Central Illinois Bed and Breakfast the Market Street Inn

Every Thursday night, Antoine DeRocci sponsors “Open Mic” in the Shumway Room at One East Market Restaurant and Jazz Lounge.

Guitarist at Open Mic

Taylorville, Illinois has talent and, fortunately for the rest of us, some of the musically talented show up for some Blues, Rock, R&B, Pop, Folk, Bluegrass and Country to pick and grin and just have a good entertaining time. You should be there too. There is no cover and there are always beverage specials.

What a way to begin a long weekend in Central Illinois than by kicking it off with an unbelievable evening of entertainment from some of the Midwest’s Greatest Unknown Stars.  The fun begins at 7 PM but you should come early, enjoy dinner and stay for the music.

Duos and groups form as the evening goes on

 Come and stay at our Springfield Area Inn and we will get you up to speed for a fine mid-week or weekend of fun, food, entertainment and free golf in Central Illinois in Taylorville.

Who thinks about Persimmons today? Probably not a lot of folks but the Persimmon Fest in Central Illinois at the Christian County Historical Museum sure does draw a crowd from all over the country and then some. Actually the persimmon is a sought after fruit in Asian Countries.

The Lovely and Versitile Persimmon

Persimmons are not ready to eat, at least by local standards, before they have undergone a “killing frost” and we have had one now so the persimmon harvest is coming in, they are being washed, pitted and mashed into a pulp for use in all sorts of tasty dishes including puddings, pies, steamed persimmon pudding, spiced persimmon cake and other baked goods.  Darleen Wilson is making 24 persimmon pecan pies for this event.  Abraham Lincoln would have loved Darleen’s pies.

Persimmon Bundt with Walnuts

Persimmon Bundt with Walnuts Recipe

 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Myrna, our chief innkeeper, is a survivor of  6 months. Our effort in promoting Breast Cancer Awareness Month is to invite you to a stay at the Market Street Inn Bed and Breakfast for the weekend of Friday and Saturday, October 29 and 30 or anytime through November 21, 2010 AND  10%  of your room rate will be donated to Cups for the Cure and/or Breast Cancer Research.  The donation will be in your name.

Some special events in Taylorville, IL   

** One East Market Restaurant invites you to make a $15 donation to attend a tasting of five fabulous wines and a complimentary, hand painted wine glass.  11 am to 5 pm    You may purchase any of the wines either by the bottle or case and all proceeds will go to breast cancer awareness and research in a ten-county area in Central Illinois.

** Lunch on the “Pink Plate Special” for $8.50 and $1.00 of each lunch will go to breast cancer research.

** The drink of the day at One East Market Restaurant will be the Flirtini Special for $7.50. Each Flirtini Special sold makes a $2.50 donation to Breast Cancer Research.

** There will be a 50/50 drawing and Gift Basket Raffles.

** There will be Art Bra’s on display, one by your innkeeper, and you may let your $$ vote for your favorite and, of course, all proceeds go to breast cancer awareness and research.

** There is NO COVER CHARGE for live music by 48 Connection from 5 to 8 PM. This band is known for their roadhouse blues and rock music.

Have fun, donate to a very worthy cause and enjoy Central Illinois finest lodging.  See us at www.marketstreetinn.com/

On Sunday, October 31st, Garlic Fest II will happen at the K of C Hall in Morrisonville, IL  just about 9 miles from the Market Street Inn Bed and Breakfast.  Tickets are $8 at the door and what a good time you will have.  Garlic!!!!  The doors will open at 1 PM and Bagna Cauda will be ready about 1:30 PM.  This gives you time to soak up a bunch of Bagna and beer preparing for the meal which will be at approximately 3:30 PM consisting of Garlic Sausage, Slaw & Mostaccioli.  There will be music by “The Music Men” from 3:30 to 7:30 PM.  Garlic Fest II is a revived area tradition and golly, did we miss it when it was gone.  Thanks for the revival.  You cannot have more down home fun than is available here.      

Bagna Cauda Recipe

Garlic Fest II Where Garlic is King

Romance and warmth multiply in flickering firelight

We are approaching the time of year when warmth is a desirable thing. There is nothing like a flickering fire or the warm bubbling waters of a whirlpool tub for two to warm and stimulate you and your partner and enhance relaxation and romance. Both fire flicker and bubbling jets of our whirlpool rooms are available at the Market Street Inn Bed and Breakfast www.marketstreeinn.com.

