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The State Journal-Register

partner publisher · 14.3K followers
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Annual squirrel bloodbath in Carlinville needs to stop | Opinion

Chicago has squirrels on the brain. Lincoln Park residents worry about a billionaire feeding luxury nuts to squirrels , but instead making for fat rats, while the intended recipients (so called rats with fluffy tails) gorge on macadamia nuts. Downstate squirrels have it much worse. Every winter Carlinville hosts a wildlife killing contest called “Squirrel Bowl.” But as of October, Carlinville has a new claim to fame as Hallmark has named it America’s “Merriest Christmas Town .” Hallmark celebrities descended on Carlinville for the surprise announcement. In addition to bragging rights, a Hallmark holiday movie will be filmed there in 2027. This will bring economic benefits to the region. However, it’s unlikely that Hallmark knew about the "Squirrel Bowl" when choosing Carlinville as “merriest.” More: Carlinville named Hallmark's Merriest Christmas Town Carlinville’s annual wildlife killing contest occurs before Super Bowl. It began in 2016, growing significantly with hundreds of hunters entering. Competitors hunt in teams. Youth and adult hunters participate. Squirrel Bowl awards prizes in categories based on criteria including dead squirrel weight. Prize categories include “Big Fox Squirrel winner” and “Big Gray Squirrel winner” for youth and adult hunters. The event raises money for charity. Squirrel Bowl isn’t unique.

Carlinville, IL · 3d

everafterinthewoods.com

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This Old-School Illinois Butcher Shop Still Cuts From Hanging Cattle And Makes Over 80 Sausages

A carved wooden pig head hands out your number at the door. That’s how your visit starts at one of the most beloved butcher counters in Illinois. The kitchen behind the counter turns out more than 80 kinds of sausages and brats. A smokehouse adds more than 10 kinds of homemade bacon to the lineup.

Chicago, IL · 4d
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takingthekids.com

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The Secret Illinois Buffet That Locals Try To Hide From Outsiders

A truck stop restaurant that started in 1928 as a garage selling sandwiches is still serving an all-you-can-eat buffet today. That alone deserves a second look. The buffet starts at 6 AM. Breakfast favorites, comfort-food classics, and rotating dishes fill the line, with a soup and salad station waiting nearby.

Illinois · 4d
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takingthekids.com

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Most Of These Old-School Steakhouses Closed Years Ago, But This Illinois One Still Serves T-Bones And A Full Buffet

A 16-ounce T-bone and an all-you-can-eat buffet still share the same menu at one Illinois interstate stop. Plenty of families thought that combo vanished along with the restaurants of their childhood. The chain behind it once dotted highways across the Midwest. Most of those locations closed years ago, so finding...

Illinois · 1d
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takemetotn.com

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This Unassuming Illinois Pizzeria Serves Sausage Pizza So Good It Should Almost Be Illegal

Anthony Bourdain called one pan pizza the only deep dish he ever loved. That pie still comes out of a small, homey pizzeria on a quiet suburban street in Illinois. The crust edge gets so dark and caramelized that it looks almost burnt. It isn’t. That crunchy, cheesy rim is the whole point, and the sausage on top is a house blend.

Illinois · 9d

Animal of Things

partner publisher · 22.3K followers

Dangerous Dog Breeds Banned in Illinois: What Is Actually Illegal

Explore amazing animal stories – visit Animal of Things Now and follow us! Dangerous dog breeds banned in Illinois is a question with a split answer. The state does not ban any dog breed outright, but a handful of towns still do, and one wolf-dog category is illegal everywhere in the state. That mix confuses a lot of owners. You can legally own a pit bull in Chicago, … This article, Dangerous Dog Breeds Banned in Illinois: What Is Actually Illegal , appeared first on Animal of Things . Discover more animal wonders – VISIT Animal of Things NOW AND FOLLOW US FOR FRESH UPDATES! Related Posts: • Dog Bite Liability Laws for Trick-or-Treaters in Wyoming: What Homeowners and Parents Should Know • Dog Tag Laws in Delaware: What Every Dog Owner Needs to Know • Unvaccinated Dog Bite Laws in Missouri: Quarantine, Liability, and Rabies Rules Explained

Illinois · 10d

familydestinationsguide.com

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This Unassuming Illinois Eatery Has Homemade Pies Locals Keep Talking About

Not every great restaurant announces itself with a marquee sign or a line around the block, and Blue Springs Cafe in Highland, Illinois is proof of that. It sits there quietly, doing its thing, while the people who know about it keep coming back and the people who don’t are missing out on something genuinely wonderful.

Highland, IL · 12d

takingthekids.com

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The Illinois Bulk Food Store Where Shoppers Find Dry Goods And Spices At Great Prices

Fresh hot donuts show up once a month at a little country grocery that also sells chicken feed and goat feed. That combo alone made me curious. Then I learned the shelves are stacked with bulk spices, flours, beans, and baking supplies. The store sits on a quiet rural road...

