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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."
This Sunday, October 18th, through Thursday, October 22nd, we are offering an 8 ounce filet for $10. Slightly smaller
than our menu filet of 10 ounces, (most places serve an 8 ounce filet.) It is
served with sautéed onions, mushrooms and baked potato.
Fine
print......
You must ask for the "unadvertised filet special" to receive this
special.
Available after 4pm.
Not available for carry out. |
The Soup Nazi Wants Your Vote
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Vote Early, Vote Often
By Ray
 Soup season is in full swing and our resident soup Nazi wants to know
what your favorites are. We are looking for your votes. After the votes
are counted we will share the results with you and schedule all of the
favorites. Please click the link below for a direct line to email our
soup Nazi or it's " no soup for you". Vote early and vote often.
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| On Special |
Seared Chipotle Shrimp with Cheesy Grits
by Kris
Although my family is from the south (Tennessee to be exact) I have never really eaten grits before. When our chef came up with this special I was a little leery, conjuring up visions of a heavy sticky mush with the ever present saying "Kiss my grits" ringing in my ear. I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised at how creamy and tasty this dish is. The shrimp is seasoned with chipotle seasoning and seared. Then are served over cheesy grits with sauteed baby arugula, avocado, roasted red peppers and topped with fried plantains.  In doing a little research on grits, I found some very interesting information. Not the least of, is that St. George, (Just outside Charleston) South Carolina is the "Grits Capital of the World" With a population of only 2000, in 1985 they discovered that this small community ate more grits per capita than any other place in the world. With that, they created the "World Grits Festival". This 3 day event, held every August, has drawn crowds as big as 45,000 people. With events like "Grits Grinding", Clothesline Art and Rolling in the Grits, it proves to be quite a celebration. Check the link below for more info and some funny pictures! World Grit Festival  |
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| Behind The Bar |
| Additions to our Wine List
by Jimmy
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It can be a lot of fun picking wines for our list, especially
the tasting part, as you can see in the picture below. Each season we do a tasting to update our list. This past tasting
we sampled some amazing wines. Our outline for choosing
wines includes: number of wines on our list, red vs. whites, red
selections, white selections, origination, ratings and pricing. In our review,
we found areas where we needed additions. In the chardonnay varietal
alone we brought in 6 new ones. Listed below are the "new" wines on
our list. Some of which have scored high ratings in Wine Spectator or Wine
Enthusiast. We feel these are all great wines for you to try the next time you are in.
Remember, if there is any portion of the bottle left. We have "wine doggie bags"
to take the unfinished portion home. Yes, It' legal if it is in this special bag! 
Toad Hollow Unoaked Chardonnay, Mendocino, 07
wine advocate 90 rating
Moobuzz Chardonnay, Sonoma, 06 wine
advocate 90 rating
Frog's Leap Chardonnay, Napa, 07
Tilia Chardonnay, Mendoza, 08
Catena Tupungato Appellation Chardonnay,
Mendoza, 07
Mer Soleil Chardonnay, California,
07
Honig Sauvignon Blanc, Napa, 08
Yealands Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough,
08
Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, 08
Spellbound Reisling, California,
06
Hedges C.M.S. White, Columbia Valley,
07
La-Coste Graville Graves Blanc,
California
Champalou Vouvray, France, 08
Leese-Fitch Merlot, California, 07
Cousino-Macul Merlot, Chile,
08
Substance Merlot, Washington, 08
Travignoli Chianti Rufina, Italy,
07 |
Around the Business
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No Cash Accepted
by Ray |
In the 23 since the Uptown has been open we have seen many changes in
how we do  business, but never in my wildest imagination would I have
ever expected this. Recently a New York City restaurant stopped
accepting cash. No, it does not have anything to with the
declining value of our currency, economic situation, or politics. It is
just sound business. After reading this restaurateur's article I think
he makes some very good points and as someone in his shoes, I can easily
understand. Wall Street Journal Article |
| On Our Specials |
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Seared Tuna Bruschetta
Blue Point Oysters
Deep Fried Veggies
Roasted Antipasto Salad
Wurstsalat Salad
German Platter
Grilled Swordfish with Garlic Chive Butter
Seared Chipotle Shrimp and Cheesy Grits
Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic Chive Butter
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Chantilly Cream
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Playlist Theater
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Message From Romi
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"ACHIN IN YER BONES"
COMING SOUTH!
Romi Mayes and her new band are finally coming
South with her latest album "Achin In  Yer
Bones". Released this past March in Canada, and produced
by reknown Texas producer Gurf
Morlix, "Achin In Yer
Bones" just won Roots Album of The Year and Songwriter of The
Year at The Western Canadian Music Awards this past month
and "Achin In Yer Bones" was just
nominated for Album of The Year at The Canadian Folk Music
Awards to take place this November in Quebec.
After a 6 month Canadian and European tour, Mayes
took a couple months off the road
and is ready to bring the band down to Texas
with shows through the Midwest along the
way.
