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First Ever Rockford Fringe Festival is Happening! Free Event for the Community

Rockford Buzz

Rockford Buzz

Posted On: June 13, 2022

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A new festival is coming to the Rockford area this July! The Fringe Festival will host local artists, performers, and more for you to explore and experience in the outdoor setting of Walker Park. Get all the details at their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RockfordFringeFestival

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A Historic Nickname!

Rockford, Illinois got its nickname "Reaper City" back in the 19th century. In short, the story goes a little something like this: John H. Manny put Rockford on the map and kick-started our industrial revolution with his invention, the Manny Reaper. 🚜 This led to a major legal battle over patent rights, and guess who showed up in Rockford to work the case? None other than Abraham Lincoln! 🤩 This was possibly the only time Honest Abe ever visited our city. This case is also how he met his future Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton.Fun fact: Stanton wasn't very nice to Lincoln at first, but Lincoln was never one to hold a grudge. 😉So, let’s celebrate our rich history and the innovations that shaped our community—and maybe even helped win the Civil War! 🌟 You can see the Manny Reaper featured in this video at Midway Village Museum and learn more of the story from their incredible staff!

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A Rockford Patio Classic at Olympic Tavern

A Rockford Patio Classic at Olympic Tavern

It's time for a Rockford patio classic, the Olympic Tavern! Located at 2327 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61103, the Olympic Tavern has been a Rockford staple for 80 years. A large patio with covered and open areas to suit everyone's preferences means you can't go wrong with summer dining.We started with a couple of beverages, one being a fun peach special, No Crying in Baseball, is perfect for summer sipping. It has white sangria with riesling, peach nectar, Stoli Citros vodka, ginger ale, and lemon juice, and peach rings for garnish. With a massive beer and cocktail list, you can enjoy hours of summer sun with your refreshment of choice.Next up, an appetizer! Volcano Shrimp are flour-dusted shrimp tossed in creamy Thai chili sauce, over napa cabbage & jicama slaw. This generous portion of slightly sweet and spicy shrimp is a great shareable for 2 or a light meal for 1. The slaw is a light crunchy salad that compliments the shrimp nicely. The shrimp is tail off and ready to pop in your mouth.We ended with the Prime Rib Sandwich, an 8oz prime rib grilled with provolone, horseradish cream, and onions on a toasted Turano hoagie roll with fries. This beast of a sandwich won't leave you hungry! It requires two hands to support this delicious sandwich, prepared to medium temp and towering with onions and fries on the side. Served with a steak knife to cut as needed, you can easily share this or keep the glory all to yourself. The prime rib was prepared perfectly because this was still a sandwich you could sink your teeth into and eat comfortably.Get out this summer and enjoy a classic patio experience. You can bring your (well behaved) pups on Monday to make it a family affair! See you there, Rockford!

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Love Your Mental 2024

Come on out to this year’s Love Your Mental Event, organized by Lesly Chittavong! 🌟 This fantastic event will showcase both traditional and nontraditional mental health resources, supporting the Tommy Corral Memorial Foundation (TCMF) with 100% of the entry fees. Plus, the first 75 guests will get a free tote bag! 🎉Love Your Mental is a wonderful opportunity to explore the various mental health resources available in Rockford. From traditional to alternative therapies for all ages, you'll also find local artists and businesses that support mental health awareness. Expect local non-profits, dog therapy, retail therapy, art therapy, massage therapy, live music, food trucks, and much more. They’ve raised over $3,000 for mental health awareness at past events, and this year’s event promises to be even bigger and better, creating an inclusive, family-friendly atmosphere with free mental health resources and interactive vendors.Love Your Mental is this Sunday, July 28th, from 11 am to 5 pm at the IBEW 364 Henry Miller Hall on Mill Rd! I hope to see you all there! 💚

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Summer Dining at Franchesco's Ristorante

