This week we’re looking back at a legendary Peoria department store: Bergner’s. I’ve got photos of both the downtown & Sheridan Village locations, last shots of what used to be the Skandia Restaurant & photos of the Sheridan Village location being demolished.
tinyurl.com/ycyvydd3 #MBIP #Peoria
tinyurl.com/ycyvydd3 #MBIP #Peoria
Meanwhile, Back In Peoria’s Past - This Week: Bergner’s — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
Bergner’s department store is definitely an iconic Peoria department store and memory for a lot of us that grew up in Peoria. Below are photos from the downtown Bergner’s, the Sheridan Village l...
tinyurl.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Everybody can reply
7 likes
I’m putting up a timely MBIP Rerun post today,. I’ve been busy with the Marty Monologues Show and since Halloween is this Friday, I put up this post from the past featuring Steve Spain’’s Costume Trunk Store and his Disneyfication of Peoria!
tinyurl.com/yrdc7bvp #MBIP #Peoria #Halloween
tinyurl.com/yrdc7bvp #MBIP #Peoria #Halloween
MBIP Rerun: Meanwhile, Back In Peoria’s Past - This Week: The Costume Trunk & Steve Spain’s Disneyfication Of Peoria! Special Halloween Edition! — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
I’ve been working on the upcoming Marty Monologues Show and I didn’t have time to put anything together for the blog today, so I thought I’d post an MBIP Rerun. I originally ran this post in ...
tinyurl.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Everybody can reply
6 likes
This week we’re shining The Marty Monologues Spotlight on Chelsie Tamms and her business, Lettering Works. Chelsie designed the Marty Monologues logo and has done all of the artwork and design for the show since we started back in 2019!
tinyurl.com/mpwhyc7e #MBIP #Peoria #MartyMonologues
tinyurl.com/mpwhyc7e #MBIP #Peoria #MartyMonologues
The Marty Monologues Spotlight On: Chelsie Tamms And Lettering Works — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
I first met Chelsie Tamms in 2017 when I did a blog on her when she was an artist in residence at The Prairie Center of the Arts. I was impressed with her unique art ability and the business she...
tinyurl.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Everybody can reply
4 likes
This is the 8th week of the MBIP Appetizer Tour and I met my friend Michael at Peoria Heights’ newest Mexican restaurant, Casa Agave. We sampled a trio of tasty appetizers and really enjoyed them! tinyurl.com/5abrw749 #Peoria #MBIP #Appetizers
Downloading Apps - The MBIP Appetizer Tour! - Week Number Eight @: Casa Agave — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
For the eighth week of this appetizer tour, I thought we’d travel to Peoria Heights and get some appetizers there. Where are we going to? I’m not sure, I have a feeling that there will be a sign to...
tinyurl.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Everybody can reply
1 reposts
4 likes
Tomorrow is the 59th anniversary of the first time The Peanuts special, It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired on CBS. In honor of this animated anniversary, I’ve got six links to online articles about this historic Halloween TV special & one video link.
tinyurl.com/mr29wvma #MBIP #CharlieBrown
tinyurl.com/mr29wvma #MBIP #CharlieBrown
Sunday Links: It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown - Plus: The MBIP Coming Attractions! — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
Tomorrow is the 59th anniversary of the first time The Peanuts special, It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown aired on CBS. This was the third televised Peanuts special, the first was, A Char...
tinyurl.com
October 26, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Everybody can reply
2 reposts
7 likes
Last weekend was the 10th anniversary celebration for Young’s Popcorn Heaven on Lake Avenue! Since I’ve been doing MBIP posts from the beginning in 2015, I went & took some photos & enjoyed some of their tasty & delicious homemade popcorn!
tinyurl.com/4v32drcv #MBIP #Peoria #Popcorn #Friday
tinyurl.com/4v32drcv #MBIP #Peoria #Popcorn #Friday
Friday Bites! Your Friday Snack Attack! - This Week: A 10th Anniversary Popcorn Celebration @: Young’s Popcorn Heaven — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
We’ve got a special edition of Friday Bites this week, last weekend, Young’s Popcorn Heaven celebrated their 10th anniversary in business ! I couldn’t believe this when I heard it, it seems like ...
tinyurl.com
October 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Everybody can reply
6 likes
Last Saturday evening, I went to Kelleher’s Irish Pub & Eatery with my friends, Amber and Joe and we had a delicious dinner and I took some photos of their Halloween inspired “Cauldrons and Cocktails” back room.
