Uptown Playlist Theater Updates

by Josh Theisinger

Next week could not come soon enough. The anticipation is almost like Christmas.  It's going to be the busiest week in the Uptown Playlist Theater's history.  Wednesday, April 6th kicks off with one of the original alumni and possibly the most popular artist: Griffin House.  As ray mentioned last week, for both of the Griffin House shows, Griffin has added Chris Farney. He plays drums and bass at the same time and also mandolin and guitar. Chris appeared with Griffin here several years ago.  Tickets for Griffin's Wednesday show are still available here.  But if that wasn't enough he is also slated to perform a sold out show on Saturday, April 9th as well.  

But why stop with just Griffin House?  On Friday, April 8th, Ray Wylie Hubbard swings through town for a sold-out, one night only show with a trio that has never been featured here before!  His son Lucas is performing with him as he did on their appearance on Late Night with David Letterman.  

There really isn't any other way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Playlist Theater than with a packed weekend of music.  We can tell you now that this place is going to be rockin' all week.  

Don't forget that not many tickets are left for Bill Kirchen on Friday April 13. This will be the last show for about a month before Paul Cebar comes in on May 21st and the Dustbowl Revival romps through on Wednesday June 1st. 

For those of you who missed out on a past performer Margo Price and the Pricetags, don't fret.  On Saturday April 9th, Margo makes her debut performance on Saturday Night Live as the special musical performance.  The show will be hosted by Academy Award winner Russell Crowe.  But that's not it, Margo's song "Hurtin'" was featured in the New York Time's "25 Songs That Tell Us Where Music Is Going."  The article can be found here, with Margo being featured at #7.  She also recently made an appearance on the "Late Show with Stephen Colbert."  

Help Wanted

by Ryan Anderes

We thought we'd reach out to our newsletter subscribers in hopes of finding new staff members to join our team. As we approach the upcoming summer months, business will increase 20-30 percent on the average.

Believe it or not, tourism has become a big part of business in LaSalle County. Ray will tell you that when he opened the doors back in 1985, he would not have - in his wildest dreams - relied on tourism as a source of landing customers. Back then, the Uptown relied heavily on local clientele. But, things have changed. Starved Rock attracts over 2 million visitors a year, and tourism has become an ever increasing part of our customer base.

Despite that increase in tourism dollars, LaSalle County still has the highest unemployment rate in all of central and Northern Illinois. Is it because we have become so seasonal? Who knows what the reason is. Either way, we thought we'd take the chance to spread the word that we are looking to lower that unemployment percentage as summer approaches. 

Now that visitors flock to our area each season, Downtown LaSalle has become a destination. And with that, an increase in traffic and business for everyone. The result means we're in need of an increased number of staff members. It takes a small village to run a restaurant! Host, bartender, server, busser, dishwasher or cook... whatever your specialty, keep us in mind!

Many of you might think, "Oh, well I can only work 1 or 2 days a week," or "I'm only free on the weekends." Some of you might just want to find a way to get rid of your kids a few nights a week during the summer!  Whatever your story, it's okay!

It takes all kinds of availability and people to put a schedule together. We have some staff members that work just weekends, some that work just days, some that work Friday, Tuesday and Thursday. Putting a schedule together is kind of like doing a giant puzzle every week, and you have to make the pieces fit just right. Whether you are looking for - full or part time - we probably have the hours to accommodate you.

So, if you or anyone you know are interested in joining our team for the summer (or beyond), stop in and talk to us. We are newly remodeled and have perhaps the nicest facility in LaSalle County. We have been here for 30 years and plan on doing at least 30 more. We are always looking to add to and improve our staff. Whatever your availability might be... you could be the perfect fit!

Wine Country Climate Check

by Jim Lannen

Climate is a "hot" topic all the time. There is so much that is affected by its change. The drought that has gone on in California the last few years has been impacting the state's biggest exports and tourist attractions: wine and vineyards. Last year alone was one of the most severe droughts in its history.

Climate change and water conservation are issues that wineries must often manage. When it comes to wine, you do not necessarily see the effect until the following year in both supply and flavor. 

What do these wineries need to do in order to produce their products in spite of the changing climate? I recently read an article on different ways to look at the issue. 

Different wineries deal with this differently. Normally when you think of less water for a plant, it affects it negatively. A lot of times they simply do not even grow. Which then means less fruit, in turn meaning less product to sell. However, some drought-stricken vines are producing some of the best wines California has seen in decades.

Due to lack of rain, the vines are forced to find water on their own and deeply penetrate the soils. Normally vines grow about 10 feet deep. With the low soil moisture, they must dig a little deeper in search of water. This results in a smaller, riper grape which actually produces a more concentrated sugar and complex fruit flavor into the wine.

On the flip side, in a wet year (2011 was a wet one for California), you can really taste the difference in the wines. Grapes grown in years like this do not get as ripe, which then affects the flavor of the wine.  However, more of it is produced and available to the average consumer.