Summer Dining at Franchesco's Ristorante

Sometimes you want a fancy feel with your summer patio dining. Franchesco's Ristorante, located at 7128 Spring Creek Rd, Rockford, IL 61107, is serving up summer patio dining with some serious style.  The manicure patio has beautiful landscaping and a fountain to bring your date night that romantic flair, while still enjoying the summer breeze. Part of the patio is covered to offer protection from the sun, or a surprise summer rainfall. Enjoy white table clothe dining under the roof, or a more traditional patio set up in the open air.Do not, I repeat, do not skip the bread basket. You're welcome.  We started with Linguine Charlie: 6 Garlic encrusted Shrimp, tossed with Olive Oil, Garlic, Red Pepper, and Romano Cheese. This seemingly simple dish is loaded with stunning flavor and perfectly prepped shrimp. The garlic shines as the star of this plate and pairs perfectly with the red pepper and olive oil sauce. With perfect al dente linguine, this is a fast favorite.Next up, the classic Chicken Parmesan: Jumbo Chicken Breast pan fried, with Mozzarella and Pomodoro. Served with Penne. Jumbo is no understatement, this chicken breast is a protein motherload that is pan fried to perfection, layered with mozzarella, and dripping in red Pomodoro sauce. This classic is a crowd pleaser that comes to the table in delicious perfection every time. The chicken is juicy, the sauce is generous, and the penne adds that carb balance. This dish transports you to Grandma's kitchen and warms your soul.No matter what you order at Frachesco's, you cannot go wrong. The menu is full of stunning flavors and for the rest of the season you can enjoy them and summer at the same time! See you on the patio, Rockford!

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Easy Tiger is Now a Brick & Mortar!

Easy Tiger is Now a Brick & Mortar!

Tour de Patio trucks along as we explored food truck turned brick and mortar Easy Tiger! With garage doors opening up to a spacious patio, pull up a chair, order a delicious meal, and soak up the sun.Easy Tiger opened up with a fun drink menu with plenty of spicy and fruity flavors to give you that tropical island feel. The fresh garnish and spicy rims take these drinks to a new level.After you order a beverage, make sure to explore the food menu! We tried the Pork Nachos and...wow. These piled high nachos have all your favorite toppings and sweet and savory pulled pork. This is a table shareable, or a meal for our nacho fanatics out there. The veggies were fresh, and the pork was tender and delicious. You can add this pork to plenty of options on the menu, and we recommend doing just that. The flavor is one you can't get enough of!Easy Tiger also boasts an Asian flair, so we had to tried the classic fried rice. We opted for shrimp this time, which was cooked to perfection and generously portioned. The fried rice itself is out of this world! The salty sweet medley is different than your average take out and will have you clamoring for the next bite! This is a classic dish with Easy Tiger's signature twist.Add Easy Tiger to your Tour de Patio, and we'll see you there Rockford!

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Best Tattoo Parlor in the 815

Best Tattoo Parlor in the 815

In honor of National Tattoo Day on July 17th, we're celebrating the incredible tattoo artists in our community! 🎉🖤 Whether you have a collection of tattoos or are just a fan of the art, we want to know: which local tattoo parlor is your favorite.Vote for the best local tattoo parlor below!

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Special Brownie at Pig Minds Brewing Co.

Special Brownie at Pig Minds Brewing Co.

Tour de Patio continues with Pig Minds Brewing Co., located at 4080 Steele Dr., Machesney Park, IL 61115. With cafe lights and vines decorating the patio, this one is serving up good food with a fun vibe.  You can't go to Pig Minds Brewing Co. and not get a craft beer! Pick your flavor and sip on a hot summer day. Don't forget they have a full bar, so order a margarita or anything your heart desires!We started with a crowd favorite, the Sweet Hot Brussels Sprouts: crispy brussel sprouts in an agave sriracha sauce. Sweet and hot is right, these have the perfect balance of both flavors to make eating your vegetables a fun treat. Marked as a favorite for a reason, this generous portion is enough to share with the whole table, because everyone will want some!Next up, the Hawaiian BBQ Pizza: smokey BBQ sauce topped with caramelized pineapple, smoked maple soy curls, red onion, mozzarella, cheddar cheeze, & smokey bbq drizzle. Handmade to order, the vegan pizzas at Pig Minds Brewing Co. are delicious. The hand tossed crust is fluffy on the inside, and provides a stable base for the toppings above. We believe all pizza toppings are created equal, even pineapple, which added a sweetness to this delicious pizza. #justiceforpineapple We couldn't leave without dessert! We ordered the Special Brownie: a warm chocolate brownie drizzled with chocolate syrup and peanut butter sauce. This vegan treat is served warm and is the perfect shareable size (or not, we never judge). The peanut butter drizzle really made this brownie out of this world.Grab a local craft beer and a special brownie out on the patio this summer at Pig Minds Brewing Co. See you there, Rockford!

