|
|
|
|
|
|
Thank You for Celebrating 25 Years With Us!
|
It was about 11:20 a.m. last Thursday morning and being preoccupied as I was, I had
just realized it was 20 minutes past the moment we first opened our
doors 25 years ago. I tried to think back to what that
moment was like on June 3, 1985. I was in the kitchen getting ready for the storm to
roll through. We had served our first table "the pie people". We were on
a waiting list already! I do remember thinking about the uncertainty of
the future at that time.Fast forward to June 3, 2010, I was
thinking about all the friendly wishes we had received as we were
sharing our stories over the past few weeks. The flowers and plants had started
to arrive and it was starting to sound like we were going to have a
pretty good turn out for our party. Our business is a very uncertain
one. You never know
what could happen from one day to next.
 The one thing that is certain however, is the friends that we have made over the years. Rita and I want to
thank all of you, none
of this could have
happened without you, our customers, employees, friends and family.
Thank You!
Ray and Rita
Here are some pictures form the party. Hope you enjoy them.
|
Thank You for Celebrating 25 Years With Us!
|
Drew and Denise Bernabi, Ray and Rita, Beth and Bruce Yearly
 |
Robert and Tierney (babysitter extraordinair) Morrison
with Ray and Rita
 |
Leslie Sparks and Chrissie Mattioda, two of our "old" servers.
 |
The "originals" Ray, Chris Biagi Rosco, Greg Hybki, Kris Hall
 |
The "Batchelder" Clan!
 |
Sue Tondi and Margie King
 |
More "Originals"
Chris Plankenhorn, Leslie Sparks, Kris Hall, Ray, Sue Tondi, Chrissie Mattioda, Chris Biagi Rosco, Rita
 |
The girls! Mary Halberg, Melinda Andreoni,
Sherrie Keegan, Mary Jo Ketter
 |
Jim and Gwen Walsh, Joe and Loretta Leydon
 |
Ryan's wife Alexis with her mom June Grant and Rita
 |
Joe and Mary Clancy with Ray and Rita
 |
Jimmy Lannen with Dennis and Cindy Becker
 |
Grandpa Barto
 |
Kristy Pytel with Laura and Jim Barto
 |
Jim and Mary Quesse with their grandaughter.
 |
Nikki, Anna and Geena, The Hostess Crew!
 |
Kit and "Gus" Augustonelli with Ryan
 |
Randy Gielow with Ryan and Jimmy
Randy taught them all he knows about women!
 |
Gib and Michelle Baratini with Ray and Rita
 |
Dena Toovey with Ray
 |
Dancin' on the Bar! Mary Jo Ketter and Melinda Andreoni
 |
Tom and Chris Ficek with Ray
 |
Alexis and Ryan with Bernie Victor and Rita
 |
|
Playlist Theater Show Report
|
Griffin House Show
by Ray
As usual I wanted to share a few things that I find interesting that
happen while putting on these shows, in front of and behind the curtain.
Friday night Griffin
played to a another sold out show. He was with his usual incredibly
talented guitarist and side kick Clint Wells. They played what Griffin called a
"stripped down acoustic show". His first set was almost all new material
and frankly I thought it was one of the best sets I have ever seen
anywhere. I am more of a singer/songwriter, acoustic, stripped down show
kind of a guy anyway. His second set included many of his old
favorites. He played one song "She Likes Girls" in both sets. I think
that is the first time that has happened here. Griffin told us that he
has been getting lots of airplay on radio stations with that song.
During
sound check he broke into a song that made
jaws drop for everyone in the room. A song about the condition of the world today. It really hit home, kind of a Dylanistic protest song. He told us
he wrote it just the afternoon before. Watch for it on YouTube, it is really
something special. The lyrics go something like this.....
We got kids in the war and we're lettin'
em go, Oil in
the Gulf of Mexico, spillin' out, killin' out, watchin' em die, God
stands by with a tear in his eye. Crooks on Wall street,
we're on main street, People on my street tryin to eat What
happened to the land of the free and the brave? 7 billion
souls and we all need saved.
Sound check turned into rehearsal as
it had been a while since the two of them had played together. Clint
expressed being nervous because he did not know much of Griffin's new
material.
He said you never know where Griffin's sets are going to go. You could
have fooled us!
He has a new CD "The Learner" being released June 22nd. He told us he
was thrilled that Allison
Kraus show up at the studio to sing background.
Clint
talked about the devastation in Nashville from the floods and how there
was very little press in comparison to how bad it really was.
Griffin
and Clint drove here from Nashville
and then were in Cincinnati for a show on Saturday. His agent was kind
of concerned about him doing this show because there were already plans for
doing a full band show in the fall. His agent was worried about being
able to sell two Griffin
House shows that close together. I don't think that will ever be a
problem. We will let you know as soon a routing is determined.
As
far as letting you know about selling future tickets, selling Griffin's
ticket did not go well. We are really sorry for anyone that got
shut out. What we will do in future is announce it to our newsletter
fans before advertising it. As soon as we announce they will be on sale for "in person" only, not on the phone. We feel this will be the fairest policy to our loyal
customers that will get first crack at them. Also, we are still 98%
percent restaurant (and not a box office) this will work best for our
staffing.
She Likes Girls, Download it for free!
|
Around the Downtown
|
Living Environments
By Kris
 We are thrilled to welcome a new store in downtown La Salle. "Living Environments" opened on June 3rd. Owners Tom and Phyllis Arnold say that this is "a fulfillment of a long time dream." The shop consists of a great variety of home decor items. Unique and delightful items that will inspire you to create your space. They also offer design services from Steve Esme`, an experienced designer who is available for any design questions that you may have.