As you can see, for wine lovers looking for flavor and complexity of wine, dry years are good years. Especially if money is no object. The result of a dry year is that not as many bottles are produced, and wine is more expensive.

Wine Enthusiast (a wine trade group that rates all wine) has been seeing dry years with greater scores. "We've looked at our scores over the last three years, and they are increasingly going up. So obviously our tasters are liking what they're tasting; they're liking the concentration; they're liking the intensity of the wines," a WE spokeswoman said.

In fact, in 2011 - a wet year - 47 percent of the red wines in Napa were rated 90 points or more. In 2012 - a dry year - that jumped to 53 percent.

Of course, vines cannot withstand a drought for multiple years, but conserving water and letting the roots dig deeper has had some positive effect on their end product. 

Either way, you can look at it as the wine glass being half full OR half empty.

Online Updates: Caption This & Take the Tour

by Ryan Anderes

Last year around this time, we revamped our newsletter and overhauled our weekly contest. Since that time, we have also renovated the entire restaurant, tweaked our newsletter some more and looked for ways to improve our social media connection.

With each week's newsletter, we try to inform our subscribers of new products that have come into the building, current specials, upcoming events and concerts... sometimes we just go op-ed and discuss current events. So with all the changing we've done over the last few months, we wanted to take the time to remind you of some new (and not so new) features of our newsletter and website.

And for all those new subscribers in the past year, this is definitely for you!

First is the "Caption This" Contest.  Now about a year old, we're overdue to give the contest a renewed push and a quick recap of how it works. Fun and quirky, it's an easy way to earn a free meal. It's a veritable photo library that we give you free reign to comment on (see a sample photo and winning caption below).

Does this meat make my lobster look fat?

Once a week (typically on Wednesday or Thursday), we post a photo to our Facebook page that somehow relates to the Uptown Grill. It is up to you to create a funny, silly, literal caption or even a funny story. Each week, we'll select which one we feel is the best and reward the winner with a $25 gift certificate.

New, to the contest, is a feature for all NON-FACEBOOK users to be able to post a comment in the blog section at the bottom of this article. You don't have to have Facebook to participate! Just post your comment below!

All you need to do is follow TWO simple steps.

1.) Make your comment/caption in the blog section below

2.) Leave your name following the comment

Then next week, open our newsletter and find out if yours was the winning caption. If you posted on the blog and won, all you will need to do is email frontdeskuptowngrill@yahoo.com with the subject, Caption This, and let us know you were declared this weeks winner. We will arrange to send you the winnings!

We will still continue to post each photo and winning caption in our newsletter the following week (When posted, each new photo entry will be eligible for your creative captioning for approximately one week. Once Wednesday evening hits, we'll pick our winner and publish it in that week's newsletter that typically hits your inbox by the weekend.)

And the best part is that someone will win free food from Uptown. That's right, someone will win lunch for two each week. Now who's with us?

We choose our favorite among all the entries. And let me tell you... sometimes it comes down to an arm wrestling contest. We get a real kick out of reviewing your responses each and every week!

So what on earth are we talking about? Here's how it works:

• Each week, we post a new photo on our Uptown Grill Facebook page. (Have you taken the time to "like" us yet?) Or as we stated above, just make your caption in the blog section below.
• Look for the new Caption This photo, or simply follow the link offered in our weekly newsletter if you're a subscriber.
• Comment on the photo and leave us your best caption. Maybe it's funny. Or maybe it's quite literal and descriptive. Remember, there is no wrong answer.
• Plus, you've got plenty of time to craft that witty comment. We give you 5-7 days to submit your responses before we select our winner and move on to the next photo.
• Want to check out captions from previous weeks for inspiration? We archive our past photos and answers here.

Someone, somewhere, will win lunch for 2. Every single week! If you don't win this week, try again the next. And the next and so on.

Share this with your friends! It's no secret... Uptown is giving away free food, and we want you to be a part of it! So start playing newsletter friends!

This Week's Caption This Photo Is:

Get started playing here Facebook friends

Another feature that we love to brag about and remind you of is the "Take The Tour" feature on our website. Just a few short weeks ago (and keep in mind, we've essentially been done remodeling since Thanksgiving), someone said that our "Take The Tour" images on our website were still displaying the old Uptown. Something so prominent on our webpage, yet we overlooked it.

It's amazing to think of all the things that you need to do when you remodel. Everything changes, and it doesn't just happen overnight. We can't go one week in our marketing meeting without someone saying "oh no we forgot to update this," or "we forgot to update that." The list is endless!

So arrangements were made to gather the necessary images, and the new "Take The Tour" has since been put together and posted. We know many of you have seen images from the remodel, but you may not be able to envision the entire scope.

Some of you may be new subscribers and have yet to see what we have done. Some of you may even be outside the area and are unfamiliar with us, yet are in charge of planning a shower for someone who is. Well "Take The Tour" allows you take a virtual walk through the new restaurant.

Restaurant Tour   |   Banquet Tour

So go ahead and explore! The two links are listed above for your tour enjoyment.

