March 2010

March 5, 12, 19, 26

Wine and Shopping Tours
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Board a Starved Rock Trolley and travel to the wine tasting room at Cattails. Spend some time shopping! The trolley will also stop in downtown Utica for another wine tasting at August Hill Winery. We will also take in a short tour at the Illinois River Winery to learn how the grapes go from the vine to the bottle. Tickets are $17.00. Reservations recommended, by calling 815-220-7386.

March 6

Pre-Season Farmers Market
Jeremiah Joe's Coffee House
807 LaSalle St, Ottawa
(815) 434-3507
8:00 am - 12:30 pm

Come see what we have to offer! With a motto of we BAKE it, we GROW it, we SELL it FRESH, you're sure to find something fantastic.

March 6, 13, 20, 27

Learn About the Mansion
Hegeler Carus Mansion
1307 Seventh St., LaSalle
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
(815) 224-5891
www.hegelercarus.org

Each week learn about the Hegeler Carus Mansion and those who occupied it.

March 7

Music at the Mansion
Hegeler Carus Mansion
1307 Seventh St., LaSalle
2:00 pm
(815) 224-5891
www.hegelercarus.org

Northwestern Strings - Director, Stacia Spencer

Mummies, Sphinxes and Scarabs, Oh My!
A Survey of Egyptomania in America
Hegeler Carus Mansion
1307 Seventh St., LaSalle
4:00 pm
(815) 224-5891
www.hegelercarus.org

Presented by Heather Plaza-Manning, Manager of Programs, Charnely-Persky House Museum, and Executive Assistant, Society of Architectural Historians.

March 7, 14, 21, 28

Trolley Tour
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica

Enjoy a historic trolley ride with stops at the Starved Rock Visitor Center where you will see a short video of the area. You than will travel to the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center where you can see Starved Rock from across the river and watch as the river traffic move through the locks. You will also travel through the historic village of Utica and hear about the Illinois and Michigan Canal. For tickets and information, please call 815-220-7386.

March 9, 16 and 23

Euchre Tournament
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Join us in our Back Door Lounge for this progressive individual play, Euchre tournament. Must be 18 years of age or older. Weekly winners 1st place $200, 2nd place $100 and 3rd place $50. Grand prize overall winner wins a travel voucher- Amount determined by weekly signup. $15.00 Entry Fee.

March 14th Evening, 2010, March 15th Matinee

Musical Tribute to the Stars
Patsy Cline (Played by Mary Pfeifer)
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica

Mary Pfeifer has a voice that will take you back to the days of Patsy Cline. From Patsy's first recordings in 1955 to her last in 1963. She covers her famous hits such as Crazy and Walking After Midnight. Mary recently performed the part of Patsy Cline in the highly successful Engle Lane Theater production of 'Always Patsy Cline'. Start with a delicious Homestyle Lunch Buffet or Dinner and wine tasting in the Great Hall of the Starved Rock Lodge and then relax and enjoy the show. Matinee $30.00, Evening $35.00. For tickets call 815-667-4211 ext. 386.

March 20

Dueling Pianos Show
Mendota Knights of Columbus
505 7th Avenue, Mendota
815-539-6507

21 and over show. Doors open at 8:00 pm, Show starts at 9:00 pm. Tickets are $15/each and available at the Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce Office - 800 Washington St. in Mendota.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Boating Safety Classes
Illinois Waterway Visitor Center
950 N 27th Road, Ottawa
(815) 667-4054
8:15 am - 5:00 pm

This minimum eight-hour course includes instruction in equipment requirements, navigation rules, legal requirements, accident situations and how to handle them, the weather, trailering, visual distress signals, personal watercraft and special topics and the final exam. No fee.

Lincoln Log Building Jam
Jeremiah Joe's Coffee House
807 LaSalle St, Ottawa
(815) 433-2787

In celebration of Lincoln's Birthday, CHAO and the community will break the Guinness Book of World's Records for the largest Lincoln Log Structure. Open to the public and free! www.chaosinottawa.org.

Visions of the Valley Art Show & Sale
Jeremiah Joe's
807 LaSalle St, Ottawa
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Spend a day browsing at the fine art selections displayed by local area artists in the spring version of Visions of the Valley. This Fine Art Show & Sale is presented by the Ottawa Art League and is a juried show open to all artists and media and free to the public. For more info visit www.ottawaartleague.org.

March 20-21

Quilting Author Jennifer Chiaverini Program & Book Signing
Zion Lutheran Church Hall
W Jefferson Street, Ottawa
10:00 am

In conjunction with a two day Quilting Show, New York Time's best selling author, Jennifer Chiaverini will present a program and book signing. www.illinoisvalleyquiltguild.com.

March 21

Tourism Day
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica
11:00 am - 4:00 pm

LaSalle County is a great place to live, work, and visit! We have many activities to offer, museums to see, and entertainment to enjoy. Come and visit with the area's best attractions. Located in the Starved Rock Room and the Great Hall of Starved Rock Lodge. No charge open to the public. For more information call 815-220-7386.

March 25

The Legacy Girls
Fabulous 50's & 60's Review
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica
Noon - 2:30 pm

Take a trip back to the 50's & 60's and get ready to rock to the songs that shaped the decades! From the Supremes to the Chordettes, and the Beatles to Elvis Presley, The Legacy Girls will bring their own sassy style to all your favorites. Start with a delicious Homestyle Lunch Buffet in the Great Hall of the Starved Rock Lodge and then relax and enjoy the show. For tickets call 815-667-4211 ext. 386.

March 30

"Artists of the Valley" Art Show
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

See gifted artists of the Illinois Valley in the free, one-night show. Featured artists will be Kathy Casstevens (photography), Phil Nevitt (sculpture & acrylic), Hugo Heredia (acrylic), Francie Skoflanc (mixed media) and more. Artwork will be offered for sale at this exhibit. A wine tasting will also be hosted, featuring Starved Rock Signature Wines.

Ongoing March

Every Sunday

Trolley Tours
Starved Rock Lodge
Rte 178 & 71, Utica

Board a trolley outside of the Great Hall area of the Lodge. Enjoy a historic trolley ride with stops at the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center where you will see a short video of the area. You will also travel to the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center where you will see Starved Rock from across the river and watch as the river traffic lock through the locks. You will also travel through the village of Utica and hear about the Illinois and Michigan Canal. While aboard, the driver will narrate the history and legends of the area. For tickets and information please call 815-220-7386.