Where to find spring blooms and how to identify them
Lodging offers casual glamour among woods and farmland
Take a tour of 12 photogenic hotspots across the region
Take a kayak tour to observe nature from a different angle
Featuring gifts of all kinds from across Illinois, including local favorites
• August Hill Winery
• Illinois Sparkling Co.
• Cajun Connection
• Fine Field Pottery
• Hegeler Carus Mansion
• LaSalle Canal Boat
• Ottawa Visitors Center
• Tangled Roots Brewing Co.
• Starved Rock Lodge
Located at 248 W. Canal Street in Utica
Monday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday-Sunday: Noon - 6:00pm
8 CALL OF THE WILDFLOWERS
Where to find spring blooms and what to look for
11 CALENDAR
From a 100-kilometer cycling race to a marathon, here’s what’s happening in Starved Rock Country
13 HIGH-FLYING FAMILY FUN
It’s a bird it’s a plane it’s an octopus kite! From massive to mini, kites of all sizes will soar at the Kites in Flight festival
16 CHASING WATERFALLS
A quick guide to viewing the falls of Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks
20 EXPLORE BY WATER
Paddle through lotus flowers, see bald eagles and drift past sandstone bluffs with Kayak Starved Rock
26 INSTAGRAMMABLE SRC
Take a tour of 12 social media hotspots across the region
30 ROBBER’S ROOST
It was the biggest train holdup in U S history –and the loot was divvied in Ottawa
37 FOR INSPIRED CRAFT COCKTAILS, LOOK TO CATSEYE
CatsEye Wine Bar offers a prime nightlife scene with wine, cocktails and entertainment in downtown Ottawa
40 BOOK A NIGHT IN A BARN
Sheridan Airbnb offers casual glamour against a backdrop of woods and farmland
46 FEATURED ARTISTS
Mary Jean Dzurisin and Clara Brubaker both find inspiration in nature to create artwork using different media
tarved Rock Country Magazine marks its 10th anniversary this year. This publication launched in spring 2013 to serve as “a colorful invitation,” according to retired editor Lonny Cain in his inaugural editor’s note. “There are people here worth meeting. There are events you will want to put on your calendar,” he wrote. “Keep us on a shelf for the tips, trips and trivia that will be helpful when you plan your visit.”
A decade later, those words remain relevant.
For 30 years, I’ve called this area home, and I’ve been with Starved Rock Country Magazine since its infancy. When Lonny first invited me to join the staff as a graphic designer, I wondered if we would find enough content to fill its pages four times a year. Is there enough that makes this area special? Would people beyond our borders be drawn to the destination?
I had doubts. Not because I didn’t think this region is remarkable (it certainly is), but because it all felt so familiar. When people and places are part of a daily routine, they begin to seem ordinary.
Working with Starved Rock Country Magazine served as a reminder that this region’s ordinary is, in fact, extraordinary. In the past 10 years, the magazine staff has had the privilege of exploring our communities, shops, restaurants, lodgings, parks and recreational destinations as backyard tourists.
Exploration led to a revelation: This area has more to offer than one visit, or 50 visits, or even a lifetime of daily visits can experience. That’s because the region is always growing and evolving. While Starved Rock Country is home to permanent attractions, such as Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks’ waterfalls (p. 16), it consistently offers fresh places and events, such CatsEye Wine Bar (p. 37), which opened in 2018, or Ottawa’s Kites in Flight festival (p. 13), which marks its third year this May.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a lifelong resident, there are discoveries to be made. In 2019, the magazine introduced me to one of my favorite destinations in Starved Rock Country. While working on an article about mini hikes, I walked the trails of Dayton Bluffs Preserve, which opened to the public in 2017. During that hike, I discovered the preserve’s large bluebell carpet along the Fox River. Now it’s my April tradition to visit Dayton Bluffs to seek wildflowers. Check out our wildflower guide on p. 10 to go on your own spring bloom expedition.
There is an overabundance of attractions, locations and events to fill the magazine’s pages and to keep visitors coming back season after season, year after year. If you need a starting point to plan your visit, check out our calendar (p. 11) or a list of 12 photo-worthy sights and oddities (p. 26). If you visit any of the region’s locations or events and post about it on social media, we’d love to see it – just use the hashtag #StarvedRockCountry.
After 10 years of publishing, we’re still scratching the surface of what makes SRC the place to be. Welcome to our backyard. We hope you join us for the exploration.
JULIE BARICHELLO Editor
Starved Rock Country Magazine is published quarterly or seasonally four times per year
Shaw Media 110 W Jefferson St Ottawa, IL 61350
815-431-4014
www starvedrockcountry com
Email photo or article submission queries to jbarichello@shawmedia com
Copyright 2023 Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content in any manner, without permission, is prohibited
Vol� 11 No� 1 Spring 2023 Edition
2023-03/25,000
PUBLISHER
Dan Goetz
EDITOR & DESIGN
Julie Barichello
PRODUCTION
Rhonda Dillon
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Julie Barichello
Ali Braboy
Stephanie Jaquins
Ryan Searl
Charles Stanley
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Scott Anderson
Julie Barichello
Tom Sistak
Charles Stanley
Princeton, Illinois
Million Dollar Quartet
June 24-July 1
Significant Other July 1-8
Twelfth Night July 2-Aug 2
Footloose July 14-22
Something Rotten!
July 28-Aug 6
festival56.com
For Tickets, Season Information & Special Events!
Saturday, June 3rd Brass from the Past
Shrimpfest at Rotary Park
Friday, June 16th
Rockland Road
Beef & Ag Festival Weekend
Friday June 30th
Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience SAVE THE DATES
Friday, June 23rd
Summer Solstice Chamber Shopping Event
Z Tour Bike Fest at Rotary Park
Saturday, June 24th
Z Tour Bike Ride
Tuesday, July 4th
Wild Card & Rodeo Drive
4th of July at Zearing Park
Friday, July 28th
Infinity: The Ultimate Tribute Band
Friday, August 11th
Brushville
Thursday, September 7th
Freebird: Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute
Homestead Festival Weekend
Saturday, September 30th
Paloma & Heidelberg German Band
Oktoberfest at Rotary Park
NAMED #3 WITHIN PUREWOW’S TOP 10 MOST CHARMING SMALL TOWNS IN ILLINOIS! VISIT PRINCETONTOURISM.ORG TODAY!
hen Lisa Sons spots skunk cabbage at the west entrance of Starved Rock State Park in late February or early March, she knows spring is near.