Valentine's Reservations

by Josh Theisinger

Valentine's is only 2 weeks away. All you procrastinators (you know who you are) need to start thinking of what gift to get or when to make your last minute restaurant reservation.

I can tell you that even though this day falls on a Sunday, it's still going to be as packed as any busy Saturday night. This year, why not let us do all the work for you?  All you have to do is pick up the phone, pick a time, and show up!

We don't limit or change prices on the menu in any way, and there are always new specials available only for the day. We'll also have chocolate covered strawberries to sell for the perfect ending to any romantic meal.  

You can make reservations at anytime by calling us directly at 815-224-4545.  Or you can go directly to our website and make it through our Yelp SeatMe! app (which literally only takes 30 seconds to make one). Pick out your reservation time and you're all set. All you'll have to do is show up!

Due to the larger capacity crowd, we do take a $10 per person hold for each reservation. (Don't worry, you're only charged if you fail to show up.)  The restaurant is newly remodeled for a cozier, more intimate setting for all you lovebirds out there.

So make no excuses this year and book with us.  We do all the work, and you guys get to take all the credit!  It couldn't be any simpler.

Make your online reservation here.

Eagle Watch Weekend at Starved Rock

by Ryan Anderes

For us living in the Illinois Valley, we are blessed to have one of the seven wonders of Illinois right here in our own backyard, Starved Rock State Park. Every season provides enjoyment to tens of thousands of tourists each year.

I must say, we do get quite a bit of business from this area attraction, and it is always nice to hear the families that dine here talk about their trips throughout the park. Although the winter season may not offer ideal conditions for hiking the many park trails along the Illinois River, it is the perfect time of year to view the many American bald eagles that call this area home.

Every year, the park hosts its Eagle Watch Weekend, which falls on this coming Saturday and Sunday, January 30-31. Thousands of bird lovers and photographers (both amateur and professional) will flock to the rock during this time to catch a glimpse of our nation's bird. It has become one of the park's most popular events, and both the number of eagles and the people that watch them seem to grow every year.

Photo courtesy of Ron Misjack

This bird was once on the endangered species list from 1967 to 1995, but they seem to love to call our area home during the winter. More and more of these birds seem to find their way to our area to build nests in the trees and prey on fish in the Illinois River near Starved Rock. Guests are invited to view from the Veranda, the riverfront, Eagle Cliff and The Illinois Waterway Visitor's Center to best catch a glimpse. This yearly event will run from 9 am to 5 pm and will also include lectures and exhibits at the lodge.

Your visit to the Illinois Valley would not be complete without a lunch or dinner at the Uptown Grill. We will be serving all day, as always, for you to stop in and break from the cold for a warm meal. Share stories and photos in our warm dining room and choose from our amazing food and drink menu to bring your eagle watching weekend to a perfect end. It is amazing we have something so wonderful right here close by. 

For more Eagle Watch information and tips for viewing, visit the following link.

Cold Temps Mean Ice Wine

by Ryan Anderes

In honor of the frigid temperatures we have experienced so far in 2016 (and will soon experience again this weekend), I thought it would be a good time to discuss "ice wine." This is something I did not know existed until very recently, and I'm guessing that many of you have not heard of this style of wine before.

The whole process of ice wine is very interesting, and I'll admit I'm intrigued. Yet it's something that I will personally have to taste and experiment with myself before possibly bringing anything of this style into the restaurant.

Ice wine is a style of wine making that allows for grapes to ripen during the warm summer months before allowing them to naturally freeze on the vines in the colder winter months. Once the fall season approaches the end, the vines must be netted so as to not be vultured by birds or other animals.

The grapes are then left on the vine until they reach a sustained temperature of around 17 degrees. Between the end of the fall harvest and the time they are ready to be picked for ice wine, the grapes dehydrate. This process concentrates the juices and reveals the characteristics that lend an ice wine to be characterized as such.

The grapes for ice wine are usually harvested at night and need to be watched closely, because if they are frozen too quickly - or not frozen enough - the optimal window for harvest can be missed. (The short video shown here helps to further explain the whole process.)

Ice wine grapes are then pressed, and only a very small amount of juice is harvested from these grapes... about 15% of the harvested juice one might expect from a traditional table wine harvest. Their juices are very sweet and can be difficult to ferment. The high sugars create a difficult environment for the yeast which stops the fermentation process early. This creates a wine with low alcohol and a high sugar content.

A bottle of ice wine is meant to be a dessert wine. They are intensely flavored and boast rich aromas of tropical fruits. All varietals are sweet and have a high acidity. They can be drank simply as an after dinner wine, or they can be mixed with other sparkling wines or cocktails. 

So if you see the term "ice wine" this winter, don't be turned off... it's not as uncommon as you might think. Weather (pun intended) or not you see it on our menu in the future is something we have to look into first.

Would you spend $899/couple to eat at TGI Fridays?

by Ray Anderes

Not even on New Year's Eve? Neither would I! Even if it was at the "50 yard line."

