Starved Rock Country

STICKS STONES

From local clubs to the Olympics, curling is a popular sport — and the state's oldest club is found in Starved Rock Country

A NIGHT AT THE SYMPHONY

Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra makes classical music accessible to all

EXPERIENCE THE WARM & FUZZIES

Visit alpaca shops and farms to buy cozy fleece garments (and to meet the alpacas!)

WHAT'S BREWING AT KEG GROVE

Visit a Central Illinois craft brewery's Morris location, housed in a former fire station

STARVED ROCK COUNTRY WELCOME CENTER

AN ILLINOIS MADE GIFT SHOPPE

Featuring gifts from Illinois artisans, makers and attractions

248 W. Canal Street, North Utica, IL • Open 12:00PM - 6:00PM every day! Located in Village Hall, between Downtown Utica and Clarks Run Antiques.

Welcome to Deja Vu, where every visit feels like a warm hug from a small-town storybook. Nestled in the heart of historic downtown Ottawa, Illinois, our unique gift shop is a cozy, whimsical escape filled with treasures waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re shopping for a thoughtful gift, sprucing up your space with seasonal florals and Christmas décor, or simply craving the feeling of walking into a Hallmark movie, you’ll find it here.

Step through the doors of our lovingly restored 1833 building and be greeted by the soft glow of antique lighting, the inviting creak of original maple floors, and the scent of freshly brewed Door County coffee wafting through the air. Around every corner, shelves brim with handpicked gifts, colorful décor, Frazier Fir candles, jewelry, luxurious soaps and lotions, holiday candy and Stonewall kitchen jams & spreads. We also have designer figures from Bethany Lowe, Laurie Mitchell and Dee Faust, and so much more. More pictures can be seen on our Facebook and website. Come sip, stroll, and stay awhile—your next favorite find is waiting.

Hours: Mon. - Sat. 10 to 5 Sun 12-5

A Q&A with Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra manager Aelsa Woods about the 76th season lineup

Experience familiar stories in a new way with a Streator-based theater troupe that performs radio plays on stage

If you enjoy watching curling in the Winter Olympics, try your hand at the sport at Waltham Curling Club

Stay warm this winter with alpaca fleece garments sold by the region's alpaca farms – and even schedule a visit to meet the animals

Mark your calendar for 10 seasonal events and holiday celebrations happening December through March

A renovated hotel in Princeton's downtown art district merges modern amenities with classic aesthetic

Horace Hull made it his mission to preserve Starved Rock State Park –and his historic home was a society destination in Ottawa

A Central Illinois craft brewery added a second location in a former Morris fire station

| E DITOR’S NOTE |

here’s a moment in every orchestra performance when the music swells and the room vibrates. Sound moves through the space like waves on a beach, breaking against every person and object in its path.

In those moments, I feel the music, both figuratively and physically. My heart rate quickens every time.

It’s one of my favorite parts of attending a live orchestra performance. When the chords and notes quiver through the floorboards and my soles, I feel like part of a larger whole. The composition, the musicians and the audience merge into one masterwork. Each is an integral part of the symphony-going experience.

The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra is in the midst of its 76th season this winter. Their performances are one of the treasures of the Starved Rock Country arts community — especially their beloved biennial production of “The Nutcracker Ballet,” returning for two performances this year on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14. In this issue of Starved Rock Country Magazine, orchestra manager Aelsa Woods sat down for a Q&A about what’s in store this season and what makes live symphonies a special experience (p. 8).

In addition to a thriving music scene, the region is home to a robust theater scene. One special troupe is the Pop Up Players, a Streator-based theater company that performs radio plays on stage (p. 12). Traditional stage plays are performed by other theater companies throughout the region. Two places to catch a show this winter are Stage 212 in La Salle, which will perform the Harry Potter-inspired parody play “Puffs” in November and Disney’s “Tarzan” in February; and the Morris Theatre Guild Playhouse in Morris, which will present the comedy “Sorry! Wrong Chimney!” in December and “Steel Magnolias” in March. See the calendars on pages 26 and 28 for a few theater and music highlights.

For more entertainment this winter, visit one of the region’s special events that we highlight on page 24. A variety of Christmas and holiday festivals are on the calendar in November and December, plus a few notable events in early 2026. One of my favorite observances is Fat Tuesday (Feb. 17, 2026), better known in this region as Paczki Day, when a handful of area bakeries flood their storefronts with Polish paczkis. The doughnut-like pastries are a one-day-only treat to order fresh from the fryer.

If you’re not in the area on Paczki Day but still want a special taste of Starved Rock Country, consider lunch or dinner at a favorite local pub or restaurant. Our staff highlights eight of the area’s top places to enjoy a burger, including Best of the Illinois Valley winner Jake’s Pour House (p. 40). Or sample an Illinois-made craft beer at Keg Grove Brewing Company’s location in Morris (p. 38).

Starved Rock Country excels on both the food scene and the arts scene — I hope you can experience both for yourself this winter. No matter where you pass the season, I wish you plenty of warmth (speaking of warmth: check out our story about local alpaca garments on page 18!) and happy holidays.

JULIE BARICHELLO Editor

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

Shaw Media

426 Second St�

La Salle, IL 61301

www�starvedrockcountry�com

Email photo or article submission queries to jbarichello@shawmedia�com�

Winter 2025 Edition

2025-11/25,000

GENERAL MANAGER

Jeanette Smith

EDITOR & DESIGN

Julie Barichello

PRODUCTION

Rhonda Dillon

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Derek Barichello

Stephanie Jaquins

Melissa Rubalcaba Riske

Ryan Searl

Charles Stanley

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Scott Anderson

Makade Rios

Tom Sistak

The Illinois Valley Sympony Orchestra performs Sept. 27 at Illinois Valley Community College.

Photo by Makade Rios

Symphony the

& QA

The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra launched its season in September. With the retirement of longtime conductor Daniel Sommerville, five guest conductors will lead performances this year. Starved Rock Country Magazine connected with Aelsa Woods, the orchestra’s general manager, to discuss the unique season ahead and what makes a night with the IVSO a special outing.

MAGAZINE: Congratulations on 75 seasons of performing! This year marks Season 76 for the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra and has the theme of “Flight.” What is the meaning and inspiration behind this year’s theme?

AELSA WOODS: We’re excited to host five guest conductors this year, so this season gives our audience the chance to savor five different performances, each with their own notes (literally!). The opportunity to appreciate the variety and experience the joy across five soaring concerts turns our concert season into a musical tasting — a flight!

SRC: Having five conductors in one season is a unique opportunity for the orchestra and for the audience. What makes this season of special interest for fans and patrons?

AW: The Illinois Valley has so many artists that richly support our community with cultural experiences, but this season presents a rare opportunity for

with the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra

our neighbors to experience not one, not two, but five outstanding musical artists from across the Midwest without leaving the Starved Rock region. It’s not just that you get to try five different grapes — it’s that the vintage is really, really good, and it’s being poured right in your backyard.

SRC: This season includes the biennial performance of “The Nutcracker.” Can you tell us about this year’s performance and why this is a popular show every time it returns?

AW: Yes! We’re so excited for “The Nutcracker.” The IVSO’s “The Nutcracker” brings together artists from all over the Illinois Valley arts community. Three dance studios, multiple youth choirs, stage crew pros and digital media artists team up with our orchestra to make holiday magic on stage. It pretty much sells out every year.

