La Salle-Peru, Illinois
On the other hand, everybody at the bar in Monari’s 101 Club (101 First St., La Salle, 815-223-0101) possessed the other qualities of people in small towns–they were friendly and conversational. Located next to the railroad tracks by the Illinois River, Monari’s is a restaurant as well; some say it has the best food in town, or towns.
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Located near the house where D.T. Suzuki lived during his 11 years in La Salle and in front of the fully functioning Carus Chemical factory, the Hegeler Carus Mansion (1307 Seventh St., La Salle, 815-224-6543, www.hegelercarus.org) is just a short drive from Starved Rock. The house’s restoration is far from finished: the paint is chipped and the walls behind the urns on the small landings that flank the front stairway are mottled, yet this adds to its dramatic effect. This place is not just a museum–it’s a real home reflecting the real effects of the passage of time.
–Jeffrey Felshman