I am always amazed at things I see restaurants do for New Year's Eve. Some of the places, as you see in the attached article, have been getting away with it for 10 years!  Maybe it's because they are in such a large market... perhaps the biggest market. It's as simple as some operators saying, "this is a chance to make money."

We take an opposite approach. This is a chance for us to make customers.

Ever since we have been in business - 30 years, 6 months, and 28 days - we have taken the approach that New Year's Eve is a time to build customer relationships, not tear them down. I've often thought of it as an opportunity to give back and say "thank you" to our customers for another year of allowing us to serve you.

Every year since 1985, we have done about twice the business on New Year's Eve than a normal Saturday. We more than double our efforts. With 3 times the staff and 4 times the planning and preparations, we are trying to put our best foot forward. We have even gone all out decorating our place with thousands of helium-filled balloons.

We do all of this without increasing a single menu price. It might not be smart business sense to some. To us it is. We can't make our year on one night. Anyone can fill up on New Year's Eve. We need you the other 364 eves.

We do add several celebratory dishes that people are looking for on New Year's. Besides our regular menu of entrees, we add several lobster dishes, surf and turfs and of course champagnes.

In the interest of full disclosure this year, we are making one big change. After reading what a harmful and precious commodity helium has become, we have decided to cut back on balloons. We will still be doing some decorating with them but we will not be as wasteful with them as we have in the past. We also remove sandwiches from our menu in order to allow the kitchen to optimize their setup so we can serve you promptly and efficiently.

If you have reservations here, you probably already know we take a $10 per person credit card "hold." If you cancel by the 29th, or if you show up for your reservation, it never gets processed. It had gotten to the point where we had a 30% no show rate and we just could not keeping guessing what the no-show rate was going to be each year.

On a positive note, you make your reservation and that is it. You show up, and we have your table. Just like how it is supposed to be every night of the year.

While I am blowing my New Year's horn, I would like to thank you personally for allowing us to serve you for yet another year.  We hope you can join us again in 2016.

HaPpY nEwYeAr!!!!!!!  

A Look Ahead: 2016 Food Trends

by Jim Lannen

Sure, it's fun to reminisce about the year that's passed.  But why not say good riddance to 2015 and take a look at the top food and drink trends predicted for 2016?

Keeping up with the latest trends is important in every industry. And each year, the National Restaurant Association - with the help of industry professionals and chefs - conducts a survey to identify menu trends for the upcoming year.

Top 20 food trends for 2016:

1. Locally sourced meats and seafood
2. Chef-driven fast-casual concepts
3. Locally grown produce
4. Hyper-local sourcing 
5. Natural ingredients/minimally processed food
6. Environmental sustainability
7. Healthful kids' meals
8. New cuts of meat 
9. Sustainable seafood
10. House-made/artisan ice cream
11. Ethnic condiments/spices
12. Authentic ethnic cuisine
13. Farm/estate branded items
14. Artisan butchery
15. Ancient grains 
16. Ethnic-inspired breakfast items
17. Fresh/house-made sausage
18. House-made/artisan pickles
19. Food waste reduction/management
20. Street food/food trucks

If you've followed this list in years past, trends like locally sourced meat, produce, seafood and kids' nutrition continue to make the list. In fact, this has remained unchanged since the 2012 predictions. People are focused on nutrition for their children and knowing where and what was involved with the food they consume. A lot of times, that means the freshest ingredients possible.

One trend that interests me in particular involves new cuts of meat. A lot of these I have probably never heard of, so I am excited to see and learn. And I'm sure Chef Chris has several new ideas up his sleeve to bring forth this year.

Menu items that gained momentum since last year’s survey include African flavors, authentic ethnic cuisine, ethnic condiments/spices, house-made/artisan soft drinks, Middle Eastern flavors and non-traditional liquors. Items that fell off trend include underutilized fish, kale salads, fresh beans/peas, gluten-free cuisine, quinoa and flower essence in cocktails.

Keeping up with trends is important to growing and sustaining a business... whether it involves food, drink or even fashion. So here's to keeping up with the Joneses in 2016!

Holiday Weekend Hours: Welcome to January

by Josh Theisinger

This time of year almost reminds me of a wedding. You spends weeks, if not months preparing for one day... making sure that everyone that needs to be here is here. The right food is ordered and prepped. All the tables are aligned perfectly and set with the correct decorations.

Then you're on to the last minute details, the final odds and ends when all of a sudden - bam - the big day comes.  You hustle and bustle for 8 hours straight before realizing it's over... just in the blink of an eye. THANK GOD!

Don't get me wrong, we all get excited around here for New Year's Eve... it's like our version of the Super Bowl! But no one really realizes how much work and time that goes into it. 

We're obviously open for New Year's Eve.  We'll be serving up delicious food between 4 and midnight (with the bar open later).  We'll also be serving on New Year's Day - Friday the 1st - but only from 4 until 11.  Who doesn't deserve a little time to sleep it off the next day?