Whirlpool Tub for Two next to a Fireplace

Most of our guest rooms have either a gas log fireplace or an electric fireplace while our Hunt Club in the Carriage House has both. Enjoy the romance, the escape and each other.

Golf!  What a beautiful word which conjures visions of  sunshine, fresh air, challenge, fun, frustration, bets to be won on the next shot, camaraderie and liquid refreshment.  What could be better?  FREE GOLF!  Book your two night stay at the Market Street Inn and use our 4 passes to 18 holes per day.  The cart is on you. 

Taylorville Lake Shore Golf Course is rated 4.5 by Golf Digest and our golf guests tell us that it is a mature and challenging course.  Yes, there are some blackout dates and we urge you to check with us for those dates.

Magnificent Mansions star at the Taylorville Home Tour which will be Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5 from 10 am to 6 pm.

The feature home is a 16,200 sq ft home built in the early 1960′s.

The 1883 home shown here is also another of the fine homes on the tour.

Additionally the restored Courthouse dome and rotunda will be on the tour. Tickets are available for $9.00 per person. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. A special “Winter Getaway” package is available for only $26.00 which includes the tour and “Taking Tea with Mrs. Lincoln” scheduled for Saturday only and tickets for this are only available at Cottage Rose Antiques and Crafts in Taylorville, IL. This authentically British tea will begin when the doors open at 10:30 am for a promenade amog tables set by local hostesses and serving at 11:00 am. Each guest will be served 6 sandwiches, a scone, three desserts and hot tea. A vintage and contemporary style show will be presented during tea time. For advance tickets, which are limited, call 217-824-9447. Make your reservation for your overnight stay at the Market Street Inn and ask for our Christmas Home Tour Special:   one night, single occupancy in whirlpool tub room w/ tea & tour     150.00;  one night, double occupancy w/ tea & tour, 175.00;   two nights w/ tea & tour, single occupancy –275.00;  two nights w/ tea & tour, double occupancy–295.00.   Act now due to limited ticket availability for tea.  Non-cancelable.

We love our George Barber Kit Home

Our Taylorville Bed and Breakfast is a George Barber Kit Home, Kit # 143, built in 1892. If you are interested in architecture or historic homes, ask us about our kit home the next time you are here. We offer a special seminar with blue prints of our sister home in Jacksonville, Oregon. We’ve been there and seen it!

It’s true that Taylorville is a quiet town, but that is what makes it appealing. In fact, quite a few celebrities have been drawn to Taylorville for one reason or another, and many have even found their way to our charming Taylorville Illinois hotel. What follows is a tribute to the folks who have helped add a little spark of celebrity over the years to the Market Street Inn.

Mickey Rooney stayed at our Taylorville b&b

Mickey Rooney and his wife once stayed in the Chimney Room, while other members of their entourage stayed in other rooms.

Fans of The Office will be happy to learn that Jenna Fischer stayed in the Lilac Room, soon to be renamed the Hoover Room. Her parents plan to return to us.

Singers since the early 1960s, The Lettermen are together again and frequently on tour. Tony Butala had the Chimney Room, Darren Dowler (no longer part of the group) stayed in the Rose Room, and Donovan Tea stayed in the Lilac Room .

Singer Sammy Kershaw stayed in the Rose Room, while the rest of the group spread out in the main house.

Known to some as the greatest country band in the universe, the Sawyer Brown group once took over the third floor which is comprised of the Clocktower Room, Summit Room and Eagles’ Nest.

Before his gubernatorial days, Governor Jon Corzine and his then wife were the first people to stay on our brand new third floor in the Summit Room. Other guests and family were spread out in the main house.

Not all of our “celebrity” guests are known to the public; some gain celebrity here, at our Taylorville Illinois bed and breakfast. For example, one gentleman stayed with us for 4.5 years, occupying the Sweet Violet room. He worked for a local firm while his family stayed back in the Albany, NY area. After the daughters graduated from high school the man and his wife built a home here. (Their daughters were deeply involved in ballet at a level that is not available locally.)

Another long-term guest from the same company stayed with us for 2 years. Being from the Los Angeles, CA area, he preferred the cozy Spring Garden Room, which has a gas log fireplace.

We welcome all sorts of folks to our Taylorville bed and breakfast, and we treat them all like celebrities.