Matilda’s Peoria

05/08/2026

Peoria Book Rack Gift Booktique shared some love with us last week on their book shop bar hop! They keep creating new and fun events and experiences in Peoria! Can’t wait to see them again and maybe do a riverfront walk! 🥰

Next Saturday!!!

Rack Pack Audiobook Walking Club

04/26/2026

I love donations, but sometimes you surprise me with something special! Can you imagine the memories this camera has captured? The birthdays, candid moments and family meals? It is easy to think now of capturing a moment in the palm of your hand, but this camera snapped so many intensional and focused (maybe unfocused) moments that live in shoe boxes and in storage now. Like so much of our thrifted stuff it really has life built into the threads of it.

I always wanted to open a place that felt lived in and I hope I can get this camera working again like our tv! We will see! If it only takes one more picture I hope it is of all of us together!

Love you all and take some photos worth putting on the wall! 🥰

03/26/2026

Almost two years ago this article came out! I cried when i found out it was front page and I cried today realizing how far I am from when this was taken! It seems like it has been in my heart forever, but also like I blinked and I am two years into the process of owning my most favorite place on earth.

From the printing of this article until today, I have never felt anything but overwhelming gratitude for all of your time and company! Someone asked me recently if I would do it all again, and without hesitation the answer is an absolute YES! I still have so much I want to add and do, but for over two years I keep stepping into Matilda’s and loving it every single moment.

It isn’t easy for bars to make it, but you all make every day special! We love you all and can’t wait for what comes next!

03/09/2026

We have so many fun things in the works that all include local businesses and our community! A craft and cocktails night with , a book fair with , a mario cart tournament with Questward Bound, and Zootini at ! We love creating a space to get out of the home and enjoy time with friends, family and colleagues! All the things these other businesses do too!

Please reach out if you want to collab on an idea! And enjoy a photo of me feeding giraffes, all because of a connection I made in high school! Caring about people and the relationships we form means so much! Come spend some time loving on your important people with us soon!

Also ordering more merch this week 😉 (just a casual merch ad with giraffes, as you do!). Love ya friends and see ya soon!

03/08/2026

A sweet lady asked me last night how we were so busy. She said it doesn’t seem like we do much marketing, but her kids from LA and NYC made her come here. Hard question to answer, but all I could say was if you take care of people, they will take care of you. We know we are a small space with a pretty big heart and are blessed that you keep us busy! Even more blessed that you keep us happy and smiling and loving the job that feels less like a job when we get hugs and smiles and walks to the door. Just felt like saying thanks today for filling our space and our hearts (and losing our puzzle pieces).

Shout out to everyone who gifts us things like this amazing handmade stained glass! I believe you certainly get back what you put out into the universe, and you all bless us every day! See you soon my loves and thank you for reminding me every day why we created this space!

02/19/2026

Anyone else glued to the Winter Olympics? This is a photo of my gear on my parents dock. My skates are always in my car in the winter (laces are pink in case you were wondering!). My parents were so supportive of women’s hockey and letting their girls play on teams with boys until my mom championed the first all girls team in the area! I still remember the first women’s hockey game in the Olympics and can’t wait for the gold medal match!

I love watching hard work and dreams come true every day even in sports that I don’t understand! Do you ever wonder what sport you might have been great at but never tried? That’s my favorite Olympic question!

Dreams coming true in any aspect of life is amazing, even if it is just the right day with perfectly smooth ice on your parents lake or maybe making perfect big ice cubes at your very own bar.

Wishing all your big dreams and goals come true and giving you a place for love and brainstorming if you need it! Supporting you all as much as you support us! Love ya friends and see you soon!

02/05/2026

Alright my loves, here is the goal, love on us before valentines and we will bless one of you with a piece of merch (adding on to our previous merch post)! Like, tag your friends, and share our page or this post. We have all our merch in house now so that giveaway I posted awhile back is in progress. Giving you all one more chance! I will add your name to the list and bonus adds for as many people as you tag!

So excited to gift someone a piece of merch!! Also should we do valentines boxes?! 😍🤔 I want valentines cards from our friends! Singles night with boxes and phone numbers?? 😂🥰

Love you all! Tag away!

02/01/2026

Friends, it is my parents’ anniversary! Is there anything better than loving on the people who made you and raised you? My mom helped me so much with painting and decorating that she feels like such a part of the space. Built in as the honorary “building manager”. And my dad is so sweet, every time they are in he lets people know there are more seats in the other room. He told me once when I was looking at med school that I should be a writer. He always believed in my spirit and I believe that is what makes this place so special. I am lucky to be loved by them as much as they love each other!

This picture is from their anniversary that I spent with them in Paris. Still one of the best meals ever and they got to walk along the river by Norte dame while I watched the Super Bowl with one of my high school besties.

Life is full of amazing stories and I hope we can be a part of your special events and memories! More fantastic memories with all of you coming this year for sure! 🥰

01/30/2026

Marty is always such a pleasure to serve! Thanks for thinking of us on your bar tour and saying such sweet things!

Our 19th bar on our 365 bar journey is Matilda’s Peoria in downtown Peoria. This is such a unique ’70’s throwback lounge and if you’ve never stopped in here you need to check it out! It’s a true and unique one-of-a-kind cocktail lounge on State Street in downtown Peoria.

Click on this link to see the post and photos from our visit there. >>> https://tinyurl.com/33c366pr

01/10/2026

We are doing another craft night with winking_titmouse_farm! Sign up on her website and come join us!

🧡🌸Friends and Flowers🧡🌸

Our first workshop is sold out so we’ve added an additional night! Feb. 3rd 6:30-8:30

Friends make everything more fun! Come beat the winter blues, catch up with
a friend, and get creative with us.

Join us for a craft night at Matilda’s Cocktail Lounge.

We’ll be making dried floral hearts for keeping or giving. The flowers were grown and dried on our farm in Dunlap.

You don’t need any experience. Even if you are creatively impaired, this is something you can do!

We’ll provide the heart base, glue, dried flowers, ribbon, and instructions. Heart is approximately 5.5”x 5”.

Add a ribbon for hanging (we’ll provide the ribbon), you may place in shadow box (not provided), or add a magnet (bring one with you) to hang on your fridge. Whatever you want to do with it!

Grab a cocktail, or two, to enjoy while you work and the glue dries.

Where: Matilda’s Cocktail Lounge, 100 State Street, Peoria IL

When: Tuesday Feb. 3rd 6:30-8:30

How: Register on Winking Titmouse Farm’s website by Feb.1st at 10pm

https://www.winkingtitmousefarm.com/shop/p/u-pick-flowers-event-3c3a2-facaa-jh3ew-964k8

Cancellations:

If you have to cancel, please kindly let Winking Titmouse Farm know 24 hours
prior and you will be refunded you fully.

Comment Flowers and I’ll send you a link to save your spot.

01/07/2026

My grandfather was the assistant director of a Boy Scout camp and all of my uncles and dad earned the honor of Eagle Scouts! My older brothers participated in scouts too! Me? I just got the education of walks through the woods with my dad being quizzed on trees and wilderness, and I still ask him when I can’t remember. I certainly know the difference between black raspberries and poison ivy atleast (they look very similar, I promise!)

I have had my fair share of canoe paddle stroke training too, so guessing I could have a badge in that! 😂 My mom was in brownies and sold the cookies and now my sweet niece is selling cookies! Link is in our bio! You guys can take all the thin mints you want and I will take the trefoils and lemon ups!

Love my family and love all of you!! Enjoy the cookies!