Skunk cabbage is one of more than 40 species of wildflowers that can be found at the park and in the Starved Rock Country region – and as a natural resource coordinator and park naturalist at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Sons knows all the good spots to see them.
Ready to go looking for wildflowers? See p. 10 for an identification guide featuring common spring blooms in Starved Rock Country.
“In the spring, here at the park, there are little nooks and crannies, so usually one of the first places I go to are Ottawa and Kaskaskia canyons,” said Sons, who works with Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks. “Illinois Canyon is usually known for its Virginia bluebells, and then usually some of the bluffs above French Canyon and out at St. Louis Canyon get shooting stars, wood betony, coral roots and some trilliums as well.”
In addition to exploring Starved Rock and Matthiessen for wildflowers, Sons recommends checking out the IDNR website, www2.illinois.gov/dnr, for nature preserves.
“Nature preserves are known for those native plants and those native species, so that’s usually some of the first places I go, especially for tall grass prairie plants in the summer,” Sons said.
Dayton Bluffs Preserve in Ottawa can be wet in the spring, Sons said, but the site does have bloodroots and yellow trout lilies, among other plants. The north leg of the trail along the Fox River annually sprouts a large bluebell
carpet in late April or early May.
When seeking wildflowers, Sons says it’s best to hike trails with less foot traffic. She noted the best time to view them is when spring temperatures have steadied in the upper 50s, usually at the end of April into May.
Joe Jakupcak, a retired teacher who taught in Ottawa and Chicago, used to take his students to Starved Rock on a yearly field trip, and those visits grew his interest in wildflowers.
Jakupcak has been a guided hike leader at Starved Rock Lodge for 12 years. During wildflower season, he said you’ll see a different wildflower –most of them white – every couple days.
“They come up and bloom and seed within a week of each other because they don’t have much time,” Jakupcak said.
Due to the 80- to 90-foot height difference, Jakupcak noted hikers will see different flowers on the river and bluff trails.
The Starved Rock Visitor Center has flower identification cards for the common species found at both parks and is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources oversees multiple nature preserves around Starved Rock Country. These natural areas host an abundance of native plants, including spring wildflowers. For directions and public access information, visit the Nature Preserve Directory on the IDNR website, www2.illinois.gov/dnr.
Bureau County
n Hetzler Cemetery Prairie
n Miller-Anderson Woods
n Myer Woods
Putnam County
n George S. Park Memorial Woods
n Miller-Anderson Woods
n Mount Palatine Cemetery Prairie
n Thomas W. and Elizabeth Moews Dore Seep
La Salle County
n Lower Fox RiverBlake’s Landing
n Margery C. Carlson
n Mitchell’s Grove
Grundy County
n Goose Lake Prairie
n Short Pioneer Cemetery Prairie
Livingston County
n Sunbury Railroad Prairie
Photos by Lisa Sons, Joe Jakupcak and Shaw MediaHEPATICA
One of Sons’ favorites. Three little leaves, one of the first to come up in the spring. Latin for liver, Sons said, because at one time people thought plants that looked like an organ could heal ailments of the organ. Seen along trail into Ottawa Canyon. Late March into April.
BLOODROOT
Biggest bloomer, almost 2 inches across, white plant with yellow center, similar to a daisy, only lasts about 24 hours. “All the petals fall off. The leaves will be with us all summer, but the bloodroot blooms quickly. It’s a nice one to see,” Jakupcak said. Largest patches seen along creeks and bottom of sandstone bluffs at mouth of Kaskaskia Canyon. Late March into April.
SPRING BEAUTIES
Leaves look like grass. Longest lasting spring wildflower, it could be up for a month and in some cases looks like snow on the ground. Late March into April.
TROUT LILY
Lily pointed down toward the ground, blooms facing the ground, blooms in the violet family. April into May.
Joe Jakupcak and Lisa Sons highlighted below the flowers you are most likely to see – ones that grow in bunches –while out on a hike at Starved Rock State Park.
White flower, looks like trousers hanging on a clothesline, about a half inch long, blooms about a week. Late March into April.
End of April in Illinois Canyon. “The canyon is carpeted in bluebell, so you’re going to see the bluebell, the trillium, a little white plant called the rue anemone. It’s just gorgeous. You can smell the bluebells. There’s that many of them,” Jakupcak said. “Almost all of these plants when they’re done blooming, they disappear. Flowers, the stems, the leaves, they’re gone – that’s what happens to bluebells. By June the entire plant is gone.” Blooms about 10 days.
PRAIRIE TRILLIUM
Three-petal flower. Early settlers called it the bloody nose because that’s what it resembles. Blooms about two weeks. April into May.
Jakupcak’s favorite. 12-inch stem, looks like a little comet pointed at ground. One of last to come up in May. Seen on top of French Canyon bluff and along bluff trail to St. Louis Canyon. April into May.
SWAMP BUTTERCUP
Yellow flower, looks like shiny yellow plastic. Seen in wet areas along the river, blooms for two weeks.
JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT
One of Jakupcak’s favorites. Long green stalk with resemblance to a preacher, Jack, in his overhanging pulpit. Sensitive plant, hard to grow in garden, doesn’t like to be fertilized. Blooms for two weeks. “It covers the parks, and I love that,” Jakupcak said.
Last spring flower. Looks like a red lantern. The blue columbine is the state flower for Colorado because it blooms above 5,000 feet; below 5,000 feet, most columbine are red. Mounds of them along the river trail. April into May.
HARBINGER
Also one of Sons’ favorites. Unlike the rest of this list, this flower is easy to miss and hard to find. Minuscule at 2 to 3 inches tall. Also called salt and pepper “because it literally looks like somebody just shook salt and pepper and topped it onto a green plant,” Sons said. Late March into spring between Ottawa and Kaskaskia canyons.
Spring is here, and the outdoors are blooming with activities — here’s what’s happening in Starved CountryRock
1
Get the Starved Rock Country Golf Card for discounts at 17 area courses! Visit starvedrockcountry.com and click Deals.
Happy Easter to all who celebrate it!
April 10 is Golfer’s Day. Check out the Starved Rock Country golf guide to find a course: bit.ly/SRCGolfGuide
on your fridge
you can experience all that April has to offer! Please check online ahead of time for more details.
