CHARLIE’S AT SUNSET COVE – Charlie, a nine-year-old mini-pinscher, gives Chris Stewart a little affection at their new restaurant Charlie’s at Sunset Cove, 1111 Sunset Drive off Spring Bay Road in East Peoria. Stewart opened the business on Feb. 1 after an extensive renovation of a previous eatery called Dolphin Cove.
CHARLIE’S AT SUNSET COVE – A statue of a massive great white shark hangs from the ceiling along with many other quirky decorations at the new restaurant Charlie’s at Sunset Cove in East Peoria.
CHARLIE’S AT SUNSET COVE – A large photo of Charlie hangs on the wall with other decor at the new restaurant Charlie’s at Sunset Drive off Spring Bay Road in East Peoria. The eatery is named after the diminutive dog that often rides on the back of owner Chris Stewart’s motorcycle.
CHARLIE’S AT SUNSET COVE – Charlie’s at Sunset Cove features a scenic view of the Illinois River with picturesque sunsets.
SECTIONAL TITLE GAME – Metamora’s Ethan Kizer, right, defends the basket against Richwoods’ Tavie Smith in the first half of the Class 3A Boys Basketball Galesburg Sectional title game Friday, March 3, 2023 at Galesburg High School. The Redbirds defeated the Knights 65-50.
SECTIONAL TITLE GAME – The Metamora Redbirds cheerleaders line up for the national anthem before the start of the Class 3A sectional title game against Richwoods on March 3, 2023 at Galesburg High School. The Redbirds defeated the Knights 65-60.
SECTIONAL TITLE GAME – Metamora’s Ethan Kizer, left, and Luke Hopp, right, stop Richwoods’ Marquel Newsome on a drive to the basket during the Class 3A sectional title game Friday, March 3, 2023 at Galesburg High School. The Redbirds defeated the Knights 65-60.
SECTIONAL TITLE GAME – Metamora Redbirds fans go nuts on a foul call against Richwoods during their Class 3A Sectional title game Friday, March 3, 2023 at Galesburg High School.
SECTIONAL TITLE GAME – Richwoods’ senior Marquel Newsome tries to hide his emotions as he shakes hands with the Metamora Redbirds after the Knights’ 65-50 loss in the Class 3A Galesburg Sectional title game Friday, March 3, 2023 at Galesburg High School.
SECTIONAL TITLE GAME – Metamora head coach Danny Grieves leads the celebration with his team and their fans after the Redbirds’ 65-50 victory over Richwoods in the Class 3A Boys Basketball Galesburg Sectional title game Friday, March 3, 2023 at Galesburg High School.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Peora’s Denali Craig-Edwards takes a foul from Nazareth Academy’s Grace Carstensen in the second half of the Class 3A state semifinals Friday, Mar. 3, 2023 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Lions fell to the Roadrunners 48-35.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Peoria’s Niasha Rutherford hides her dejection after fouling out late in the fourth quarter against Nazareth Academy during the Class 3A state semifinals Friday, March 3, 2023 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Lions fell to the Roadrunners 48-35.
PEORIACON – Rachel Fox of Peoria strikes an intimidating pose for the event photographer at the PeoriaCon pop culture festival Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Exposition Gardens in Peoria. Fox portrayed a World of Warcraft character called Sindragrosa.
PEORIACON – Teagan Raube, 8, of East Peoria shows some excitement while searching through boxes of stickers with her mom Megan at the PeoriaCon pop culture gathering Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Exposition Gardens in Peoria.
PEORIACON – Jess Peters of Peoria flashes a set of fangs and some white contact lenses for her cosplay costume Saturday, March 4, 2023 at PeoriaCon at Exposition Gardens in Peoria.
PEORIACON – A Catwoman costume catches the eye of Jack Brower, 4, of Dunlap, who dressed as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, as he and his dad and brothers check out the PeoriaCon pop culture festival Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Expo Gardens in Peoria.
PEORIACON – Londyn Thomas, 11, of Abingdon sports a striking costume as she roams the vendor booths at the PeoriaCon pop culture festival Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Exposition Gardens in Peoria.
PEORIACON – Amelia Avery, 5, waits patiently for the start of the cosplay costume contest during the PeoriaCon pop culture festival Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Expo Gardens in Peoria. Avery dressed as Poppy from the Poppy Playtime video series .
