Hand-drawn hometown collection
A hand-drawn celebration of Joliet, available exclusively at Tazza Coffee.
15 oz ceramic mugMicrowave safeDishwasher safe
Community
Joliet is a city of bold landmarks, enduring stories, and a community spirit all its own. The Rialto Square Theatre, Old Joliet Prison, Route 66, Union Station, and the Des Plaines River give residents plenty to celebrate and visitors a fascinating place to explore.
The collaboration
I spent part of my childhood in nearby Plainfield, so Joliet was already familiar to me. My brother works there, and my father-in-law spent part of his childhood summers on a family farm in Joliet, giving both sides of our family a connection to the community.
It was fun to bring those connections into a mug celebrating the city. Collaborating with Gabriel and the team at Tazza Coffee has been a good experience, and I am thankful the design has a local home there.
The story behind the mug
Inside the illustration
Joliet’s ornate Rialto Square Theatre is a historic entertainment landmark that shares its 1926 debut year with Route 66.
Now operated as a historic site by the Joliet Area Historical Museum, Old Joliet Prison preserves a complex chapter of Illinois history.
Historic Route 66 runs through Joliet, linking the city’s downtown landmarks to the celebrated Chicago-to-Los Angeles road trip.
Joliet Union Station stands as an architectural reminder of the city’s importance as a major railroad center.
The Des Plaines River runs beside Joliet’s former iron works, connecting the city’s industrial heritage with its natural river corridor.
The Joliet Slammers bring professional Frontier League baseball to Duly Health and Care Field in downtown Joliet.
Journal · Behind the drawing
A familiar city near my childhood home became a larger drawing of local character.
Read the story
