingly created overnight, honoring the city’s industrial heritage and historical luminaries like Clyde Tombaugh, the astronomer who discovered Pluto; auto racing legend Bob Tattersall; vaudeville songwriter and entertainer George Evans; and the creator of Hopalong Cassidy, Clarence E. Mulford.

Those built on a collection of murals that had come to adorn the southern La Salle County community over the previous 10 years. That collection included the work known as the Heritage Park Mural. Completed in 2017, the painting covers the entire wall of a three-story brick building, creating the appearance of a historic building facade, frozen in time. To complete the illusion, the mural is even backlit at night, making it appear as if lights are turned on.

The impact of the murals in every town in which they are painted is profound, says Tara Bedei, a Streator City Council member who chaired the Streator Walldogs committee. She and Curt Bedei both note the ways the murals have breathed new life into the downtowns of both Ottawa and Streator, helping to boost new business, economic and civic activity, along with community pride. The difference in Streator, from even just five years ago, is “remarkable,” Tara Bedei says.

“About a year ago, I overheard a conversation between someone who lives in Streator and someone from out of town,” she says. “The first thing the local asked when he found out he was talking to a visitor was, ‘Have you had a chance to go see all of our murals?’

“To me, that shows a sense of pride in not only the murals, but also our history.”

Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 15

“Revolution” by John Pugh tells the story of Ottawa’s Radium Girls.

“A

bout a year ago, I overheard a conversation between someone who lives in Streator and someone from out of town. The first thing the local asked when he found out he was talking to a visitor was, ‘Have you had a chance to go see all of our murals?’”

To the north and west, a group of artists have turned their eyes to the countryside, as well as the downtowns.

After helping Streator complete the Heritage Park Mural about four years ago, North Central Illinois ARTworks launched its Silo Pathways Legacy Project. It launched with the creation of “Mendota Gold,” a painting of a golden ear of corn on a silo along the Amtrak line in Mendota, in northwestern La Salle County. That work in 2019 garnered a mention in the New York Times Magazine from a writer passing through on a train trip across the country, calling it the best thing she saw on the trip.

The project’s creators say they foresee a series of other paintings, depicting imagery evocative of the culture and history of the region, on other farm silos throughout the region. NCI ARTworks is also working with artist Ray Paseka on a future history mural in the village of Seneca, which would be the Silo Pathway’s fifth installation.

“Everyone has their favorites, and a lot of people have come to develop personal relationships with some of the paintings, for a variety of reasons,” says Curt Bedei. “The people here have really come to S R embrace these murals.” C

16 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

For those seeking to explore the murals, here’s a breakdown of what you might find on a Starved Rock Country mural tour: MORRIS r I&M CANAL VISITORS CENTER The side of the I&M Canal Visitors Center is adorned by an 8-by-40-foot painting, depicting life as it may have appeared during the operation of the Illinois and Michigan Canal after its completion in 1848. Built largely

by Irish immigrants, the canal’s historical significance cannot be overstated, as it was instrumental in both populating the Illinois Valley and leading to the development of Chicago as a national transportation hub and world-class industrial center.

SENECA r WELCOME TO SENECA Adorning the wall of a downtown building on Main Street, the mural relates some of the history of the village of Seneca, displaying an image said to be of its first settler of European descent, Irish immigrant Jeremiah Crotty.

It prominently features tributes to Seneca’s Prairie Shipyard, which during World War II produced Landing Ship Tanks, or LSTs, used during amphibious troop landings, such as in Normandy, France, during the D-Day invasion.

MARSEILLES r MARSEILLES MONTAGE Completed in 2010 by artist Tim Trumbo on the north wall of 404 Main St., the mural includes a montage of people and places from Marseilles history within its 10-by-40foot frame.

OTTAWA

The city offers 10 gigantic murals, including Revolution (at 628 Columbus St.) and, among others: r PELTIER GLASS FACTORY Located at the corner of La Salle and Jefferson streets, the mural tells the story of the arrival of French glassblower Victor Peltier in 1886, and how his glass products factory forever changed the course of the city’s history.

The mural was designed and painted by artists E. Colin Williams and Murals by Jericho.

