Smart L iving Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • January 29, 2020
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Right in Our Region
Joyful Murals Uplift
Downtown Rockford
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Tips on Cooking Well for One New Treatments for Athletes How to Eliminate Pet Odors Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
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WELCOME HOME! BECAUSE IT IS HOME OPENING FEBRUARY 2020 - NOW LEASING! The TLC Living Community is an assisted living community designed to provide a vibrant, yet secure and comfortable way for its residents to age in place. From an independent life experience to assistance with healthcare needs, you’ll get it all without leaving the comfort of your apartment. Conveniently located in Machesney Park, TLC Living Community offers an abundance of included amenities…too many to list here! Call for a personal tour to see for yourself why everyone is celebrating!
What are you waiting for?
Call Today! (815) 242-2852
8702 N. 2ND ST., UNIT B MACHESNEY PARK, IL 61115 / (815) 242-2852 / WWW.TLC-MP.COM / FOLLOW US
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In This Issue Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 Rockford’s Eight New Murals Your Home .................................................. ..... 11 Eliminating Pet Odors Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 The Joy of Honesty Your Kitchen ...............................................15, 21 Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps; Cooking for One Your Health ............................................. .......... 23 Treatments for Athletes Your Fun ................................................... ......... 25
Restaurant of the Week ................................... 26 Tavern on Clark Dining Locally .......................................... ........ 26
Smart L iving ™
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Lindsey Gapen Lukas Assistant Managing Editor Jermaine Pigee Editor Emeritus Janine Pumilia Multimedia Editor Sara Myers Graphics Director Blake Nunes Graphic Designer Samantha Behling Contributing Writer Peggy Werner, Paula Kalivoda Furniss General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Distribution Kelly Fairbairn Website www.SmartLivingWeekly.com Published by Hughes Media Corp. 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living Weekly. Copyright 2019 by Hughes Media Corp., 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.
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The Power of Retail
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t may or may not surprise you to learn that retail (which includes food service and drinking places) is by far the largest private employer in the U.S., contributing $2.6 trillion per year to our national GDP. (Source: National Retail Federation/American Express.) Retail directly employs nearly 29 million people, compared to less than 20 million in healthcare and 12.5 million in manufacturing. (Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.) The indirect impact of retail brings the number of U.S. jobs it supports up to 42 million. (Think jobs in logistics, freight transportation, finance, insurance, advertising, real estate, technology etc.) The really interesting thing to me is that the vast majority of retail businesses – 99 percent – employ fewer than 50 people. That’s 11.5 million of the 29 million jobs in retail. For more than 15 years, we’ve been encouraging you to commit more of your shopping dollars to locally owned stores and restaurants. Why? Because a much larger share of every dollar spent at a locally owned business stays in our community. Most dollars spent at a big-box store or chain restaurant immediately fly off to a corporate headquarters out of state. According to the Small Business Economic Impact Study from American Express, an average two-thirds ($0.67) of every dollar spent at small businesses in our community stays here. Local businesses also build our unique identity in ways that chains just can’t do. Most of us suffer from big-box fatigue and online shopping isn’t always satisfying or secure. We treasure our locally owned stores and restarants and enjoy getting to know the owners, who live here and have a personal stake in our region’s health. Especially in these post-holiday months when it’s challenging for some local establishments to keep their doors open, let’s do ourselves a favor and make a point of supporting locally owned places. We have plenty of great ones, including the advertisers found on these pages and highlighted in Northwest Quarterly Magazine. They also make it possible for this locally owned media company to thrive. Have a great week! ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor
“ MORE TH A FLOW AN JUST ER SHO P”
The Other Side C L O T H E S , J EW E L RY & AC C E S S O R I E S
EVENT CALENDAR FOR 2020 OPEN HOUSE SPRING March 20th & 21st GARDEN PARTY April 24th & 25th OPEN HOUSE FALL August 28th & 29th CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE November 6th & 7th Tell them you saw it in ...