Besides the nostalgia of being able to attend a performance of “The Nutcracker,” the historic Matthiessen Auditorium at La Salle-Peru High School provides such a classic setting for this family night out. Oh, and I’d be remiss not to mention that the performances are both matinees, leaving plenty of time afterwards to take a drive to look at Christmas lights in the neighborhoods or through Celebration of Lights up at Rotary Park [in La Salle] — talk about a great pairing!

SRC: Tell us a little about the history and mission of the IVSO. AW: The IVSO was founded in 1950. For some cultural context,

Julie Barichello • Photos by Makade Rios

For tickets and more information, visit www.ivso.org/ticketsandevents

Go West, Young America! (Pops Concert)

Conductor: Stephen Squires, Fox Valley Orchestra in Aurora

Saturday, Sept. 27

Illinois Valley Community College

Rhythms of Fire and Soul (Masterworks Concert)

Conductor: Ben Firer, Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts

Featuring Dvorak’s 8th Symphony and a guitar concerto by Joaquín Rodrigo

3-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9

Streator High School Auditorium

202 W. Lincoln Ave., Streator

The Nutcracker Ballet

Conductor: Tim Semanik, Bradley University, Peoria

Featuring dancers from three area dance studios and Tchaikovsky's score

4-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13

3-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14

La Salle Peru High School 541 Chartres St., La Salle

Romantic Imaginations: Young Performers Concert

Conductor: Silas Huff, Clinton Symphony Orchestra (Iowa)

3-5 p.m. Sunday, March 8

Ottawa High School

211 E. Main St., Ottawa

One Summer in Spillville

Conductor: Benjamin Klemme, Wheaton College Conservatory of Music

Featuring Dvorak’s 9th Symphony, “From the New World”

7-9 p.m. Saturday, May 2

that’s the same year that the Peanuts comic strip and Disney’s original animated “Cinderella” debuted. That was a long time ago! For over 75 years, our organization has created collaborative music-making opportunities for and by our community. If you come to one of our concerts, you’ll see current and retired band directors, private music lesson teachers and community members you know from your bank, your sheriff’s department or your insurance agent’s office … people you might never think play classical music but you’ll recognize right away!

Our mission is “to entertain and inspire the community by performing live orchestral music.” Our local musicians thrill folks from the stage and then carry that passion out into the broader community, entertaining and inspiring their neighbors — even when their tuxes and concert black are back in their wardrobe. There’s something deeply powerful about that.

SRC: The IVSO gives audience members the chance to immerse themselves in classical music. What makes this music an attraction centuries after it was first composed?

AW: This question is one that music historians and classical music advocates could spend hours on, but here’s my attempt at a somewhat brief answer!

In life, we experience

Illinois Valley Community College

815 N. Orlando Smith Rd., Oglesby

dissonance and it makes us long for harmony. In literature, we expect rising action that climaxes before a rapid freefall back into familiar territory. In our body, our heartbeat can be regulated by a calming rhythm and stirred by a driving beat. Some things are just human — across eras, across cultures and across preferences.

Classical music has power hundreds of years later because whether you’re looking for an experience that reflects or refracts how you’re feeling, whether you want to zone out or feel the bass drop, whether you like to be surprised or prefer to bask in the comfort of predictability … there’s an orchestra piece for that.

SRC: Speaking of the importance of classical music, why is it special to hear it performed live by an orchestra?

AW: For the same reason that someone would have listened to Taylor Swift’s entire anthology on Spotify but would still jump through hoops to see her perform live on stage. It’s the ultimate surround sound! Have you ever had classical music actually physically touch you because of the way a solid bass drum hit can land like a punch on your chest from 50 feet away? I have, and it’s the reason I decided at age 17 that I wanted to work in the field forever. No app or radio station holds a candle to the experience of feeling music literally vibrate through your body in person.

SRC: The IVSO offers discounted tickets for college students and free admission for K-12 students, as well as offering the Young Performers Competition. Can you share more about the orchestra’s mission to connect youths with classical music?

AW: Young people in our community have so many opportunities to develop musically! We have several award-winning school music programs, a youth orchestra, a youth choir, two great music lesson studios, dozens of qualified private teachers and multiple community bands, not to mention IVCC’s educational ensembles and several church-affiliated choirs and the like.

So one of the ways we see our role in the area

is as a connection point for representatives of all these groups to collaborate. When the world is divided and chaotic, literally coming together to make beautiful art with all kinds of people sets a needed example for our young people. Beyond that, we provide exposure to an art form not otherwise represented in our area. Making it as easy as possible for parents

to bring their children, for teenagers to bring their friends and for college students to diversify their education by keeping ticket prices low or free is one of our favorite ways to live out those truths as an organization.

Theater group brings radio plays to the stage

By Stephanie Jaquins

Pop Up Players with the going

Dan McKenzie will play the role of George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” an upcoming Pop Up Players production. He won’t wear ensembles like James Stewart wore in the film, though.

McKenzie only has one costume, and it’s that of a 1940s radio station employee. That’s because Pop Up Players, a group that formed in 2024, performs radio plays.

“It’s basically readers theater, which means the lines aren't memorized, but we work it under the guise of staged radio plays,” said McKenzie, of Streator, who formed the group.

When radio was the main format of entertainment, scripted radio broadcasts were popular.

“People would stand in front of the microphone and do comedy or drama in front of a live mic, and people would listen on the radio,” he said. “So we've taken that basic concept and added the visual aspect.”

The show’s setting is a fictitious Chicago radio station called WHEW.

The Pop Up Players cast in the 2024 performance of "It's a Wonderful Life."

Photo provided by Dan McKenzie

McKenzie takes radio adaptations of books or film of the time that have been whittled down to 45 minutes with 15 minutes of commercials.

McKenzie then takes the scripts and fleshes them out to fit the Pop Up Players’ program, which is about 75 minutes with their own faux commercials, such as Gleam and Go Tooth Powder.

“The regulars that have been attending the shows know [the commercials] are coming and they kind of anticipate the jokes,” he said. “We try to work them in sometimes at the most inopportune moments to get a laugh, and it seems to work.”

Performances also include live sound effects, such as a mini door that opens and closes, horns and an old telephone. Two blocks of wood knocked together signify gunfire.

“People enjoy that. They get the effect and it works.”

The immediacy of the shows drew McKenzie, as well as the other performers, to the format. Instead of a few months of rehearsals, the group only has to get together for a few readthroughs.

“They don’t have to memorize the lines, but they do have to anticipate the lines. You want to keep the flow going,” he said. “You don’t have to dedicate three to four nights a week for three or four months. You get the same results.”

In December, the group will perform “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which they performed last year

as well. The movie is public domain. It’s based on a short story called “The Greatest Gift,” of which the descendants of the author, Philip Van Doren Stern, maintain the rights. His granddaughter administers licensing rights.

“Once she found out we weren’t going to go someplace that charges an admission fee, she waived all the rights, which was very kind and gracious. She did it last year and again this year.”

The shows operate on a low budget, McKenzie said, noting the performers are not paid and they seek venues that don’t charge.

The Ottawa Masons are hosting the 2025 show and will collect donations for charities to be announced the day of the event. Performances will be at 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14.

Michelle Hainline, of Morris, has performed in four Pop Up Players shows and will perform in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

“It’s really a great little intimate performance that we put on. From what I hear from people, they really like sitting down and watching a show,” she said. “Every performance is a little bit different. We move around differently. We react differently. It’s really fun.”

Hainline, who has performed in theater since high school, said she enjoys working with this group.

“It’s almost like a little family we created,” she said.

POP UP PLAYERS PERFORMANCES

Catch one of the troupe's staged radio plays in November or December.