Ottawa Visitors Center director Curt Bedei stands in front of the General W.H.L. Wallace mural in Ottawa.

r GENERAL W.H.L. WALLACE (shown above) Designed and painted by artist G. Byron Peck, the mural at 815 La Salle St. shares the history of William H.L. Wallace, a local lawyer and friend of Abraham Lincoln, who became a Union general during the Civil War after fighting in the Mexican War. He ultimately died from wounds suffered at the Battle of Shiloh. The mural also honors other local residents who fought for the Union in the Civil War as well as T. Lyle Dickey, also a close friend of Lincoln’s and Wallace’s father-in-law and law partner. Dickey served as a justice on the Illinois Supreme Court for the final 10 years of his life. r IMAGINE AND LEARN WITH BOB MCGRATH Adorning the wall of Jefferson Elementary School, 1709 Columbus St., the work pays homage to Ottawa native Bob McGrath, who starred on children’s television show “Sesame Street.” The mural includes famous Sesame Street character Big Bird and was designed and painted by artist Vicki Crone. r OTTAWA’S EARLIEST RESIDENTS Designed and painted by Roger Cooke Fine Arts, the mural atop the facade at 812 La Salle St. relates imagery evocative of Native Americans who lived in the Illinois Valley, depicting them hunting bison on the Illinois prairie along the Illinois River. r OTTAWA AS A CANAL TOWN This mural at 909 Clinton St. honors the men who dug and built the I&M Canal, which shaped Ottawa’s future as few other events have done. It was designed and painted by artist Gregory Ackers.

For more on Ottawa’s murals, visit: www.pickusottawail.com/ attractions/ottawa-murals For more on Streator’s murals, visit: www.streator.org/explore/arts/murals.php

STREATOR

The city offers a total of 21 murals for public view, including the 17 Walldogs murals painted over four days in 2018. Notable entries include: r HERITAGE PARK Towering above onlookers at 222 E. Main St., the mural, painted in 2017 by Westclox Studios Inc. in conjunction with NCI ARTworks, depicts a three-story building facade that is lit at night, capturing like a living photograph a freeze frame of Streator’s past. r VETERANS Finished in 2014 by artist Gene Davis at Streator City Park, the mural depicts a soldier from every armed conflict in U.S. history. r BOB TATTERSALL (WALLDOGS) At 501 E. Main St., the mural pays tribute to USAC midget car racer Bob “Two Gun” Tattersall. r HOPALONG CASSIDY (WALLDOGS) Completed in 2018 during the Walldogs festival by artist Andy Goretski, the mural honors Streator native Clarence E. Mulford, who created the Hopalong Cassidy Western stories of the early 20th century.

PRINCETON

r BE LIKE LOVEJOY Created in 2020 by the group Human Human, the newest entry into the growing outdoor Illinois Valley public art gallery encourages onlookers to emulate the example of Princeton resident Owen Lovejoy. Settling in Princeton in 1838, the Rev. Lovejoy, who also served as a lawyer and a congressional representative, became one of the region’s most famous slavery opponents. His homestead became a renowned stop on the underground railroad. The new mural on Main Street encourages Princeton residents and visitors alike to adopt Lovejoy’s opposition to racism.

Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 17

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O

ne of the most expensive and ornate private homes in the Midwest when completed in 1858, the Mansion was built by businessman, politician, and philanthropist William Reddick. Home to the Reddick family for nearly 30 years, the mansion anchors Washington Square, site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate.

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DRAWNTogether

Ottawa’s and Peru’s arts communities continue creative endeavors in virtual, imaginative ways Story by Stephanie Jaquins Photos provided by Arica DeArcos, NCI ARTworks and Open Space Art Gallery & Studios

I

n the past, Amanda Weygand regularly hosted vendor fairs inside her downtown Ottawa art studio, Open Space Art Gallery & Studios. The public would mingle around the space booth to booth, browsing art and listening to live music.

Then the pandemic flipped everything on its side. It rendered the art studio’s conventional Third Fridays impossible and forced Weygand to offer something different.

“We switched to virtual Third Fridays,” Weygand says. “That was interesting, because me as a business owner had done Facebook

Lives before and knew a little about navigating social media live.” Many artists, however, had never sold their art through social media videos.

Weygand created a Facebook group for the artists to join and learn about doing a Facebook Live video. “Inside the private group, we told them to go ahead and practice in here until you feel comfortable doing it.

“It was really interesting trying to go from an event that was live and in person and then prep everyone and get ready for an event that was fully online,” she says.

Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 21

NCI ARTworks usually features one artist each month. The gallery is open by appointment only during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Toil and Thyme hosts a booth at an in-person Third Friday, an arts culture and entertainment event in downtown Ottawa.

Once the artists knew what to do, Weygand moved on to the public. “We had to get really creative in explaining and wording how this was going to work, and essentially we linked everybody’s page and made a timeline and told people, ‘It’s as simple as clicking on the link at the time that it tells you and then it’s going to take you to the artist’s page. From there, that artist will be live and you can look at their stuff and purchase, if you want. If it’s a musician, you can donate to them.’ … Now it’s like second nature.”

Many of the artists who participated the year before were eager and enthusiastic.

“For artists, they got hit just as hard as small businesses,” says Weygand. “A lot of artists make their money by talking to people in person and doing commissions and selling stuff at these vendor shows. Without those vendor shows, they had nothing. They don’t have a storefront, most of them. They don’t have a place where they have booths.”