PEORIACON – Degan Grove, 12, of Creve Coeur shows off his homemade costume of the character Ennard from the video game series Five Nights at Freddy’s during the PeoriaCon pop culture festival Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Expo Gardens in Peoria.
PEORIACON – Danny Petty, a dead ringer for the character Bobby from the animated series “King of the Hill”, waits in his costume for the start of the cosplay costume contest during the PeoriaCon pop culture festival Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Expo Gardens in Peoria.
STATE SUPERSECTIONAL – The Metamora Redbirds celebrate their Class 3A supersectional title after defeating Marmion Academy 60-48 on Monday, March 6, 2023 at Ottawa High School.
STATE SUPERSECTIONAL – Metamora head coach Danny Grieves pumps up his players after the Redbirds 60-48 victory over Marmion Academy in the Class 3A supersectional Monday, March 6, 2023 at Ottawa High School.
STATE SUPERSECTIONAL – Metamora’s Tyler Mason celebrates with a fan as the student section rushes onto the court after the Redbirds’ 60-48 victory over Marmion Academy in the Class 3A supersectional Monday, March 6, 2023 at Ottawa High School.
STATE SUPERSECTIONAL – Metamora head coach Danny Grieves, middle, celebrates with fans, the team and his staff after the Redbirds’ 60-48 victory over Marmion Academy in the Class 3A supersectional Monday, March 6, 2023 at Ottawa High School.
Crystal Abbott, left, and her spouse Stella Abbott enjoy a vegan meal in front of a large mural at Radish Kitchen in Campustown in Peoria.
Washington senior wrestler Kannon Webster’s name soon will be added to the prestigious list of national champs in the wrestling room at Washington Community High School. Webster is the top-ranked high school wrestler in the nation at 145 pounds. He’s also won three individual state championships and a team championship. Kannon Webster is the 2023 Journal Star Wrestler of the Year.
High-quality Halloween masks hang from the ceiling above owner Steve Spain at The Costume Trunk on Main Street in Peoria.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Metamora fans in the student section cheer on the Redbirds as they battle the East St. Louis Flyers in the Class 3A state semifinal game Friday, March , 2023 at State Farm Center in Champaign. The Redbirds advanced to the title game with a 50-43 win over East St. Louis.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Metamora’s Drew Tucker (24) tries to get around East St. Louis’ Amori Johnson for a shot in the second half of the Class 3A state semifinal game Friday, March , 2023 at State Farm Center in Champaign. The Redbirds advanced to the title game with a 50-43 win over East St. Louis.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Metamora’s Ethan Kizer (21) congratulates teamate Tyson Swanson (22) on a pair of clutch free-throws late in the second half of the Class 3A state semifinal game Friday, March , 2023 at State Farm Center in Champaign. The Redbirds advanced to the title game with a 50-43 win over East St. Louis.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Metamora’s Tyler Mason, facing, and teammate Briar Cremeens embrace after the Redbirds’ 50-43 victory over East St. Louis in the Class 3A state semifinal game Friday, March , 2023 at State Farm Center in Champaign.
METAMORA STATE CHAMPIONS – Metamora’s Drew Tucker, top, battles for a rebound with Chicago Simeon’s Sam Lewis in the second half of the Class 3A basketball state title game Saturday, March 11, 2023 at State Farm Center in Champaign. The Redbirds took the title 46-42.
METAMORA STATE CHAMPIONS – A group of Metamora fans hold up signs in support of Redbirds head coach Danny Grieves as the team battles Chicago Simeon in the Class 3A basketball state title game Saturday, March 11, 2023 at State Farm Center in Champaign. The Redbirds took the title 46-42.
Metamora’s Ethan Kizer, in headband, hugs teammate Tyler Mason as Simeon’s Sam Lewis bends over in dejection at the end of the Class 3A basketball state title game Saturday, March 11, 2023 at State Farm Center in Champaign. The Redbirds took the title 46-42.
METAMORA STATE CHAMPIONS – Metamora’s Drew Tucker, foreground, and Matthew Zobrist hug as time runs out on their 46-42 victory over Chicago Simeon in the Class 3A basketball state title game Saturday, March 11, 2023 at State Farm Center in Champaign.