“Little Women”

2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8

Streator Public Library

130 S. Park St., Streator

2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9

Reddick Public Library

1010 Canal St., Ottawa

2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22

La Salle Public Library

305 Marquette St., La Salle

“The Meanest Man in the World”

2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7

Ottawa Center for the Arts 926 Columbus St., Ottawa

“It’s a Wonderful Life”

1 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14

Ottawa Masonic Lodge (in the grand room) 916 Columbus St., Ottawa

Mansion and Gardens

One 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.

100 West Lafayette St. | Ottawa, IL 61350 815-433-6100 | reddickmansion.org

APPLE BUTTER & SHUGIES

Small Town Christmas is Friday Nov. 28th 29th 30th New location! Same old traditions!!! Come shop where Santa does.

Generations get hooked on sport at Illinois' oldest curling club

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske

STICKS

+ STONES

Waltham Curling Club was founded in 1884 and its building was raised in the 1940s. This photo shows members measuring to see who wins the point in the first year the club moved indoors.

Photos by Scott Anderson and provided by Kate Hagenbuch

Marianne Kuhn, Marty Allen and Robert Mortensen curl at the Waltham Curling Club in January 2022.

Curious about the game of curling he had watched during the televised Olympics, Nick Haws of Dixon decided to check out an open house at Waltham Curling Club in Triumph.

Eight years later, he and his family are hooked on curling.

“Everybody gets out and has fun at every level,” Haws said.

Waltham is the state’s oldest curling club, dating back to its founding in 1884 on a small pond in Waltham Township. Today, the club’s indoor facility includes dedicated ice for the sport of curling, where the object is for each team to slide a granite stone toward its target, aided by a team of sweepers.

Haws said after one visit to the curling club, he and his wife, Angela, had so much fun they couldn’t wait to go back and invited their friends to join them. It wasn’t long before he and his wife joined a Sunday league.

“It’s something that really draws people from all over the area,” Haws said, adding there are club members from Peoria, the Illinois Valley and well beyond.

Soon Haws’ daughters joined the sport. Haws went from enjoying play as a league member to helping run the Junior League for players ages 8 to 18 years. His daughter Lillian traveled to Denver last year for the U18 National Championships.

The Waltham Curling Club has been well represented through the years on the national and international stage, explained club board member Kate Hagenbuch of Utica. She said the club has sent teams to competitions including the USA Curling National events, and in 2023 the U18 team earned a ninth-place finish at the World Mixed Curling Championship.

Kate’s daughter, Mae Hagenbuch, was on that championship team and said the experience of playing at the World Mixed Curling Championship in Scotland was awesome.

“I loved that it was in Scotland. It was beautiful. I loved meeting other teams,” Mae said.

The high school senior at St. Bede Academy comes from a family of curlers and represents the fifth generation to enter the sport. Mae

started playing around 8 years old and instantly fell in love with the sport. The granite stone used in curling weighs 42 pounds and is the same one used by youths and adults. Mae said she probably weighed the same as the stone when she first tried to move it down the ice.

Today, she is the lead, or the one who throws the first stone for her team.

Kate Hagenbuch is no longer an active curler, but she stays involved volunteering in the club while her husband, John, is starting his 28th year of curling. Their older daughter, Bella, also curls out of the Milwaukee Curling Club while attending Marquette University.

“One of my favorite things about the curling community is the camaraderie that carries over to nearly every club you go to around the world,” Kate Hagenbuch said. “From our small club here in Illinois to large clubs in Scotland, curlers are happy to invite you to play with them on the ice or sit with them after the game for a drink.”

One doesn’t curl on just any sheet of ice, Haws explained. Waltham Curling Club’s dedicated ice is specific for curling — it must be maintained at the right temperature, must be level and must be “pebbled” from small frozen water drops onto the ice. As the stone moves over these “pebbles,” it can cause the stone to rotate or curl.

With tools and modifications available, Hagenbuch said curling is a sport for all. And the sport’s tradition of “broomstacking,” the sharing

of a snack and drink following a game, is a must, too.

“Curlers enjoy building their circle, and curling camaraderie is second to none,” Hagenbuch said.

Curlers can enjoy teams in house leagues or hitting the road for tournaments, known as bonspiels. Each year, men from the Waltham Curling Club compete for the Currie Medal, named for founding member John Currie of Scotland, Hagenbuch noted.

Haws insists curling is a sport one can easily slide into.

“You can come out and have fun, or you can spend 20 years trying to get better at it, building your consistency and getting better at strategy,” he said.

Last year, the club partnered with Illinois Valley Community College to offer a four-week curling course in the fall and spring. Non-members can try their hand at curling during Waltham Curling Club open houses. The club also is planning activities to celebrate the 2026 Winter Olympics in February.

“This year, we will host several open house events that will open our doors for community members to try their hand at curling,” Hagenbuch said.

Waltham Curling Club’s season runs November through March. For information about joining the club or attending an open house, visit www.walthamcurling.org, call 815-538-3420 or email info@walthamcurling.org. C S R

warm & fuzzies warmGiving the

The Alpaca Shoppe features plenty of winter gear made from alpaca wool

By Derek Barichello

GLORIA SAMPSON IS ASKED every winter during Ottawa’s Chris Kringle Market: Aren’t you cold sitting in that hut?

“No, I’m warm,” she tells shoppers.

Her secret: The alpaca wool.

Sampson owns and operates Prairie Center Alpacas, which is about 20 minutes north of Ottawa and Peru. In addition to operating a shop at her farm at 1216 N. 39th Road, Sampson sells alpaca products from The Alpaca Shoppe, located in the

Market on Mill Retail Plaza in Utica, and seasonally at the pop-up Chris Kringle Market in Ottawa.

The shops feature socks, gloves, blankets, hats, scarves and sweaters — basically any product to stay warm during the winter.

“They’re warmer than [sheep’s] wool and cashmere, and they’re softer,” Sampson said. “They’re hypoallergenic, naturally flame retardant.”

Photos by Tom Sistak

A trio of Huacaya alpacas at Prairie Center Alpacas greet visitors. Approximately 70 alpacas live on the farm.

The business also sells cat toys, stuffed animals and dryer balls. There are rugs made from the wool, as well as alpaca yarn for people who want to create their own items.

Sampson said her stores sell their Herd Collection, which are products made from the alpacas that live on her farm.

“It’s quite popular,” Sampson said. “People like knowing what they’re buying came from right here.”

Most of what the Alpaca Shoppe sells is in natural colors, but they do hand-dye yarn.

No matter what part of the alpaca’s body the fiber comes from, it can be used for something, Sampson said. The wool sheared from the top of the fleece is the softest and the finest, so it can be used for something that would be worn close to the skin.

Raising alpacas has become a passion for the retired Spanish teacher. She started raising them after her late husband told her she needed to find an animal to eat the overgrown pasture, because he was “not mowing it.”

“So I found a herd of six males in La Moille for $100, and I bought them,” she said. “That’s

where it all started, and we learned a little bit about them and worked with them.”

Sampson invites customers from her Utica and Ottawa shops to visit the farm and meet the alpacas that provide the warm products. Her alpaca barn was in her husband’s family since 1880, originally built for horses, but now made to accommodate alpacas. The name of the farm comes

from its proximity to Prairie Center. Now an unincorporated community, her husband considered it to be his hometown, remembering when it was more of its own town. Sampson’s husband died in 2022; now she is assisted by Connie Mann and Amanda Stevenson.

In about nine years’ time, the farm has expanded to house about 70 alpacas, and they all have names — including Oakley, the newest member of the herd.

