Charley's adds Cinco festivities, opens outdoor patio

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By Dennis Hines Cinco de Mayo activities will not just be limited to downtown Sycamore. Employees of Cabana Charley's plan to host their own Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5. The Cinco de Mayo event will include food and drink specials throughout the day and performances by Franklin and Sue at 5 p.m. and Mr. Myers from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Diann Denault, owner of Cabana Charley's, said the purpose of the event is welcome in the summer season and to celebrate the opening of the restaurant's &#8220Palm Tree Paradise” outdoor patio. &#8220We want to take the opportunity to let people come out and see it, so; therefore, we choose Cinco de Mayo,” Denault said. &#8220Cinco de Mayo is right at the beginning of the summer, so we figured the two coincided with the nice weather, hopefully with consistent nice weather, and we just chose Cinco de Mayo to be a huge celebration. So were going into the summer of Charley's.” The patio will be able to seat about 100 people and will include a section for live entertainment, and a heated area, which will be open throughout the year. The patio will be decorated with palm trees and will feature a Caribbean-type atmosphere. Denault said she has been planning to open the patio area since she started the business last fall. &#8220We're just thrilled to have the patio open. It was a big part of what we're trying to do here,” Denault said. &#8220We just want it to be inviting and fun and enjoyable. If Peace Road was the gulf, we would be all set.” Various events will be held in the patio area throughout the summer including a steel drum band on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights. Several wall hookie tournaments also will be held in the patio area throughout the summer. Wall hookie is played by trying to hook a ring onto a screw that is attached to the wall. Denault said she plans to hire more employees to help staff the patio area. She said several employees are looking forward to working out on the patio during the summer months. &#8220The staff is thrilled,” Denault said. &#8220They're fighting about who's going to work out there.” Denault said she feels the patio area will help attract more customers to the restaurant. &#8220There's a few places in town that have patios. If I'm not mistaken , I think, by far, we should have the largest. I think, to me, it's the most appealing, because it's decorated toward a nice, casual atmosphere, and people will enjoy it,” Denault said. &#8220The feedback that we've gotten already from people being outdoors during the nice weather is they totally love it, and they can't wait to hang out there.” The patio area will be open the same hours as the restaurant. Cabana Charley's is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday; 11 a.m. to midnight, Monday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday. &#8220You can always get food during all those hours. It's always 5 o'clock, and you can always get a burger with your beer,” Denault said. Cabana Charley's is located at 1470 S. Peace Road in Sycamore. For more information about the restaurant call (815) 899-TIKI or log on to www.cabanacharleys.com.