METAMORA STATE CHAMPIONS – Metamora head coach Danny Grieves celebrates with the Redbirds after their 46-42 victory over Chicago Simeon in the Class 3A basketball state title game Saturday, March 11, 2023 at State Farm Center in Champaign.
METAMORA STATE CHAMPIONS – Metamora’s Tyler Mason carries the Class 3A basketball state championship trophy off the court after the Redbirds defeated Chicago Simeon 46-42 for the title Saturday, March 11, 2023 at State Farm Center in Champaign.
METAMORA CELEBRATION – Metamora senior Briar Cremeens, second from left, junior Tyler Mason, and senior Ethan Kizer show their camaraderie during a celebration in the Redbirds’ honor Sunday, March 12, 2023 at Metamora Township High School after their victory Saturday in the Class 3A basketball state championship game in Champaign.
METAMORA CELEBRATION – Metamora senior basketball player Briar Cremeens hugs his dad Mark after sharing remarks during a celebration of the Redbirds’ Class 3A state title Sunday, March 12, 2023 at the high school. Mark Cremeens suffers from pancreatic cancer, while coach Danny Grieves’ daughter Nike Tyson is under treatment for breast cancer. Both cases have served as sources of inspiration for the team.
METAMORA CELEBRATION – Young Redbirds fan Luke Piscaglia, in glasses, asks Metamora’s Tyler Mason to autograph his drawing of the junior guard during a celebration honoring the team’s Class 3A basketball state title Sunday, March 12, 2023 at Metamora Township High School.
Rick Butler and his daughter Jacqueline Butler, co-owners of Tadoughs doughnut shop at 815 N. 8th Street in Pekin are expanding their business to a new storefront in the Tanglewood Shopping Center in Peoria.
Sean Kenny, founder of Kenny’s Westside Pub, stands behind the bar of his popular tavern in downtown Peoria. The Irish-themed pub on West Farmington Road on St. Patrick’s Day in 2013 before moving to its downtown location in 2016. Kenny’s has become a hotspot throughout the area for live music and has garnered acclaim for its menu.
ST. PADDY’S DAY PARADE – Laden with beads, Mattie Tracy of Peoria bumps hips with a parade volunteer during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023 through downtown Peoria. Despite low temperatures and a cold breeze, hundreds turned out for the annual event.
ST. PADDY’S DAY PARADE – St. Patrick’s robe billows in the wind as the patron saint of Ireland marches down Main Street during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023 through downtown Peoria.
ST. PADDY’S DAY PARADE – A member of the Peoria Piggies Rugby Club float tosses a rugby ball to a spectator during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023 through downtown Peoria.
ST. PADDY’S DAY PARADE – Hundreds line up along Main Street as the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade makes the turn from Monroe on Friday, March 17, 2023 in downtown Peoria.
ST. PADDY’S DAY PARADE – Jessica Anderson of Pekin sports a gigantic green wig as she and friend Jerrod Coryell of Peoria collect beads during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023 through downtown Peoria.
ST. PADDY’S DAY PARADE – Parade-goers scream for beads as a line of Jeeps works its way down Main Street during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 2023 through downtown Peoria.
One of the new cocktails on the menu at Brienzo’s Wood Fired Pizza is called the Immediately Yes, and consists of JK Williams grapefruit gin, grapefruit juice, rosemary and tonic.
PND VS. WASHINGTON – Washington and Peoria Notre Dame players leap in the air after the ball on a PND corner kick in the first period Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at PND High School. The Irish defeated Washington 3-0.
PND VS. WASHINGTON – Teammates celebrate a goal against Washington by Peoria Notre Dame’s Jane Geers (19) in the first period Tuesday, March 21, 2023 against Washington. The Irish defeated Washington 3-0.
Peoria High junior Aaliyah Guyton helped lead the Lions to a third-place finish in the Class 3A basketball state finals. She was named first-team all-state by The Associated Press and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, and Big 12 Conference Player of the Year for a second successive season. She is the 2023 Journal Star Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
UKRAINIAN HOCKEY – A group of Ukrainian youth hockey players walk into Owens Center for an exhibition game Thursday, March 23, 2023 against youth hockey players from Peoria, Pekin and Springfield as part of a Hockey for Heroes fundraiser organized by the nonprofit charity Help for Heroes of Ukraine. The Ukrainians came from the war-torn city of Kharkiv where their home hockey rink was destroyed in a missile attack.
