Compiled by Jon Weaving – jweaving@illinoisouth.org
ILLINOISouth is proud to announce some exciting new things that have opened in our area
Belleville
With the recent additions of Bennie’s Pizza Pub and Copper Fire Eatery, downtown Belleville continues to prove itself a true destination for the Metro East. The establishments join an ever-growing list of locally-owned restaurants and shops in the heart of the largest city south of Springfield.
Bennie’s Pizza Pub features salads, pizza by the slide, and a signature Bloody Mary during a “Sunday Funday” brunch. Copper Fire Eatery is the first restaurant in the area to use Unox ovens, which are considered “cutting edge” and work by circulating heat and introducing steam to facilitate the cooking process. Both locations have patio seating and plan regularly-scheduled live music. For all things happening on Belleville Maint Street, visit bellevillemainstreet.net.
From Midwest to Old West
A 54-acre, Western-themed campground opened in Grayville right off I-64. The site features: Rest Up Camping & RV Corral, the Westwood Saloon and Frontier Adventure Golf. The venue provides campers and visitors with a family-oriented, safe, entertaining, and well-maintained location to enjoy. For more information, visit http://restupcampingandrvcorral.com
Lively in Lebanon
After moving to O’Fallon in 2015, Fezziwig’s Marketplace made a triumphant return to Lebanon. Their new boutique store, located at 215 West St. Louis Street, will focus on their well-known loose leaf teas, tea accessories, balsamic vinegars, extra virgin olive oils and their signature private-label gourmet foods. Private-label chocolate and a curated selection of kitchen decor and accessories will also be available.
According to owners Tim and Ellen Moore, “So many of our customers in Lebanon, Clinton County and the Highland area commented how much they missed us in Lebanon. We always considered opening a smaller version of our [O’Fallon} store. We feel the space is ideal for our boutique concept and the timing is right.” Visit www.fezziwigsmarket.com for more information on both locations.
Another big advancement in Lebanon is the Cobblestone Eatery and Drinkery, located at 115 W. St. Louis Street. The restaurant is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with bar hours extending until 2:00 a.m. The menu includes an assortment of classic items with modern twists. For more information, call (618) 808-0330 or visit them on Facebook.
New Leaf, New Lawrenceville
New Leaf in Lawrenceville is a destination like no other! Located at 1215 State Street, the multi-faceted complex contains: New Leaf Fitness, The Mandarin Spa, COCO’s Cafe & Wine Bar, The Salon at New Leaf and The Barn at New Leaf.
The Barn at New Leaf is the area’s premier event space. It is a rustic, yet elegant, change from the ordinary event venue. It features beautiful re-purposed barn wood, clear wine bottle chandeliers suspended from vaulted ceilings, and reclaimed barn beams that tie everything together. The venue also has a romantically lit outdoor patio, complete with a trio of serene wall fountains. Events are catered by COCO’s Cafe & Wine Bar, which sits adjacent to The Barn in the New Leaf Complex. To book your next event, contact (618) 707-2400.
The World Recreational and Shooting Complex in Sparta has re-opened to the public two days a week! On Wednesdays from noon to dusk, visitors can shoot in the organization’s Berm building located on the south side of the Pistol Berm. Open public Sporting Clay Shooting is available from noon to dusk on Thursdays, and Sporting Trap Shooting is available from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays as well.
The Complex is currently working with organized groups to utilize the shooting aspect of the facility. If you are interested in hosting an organized event, whether it has a shooting component or not, please contact their main office at (618) 295-2700 ext. 304, Monday – Friday, from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport was recognized as the 2018 Primary Airport of the Year by the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics. The Airport was chosen based on their cooperation and coordination with IDOT’s Division of Aeronautics, safety record, service to the local community, and general maintenance of the airport’s facility.
Airport Director Tim Cantwell said, “My staff and I are extremely proud to be selected as airport of the year and are excited that the passengers we serve now have one more reason to feel good about flying MidAmerica.”
The airport now offers direct flights to nine major cities: Destin/Fort Walton Beach, FL; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Fort Myers/Punta Gorda, FL; Jacksonville, FL; Las Vegas, NV; Myrtle Beach, SC; Orlando/Sanford, FL; Phoenix/Mesa, AZ; Tampa/St. Pete, FL. For more information, visit www.flymidamerica.com or www.allegiant.com.
The Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Alliance recently announced that Illinois-grown Rose is the official wine of the Illinois Bicentennial. In order to be selected, the wines had to meet both quality and stylistic goals. Each wine went through a quality assurance evaluation process to be chosen. Congratulations to Hidden Lake Winery in Aviston and Twelve Oaks Winery in Carlyle for having their Rose wines chosen in the first round of selection. Check illinois200.com for more information.
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