Fulton County, IL · 9d

familydestinationsguide.com

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These 7 Illinois Restaurants Serve Mexican Food So Good You’ll Say “Ay Caramba”

Ready to find the best Mexican food in Illinois without leaving the state?. These 7 restaurants serve bold flavors and satisfying meals that’ll keep you coming back for more!. 1. El Tragón Taquería (Chicago) The name “El Tragón” roughly means “the big eater” in Spanish, and honestly,...

Chicago, IL · 2d

unearththevoyage.com

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This Tiny Illinois Bakery Serves Flaky Danish Pastries So Authentic You’ll Swear You’re In Copenhagen

Some of the best bites in Illinois hide in places you would drive right past without a second look. I walked into a small, quiet bakery expecting a quick donut and walked out with a box of buttery Danish treats and a new weekend habit. The kind of flaky layers...

Burr Ridge, IL · 3d

TheDailyPour

partner publisher · 2.8K followers

THC Drinks Are Set to Be Removed From Illinois Liquor Stores This Week

Hemp-derived THC beverages containing more than 0.4 milligrams of total THC per container will be pulled from liquor stores and other traditional retail outlets in Illinois beginning Nov. 12, following the passage of a new state law that places tighter restrictions on intoxicating hemp products. The Illinois Hemp Act, signed by Gov. JB Pritzker in […]

Illinois · 1d

everafterinthewoods.com

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This Springfield, Illinois Chili Parlor Has Been Serving Joe Rogers’ Original Recipe For Decades

One heat level on the menu is called Firebrand, and finishing a bowl gets your name on the wall. That’s the kind of dare I can respect. The recipe behind it dates back to 1945. It has survived several owners and a move across town without changing. Nobody outside...

Springfield, IL · 10d

fastfoodclub.com

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These 6 Illinois Family Steakhouses Still Toss A Salad Bar In With Every Steak

Remember when a steak dinner came with a trip to the salad bar, and nobody had to pay extra for it? That tradition is still alive in a handful of Illinois towns, from Peoria to Pinckneyville. The six family-friendly steakhouses below pair real grilled steaks with salad bars you can...

Peoria, IL · 2d

everafterinthewoods.com

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Swedish Meatballs And Lingonberries Still Fill Plates At These 6 Illinois Old-World Restaurants

Lingonberries show up in lemonade and salad dressing at one of these spots. That tart little red berry clearly refuses to stay politely on the side of a pancake. I love that detail. Swedish meatballs and lingonberries are still on the menu across Illinois, from a historic prairie village to busy Chicago neighborhoods.

Illinois · 1d

fastfoodclub.com

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Seven Illinois Pizza Taverns Have Been Cutting Squares For Regulars Since The 7s

Ask anyone who grew up around Chicago how pizza should be sliced, and there is a good chance they will say squares, not triangles. Tavern-style pizza, with its cracker-thin crust and party-cut pieces, has been a neighborhood staple across Illinois for generations, and a handful of family-run spots have been serving it to the same loyal crowds for decades.

Chicago, IL · 1d

positivebloom.com

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Spiky Brown Balls Cover Illinois Sidewalks Every Fall And Almost Nobody Knows Which Tree Drops Them

Each spiky ball under your shoe holds dozens of tiny seed chambers, and every chamber has two little hooked beaks. I rolled one in my palm last October and counted more than forty points. No wonder it hurts. The same tree that drops them can keep raining them down from...

Illinois · 17h

967 The Eagle

partner publisher · 14.4K followers

Belvidere To Champaign, Illinois Barbecue Rivals Texas And Memphis

Illinois has some seriously good barbecue tucked away in small towns and Chicago neighborhoods, but most people don't realize it's even there.

Belvidere, IL · 6d

everafterinthewoods.com

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This Illinois Restaurant Serves Holiday Meals Beneath A Giant Christmas Tree

A Christmas tree stands right in the middle of a department store dining room, rising so high it nearly brushes the ceiling. People book tables months ahead just to eat lunch under it. The room itself dates back to 1907. The walls are covered in walnut paneling, and crystal chandeliers...

Chicago, IL · 2d

takingthekids.com

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From Cozy Tea Service To Historic Charm, This Illinois Church Hides A Special Tea Room

Lunch arrives on a three-tiered tower of real china, and the stained glass windows above your table once watched over a church congregation. That’s the setup at one little lunch spot in Illinois. The building is more than a century old. Old church benches still serve as seating, and...

Illinois · 3d

WROK 1440 AM / 96.1 FM

partner publisher · 37.3K followers

12 Illinois Restaurants Land On OpenTable's Top 100 In America For 2026

Twelve Illinois spots landed on OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2026, and every one of them sits right here in Chicago.

Illinois · 23h