UKRAINIAN HOCKEY – Assistant coach Igor Shamanskiy helps one of his youth hockey players get dressed for a scrimmage against central Illinois players Thursday, March 23, 2023 at Owens Center in Peoria.
UKRAINIAN HOCKEY – Youth hockey players from war-torn Ukraine stand for their national anthem and the national anthem of the United States before taking on players from central Illinois in a scrimmage Thursday, March 23, 2023 at Owens Center in Peoria. The young survivors hail from the city of Kharkiv where their rink, and much of the city, was destroyed by Russian rockets. A non-profit charity called Help for Heroes of Ukraine brought the players to the United States as a fundraising effort.
UKRAINIAN HOCKEY – The Ukrainian goaltender stops a shot from Peoria’s Zayden Boulton in the first period of their scrimmage Thursday, March 23, 2023 at Owens Center in Peoria.
UKRAINIAN HOCKEY – A crowd lines the glass to watch a group of youth hockey players from Ukraine face their counterparts from Peoria, Pekin, Springfield and other nearby towns in a fundraising scrimmage for the war-torn country Thursday, March 23, 2023 at Owens Center in Peoria.
RIVERMEN VS. QUAD CITY – Quad City goaltender Kevin Resop makes a pad save in traffic on a shot from Peoria’s Zach Wilkie in the second period Friday, March 24, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Rivermen fell to the Storm 1-0.
RIVERMEN VS. QUAD CITY – Quad City’s Troy Murray (2) stops the puck with his skate as Peoria’s JM Piotrowski (40) and Jordan Ernst try to score in the third period Friday, March 24, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Rivermen fell to the Storm 1-0.
RIVERMEN VS. QUAD CITY – Quad City’s Cole Golka (90) taunts Peoria’s Alec Hagaman in the second period Friday, March 24, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Rivermen fell to the Storm 1-0.
RIVERMEN VS. QUAD CITY – Quad City’s Auggie Moore (25) pushes Peoria’s Jack Jaunich into the boards in the first period Friday, March 24, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Rivermen fell to the Storm 1-0.
RIVERMEN VS. QUAD CITY – Peoria’s Mitch McPherson, top, tangles with Quad City’s Patrick Gazich in the second period Friday, March 24, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Rivermen fell to the Storm 1-0.
RIVERMEN VS. QUAD CITY – Peoria’s Alec Hagaman shoots the puck against Quad City in the third period Friday, March 24, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Rivermen fell to the Storm 1-0.
NEW MENSWEAR STORE – Carlos Salem has worked in the men’s fashion industry for years and recently struck out on his own to open CS Menswear at The Shoppes at Grand Prairie in Peoria.
NEW MENSWEAR STORE – A wide variety of ties and shirts can be found at the new men’s fashion shop CS Menswear at The Shoppes at Grand Prairie in Peoria.
NEW MENSWEAR STORE – Vintage collectibles are part of the decor at the new CS Menswear store at The Shoppes at Grand Prairie in Peoria.
NEW MENSWEAR STORE – CS Menswear fashion salesman Elliott Williams, far left, helps customer Jim Winkler and his wife Val of Germantown Hills choose a new look at CS Menswear at The Shoppes at Grand Prairie.
HALL OF FAME – Former Chicago Cubs star and 2016 World Series MVP Ben Zobrist of Eureka thanks his parents seated in the front row as he speaks during the induction ceremony for the 2023 Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at the Peoria Civic Center.
HALL OF FAME – Former Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals star Ben Zobrist of Eureka greets some young fans during an autograph-signing session after the 2023 Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony Saturday, March 25, 2023 at the Peoria Civic Center.
HALL OF FAME – Former Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals star Ben Zobrist sports his World Series rings as he signs a baseball for a fan after the induction ceremony for the 2023 Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at the Peoria Civic Center.
HALL OF FAME – Former Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals star Ben Zobrist poses for photos with his plaques from the induction ceremony for the 2023 Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at the Peoria Civic Center.
Metamora junior Tyler Mason led his team in every stat during the 2022-23 season. He guided the Redbirds to 32 straight wins, including a nail-biting overtime victory over Chicago Simeon for a Class 3A state basketball championship, the first in program history.