On Saturday the 2nd, we'll be getting back to the normal grind with service from 11-11. But then on Sunday the 3rd, we're only open between 12-3. It's a rare short day in our business, but we'll be closing up shop early to head off to our annual Christmas party.

After serving all of you and helping kick off your Christmas parties all season long, it's time for us to enjoy ours!  This year, Bartley's Supper Club has taken on the honor of hosting our fun-loving crew.

To all of our faithful customers and readers: on behalf of the entire Uptown Staff, we want to wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We look forward to seeing you in 2016!

HOLIDAY WEEKEND HOUR RECAP

THURSDAY NYE ~ 4pm to 12am

FRIDAY NEW YEARS DAY ~ 4pm to 11pm

SATURDAY JAN 2ND ~ 11AM TO 11PM

SUNDAY JAN 3RD ~ 12pm to 3pm

closed pm for our company christmas party

Christmas Hours... and Christmas Moon?

by Ryan Anderes

Wow! Christmas is just a week away! As a child, it seemed Christmas would never come. Those last few days seemingly would take forever. Now having children of my own, I can't believe Christmas is here... wishing time would just slow down! Seems like just last year, we were planning for Christmas and New Years Eve, and here we go again!

So as Christmas quickly approaches - and I can only assume you are as far behind as I am - we just wanted to give you that last minute reminder that you can easily order Uptown Grill Gift Cards online. Try and get your order in by 3pm on Monday afternoon, and assuming speedy postal delivery, we can have your Christmas Gift Card at your door on Wednesday.

We also are open Christmas Eve from 11am until 2pm. We open for a quick lunch and then close again for the evening.  Christmas Eve has become a fun-filled festive lunch shift for all of us to work. We have staff members OFFERING to work a holiday, and we even had Ray in the spirit last year!

I can't imagine many places have employees offering to work Christmas Eve, but it's a quick 3 hours.  Plus, there are rumors of some free holiday eggnog this year for customers (and maybe even employees) who enjoy a little pre-Christmas lunch with us.

Make your reservations here.

Then at 2pm, we shut the kitchen down and stick around for those last few tables before we clean the place up and shut her down. A couple last-minute holiday beverages are usually shared, and we have that inevitable last gift card sale around 3:41pm just before we lock the doors.  We continue to be closed through Christmas Day so our staff can take a much deserved break and enjoy the holidays. They certainly deserve it, especially this year!

And lastly... we leave you with the notice of a Christmas Moon, a.k.a. the long night's moon. Set to reach it's peak around 6:11am Christmas Morning, this full moon will help guide the way for Santa and his Reindeer.

It's a pretty rare occurrence, as it will be the first full moon on Christmas Day since 1977 and only the 4th Christmas moon since 1900.  It's not scheduled to happen again until 2034.

For us, it's just an added bonus to be closed on a day with a full moon as it seems that strange things happen in this business when it's out. There are probably too many stories to share, but go ahead... ask anyone in the service industry what a full moon brings out sometimes!

So, we will gladly take the Christmas holiday off this year and try to enjoy our time with family. We hope you do the same, and all of us at Uptown Grill want to wish you a Happy Holiday Season!  We hope you choose to celebrate with us!

Loving Our New Lounge

by Ray Anderes

One of the most distinct remodel updates you'll notice upon entering our place is the lounge. With only a few weekends under our belt since completion, we could not be any happier with how it has been accepted.

It has been very gratifying to see it used like it has been. I was kind of nervous about this big change. 

When working on the floor plan and design elements for our remodel, one of the main things I wanted to accomplish was to make our bar experience a little more intimate... a place where adults can comfortably grab a drink.

The old layout had the main thoroughfare for the restrooms and banquet room traveling right down the middle of the bar. We felt there was a market for something that felt like a "hotel bar" with an area to lounge. We also felt that offering a bar to comfortably eat at was another important element. And of course, you almost have to have televisions for those special events... yet we did not want to become a sports bar. 

So far this Christmas season, the lounge area has been a favorite of groups before and after their events. We have seen groups of women -at all times during day - lounging it. On several occasions, I have been told that they like it because they can go out for a drink without sitting at the bar, and it offers just the right amount of privacy.

To complete our "lobby bar," we serve an assortment of free snacks that we rotate to anyone who is lounging it. Of course, you can get anything on our menu if you really have the munchies. The amount of people that have been eating at the bar so far has greatly increased. It's just a more comfortable bar to eat at. Our ultra HD televisions are hidden behind a one-way mirror. 

One more big change scheduled for later this winter is the addition of live music on the weekends. Instead of just "dining out," we want to become your "evening out." In laying out our lounge, we wanted to tie it to the dining room immediately to the north. We set things up so the last eight feet of this dining room could be elevated to create a stage. 

Our plans are to start the music around 8pm and be done before midnight. We will not be charging a cover. I would like to have the same band here for Friday as well as Saturday. The genre of music we will have will vary from jazz to blues to blue grass to anything around and in between. We will have our own house music system and lights to make it easy for artist set up and tear down. 