There are two breeds of alpacas: Suri, with fleece that hangs in dozens of individual twisted locks, and Huacaya, covered with thick, fluffy fleece. Sampson raises Huacaya.

“We have 70 alpacas [and] two llamas, which are guardians for the alpacas. We have two livestock guardian dogs, Birk and Penny, and they keep a watchful eye over them,” Sampson said. “And we have cats, so no mice.”

Sampson likes to invite students to her farm to learn about how South American cultures use alpaca fibers.

“We tell people buying stuff to come out and check out the actual animals,” Mann said.

Gloria Sampson feeds alpacas at her farm.

A variety of apparel including socks, gloves, scarfs and more is sold at the Prairie Center Alpaca Shoppe, 1216 N. 39th Road, Earlville. The farm also hosts a mini-shop at the Market on Mill plaza in Utica and a hut at the annual Chris Kringle Market in Ottawa.

Warm up with The Alpaca Shoppe

Another alpaca farm and shop

Tiskilwa Farms Alpacas is home to more than 175 alpacas for sale, breeding, showing and boarding. It also has an affiliated store, The Alpaca Shop, at 618 S. Main St., Princeton. The shop sells a variety of garments and products made from the farm’s locally sourced fleece, including a large selection of alpaca yarn. Look for the signs around the store that list which alpacas contributed fleece to garments such as socks and hats – shoppers will see the names of dozens of alpacas like Tambourine, Missy, Gemini, Coya, Golden Tooth and more. The shop sells additional alpaca products sourced from South America and some mixed fiber blends.

Tiskilwa Farms Alpacas is open for tours by appointment. It is located between Tiskilwa, Buda and Wyanet, five miles south of Interstate 80. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 815-646-1300 or visit www.illinoisalpacas.com.

Sampson is looking forward to completing her first season at the Market on Mill in Utica. Her store is one of a dozen in the new retail plaza. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays until Dec. 21, when the market closes for

the season. Her alpaca products also will be available at the annual Chris Kringle Market, which runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 28 through Dec. 21 in downtown Ottawa. Go to www.facebook.com/pcashoppe for the latest information on the business. C S R

414

Corner Chair Market

Hours- Tues-Sat 10am-5pm

Repurposed Statement Furniture,

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460 S. Main St., Princeton, IL 815-885-1039

Shop for cards and gifts for all occasions, women’s clothing and accessories, and home decor. Show this ad for 20% off of your purchase!

Nellie Roberts Curiosity Shop

625 N. Main St. - 815-875-1841

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:30am-5pm

Mini Antique Mall including vintage, dolls, toys, art, china, glass, crockery, books, and much more.

Meadows On Main

501 S. Main Stmeadowshomedecor.com815-872-2811

Open Mon-Sat 10am-5pm * Sun 12pm-4pm

Home decor, antiques/primatives, floral. Something for everyone!

Blue Dress 514 S. Main St. - 815-915-8097 www.littlebluedressprinceton.com

Open Mon-Sat 10am-5:30pm ; Sun 12pm-4pm Fashionable Woman’s Clothing, Handcrafted Jewelry, Accessories, Sorel and Birkenstocks!

WINTER Festivals

10 seasonal events in Starved Rock Country

HOLIDAY FESTIVALS

l Celebration of Lights Drive nearly three miles of winding paths through Rotary Park in La Salle to view more than 400 lighted holiday displays. The Celebration of Lights opens each year in early November and is open 5 to 9 p.m. daily through New Year’s Day. Entry is free, but donations are welcome at the gate. For information, follow the Celebration of Lights on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LaSalleLights or visit www.liveituplasalle.com/visit/events.

l Christmas Walk Weekend

When it comes to holiday gift-buying, Princeton is the place to go. The city has two separate downtown shopping districts, including the Princeton Art District. One of the most popular times of the year to shop Princeton is during the annual Christmas Walk, traditionally scheduled the weekend before Thanksgiving. Mark your calendars for this year’s event on Friday, Nov. 21, through Sunday, Nov. 23. The weekend includes holiday music, hot chocolate, visits from Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides and trolley rides between the North and South shopping districts.

l Chris Kringle Market

Shop a German-style Christkindlmarket, where shoppers stroll in the open air and browse artisan goods and crafts sold from temporary vendor huts. This year’s market opens at noon Friday, Nov. 28, and runs Friday through Sunday for four weekends at two locations: the Jordan block (green space on the 100 block of West Main Street) and Washington Square, both in downtown Ottawa. After opening day, hours are 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 21. For information, visit www.chriskringlemarket.com.

l Home for the Holidays (Morris)

Kick off the holiday season with a weekend-long celebration beginning Friday, Nov. 28, and continuing through Sunday, Nov. 30, in downtown Morris. Weekend events include a lighted holiday parade, a holiday house walk, a downtown window walk, carriage rides, visits with Santa and his reindeer, the Festival of Trees, free children's events and downtown shopping. For information and updates, follow Home for the Holidays Morris, IL on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ homefortheholidaysmorrisil.

l Home for the Holidays Lighted Drive-Thru (Princeton)

The Home for the Holidays Lighted Drive-Thru opens for the season Friday, Nov. 28, at the Bureau County Fairgrounds in Princeton. View lighted holiday displays from the warmth of your vehicle as you wind through the fairgrounds. The drive-thru is open 5 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 5 to 8 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 21. Weeknight entry will be open the week of Christmas (Monday, Dec. 22, through Thursday, Dec. 25). Admission is free; donations are accepted.

l Keeping Christmas Close to Home

The city of Streator hosts an all-day launch of the holiday season on Saturday, Nov. 29, with Keeping Christmas Close to Home. A popular daytime attraction is the three vendor market locations throughout the city, including the gymnasium of the Streator Incubator (housed inside the former National Guard Armory building), Park Place and Bruce Township Hall. Other attractions include an expansive model train display at the Incubator, ice sculpting demonstrations at Heritage Park, extended evening

shopping hours and the star of the event: the light-up of Streator City Park (covering four city blocks) at 6:30 p.m. followed by the lighted parade on Main Street at 7 p.m.

JANUARY

l Eagle Watch Weekend

Winter is one of the best eagle-viewing seasons on the Illinois River. Lack of foliage makes the large raptors easier to spot on the river’s islands, and the Starved Rock Lock and Dam prevents a portion of the river from freezing, providing a winter hunting ground for the eagles. Join Eagle Watch Weekend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, and Sunday, Jan. 25, to view eagles on the river, engage in programs that provide an up-close encounter with birds of prey, explore the park with guided hikes, children’s activities and more. Programs are hosted at Starved Rock Lodge and the Illinois Waterway Visitors Center. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit www.starvedrocklodge.com/event/ eagle-watch-weekend-2026.

Compiled by Starved Rock Country Staff | Photos by Scott Anderson and Tom Sistak

FEBRUARY

l Winter Wine Walk

Turn Valentine’s Day into Valenwine Day with the Utica Winter Wine Walk on Saturday, Feb. 14. Participants can visit passport locations throughout Utica for food and wine tastings. The admission fee includes a souvenir glass, the event passport and tasting tickets. Additional tasting tickets are available for purchase at check-in. For details, follow the Utica Winter Wine Walk on Facebook, www.facebook.com/ UticaWWW.

l Paczki Day (Fat Tuesday)

Technically, the day is known as Fat Tuesday. But in Starved Rock Country, it’s unofficially known as Paczki Day. Fat Tuesday – also known as Mardi Gras –precedes Ash Wednesday and the start of fasting for Lent. Favorite treats for Fat Tuesday include the New Orleans tradition of King Cake and Polish paczkis (pronounced punch-keys). Three bakeries in the region are local legends for their seasonal paczkis, which are similar to doughnuts and packed with sweet fillings. If you’re in Starved Rock Country on Tuesday,

Feb. 17, celebrate Paczki Day at one of these three eateries. Just be sure to get there early – paczkis are popular and sell out quickly.

