You know you're from Peoria if... (Sterling, Washington: hotel, new home, casino)

[linicx]

Originally Posted by boomster

I've heard mention of "Big Al's" a few folks have told me it's one of the finest strip bars they've ever been in....any details or reviews???

There were better strip joints before Big Al's, but that was before Main Street got to be the hot spot in town.

[BearCubbie]

You remember KZ93.3 radio station
-What was the name to the popular morning D.J.?

I think you should add
--As a child, going to see the Bergner's talking Christmas tree was a highlight of your Christmas.
and
--You're the lonly one who know that the Peoria Santa Claus Parade is the longest running parade in the country.

--You swear the legal drinking age is 15.

[runninfiend]

[quote=BearCubbie;3503135]You remember KZ93.3 radio station
-What was the name to the popular morning D.J.?

Gary Olson! (Olsen?)

[Doglover5]

BearCubbie - I was thinking the exact same thing about the Christmas parade, and I most certainly remember talking to that tree in the Bergner's kids department.

[redhotneongal74]

How about (some of these are more personal)...you know you're from Peoria if:
--(before the ban) fun on Friday and Saturday night was cruising up and down Main Street between the old Steak and Shake, (turn around), cruise in front of Bradley to scam on guys (or girls, whatever your taste!) and then turn around at the Hardees on Western...rinse and repeat this pattern for several hours until curfew...and speaking of Hardees
--you know what Hardees is (and crave Mushroom and Swiss burgers and Cinnamon Raisin biscuits when you are away from home)
-- (OK....you know you're from Dunlap if..) you remember Pioneer Jr High before this new-fangled Dunlap Middle School was built
-- going to Chicago is a twice a year trip...once with the school on a field trip to a Musuem and once with the family to 6 Flags
--you remember when there were stores downtown! Sears downtown, Bergners downtown, Szolds downtown(going way back!)
--you remember the fun of Detweiler Park when the model airplane crew would put on amateur shows
--you get the warm fuzzies at Christmas when looking at the East Peoria side and see the giant Christmas wreath on the hill
--you hear people refer to Route 88 and you know they are talking about Knoxville Ave (nka Rt 40)
-- you crave Lou's root beer at Lou's Drive In (although I've heard it's not as good as it used to be)
--you remember how fun it was to drive on Route 6 for the first time after it was completed (OK so that fun wore off after the first drive!)
--you remember the batting cages that used to be on the site of the current Dairy Queen on north Knoxville....how fun was it to hit some balls and then get ice cream at Frosty's next door (also no longer)
--part of holiday fun was driving through Grandview Drive during Christmas time to see all the beautiful homes decked out in their holiday best
-- you remember the Beverly Theater.....remember? on Knoxville? speaking of theaters..
-- you remember the Drive In Theaters (one in Pioneer Park...one in Pekin)
-- Godfather's pizza is the best pizza in town (in your opinion of course!)
--Stage 2 was the best thing for teens to hit Peoria since sliced bread! (is it still called Stage 2?)
-- the best fried chicken in town was Famous Recipe...not this KFC stuff!
-- when you go to Chicago, you freak out at the confusing tolls and go through the open road tolls instead of paying the cashier! (tribute to my parents) or when going through the tolls during your first drive to Chicago without the parents, you tried to be cool and throw your change in, miss the basket, cry for a couple of minutes with horns honking at you, then your boyfriend (who was driving behind you because you were scared to drive to Chicago all by yourself for the first time) come up, looks at you with an exasperated look, casually tosses in a couple of coins and at long last the gate rises and you are free to pass! Thank God for I-Pass now!

[mfrerkes]

How about this one...

You know you're from Peoria if you have memorized the lyrics to every single Dan Fogelberg hit.

[jwhittak]

Oh yeah...I forgot about those batting cages at the Dairy Queen location!

[lilamint]

This whole thread just brought back a whole stream of childhood memories =) Thanks!

[Granny Sue]

Very cool list....
Is the restaurant built with train cars still there?
Vonachan's Junction I believe?

How about Jummers?

And yes I cruised main.
Dan Folgerburgs dad was my band director.
I delivered papers to Richard Pryors mother.

I believe that the streets downtown are in order of the Presidents? You could always tell how far you were from the River as to what street you were on.

I also played a few games of Mud Volleyball down there too.

Course I've been gone since 82...Go Limestone Rockets! Class of 80.

[linicx]

Nope, the grandson of some very weathly fellow in Europe bought the whole Vonachon's corner and tore everyting out. He's building, or did build a new motel and shops or ???? there. Jumer's Castle Lodge was purchased by Mariott Hotels. I don't then they still food. Jim Jumer opened a hotel and casino in the Quad Cities.

Yup! I say you remember Peoria very well.