The first virtual Third Friday show in the spring did well, she says, with many artists reporting better sales for the virtual show than in-person ones. It was a needed outlet for the public to shop at a time when small businesses were closed, says Weygand.

A few virtual shows were held in the spring and, in summer, the fair moved outside with booths spaced 30 feet apart, a mask requirement and hand sanitizer available at every booth. The city agreed to shut down the 200 block of West Madison Street in front of the art gallery for the event and has agreed to do so again this summer if needed, Weygand says.

Arica DeArcos, a registered gemologist appraiser with a storefront called Chain, Link & Gemstone Custom Jewelry Design & Appraisal inside Peru’s historic Westclox

22 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

p Jewelry by Arica DaArcos

building, sells her own handcrafted custom gemstone jewelry at the Third Friday events. For DeArcos, it was nice to avoid the hassle of packing up her jewelry and setting up and taking down her booth. She says it was harder to communicate with customers over virtual shows but also notes that customers responded well — so much so, she’s bulking up her virtual presence.

DeArcos also has participated in North Central Illinois ARTworks Second Fridays, which usually feature one artist per month, at the Westclox ARTworks Center. The gallery opens on the second Friday of the month, and the exhibit remains up until the first week of the following month. Featured artists work in a variety of mediums and styles including photography, portraiture, wood turning and abstract.

Due to the pandemic, the gallery is open by appointment only. Jennifer Etscheid, executive director of NCI ARTworks, says events were held right before they closed and another when they first reopened.

“We are very thankful to our patrons and volunteers who helped us adhere to social distancing guidelines during both events, and despite a pandemic, they were two of the most successful gallery openings we have ever hosted in our facility,” she says.

In place of in-person events, the gallery has relied on its online presence, Etscheid says. Last spring, it hosted Spring Fling Virtual Art Show, featuring more than 40 entries. Staff also has taken this time to expand the Hallway Gallery. Throughout three hallways of Westclox, visitors can find reproduction pieces of art from local artists and some from the Art Institute of Chicago’s public domain. Etscheid hopes the display connects the community to artists and art that resonates with them.

The pandemic has not slowed the arts community, Etscheid says, but rather inspired it to adapt and evolve. “I’ve seen online classes, pickup art kits, virtual gallery shows and socially distant concerts and festivals when the weather was nicer,” she says. “While the past 10 months have required a learning curve, it’s amazing to see the tenacity of our community.

“Arts is all about community, and our community has never lacked artistic S R appreciation.” C

Want to check out local art shows?

To see if art shows are planned during your next visit to Starved Rock Country, check out Open Space Art Gallery & Studios, 223 W. Madison St., Ottawa, at www.osartstudios.com or on Facebook.

For North Central Illinois ARTworks inside Westclox in Peru, visit www.nciartworks.com or on Facebook.

Filet mignon with aioli frites type of person?

Embrace your nature.

812 La Salle St, Ottawa, IL

812 La Salle St, Ottawa, IL

Meat and potatoes type of person?

Embrace your nature.

Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 23

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24 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

N R U T E R T I A W A Y L R E AG E

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eru’s Avenger air show will roar and soar sky-high in May once again.

After skipping a year due to COVID-19 concerns, the high-flying TBM Avenger Reunion and Salute to Veterans is set to return this spring. Organizers are hoping the free air show will again attract fans to the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru on May 14 and 15.

The weekend’s highlights will include the arrival of many mighty military planes at the airfield May 14 with an aerobatic display before sunset, a car show, live entertainment and food.

The air show, which in the past has attracted dozens of military aircraft, pilots and other airplanes from across the U.S., will again showcase the historic World War II Grumman TBM Avenger torpedo bombers. It will offer an up-

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close experience with various military aircraft and veterans who flew Avengers into battle.

According to online military sources, the TBM Avenger is an all-metal construction, mid wing plane designed for war missions. It was designed as a torpedo bomber for carrier or land-based operations. The crew consisted of three members: pilot; turret gunner, who is also the radioman; and a bombardier, who is also the radar operator. The engines within many surviving TBMs are Wright Cyclone C-14BB (R2600-20), 14-cylinder radial, double row, air-cooled engine with approximately 1900 horsepower.

Event organizers expect the show’s lineup on the tarmac and in the skies to again feature P-51 Mustangs, F4U-7 Corsairs, F8F Bearcats, Grumman FM-2 Wildcat aerobatic demonstrations, jet fighters and feature various formation flights with a planned legacy flyover.

Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 25

Cary Miller, TBM committee chairman, says he hopes the air show will attract as many folks and families as did the last one, held in the spring of 2019, and previous years. Those who attended previous air show events always comment about being up close to the massive warbirds and flight crews on the tarmac and then watching them soar in flight, he says.