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Tackle Pet Odors Quickly and Completely By Peggy Werner
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here are a lot of reasons why pets will do their business in places they shouldn’t. Sometimes the solution is as easy as treating a pet’s physical problem, such as clearing up a urinary infection with antibiotics. Other times there are behavioral reasons that may take longer to resolve. Either way, the result is the same – soiled floors and carpets. Once Fluffy or Fido has eliminated in an area of the home, chances are good they’ll return to that spot and do it again. This may become a chronic problem, unless addressed completely and quickly, says Chris Picot, general manager of Advantage Kwik Dry, 11137 Bertram Road, Machesney Park, a full-service restoration and cleaning company. And it takes more than surface carpet cleaning to eliminate the odor, he says. Advantage Kwik Dry takes extra steps to deep clean the carpet, padding and floor.
“The better an area is cleaned, the less likely it is that a pet will return to that spot,” he says. It’s important to note that in hot and humid weather, carpets take longer to completely dry. When carpets have been cleaned, homeowners should keep the air conditioner on and the furnace fan setting on at least medium to keep air circulating in the home to allow carpets to dry within the recommended 24 hours. Advantage Kwik Dry is a familyowned business that has been in the Stateline area for more than 25 years. All technicians are certified, licensed, bonded and insured, and they guarantee their work. The company is also a member of the Carpet and Fabric Care Institute, taking advantage of educational opportunities to stay on the cutting edge of technology. The company is experienced in all
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types of cleaning processes, wet and dry, for homes and businesses, including drapery cleaning, carpets, oriental and area rugs, upholstery, tile and grout, hardwood cleaning and recoating, fabric and fiber protection, pet odor removal, major odor treatment, water removal and sewage cleanup. For more information, coupons, and to schedule an appointment, go to advantagekwikdry.com or call (815) 332-3299 in Illinois and (608) 758-2379 in Southern Wisconsin. ❚
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The Joy of Honesty
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onest people do the honest thing, even when that thing means personal sacrifice. Dishonest cheaters rationalize selfish behaviors. They tell themselves it’s OK to cheat on taxes; to forge school papers or cheat on exams; to shortchange customers; to lie to the boss; to buy college acceptance for their kids; to submit false insurance claims, etc. While “Be Honest” isn’t one of the 10 commandments, it’s at the core of most. Stealing, bearing false witness and adultery, for example, all involve dishonesty … and God doesn’t like it. Habitual lying makes it impossible to “grow up in Christ.” (Ephesians 4:15) Dishonesty grieves the heart of a generous God who has lavished us with unconditional love. How must God feel when we act like petty thieves rather than grateful children? God wants us to treat one another the way we want to be treated. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Luke 16:10 (NIV) Before the coming of Jesus, it would have been better for us to cut off our hands than to steal again, says scripture. Today, we have better options. We can accept God’s grace, change our bad habits and grow up in Christ. As we do, something wonderful happens: We experience the secret thrill of pleasing God. We grow closer to Him and feel joy. And with each good choice, we extend the light of Christ further into a dark world. The world seldom exalts people for being honest, but who cares? We do it because pleasing God is worth everything. “Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him [Jesus]. And He said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.’” (Luke 16:14 & 15) The world exalts cheaters, liars, the proud and self-serving. Don’t let it get you down. Jesus Christ has overcome the world. (John 16:33). ❚ 12
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Visit the new temporary exhibit Discovery Town
January 18 to May 10
Kids can explore the vet clinic, fire station, pizza shop, post office and more!