The shop is located on Gooding Street across from us, directly behind Tri City Frock Shop.
Phone 815-220-1065. Hours are 10 am to 5:30 pm Thursday through Saturday.
|
In The News
|
Chicago Sports Jinx
by Ryan So the Blackhawks are on the cusp of their first Stanley Cup in 49
years? The last time the Blackhawks won the Stanley cup, we had not yet
put a man on the moon and the Cubs, well........! So, recently I was
given a copy of the Wall Street Journal and in the sports section was an
article about Chicago sports fans and their feeling of being cursed.
Think about it? There's the black cat, the Billy Goat, the Black Sox. It
doesn't take much to put the idea of a curse into the head of your
average Chicago sports fan. So, is it possible that another jinx will
prevent yet another Chicago team from hoisting the championship trophy? An
avid hockey fan, I am not. My only real hockey memories are going to a
game at the old Chicago Stadium as a young child and hearing my father
join in the chant of "B**S***! from the 3rd deck, and having a beer
around Grandpa Barto's pool with Chris Chelios's parents. That's the
extent of my Blackhawks connection. So to
read about hockey jinx comes to me as a bit of a surprise. Could it be
possible that a large picture of the teams captain erected on the side
of a building with Lord Stanley's Cup in the background be all it takes
to jinx the 'Hawks out of winning the Cup? If you are a Chicago sports
fan............yes, it is! Enough was made of the picture that it
eventually was
taken down, but it has not been forgotten in the hockey ranks.Apparently
it's very bad luck to touch the Stanley Cup until you have
actually won the Stanley Cup. So when that picture went up, although an
actual person never touched the cup, Chicago sports fans panicked. They
do
have two things in their favor though. Number 1 is that, a Flyers
player hoisted the Eastern Conference Trophy last week after his team
clinched their spot in the finals, which is another apparent jinx.
And
we must also remember that not all Chicago teams are jinxed. The south side
has a team that won a championship and hoisted the final
trophy just 5 years ago. What curse?Wall Street Journal Article |
Employee UPdates
|
June Birthdays and AnniversariesBy Kris
 We thought that it would be nice to recognize our employees birthdays and years of service each month. I promised them that I would not reveal what year they were born, however, once a month we will give a list of all of the employees who will celebrate either birthdays or anniversary dates for that month.
June Birthdays.....
Jen Love
Jenna Moore
|
| Not Your "Everyday" Specials |
 Friday Nights, Seafood Mixed Grill
It
includes
a 4 oz lobster tail with
drawn butter, 4 oz salmon filet with basil
cream and 4 oz whitefish parmesan with lemon caper
butter. All for only $19.75
Monday Nights, Steak Diane
Every Monday after 4 pm, we will be serving Steak Diane for $13.75. This will be just like the Red Door Inn. With Victor's stamp of approval.
 Sunday, All Day,
Sizzling Sunday Fajita and Margaritas
You
get a chicken
fajita for two with a 64 ounce pitcher of margaritas for only $20! Imagine this on a Sunday afternoon on the patio or at a sidewalk table
with the sunshine and a nice breeze! No, your not in Cabo, but it sure
feels like it!
|
| On Our Special | |
Blackberry Point Oysters on the Half Shell
Oysters Rockafeller
Tomatillo Chicken Nachos
Panini Sandwich with Manchego Cheese and Roasted Vegetables Including Yellow Squash, Zucchini, Red Peppers and Portobello Mushrooms
Orange Roughy Topped with Lobster Stuffing
Apricot Balsamic Glazed Pork Porterhouse
Burrata Cheese and Asparagus with Fusilli
Sauteed Carrots, Zucchini and Squash
Peach and Brie Cheesecake
|
Win a Free Lunch
|
Foodie Fight Free Lunch Contest
by Kris
 Each week in the newsletter we will ask 3 questions from the Foodie Fight cards. The first person to email us (see link below) the correct answers to all three questions will receive a complimentary free lunch. The winner has to have the correct answer for all three questions, no exceptions. The following week we will publish the correct answers and the winner from the previous week. So come on in and have a drink, study the cards, test each other and have fun. Good Luck!
1. What is the more common name for a beefsteak cut regionally known as Delmonico, Market or Country club steak?
2. Who is the Roman mythological goddess of abundance that carries a horn of plenty?
3. What kind of pie is "brighter than a silver spoon" and a term of endearment in a 1988 James Taylor tune, recoded as a duet with Ray Charles in 2004?
foodiefight@uptowngrill.com
Fine Print...
You must be the first person to respond with all three correct answers.
The response must go to the email address in the above link.
You must reply within 24 hours from the time the newsletter is published.
Participants are eligible to win a limit of 3 times a year.
Last Week questions and answers....
1. What crop is grown
in the United States only on one single plantation? Tea
2.
Who is credited with developing the methods for making champagne? Dom Perignon
3. What is the general
term for cheeses made with milk from animals that live on the farm where
the cheese is made? Farmstead
Last weeks winner of the free lunch ... NO WINNER
|
| Playlist Theater | |
Tickets on sale now.
Upcoming Shows
 Roy Davis
Friday
August 13th
Tickets on sale now
|
|
|
|
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
|
You can read all of our past UPtown UPdates by clicking the link below.
UPtown UPdate Archives |
|
|
Email Policy
|
Uptown respects your privacy and will not sell or distribute your personal information.
|
|
|
|