“We may have up to 15 TBM Avengers flying into Peru for that weekend, and we are planning to have a spectacular nighttime show which should be exciting to watch on that Friday night,” he says, adding, “We really do not have a count on exactly how many warbirds and other planes might show up, but it will be comparable to other shows.”

On May 15, a veterans parade honoring all branches of the military is set for late morning.

Staging for the parade will begin before noon, with the procession to be led by local honor guard members. Any and all veterans are welcome and invited to participate.

“We want people who attend this show to leave with a stronger historical awareness and appreciation of what these men and machines did for our country,” former TBM Chairman Dave Lourie said in 2019.

Miller also says there are hopes that volunteer re-enactors, dressed in historically accurate military flight uniforms, will be again walking through the crowds to educate fans about the aircraft and troops.

Miller says this year’s event will be bittersweet for him and his family, as his father, Bill Miller, a WWII Air Force veteran who was the event’s 2019 Parade Marshal, died last year.

Miller and his wife, Mary, had helped in the success of the show since its inception.

In 2019, Bill Miller, who flew in B-17s at the end of WWII, said of his service and the Peru air show: “I was one of the lucky ones to come back from the war (unharmed) and it is always emotionally moving to see all the people (at the show) thanking us vets for our service and sacrifice we all gave to the country.”

“It will be different (without him) this year,” admits Cary Miller. “The success of the show was very important to Dad and now it remains important for me, my mother and our family.

Dad loved the show, the planes and all the people who came and cheered him and his fellow veterans (for their service). We hope for another good weekend.”

To Miller, “It’s that cool factor that most everyone remembers after coming to the show.

S R Come by and see for yourself.” C

26 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

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A DAY IN

DWIGHT A meadery, bank designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and more, all found in this village off Route 66 Story and Photos by Hannah Hoffmeister

H

ead southeast about 40 miles from Starved Rock State Park, and you’ll arrive in Dwight.

Dwight Harvest Days, a celebration held in late summer and scheduled for Sept. 16-19 this year, features the legendary Basset Waddle, in which basset hounds from far and wide are the main stars of the annual parade. “Dwight is a doggone

good town!” became the town’s slogan, and in 2010, local artists painted 11 fiberglass dogs, which are now placed in prominent community spots.

Starved Rock Country Magazine spent a day in Dwight to see what it had to offer for readers in need of a fun day trip — what makes it so doggone good? Here’s what we saw along the way:

UNPOSSIBLE MEAD

p Brian Galbreath, the owner of Unpossible Mead, stands behind the bar. He’s owned the 123-year-old space since July 2017.

28 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

111 E. Chippewa St. Brian Galbreath knew he was on the right track when he won the Mazer Cup — in his words, the “Super Bowl of mead” — in 2016 with what would become his Cherry Bomber mead.

Fast-forward to September 2018: Dwight Harvest Days and the opening of Unpossible Mead. He opened with three meads, a lineup that has only since grown.

Mead is an alcoholic drink made from honey, typically best served chilled. “My bees took off on me this summer,” says Galbreath. For about a year before their escape, he cared for them and used their honey for the mead. “I think I’ll get bees again; it’s enjoyable,” he says, adding his second hive might be more of a hobby hive than his main honey source.

Making mead is a lot like cooking for Galbreath, who’s from the Coal City area. For a traditional taste, try the Basswood Blossom. Tastes Like Toffee is a 2021 release; look for hints of butterscotch and eucalyptus. Cherry Bomber, bottled with a bright red and blue label, is another standout.

“I tend to do cherry really well,” Galbreath says.

Unpossible Mead is open Saturdays from 3 to 9 p.m.; check back in the spring for updated hours. When you go, look for the two honey-themed baby photos on the walls, one of which shows a sleeping newborn in a pot labeled “honey.”

That’s Declan, Galbreath’s 2-year-old son. The two photos were Father’s Day presents.

BONUS STOPS n Franklin Corner, 162 E. Main St.: Open since 2016, this boutique offers jewelry, trinkets, clothing, handmade soap and more. The styles and items available make it a great local spot to buy gifts for birthdays or special occasions.

t According to the bank, First National Bank of Dwight printed $657,930 worth of national currency before it stopped printing money in 1935. p Frank L. Smith’s former office space is now used as a boardroom. It holds copies of original documents, including the bank’s blueprints and original charter.

DWIGHT BANKING CENTER OF PEOPLES NATIONAL BANK OF KEWANEE

122 W. Main St. Yes, we’re recommending a bank.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed this 1906 bank — known as First National Bank of Dwight until 2018 — for Dwight businessman Frank L. Smith, who operated the Frank L. Smith Agency out of one section of the building. It’s one of only two banks Wright is known to have designed.

(The second is in Iowa, but it no longer functions as a bank.)