815.963.6769 DiscoveryCenterMuseum.org 711 N. Main St. Rockford, IL 61103 #discoverycentermuseum
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Thai Lettuce Chicken Wraps with Sauce S
itting down for a homemade meal may feel harder to come by these days, but recipes that are both nutritious and flavorful can help bring your loved ones together at the family table. This recipe is courtesy of Parker Wallace of Parker’s Plate on behalf of the Georgia Peanut Commission. Find more recipes at gapeanuts.org. Servings: 4
Peanut Sauce: 1/2 2 1 2 3 1/2 2-3 2 1 4
cup creamy peanut butter TB low-sodium soy sauce TB rice vinegar TB brown sugar tsp. chili garlic sauce lime, juice only garlic cloves, pressed or grated TB fresh ginger tsp. fish sauce 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk TB warm water, more if needed
Lettuce Wraps:
2 heads Boston or butter lettuce 1 lb. cooked chicken 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 4 green onion, sliced 3 carrots, shredded and grated 1/2 cucumber, sliced into matchsticks 1 bunch fresh basil 1 bunch fresh mint 1/4 cup crushed peanuts Sliced limes, for garnish To make Peanut Sauce: In small saucepan over low heat, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, garlic sauce, lime juice, garlic, ginger, fish sauce, milk and water. Add more water for thinner sauce, if desired.
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To make Lettuce Wraps: Fill lettuce leaves with chicken and Peanut Sauce; top with bell pepper, onion, carrots, cucumber, basil and mint. Sprinkle crushed peanuts on top and garnish with lime slices. (Source: Family Features)
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Joyful Public Murals Brighten Downtown By Jon McGinty
Editor’s Note: Enjoy a longer version and additional photos in the Winter 2020 edition of Northwest Quarterly Magazine.
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ou may notice more color these days when exploring downtown Rockford. Here’s a rundown on eight new murals and the artists who created them during an event spearheaded by the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau this past summer. Jenny Mathews Mathews’ artwork is on the alley wall of Wired Café, 416 E. State St., and depicts a huge dandelion scattering its seeds down the alley. “Dandelions are very Midwestern and are free for everyone,” says Mathews. “It was inspired by one of the neatest compliments I ever received. Somebody observing my work once said, ‘If I had three wishes, I’d give you one.’ The dandelions are my gift – my wish – to the city.”
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Mathews and Laura Gomel co-direct 317 Art Collective on Market Street. Lisa and Libbie Frost This mother-daughter team faced a challenging location – 42 pillars under Jefferson Street Bridge, at 299 N. Madison St. “Don’t be afraid to do something big,” Libbie told her mom, Lisa, about the mural they titled “Rockford.” “That became the greatest lesson in all this,” says Lisa. “The symbolism was to illustrate that we’re all a little different, but we come together as one.” Brett Whitacre This self-taught artist from Belvidere lives and works in Sycamore. He was originally invited by the local Audubon Society to produce a bird mural for Rockford to call attention to 389 North American bird species in danger of extinction. His mural is located on the south-facing wall of Rockford MakeSpace, 203 N. Church St. Whitacre chose to paint a Baltimore oriole because of its bright orange coloring
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“I’m a color-blind artist,” admits Whitacre. “Reds and greens are hard for me to distinguish, but orange is easy.” Jenny Ustick and Atalie Gagnet Ustick is a fine arts professor and Foundation Coordinator in the School of Art at the University of Cincinnati. She completed a mural artist residency program in Sicily and began collaborating with Gagnet in 2015. The women wanted to create something special that reflected Rockford’s history and people. “Our focus has been to highlight the incredible accomplishments of some really bad-ass women,” says Ustick. Their research led them to a World War II-era photograph of Libby Gardner, a Rockford native who served in the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots in Texas. Find their mural on the west side of Chocolate by Daniel, 211 E. State St. Molly Z This Chicago-based artist began creatin
