So your significant other suggests exploring Joliet for date night. Don’t worry, there’s more than NASCAR races and the creepy old prison.  If your significant other is anything like the one I married, he’ll start with an idea and you’ll do the planning. Do not fear, I have a list of suggestions to give you the right amount of Joliet without scaring either of you off.

To appreciate your trip, brush up on your Blues Brothers trivia. Channel your inner Joliet Jake before you depart.
Start the night with dinner at The Department.  The restaurant is the old police station with tons of character and gives a hearty nod to the Joliet of yesteryear.  The rotisserie chicken is tender, juicy, and delicious but the Isis salad is an incredible vegetarian option. In fact, the biggest thing I miss about working in Joliet is the Isis salads I would get for lunch occasionally. The Department also has a fairly impressive martini menu.

After dinner, hit up a show at the historical and recently renovated Rialto Square Theatre, a favorite establishment of Al Capone. You can walk there from The Department. On January 23, Cabaret is playing but if you can hold out until March 3, Hairspray will be there.  I saw The Temptations there with some coworkers and adored the entire evening, from the theatre itself to the great entertainment.

Celebrate the end of a fun evening at Chicago Street Pub and chat up some of the locals.  The people of Joliet who were born and raised there know all the interesting, colorful lore of days gone by. It’s a tragically historic town, parts of it having burned down during the civil rights movement, but it’s been restored to a vibrant, special place that truly deserves a visit to appreciate its history.

(photo: daskerst)