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Dock Dining at Tad's on the Rock

Dock Dining at Tad's on the Rock

If you haven't noticed the theme yet this summer, it's all about patio dining! One of Rockford's favorite dock dining experiences is Tad's on the Rock, located at 10 E Riverside Blvd, Loves Park, IL 61111. Whether you arrive by land or water, you can enjoy beautiful river views and classic summer flavors.We started with the Western Burger, a 1/4 pound patty loaded with onion, cheddar cheese, bacon, and BBQ sauce; served on a buttered and toasted bun with the most perfectly cooked french fries around, or side of your choice. The burger was prepared to medium temperature and the flavors and textures blended perfectly. The crispy bacon made this burger easy to eat.  Next up, the classic Pork Chop Sandwich. With all the classics fixins, this larger-than-bun summer favorite is as fun to eat as it is delicious. All the veggies were fresh, and the patty was crispy fried to perfection. Also served with a side of your choice, we took this opportunity to have even more french fries.  These beauties are fried crispy but soft inside. Never soggy. Tossed in salt prior to hitting your table, these bad boys are worth the trip alone.With regular drink specials, an awesome live music schedule, and river views, you can't go wrong at Tad's on the Rock. See you there, Rockford!

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Inferno Clay Studio Needs Your Help

🔥🎨 Inferno Clay Studio is putting the fun in fundraising! Join Alyssa and Emily at RealBeautifulYOU, LLC for a night of fun! 🎉 This in-person event is your chance to support their journey as they build Inferno, a space where Ceramic artists can gather, create, and even display their pieces. 🏺✨ They'll be sharing more updates, selling highly discounted pottery from our founders, hosting a silent auction, and running a 50/50 raffle! 🎟️🤑You can purchase tickets to the fundraiser at www.eventbrite.com/e/inferno-clay-studio-fundraising-extravaganza-tickets-896551929957 🎫

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Free Water Ski Show!

🎉🌊 Hey Rockford! 🌊🎉Come on down and watch your very own Loves Park Ski Broncs for an amazing, free, unforgettable experience! The Ski Broncs put on spectacular shows every Wednesday and Friday night at 7 pm at Shorewood Park from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. 🎪 This year's theme is circus, and every night brings something new with this ever-changing show. 🤡🎭This dedicated team, made up of people of all ages, loves bringing the community together with Learn-to-Ski and Adaptive Ski events, as well as local clean-ups. 🏆 They also host regional and national tournaments!Their show is an experience you won’t want to miss. I’ll see you there at Shorewood Park! 🌟👀

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Summer Line Up at RVC Starlight Theatre

Summer Line Up at RVC Starlight Theatre

Food is not the highlight of this week's review, instead, it's the outstanding line up at RVC Starlight Theatre!The summer session at Starlight Theatre has begun and we had to check out the first show, Legally Blonde, for ourselves! Returning in August, this is one to see and share with friends.There isn't a bad seat in the house at Starlight Theater. With stadium seating you never have to worry about an obstructed view, and the intimate setting gives you a great view of the stage no matter your seat.Legally Blonde follows Elle, a fashion major turned law student as she pursues love and finds herself along the way. The Director, Clarissa Dahlhauser, has this to say, "This musical asks us to check our initial (often judgemental) perceptions of others, and in the same breath, find our own self-confidence in who we know that we can be despite other's clouded perceptions of us and our capabilities. It's for everyone that's ever felt judged, felt self-conscious in their chosen field or identity, felt pressure to be something they were not, and to anyone that's ever been told, 'you will never make it'."The sets are stunning and detailed, really transporting you to each scene. The highlight of this show was truly the people involved. Elle, played by Chanel Black, was truly inspirational, with a voice that enchanted the whole audience. The Delta Nu girls kept cheering our main character along her journey with fun songs that will keep your toe tapping. Every crew member hit their mark during incredibly tough choreography that left us completely impressed.  If you are a fan of the movie, you'll love this stage rendition which didn't miss a beat. We got Paulette's charming side story and were endeared by the furry cast members.If this show is setting up the rest of the Starlight Theater season, we are in for a summer filled with excellent performances and great entertainment!Don't miss the rest of the season, featuring Guys and Dolls, The Color Purple, Disney's Newsies, and Disney's Beauty and the Beast.See you there, Rockford!

