We’ve been to Julie’s Corner Store in Lacon a couple of times since I started the MBIP blog. One time was a “Shop Hop” post and the other was when we stopped by last Christmas. We’re overdue for a visit there and since I have the night off from work, I’m going to do something there I’ve never had the chance to do—drink wine! Julie’s has a special wine area and I’ve always wanted to hang out there and sample some wine. I’ve never drank wine on any blog I’ve ever done, so this is a first! To the MBIP Mobile!
It's another gray, sunshineless day and that's okay with me. To quote Mick and Keef, "The sunshine bores the daylights outta me."
Yikes, I always forget about this bridge that leads into Lacon, it's a short bridge but one I still hate to drive over...
Aaaahhhh!
Okay, through the magic of the internet you're spared me slowing down to about 10 MPH and driving white-knuckled over that thing and having a mini anxiety attack. But that "Fudge" sign over there makes me feel better, we're here! Let's go park and start today's adventure.
This is one of the coolest stores anywhere, if you haven't checked it out, you really should...hey, speaking of checking something out, look at the sign, "Welcome MBIP," well, how cool is that? Julie really knows how to roll out the old welcome mat!
Let's go in and see what's happening inside.
Here we are, the store looks great as always, let's take a little look around in here.
Here's some slabs of Julie's award-winning fudge that's made fresh on the premises daily in the front counter.
There's all kind of fun things in here from cards and picture frames...
To stuffed animals and...
Activity pads and crafty stuff for kids to have fun with.
I love these one-of-a-kind signs! My favorite is: "Life's A Bitch—Some Days It Has Puppies." Ha! you won't find that at the mall or at the evil Wal-Mart.
Easter's coming up this Sunday and Julie's got Easter baskets and fresh salt water taffy for just a buck a bag!
And here she is, Julie herself holding a chocolate Easter Bunny.
They have a coffee bar up in the front of the store and as you can see by the chalk board, there's a lot of flavors to sample in here.
Here's Colleen and Trudy who were enjoying some coffee in a nook near the back of the store. They told me they come here for the coffee and for The Turtles. The Turtles? I knew Herman's Hermits played nearby recently, but who knew The Turtles were in town!
But we're not here to drink coffee, we're here to drink something I've never drank on a blog before, wine! Clear the field, a man's going to do some drinking!
There's Julie at the wine bar in the back of the store. Isn't that a cool little bar? Julie's husband Mike made it from scratch, you know, I think it's time we met Mike...
Whoomp, there he is alongside Julie! Mike's been working to get The Coffee Hub ready for opening. It's a Coffee Shop that's going to open soon just down the road. Stay tuned for details on that!
Here's Julie pouring the first glass of wine. Wine tastings here cost five dollars for samplings from five bottles plus the wine of the week and Julie will explain the wines to you as you drink them. All of the wines are from local Illinois winery's. And if you'd like something to soak up the wine, you can have a pizza delivered from Pizza Peel, which is located right down the street...I need to stop their soon for my Year of Pizza Tour. But now, onto the wine!
Julie brought out this elegant spitoon, which she said you can spit your wine out if you don't like it. She also added that no one has ever actually done that. Well, I just have to be the first...
Thar she blows! I just christened the spitoon with a mixture of wine and Wombacher saliva. All is wonderful in the world once again!
And Julie pours a glass of white wine now. The tastings run from dry to sweet.
This one was really tasty, I should drink wine more often.
The wine is really going down smooth, so I decided to have another round of tastings...
Julie told me most people just have one round of tastings, but what the hell, I don't have to work today, I might even have a third round of tastings!
This stuff is really going down smooth, but the store is starting to spin a little bit...
I'm just going to rest my eyes for a minute...
Zzzzzz...
Hey, who turned out the lights in here? Thanks to Julie for a fun wine tasting and we'll see you all tomorrow!
Julie’s Corner Store
233 5th Street Lacon, Illinois
309-246-2262
Related Posts: Shop Hop @ Shop Hop—Moxie's ReSale Boutique, Relics and Urban Artifacts.
Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
Bonus: Jaws the Cabbie Wine Tasting Adventure!
In the comments section, Jaws the Cabbie mentioned he recently had his own wine tasting adventure and sent in this picture of it. Ha! Nice one, Jaws, thanks for sending it in.