R O R as a graffiti artist when he was 14. His work on a mural with the Chicago Public Art Group convinced him to try large-scale projects. Silva likes site-specific challenges, so when the building owner for his mural, Rockford Orthopedic Appliance, 422 E. Round Trips (Widening Circles) by Chris Silva is at 422 E. State St., wanted the ivy growing State St. Note how it incorporates the live ivy plants. on the east-facing wall to be prelarge-scale murals about 10 years ago, served, he incorporated it into his design. when her work for Shedd Aquarium “Round Trips (Widening Circles),” inspired her to see the results as transwas inspired by a poem by Rainer formational spaces: public art that can Marie Rilke, and by a quote from Albert educate and stimulate people’s creativity. Einstein, admonishing us to “widen our “I often use biomorphic abstractions circles of compassion to embrace all livin my work – shapes and patterns that are ing creatures and the whole of nature in related to nature,” says Molly. “My main its beauty.” interest as an artist is in creating pleasure Yulia Avgostinovich through visual complexity,” she says. Avgostinovich was born in Belarus and “High Hopes,” is on the west-facstudied art at Minsk, Belarus, and St. ing wall of Lucette Holistic Salon and Petersburg, Russia. In 2012, she moved Boutique at 508 E. State St. to Oakland, Calif., then to Lakeland, Chris Silva Colo., and now paints murals full time. Silva was born in Puerto Rico and has Her designs often include native been a “naturalized Chicagoan” for years; birds, plants and flowers, especially he recently relocated to South Bend, Ind., endangered species, and her Rockford but retains a Chicago studio. He began
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mural is no exception. Located on the west side of Symbol Clothing at 316 W. State St., the mural includes Illinois’ state bird, the cardinal, a whooping crane and a peregrine falcon. Corey Barksdale An Atlanta native, Barksdale has been painting since he was a kid, when his mom kept him supplied with accounting paper to keep him busy in summer months. He began producing murals about nine years ago. His untitled Rockford mural is on a south-facing wall in the parking lot across from the Capri Restaurant at 324 E. State St. Full of warm, bright tones on a black background, it was created freehand with spray paint and acrylics. “It has a vintage feel to it, a throwback to art created during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1930s,” he says. “The colors are also important to me and represent a connection to my African-American heritage.” It depicts the interactions of people and culture in an urban environment, with plenty of body movement, gestures and musical inspirations. ❚
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Being Single is No Excuse for Poor Eating By Peggy Werner
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f your days of cooking big family meals are over because your kids are grown and have families of their own, or if death, divorce or other life circumstances have left you living alone, there’s no excuse to eat poorly. You just have to plan and portion meals differently, learn to buy just what you need or freeze some for later. Countryside Meats & Deli Owner Jarrod Bush can help you make the transition. He’s located at 781 Highgrove Place, Rockford. “The good thing about us is you can order one slice of bacon or a pound of bacon that we can package up in three-slice portions and that’s true of any other meats we sell,” says Bush. “We understand you may not need a lot all at once, but it’s always better to cook at home because you know what’s in your food and how you’re preparing it.”
If you’re in a hurry, grab a sandwich or wrap made with Boar’s Head luncheon meats or pick up a ready-to-bake meal for later that night. There are cases full of “oven ready” meals such as lasagna, stuffed green peppers, meatballs, Italian Beef, pulled BBQ pork, chicken pot pie, chicken Kiev and 25 varieties of bratwurst. There are also cheeses and cheese spreads, sauces, dips, dressings, marinades, seasonings, chicken, egg, tuna and crab salads, as well as cole slaw, broccoli slaw, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, Italian pasta salad, creamed and pickled herring. Gourmet items include four varieties of chicken breasts stuffed with prosciutto, fennel, cheese and Italian seasoning; traditional bread stuffing, ham and Swiss cheese; or apples and cranberries. Large portabella mushrooms are filled with crab meat and Swiss or Ched-
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dar cheese and bacon. There are crab cakes, twice-baked potatoes and garlic cheese bread. Everything in the store is made onsite. Meats and many other products are purchased locally or regionally and all meat grinding is done on in house. If you want to put something into the slow cooker for a tasty meal at the end of the day, choose from the well-stocked, clean and organized 20-foot-long meat case filled with top quality freshly cut Midwestern beef, pork, and poultry. ❚
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How Chiropractic Helps Student Athletes By Peggy Werner