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🎶silly moments with Emma!🎶

🎬 Oops, I did it again! 🎬I've had so many silly outtakes recently that I just had to drop another blooper reel! 🤣🎥 It's a good reminder that behind every perfect take, there's a ton of funny moments and awkward pauses. And this has been 🎶silly moments with Emma!🎶

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Welcome To The Forest City!

Hey Rockford! 🌟 Ever wondered why we're called the "Forest City"? I mean, we've got some trees and lots of gardens... but back in 1853, our city was covered end-to-end with trees. 🌲🍃 I dug into how we earned our nickname and discovered where all our trees went. Curious? Check out the full story in the video! 📹💚

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The BMO Invites You!!

🎉 SCREW CITY BLOCK PARTY 🎉OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, ALL ARE WELCOME!FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 20244:30PM - 6:30PMELM STREET AT THE BMO CENTERCome out and enjoy Downtown Rockford before two big comedy shows, Shane Gillis and Kevin James, happening at two venues on this very same night! No ticket is required to attend the pre-show block party. Show tickets are required to attend the shows.ABOUT SCREW CITY BLOCK PARTY:👕 Free Screw City Block Party T-shirts (while supplies last)🍕 Delicious cuisine by Rustic Oven Wood Fire Pizza, Wehpah Puerto Rican Food Truck, D&A Concessions, and drink samples (while supplies last)🎨 Custom caricatures by Roger Hurtado💎 Permanent jewelry by Get Sparked Chicago📻 Live Radio Remote by 97ZOK🎉 Fun activities, games, dancing, and photobooths by Expressions 360🎁 Giveaways for future shows, items from Rockford Art Deli, and so much more!Follow the BMO Center and Coronado Theatre on Facebook for updates! 📲✨

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Tikka Masala at House of India Restaurant

Tikka Masala at House of India Restaurant

When I think of spice, I instantly think of Indian food. While the spice that traditional Indian dishes are famous for adds a ton of flavor and life, it doesn't always mean heat. Even those with a milder temperature tolerance can enjoy the beautiful tastes of House of India, located at 6430 E Riverside Blvd, Loves Park, IL 61111.Levels of spiciness are controlled by chilis, which can easily be added to or omitted from recipes. At House of India, they have three levels to choose from: mild, medium, and hot.We ordered two entrees: Tandoori Chicken and Lamb Tikka Masala; as well as the accompanying sides: Saffron Rice and Garlic Naan.Tandoori chicken is marinated in yogurt and spices in a tandoor (clay oven). While this ranked mild on the spice level, the spices used to marinate the chicken were phenomenal. The chicken was cooked so tender that it practically fell off the bone and the flavor is just delicious. Who knew yogurt could be a marinade and nail the job?! Served piping hot with a large lemon wedge and on a bed of onions, this is a dish that can please the whole table.We decided on the Lamb Tikka Masala because it is a fan favorite. The dish is bite-sized pieces of lamb in a spiced curry sauce. The curry is creamy and orange-red. This is where the saffron rice comes in! You ladle the Tikka Masala over the rice and create your own dish. I ordered the medium spice, and I feel like this is safe for milder temperature tolerances (unless you let leftovers sit and marinate for 24 hours). I will definitely be ordering this hot next time. I can't get enough of spicy food and I think this dish can only get better with additional heat!Let's talk about the Naan... You are in for a treat! House of India has multiple flavors of Naan, and you definitely want to order some for the table (or yourself) to enjoy. It arrives at the table freshly prepared and so wonderfully warm.No matter what you choose from their extensive menu, it is sure to please! Step out of your box and try something new!

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