• Spring Valley Bakery

119 W. Saint Paul St., Spring Valley

• Bobaluk’s Beef and Pizza

458 Main St., Marseilles

• Morris Bakery

315 Liberty St., Morris

MARCH

l St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Kick off the annual celebration of Irish culture with the St. Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday, March 7, in Utica. Don your favorite green garments and gather on the sidewalks of Mill Street to join the village’s annual St. Patrick’s bash. Local businesses offer holiday specials throughout the weekend to keep the party going. The parade is sponsored by the Utica Business Association. For updates and information, follow Explore Utica UBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ UticaBusinessAssociation.

Season

November 2025

The village of Utica honors veterans during the annual Veterans Parade and Air Show at 1 p.m.

Explore the Rusty Halo Snowman Express holiday market on the grounds of a replica 1920s town at 3277 E. 18th Road, Ottawa. The market runs 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 8 and Nov. 9.

Gather your friends for a morning of brunch and yoga at Camp Aramoni. The event is open to all skill levels.

For details and tickets, www.bit.ly/barnbrunch

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Dress as La Catrina for the Noche de Catrinas competition, part of the IV Hispanic Partnership Council's Dia de Los Muertos Gala in Mendota.

Details at www.bit.ly/ facebook_ivhpc

Country music singer and songwriter Cody Calkins will perform during Wednesday Night Live at Camp Aramoni in Tonica.

The village of Utica hosts Old-Fashioned Christmas in the Village on Nov. 29-30.

Today is Veterans Day, when the nation honors those who have served in the armed forces.

Comedic talent Brian Hoffman performs a tribute to Red Skelton in "Remembering Red," 11:30 a.m. at Starved Rock Lodge. For details and tickets, www.bit.ly/ rememberingred

Ottawa Center for the Arts presents An Evening of Americana with folk, bluegrass, country, blues and a bit of gospel, 7 p.m. in the Great Hall, 910 Columbus St., Ottawa.

Book the Oh Christmas Tree guided tour for a yuletide experience at the Hegeler Carus Mansion in La Salle. For tickets and more available tour dates, www.hegelercarus.org/ visit

Happy Thanksgiving! For a ready-made meal, make a reservation at Starved Rock Lodge's Thanksgiving buffet. For reservations, call 815-220-7386

The inaugural Frosty On First in La Salle will feature an ice rink, inflatable maze, live music, live reindeer, food, fireworks and more, 5-10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday.

Complete a portion of holiday gift shopping at stores throughout Streator during the Holiday Open House. For details, visit www.facebook.com/ StreatorChamber

It's Shop, Sip & Sparkle Weekend in Ottawa.

Explore Christmas open houses at shops, participate in an ornament hunt, listen to carolers and more. For details, visit www.bit. ly/shopsipsparkle

Catch a performance of "Puffs," a parody play based on the Harry Potter universe, 7:30 p.m. at Stage 212 in La Salle.

For details and tickets, www.stage212.org/ main-season

Shop Princeton's two downtown districts during the annual Christmas Walk Weekend. See p. 24 for details.

The Chris Kringle Market opens for the season at noon today! The Germanstyle outdoor holiday market is open each weekend, FridaysSundays through Dec. 21.

Shop holiday markets, join the countdown for the City Park light-up, watch a lighted parade and more during Keeping Christmas Close to Home in Streator. See p. 24 for details.

The beauty of Starved Rock Country is on full display during the winter. From the natural wonders of Starved Rock State Park to the great dining, lodging & shopping, be sure to Flock to the Rock this winter to experience it for yourself!

Flock to the Rock Winter Challenge

The challenge features 100+ stops around LaSalle County, including lodging, shopping, dining, museums and other attractions. Use the app to check in at your favorite destinations and earn prizes* at the Starved Rock Country Welcome Center.

Matthew Klein Photography

December 2025

Catch the Pop Up Players' staged radio play "The Meanest Man in the World," 2 p.m. at Ottawa Center for the Arts. Read more about the Pop Up Players on p. 12.

The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra will stage its biennial performance of "The Nutcracker Ballet," 3-6 p.m. at La SallePeru High School.

Listen to classic Christmas songs in the rich tones of brass instruments during the 10th annual Tuba Christmas, 4:30 p.m. at Hall High School in Spring Valley.

Happy Hanukkah!

The Jewish Festival of Lights continues through sundown on Dec. 22.

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3

Drive three miles of more than 400 lighted holiday displays at Rotary Park in La Salle. The Celebration of Lights is open nightly through New Year's Day.

Take a tour of Christmas light displays aboard the Starved Rock trolley. The tour begins at 6 p.m. For details and tickets, www.starvedrocklodge. com/event/holiday-lighttour-6

Visit August Hill Winery, Camp Aramoni and Starved Rock Lodge for wine, spirits and food during the Trolley Trio Progressive Dinner. For details and tickets, www.bit.ly/trolleytrio

Reddick Mansion will host its Christmas Candlelight open house, 6-8 p.m.

True North in Morris will host its Midnight Shopping event –shop by flashlight and Christmas lights!

Catch the opening reception of an art exhibit by Peter Jeziorski and Robert McCullough, 6-8 p.m. at the NCI ARTworks gallery at Westclox in Peru.

Market on Mill Plaza in Utica concludes its season this weekend. Wrap up your holiday shopping at the huts in the mini shopping plaza 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday/Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Get a dose of holiday humor with the comedic play "Sorry! Wrong Chimney!" at 7:30 p.m. at the Morris Theatre Guild Playhouse. For details and tickets, morristheatreguild.org

The Christmas Crafts, Gifts and Vendor Show returns to the Bureau County Fairrounds in Princeton, 9 a.m.2 p.m. The Home for the Holidays Lighted Drive-Thru is open Fridays through Sundays from Nov. 28 through Dec. 21. Read more on p. 24.

Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve!

If you're able to rise early tomorrow, attend the annual First Day Hike, 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, at Dayton Bluffs Preserve in Ottawa.

Wishing a merry Christmas to all!

A stay at the

Knox Hotel

Step back in time at a renovated historic hotel near Princeton's art district

After months of renovations, demolition and installation of new fixtures, painting walls and selecting tiles, Kelsey and Dane Stier were ready to welcome their first guests at the renovated Knox Hotel on North Main Street in downtown Princeton.

That was April 9, 2022, a date that is easy for the couple to recall because the very next day their second child was born.

“It’s been quite the juggle,” Kelsey Stier said, adding that today they have three children and their oldest is 6 years of age.

For the Stiers, renovating and reopening the historic hotel in downtown Princeton has been a labor of love, immeasurable sweat and countless long nights.

“Everyone is so excited to see us save the building and bring it back,” Stier said.

The Michigan native admits when she married the boy from Princeton, Illinois, she never imagined she would someday call it her hometown, too. They both come from families steeped in their communities and are willing to follow their entrepreneurial spirit, so launching their business seemed natural, albeit a major undertaking

The opportunity to save the historic property wasn’t for the faint of heart. The first time the couple saw the hotel property in 2021, it wasn’t pretty. The inside was partly gutted from a prior owner’s attempt to demolish and renovate, and there was a long list of work that would need to be done to bring the building from the 1850s up to code in today’s standards for plumbing, electrical and HVAC.

