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On The Web
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Do You Yelp? By Ryan
In one of our past articles we mentioned a website called Yelp. Yelp is a
community based business review site where customers can comment on
their favorite or least favorite businesses. In trying to be as web media friendly as we can we have joined the site as a member. What's nice about Yelp is
that you have a much larger sample size to base a decision on. For
example, if you hear from a good friend that a new restaurant in town
was just horrible, you would probably take your friends word for it and
not be all that eager to try it for yourself. On Yelp, you might have
15-20 or more reviews for a local restaurant. If 90% of the reviews are
bad, well that makes your decision a lot easier. If there are only 1 or 2
bad reviews, it probably means that your friends just had a bad
experience. Heck, anyone can have a bad day. Another aspect that makes it so useful is that it has a cell phone app. Just think, if you are traveling and want to see what restaurants there are in the area, you just have to Yelp! This really levels the playing field between independents and the big chains. Independents do not have the national media coverage that the big chains do, so finding them can sometimes be very difficult. On Yelp, any place that has been reviewed will be listed, from the mom and pop diner to the upscale fine dining restaurant. Our page only has 6 reviews
so far, which is not that great of a sample size for area visitors to base
their opinion on just yet. However, the more people that Yelp, the more accurate the evaluation is. Check out our yelp business page at Yelp Review and write us a review. You can also review the reviewer! This give you an idea about how reputable that particular review is. Does he have negative things to say in all of his reviews or is he pretty fair across the board. A more reputable reviewer makes the entire process more dependable. Watch the
video link below on how a Yelper uses Yelp to distinguish between a
good restaurant and one he might want to stay away from. A Yelper Yelps about Yelp |
Playlist Theater Update
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Roy Davis By Kris
With only a month away to our next show, Roy Davis tickets are already more than 50% sold. Roy will appear on Friday, August 13th at 7:30pm. Tickets are only $15 advance, $18 door.
This is Roy's second appearance at Playlist Theater (July 2008). He has a new album that was released in January. With "We Are A Lightning Bolt" something in his writing seems to have changed. Songs
from the new record range from experimental
folk to full on rave up Americana. To quote the Portland Phoenix "The twang and the lilt of alt-country were always
there, but somewhere in the country's small towns and wide open spaces
Davis put his hands in the country's dirt, too, and his always-smart
songs have never been so fully realized, so full of actual people, as
they are here.....Maybe Davis does have a secret or two. He sings
with the depth of a man who's got a few skeletons in the closet. For a
songwriter, that can never be a bad thing."
Roy's music has been described as everything from Rock to Experimental Rock, to Alt Country to Indie or Garage music. It's hard to put any "label" on his music. "Is late night music a genre? It should be. Get yourself a drink, turn
off the lights, turn on "We Are A Lightning Bolt" and watch the storm
roll in." No Depression
Playlist Theater has been on summer vacation since the Griffin House show the beginning of June. Everyone is hungry for the new show. Don't wait, tickets won't last much longer.
Roy Davis MySpace |
Behind The Bar
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Tito's American Made Vodka By Jimmy
Doesn't it seem that nowadays everyy vodka comes from over seas? What about the good ol' USA? Yes, we have some
great bourbons, but not vodka, right?
Well, deep in the heart of Texas lies Tito's
Handmade vodka. Tito
Beveridge, the founder and master distiller, operates the first
and oldest distillery in Texas.
This small distillery only employs 18 people but produces over 165,000
liters annually.
The vodka is micro-distilled in an
old-fashioned pot still, just like fine single malt scotches and high-end French
cognacs. It is made from 100% corn grown right here in the Midwest. Their handcrafted technique offers more control over the distillation
process,
resulting in an incomparable clean product. Only the heart of the run,
"the nectar" is taken, leaving behind the residual lower
quality alcohol. The vodka is cleansed of phenols, esters, congeners and
organic acids by filtering it through the finest activated carbon
available. It distilled 6 times to give it that clean super premium
flavor with no sugar or gelatin added.
