Early on in the pandemic shutdown, North Utica wholeheartedly embraced socially distant outdoor dining. As soon as restaurants were permitted to serve patrons outdoors, the village closed off downtown Mill Street (the main thoroughfare that runs through the cute one-block dining and shopping district) and converted the space into a spectacular multi-restaurant al fresco dining destination.
You'll find appealing dining and drinking attractions such as Lodi Tap House, Skoogs Pub and Grill, Canal Port, Joy and Ed's, Pizzeria Vitale and the popular August Hill Winery tasting room, all located on a single block of Mill Street.
Lodi, a second location of Maple Park's popular craft beer and burger bar, is fully embracing the summertime barbecue aesthetic. They're serving up a uniquely Illinois-focused menu of craft beers and artisan burgers on a large artificial grass lawn.
If you're a fan of wings, local mainstay Skoogs can't be missed. At any given moment, its menu features more than 10 flavors of delicious breaded options.
If the lack of art shows, garage sales and craft fairs is getting you down, be sure to pay a visit to nearby La Salle County Historical Society's Canal Market. Held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Sunday, the market is a celebration of all things antique, collectible, homemade and home grown.
Located a short walk from Mill Street's dining and shopping block, nestled on the banks of the historic I&M Canal, you'll find the rustic-chic Canal Market building. The former lumber yard building provides the perfect open-air setting for browsing the works of some of Starved Rock Country's best artists, artisans, bakers, growers and antiquarians.
You'll find quality antiques and collectibles, food, textiles, used books and plants being sold by dozens of passionate vendors every weekend. For more information on the great event, and to get a sneak peek at some of the vendors you can expect to see at the show, visit the LCHS Canal Market page on Facebook.
Keep your eyes peeled for the Starved Rock Country Facebook page, where we'll be posting the latest on several of Utica's exciting upcoming events. We'll keep you up to date on plans for the Craft Beer Fest, a special Labor Day market and, of course, the 51st annual Burgoo Festival, the village's signature event celebrating the legendary stew.
The LCHS Canal Market is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays through September at the La Salle County Historical Society Museum grounds on Route 178. For more information, email events.lchs@gmail.com or call 815-343-5780, or visit utica-il.gov.