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hiropractor Dr. Amanda Klosterman-Bond recently joined the staff at The Joint Chiropractic and looks forward to using her personal experiences and professional skill to help injured student athletes. A former high school and college softball player and certified trainer, she can relate to the physical, emotional and mental pressures of having to compete. “I know what they’re going through and chiropractic services can be very beneficial in helping to relieve stress at all levels and to help people recover faster without the side effects of taking drugs,” she says. “Sometimes, pain medicine is necessary, but we all know pain medicine is overused and abused and pain can often be treated without using drugs at all.” With about 500 locations nationwide, The Joint in Rockford is at Forest
Plaza, 6139 E. State St., next door to Kohl’s. It offers affordable and convenient adjustment appointments seven days a week and a new youth wellness plan offers four adjustments a month for $39. There is also a $59 adult plan. Her goal is to keep student athletes in the game. “An injury doesn’t necessarily mean having to miss out on practices and games. An athlete can keep playing while healing, with the proper care and rest. I don’t believe in stopping what you are doing, but you can alter what you are doing and should be able to continue pain-free by making changes in how you move and how efficiently you rest,” she says. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help relieve neck and back pain as well as pain caused from arthritis, fibromyalgia, headaches, stress and sciatica. Pain in
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specific areas of the body like the knee, ankle, foot, shoulder, and elbow can be treated, she says, adding that routine visits may also help in the early detection of other problems. The Joint is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Walk-ins are always welcome. For more information, visit thejoint. com or call the clinic at (815) 977-4316. ❚
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Y F Autumn just might be the best time of year. The sun is a little lower (and prettier), the air is a little crisper (and cleaner) and the leaves cascade down in colorful splendor. This fall, spend some quality time in the fun, nearby, value-packed Rockford Region. See stunning fall colors at
Real. Original. SM
Anderson Japanese Gardens, the finest in North America. Visit beautifully spacious Rock Cut State Park. Don’t miss Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, with more than 500 different species of trees, shrubs and vines, all
ILLINOIS, USA
glowing in autumn’s glory. Indoors, our concert and theater season will be gaining momentum at Coronado Performing Arts Center, a beautifully restored downtown vaudeville house. Plus, our Riverfront Museum Campus
Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Winter Fun Attractions & Events
will be coming alive for the whole family. Visit gorockford.com today for a full list of autumn special events, festivals, gardens, golf and more.
Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau NWQ_fall.indd 1
102 N. Main St.
Frosty Fridays Fridays, 8-10 p.m. Indoor ice skating; discounted packages available. Carlson Ice Arena, Rockford, 1.800.521.0849 gorockford.com 4150ILN.61101 Perryville Road, Loves Park, Ill., (815) 969-4069, rockfordparkdistrict.org. 9/10/07 2:07:37 PM
Cross-country Ski Fridays Fridays through March 1 when there's snow. Also Feb. 22, 8 p.m. Skis, boots, poles and a guide provided. Ages 10 and up. Reg. online. Byron Forest Preserve, 7993 N. River Road, (815) 234-8535, byronforestpreserve.com. Rockton Yeti Fest Jan. 29-Feb. 1. Enjoy watching snow sculptures being carved and a giant community snow fort being built, yeti hunting, ice skating, dog sled mushing, drinking and shopping. Settlers Park, 150 E. Hawick St., Village Green Park, 100 E. Chapel St., Rockton, Ill., (815) 624-0935. Lewis Black Jan. 30, 8 p.m. Comedian Black’s new show “It Gets Better Every Day” explores the absurdity of our world. Coronado PAC, Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org. '37 Postcards' Jan. 30-Feb. 8, Thu.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun, 3 p.m. In this poignant comedy, Avery Sutton is happy to return to his home in Connecticut after years of traveling abroad but almost nothing is as he remembers it. Beloit Civic Theatre, Beloit High School, 1225 4th St., Beloit, (608) 362-1595, beloitcivictheatre.org. Modern Dickinson Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m. Three artists explore Emily Dickinson’s poetry through the works of today’s best living composers of vocal music. Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center (MPAC), Mendelssohn Hall, 406 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org. On Stage: John Moreland Jan. 31, 8 p.m. Moreland’s music smolders with gentle wisdom, flashes of wit, joy and compassion. Coronado PAC, Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org. Comedy on Main Jan. 31, 8 p.m. Enjoy a night of laughs with Johnny Beehner, who can be heard on the “Bob & Tom Show.” JPAC, Janesville, (608) 7580297, janesvillepac.org.