Tito was asked why he
doesn't charge more for such a fine product. He
replied, "I want to try to keep the price where all my friends can
afford it. You
can pay twice as much for vodka but it won't be as good. If I put it in
a frosted, painted, see through bottle then I would have
to charge more. I would rather put my money into the actual juice
rather than have people pay more for the bottle."
This is what matters
to me also. I far more appreciate a company that spends money on its actual
product rather than all of the advertising. You get the feeling that
they actually care about what they serve, it is not just all about the
money.
Tito's recently scored 95 points out of 100 in Wine Enthusiast,
outscoring even Ketel One, Grey Goose, Belvedere and Absolut. Wall
Street Journal quoted it as "America's first craft sippin'
vodka".
From Tito, posted on his website, " I appreciate ya'll supporting
Tito's Handmade Vodka. It's really been a dream come true for me and it's really due to all
the word of mouth
that we've gotten. It's all pretty much just been from people going into
liquor stores and
bars and asking for it. So if you are in a bar and they don't have it,
ask to speak to the bar manager. "
Well we brought it here and are
passing it along to hopefully get people interested in this American
made spirit. Next time your are in, enjoy a product of American hard
work.
Click here and follow it to the video link to hear how Tito started
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On the Menu
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Taste Summer, Mango and Melon Soup by Kris Well the weatherman is back to his antics with 90 degree temps and high humidity. Soup is not normally the word you want to hear on these sweltering days unless, of course, your talking about "chilled" soups.
We've turned chunks of mango and Canary melon into a delicious creamy soup with a touch of cinnamon.
The Canary Melon is sweet
and juicy as is the mango. Add the cream and the cinnamon and it's hard to decide. Is it an appetizer or a dessert? Chilled Mango and Melon soup... The perfect way to "Taste Summer"
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Around the Downtown
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Landscaping Project by Ryan
Downtown LaSalle is currently undergoing a beautification project thanks
to the LaSalle Business Association and the help of the City of
LaSalle. The LBA
has taken the initiative to have
all of the downtown planters repainted and replanted. The city of
LaSalle is helping to
cover costs. "Thank You" to Chuck and Teresa with Valley Fowers for their
part in the re-plantings.
The process has been furthered with Wilson Landscaping, a current LBA member. Morgan Wilson is digging out
the current bump-outs on each street corner in the downtown area and
replacing them with new landscaping. All of the changes have gone a long
way towards beautifying the business district.
The LaSalle Business Association has their own website where they keep you informed of future plans, current members,
upcoming events in the city of LaSalle and much more. Just yesterday I
came across a review for Uptown on Urban Spoons website. It refered to us as, "finally a reason to go to LaSalle!" I'd like to make the argument that there are many reasons to come to
LaSalle and several of them are right here in
downtown.
With the business association continuing to grow with good
people in charge, with good ideas, downtown LaSalle is in the beginning
of a resurgence that soon will make it a destination.
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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!
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On Our Special |
Malpaque Oysters on the Half Shell Yellow Fin Tuna Tower Panini Sandwich with Raisin River Ham, Brie and Apricot-Dijon Glaze. BLT Club Chop Salad Marinated Marlin with a Mango Pineapple Butter Pappardelle Pasta with Imported Italian Tuna and Capers Steamed Broccoli with Tillamook Cheddar Cheese Irish Creme Mousse Torte
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Win a Free Lunch
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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 condiments are always passed in a pair regardless of the request?
2. Who is served first, the hostess or the female guest of honor?
3. What should hosts never do before the guests depart?
[email protected]
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 is removed
from butter when it is clarified? Milk Solids
2. What fortified
wine is a classic match with Stilton Cheese? Port
3. What is made with
the juice by-product of sugar refining? Molasses
Last weeks winner of the free lunch ... Sandy Falco
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Playlist Theater |
Tickets on sale now.
Upcoming Shows
Roy Davis Friday August 13th Tickets on sale now
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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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