05-30-2009, 08:48 AM
I didn't know about this. Would have loved to have gone. Anyway, you can't buy publicity like this. It's a start. 
![[Image: crawl1.jpeg_20090529_22_55_35_57-116-165.imageContent]](http://media1.suburbanchicagonews.com/multimedia/crawl1.jpeg_20090529_22_55_35_57-116-165.imageContent)
Restaurant crawlers spread out fun in downtown Waukegan
Comments
May 30, 2009
By JUDY MASTERSON <!-- e --><a href="mailto:JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM">JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM</a><!-- e -->
WAUKEGAN -- The ladies were from out of town. They were visiting from the sales-tax-happy suburbs, and they liked what they were seeing, and tasting, in downtown Waukegan.
"You feel very welcome here," said Elke Friedman, a member of the Rotary Club of Northbrook, who came with about 20 other Rotarians to the downtown Restaurant Crawl sponsored Friday by Waukegan Main Street.
Wine and Art Stroll
Waukegan Main Street will host Waukegan Wine and Art Stroll from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 26.
Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Call (847) 249-7530.
This was Friedman's second trip to Waukegan. She once boated with a friend out of Waukegan Harbor and enjoyed a meal at the "lovely" Yacht Club.
"It will go up," predicted Friedman on the future of the city's downtown. "Everyone's so friendly. And what a location. The lake is so beautiful."
Friedman and her friends were enjoying spring rolls, spicy crab Rangoon and fried rice at Fong's, 36 N. Genesee St., one of five eateries featured during the crawl.
Both crawlers and regular diners came out after daytime showers stopped. It was cool and sunny by the time the crawlers hit Genesee Street at 5:30 p.m.
"It rained all afternoon and I had my doubts, but I'm glad I'm here," said Gary Munda of Beach Park, who was relaxing with family at an upstairs bar at Bistro Amalfi, 17 N. Genesee, where eaters raved about the stuffed shrimp.
"I hope this catches on," said Betty Munda, Gary's wife. "It's a great way to get to know the downtown businesses, and you always run into people you know."
Greentown Tavern, 110 S. Genesee, served Teriyaki chicken and Italian beef.
Joplin's Java Cafe, 114 S. Genesee, new to the crawl, served gourmet coffee, cheesecake and cream puffs.
"We want to be involved in everything that gets the word out that we exist," said owner Alice Alviani, who, along with partner Mark MacLeod, also runs the adjoining Family Piano Co.
"People come in and they're astonished not only that we exist, but that it's a classy, beautiful place," she said.
Crawlers, who could also stop in for entertainment at the Genesee Theatre, Juz Jokin comedy club, and Joplin's Friday night jazz show, were treated to shuttle service compliments of the Waukegan Port District. Driver Jamie O'Meara, an accountant for the district and a member of Waukegan Main Street, spoke of her fond memories of the bustling Waukegan of her childhood.
"I just have such high hopes for the city," she said.
Waukegan Mayor Robert Sabonjian, out with his wife, Joanne, was discussing an idea for a lakefront music festival with Gurnee business owner/Waukegan resident Jerry Sullivan.
"Anything that brings people to town and they're having fun while there here is the best public relations you can get," Sabonjian said. "That's what Waukegan has to do. We have to show people that we're a good community, that we have a safe downtown and that you can come here to have fun."
Restaurant crawlers spread out fun in downtown Waukegan
Comments
May 30, 2009
By JUDY MASTERSON <!-- e --><a href="mailto:JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM">JMASTERSON@SCN1.COM</a><!-- e -->
WAUKEGAN -- The ladies were from out of town. They were visiting from the sales-tax-happy suburbs, and they liked what they were seeing, and tasting, in downtown Waukegan.
"You feel very welcome here," said Elke Friedman, a member of the Rotary Club of Northbrook, who came with about 20 other Rotarians to the downtown Restaurant Crawl sponsored Friday by Waukegan Main Street.
Wine and Art Stroll
Waukegan Main Street will host Waukegan Wine and Art Stroll from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 26.
Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Call (847) 249-7530.
This was Friedman's second trip to Waukegan. She once boated with a friend out of Waukegan Harbor and enjoyed a meal at the "lovely" Yacht Club.
"It will go up," predicted Friedman on the future of the city's downtown. "Everyone's so friendly. And what a location. The lake is so beautiful."
Friedman and her friends were enjoying spring rolls, spicy crab Rangoon and fried rice at Fong's, 36 N. Genesee St., one of five eateries featured during the crawl.
Both crawlers and regular diners came out after daytime showers stopped. It was cool and sunny by the time the crawlers hit Genesee Street at 5:30 p.m.
"It rained all afternoon and I had my doubts, but I'm glad I'm here," said Gary Munda of Beach Park, who was relaxing with family at an upstairs bar at Bistro Amalfi, 17 N. Genesee, where eaters raved about the stuffed shrimp.
"I hope this catches on," said Betty Munda, Gary's wife. "It's a great way to get to know the downtown businesses, and you always run into people you know."
Greentown Tavern, 110 S. Genesee, served Teriyaki chicken and Italian beef.
Joplin's Java Cafe, 114 S. Genesee, new to the crawl, served gourmet coffee, cheesecake and cream puffs.
"We want to be involved in everything that gets the word out that we exist," said owner Alice Alviani, who, along with partner Mark MacLeod, also runs the adjoining Family Piano Co.
"People come in and they're astonished not only that we exist, but that it's a classy, beautiful place," she said.
Crawlers, who could also stop in for entertainment at the Genesee Theatre, Juz Jokin comedy club, and Joplin's Friday night jazz show, were treated to shuttle service compliments of the Waukegan Port District. Driver Jamie O'Meara, an accountant for the district and a member of Waukegan Main Street, spoke of her fond memories of the bustling Waukegan of her childhood.
"I just have such high hopes for the city," she said.
Waukegan Mayor Robert Sabonjian, out with his wife, Joanne, was discussing an idea for a lakefront music festival with Gurnee business owner/Waukegan resident Jerry Sullivan.
"Anything that brings people to town and they're having fun while there here is the best public relations you can get," Sabonjian said. "That's what Waukegan has to do. We have to show people that we're a good community, that we have a safe downtown and that you can come here to have fun."