See the Sinnissippi Station model railroad at Nicholas Conservatory through Feb. 2.
'John Lennon & Me' Jan. 31-Feb. 2, Fri.-Sat. 7 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 2 p.m. Adapted from “Good-bye, Best Friend,” the play looks at life, death, power and first boyfriends, through the eyes of a young woman with cystic fibrosis. Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., rockfordpubliclibrary.org. The Rat Pack is Back Feb. 1, 2 p.m. A tribute by three performers and their big band as they might have appeared in the Sands Hotel Copa Room. Egyptian Theatre, DeKalb, Ill., (815) 758-1215, egyptiantheatre.org. Nashville Legacy Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m. Floyd Cramer’s grandson, Jason Coleman, and Chet Atkin’s niece, Meagan Taylor, bring new life to the music of their forerunners, including Patsy Cline, the Everly Brothers and Elvis Presley. JPAC, Janesville, (608) 758-0297, janesvillepac.org. Winter Carnival Feb. 1, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. A day of skiing, snowboarding and more, including a toboggan race, rail jam competition, kayak race, candle scramble and games. Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva, (800) 558-3417, grandgeneva. com. Brews & Views Third Wednesdays, ongoing, doors open 6:30 p.m., movie 7:30 p.m. Retro-classic films: Feb. 19, “The Princess Bride”; Mar. 18, “Revenge of the Nerds.” Prairie Street Brewing Company, 200 Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 227-9427, psbrewingco.com. Sinnissippi Station Model Railroad Through Feb. 2, Tue.-Fri, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., SatSun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. A magical miniature world where G-scale trains run past Rockford landmarks. Nicholas Conservatory, (815) 9878858, rockfordparkdistrict.org/ncg. ❚
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WDL
Restaurant of the Week
Tavern on Clark: Great Food, Friendly Atmosphere By Peggy Werner
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rothers-in-law Sam Sabani and Dan Isai decided to create an eatery and bar with top-quality food and a great atmosphere, where business partners, couples, family and friends could gather for all occasions. The result is Tavern on Clark, 755 Clark Dr.. “We were very intentional in creating what we describe as the classic American tavern, with a fresh, new, clean look, where there’s something for everyone,” says Sabani. A full-service bar offers signature cocktails, an extensive wine list, about 40 bottled beers and eight domestic and imported drafts. Menu offerings include aged center-cut steaks and chops, fresh salads, flatbreads, appetizers, pasta and ribs. Lunch and dinner specials include a Friday fish fry and Saturday prime rib, as well as regular Ahi tuna, mahi mahi and
Baci’s Kitchen Fast-Casual, dine-in, carry-out. 2990 N. Perryville Road, inside A Perryville Place. (815) 329-6922. Open 7 days/wk. at 8 a.m. BkLD. Complete menu at Baciskitchen.com. Backyard Grill & Bar Casual/American. 5390 Elevator Road, Roscoe, Ill., (815) 623-6677. 2nd St., Loves Park, Ill., (815) 6369430. LD M-Th 11am-midnight, F-Sat to 2am, Sun noon-10 p.m. $-SS. Bravo Pizza Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Road, S. Beloit, Ill., (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $. Ciao Bella Ristorante Upscale-Casual/Italian-American. Daily specials. 6500 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park, Ill. (815) 654-9900. LD M-F 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat. 5-10 p.m. $$ Cucina di Rosa Italian Bistro/Bakery 1620 Bell School Road, (815) 395-5040. BkLD. M-Sat 7am-9pm. $$ Dos Reales Mexican Restaurant Casual/Mexican. 5855 E. State St., (815) 227-4979. LD $-$$. Fresco at the Gardens. Casual/American Café. 318 Spring Creek Road, (815) 316-2256. BkL Daily 7am-3pm. $$ Gene’s Irish Pub Casual/Irish Pub. American and Irish fare. Over 21 only. 1025 5th Ave., Rockford, (815) 977-4365. LD T-Th 11am-10:30pm, F-Sat to midnight. $$. Giordano’s Casual/Italian. Stuffed pizza, salads, entrees, sandwiches, desserts. 33 Executive Parkway, Rockford, (815) 398-5700. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11 pm.
