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Playlist Theater
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Paul Cebar, Not Just Your Ordinary Group
by Kris |
TOMMOROW 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.  Many attempts have been made to describe Paul's mixture of
wide-ranging musical influences. A good basic description is a
combination of singer-songwriter, r&b/soul/funk, and world music.
Just to give people a point of reference....he's like a very
funky Jimmy Buffett. Forgive me, Paul.
Paul Cebar And The Milwaukeeans have been igniting dance floors
since the mid-80's at high, low, and in between-class joints not only in
Milwaukee, Madison, Minneapolis, and Chicago, but also throughout the world. They have
appeared at several House Of Blues clubs and can be said to be a fixture at Milwaukee's annual
lakefront Summerfest festival.
They can also invariably be found in New Orleans during the Jazz And Heritage Festival, which Paul has been attending since 1979;
in 1998 Paul attained a long held personal goal when the band played the main stage.
They have also appeared on the Prairie Home Companion radio show several times.
Many considered their performance of "One Step Up" a highlight of the recent Springsteen tribute album.
It may be time for all sorts of things, but it is high
time for Paul Cebar. He has been, is, and will be the real deal. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to see Paul Cebar live with a plethora of fine musicians! You cannot listen to this band live and not dance- I defy you to try.
   
Listen to "Gimp Sparrow"
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| Weekly Special |
| Char Grilled Apricot Ancho Glazed Pork Porterhouse
by Kris
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The Definitive Steakhouse Pork Chop.The best of both worlds in one cut of pork with  the tenderloin on one side and striploin on
the other of the bone. This T-bone porterhouse chop will really impress
you. Thick cut, bursting with robust
flavor and incredible juiciness, you will immediately notice the remarkable taste and
tenderness. This is Pork's take on the classic
beef porterhouse. We've kicked it up just a little with a sweet yet slightly spicy Apricot Ancho glaze. At a full pound, we paired it with a wild rice and porcini mushroom stuffing and grilled "locally grown" sweet corn smothered in an ancho flavored butter. |
| Behind the Bar |
| The Buck
by Ryan
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Originally
Ginger Beer was produced as an alcoholic beverage in the 1700's by the English.
Today, ginger beer is a carbonated soft drink that is made of ginger, lemon and
sugar. It is not often produced as an alcoholic beverage, and can be described
as ginger ale with a kick. Most famously, ginger beer is associated with the
moscow mule or the dark "n" stormy. We sell more Moscow Mules than any other
beverage made with ginger beer. "The Buck" as it is referred to in the
bartending world, is basically any drink that mixes citrus and ginger beer. So
read the article from the San Francisco Gate and expand your horizons with your next
beverage choice.
Read more about "The Buck" |
Around the Business
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| Liquor Tax
by Jimmy |
In early August of this year, Illinois legislators passed into
law the largest alcohol tax hike in the states history in order to fund
infrastructure. It was put into effect September 1st. It seems that over the last year in this recession, alcohol prices
are the only thing that is rising. Along with this new tax, state law already make it
impossible to shop around for a competitive price on alcoholic
beverages. Each distributor has sole rights to sell that product in an
geographical area. For example, I can only buy Absolut vodka from one supplier. This means we have to pay what they decide the price is.
This tax hike starts as it is invoiced
by the manufacturer. Since the distributor then pays more, they have to
charge the retailers more and eventually it trickles down to the customer. The state tax on a bottle of wine has increased of 120%. A six-pack of beer has a 25% increase and distilled spirits
have a 90% increase.
 Illinois is now proud to say that it has the highest liquor tax in the nation by more than $2.50 a gallon. 1. Illinois, as of 9/1/09 - $8.55 per gallon 2. Florida - $6.50 3. New York - $6.43 4. Hawaii - $5.98 5. New Mexico - $5.68 6. Alaska - $5.60 7. Minnesota - $5.03 8. Oklahoma - $4.56 9. Connecticut - $4.50 (Illinois would have been tied for 8th before this increase) 10. New Jersey - $4.40 WHO GETS HURTConsumers who Drink.... In
most cases, a 750 ml bottle of spirits is going to cost at least $2
more, perhaps $3, regardless of the bottle's pricepoint, and before
sales taxes. For example, once you factor in the federal,
state, county and city manufacturing taxes, as well as sales taxes,
more than 25% of the cost of a $30 bottle of spirits is tax - not money
to the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer - taxes.
Liquor stores near the border.... with another state that has lower taxes.
Wisconsin is $3.25 per gallon, Indiana is $2.68 per gallon. Illinois is
$8.55. So we're sending business to our neighboring
states.
The Little Stores....
The single, independently owned liquor stores will probably suffer.
They often don't have the resources and clout to buy huge quantities
and stock up before the increase, or negotiate with the powerful
distributors, so they'll be hit with the increase (and price increases)
sooner.
Bars and Restaurants....
Bars and restaurants are already suffering in this economy, and now
they'll be forced to either raise drink prices or work on a slimmer
margin, neither of which is particularly appealing. Once you break the
tax increase down to a per-ounce count, in theory it would be about 25¢ per cocktail. It may not sound like a
lot, but that 25¢ per drink will add up quickly. And it doesn't matter
what caliber of spirits you're using, if it's over 20% alcohol, it's
the same tax regardless of price.