National Walking Day is the first Wednesday in April. Why not take a hike?
For Christian religions, Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus.
Are you up for a 64K or a 100K cycling challenge? Grab your bike and hit rural gravel roads in the Rough Road 100. Learn more at roughroad100.com.
Late April is a good time to look for wildflowers along the region’s nature trails. See p. 10 for 12 species to seek along trails.
NCI ARTworks will host an exhibit and opening reception for Ottawa Art League at 6:30 p.m. at the gallery in the historic Westclox Building in Peru.
Eid Mubarak (“blessed feast”) to all who are celebrating Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan!
Sign up for lunch and the Waterfall and Canyon Tour at Starved Rock, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Register at starvedrocklodge.com Shop the Scout Flea Market 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at True North in Morris. It’s Earth Day – and Starved Rock State Park’s Stewardship Day! Hike and clean trails from 9 to 11 a.m.
24 25 26 27 28 29
It’s National Library Week! Check out some of the region’s historic library buildings, such as the Carnegie libraries in La Salle and Streator.
Go birdwatching in honor of National Audubon Day.
American white pelicans migrate through the region in April. (See p. 50)
Arbor Day is the perfect time to visit Spring Lake Nature Park in Streator to hike the Big Tree Trail and see the 200-yearold cottonwood tree.
Stroll Utica for a tasting spree: wine, cupcakes, ice cream, candy and more! Buy Utica Sweet Stroll tickets via EventBrite: bit.ly/UticaSweetStroll
Mark calendarsyour for the summer edition of Starved Rock MagazineCountry on May 13!
SAT
Kayak rentals open for the season with Kayak Starved Rock and Kayak Morris. Read more on p. 20.
Love music? The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra performs 3-4:30 p.m. in Oglesby. www.ivso.org/ may-2023-concert Happy Mother’s Day!
Frequent rainfall in May makes it an ideal month for waterfall viewing at state parks. See p. 16 for information.
In honor of National Small Business Day, you can pick a downtown and explore the local shops, boutiques and restaurants.
Ladies, grab your gal pals for Morris Retail Association’s Cinco de Mayo-style Girls Night Out from 4 to 9 p.m. in downtown Morris.
Day 2 of the Kites in Flight festival continues to soar over Ottawa 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (See p. 13.)
29 30 31
This Memorial Day, consider a visit to the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Marseilles. The wall commemorates military lives lost since 1979.
Starved Rock
It’s National Wine Day! Sample a menu of wine, craft cocktails and more at CatsEye Wine Bar. Read more on p. 37.
See WWII aircraft up close and in the air at the TBM Avenger reunion and Salute to Veterans at Illinois Valley Regional Airport.
In the mood for a carnival? Streator Park Fest opens at noon and continues through Sunday.
See miles of Starved Rock Country by running the Marathon or Half-Marathon. Register by May 11. Information at runstarvedrock country.net/races Get a taste of the Streator Food Truck Festival from noon to 7 p.m. at Streator City Park. Experience the Old West at Wild Bill Days in Utica.
DO YOU HAVE AN EVENT for the Starved Rock Country Magazine calendar? Reach out to us on Facebook or via email, jbarichello@shawmedia.com
by Julie Barichello
By Stephanie Jaquins • Photos by Scott Anderson
Fingers crossed the third annual Kites in Flight has a sunny and breezy weekend to fly kites of all shapes and sizes.
Regardless of the weather’s cooperation, Ottawa Mayor Dan Aussem said the city will roll with it and enjoy the family-friendly festival. The two-day event is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 20, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 21, along the north bank of Ottawa’s scenic riverfront near the city’s downtown.
A kite enthusiast himself, Aussem knows the importance of a good flying day. He has flown his own kites at the event the last few years and will be back again this year. Guests are encouraged to bring their own kites as well and join the festivities in a specially designated public kite-flying area.
Another area will be designated for professional kite flying demonstrations from Chicago Kite Company, known for its larger-thanlife novelty kites.
“They have everything. They have some great butterflies, dragons,” said Donna Reynolds, tourism operations manager for the Ottawa Visitors Center.
Chicago Kite will be on hand selling options for both beginners and seasoned professionals. Chicago Kite has almost 30 years experience selling single-, dual- and quad-line kites, along with windsocks, garden spinners and flags, according to its website.
When Aussem became mayor, he said adding free family-friendly events was a priority and added outdoor movie nights and other events. He heard about Chicago Kite Company and passed the information on to the Ottawa Visitors Center, and the staff took it over from there.
“It’s certainly a fun day to see the kids,” Aussem said.
In its inaugural year, the festival attracted an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 visitors.
“The first year was a big success,” Aussem said. “It was more people than we ever anticipated.”
Ottawa’s Kites in Flight fest also will feature food and beverage vendors. Free live entertainment will be available for kids throughout the day, including free crafts provided by Open Space Art Gallery & Studio in Ottawa, story time by Ottawa’s Reddick Library, a candy drop, balloon artist, face painting and dunk tank, among other recreation. Concluding Saturday’s activities is an outdoor movie, sponsored by Ottawa First.
A number of local artisan vendors will set up shop. A complete list of food and artisan vendors will be announced closer to the event.
Parking will be in the lower lots west of Veterans Memorial Bridge and the lot behind the Jordan Block (the south side of the 100 block of Main Street in downtown Ottawa). Handicapped parking is available near the riverfront.
For more information, follow the Ottawa Visitors Center on Facebook: www.facebook.com/OttawaVisitorsCenter
Featuring easy-to-use Hobie MirageDrive® pedal power
NEW! Explore Starved Rock Country under electric power!
Home
Spring is a prime time to view the waterfalls of Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks as snows melt and create additional runoff. Check out these tips from expert Starved Rock hiking guide Joe Jakupcak and from Starved Rock Country Magazine staff to maximize waterfall viewing.
EXPERT ADVICE: Lake Falls at Matthiessen State Park is worth viewing from below. Matthiessen Lake feeds the falls – water flows beneath the scenic arch of a bridge and continues through the park’s other water features, such as Giant’s Bathtub and the Cascade Falls.
DID YOU KNOW...? Starved Rock State Park has seven waterfalls hikers can access via canyon trails: Aurora, French, Kaskaskia, La Salle, Ottawa, St. Louis and Wildcat. The bottoms of the park’s other waterfalls are difficult to access or have no trail, said Starved Rock hike leader Joe Jakupcak.