With encouragement and support, the couple decided to accept the challenge. Investors as well as donors have helped them raise the capital for the project.

Melissa Rubalcaba Riske | Photos provided by Kelsey Stier

The Historic Knox Hotel 956 N. Main St., Princeton 815-780-2730

www.historicknoxhotel.com

“Everyone was really excited,” Stier said. “We had to do it or we knew we’d come to regret it if we didn’t try it.”

With some help from the Bureau County Genealogical Society and the Bureau County Historical Society, the couple pieced together some of the property’s history. The original Knox Hotel opened in 1854 to provide accommodations near the new train depot because travelers on the railway needed a place to stay.

The original building had rooms heated with coal-burning furnaces and candles for light in the 28 guest rooms. The hotel was constructed by William Knox, an early settler in Bureau County.

Historical notes say that in 1870, the hotel was renamed the National Hotel, and Knox renovated the hotel in 1893 in hopes of attracting visitors traveling in the area for the Chicago World’s Fair. In the late 1890s, following the passing of William Knox, his son Albert Knox renamed it the Knox Hotel and added electricity to the building.

In the 1900s, the first floor would become home to the Northern Cafe, which many

remember for serving popular fried chicken. The restaurant would operate into the 1980s, even after the hotel closed in the 1970s.

Stier said she often meets people who remember dining at the cafe and hears stories about fried chicken.

The building facade was updated in 2015. The property was the first recipient of the Princeton Historic Preservation Commission Award, in addition to being named to the National Register of Historic Places.

Taking note of the building’s history, the Stiers sought help to bring the property back to life and try to add features that would invoke the building’s original style, while making it comfortable for modern visitors who prefer private bathrooms.

The couple hired two Princeton firms, Someone’s in the Kitchen, Inc. and studio K Architecture, both of which have understanding of historic properties, to help with the building renovations.

“We learned a lot,” Stier said. “They helped us draft new blueprints for the hotel.”

Today, the hotel has five rooms available for guests as well as a partially finished ballroom that is large enough to host smaller events such as wedding showers and reunions. The ballroom is on the second floor, with windows overlooking Rotary Park. When complete, the ballroom will seat 136, with a catering kitchen that can accommodate a wedding and other larger events, Stier said.

Additionally, the couple plans to continue renovations that will add seven more guest rooms on the third floor.

The work is more than painting and wallpaper, as the couple tries to help each guest enjoy the Princeton experience, providing a binder of information about places to eat, shop and things to see while staying. The last two summers have been busy with rooms booked most of the weekends during the warmer months, welcoming guests attending weddings in town, coming in for local festivals and making Princeton an overnight stop on their railway travels.

“We’ve even had train guests who stop and stay with us,” Stier said. “It’s cool to see the train riders. The hotel is right across from the train depot and park.”

They’ve had repeat visitors and brides who stay with their friends in the hotel and use it for their portraits before the ceremony.

The winter is quieter, but the couple is finding fun ways to keep business going, hosting activities including escape room

nights that the couple designs on their own. They are also using the less busy time to work on the remaining renovations. The couple uses social media, including their Instagram page, @WhenHistoryKnox, to share news about the hotel renovations and events.

The hotel provides more than accommodations to travelers — it helps bring new faces to the downtown and supports the neighboring businesses.

“It puts shoppers downtown,” Dane Stier said, adding the support from fellow downtown businesses and the city has been helpful to the project.

Kelsey Stier added, “The guests are eating local, shopping local and helping support the neighboring properties.”

She said her mom calls downtown Princeton a “little Hallmark town” for its quaint, small-town atmosphere.

“We want to make people feel like they’ve stepped back in time, escape from today,” Kelsey Stier said. C S R

VISIT

Experience the charm of Princeton’s Historic Main Street, ...........where beautifully decorated storefronts and unique boutiques create the perfect shopping destination Savor a meal at a famil -owned restaurant unwind at our local

y ,

brewery, and relax with a stay in a charming Airbnb or hotel Explore our landmarks, museums, parks, or enjoy a holiday event for a memorable getaway this season! Come see why Princeton feels like stepping into your favorite holiday movie!

CHRISTMAS WALK WEEKEND november 21 - 23

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS CHRISTMAS LIGHT DRIVE THRU friday-sunday november 28 - december 21 + december 22 - 25

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY november 29

NIGHT OF LIGHTS tree ligh candy cane hunt december 5

THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMA childrens play at prairie arts c december 5 - 7 ing, parade & S enter

HISTORY Hidden

HIDDEN HISTORY takes a closer look at interesting but lesser known moments in Starved

The Starved Rock Advocate and his historic Ottawa home

Horace Hull campaigned for park's preservation and hosted the region's elite

Before it was moved in 1956 to 620 Bissell St. in Ottawa, a twostory, Georgian-style house held a double distinction: It was a prominent gathering place for Ottawa society, and it was the home of Horace Hull, a leading advocate for the protection of Starved Rock as a state park.

The social activities were presided over by Horace’s wife, Alice, and the community felt her loss when she died of pleurisy in 1933 at age 68.

“Few deaths in Ottawa in the past several years have caused the general sorrow expressed over the demise of Mrs. Hull,” said her 1933 obituary. “She was an extremely gracious and cordial woman and made legions of friends who mourn her loss.

“Hull Lodge at 603 W. Madison St., Ottawa, which had been her home for many years, had been the scene of many brilliant society gatherings in the days she presided over it.”

When the house was built is unknown. But it was passed to Horace when his father, William Hull, died in 1890. The property was considered to be, according to a newspaper story, “a beauty spot of Ottawa.”

Horace Hull’s parents were prominent early settlers in Ottawa. He attended Ottawa schools and in 1882 graduated from the Union College of Law in Chicago, which in 1891 became the Northwestern University School of Law.

But instead of going to work as a lawyer, Hull took a correspondence course in shorthand and for five years was a trial stenographer for

Hull's Georgian-style house hosted Ottawa society for years at 603 W. Main St., Ottawa. In 1956, the home was moved to 620 Bissell St., where it still stands today. Shown here is a photo from the Sept. 24, 1956, edition of The Daily Republican Times showing the home during its relocation.

Rock Country’s past.

By Charles Stanley • Photos provided by Mollie Perrot and Charles Stanley

Horace

Horace Hull was instrumental in the preservation of Starved Rock State Park.

La Salle County. In 1882, he was appointed the circuit court reporter, a post he held for 47 years.

At the 40-year mark of his career, Hull tallied his work and found it numbered 6,791 cases of every type that filled 2,223 volumes of testimony.

“If a trial report is accurately and neatly made out, without error, it is certainly the work of Horace Hull,” said one attorney. “No circuit court reporter could surpass him in exactness of this work and attention to minute detail.”

“Attorneys found him a gold mine of valuable information, for his work gave him an acquaintance with the law surpassed by few in the legal fraternity or out of it,” said his obituary in Ottawa’s newspaper, The Daily Republican Times. “Reporters covering the court house found Mr. Hull a genial and widely read person who had a knowledge of Ottawa, La Salle County and Illinois history matched by few people.”

It was that interest in history which led Hull to become a leader in the effort for Illinois to acquire the land now known as Starved Rock State Park.

Hull traveled throughout the state and gave illustrated lectures showing the beauty of the rugged canyons along the Illinois River and emphasizing the historic nature of Starved Rock. A typical appearance was covered in the Moline Daily Dispatch in 1908.