Since doing our shows, I have had hundreds of artists ask about playing here. Most of them I just do not think I could build a show around. Hopefully we can keep an interesting variety of traveling, as well as local, musicians. We are really hoping that we can make this an every weekend type of thing. 

To you musicians... we can promise you a top quality PA system, 16 channel board, and lighting all controllable from the stage. Our goal is to make it easy for you. I am presently looking to set up dates as early as late January. Please email ray@uptowngrill.com if you have any interest in discussing this arrangement or if you have an artist you would like to see here.

Thanks,

Ray

Christmas Done Right:Uptown's Gift Guide

by Ryan Anderes

As Christmas approaches - just two weeks away - the shopping days become fewer and fewer. If you're anything like me, you get down to the last couple days; you have no idea what to get someone; and you just simply run out of time.

With Christmas falling on a Friday, we can help out any last-minute, weekday shoppers. Even those who are far away or out of state - even those who just "forget." No worries... we've got your back!

Shop and order your gift card online by Monday afternoon, December 21st, and we will make sure it gets in the mail same day. (While we make no US Postal Service guarantees, local mail should arrive just in time for Christmas Eve.)

For those less Internet savvy, we will have our front doors open daily at 8am through the holiday season. Stop in and pick up your gift card in person anytime. You've got until early afternoon on Christmas Eve.

Open Christmas Eve 11am - 2pm  |  CLOSED Christmas Day

This season, why not give the gift of a "nice night out." They order what they want, and you will have given them something thoughtful and hand-picked.

When buying restaurant gift cards, a couple things to think about:

• After 30 years and brand new renovations, we are not going anywhere. Your purchase is secure here. 
• We are still accepting gift cards from 1985. There is no expiration date.
• No service fees for inactivity.
• Order online at www.uptowngrill.com.
• We can send them directly to your recipients. Send us a list, and we will take care everything. You are done!
• Nice package. No additional wrapping is needed.
• Gift card values not used are carried forward for future use and can also be used towards tipping.

I wish I could get away with giving Uptown gift cards!  Maybe I can get away with gifting some concert tickets...

We had yet to formally announce it (until now), but we've got a dynamic list of newly booked shows for 2016. So for those of you not into the gift card idea, perhaps tickets to an upcoming show would make the perfect stocking stuffer?

Order these great Christmas gifts online, and surprise that special music fan in your life! We've got a long list to choose from that takes us well past the first quarter of the new year:

Sam Llanas  |  Saturday, December 26

This show will be sold out soon, so don't miss out! Sam Llanas (formerly of the BoDeans) is an iconic American singer, acoustic guitarist, and songwriter. Best known for his unique and distinctively soulful voice, it was Llanas who supplied the trademark vocal on Robbie Robertson’s “Somewhere Down the Crazy River.”

Andy Frasco  |  Friday, February 12

One of our most entertaining, fun-loving, enjoyable shows the Theater has ever entertained. This show will most definitely sell-out! Andy Frasco, a 23-year-old blues/jazz musician hailing from the San Fernando Valley in Southern California, is nothing short of an enigma. Influenced by Damien Rice, Sam Cooke, Professor Longhair, Van Morrison and Tom Waits, Frasco’s style is as uninhibited as those artists who inspire him. Let’s call it Party Blues.

Kim Richey  |  Friday, February 26
Two-time Grammy-nominated Kim is a storyteller; a weaver of emotions and a tugger of heartstrings. Tender, poetic and aching with life’s truths, Kim’s songs transport you to her world: where words paint pictures, and melodies touch the soul. And then there’s her voice. Pure, arresting and honest, it makes you take notice; Kim has the kind of voice where if emotions were ribbons, they’d be streaming in rainbow colors from your iPod.

Chuck Prophet  |  Friday, March 25
Chuck Prophet shapes his restless career with inimitable subtle flair: a vivid parade of razor-edged one-liners camouflaged in a slack-jawed drawl, songs about heartbreak and everyman heroism, drenched in twisted lines of rude Telecaster. When the early stages of a financial melt-down coincided with a rare San Francisco heat wave in the summer of 2008 (with the window open wide and Dwight Twilley, Iggy, Thin Lizzy and the Knack blaring out the hi-fi), Prophet wrote a collection of political songs for non-political people. Later, in April 2009, he journeyed to Mexico City, where, in the clutches of a Swine Flu panic and earthquakes, he recorded ¡Let Freedom Ring!, his most incendiary record... every bit as urgent as the title demands

Ray Wylie Hubbard  |  Friday, April 8
Hubbard’s sound calls listeners into his circle of fire and keeps them there, ready to dance. His voice extends from a persona who sometimes seems lost in his own wilderness. A kaleidoscope of hot-blooded Country-Blues, bathed in mysticism, incantations and a deep faith from his 23-year road of sobriety. It has served to allow his musical wakefulness, as well as his eccentricities to roam free on record and live performances.