EXPERT ADVICE: To reach Wildcat Canyon’s waterfall (at left), hike about 1 mile from the Starved Rock Visitor Center. The 80-foot fall has a narrow stream of water. To see one of Starved Rock’s tallest falls, visit St. Louis Canyon (at right).
JOE SAYS: “The Wildcat Canyon headwall is one of the best photo backgrounds in the Midwest.”
EXPERT ADVICE: The waterfalls at Starved Rock State Park are fed by runoff. The best time to see one is within a week of rainfall totaling a half inch or more.
JOE SAYS: “La Salle Canyon [at left], my favorite canyon, has an 11-foot waterfall that, when flow is strong, is also a 20-foot-long ‘shower curtain’ that can be walked behind without getting wet.”
DID YOU KNOW...? According to the Illinois state climatologist, May and June traditionally are the wettest months in Illinois with the most rainfall.
EXPERT ADVICE: When starting a hike from the Starved Rock Visitor Center, French Canyon’s waterfall (at left) is the nearest. French Canyon has to be entered single-file.
JOE SAYS: “[The French Canyon waterfall] is the most effervescent as it tumbles down 11 steps.”
“The Ottawa Canyon waterfall [below] is a 33-foot drop into my favorite plunge pool as though it is leaving a 12-inch wide shower head.”
EXPERT ADVICE: If you hike at Matthiessen State Park, prepare to get your feet wet, and possibly muddy. Several trails cross the park’s creeks. Hikers are shown here exploring the top of Giant’s Bathtub, a water feature fed by the towering Lake Falls a short hike farther upstream.
One of Starved Rock State Park’s waterfalls is garnering national attention.
The U.S. Postal Service is releasing a series of stamps this year featuring 12 iconic waterfalls across the country, including the curtain-like waterfall of Starved Rock’s La Salle Canyon.
The La Salle Canyon waterfall shares a pane of stamps with other well-known falls such as Niagara Falls in New York and the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park.
The hike to La Salle Canyon is about 2.6 miles from the Parkman’s Plain parking lot off Route 71. The canyon’s waterfall flows nearly all year. While many of Starved Rock’s falls are seasonal and dependent on rainfall, La Salle Canyon typically maintains a small flow in the dry months and an ice fall in the winter. More 2023 stamp series will feature endangered species, railroad stations, winter woodland animals and tulip blossoms, among others.
By Stephanie Jaquins |
When Janée Matteson went on a kayak tour during a 2010 Alaskan cruise, she saw beautiful sights: vivid purple and vibrant orange starfish, whales, eagles and large cliffs.
The scenic excursion made her think about Starved Rock Country’s beauty — the rivers, sandstone, bald eagles, islands and flowers — and how it would be great to take in the area’s sights from a kayak.
She had an epiphany. That’s when Kayak Morris was born.
Matteson grew up in Morris, spending time outdoors with her father and grandmother, who took her fishing on the Illinois River, trapping muskrats and duck hunting.
She drafted a business plan that involved camping and kayaking and brought it to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
In 2010, she obtained a concessionary lease at Morris’ William G. Stratton State Park, and in 2012 she purchased about 10 acres of land adjacent to Stratton State Park that has about 20 campsites. In 2014, she started hosting monthly guided tours in other locations, such as Channahon and Starved Rock.
By 2018, she acquired a concessionary lease at Starved Rock and began offering tours. She expanded when she purchased 40 acres of land between Starved Rock Marina and Starved Rock Yacht Club in 2020 with 50 campsites.
“In that location, we have a large lotus flower field. People come just to see the lotus flowers. It’s kind of wild,” Matteson said, adding the flowers start growing in May and are visible a good part of the summer.
AYERS CANOE RENTAL
3494 E. 2089th Road, Ottawa
Offers 6- and 12-mile rides in a canoe or kayak, or a 6-mile ride in a tube, on the Fox River. Camping available. 815-434-2233 or ayerslanding.com
C&M CANOE RENTAL
3401 E. 2062nd Road, Ottawa
Offers 7- and 12-mile canoe or kayak rental on the Fox River. Camping available. 815-434-6690 or 815-434-6714 or cmcanoerental.com
QUEST WATERSPORTS
1851 N. 2871st Road, Ottawa
Offers two-hour, four-hour and full-day rentals of single- and double-pedaled kayaks as well as paddleboards. 815-433-2200 or www.questwatersports.com
VERMILLION RIVER RAFTING
779 N. 2249th Road, Oglesby
Offers three- to four-hour whitewater rafting and kayaking adventures on the Vermilion River. 815-667-5242 or vermillionriverrafting.com
FIRST TIME KAYAKER?
Here’s what to bring, plus a tip: Water shoes • Hat • Sunscreen Snacks • Water
TIP: Hot day? Take off your hat and dip it in the river or put water on your head.
In the years since, Matteson has continued to grow Kayak Morris and Kayak Starved Rock.
Kayaking got a boost during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, because it was a safe activity people could do outside while keeping distance. But her business was growing even before 2020.
Today she employs around 25 people, 10 of whom are guides who give multiple tours a day at the Kayak Starved Rock campground. The business also offers kayak rentals at its two other locations.
“(Starved Rock) is our primary location now because of the location, the terrain, the flora and fauna, wildlife, bald eagles. We have a field of American lotus flowers we paddle through, which are in full bloom in the middle of summer for a couple months,” she said. “We paddle past the towering St. Peter sandstone cliffs and bluffs.
“We typically see bald eagles. This past year we had a nesting bald eagle that had a clutch of three eaglets, so we got to see their whole life unfold in front of our eyes, from nesting to the mother trying to cajole (the last eagle) out of the nest.”
Some of Matteson’s favorite spots include the St. Peter sandstone bluffs and Sheehan Island, which has two small bodies of water.
“You can actually paddle into that island, around and through,” she said. “You feel like you’re not even on the river.”
Matteson receives guests from all over the Midwest and sometimes guests from other countries.
Kayaking is a family-friendly activity, and she hears from many customers that their children enjoy the water. Matteson is an advocate of teaching kids the benefits of outdoor recreation and learning about nature.
“(Parents) are worried about kids going on the tour with them and, honestly, it relaxes kids because of the rocking motion of boat,” she said. She also has a friend who has a child with autism and said the activity was calming for her child. “You see kids coming back and they’re much calmer and relaxed.”