tinyurl.com/394th5zc #MBIP #Peoria #SaturdayNight #Halloween
tinyurl.com/394th5zc #MBIP #Peoria #SaturdayNight #Halloween
Saturday Night @: Kelleher’s Irish Pub & Eatery — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
Live, from Peoria, Illinois, it’s Saturday Night starring this week’s host, Kelleher’s Irish Pub & Eatery with special guest stars, Caiden, Amber, Joe, Lizzie and Pat! Now, please welcome, from...
tinyurl.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Everybody can reply
4 likes
On today’s Meanwhile, Back In Peoria’s Past post, we’re looking back at one of Peoria’s most beloved drive-in’s, Sandy’s Drive-In.
I’ve got vintage photos, links to blog posts about the place, past ads and a video explaining what happened to Sandy’s Drive-In restaurants.
tinyurl.com/mr2vxydr.#MBIP
I’ve got vintage photos, links to blog posts about the place, past ads and a video explaining what happened to Sandy’s Drive-In restaurants.
tinyurl.com/mr2vxydr.#MBIP
Meanwhile, Back In Peoria's Past - This Week: Sandy's Drive-In — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
Sandy’s Drive-In brings back fond, fun and tasty memories to most Peorian’s who were living here when we had several of the unique hamburger drive-in restaurants in operation in this city. The o...
tinyurl.com
October 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Everybody can reply
1 reposts
7 likes
We were overdue for a Scott Turley Road Trip and we finally made it on the road again! Scott and I traveled to Bloomington, Illinois for a fun afternoon and a fabulous peanut butter bacon cheeseburger at Maguire’s Bar & Grill.
tinyurl.com/ymnn27wn #MBIP #Bloomington #RoadTrip
tinyurl.com/ymnn27wn #MBIP #Bloomington #RoadTrip
The Scott Turley Road Trip - This Month: A Trip To Maguire’s Pub In Bloomington, Illinois — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
It’s hard to believe, but it’s almost been a year since we’ve been on a Scott…Hey…what’s that…
tinyurl.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Everybody can reply
6 likes
This week we’re sampling snacks from T.J. Maxx, a place that was suggested and I never knew they sold snacks in there!
tinyurl.com/mubvkk3p #MBIP #Peoria #Snacks
tinyurl.com/mubvkk3p #MBIP #Peoria #Snacks
Friday Bites! • Your Friday Snack Attack! - This Week: A Trio Of Snacks From T.J. Maxx ( A Chad Wallace Daughter Suggestion) — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
One thing I’m learning while doing these Friday Bites posts is that MBIP commenter and counter of gumbails, Chad Wallace has a family that are serious snackers! A few weeks ago, Chad suggeste...
tinyurl.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Everybody can reply
7 likes
Today we’re shining The Marty Monologues Spotlight on Sarah Marie Dillard! Sarah performs the live opening and closing songs and this year she’s also providing music for the snack breaks in the show!
tinyurl.com/6ejsu586 #MBIP #Peoria #MartyMonologues
tinyurl.com/6ejsu586 #MBIP #Peoria #MartyMonologues
The Marty Monologues Spotlight On: Sarah Marie Dillard! — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
Sarah Marie Dillard is a very important part of The Marty Monologues Show. She has opened and closed every Peoria Marty Monologues and is literally the icing on the cake that is The Marty Monologues! ...
tinyurl.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Everybody can reply
5 likes
The Trolley on Farmington Road updated their menu and they have a fantastic selection of appetizers on there. So I had to include them on the MBIP 2025 Appetizer Tour. I met my friend Michelle there & we had some fantastic appetizers and a fun afternoon there.
tinyurl.com/48fkp3bw #MBIP #Peoria
tinyurl.com/48fkp3bw #MBIP #Peoria
Downloading Apps - The MBIP 2025 Appetizer Tour - Week Number Six @: The Trolley — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
The Trolley has been a bar on Farmington Road for as long as I can remember. New owners took it over in 2016 and remodeled and expanded the bar extensively. They also added items to the menu including...
tinyurl.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Everybody can reply
5 likes
Theresa and Paul McHenry hosted a super-fun HalloWING Thing party in Washington, Illinois and I went and had a blast and sampled some tasty chicken wings!
