Toluca Meet-N-Greet & Dinner at Mona's Event Cache

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Hidden : Sunday, November 9, 2014
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

I'm almost out of my favorite salad dressing and I can only get it in Toluca so, I figured, why not have a geocaching event when I visit to replenish my stock!

Attend One or Both!

Meet N Greet
The Pavilion at Pool Park
Toluca, IL
3:30-4:00 p.m. 

Dinner
Mona's
202 N Main Street
Toluca, IL
4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.


My Italian ancestors on my mom's side immigrated to this part of Illinois, settling in the small local coal mining towns. When I was growing up in Woodridge, Illinois, my parents would plan outings for themselves and our neighbors to drive the 100 miles to Toluca (one way!) just to go out to dinner. So, when I was a child, Toluca was this magical place where adults traveled for Italian food. I didn't go to Toluca myself until I was 32 years old.

Fun fact: There are actually two almost identical family-owned Italian restaurants in Toluca, Capponi's and Mona's. Depending on the day you visit, one or the other is open and serving amazing food, the kind my Italian grandmother, Della, and her sisters, Mary and Theresa, made when I was a child, most notably, the tortellini.

And what about that salad dressing? At first glance, it appears to be a rather plain oil and vinegar style dressing but there is just something about it ... I buy several bottles whenever I am in town!




We will have a short meet-n-greet at a local park starting at 3:30 p.m. At 4:00 p.m., those who would like can make their way to Mona's for dinner. You can sign the logbook at either location, however, I encourage people who do NOT plan on having dinner to attend the meet-n-greet and sign-in there. When you log your "will attend" please let me know if you plan to have dinner so I can make a reservation.

If you think you might attend, please post a "will attend" or put this event on your watchlist. Depending on the interest in this event and the weather I may change the meet-n-greet location to closer to the restaurant and I will post an announcement if there are any changes.

So, whether you are making the trek from Chicagoland, or you're a local cacher, or you're just passing through, I look forward to seeing you in Toluca!

Toluca is near Starved Rock State Park if you want to make a day of it. Toluca itself boasts eight geocaches!

From Wikipedia:

Toluca is a city in Marshall County, Illinois. 

Toluca was established in 1887 as a stop on the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway, on land owned by Marshall County native William Twist. In that year, local farmers led by Twist requested that the railroad make Toluca a regular stop. Their request was granted. With the backing of a Chicago firm, a grain elevator was built and maintained by Thomas Colehower of Long Point, Illinois. Colehower built the first house in the area of Toluca now called Old Town. In 1892, the Devlin Coal Company began mining coal at Toluca.

The population of Toluca had increased to 3,500 by 1894 and it was incorporated as a city. Its growth continued, fueled by immigrants from Poland, Italy, and Lithuania who came to work in the coal mines. In 1907, it had approximately 6,000 inhabitants. But by 1924, the coal mines were unprofitable and they closed down. The population shrank drastically as a result.

The population was 1,414 at the 2010 census, up from 1,339 at the 2000 census.

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