Griffin House  |  Wednesday, April 6 & Saturday, April 9
House began writing and recording and issued his first independent release, Upland, in 2003. His music attracted attention from Nettwerk, a Vancouver-based management company and record label, and House partnered with the label’s American branch to issue Lost & Found in 2004. In August 2004, on CBS Sunday Morning, music journalist Bill Flanagan (MTV/VH1) raved about Lost and Found, putting the newcomer on his short list of the best emerging songwriters in the U.S. “I bought House’s CD after a show in New York City,” said Flanagan, “and this never happens: I took it home and must have listened to it 20 times that weekend. I was knocked out.”

2015 Reno: The Great Reveal

by Ray Anderes

Well, the last nail has been driven. At times I thought it would be in my coffin. On Thanksgiving Eve, our fabricator came and finished all of the last trim work and touch up. For those of you at a distance or have not been able to check out our new digs, we have put photos from the entire place in a folder for your perusal. All we have left to do are some cosmetics and adding art work, which we are working on.

And, just in time....December is our busiest month. We are looking forward to the month and lots of Christmas cheer in our new surroundings. After the first of the year be on the lookout for some other new exciting changes we are making to our operation. We will keep you posted

And thanks to all my customers and employees for putting up with our mess, the noise, and the disruptions. I hope you think it was worth it.

View our full photo gallery.

Miracle on First Street

by Ryan Anderes

Tomorrow, we welcome what has become a yearly tradition to downtown LaSalle: Miracle on First Street (and no we are not talking about our completed renovation project).

Presented by the LaSalle Promotional and Advisory Committee, this will be an all-day event on Saturday, December 5th that concludes with the annual lighting of the Christmas tree at City Hall.

Starting as early as 8:00 am, the day will feature plenty of family activities to participate in throughout downtown LaSalle in an effort by the city to provide a fun, holiday atmosphere while promoting local businesses.

Santa will be out and about all morning and afternoon, so make time in your day to bring the kids down to see him. Here are the times and places:

• Join him between 8:00; 10:00 am at the Lock 16 Visitor Center for breakfast ~ Reservations required ~ $10 adults and $7 children
• Snap a photo with him at his temporary LaSalle house on 1st and Wright Streets between 10:00 & 2:00
• Walk alongside him in the annual Christmas parade that begins at 4:00 at The Gathering Place and ends at City Hall 

Here is a list of other activities going on throughout the day:

• 9:00 to noon Santa's Workshop - located at Ax Church, 229 Gooding Street - will offer the opportunity to make a Christmas craft
• 10:00 to 2:00 Get your pet's photo with Santa at Ancare Veterinary Hospital located at 2400 Chartres Street
• 10:30 to 2:00 Free hot chocolate and candy canes will also be available at Dr. Wendy Sanders-Maubach's office
• 9:30 to 1:00 Fire Truck Rides will be available at City Hall 
• 11:00 to noon Holiday Music and Storytelling at LaSalle Public Library 
• 1:00 to 2:30 The Christmas movie "Elf" will be presented at Living Word Church of God, 159 Gooding Street

Take a holiday tour at the Hegler Carus Mansion - Tours run on the hour at 12, 1 , 2 , and 3 o'clock. Carriage rides will also be available from 1 to 4 pm beginning at the corner of First and Marquette Streets. 

The day will conclude with a "Walk with Santa" parade starting at The Gathering Place bowling alley around 4:15 and ending with the lighting of the Christmas tree at City Hall.

Come enjoy a fun-filled, holiday spirit Saturday... but make sure to take a break for a bite to eat here at the Uptown. We will be serving up warm meals all afternoon, or just stop in for a beverage to warm you up!

Shop Small this Saturday

by Ryan Anderes

Christmas shopping seems to begin earlier and earlier each year. (At least if you are smart it does.) There is nothing worse than fighting the last minute holiday shopping crowd... believe me, I know!

The unofficial kick-off to holiday shopping begins this weekend, and it starts with consumers camping out overnight to catch the Black Friday deals. With the insanity that has become Black Friday and the exceptional deals that only big box corporations can offer, American Express decided to reinvent Thanksgiving weekend shopping by creating Small Business Saturday and "Shop Small."

Shop Small is a movement to celebrate small businesses every day and to help communities thrive. Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses across the country. The movement began in 2010 and has since grown to become quite the event. Last year alone, 14.3 billion dollars were spent at small, independent businesses.

Our very own downtown LaSalle is taking part in Small Business Saturday. Many downtown businesses are offering discounts (or even free goods!) this Saturday, November 28 when you make a purchase. Come spend some time with us this weekend, support small business and reap the rewards! View the following shopping flyer to see some of our deals.

To enhance the experience, the LaSalle Business Association has added a raffle contest to the mix. Make 4 purchases from participating shops, and have each business validate your raffle card (shown on the flyer above). Completed cards will be eligible for the raffle. The winner will take home items donated by participating downtown businesses for Small Business Saturday. So stop down this weekend, enjoy the festive holiday atmosphere, receive some great deals, and who knows... maybe even head home a winner!

