Author: Connie

The Art Party Studio, Champaign IL: Discover Your Inner Artist

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois , , 0 Comment
The Art Party Studio, Champaign IL: Discover Your Inner Artist

Paint?  Me?  I have trouble drawing a stick figure.  They say you don’t need prior experience to create a painting at The Art Party Studio in Champaign.  Just bring your own bottle of wine, if you’d like.  They take care of ice, glasses, painting supplies and the lesson.  So being the adventurer that I am, off I went to The Art Party Studio, bottle of wine in hand, figuring I could use the wine as an excuse if my painting was a disaster.

It turned out most everyone in the class was the same as me, little to no painting experience and just there for the fun of it.  The canvases were all set up on easels when we got there, the sample painting up front (I’m really going to paint a lighthouse?), so I settled in with a glass of wine.  I was happy to see some of the design already outlined on the canvas.

Before_class

With_wine

After our instructor, Chance, shared a few tips about using and rinsing the brushes, we dove into painting, Chance explaining and demonstrating the techniques as we went along.  Soon the canvas was almost filled with sky and water.  I don’t know whether it was the wine or getting involved in the painting that did it, but I was relaxed.  I no longer cared if my painting didn’t turn out well.  I was having fun.

Started

On we went to fill in the lighthouse and rocks.  My lighthouse wasn’t exactly straight, even having had an outline to follow.  Oh, well, must be the wine.  Adding in the sun and additional rocks freehand was a bit challenging, but I managed.

getting_there

A little wash of watered down white across the water, a tad more white in the sky, add my initials, and voila!

finished

Every one of the 25 paintings done that night turned out decent.  There may have been no future Rembrandts in the class, but we all had a great time.

End_of_class

The Art Party Studio is located at 111 S Walnut, Champaign, Illinois.  Tickets are $35 for one person, $60 for two, art supplies included.  You must be 18 or older to attend, 21 to drink alcohol.  Visit their web site for the schedule and further details.

Disclosure:  My visit to The Art Party Studio was hosted by the Champaign County CVB, but any opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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Bartlett’s Gourmet Grill & Tavern, Beverly Shores IN: The Name Says It All

Connie Food & Drink, Indiana , , , , 2 Comments
Bartlett’s Gourmet Grill & Tavern, Beverly Shores IN: The Name Says It All

Editor’s note: Unfortunately, Barlett’s is no longer in business.

Who would ever guess that behind this door with the beer drinking deer carved into it you could feast on Grilled Maple Leaf Farms Duck Breast or Rigatoni and Smoked Amish Chicken? If you miss the word “gourmet” in its name, from the street you would think Bartlett’s is a typical roadhouse. But one look at the menu tells a different story. Although the atmosphere in Bartlett’s Grill & Tavern is casual and comfortable, the food has a gourmet flair, whether you order a dinner entrée or a sandwich. Read more

Poopy’s Pub n’ Grub, Savanna IL: Popular Even with Non-bikers

Connie Food & Drink, Illinois , , , 0 Comment
Poopy’s Pub n’ Grub, Savanna IL: Popular Even with Non-bikers

It’s billed as the biggest biker destination in Illinois.  And it’s no wonder, with its location along the Great River Road, a popular biker ride.  Add to that lots of space, weekend entertainment, outdoor facilities, and generous servings of menu choices beyond ordinary pub grub, and you’ve got a recipe for success.

The inside is decorated with motorcycles and biker memorabilia, the atmosphere casual, very casual.

Poopys_inside

Poopys_inside_2

Step out the back door to get to the huge summertime entertainment venue.

Outside_bar

Outside_back

And then there’s the menu, a bit tacky but all in fun, with menu items like the one-pound burger called The Big Poop.  Portions are huge no matter what you order, the food fresh and tasty.  Even my salad, with fresh greens, veggies, and chicken, was more than I could finish.

We were there for an early lunch and beat the crowd.  It wasn’t long, though, before motorcycles started pulling into the parking lot, their riders coming in for a bite to eat and a beer.  It isn’t unusual for Poopy’s to serve 800 to 1500 people in one day.  By the time we left, the parking lot was filled with bikes.

Bikes_outside

And that’s just the back parking lot.

Poopy’s Pub n’ Grub is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Check their web site for exact hours and location.

Thank you for reading Midwest Wanderer.  If you enjoyed this post and would like an e-mail notification when other posts are published, enter your e-mail address below and click Subscribe.  Be sure to click the link when you get the e-mail asking you to confirm. 


 

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Shawnee National Forest and Cave-in-Rock State Park: Southern Illinois Natural Beauty

Connie Attractions & Events, Illinois , , 0 Comment
Shawnee National Forest and Cave-in-Rock State Park: Southern Illinois Natural Beauty

Right now the ground is covered in a blanket of white, but it won’t be long before the first crocus of spring breaks through the Shawnee National Forest floor, the sun coaxing the little purple buds to open their petals into full bloom.  Trees will leaf out, shrubs will flower, and birds will sing sweet music as they return to their summer homes.  Although hiking the Shawnee National Forest in quiet winter solitude has its advantages, most people prefer to wait until the temperature rises to a comfortable level before leaving the warm comfort of home and come out to play.

I spent a couple of days in the Shawnee National Forest and adjacent Cave-in-Rock State Park last summer.  As I sorted through photos of the trip, I was reminded of the natural beauty of the area, the huge rock formations in the Garden of the Gods, the flora and fauna of the woods, the rippling sound of the creeks and river.  Enjoy the slideshow.

The Shawnee National Forest is located in Southern Illinois.  For information on activities and accommodations, visit the Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau web site.

Thank you for reading Midwest Wanderer.  If you enjoyed this post and would like an e-mail notification when other posts are published, enter your e-mail address below and click Subscribe.  Be sure to click the link when you get the e-mail asking you to confirm. 


 

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