“Horace Hull of Ottawa spoke last evening before an audience which filled the high school auditorium. He told of points of historical interest on the shores of the Illinois River near Ottawa

and the necessity of their preservation. …

“Mr. Hull has lived his life in Ottawa and has traveled over this stretch of the Illinois in a canoe until he knows it as a book. During his trips he has taken Kodak pictures innumerable. From these he has selected 180 views of greatest beauty and interest, and these he showed last evening by stereopticon.”

In 1911, the Starved Rock property was sold to the Illinois State Parks Commission for $146,000.

Hull died in 1935 at Hull Lodge and — in the custom of the day — his funeral was held there as well. He was buried at Ottawa Avenue Cemetery.

“Starved Rock State Park might well be called an enduring monument to the love of Mr. Hull for the beautiful things of life and for the historic spots of his native state,” said his obituary.

Hull Lodge went through different owners. In 1956, the property was sold to be the location of a Kroger supermarket, today the site of Handy Foods grocery store in Ottawa.

“To move the house, estimated at weighing between 40 and 50 tons, there were five house movers, two tree trimmers, six men from the Illinois Power Co., a city policeman and about 100 sidewalk engineers,” said a story in the Daily Republican Times newspaper.

Because the new lot was narrow, the old house was placed on a foundation perpendicular to the street, where it remains.

US SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6TH for City of Peru’s Christmas Celebration!

LIGHTED PARADE, 5 P.M.

Parade starts at Washington Park with Holiday events to follow. Check our Facebook page, City of Peru, Illinois Parks and Recreation, soon for a listing of events!

1st & 3rd Saturday of Every Month for mouthwatering Prime Rib!

Every Monday night

$2 Domestic Pints

Every Wednesday Wing Night

Special Pricing!

Every Friday Night - Blue Gill

Thursday - Saturday Nights

BBQ Ribs, Steak, Fish & Pasta Specials

Photo by Scott Anderson

Downtown Ottawa

WHAT'S ON TAP AT

KEG

GROVE

At the edge of downtown Morris, a former fire station garage found an unexpected second life — courtesy of a beloved Central Illinois brewery.

Keg Grove Brewing Company, whose Bloomington-based brewery produces in excess of 1,000 barrels of craft beer every year, expanded their operations to Morris in 2024, bringing their signature laid-back atmosphere and flavor-forward brews to the eastern reaches of Starved Rock Country.

What started as a passion project among friends Jeffery Mroz and Tyler Cox evolved into a beloved brand, a line of signature year-round beers and two breweries and taprooms.

“My friends and I just started out home brewing, with no real intention of going any further than that,” Mroz said. “Some friends of ours really pushed us to give it a shot, to scale up, and we opened up in Bloomington back in 2018.”

From the moment their flagship beer — Holey Jeans, a blueberry wheat — first hit the tap, Keg Grove’s momentum hasn’t slowed. Originally intended as a seasonal offering, Holey Jeans quickly earned fanfavorite status, transforming into a year-round staple. It now anchors a sprawling lineup that includes hazy IPAs like Drones and Your Mom’s A Grapefruit; a rich oatmeal coffee

stout dubbed Late Night Golf Cart Ride; and their crowd-pleasing grape seltzer Purple Slurp, in addition to seasonal, small-batch and experimental concoctions.

“We try to keep a pretty diverse variety of styles on offer, with most of our beers landing in that 5 to 5.5% ABV range,” Mroz said. “We keep everything approachable, from flavor to ABV.”

That philosophy of accessibility and comfort extends well beyond the tap list. The Keg Grove family has always prided itself on creating spaces that feel like home, whether you’re a craft beer enthusiast or just tagging along with one.

“We started off with the goal of Keg Grove just feeling really comfortable and laid back. That was a big priority,” Mroz said. “We didn’t want it to be the sort of place where you swing open the door and everyone turns their head and stares. I think it starts with our staff; they’re super welcoming. They’re great about walking people through the list, finding the drink that’s the right fit for them.”

Keg Grove’s commitment to beverage matchmaking doesn’t end there. They always keep a domestic beer or two on tap, knowing that not every guest is a craft beer person but may be willing to expand their horizons once they’re comfortable in the space.

The journey to opening a second taproom and brewery in Morris came about as organically as their evolution from garage home brewing to commercial crafting.

“It was probably in 2022 or 2023 when the city of Morris first reached out,” Mroz recalled. “They had done a study to see what residents wanted in the downtown area, and one of the things that people kept saying was that they’d like to have a brewery.”

Some locals from Morris were already regular patrons at the Bloomington taproom and had sung Keg Grove’s praises to the city. That connection sparked a conversation, which grew into something much more.

“We immersed ourselves in the city to see if it was a good fit for both parties,” Mroz said. “We loved the area, the opportunities, and the space that we could get — it all worked out so well.”

That space, as it happens, was a former firehouse. Once used as a garage and workout facility for Morris Fire Protection District, the building checked nearly every box on Keg Grove’s wishlist. The building boasted big bay

garage doors, floor drains and high-volume water — some of the essentials for running a modern brewpub. Now, the interior design references the building's former life. Two red fire hydrants bookend the taps, and the fire station’s bay doors are now made of glass, allowing the building to be awash with natural light.

One year in, Keg Grove Morris is bustling. The space hosts regular events, including trivia nights, live music, yoga sessions and paint-and-sip parties.

Fans of Keg Grove’s flagship Bloomington location may note one thing missing at the Morris spot: their brewery tanks are as of yet unnamed. One of the most eye-catching sights at the Bloomington location is a series of towering brewing tanks emblazoned with caricatures of the characters from “The Big Lewbowski,” the cultclassic 1998 film. Mroz said they take the tank-naming process seriously, and while they’ve had lots of ideas, they haven’t landed on the perfect one just yet.

“It’s a lot like naming a beer — when you know it, you know it. Something’s going to fit, but we’re not rushing it.”

By Ryan Searl • Photos provided by Keg Grove Brewing Company

Morris brewery makes its home inside a former fire station

Honest Abe’s tAp And Grill

8 8 BURGER great places to get a

By Starved Rock

JAke's pour House

201 9th St., La Salle • 815-223-8232 • www.jakespourhouse.net

Voted the best place to get a burger in the 2025 Best of the Illinois Valley awards, Jake’s Pour House serves one of the region’s heftiest sandwiches. The Big Jake boasts two juicy ground beef patties that add up to more than a pound of meat. The patties are piled with four slices of cheese, six slices of bacon, grilled onions and jalapeños. That’s one of 10 burgers on the menu at the bar and grill, which also serves a variety of sandwiches, wraps, wings and daily specials. Diners should be aware that Mondays are wings only and Tuesdays are Taco Night. The regular menu is served Wednesday through Sunday.

