The next eatery on our eating Main Street tour is Hoops Pub and Pizza, we’ve been there before and have always gotten pizza, so this time I’m going to get a non-pizza item from the menu. And we’ve got two guest stars today, Vic Burnett, who longtime MBIP readers may remember was featured in an early post when this blog was still in its infancy. And most Peorians remember Vic when he used to do the nightly weather on WEEK TV. The other guest is Danny Sinacori who has just recorded a song dedicated to Peoria and it’s called, “Peoria.” What else would it be called? Okay, let’s go eat up another patch of Main Street!
Here we go up the hill on Main Street. I'm trying unsuccessfully not to think of a certain Bob Seger song that will be stuck in my head all day so I may as well just share it with you. Sorry about the earworm!
As we approach the block that Hoops is on I see a parking spot just a few feet away from the entrance of the pizza pub. Let's park and walk!
And after just a 27 second walk, here we are at Hoops Pub & Pizza. They serve fun and food here. I always get an extra order of fun to go, just to keep the good times rolling.
I've never noticed this sign on the doorway next to Hoops. "Above the Mullet," hmm...I'll have to ask about that when we get inside.
Let's go inside and let the action begin!
Since it's closing in on one in the afternoon, most of the lunch crowd has disappeared back into that rotten world of work and there's plenty of places to sit. Usually I'd head to the bar, but since we're meeting Vic and Danny, I'll grab a table over there to the left.
Here's Jules, our pretty and friendly waitress serving up a glass of iced tea. Jules could be a stunt double for Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders! Jules also told me that Hoops Above The Mullet is an upstairs bar that can be rented out for private parties. So that solves that mystery!
Of course I'm early so let's take a look around in here. Since it's daytime the scoreboard's not lit up, but it's still an impressive decoration on the wall.
There's the bar and it's taking all my willpower not to go up and order a beer. I have to be at work in about three hours, so I need to keep my distance from that temptation!
As you can see they have an impressive selection of craft beers here.
And there's a wall of booze in here if beer is not your thing. Sadly, I'm stuck sucking down iced tea, maybe I'll stop in here after work.
Here's a shot from the back of the bar with that horrible sunshine streaming in through the windows. In my book, bars and sunshine definitely do not mix!
As I've noted before on past trips to Hoops, the walls are decorated with lots of local sports memorabilia.
Here's a blast from Peoria's hockey past, a Peoria Blades jersey.
This is an autographed photo to Hoops from a basketball player that I don't know the identity of. Anybody out there know who this guy is?
A collage of press clippings about the Bradley Braves hangs on the wall over here.
Here's a press clipping written by Andy Kravetz, a fellow I just followed on Twitter. I'll leave an update on when and if he follows me back. So far it's been about a half an hour and he hasn't followed back yet. Sob!
Even the table tops are adorned with Bradley press clippings.
Look who just arrived, our special guest stars of the day, Vic Burnett and Danny Sinacori!
As I mentioned in the introduction, Vic Burnett is a man who truly changed my life. You can read that story right here. Vic is an iconic Peorian who many remember as a trusted weatherman on the nightly news on WEEK TV through the years. He's also a great guy and a wonderful supporter of the arts here in Peoria.
And as a supporter of the arts in Peoria, Vic is helping to promote this CD that our other special guest star, Danny Sinacori is holding up at our table. Danny's a vivacious and friendly fellow and is a well-known and well-traveled Gospel singer, pianist, composer and author. He started singing in church at the tender age of 10 and has never stopped. His first vocal group that he formed was in 1962 and they were called The Keystone Quartet. Some of the members went on to other groups like The Imperials and The Oak Ridge Boys. Danny's gospel singing has led him to travel the world and sing on stage and TV networks on a world-wide basis. He's sang on over 100 recordings, which leads us to this latest CD release which is an ode and anthem to the city of Peoria, aptly titled, "Peoria". Danny wrote the song thirty years ago and just got around to recording it this year. It's a swinging big band arrangement and a wonderful tribute to the River City.
This is the artwork for the CD and you can order a copy by sending ten dollars to: Peoria CD C/O Danny Sinacori, P.O. Box 51, Peoria, Illinois, 61650. Part of the proceeds are being donated to The Peoria Teen Challenge. Danny will be receiving a Mayoral Proclamation on September 23rd at the next Peoria City Council Meeting. The song will be played there so you can go and check it out at that meeting if you are out and about. Here's Danny's facecrack page for more information and updates.
This was a fun and lively lunch with all of us trading stories, but the tongue-wagging turns to a different direction as lunch has arrived. Vic got the bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich.
Danny got a slice of pepperoni pizza and since it's Wednesday he got two slices for the price of one. Such a deal!
I got the BBQ Beef sandwich which is slices of barbecue roast beef topped with cheddar cheese on a fresh toasted hoagie roll. It looks great!
Wow, this sandwich is do tasty! The beef is tender and juicy and the sauce is really zippy and tangy with the sharp cheddar cheese adding a nice rich gooey mix to the texture.
I asked Jules to take a picture of the three of us for a closing shot and Vic jumped up and said, "I'd rather have my picture taken with Jules!" So there you go Vic, this shot's for you!
After that we got Vic to sit back down at our table for a closing portrait of the three of us at our table at Hoops on Main Street. Cheers and we'll see you all tomorrow!
Hoops Pub & Pizza
516 Main St.
Peoria
309-637-0525
Related posts: Eating Main Street @ Judge’s Chamber, Table 19, Pepper’s Cafe, Haddad’s Downtown, Cookies By Design, Richards On Main and Nut House/Cracked Pepper.
Surprise link, click on it...I dare you!
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Today’s post was brought to you by Peoria Hofbrau. Check them and all the other fine businesses helping to support this blog over at the MBIP Bucket List Page. Your Daily Random Linkage awaits you at the bottom of the that page as well!
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