What was originally Smith’s office is now the bank’s boardroom, where you can see original currency (larger than today’s money!) and copies of the bank’s original charter and blueprints.

After a modernization in the 1950s, the bank remodeled again in the 1960s to restore many of the original features, including oak trim, yellow-green walls and skylights. In the main lobby stands a wooden table, one of two original pieces of furniture left in the building. Carol Dippon, a receptionist and longtime bank employee, says visitors from all over the world come to the bank while on trips along Route 66.

STATION 343

140 E. Main St. This firefighter-themed restaurant is a must-have dinner on your trip to Dwight.

Named Station 343 to honor the 343 firefighters and paramedics who died in 9/11, owners Peter and Joy Meister serve upscale meals in an inviting atmosphere.

The restaurant opened just over eight years ago on Main Street. In addition to growing through word of mouth in Dwight and the surrounding areas, the restaurant physically grew about two years ago with the addition of a banquet room.

Peter Meister’s eight years as a volunteer firefighter cemented the name and theme, displayed throughout the dining room with firefighter-themed decor.

He also eats gluten- and dairy-free, so much of the menu can be modified to fit those needs. Having that option is a game-changer for people, he says. We’d recommend the beef short rib, a popular S R and delicious “fire station favorite.” C

n Pioneer Gothic Church, 201 N. Franklin St.: Built in 1857 in the style of Carpenter Gothic architecture, Dwight’s first church is just a few blocks from the village’s main streets. According to the Dwight Economic Alliance, the church serves as a meeting and reception space now.

q The beef short rib comes with carrots, tomatoes and a red wine sauce, all served over garlic mashed potatoes.

n Prairie Creek Library, 501 Carriage House Lane: This library is home to one of the 11 painted dogs, appropriately named “A Fine Feathered Friend.” The library was first a carriage house and then a recreation building.

Behind the library sits a towering windmill. “It was built in 1896 to supply water to the Oughton Estate,” reads a sign near the windmill, which adds that the landmark was given to Dwight in 2003.

Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 29

Find Your Calm

at Streator’s Balanced Spirit Wellness Center

Story and Photos by Ryan Searl

S

ince 2017, Balanced Spirit Wellness Center has been offering rejuvenating massages, transformative Reiki sessions and deeply relaxing Himalayan salt cave experiences to visitors

and locals alike in Starved Rock Country. Nestled in historic downtown Streator and less than a half-hour southeast of Starved Rock State Park, Balanced Spirit Wellness Center is an all-in-one relaxing retreat that aims to align your physical, emotional and mental well-being. Join us as we take a tour of this cozy wellness center and learn about the many exciting services it has to offer.

Owned and operated by Streator native Shawn Cates and her husband, Mike, Balanced Spirit Wellness Center is a passion project that stemmed from Cates’ love of Reiki. As a certified Reiki master and reflexologist, Cates was encouraged by her former instructor to set up a center of her own, bringing Reiki and a whole suite of other wellness services to Streator’s beautiful downtown.

30 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

Balanced Spirit Wellness ADDRESS: 419 E. Main St., Streator PHONE: 815-672-6600 WEB: balanced-spirit-wellnesscenter-llc.business.site

Reiki, a Japanese energy healing technique, is rooted in the principal that a practitioner can channel energy into a patient by means of touch. The goal is to deeply relax the client, helping to speed healing, reduce pain and decrease other symptoms they may be experiencing.

Reiki, while just one of the many services offered at the center, is one of the most popular. Three Reiki practitioners work out of Balanced Spirit: Christine Brown, Monika Van Ness and Tricia Novotney. These all-ages sessions can be booked in 30-minute or hour increments, providing you with a one-on-one session in

a comfortable setting that promotes relaxation.

Therapeutic massage, one of the other core pillars of Balanced Spirit Wellness Center, uses the physical manipulation of the body’s soft tissue to stimulate circulation, promoting both relaxation and healing.

Three massage therapists, Cayla Rebstock and mother-daughter massage practitioners Monika and Madison Van Ness, can be scheduled for 30, 60 and 90-minute sessions, along with specialty services like prenatal massage and cold stone head therapy. For just a small upcharge, you can add relaxing hot stones to any massage offered at the center.

Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 31

Balanced Spirit Wellness also features a tranquil yoga studio on-site, offering three drop-in friendly classes throughout the week. Lead by instructor Jessica Bakalar, these classes can cater to anyone from the experienced yogi to first-time student, perfect for anyone passing through the area or vacationing in Starved Rock Country. Classes are held at 5:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 8:30 a.m. Saturdays.

If you are looking to truly unwind, step into the wellness center’s Himalayan salt room. Quickly becoming one of the most popular branches of the wellness industry, halotherapy is widely regarded for its calming and detoxifying effects, believed to support the immune, nervous and lymphatic systems. Additional benefits are said to include reduced stress and headaches, increased energy and better sleep patterns. Lined with the finest imported salt, the wellness center’s dim and relaxing room can be reserved for 45-minute sessions, group sessions or discounted four-session passes for repeat relaxers.