One of the guides, who aptly goes by the name Turtle Rick, will point out turtles on the tour and will seek out a baby turtle to show to children on the tour.
Another tour guide is comical and high energy, Matteson said.
“He gets amazing reviews and he’s always cracking jokes and keeping everybody smiling and keeping it light and fun,” she said.
A few of the guides are teachers. Each guide brings their own perspective to their tours, she said. They talk about the legend of Starved Rock, historical uses of the Illinois River and ATONs of the Illinois River, which are marine tools used to aid to navigation, including lighted and unlighted buoys and lighted and unlighted fixed structures, such as day beacons, lights and ranges.
“This isn’t a tour where they’re just going out and being chaperoned,” Matteson said. “It’s an educational adventure or an eco tour.”
Guided kayak tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday and holidays. Guided kayak tours begin with a land-based kayak instruction and safety kayak lesson before heading out on the water with the guides in a small kayaking group to visit the beautiful sites along the sandy shores.
n KAYAK RENTALS are available seven days a week May 1 through Labor Day. Call 630-567-4653 or email kayakstarvedrock@gmail.com to book your kayak rental.
Come enjoy all our delicious dining options from North to South including Al Fresco dining and drinking on Mill Street. From
February 11 TH WINTER WINE WALK
February 18 TH MARDI GRAS PARADE
March 11 TH ST. PAT’S PARADE
March 17 TH & 18 TH ST. PAT’S CELEBRATION
April
April 29
May
Every Saturday & Sunday June - September 10am to 4pm Handmade • Homemade • Homegrown • Vintage
June 3
June 10
& 11
SWEET STROLL
UTICA GARDEN FAIRE & PLANT SALE
June 24 TH STARVED ROCK STREET CARS CRUISE NIGHT
July 1 ST UTICA FIREWORKS CELEBRATION
It’s one of the irresistible urges of exploration: Pull out a camera and document the experience. It’s also a common impulse to share our experiences with others. Social media merges those desires – it offers a means to both preserve and discuss the places we travel and what we encounter along the way.
Starved Rock Country is full of discourse-worthy attractions and oddities along its highways, within its parks and throughout its communities. On the next two pages, you’ll find a dozen of the region’s favorite destinations for sightseeing and for snapping photos and selfies. Grab your car keys and camera to start documenting your journey.
Visiting one of these attractions? Use the hashtag #StarvedRockCountry to connect with us on social media!
Covered bridges The Princeton area is home to two covered bridges separated by less than a five-mile drive. The 128-foot Captain Swift Covered Bridge originally was built in 1915 and replaced in 2007 to cross Big Bureau Creek on 1600 North Avenue, west of Epperson Road. The historic Red Covered Bridge (see opposite page), built in 1863, spans 93 feet across Big Bureau Creek on County Road 1950 East.
Spread the word Show off your destination by taking a photo with one (or all!) of the region’s city signs. Multiple Starved Rock Country communities – including Morris, Utica and La Salle – have installed the lifesized letters. It’s not unusual to see visitors and locals alike perched upon or draped around the letters to document their visit when they shop, dine and explore in the community.
Council Overhang This 400 million-yearold sandstone formation at Starved Rock State Park was used for centuries as a Native American gathering place. The recognizable natural amphitheater is a frequent photo stop for hikers. The site can be reached using trails to Ottawa and Kaskaskia canyons on the park’s eastern side. Parking for the canyon trails is available on the south side of Route 71.
Perching canary If you’re shopping around downtown Streator or taking a walking tour of the city’s murals, be sure to pause for a photo opp with the Streator 150th Anniversary mural. The almost two-story-tall artwork on Monroe Street (between Main and Hickory streets) was one of 17 murals painted by The Walldogs during the 2018 Murals and Milestones festival. This one is a selfie favorite for people wanting to pose with the coal miners’ canary perched on their head.
Steel visions Two iconic Ottawa sights can be seen in Allen Park, which sits on the south bank of the Illinois River. First: Mary MeinzFanning’s 17-ton sculptures were created from steel salvaged from the disassembled Hilliard Bridge in Ottawa. The yellow sculpture is named “Reclining” and the red sculpture is dubbed “Bending.” They stand in view of Veterans Memorial Bridge, which replaced Hilliard Bridge in 1981. Second: A railroad lift bridge (see opposite page) is another photographer favorite at the park, especially when frequent barge traffic passes through.
Pink sasquatch If Barbie gave Bigfoot a makeover, the result would be Utica’s pink sasquatch. Travelers on Route 178 who are interested in a Bigfoot sighting should keep their eyes on the west side of the highway when they’re on the village’s southern end. The pink sasquatch stands in a stripmall of snack shops that includes Starved Rock House of Jerky and Roxie’s Sweet Confections. Another photo opportunity is available at Roxie’s, where visitors can climb into an oversized Adirondack chair.
Matthiessen stepping stones When the creek level rises in the spring at Matthiessen State Park, a series of stepping stones help hikers follow the Upper Dells trail across the water. The winding series of steps offers a picture-perfect chance to capture a scene in the state park’s Dells Area, which can be accessed from Route 178 south of Utica.
Bonus Matthiessen photo opp In late July and early August, visitors flock to the state park’s sunflower field (see p. 26).
Chris P. Chicken The village of Ladd is small, with a population hovering around 1,400 residents, but it boasts two attractions for visitors. Rip’s Tavern is famous across the region for its fried chicken. When visitors stop in Ladd to sate their hunger at Rip’s, they also can stroll down to the 100 block of South Main Street for a selfie with Chris P. Chicken, the village’s 8-foot-tall rooster statue. Tag the Village of Ladd in photos posted on Facebook for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to a Ladd business.
Route 71 plane One of the region’s more offbeat roadside attractions is a 1940s twinengined Beechcraft that looks like it crashed at the intersection of Route 71 and East 25th Road, six miles northeast of Ottawa. The battered aircraft was planted in a rural farm field in June 1988 by Mervin Eastwold, the owner of a nearby farm equipment dealership. A sign dedicates the display to farmers and agricultural businesses who survived crashing crop prices in the 1980s.
EJ&E caboose Hop aboard the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern 522 caboose at Rotary Park in Morris. Visitors can climb the steps to pose for a photo outside, or they can tour inside by calling the Grundy County Historical Society, 815-942-4880, at least one week in advance. The railroad car is open during Morris Cruise Nights on the second Saturday of the month, June through September. The nearby Grundy County Chamber of Commerce building is the former Rock Island Train Depot at 909 Liberty St.