The sports bar is a go-to for Blackhawks fans — the hockey team's logo is incorporated into Jake’s logo, and big screens behind the bar offer an ideal way to watch the game. A scrolling ticker display below the TVs gives guests an easy way to keep track of the day's scores in the NFL, NHL, MLB and more.

tHe 318

3585 Route 47, Morris • 815-941-2485 • www.honestabestapandgrill.com

The menu at Honest Abe’s sports bar and restaurant makes sure every guest remembers they’re in the Land of Lincoln. Many of the restaurant’s signature sandwiches and burgers are named with a Lincoln or an Illinois reference. The menu also includes a popular horseshoe sandwich — the origin of horseshoe sandwiches are credited to Springfield, Illinois in the 1920s. More than 20 burgers are available at Honest Abe’s. For a little fun before or after a meal, book one of the two golf simulator bays in the back of the restaurant, or participate in free trivia every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

BURGER HIGHLIGHTS

n Peanut Butter and Jealousy: Peanut butter, grape jelly, bacon

n Galesburger: American cheese, bacon, overeasy egg, mayo

n Confederate: Bleu cheese crumbles, bacon, jalapeño, sweet chili sauce

n The Log Cabin: Provolone cheese, fried mozzarella sticks, marinara

BURGER HIGHLIGHTS

n The Big Jake: 1+ pound of beef, four cheese slices, six bacon slices, jalapeños, grilled onions

n Pour House Burger: Shaved ham, cheese, bacon, fried egg

n The O'Faced Burger: Fiery garlic sauce, pepperjack cheese, jalapeños

n Philly Burger: White cheese, green peppers, onions

318 E. Main St., Streator • 815-673-3773 • www.facebook.com/The318Streator

Burgers lead the menu of handheld sandwiches at this casual lunch and dinner destination in downtown Streator. Several of the 20 burger options are named in honor of the city’s history, such as the Plumb, named for city founder Col. Ralph Plumb; the Worthy, named after the city’s namesake, Dr. Worthy Streator; and the Hardscrabble, a nod to the city’s former name being Hardscrabble. Also look for their Friday dinner specials, which feature comfort food and customer favorites.

BURGER HIGHLIGHTS

n Grilled Cheese

Cheeseburger: Burger patty and American cheese served on Texas toast

n Plumb: Two patties, shaved ham, bacon, American cheese, Swiss cheese

n Hardscrabble: Two patties, pepperjack cheese, jalapeños, homemade hot sauce

n The 318: Burger patty, quarter-pound beef hot dog, ham, American cheese, Swiss cheese

Country Staff | Photos by Julie Barichello, Amanda Hart and Scott Anderson

The Big Jake at Jake's Pour House

lodi tAp House

b.A.s.H. (burGer And susHi House)

1012 La Salle St., Ottawa • 815-434-2274 • www.burgerandsushihouse.com

“Burger” is right there in the name of this favorite dining destination, officially called Burger and Sushi House but best known as B.A.S.H. True to its name, the spacious and modern restaurant specializes in both burgers and sushi to satisfy a range of palates, plus a wellloved gourmet mac ‘n’ cheese menu. Each burger on the menu features two beef smash patties and unique flavor combinations. The menu also includes the Green Gobblin’, a vegetarian/vegan burger option. If planning a date night or a night on the town with friends, guests can check out the bar’s range of beer, cocktail and mocktail options.

101 Mill St., Utica • 815-749-9181 • www.loditaphouse.com

Lodi Tap House specially focuses on Illinois-crafted food, beer, mead, wine and spirits. Guests can check out the chalkboard to select from the 24 beers on tap. Half of the thrill when visiting Lodi Tap House’s Utica location is dining inside the iconic building at the corner of Canal and Mill streets, where historic structural features meet modern amenities, including several screens to watch sporting events. The menu features a variety of handheld pub fare, salads and mac ‘n’ cheese recipes. When ordering a burger, the 4-ounce patties can be doubled (or tripled!) based on the diner’s appetite.

tHe lone buffAlo

BURGER HIGHLIGHTS:

n BBQ Smash: Cheddar cheese, bacon, pickled jalapeño, onion straws

n Taphouse Smash Burger: Melted Velveeta, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle, Smash sauce

n Grilled Mushroom and Swiss: Grilled mushrooms, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, garlic confit aioli

n Burger of the Month: Explores creative new flavors each month

812 La Salle St., Ottawa • 815-324-9549

www.tangledrootsbrewingco.com/locations/the-lone-buffalo

The Lone Buffalo Restaurant and Tap Room is owned by Tangled Roots Brewing Company and shares space with the company’s flagship craft brewery. Twin copper brewing kettles, which came from Bavaria, serve as a backdrop to the industrial chic-style dining room. In addition to gourmet burgers, the farm-to-table restaurant includes a wide range of entrees. A highlight of ordering a burger at The Lone Buffalo is pairing it with one of the local craft brews. Check out the brewery’s beer lineup at www.tangledrootsbrewingco.com/our-beer.

BURGER HIGHLIGHTS

n Foxy Roxy: Pulled pork, barbecue sauce, spicy Napa slaw, habanero jack cheese

n Mac Daddy: Macaroni and cheese, bacon, cheddar n Twisted PB&J: Peanut butter, strawberry jam, bacon, Sriracha

n The B.A.S.H.: American cheese, spicy mayo, hashbrowns

BURGER HIGHLIGHTS:

n TR Burger: Aged cheddar, romaine, dill pickles, frittes aioli, sliced tomato, red onion

n Cease and Desist Burger: Housemade patty (half ground beef and half bacon), aged cheddar cheese, applewood smoked bacon, chipotle aioli, tomato, arugula

n The BBQ Brewmaster Burger: Brewmaster BBQ Sauce, applewood smoked bacon, aged cheddar, dill pickles, frittes aioli, crispy fried onions

Photo by Amanda Hart

skooG’s pub & Grill

155 Mill St., Utica • 815-667-5800 • www.skoogspub.com

Skoog’s Pub and Grill is known for its generous portion sizes, and their signature burger is no exception. The three-quarterpound Hearty Skoog Burger features specially seasoned beef, and even though it’s the only beef burger on the regular menu (other than the Junior Skoog Cheeseburger on the children’s menu), it can be customized with a variety of toppings. Build your ideal burger with additions of cheese, bacon, grilled onion and sauteed mushrooms. The pub also offers a turkey burger on a pretzel bun and a meatless burger for vegetarians and vegans, with gluten-free vegan buns available upon request. Skoog’s was voted the best lunch destination in the 2025 Best of the Illinois Valley awards.

BURGER HIGHLIGHTS

n Hearty Skoog Burger: Three-quarter-pound fresh beef patty; choice of cheese, bacon, grilled onions, sauteed mushrooms (classic garnishes on the side)

n Turkey Burger: Turkey patty, classic garnishes, pretzel bun

n Meatless Burger: Vegan plant-based option

9tH street pub

253 Ninth St., La Salle • 815-223-8960

www.9thstreetpub.com

Billed as “the Cheers of the Illinois Valley,” this neighborhood bar and grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. On a lunch and dinner menu packed with pub fare favorites, the restaurant is especially known for its Cheeseburger in Paradise. A weekly Monday special offers a budget-friendly option of a standard cheeseburger for $1.50. Any day of the week, check out 9th Street Pub’s selection of specialty burgers that combine a variety of ingredients and flavors. The pub’s indoor stage regularly hosts live music.

BURGER HIGHLIGHTS

n Cheeseburger in Paradise: American cheese, Swiss cheese, bacon, grilled onion, tomato, sprouts, mayo, avocado

n Blue Moon: Bleu cheese crumbles, grilled mushroom, lettuce, tomato, bleu cheese dressing

n Lillian: Double burger, ghost pepper cheese, grilled onions, jalapeño poppers

STARVED ROCK COUNTRY POSTCARD

An early morning freeze encases this tree branch in ice near a red barn south of Starved Rock State Park. The outdoors turns into a natural art gallery in the winter, whether it's glass-like patterns of ice, glistening expanses of snow or doodle-like animal tracks in the snow. Exploring Starved Rock Country during cold weather offers many picturesque opportunities. Early mornings are particularly artistic when weather conditions lend themselves to frost, ice and snow accumulating on the vegetation before the sun has a chance to melt it away.

Photo by Tom Sistak