IT’S MORE THAN A DAYCATION.

The Wellness Center’s private float tank, which contains a special Epsom salt and water solution, simulates the effects of near zero gravity, allowing for deep relaxation and pain relief. In the tank, blood flow is stimulated through all the tissues, releasing natural endorphins and promoting relaxation and meditation.

In addition to these rejuvenating services, Balanced Spirit also boasts an in-house aesthetician, capable of handling all your beauty needs. Nancy Arevalo offers sessions focusing on facials, eyebrow and eyelash lifting, waxing, dermaplaning and even luxury pamper packages.

All of these wonderful and relaxing services can be booked online at www.balancedspiritwellness.com. Owner Shawn Cates encourages those interested to reserve their sessions at least a few days in advance to ensure availability. For more information and to see upcoming specials and new services, be sure to follow Balanced Spirit Wellness on S R Facebook. C

E THE

EXPERIENC

NOSTALGIA

OF

IT’S A LIFESTYLE.

PARKS • DINING • SHOPPING • LODGING TO START PLANNING YOUR TRIP, VISIT:

STARVEDROCKCOUNTRY.COM 32 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

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Throwback Diners

66

Fascinating Museums

66

Boutique Shopping

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Restoring A

Landmark

The vintage butter churns among the other cooking tools led to this pantry area being dubbed “The Buttery” — a bygone name for a storage space.

36 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

Angel and Doug Bright have spent more than 25 years restoring the Alvarus Gage House in Somonauk. The capstone of their restoration project was installing a historical marker.

| Pas t Tense |

hen Angel Bright was a teenager and dating the man she would marry, the two would pass by the 1846 home built by Alvarus Gage, the founder of Somonauk. She would say, “Someday I’m going to own that house.”

Then-boyfriend Doug Bright would just chuckle.

But Angel says she felt she just “gravitated” toward the two-story Georgian style house. As it turned out, it wasn’t too long after they were married that they became the fifth owners of the house.

The Brights bought the home from longtime owners Sue and Mike Adrian. Since then, the two have made it their labor of love, as it had been for the Adrians. Last October, as a capstone to their more than 25 years of restoration work, an Illinois State Historical Society metal marker was unveiled in their front yard facing busy Highway 34, all to the applause of a small crowd.

Interested in a look inside the Gage House?

The house address is 100 Sycamore St. You can take your chances and knock at the door, but a better bet is to call Angel Bright to set up a tour. Her home number is 815-797-1044. “Or you can just leave a note with your phone number,” she says. “I’m so easy-peasy.”

Photo by Charles Stanley

Story by Charles Stanley, Photos by Tom Sistak

Photo by Charles Stanley

THE FOUNDER OF SOMONAUK ONCE RESIDED HERE — NOW, ANGEL AND DOUG BRIGHT LIVE IN AND CARE FOR IT

Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 37

(Top left) The steep staircase to the second story requires caution, even though a hand-rail was added by previous owners. “Trust me, we’ve all had our share of falls on the stairs,” says Angel Bright.

(Top middle) The dining room has served the home’s residents since the house was built.

(Top right) Old stone sinks were installed in the two upstairs bathrooms created by the Brights.

The sink vanities were built by Angel Bright and a friend.

(Bottom left) Pioneer-era kitchen tools such as this cutting board and pestle are used by Angel Bright to prepare everyday meals.

(Bottom right) The living room is the home’s original parlor. The enclosed wood-burning stove was added by the home’s previous owners.

38 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

As the historical marker chronicles, New York native Gage arrived in 1843 at what was then prairie. Gage and his twin brother planned “to buy homestead land at $1.25 per acre and sell lots to attract the construction of a railroad and town.” He acquired 240 acres toward his plan 10 years before the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad started to build in the area in 1853. Gage “then negotiated a deal with the railroad to build rails, a depot and a granary.”

Over the years, the house had deteriorated until the Adrians bought it at auction and began to restore it, making some allowances like adding a modern kitchen.

The Brights made their own changes, converting an upstairs nursing room off the main bedroom into a bathroom. But features such as the steep narrow staircase, original room dimensions and low ceilings remained the same.

All the time the house was as fully functional as any other family’s. It even became a popular gathering place for friends of their son, Ben, and daughter, Mckenzie.

“This is a lived in house,” says Angel Bright.

As their work progressed on the house, it drew interest. It wasn’t uncommon for strangers to knock on the door to ask about it. At one point, when the Adrians were back in town, they stopped by. “They were very happy with what we had done,” she says. “And, of course, Sue and I cried and hugged each other.”