Burger Boy Some people call him Woody because of the years he spent at Woody’s Drive-In in Streator. Some call him Hamburger Hank in honor of Hank Moore, who opened The RootBeer Stand in Oglesby. Some just call him Burger Boy. By any name, he’s a 300-pound statue flagging down customers to visit The RootBeer Stand, a drive-in diner with homemade root beer and carhop waitresses. Whether dining indoors or in vehicles, visitors can snap a quick selfie with Woody … or Hank … or the ol’ Burger Boy …
Abe at the fountain The fountain at Washington Square in downtown Ottawa is a frequent selfie background. Statues of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas stand in the center of the fountain to commemorate the site of the first LincolnDouglas debate on Aug. 21, 1858. The park is home to a variety of vendor markets, music performances and festivals throughout the year, and the historic Reddick Mansion can be visited across the street on the park’s northern side.
Stolen mail sacks were recovered in this car, which thieves used to flee to their roost in Ottawa.
A postal inspector studies the rail car damaged in the robbery. The thieves threw tear gas bombs through smashed windows.
It was the biggest train robbery in U.S. history.
The night of June 12, 1924, a gang of thieves held up a U.S. Postal Service train north of Chicago in Lake County, driving off with more than $3 million in cash and securities – about $50 million today. Their destination was Ottawa.
The daring heist was a national sensation at the time. In 1998, the story was retold in the film “The Newton Boys” starring Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke, Skeet Ulrich and Vincent
D’Onofrio as the four Texas brothers who participated in the holdup.
Today, the robbery site in the tiny community of Rondout, three miles east of Libertyville, is marked by an Illinois State Historical Society marker.
But largely forgotten is the prearranged location in Ottawa a half-block from the police station where the robbers drove to count their haul.
The place was Economy Auto Paint, a car painting shop run by Irish immigrant Joseph Murray and his partner William Dourson, both of Ottawa. The shop was
in a three-story building at the northwest corner of Lafayette and Clinton streets. The building previously had been used to build horse-drawn carriages and then manufacture the short-lived Ghent automobile.
The use of Joseph Murray’s shop had been requested by his nephew, Jimmy Murray of Chicago, a heist planner.
As Dourson later explained, the shop was a place where Jimmy Murray had several cars repainted. So when Jimmy Murray asked to use it for a day, his uncle agreed.
A mug shot of Jimmy Murrayhe arranged a getaway location in Ottawa for the thieves in the 1924 Rondout train robbery.
At the robbers’ trial, Joseph Murray said he had been under the impression his nephew planned to use the shop for the temporary storage of a load of illegal whiskey from Peoria.
That was his nephew Jimmy’s claim as well. According to a newspaper report of his trial, “Jimmy Murray, with stay-combed hair, freshly pressed suit, and massage and shave redolent of the barber shop” told the jury “he wasn’t a bandit but a hard-working bootlegger.”
Besides Jimmy Murray and the Newton brothers, who were experienced bank and train robbers, the other crooks were postal inspector William Fahy and tough guys Brent Glasscock and Herbert Holliday.
The night of the robbery, two of the Newton brothers – who were on board the train disguised as crew members – forced the engineer to stop at Rondout.
Then the robbers, wearing gas masks, used “formaldehyde” bombs to create confusion and take control. At one point, robber Glasscock misidentified Willis Newton and shot him five times.
The robbers then made their getaway in a stolen Cadillac. They took a zigzag route, finally entering Ottawa on north Columbus Street.
“We came to a deep valley, going down a long, winding hill heading into a town,” said Jesse Newton.
“From the foot of this hill we went several blocks south, crossed (the Illinois & Michigan Canal).” They turned right at Superior Street then south on Clinton Street to Washington Street and then south on Fulton Street, finally entering a center courtyard of the old factory where the paint shop was located.
From the courtyard, they took the stolen mail sacks into the paint shop.
“It formed a perfect retreat for that sort of work,” according to a story in the Daily Republican-Times newspaper. “The crooks could carry on their labors with almost perfect assurance that they would not be interrupted.
“The paint shop is in a room about fifty feet long, with a thirty foot frontage on Clinton Street, but there are no direct entrances to it from either the street or the court. The
Willis Newton in bed with his brothers around him during their trial.
Mark
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bandits were able, however, to drive their car through a large door off the court in a room used by the L.M. Bayne Lumber Company for storage purposes, just south of the paint shop. …
“Patrons of the paint shop who called there that day were annoyed but not suspicious because of the locked doors. With shades drawn tightly and armed guards on duty at all
times the thieves completed their work.”
“We stayed there all day,” said Jesse Newton. “Several people tried to get in at different times, and Glasscock did talk to one or two of them, but no one came in. When it got good and dark that night, we left for Chicago.”
The one exception had been Jimmy Murray. He arrived in a Peerless automobile and
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asked, “Well boys, how much you got?”
Their time at the paint shop is depicted in “The Newton Boys” movie but it is not identified as being in Ottawa.
The robbers departed for Chicago but were quickly captured and then tried and convicted before the end of the year.
All of them were found guilty. Jimmy Murray served
a stretch in Leavenworth Penitentiary and returned to Chicago, where he died in 1963.
Jimmy’s uncle Joseph and his partner, Dourson, were cleared. Dourson died in Ottawa in 1947 at age 71, and Joseph Murray died in 1970 at age 97.
Ironically, the location of the paint shop today corresponds to 1021 Clinton St. – the office of Prairie State Legal Services.
The building today at Lafayette and Clinton streets in Ottawa where the train robbery loot was taken. The painting shop was located near where the car is parked.
(Photo by Charles Stanley)
Nestled in the heart of historic downtown Ottawa, CatsEye Wine Bar perfectly pairs an unstuffy urban-vintage atmosphere with a carefully curated selection of wines and craft cocktails, creating one of the most unique nightlife experiences Starved Rock Country has to offer. Hot off their wins for Best Wine and Best Cocktails in the 2022 Starved Rock Country’s Finest awards, we take a look inside this innovative fanfavorite bar that straddles the line between relaxed local hangout and upscale date night destination.
CatsEye Wine Bar, the passion project of Francie and Mike Skoflanc, first opened its doors to the public in 2018. Starting out with an expansive wine list and a curated selection of craft beer and spirits, CatsEye quickly became a local favorite drinking destination for tourists and locals alike, but these formative years for the bar coincided with a
big change in the nightlife industry: the rise of craft cocktails.