By The Way.... We have not raised any of our liquor prices.
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| Playlist Theater |
New Show Announcements
by Kris
Romi Mayes, Wednesday, November 4th
From
the center of Canada, deep in the prairies, comes an unstoppable force
that is becoming a household name across the globe: Romi Mayes. Suitably
pronounced "Raw Me", Mayes is a straight shooter with heart
on your sleeve lyrics, edgy innuendo, and some serious bad ass guitar
playing. She writes about sex, drugs, love, and the road. She can be
soft and sweet or just down right dirty.
Mayes
tours steadily and relentlessly across the globe from solo shows in
smaller venues to rowdy rockin bar shows to tightly arranged full band
sold out theatre shows. She has shared the stage with the likes of Ricky
Skaggs, Iris Dement, Guy Clark, Jim Cuddy, The Flatlanders, Slaid Cleaves,
Martha Wainwright, Hayes Carll, Fred Eaglesmith, Corb Lund, Billy Joe
Shaver, Sue Foley, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, Dale Watson and many
many more. Romi Mayes is charming, passionate, comedic, and with whiskey
in one hand and a cigarette in the other can out-cuss any sailor on
a Saturday night.
Listen to Romi Mayes
Willie Nile, Friday, January 29th
He comes from musical roots, his grandfather was a vaudeville pianist who played with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Eddie Cantor; his uncles played boogie-woogie. He listened to the music of Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly,
and Fats Domino, brought home by his older brothers. Nile himself began
playing piano at age eight and took classical music lessons until he
was a teenager, when he taught himself his first rock & roll song.
He soon began to compose short songs.
After studying philosophy at the University of
Buffalo, he headed for Greenwich Village, determined to make a name for
himself as a latter-day troubadour. That he did throughout the '70s,
becoming a fixture in the Village folk and rock scenes and getting
tabbed as the next big thing to come out of that long-thriving artistic
community. Writing in The New York Times, the great rock critic Robert
Palmer called him "one of the most gifted singer-songwriters to emerge
from the New York scene in years."
The
excitement surrounding his self-titled debut album, Willie Nile,
prompted Pete Townshend to request Willie's presence on the Who 's
summer tour. Nile and his band were soon on the road with The Who.
More than a quarter century has passed since the release of Willie
Nile's first album, accompanied by press notices comparing him to Dylan
and Springsteen. We now find the
artist in his mid-fifties, his youthful energy unflagging, and he's
never sounded more committed to the themes he's tackled. They range
from the title track-a gritty paean to his adopted hometown that he
describes as "my love song to the city"-to the chilling "Cell Phones
Ringing (in the Pockets of the Dead)," his unflinching response to the
2004 Madrid train bombings.
Nile is a songwriters' songwriter.
No less a personage than Lucinda Williams has said of him, "Willie Nile
is a great artist. If there was any justice in this world, I'd be
opening up for him instead of him for me." And he's never been more
eloquent than he is now.
Says Ian Hunter, "Willie's from the big-hearted downtown alleyways of
NYC. Little Steven adds, "Willie Nile
is so good I can't believe he's not from New Jersey!"
In 1980 Nile released his self-titled debut album which remains "one of
the most thrilling post-Byrds folk-rock albums of all time". Nile has recorded and performed with many musicians, including Ringo Starr, Tori Amos, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Ian Hunter, and Barenaked Ladies. A live Central Park
concert, "Willie Nile-Archive Alive," was released on Archive
Recordings, and Willie was one of the vocalists on the ensemble album, "Largo,"
along with Joan Osborne, Cyndi Lauper, Levon Helm, The Chieftains, Taj
Mahal and Carole King. Another project found Nile writing and
performing most of the songs for the soundtrack to the Kevin
McLaughlin film, "Pinch Me!"
In the fall of 2003, Nile was invited to share the stage at three concerts with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, including the two final historic Shea Stadium shows.
Gathering together his resources over time, he managed to put out his
first self-released album, Beautiful Wreck of the World in 1999.
"Beautiful Wreck of the World," was chosen as one of the Top Ten Albums
of the Year by critics at Billboard Magazine, The Village Voice and
Stereo Review. Lucinda Williams called "On the Road to Calvary,"
Willie's song for Jeff Buckley,
"One of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard." The album reached
the finals of the Independent Music Awards for Best Rock Album of the
Year.
Listen to Willie Nile
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| On Our Specials |
Oysters Rockefeller
Shrooms Flatbread Margherita Pizza
Panzanella Chicken Salad
Lemon Walnut Crusted Walleye
Butternut Squash Ravioli with Browned Sage Butter
Apricot Ancho Glazed Pork Porterhouse
Miso Glazed Sugar Snap Peas
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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."
All day Sunday, September 20th. Any bottle of wine will be half price.
It must be consumed here (at least most of it!)
You must ask for the Sunday Half Price Wine Bottle Special.
Not available on carry out. | |
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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