Others are intrigued by the house. People take photos and read the new historical marker. Occasionally there’s a knock at the door to see if a tour is possible. “I’ve always loved doing home tours — not to brag, but to show and educate people,” she says.

There’s still more she would like to do to the house.

“I have a kitchen design I would love to do that would hide the appliances,” she notes. “Also, there is still a fireplace I would love to open up. But maybe that’s a project for the next owner.

“This house has had so many journeys, and we’re just the caretakers,” says Bright. “When my husband and I are gone — whether it be from moving or passing away — this home will still S R be here. That’s why it’s so important to us to preserve it.” C

(Top left) A bathroom for the master bedroom was fashioned from a nursing room and also features an old stone sink.

(Top right) The original entry doors are still in use. Even the brass key (left) has survived and still works in the front door lock.

(Bottom left) One of the two rope beds in the upstairs bedrooms dating back before the Civil War. A rope bed is so-called because the mattress is supported by a net of interlaced ropes. The child’s bed is believed to be an original companion piece to the larger bed.

(Bottom right) The walls of the upstairs rooms are just under 7 feet tall. With the low windows it gives a sense of intimacy. This is the master bedroom.

Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 39

A colorful mural by artist Adrienne Holtke marks the entryway of Esther’s Sueño in Ottawa.

40 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

| Di n i ng & Dri n ki ng |

IN THE KITCHEN WITH

ESTHER

FOR FANS OF ESTHER’S SUEÑO, IT’S “LIKE WALKING INTO THEIR MOM OR GRANDMA’S KITCHEN” Story by Charles Stanley, Photos by Tom Sistak

A

t Esther’s Sueño, a Mexican carryout restaurant in Ottawa, there are two main attractions: the food and owner Esther Granados.

May 5 will not only mark the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo, but also the 20-year anniversary for Esther’s Sueño, or Esther’s Dream.

Granados, now a widow, came from Mexico to the United States at age 16 and settled in Ottawa. She has five children living there: Marie Smith, Joe Granados, Angie Keely, Julia Bailey and Lupita Eick.

When the factory she worked at shut down, difficulty finding a new job led to a suggestion from Keely to put her passion for cooking to work by opening a restaurant. Granados already had some experience to draw on. While working at the factory, she would make tacos, burritos and enchiladas at home and sell them at work from a cooler with wheels.

For her new enterprise, Esther rented the huge kitchen of a former union banquet hall. Not only is the space practical — it also charms her customers. “A lot of people will comment it’s like walking into their mom or grandma’s kitchen,” says Marie Smith, her daughter. “They like to watch their food being made, and Mom likes to visit with them.”

The simple menu features tacos, tamales, tostadas, burritos, quesadillas and the signature dish, Esther’s Famous Enchiladas. The best deal is the $1 tacos sold on Fridays. (They’re $2 on other days.)

Granados also develops new items. Formerly a Wednesday special, a roast pork and potato taco proved popular enough that it now is being added to the regular menu. She also offers custom party platters and family meal packages.

Esther Granados, the namesake of Esther’s Sueño in Ottawa, displays a plate of her popular tacos.

Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 41

For first-time customers, the restaurant can be a little tricky to find. The old union hall fronts on 519 W. Madison St., but the entrance is through the back door in the rear parking lot. A colorful mural marks the spot. There is no seating inside, but outside there are tables painted in Mexico’s national colors of red, white and green for use in warm weather.

In the past, as Esther’s became successful, there would be suggestions she expand into a larger location. But Granados has resisted, and now family members see her wisdom. The current operation can be a chiefly one-woman show — well, if the woman is as hardworking as her mother, says Smith, who has been working with her mother for three years. Late last year when Granados had a knee replaced, Smith was the full-time worker.

“I was like, I don’t know how this woman has done S R it all these years,” she says. C

Esther’s Sueño ADDRESS: 519 W. Madison St., Ottawa — entry around back.

PHONE: 815-433-9484 PARKING: There is a parking lot outside the main door.

HOURS: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; except Thursday when closing time is 3 p.m. to accommodate pickup at the food pantry next door.

PAYMENT ACCEPTED: Cash and credit cards.

Esther Granados prepares tacos at her restaurant, where dollar tacos on Fridays typically draw a big crowd. To the left is Esther’s great-grandson, Kolton Kennedy.

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Iniga’s

ARTISAN FLAVORS

IT’S AMORE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS NEAPOLITAN PIZZA RESTAURANT IN OTTAWA Story by Chris Walker, Photos by Tom Sistak

44 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

C

omedian Bill Murray once said that unless you are a pizza, he could live without you.

How long have you lived without certifiably authentic Neapolitan pizza?

If you had to travel all the way to Italy to take your first bite, you’d have an excuse for eluding this delicacy. But it’s available today in your backyard, so what’s holding you back?