Craft cocktails have become a global sensation; from Michelin-starred establishments to neighborhood watering holes, bartenders are getting more creative with their drinks and patrons are beginning to further appreciate the subtle art of mixed drinks.
This close-knit family business was lucky to already have a seasoned mixologist among their ranks. Nate Skoflanc, son of owners Francie and Mike, has more than 15 years of experience bartending at spots like Chinn’s 34th Street Fishery and Eddie Merlot’s. In the early days of the business, Nathan played double duty, bartending at these popular establishments while developing CatsEye’s cocktail program and wine lists on the side.
“Now that I’m here five days a week, I feel like we have really been able to evolve the cocktails. We started with two bottles of bourbon, and now we have something like 18. In the beginning, we had only five or six cocktails available, now we have over 40. I’m able to take
certain ideas and really run with them,” said Nate Skoflanc. “I was excited about the cocktail award; that’s something we take a lot of pride in. I’m working on the cocktail lists all year round, usually starting five or six months before the next menu comes out.”
In these seasonal menus, you’ll find new takes on classic cocktails and original creations meant to evoke the flavors of the changing season. Upcoming menus are expected to include a Tiki Negroni made with coconut Campari, new sours like a smokey blackberry Mezcal and a special duck fat wash Rye Old-Fashioned, which will be available during select special events in Ottawa.
“We’re trying to do something a little different for the area by taking these simple and classic
cocktails and evolving them into something new,” Skoflanc added. “We want to take these widely known drinks and really make them our own.”
In addition to CatsEye’s seasonal menu, you’ll find a new modern classic list that features tried and true cocktail classics, like Negronis, gin martinis, Manhattans, and tasty variations like a toasted coconut espresso martini.
More than just a destination for great artisan cocktails, CatsEye also boasts an everchanging roster of over 40 wines sourced from around the globe. The Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon is a house favorite hailing from Paso Robles. This highly rated cab sav features enticing aromas of fresh black cherry, burnt sugar and a slight smokiness. Other
favorites include the Quest Cabernet Franc and the newly added Sta. Rita Hills by BrewerClifton, a modern classic chardonnay from the fertile hills of Santa Barbara County. While providing a rich tasting experience, none of these offerings break the bank.
“Our wines range in price from $8 a glass to $25 a glass. We really want to give our customers an opportunity to try something unique, no matter what price range they’re in. Our wine selection is high quality, but really approachable,” Skoflanc said.
CatsEye also is home to a small but mighty selection of craft beers and hard seltzers. Usually about 14 canned craft beers are on offer at one time, including hazy IPAs, lagers, stouts, wild ales and
Saisons. In lieu of the typical domestic offerings, CatsEye has assembled a small selection of left-of-center offerings that are sure to excite and surprise any craft beer fanatics in your group.
The convivial atmosphere at CatsEye carries over to the bar’s lineup of crowd-pleasing events. Live music nights are hosted year-round at the bar, featuring a mix of local favorite musicians and touring acts. The bar has also hosted drag shows and bingo nights and bring-your-own-vinyl nights. While CatsEye doesn’t have a food menu, they always encourage peckish guests to order carryout or delivery from nearby establishments like Iniga Pizzeria Napoletana, The Lone Buffalo or B.A.S.H. and enjoy their meal in the bar with
some wine and cocktails.
“A good cocktail bar should feel like a place anyone can go to, unpretentious and inviting. From the music we play to the vibe of the bar itself, we want to make sure everyone feels welcome here,” Skoflanc said. “It’s hard to pinpoint our demographic, and that’s what I love about this place. You can come in here on any given night and see people dressed to the nines or wearing their hiking gear fresh from Starved Rock. It’s a laid-back environment, and we want to keep it that way.”
in a
By Ali Braboy | Photos courtesy of Larry and Karen Kiest
t Larry and Karen Kiest’s rural Airbnb, guests don’t wake up to the beep of a digital alarm clock. They’ll be woken at 6 in the morning by a rooster’s crow.
The Kiests created a beautiful getaway near Sheridan that they rent to tourists. The house, which was created in the image of a barn, is about 80 miles from Chicago and 24 miles from Starved Rock State Park.
While the Kiests are available if needed, guests feel like they’re alone on the 177-acre property, where the woods are thick. The elegant home in a farm setting is the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
After the 6 a.m. rooster call, guests have fresh farm eggs available to eat – duck eggs, turkey eggs and chicken eggs. Early morning risers who venture outdoors can hear and see the woods come alive with wildlife. It isn’t uncommon to see a crane swoop down to fish in a pond, which
overflows into the waterways of Indian Creek.
With a sharp eye and luck, visitors can spot more wildlife including deer, beavers, racoons, foxes, owls, coyotes and eagles. The Kiests said they know of an eagle that nests there every year. Each spring, about 20 geese arrive. The Kiests have seen one goose pair nest in the same spot every year for 10 years; geese mate for life.
In the springtime, the bluebells are breathtaking. The property has raspberries and mulberries, plus blackberries as big as your thumb, all available to pick and eat. Indian Creek runs throughout the property, and fishing poles and a tackle box are available for fishing in a pond stocked with bullhead, bluegill and catfish.
As a treat, the Kiests provide all the ingredients for s’mores. Roasting sticks and wood are ready to use with the outdoor firepit.
The house is fairly new on Airbnb. So far, it has attracted guests from Chicago. One guest was amazed
to look up at the sky and see the abundance of stars at night.
“He just went on and on and on about that,” Karen Kiest said. “It’s pretty amazing out here.”
The property also is home to a log cabin that was built in 1931 by the Boy Scouts of America. The logs came from the surrounding woods; stones for the cabin’s fireplace came from the creek.
The Kiests said the barn house rental is intended for mature people, but kids have a ball when they stay. The site includes arcade games, board games, cornhole, baseballs, croquet and an antique single-slate pool table. A four-wheeler, golf cart and hiking trails also are available on the property.
It’s an ideal location for a couple’s getaway or a destination to celebrate small family reunions, birthday parties and anniversaries, the Kiests said. There are many outdoor activities but also enough space indoors in case it rains.
The property holds a special place in the Kiests’ hearts.
