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Around the Midwest
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The Oxford Project by Ray
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On a recent day trip to visit our daughter in Iowa City my wife and I had one of
those days you just have to tell people about. Downtown we had noticed
several large striking black and white prints on display showing a
picture of average looking individuals obviously many years apart in
age. My wife and I both seemed to remember seeing something about this
before. After several attempts to find out where these might
be on display we decided to continue our trip to the Amana Colonies.
Taking a side trip to a restaurant that caught my eye, on my pork
tenderloin list, we drove to Oxford about 15 miles northwest of Iowa City.
 It was a dismal
day in central Iowa with the area getting eight inches of rain which
just added to the feel of the day. Upon arriving in the charming little
farming community we easily found our spot, The Augusta Restaurant, and as we were
walking in we see the book on display that has these photos in them. It's
called the "Oxford Project" which was kind of cool since by accident we
were in Oxford. As we were dining, our server (also the owner Jeri
Halperin) starts to tell us a little about the project and how the
writer lives right down the street and that he will probably come down
and sign the book for you. He never came but we were so enchanted we
bought the book anyway. The restaurant was a 5 star experience which
was a great find in a town of 676 people. I highly recommend it
especially when you think about how close it is to the Amana Colonies.
The Augusta Restaurant
 The project starts in Oxford, Iowa in 1984. The author has to beg, but
eventually photographs all but 6 of the towns 676 residents. He asks
that they come as they would be on any normal day, he did not pose
anyone. Twenty-one years later he repeats the process and asks for a
little insight into their lives. From their website; "some of the
original residents had died and some had moved away, but a surprising
number still lived in Oxford. Some chose to talk about religion, others
spoke about relationships gone bad. More than a few talked about
spouses' infidelities. Several broke down in tears. A few waxed about
first girlfriends and boyfriends. 
Some
of their words came out slowly, others came out in jags and torrents.
The language of more than several was pure poetry." The writers, Stephen
and Peter
came to realize that the project had a purpose. They had become
confessors to an undiscovered America.
The book to me or anyone I know that has seen it is curiously
addicting. I don't know if it is because of how voyeuristic it is or if
it's the small town midwest connection.
The Oxford Project
The Oxford Project on YouTube |
Playlist Theater
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PAUL CEBAR AND TOMORROW SOUND NOW FOR YES
MUSIC
PEOPLE
by Kris
Paul Cebar and Tomorrow Sound Now for Yes Music People.....a
mouthful, but overflowing with tastiness - was hatched in studios from
Wisconsin to London,but again revels in Cebar's delicious synthesis of
vintage R&B, soul, New Orleansiana, Cubano Bop, slithery
Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and tantalizing esoterica from around the
globe. The web site cdbaby.com describes Cebar's latest record as "the
best
batch yet of an endangered strain of fortified, intensified, fully
jacked-up, roaring, cooing and exceedingly personal music-making from a
singular midwestern master." I could not have said it better myself.
Cebar lives and breaths this eclectic mix of music genre. His nine-room, fourth floor apartment is packed with
14,000 albums, 2,000 45s, hundreds of music books and several guitars.
One entire room is lined with African, Brazilian, Latin and gospel
albums. Another huge section is devoted to jazz. Across the way, a
reggae and calypso vinyl library is evenly divided. Boxes of Stax-Volt
and New Orleans rhythm and blues 45s rest atop a bookshelf. A nearby
coffee table has rare Cuban video dance tapes Cebar unearthed in Miami.
A Regal resonator guitar (circa 1930s-40s) leans against the record
library. One of the links below shows just one room of records, you
can see the passion for music when he talks about his collection.
This show will be the most diverse music experience we have had yet.
Friday, September 18th @ 7:30, don't miss it.
Paul Cebar talks about his record collection and performs his song "I Love Soul"
Paul Cebar performs Glimp Sparrow |
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| Around Town
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Historic Downtown Buildings, Walking Tour
by Jimmy
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While LaSalle has tourist stops such as the
Illinois and Michigan Canal, Lock 16 and the Hegler Carus Mansion, our downtown
is filled with historic buildings from the mid 19th century. This is
all the more reason to come spend the day in our city and explore the
history we have here.
 During the 1830's the I & M Canal was built to
connect the Illinois River with Lake Michigan. LaSalle was established in 1852
as the first stop on way up the canal to Chicago. Believe it or not, at
that time, LaSalle was the larger of the two cities. From the
beginning and over the course of the next century, various architects brought
their designs to the city for homes and buildings. Many of them
still present today.
The LaSalle Business Association has put together
a "walking" tour featuring a brochure with interesting
information on all the points of interest
throughout downtown LaSalle. I have included a link to this brochure below
where you can browse through our cities famed architecture.