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celain tile. Large booths seat six comfortably, and a private dining room, with a wall-mounted flat screen TV and a fireplace, seats 50 and can accommodate business meetings and presentations. Tavern on Clark opens daily at 11 a.m. for lunch. Dinner is served until 10 p.m. on weekdays, 11 p.m. on weekends. The bar is open later. ❚
In the Spotlight
Top Picks for Local Restaurants
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surf-and-turf deals. “We spent a lot of time researching what people wanted,” says Isai. “We offer quality you can’t find elsewhere.” All steaks and hamburgers are made from USDA-certified Black Angus beef, and all menu items are made-to-order from fresh produce, locally grown when possible. Signature dishes include a 10-ounce certified Black Angus beef burger and craft ale beer-battered sidewinder sea-salted French fries, served with a Wisconsin Cheddar beer sauce. Desserts include carrot cake, chocolate cake, New York cheesecake and more. The space is open and inviting, with plenty of natural light to showcase the quality décor of dark woods, stone walls, earth-toned granite countertops and por-
Hearthrock Cafe Restaurant/cafe. Baked goods, coffee, breakfast, lunch. Inside Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., (815) 227-2000. BkL M-F 7:30am-3pm; Sat. 8am-3pm. $-$$. Lino’s Italian/American. 5611 E. State St., Rkfd. (815) 397-2077. D M-Sat 4:30am-10pm; Sun. 4:30am-9 pm. $$. Maciano’s Casual Italian. 6746 Broadcast Pkwy., Loves Park, (815) 633-7500; & 5801 Columbia Pkwy., Rkfd., (815) 227-5577. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $-$$. Mary’s Market Cafe & Bakery Baked goods, sandwiches, salads. 2636 McFarland Road, Rockford, (815) 986-3300; 1659 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, (815) 394-0765; 4431 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 397-7291. BkLD Hours vary by location. $. Olympic Tavern Upscale-Casual/American. 2327 N. Main St., (815) 962-8758. Extensive beer list. LD M-Th 11 a.m.-midnight; Fri-Sat. to 2 a.m. $-$$. Prairie Street Brewhouse Upscale-Casual/American. 200 Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am10pm, Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$. Salamone’s North Italian-American. 2583 N. Mulford Road, Rkfd. LD. Sun. noon-10 p.m.; Mon.-Th 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat. noon-11 p.m. (815) 639-1200 Stockholm Inn Casual/American, Scandinavian emphasis. 2420 Charles St., Rockford, (815) 397-3534. BkLD M-Sat., Sun. brkfst. only. M-Th 7a.m.-7 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Sun. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Weekend brunch. Large menu, Swedish pancakes specialty. $$ ❚
Jan. 29
To advertise call 815-316-2300
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Cannova’s
annova’s has been serving up authentic Italian dishes and pizza since Anthony and Philippina Cannova started the restaurant in 1921. Today, their granddaughter, Linda, and her husband, Patrick Beckman, carry on the tradition, at 1101 W. Empire St., Freeport. They use many original recipes for pizza, spaghetti sauce, Italian beef, fresh bread and pizza dough. House specials include a Sicilian filet, marinated in olive oil and red wine; Italian-style baked cod; and seafood Alfredo. Linda’s made-from-scratch desserts include tiramisu, cheesecake and chocolate spoon cake. Then there are the award-winning pizzas: the Classic; the New York; the double-crusted Gloria Read, named for a longtime customer; and the Sicilian. Cannova’s is open Sun.-Tues. 5-10 p.m. and Fri.-Sat. until 11 p.m. ❚
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Jan. 29
To advertise call 815-316-2300
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Smart Living Weekly
Issue 1