Larry and Karen Kiest have six children between them who are living in different states, which makes it difficult to celebrate holidays together. The family has promised to always meet on Labor Day weekend.
“We got them to agree, every Labor Day weekend is ours. No matter what’s going on,” Karen Kiest said.
The Kiests love that they’re able to provide their special place to other people as well.
Despite the rural secluded community, guests will have a full array of modern amenities, including a kitchen, WiFi, washer and dryer, air
conditioning, heating, TVs to log into streaming services, dishes and silverware, a coffee maker and refrigerator. One and a half baths are available. The two-bedroom house has three beds and is recommended for up to six guests. A two-night minimum stay is required.
The Kiests provide guests with a list of popular destinations, including Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks, plus recommendations for places to eat and drink during their stay.
To wind down a day’s activities, the Kiests recommend the back porch as a great space for people
to congregate. They can listen to water travel in the creek and enjoy one more of the property’s prime sights. The sunsets – with gradients of pinks, oranges and blues – are breathtaking.
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IT RI
Illinois’ longest operating lumberyard continues to thrive along Peru’s historic riverfront. Maze Lumber has been providing top quality building materials to Illinois Valley contractors and homeowners for 175 years, still owned by the founding fathers (Maze).
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Whether you live in Starved Rock Country or are here for a visit, remember to take time to hike, go eagle watching, find an adventure, or just RELAX ! A visit to SaltTreeYoga will provide you with the relaxation and harmony you need to balance your life. Try
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Local artists invigorate the community with thoughtful, creative pieces. Each issue, Starved Rock Country Magazine and Starved Rock Country Community Foundation are partnering to highlight artists and their work.
hen Mary Jean Dzurisin paints and draws, she pays homage to the one she calls “the greatest artist of all”: Mother Nature.
Dzurisin grew up in Streator, less than a 25-mile drive from Starved Rock and Matthiessen state parks, both of which provide her with a bounty of inspiration. Nature is a primary subject she explores through her artwork.
“I fell in love with Starved Rock as a teenager and love hiking there,” Dzurisin said. “I love being outside in nature, and Starved Rock and Matthiessen are ideal places to experience the beauty of the natural
world. We are very fortunate to have such spectacular places in Illinois.”
Dzurisin devoted years to working as an illustrator and graphic designer for Chanute Air Force Base, Scott Air Force Base and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria. Her work has been displayed at art galleries in Ottawa and Utica and at the Streatorland Historical Society, as well as published in The Artist magazine.
Now semi-retired, she continues to exercise her artistic talents on personal projects and commissioned pieces in a range of media, including watercolor, colored pencil and stippling, a technique that creates an image using dots.
Creating a painting or drawing after she hikes at a local, state or national park allows Dzurisin to conjure the experience of being in nature again.
“I relive the peace, quiet and beauty that replenish my soul,” she said.
Dzurisin believes art gives creators a means to express what touches them most in life. In the same way nature moves her to create artwork, she hopes art viewers will be touched by her paintings, pencil work and stipple work.
“Art that depicts the beauty of our world, whether it be landscape or wildlife, will hopefully touch people in a way that inspires them to take better care of our precious earth.”
To buy one of her pieces or to request a commission, contact Mary Jean Dzurisin at mjdzurisin2@frontier.com.
1. Winter Light at Spring Lake: watercolor, 12x18, $100
2. St. Louis Canyon Ice: stipple, 10x14, $100 for matted and framed print
3. Molly: colored pencil, 16x20
4. Zion National Park: watercolor, 12x18, $100
5. Autumn in St. Louis Canyon: watercolor, 12x18, $100
Mary Jean Dzurisin deepens her connection with nature through drawing and painting. Her father trained her in pencil drawing as a child, and she later studied art at St. Mary’s College of Notre Dame and the University of Illinois. She sells her artwork by word-of-mouth and offers commissioned pieces. See her portfolio at https://bit.ly/mjdzurisin_art.
Local artists invigorate the community with thoughtful, creative pieces. Each issue, Starved Rock Country Magazine and Starved Rock Country Community Foundation are partnering to highlight artists and their work.
lara Brubaker’s illustration series of plants and wildflowers reflects more than Illinois’ botanical variety.
“I think it also represented the phase I’m at in my personal art journey – learning to love and express gratitude for where you are and to grow where you are planted,” Brubaker said.
Brubaker, who created her wildflower series in summer 2022, is a digital illustrator who grew up in the west suburbs of Chicago before settling in Ottawa to launch her art business. Part of her creative mission is to capture a gentler side of life. “I want people to look at my art as an invitation to hold space for softness, healing and rest,” she said.
She lives and creates by the slogan “Keep your soft heart,” which doubles as her social media handle, @keepyoursoftheart. Many of her illustrations feature tender glimpses of people, plants, animals and insects.
Brubaker’s artwork is available on a variety of products, including digital prints, stickers, bookmarks and greeting cards, among other merchandise. She also creates animated GIFs and issued two mini comic books.
“I made one [mini comic] about the relationships between humans and plants (‘Bein’ Weird With Plants’) and another about the feeling I get from going on road trips (‘In/Between’),” she said. “Narrative or sequential art takes a lot of work and planning, and requires a very directorial view. But in the end I got something that really communicated the feeling I wanted to share, and it’s wonderful to see people still relating to those stories now.”
Brubaker shows and sells her works at Open Space Art Gallery in Ottawa as well as teaches private art lessons. She also is a familiar face at the region’s popup markets and art festivals where she can sell her merchandise and connect with fellow art lovers.
“I think art is a powerful tool for healing, connection and embracing joy – whether you are the one experiencing it or making it!”
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Clara Brubaker is a full-time artist whose work is “a place to explore vulnerability, connection with the natural world and to practice patience and kindness.”
To view more of Clara Brubaker’s art, visit www.clarabrubaker.com or follow her on social media: @keepyoursoftheart on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Her work also is for sale at Open Space Art Gallery in Ottawa.
1. The Gift of Wildflowers: digital illustration, 13x19 limited edition poster print available for $35 from the artist or 7x9 sticker sheet available for $7 at Open Space Art Gallery
2. Undergrowth: digital illustration, 8x10, prints available for $15 at Open Space Art Gallery
3. Reclamation: digital illustration, 8x10, prints available for $15 at Open Space Art Gallery
4. Bein’ Weird With Plants and In/Between: digital illustration, Risograph printed booklets, $5 each at Open Space Art Gallery