tinyurl.com/mryj983p #MBIP #Peoria #Halloween2025
tinyurl.com/mryj983p #MBIP #Peoria #Halloween2025
Saturday Afternoon/Early Evening @: Hallowing Thing 2025 — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
Live, from Washington, Illinois, it’s Saturday Afternoon/Evening starring this week’s host, HalloWING Thing: 2025 with special guest stars, Theresa and Paul and a whole garage full of special guests! ...
tinyurl.com
October 13, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Everybody can reply
5 likes
October, 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of when The Beatles started the recording of their classic album, Rubber Soul. In honor of this fab anniversary, I’ve got links to online articles about Rubber Soul and a link to a video as well. Yeah, yeah, yeah!
tinyurl.com/mpvv2za3 #MBIP #Beatles
tinyurl.com/mpvv2za3 #MBIP #Beatles
Sunday Links: Rubber Soul - Plus: The MBIP Coming Attractions! — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
The album, Rubber Soul by The Beatles was a such a groundbreaking album. It was the first album that was written entirely by the band and it was the start of The Beatles and other bands seeing t...
tinyurl.com
October 12, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Everybody can reply
2 reposts
8 likes
Tickets for the Marty Monologues Show happening on Sunday, November 9th are officially on sale! You can buy your tickets at: Lit. On Fire Books, Relics, Acme Comics & Books and Kenny’s Westside, where the show is going to be performed.
tinyurl.com/278s529x #MBIP #Peoria #MartyMonologues
tinyurl.com/278s529x #MBIP #Peoria #MartyMonologues
The Marty Monologues: You’ve Got Jail - Tickets On Sale! — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
Okay, we’re about a month away from The Marty Monologues, “You’ve Got Jail” show and today tickets go on sale! We sell Marty Monologues tickets the old fashioned way, you have to go out and buy a g...
tinyurl.com
October 8, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Everybody can reply
2 reposts
5 likes
We’re up to our fifth week of the MBIP 2025 Appetizer Tour and this week we sampled a trio of delicious appetizers at Weaver’s Fresh Food and Drink. I was joined by my friend, Nancy and we really enjoyed the appetizers and our afternoon at Weaver’s!
tinyurl.com/3raf9p3w #MBIP #Peoria #Appetizer
tinyurl.com/3raf9p3w #MBIP #Peoria #Appetizer
Downloading Apps - The MBIP Appetizer Tour! Week Number Five @: Weaver’s Fresh Food And Drink — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
We’re up to our fifth week of sampling appetizers in restaurants around Peoria and this week we’re going to sample some pre-dinner goodies at Weaver’s Fresh Food and Drink. And we’re meeting a spec...
tinyurl.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Everybody can reply
3 likes
In honor of Peoria’s Bicentennial 200th Birthday, there was a street party last Saturday on Main Street and Adams and I went and had a blast! There was a fun crowd of people, painted bisons, food, drink and the band Maggie Speaks. And a Photo Booth!
tinyurl.com/mrx8um37 #MBIP #Peoria #StreetParty
tinyurl.com/mrx8um37 #MBIP #Peoria #StreetParty
Saturday Afternoon @: Peoria Bicentennial Block Party — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
Live, from Peoria, it’s Saturday Afternoon starring this week’s host, Downtown Peoria and featuring musical guests, Maggie Speaks. Now please welcome this week’s host, Downtown Peoria!
tinyurl.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Everybody can reply
6 likes
We have a special international snack day for our Friday Bites snacking post today! My friend Steven Marx brought over international snacks from the Panama airport & we sampled a trio of international snacks at MBIP World Headquarters!
tinyurl.com/5nuzm46b #MBIP #Snacks @stevenmarx.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/5nuzm46b #MBIP #Snacks @stevenmarx.bsky.social
Friday Bites • Your Friday Snack Attack - International Snack Day With Special Guest Star: Steven Marx — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
Today is a special day, it’s International Snack Day! You probably didn’t know that, because I just made it up! But luckily, since this is International Snack Day, we have international snacks to s...
tinyurl.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Everybody can reply
1 quotes
5 likes
We had part II of the Amber Birthday Extravaganza with a pizza dinner from Nick-N-Willy’s and a live show starring The Mountain Goats at Crusens on Farmington Road.
tinyurl.com/2k84h2a2 #MBIP #Peoria #MountainGoats @twistofhate.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/2k84h2a2 #MBIP #Peoria #MountainGoats @twistofhate.bsky.social
A Pizza Dinner From Nick-N-Willy’s & The Mountain Goats Live @: Crusen’s - The Amber Birthday Extravaganza Part Two! — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
About a week ago we had the annual Amber Birthday Celebration , but there’s still part of the celebration to continue tonight! One of Amber’s favorite bands is The Mountain Goats and when it w...