Chef Dezmond Armstrong of Iniga Pizzeria Napoletana adds wood to the specialty oven imported from Italy. The oven heats up to 900 degrees and bakes a pizza in 90 seconds. q

As exciting as it is to discover and explore Starved Rock Country outdoors, it’s quite the tasty encounter indoors to learn what the fuss is all about concerning Neapolitan pizza by dropping into Iniga Pizzeria Napoletana in Ottawa. “Everyone is welcome at Iniga,” says owner Tim Cottingim. “We hope to give them a pizza that they cannot find elsewhere unless they go to Italy. In particular, to Naples.”

There is an artful process that goes into creating the dough, adding toppings and then cooking these traditional pizzas. At Iniga, the process includes a 6,600-pound wood-burning oven that was built and imported from Italy. “This is artisan pizza,” Cottingim says. “Cooking … in general is an artistic expression.

So, it was important to incorporate different forms of art into the theme. So hopefully we combine that with a real emphasis on great service to give the customer an experience that perhaps they have not had before.”

The experience includes an inviting dining venue featuring handiwork from artist Philippe Jestin, muralist John Pugh and local artist Jeremy To see more of Johnson. Different musicians perform for Pugh’s work, turn 30-minute increments that hopefully inspire to P. 14. reminiscing — kind reminders of life’s joys.

As many as 17 pizza varieties can be found on Iniga’s menu today, ranging from $10 to $18. Marinara pizza is seemingly so simplistic in ingredients — crushed San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, oregano and extra virgin olive oil — yet still delightful. The Puttanesca starts with more of the San Marzano tomatoes, followed by house-made mozzarella, Tuscan olives and capers, grape tomatoes, Italian white anchovies, parmesan and red chili flakes.

If you’re venturing further down the menu, the Mediterraneo’s black truffle spread is covered with mozzarella, goat cheese, oregano, Tuscan olives and an egg; the Mais is a combination of creamed corn, fresh corn, red chili flakes, cilantro, mozzarella and parmesan, served with a lime wedge.

Iniga’s pizza likely tastes even better when paired with a drink from its fully stocked bar. The menu can get you started with considerations while Nathan Laatz and his service staff bring the charm and knowledge to personal recommendations. After all, you’re not just eating any old pizza at Iniga.

“We certainly do have people that come in and order the exact same thing every time, but trying new things is what we are about,” Cottingim says.

Starved Rock Country • Spring 2021 | 45

Iniga Pizzeria Napoletana ADDRESS: 215 W. Jefferson St., Ottawa PHONE: 815-324-9229 WEB: www.inigapizzeria.com

What’s that pizza?

A popular pizza at Iniga Pizzeria Napoletana in Ottawa is the margherita pizza (shown here). It features crushed San Marzano tomatoes, fresh buffalo milk mozzarella, Grana Padano, extra virgin olive oil and basil.

Chef Dezmond Armstrong boxes a baked pizza ready to be served.

46 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

t Chef Dezmond Armstrong prepares to put a pizza in the wood fired oven while owner Tim Cottingim works the dough. Only the freshest and highest quality ingredients are used for the pizzas.

“So most customers vary their experience each time by trying new things. Plus, we are constantly looking for different items to try and incorporate.”

The menu also features a mix of salads. Some of the appetizers include cured Italian meats with accoutrements; housemade burrata; and eggs in purgatory, or duck eggs poached in house-made marinara sauce and served with parmesan,

olive oil, basil and house-made bread.

And don’t you dare forget about dessert. “One favorite is the lemon olive oil cake,” Cottingim says, pointing to the lemon mascarpone frosting, lemon curd and fresh blueberries, among other sweet flavors.

Cottingim points to a few reasons for choosing to settle his restaurant in Ottawa.

“It’s a great restaurant town for as small as it is,” he says. “It’s a great location with its proximity to Starved Rock State Park. And lastly, for the area, it’s progressive, which is important because this is much different from what is here, and sometimes requires an education process.

So it’s essential to have an open mind S R going in.” C

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The 2021 Starved Rock Country Discount Golf Card entitles the golfer whose name appears on the card with one (1) round of golf with FREE CART for only $20.00 at each of the 18 listed courses.

• Good through 12/31/2020 Some restrictions k Country Discount Golf Card entitles the golfer whose name ith one (1) round of golf with FREE CART for only $20.00 at each s.

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ink Spring!

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50 | Spring 2021 • Starved Rock Country

Postcard

I ca, llin March 2021

U ti

Starved Rock Country

ois

You never know what you just might see in Starved Rock Country. The April showers did bring some May flowers to decorate and bring a sunny look to this abandoned barn just south of Starved Rock State Park.

Photo by Tom Sistak

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Family reunions, single family vacations or romantic couples getaways

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