So what exactly does this idea of Small Business Saturday do for us? Most of us can simply use our American Express credit card at participating small businesses and receive some sort of credit on our account. It's quick; it's easy; and we are probably going to spend that money anyway, so why not do it on small business Saturday?

Beyond this designated shopping "holiday," spending locally really does have its benefits. And there are some alarming statistics to consider. For every $1 spent locally and independently, almost 70 cents of that dollar stays in the community (versus 40 cents on the dollar when shopping with the large corporations or chains). Further more, for every $100 you spend online, $0 stays in your community! Here are some more fun facts:

1. Shopping local creates jobs. Shops in our town create local employment and self-employment. These people, in turn, spend in the local economy.
2. Local independent shops invest more in our communities. Local businesses are proportionally more generous in their support of local charities, schools and community events. So supporting local shops means a financial contribution to your community.
3. Local shops sell great products at affordable prices. Some people get out of the habit of shopping locally and are then surprised by the range of products available.
4. Shopping locally saves you time and money. You travel less, saving on time and fuel.
5. Shopping locally retains our communities. People don’t like losing shops and services in small towns but don’t equate this with how they spend their money.
6. Shopping locally retains our distinctiveness. Independent shops create distinctive shopping experiences and stock different products. Local businesses respond more quickly to the needs of local customers, stocking products to meet changing population needs.
7. Shopping locally saves the environment. Local shops often stock a high percentage of locally sourced goods that do not require long-distance transportation, helping to reduce our global footprint.
8. Local shops are for everyone. Most people can get to their local shops easily. This is especially important for the elderly, young people and others who rely on public transportation.
9. Local shops value you more. Evidence from numerous surveys show people receive better customer care and service locally. These businesses survive by their reputation and repeat business, which means you get a higher standard of service.
10. Shopping local saves services. Private and public sector services cluster around shops. As shops disappear, so do hairdressers, banks, restaurants and other businesses.

Host Your Holiday Party Here:All New Banquet Room

by Jim Lannen

My, oh my, how the time flies. It seems like just yesterday, we were wrapping up the 2014 Christmas holiday season. Well now we're wrapping up a major remodel, just in time for... you guessed it, the holidays!

While some of the more obvious changes include decor and swapping the bar from one side of the room to the other, the banquet room is what truly kicked our remodel project into high gear back in June.

Many people ask us if we've done anything back there with all the attention the main dining room has received. The answer is yes, absolutely!  We're excited to get the holiday season started and give everyone a chance to experience the elegant, updated event space first hand.

The room has been nicely designed with new wall coverings and carpet plus much-deserved upgrades to our tables and chairs. And of course it will all be decked out for the season with plenty of holiday cheer to go around!

There are still some prime dates available for those last-minute holiday gatherings. Our banquet room is perfect for any size party or budget. With a private room, a private bar and dedicated staff, it is easy to set up any group function. Better yet, there is no charge to use the room!

Our menu ranges from a wide variety of appetizers to a full array of popular menu selections like seafood, chicken, pasta or steak. And what night is complete without one of our many delicious desserts? Any of these menu options can be tailored to your specific budget.

Not every business or individual can afford to break the bank and throw one large party for all of their employees or friends... especially in today's economic conditions. So for those looking to host a smaller gathering, look no further. Whether it's for two people or 150, our facility and staff are more than capable of handling your holiday get together.

Think Uptown Grill this season. Feel free to stop by, call us at 815-224-4545 or email us at banquets@uptowngrill.com to start planning your event today!

Light Up the Night on 11/24

by Ryan Anderes

The holidays are upon us. "Light Up The Night," an annual event in LaSalle will be held this coming Tuesday evening. It will be hosted on the east end of town at Rotary Park, just off of Route 39.

The event began as a small array of Christmas light displays sponsored by local businesses and families. Fast forward now to 2015, and this year's event is slated to host more than 120 light displays... over double the 50+ light displays from last year! Local businesses and families have turned out in earnest to support this year's Light Up The Night event.

This year's festivities will included Mr. and Mrs. Claus. One lucky child even gets to help Mrs. Claus turn on the lights!  Music will be provided by the IVCC Choir and the LaSalle-Peru High School Band. The evening will also include a hay rack ride through the park, children's games, pizza, cookies, hot chocolate and s'mores!

So make a night of it and come to Rotary Park on Tuesday night, November 24th between 4 and 7pm.  View an amazing show of lights that will surely start your holiday season off on a cheerful note.

And if you can't make it on Tuesday the 24th, don't worry. Rotary Park will be open between then and Christmas to take a ride through the park and view all 120 displays (one of which is ours). If you take a ride around town to look at Christmas lights, you must make Rotary Park a must-see destination.We look forward to seeing you this holiday season.  Cheers from all of your friends at Uptown Grill!