tinyurl.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Everybody can reply
7 likes
We’re starting a new monthly feature on MBIP: The MBIP Sandwich of the Month Club! And of course we had to start it out by stopping by the newly-opened, Frank’s: Home of Frank’s Famous Italian Beef.
tinyurl.com/y466usyc #MBIP #Peoria #EnjoyEverySandwich #Sandwich
tinyurl.com/y466usyc #MBIP #Peoria #EnjoyEverySandwich #Sandwich
The MBIP Sandwich Of The Month Club - Enjoy Every Sandwich - This Month: Frank’s Famous Italian Beef — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
I’ve been waiting to go to Frank Abdnour and his family’s new sandwich restaurant , Frank’s: Home of Frank’s Famous Italian Beef. It just opened last month and I was waiting for the crowd’s to di...
tinyurl.com
September 24, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Everybody can reply
4 likes
We had The Twelfth Annual Amber Birthday Extravaganza at W.E. Sullivan’s Irish Pub & Fare last Saturday night and it was a fun evening and birthday party for my friend Amber!
tinyurl.com/pskekxn7 #MBIP #Peoria @twistofhate.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/pskekxn7 #MBIP #Peoria @twistofhate.bsky.social
Saturday Night @ The Twelfth Annual Amber Birthday Extravaganza @ W.E. Sullivan’s Irish Pub & Fare — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
Live, from Peoria Heights, it’s Saturday Night starring this week’s host, W.E. Sullivan’s Irish Pub & Fare and featuring special birthday guest star, Amber and her birthday party guests. Now, P...
tinyurl.com
September 22, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Everybody can reply
1 reposts
5 likes
This is the second week of the MBIP Appetizer Tour and I met my friend, author Terry Towery at Kenny’s Westside and we sampled a delicious quartet of appetizers there.
tinyurl.com/yx5wccfj #MBIP #Peoria
tinyurl.com/yx5wccfj #MBIP #Peoria
Downloading Apps - The MBIP 2025 Appetizer Tour - Week Number Two @: Kenny’s Westside Pub — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
I’ve had a lot of delicious meals from Kenny’s Westside Pub, but usually when I go there I get the chicken wings for an appetizer because they serve up some of the tastiest chicken wings in Peoria and...
tinyurl.com
September 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Everybody can reply
6 likes
For this week’s Friday Bites snacking post, MBIP friend and commentator, Chad Wallace suggested I check out the snacks at Ace Hardware. I had no idea they even sold snacks, so of course I went and checked it out.
tinyurl.com/y4rf6fd3 #MBIP #Peoria #Snacks
tinyurl.com/y4rf6fd3 #MBIP #Peoria #Snacks
Friday Bites! - Your Friday Snack Attack! - This Week: Three Snacks From Ace Hardware - A Chad Wallace Pick! — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
Chad Wallace recently texted me and suggested I try going to Ace Hardware for our weekly Friday Bites snack post and so, that’s exactly what I’m going to do! When Chad Wallace says, “Jump,” I lo...
tinyurl.com
September 12, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Everybody can reply
4 likes
Here’s some 9/11 memories and a story from 24 years ago when I was living in New York City on that dark day in history.
tinyurl.com/2schmd9s #MBIP #NYC #September11
tinyurl.com/2schmd9s #MBIP #NYC #September11
The Angry Little Asian Man In The Loneliest All-Night Deli In NYC - A 9/11 Memory — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
When the planes flew into The World Trade Center 24 years ago on this date , I was pretty close to the horror show that played out that day. I was living in New York City on 16th Street between 5...
tinyurl.com
September 11, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Everybody can reply
4 reposts
12 likes
So about a week ago I put up a post about how it’s too early to be putting up and selling Halloween stuff. Well, a few days later I stumbled upon a full-blown Christmas display that just went up!
shorturl.at/cOB8j #MBIP #Peoria #XmasInSeptember
shorturl.at/cOB8j #MBIP #Peoria #XmasInSeptember
Just Say No(el)…To Christmas In September! — Meanwhile, Back In Peoria...
A little over a week ago, I wrote a post and posted photos about how everyone is already trotting out Halloween candy, outfits and decorations and I thought it was ridiculous to be starting the ...
shorturl.at
September 4, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Everybody can reply
7 likes