The new band consists of kick ass players Jason
Nowicki (of The Perpetrators) on guitar; David Landreth on
bass; and Daniel 'Jonny' Jordan on drums.
It's been over a year since Mayes has toured down
to Texas and they are really looking forward to it. If you can't make it, be sure to pass on the
information to someone you love in the area!
Hope to see you out there! - Romi THE
TOUR:
October 19 - High Noon
Saloon - Madison, Wisconsin
October 20 - LIVE RADIO - Gravel
Road Radio KRUU-LP (3:15pm) - Fairfield, Iowa
October 20 - Cafe Paradiso -
Fairfield, Iowa
October 21 - Knuckleheads -
Kansas City, Missouri
October 22 - Bailey Concert
Series (email for info) - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
October 23 - LIVE RADIO - Great
White North KOOP 97.1FM (5:00pm) - Austin,
Texas
October 23 - Luckenbach -
Fredericksburg, Texas
October 24 - Gruene Hall (1 to
5pm)- New Braunfels, Texas
October 27 - LIVE RADIO - Americana Roots
and Branches w/host Ray Wylie Hubbard KNBT 92.1FM (7:00pm) - New
Braunfels, Texas
October 27 - The
Continental Club - Austin, Texas
October 28 - Smokin Rays
w/Jeremy Woodall - Waco, Texas
October 29 - Dosey Doe
w/Marcia Ball - The Woodlands, Texas
October 30 - Cheatham Street
Warehouse w/Hayes Carll - San Marcos, Texas
October 31 - Bill's
Records - in store performance @ 4:45pm - Dallas, Texas
November 1 - Lakewood Bar and
Grill - Dallas, Texas
November 3 - Lindberg's -
Springfield, Missouri
November 4 - Uptown Grill - La
Salle, Illinois
November 5 - Lee's Liquor Lounge
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
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| Playlist Theater
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| A note from J. Burt
by Kris
At the risk of including what could be viewed as "too much" Playlist Theater info in this edition, I felt that I had to share this with you. We are very fortunate to have a loyal customer, that so strongly believes in what we are doing with the Playlist Theater, that he takes the time to tell everyone he knows just how special he thinks it is. We received this email from J. Burt (who had also sent it to everyone in his address book) describing his personal experiences about two of our upcoming artists. With his permission we are sharing it with you. Hopefully, this will help you to understand that this is not a "business" venture for us, but a sincere love of the experience of live music that cannot be replaced by anything else. Please read on......
From J......
In my travels, many people
come up to me and ask, "J., when you look back on 2009, can you think of
anything that might possibly top being on the field of the Super Bowl
for Springsteen, or being in the pit for both of his Chicago
performances?" Truthfully, the answer is no.
However, there is no question that the next runner up in terms of
excitement, meaning and experience is the arrival of Steve Forbert and
Willie Nile to LaSalle at the Uptown Grill. Steve Forbert's music has
given great pleasure to our married life, and for me going back to
1978 when his debut album, "Alive on Arrival" made its way to my
turntable.
What I have loved about the Uptown series is its ability to change me
and broaden my horizons. While Steve Forbert (Friday November 20th,
tickets on sale now) may be new to most of you, there is so much
frequent play of his music at the Burt household, that at this upcoming
show, I can say walking in, I am completely familiar and comfortable
with the songs we will hear. There is no challenge here, just pure
enjoyment! This will be my 5th Steve Forbert show (2 at the Park West
and 2 at Fitzgerald's for you kids keeping score at home) I highly
recommend this show, and strongly encourage your attendance!
www.steveforbert.com
Also in 1978 and 1979 Willie Nile got a lot of play in my dorms and at
the college radio station in Carbondale. I think it's fair to call his
record "Golden Down" seminal. Willie has not put out as many records as
Steve, but lately he has been on a tear. We went to go see the
Bo Deans at the Riviera in 2004, and much to our surprise an delight
Willie opened up. Willie did acoustic (as he will at the Uptown on
Friday, January 29th, tickets on sale now) and featured songs from
"Beautiful Wreck of the World". Most stunning was his tribute to the
late Jeff Buckley "On the Road to Calvery". That night he also rolled
out his 9/11 tribute, "Cell Phones Ringing (In the Pockets of the Dead)
although that song would not be officially released until 2006 on
"Streets of New York". Willie is also very much a part of the Asbury
Park music scene. Every major fundraising show finds Willie there with
other great friends of Bruce Springsteen such as Southside Johnny, Joe
D'Urso, and Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers. Again, without trying
to be too redundant, I highly recommend this show and strongly
encourage your attendance.
www.willienile.com
We are truly blessed to have such a great local resource of outstanding
live music in the Uptown Grill. But that doesn't mean jack if people
don't come out to support it, and so I encourage you to clear your
calendars and make a point of joining Linda and I at the Uptown on both
Friday, November 20th for Steve Forbert and on Friday, January 29th for
Willie Nile.
You may now resume normal programming! .... Thank You J. We could not have said it any better! It's nice to have an outside contributing writer!
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| | Willie and Bruce in Giant's Stadium, Sept, 2009 |
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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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