Laurie's Links

As a lifelong Peorian, here are some of my favorite places. 

The Contemporary Art Center, is one of the most diverse and unique places to visit in town.  The top floor is studio space rented out to local artists.  The main gallery features cutting edge art shows which change frequently.  Their is a side gallery with items for sale from the artists in the building and Preston Jackson, Peoria's premier artist.  On Friday nights they have 5 spot Jazz , you brown bag your wine and treats, and they feature live music from 5 to 7.  There is also a good yoga program offered through Downtown Yoga, the gallery is available for events (I celebrated my 50th birthday there), and there are many art classes available. 
www.peoriacac.org 

www.namastewellnessstudio.com 

www.cyds.biz  Also in Junction City, Cyd's Sensations.  Deli, private dining room, catering, bakery, coffee shop, free WiFi, cooking classes and more.  Thanks to Cyd's, my husband and I eat dinner at home. 
www.lakeview-museum.org  Lakeview Museum has major art exhibits, new planetarium with laser light shows, a pre-school, lawn concerts in the summer, a used book store, a gift shop, permanent art collection, and is currently raising funds to build a new museum in downtown Peoria
www.ritrail.org  Rock Island Trail.  This is where I ride my bike.  It is four miles from Alta (basically North Peoria) to Dunlap.  You can park and ride from either Pioneer Parkway or Alta Road.  Lots of runners, strollers, walkers.  Have breakfast in downtown Dunlap. 

www.applesbakery.com  Apple Bakery.  More than a bakery. Coffee shop, free WiFi, gourmet groceries, wine, great cookies, play cards, healthy lunch, no hurry.  You will often see me here working on my computer or meeting clients. 

www.whitneyvet.com  Whitney Veterinary Hospital.  This is where I take my cat.  Cat building and dog building.  Boarding available.  Grooming.  Then take your dog to My Dog's Bakery in Metro Centre for a treat.  They bake dog treats daily, and Rachel Colgin, the owner and her dog, Rosie, are usually there.  Great gift shop for pet owners.  

www.fermatainc.com/il/site_34.html  Forest Park Nature Center, bottom of Forest Park Drive off North Prospect.  This is where I go to hike.  They also have concerts, nature classes, a gift shop with a large selection of bird feeders and bird seed, workshops, nature walks, and it is beautiful.  Rather steep climb.  You might see wild turkeys, deer, and  bald eagles.

www.springdalecemetary.com  Springdale Cemetary. Spectacular old cemetary from the 1850's.  This is as interesting as any cemetary I have seen anywhere in Europe.  There is a large war section with Civil War tombstones, a large Jewish section, a large Catholic section, a Pet Cemetary, a beautiful section overlooking the river from a high bluff.  You could spend a day with your camera trying to capture the beauty.

www.HeadingOm.com , A new yoga studio in West Peoria.  The studio is located on the second floor of a restored building and it is lovely.  You can hear birds chirp and see tree tops through the big windows in the studio.  Here is a photo of the owners, Lisa Zell and Tammy Mitchell.  Below is a photo of the building, so you can find it.  Go in the main doors, go left up the stairs, the studio is at the top of the stairs. 

www.javajolt.com  Best place to get coffee. 2 locations, North Knoxville or downtown in the FirstBank Building.

www.oneworld-cafe.com  One World Café is located on Main Street at University right near Bradley University.It is great for lunch, Sunday breakfast, catering, or just a great space to hang around and enjoy coffee.One World supports many local fund raising efforts, along with collaboration with numerous charitable organizations, including Easter Seals and the American Cancer Society

One World strives to be a unique, family operated, independent casual dining establishment, celebrating a global vision while embracing our local flavor. One World is proud to be a Peoria original... a destination location, an ambassador to traveling guests and parents of Bradley University students visiting Peoria.

My Dog's Bakery Website coming soon, but don't wait for the web page to visit.A friend of mine since high school, Rachel Colgin,owns this shop and it is so much fun.She bakes fresh premium dog treats daily.She also has a pet boutique with darling clothes and gifts for your dog or cat.Be sure to say hi to "Rosy", Rachel's Labradoodle, she is in the shop most of the time.

For pizza, I go to Firehouse Pizza, 309-693-9111.The owner, Kelly Couri, runs the business with his brother Shane. They are located on Pioneer Parkway, but are expanding into a larger space soon in Northpoint Shopping Center.Kelly is a Peoria Fireman, owns the pizza store, is an EMT, is a licensed Personal Trainer, and in his "spare" time he has a home inspection business call House Detective.The pizza is really good, I normally get the vegetarian.I see lots of "food" people here. Their pizzas have very fresh ingredients and the crust is perfect.

Beyond Nails is where I go for manicures and pedicures. It is located off Pioneer Parkway in the large shopping center off Sommer.

Trefzgers akery (www.trefzgerbakery.com) This is a Peoria institution.Go to their web site and read the history of this shop, it is a wonderful story. I ship coffee cakes to New York for Thanksgiving, they have a chocolate one that is everyone's favorite in our family, and we love the butterscotch one, it tastes more like maple.I have my daughter's friends in Washington, DC, hooked on the cookies.I never had to bake while she was growing up.Our Christmas baking tradition was to take a number and stand in line for their Christmas cookies.I could try for years, and never be able to match these special treats.They bake cookies for all holidays.They also bake wonderful wedding cakes and birthday cakes.

The Sun Foundaton
www.Sunfoundation.org  This organization has been in operation since 1973.  It has wonderful programs.  Check out the web site.  My daughter attended Art in the Woods, and The Clean Water Celebrations. 

UFS Store
http://www.discoverufs.com  This business is so much fun, my daughter brings her East Coast friends here to shop when she is in town. It is full of interesting overstocked personalized items and licensed items.  Her last find was a faux rock with a Penn State University logo for her best friend.  I buy fun items in bulk for events.  They have just about everything and cheap.  The inventory changes all of the time.  They have large wine department, and according to one of the top wine salesmen in town, sell more wine than anyone else.  They are very knowledgeable and helpful. 

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