Another interesting stop on your tour throughout our downtown
is our building. Although we are not on the tour, our site has some interesting history. On the current site of the Uptown Grill, used to be the
Hoerner Building. Erected in 1905 as a 3 story office building with retail space
on the 1st floor, it was sold to Henry Hoerner, general manager of the Star
Union Brewing Company and mayor of Peru in the late 1880's. This remained
until Frank Woolworth purchased the building in 1956 and removed the top two
floors to house his famous "five and dime" stores. Woolworths operated
until 1994 when the store closed because of the incoming of corporate
mega-department stores. A few years later, Ray took ownership
and made the building into what it is today.
Brochures and maps are available at downtown businesses.
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Behind the Bar
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Get Shook UP at the UPtown
by Kris
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With
the last of the summer festivals and fairs coming up this Labor Day
weekend, you may think it is the last chance to enjoy a carnival
favorite...The Lemon Shake-Up".... Not so ! Most
of our faithful customers know that even in the dead of winter they can
get a taste of summer with our lemon shake ups. We have been making
these "carny" drinks from the first day we opened our doors. We have
always stayed true to the experience by squeezing each lemon and
shaking "vigorously". Half the fun is watching the "dance" (No the picture is not really blurry, that's just Drew doing the "dance"). You don't
have to wait for the next "carny" wagon. Enjoy one today! I like mine
with a little kick of vodka, you can't get that at the carnival!
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Further Behind the Bar
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Sixties Accuracy in Every Sip
by Ray
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 Recently I started to watch the series Mad Men on AMC after a friend
told me it is absolutely the best thing on television today. It is a
show about a New York advertising agency set in the sixties. From the
very first time I turned it on I was amazed at how real the era of the
show was recreated, especially the drinking part. It has brought
back a recollection from my early restaurant days. I can remember the 1960s of New
York trickling it's way towards Peru, Illinois and the Red Door Inn of
the early 70s. I hope it's the start of a trend and a rediscovery of
America's rich drinking history. Back then lunch was a big thing, a
martini was pretty much straight gin, and 3 of them is what made it
big. They employ someone in the show just to make sure that the drinks
of the period are accurate and the choice of drink fits the character.
If you love mixology you will love this show!
Sixties Accuracy in Every Sip - New York Times
1960 Cocktail Guide |
| Fundraiser
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Fundraiser for Rafting Victim
by Ray
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 In the past I have written in length about kayaking and the dangers of the "low head" dams. This past June one of these dams on the Vermillion river claimed the life of a single mother of two from DeKalb. The loss of their mother has been not only emotionally devastating, but financially as well. The girls, ages 15 and 18 are living with relatives and trying to get on with their lives. With tuition and daily expenses it is not easy. On Sept 26th there will be a fundraiser to help raise money ....The "Have a little Faythe and Emily ride". Click the link below for details of the fundraiser as well as information on how to contribute.
Daily Herald Article
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| Moon Report
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Autumn Equinox
by Kris
 The Full Moon for September occurs on the 4th at 11:03AM. It is called the Corn Moon, Barley Moon and Harvest Moon. This full Moon corresponds with the time of harvesting corn. It is also
called the Barley Moon, because it is the time to harvest and thresh
the ripened barley. The Harvest Moon is the full Moon nearest the
autumnal equinox, which can occur in September or October and is bright
enough to allow finishing all the harvest chores. Autumn begins on September 22nd when the Autumnal Equinox occurs. The Autumnal Equinox occurs when the tilt of the Earth is in tangent with the orbit of Earth around the Sun. This point marks the beginning of Autumn. An Equinox has an equal amount of daylight and nighttime.
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On Our Specials
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Salvation Cove Oysters
Stuffed Roasted Poblano Pepper
Shrooms
Shrimp Salad with Wedged Artisan Lettuce
Broiled Prawns with Parmesan Crust
Whole Wheat Fusilli Pasta with Baby Squash, Fresh Herbs and Goat Cheese
Smoked Baby Back Ribs with Rootbeer BBQ Sauce
Miso Glazed Sugar Snap Peas
Oatmeal and Dried Cherry Cobbler
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Serving Labor Day
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We will be serving Labor Day Monday, September 7th
4pm to 10pm |
Unadvertised Special -
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For
your eyes only! In appreciation to you, our customers who subscribe to
our rantings each week, we are offering unadvertised specials. Only
those who receive the UPtown UPdates will be aware of these
special offerings. Each
week we will offer at least one unadvertised special. There is some "fine
print" and they will only be available at certain times. So don't
miss out, treat yourself, you deserve it. Our way of saying "Thanks for
Subscribing."
$5.00 for any of our wines by the glass.
11 am to 4pm each day Tuesday, Sept 8th through Friday, September 11th
You must ask for "The $5.00 wine special"
Not available for carry out. |
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Uptown Grill
601 First St.
La Salle, Il 61301
815-224-4545
Mon - Thur 11 am to 10pm - Fri & Sat 11 am to 11 pm
Sun Noon to 10 pm
Uptowngrill.com
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You can read all of our past UPtown UPdates by clicking the link below.
UPtown UPdate Archives |
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Uptown respects your privacy and will not sell or distribute your personal information.
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