Hi, folks ...

Went down to the Holiday Inn Express in East Peoria and was a little less than impressed with the hotel. It was great when we stayed there and it was a Baymont, but it looks like it's not quite what it used to be. Plus, while the internet listing showed the rooms at $80 USD, they've changed those to $ 95 and they won't reserve a block of rooms for groups of less than 10 rooms. I got the Corky's menu, and Corky's is a great place, but the menu is so faint, I don't think I can make good copies of it to send.

SO, WHAT'S THE NEW PLAN ...

In Morton, where I live, is a much newer Hotel called the Ashland House. It's a Best Western Hotel and the people there seemed genuinely interested in having us. Normal rates would be $ 109 USD per night, but, for 5 rooms or more they'll give them to us for $ 89. Included (under either rate) is a hot breakfast buffet that includes eggs, sausage, etc. There's the indoor pool.
While $89 is as low as they go, if we had the $109 rate, AAA or AARP discounts are available. They tend to run 10%. Reservations can be made at 1-800-Western (but the group name of Pixies won't be there until tomorrow afternoon).

Unless someone objects, I'll have them set up a group tomorrow called PIXIES and you can make your reservations referencing that group. Please, let me know today if you have a problem with this. For anyone coming from the east ... Morton is 10 miles East of Peoria on I-74. It's a town of about 17,000. We'll still plan on our riverside picnic and, if we decide to do it, the riverboat ride.

Attached to the hotel is a brand new Irish restuarant called O'Flaherty's. I have that menu and will send it to each of you that are going to be there. The folks at that restuarant said if I ask them to in June, they'll set up a reservation for our group and will arrange tables so we can all sit together. Food is great and reasonably priced. Dinners can range from around $8 to $20 depending on what you want. $10-$15 would be the average (plus drinks).

About a block away is The Cracker Barrel which offer another good food alternative along with Burger, taco and pizza places. Wally World (Walmart) is just a block or two away.

Pictures of The Ashland House and O'Flaherty's are attached.

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	OFlahertys_100_2265b.JPG (50.9 KB, 391 views)

And don't forget the tenderloin pizzas DB. I'm thinking I may have to stop into Schooner's and give that a try this time around.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain though. I haven't had lunch yet.

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LOL. That's right. A tenderloin about a foot in diameter covered with all the pizza fixin's. That does sound pretty good. It does indeed! You'll love O'Flaherty's, IM ... food is good and meshed with a pint of Guinness or a nice Irish Coffee ... heck ... it don't get much better unless it's Bread Pudding in a Whiskey Sauce. Yummy!

I'd just like to THANK you, DB -- for all the planning and preparation you're doing. Thank you!

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Here's a map of Morton showing the Ashland House

(Thanks, osuche! Got to admit, I'm really getting anxious! I may have to go see Pirates of the Caribbean tomorrow just to celebrate! )

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Gosh, it sounds like so much fun!!! I wish I could go!

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