It's that time of year when you just want to get out and drive.  The air is crisp and clean and the foliage is beautiful. The pools, beaches and ball fields close down and we swap our shorts, T-shirts and flip-flops with grown-up clothing designed to end our fun.  We do so willingly because we know it isn't nice to mess with Mother Nature. But there's one consolation to this annual ritual marking the end of photosynthesis in 2009. The old girl puts on one last spectacular show, a display of natural fireworks bursting with beautiful colors.

What causes this show of rich colors?  When temperatures fall, trees shut down their systems, the chlorophyll in the leaves goes MIA and the trapped glucose remaining in the leaves transforms into palettes of autumn colors.  The best part is the show is free, and you catch it close to home. Finding fall colors doesn't require a GPS. Follow the trees. Wherever they gather in any numbers - think forests - the colors follow.

Some of the best places in Illinois to see these beautiful scenes are right here in the Illinois Valley. One great spot that local travelers can immerse themselves in the fall colors is along the dramatic bluffs at Starved Rock State Park in Utica.
The area around Starved Rock was rated #8 in the nation. ( See the link below)
The overlooks along the Illinois River offer great vistas and memorable photo ops.  Many choose to hike trails overlooking the canyons and rock formations. The drive from Starved Rock to Uptown is also beautiful with foliage, especially the vistas that surround the Illinois River valley.  Join us for lunch or dinner and enjoy the beautiful fall scenery.

Fall Foliage Top Ten

JAZZ FEST

On Saturday, October 10th enjoy live Jazz ensembles at LaSalle's "Jazz in the Streets" from 1 to 10 PM.  The annual Jazz in the Street has become a fall favorite in LaSalle County. Come and listen to live Jazz music outdoors all day...it's free!

Visitors can shop one-of-a-kind handcrafted, handpainted items directly from the artists, enjoy food, sip locally crafted wines and upscale microbrew beers.

The event is located right on First street in front of us, so join us before, during or after.  You can even enjoy some great Uptown food outside, as we will be serving some of our favorites from a booth right on the street.

Weather permitting, you can even reserve one of our sidewalk tables, have a great meal and listen to live jazz!

Here's who's playing....
1pm to 2:30 pm.....IVCC Jazz Band
3pm to 4 pm....Double Dave Trio
4:30 pm to 6 pm.....Dr. Swing (doctorswing)
6:30pm to 8 pm....Dan Leahy Quartet featuring Dave Hoffman
8.30pm to 10 pm....John Miller and the Romaniacs (The Romaniacs)

We celebrate Oktoberfest by offering the areas most authentic German Fare, just like my grandpa did 40 years ago. The Uptown Oktoberfest begins Thursday October 1st.  It will be served after 4pm and will continue until supplies last.  Our Oktoberfest plate includes kassler ripschen(smoked pork chop), eisben mit sauerkraut (pork hocks with sauerkraut), leberkaese (German veal loaf),  knackwurst (German garlic sausage), bratwurst (mild white veal sausage), sauerkraut, red cabbage, and german potato salad. We will also offer a wurtsalat salad and for dessert, housemade apple streudel with french vanilla ice cream. To help celebrate the Oktoberfest we also have Bitburger Pilsener (the #1 draft pilsener in Germany), Hofbrauhaus Munchen Oktoberfest Beer from one of the six original oktoberfest breweries in Munchen, Germany. Not a beer drinker? Well then try our Kuhl, German Reisling from the Mosel River Valley. Only 100 orders to go around and this authentic Oktoberfest meal is one you don't want to miss.

What is Oktoberfest?  It is known as the largest beer festival in the world, the event originated in Munich, Germany on October 12th, 1810 in the form of a 5 day event celebrating the marriage of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony Hildburghausen.
Despite the name Oktoberfest, this annual event actually takes place in September, two Sundays before the first Sunday of October. Attached is an article from Yahoo discussing the origin of Oktoberfest and why it was moved to be held in late September instead of October 12th. Also included in the article are authentic Oktoberfest recipes.

The Origin of Oktoberfest