The first-ever Tri-Cities Dinner Club is one week from today on Thursday (4/23) in downtown St. Charles. Get matched with like-minded locals for a group dinner at a surprise restaurant, then walk to the after-dinner mixer at another surprise location. My hunch: it’ll be a great time.

Get details and register here. Registration closes on Tuesday.

📮 Need to contact me with questions, tips or suggestions? Get in touch here.

Do you ever see an item you’re mildly interested in — say yard decor, vintage signs, gardening equipment — and think, “Eh, I’ll just wait for garage sale season?”

Well, wait no longer.

The first big opportunity for residential deal hunting is coming up next weekend in Geneva (April 24-25), and the garage sale opportunities will keep rolling into May with community-wide events happening in Batavia, St. Charles, and North Aurora.

Note that the registration deadline to participate in Geneva’s sale event is tomorrow (Friday, April 17). It looks like you’ve still got some time for the other cities.

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Wondering if it’s a good time to buy a house? You're not alone.

With mortgage rates sitting in the mid-6s and rate cuts likely pushed to late this year or even early next, a lot of Tri-Cities buyers may feel stuck in wait-and-see mode.

But local realtor Chris Wallace has some insights that might surprise you. In some western suburban markets, inventory is rising, homes are sitting longer, and buyers actually have room to ask for concessions, work the price, and take time to think — none of which was happening a couple of years ago.

☑️ Parade back on: A group of downtown Geneva merchants led by State Street Jewelers stepped in to rescue the Swedish Days parade, just one week after the Chamber announced it was pausing the popular local tradition for 2026.

☑️ Learning + recalibrating: Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns said the city is meeting with council members and community leaders to understand why last month's public safety referendum failed and determine how to best refine their approach moving forward.

☑️ Safety statement: Batavia police are warning residents that the high school Senior Assassin game has started, saying that while the water-gun activity isn't illegal, “players” dressed in masks or carrying items that resemble firearms can lead to dangerous situations and 911 calls.

☑️ Bet-a-million bust: St. Charles will dedicate a bronze sculpture of John Warne "Bet-a-Million" Gates at the St. Charles History Museum on May 17, honoring an early industrialist who helped bankroll much of the early philanthropy that built the city.

☑️ Final facilities report: A St. Charles D303 committee recommended a $295 million facilities referendum to address needed building repairs, accessibility problems, and classroom capacity gaps across district schools after years of deferred maintenance.

☑️ School security: St. Charles officials are considering a three-year extension of the school resource officer program that would keep police stationed at the city’s high schools and middle schools along with continued limited access to school security cameras.

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☑️ No street left unturned: After a St. Charles man completed a decade-long quest to run all 514 streets in the city (totaling 166 miles!), Mayor Clint Hull was waiting at City Hall to congratulate him on mission accomplished.

☑️ Calling local artists: Water Street Studios in Batavia is opening applications soon for four public art projects — two for digital artists and two for paint muralists — giving local creatives a chance to bring new installations to the community.

☑️ Mini art exchange: The St. Charles Arts Council has opened the city's first “Free Little Art Gallery” outside the ARC Gallery downtown — a year-round, self-service container where neighbors can view, take, or leave original artwork.

☑️ Impact education: The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is opening a new chapter for local students, expanding its Youth Engagement in Philanthropy program with a new group serving Northern Kane County and the Tri-Cities.

☑️ Nature-inspired art: Geneva is inviting students in grades 1-8 to submit original artwork celebrating the benefits of trees for a chance to be featured in the city's community tree calendar, with a May 18 submission deadline.

✳️ Hunger doesn't take a day off: Join Geneva’s St. Mark's Church at the Salvation Army in St. Charles on May 9 anytime between 4-7PM to help sort donations from a big national food drive — every pair of hands moves food to needy families faster. Get the details.

If the rain holds off, Friday could wind up as a perfect evening for some outdoor tunes at a local establishment.

I’m starting to see performances pop up on the schedule for some of the seasonal venues that go dormant over the winter. Exciting stuff.

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That nasty round of wind and hail didn't just rearrange your patio furniture — it probably roughed up your roof, siding, and gutters more than you think. Most storm damage isn't obvious from the ground.

Before you do anything, call Brian at 212° Construction Group. They're local, trusted, and they know exactly what to look for — cracked shingles, dented siding panels, compromised gutter seams, soft spots that'll turn into leaks by June.

Want to see what I’m talking about? This quick video shows how they tackled a local roof repair job from start to finish.

💥 Brian offers free inspections — call (630) 777-0688 or visit their site to get on the schedule.

☑️ Uplift Integrative Bodywork: A new wellness studio offering massage, pain management therapy, reiki, reflexology, and other treatments is opening soon in St. Charles, with an open house planned for April 21.

☑️ New al fresco option: Niche Restaurant on Third Street in Geneva is currently constructing a patio just in time for outdoor dining season.

☑️ Something scary: Looking for a unique activity? 5 Points Ritual Escape in West Chicago has transformed the top floor of its haunted house into the state’s largest escape experience — a five-room immersive hunt for hidden artifacts complete with smoke and lights.

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☑️ Chicago Steel Garage Sale | Fri 4/17 & Sat 4/18, 2-7PM | Fox Valley Ice Arena, Geneva | Shop equipment, jerseys, apparel, memorabilia, bobbleheads, signage and more.

🎟️ Spring Book Sale | Fri 4/17 - Sun 4/19 | St. Charles Public Library | Get great deals on used books all weekend long.

☑️ Earth Day Event at Geneva Commons | Sat 4/18, 10AM–12:30PM | Geneva Commons | Free electronics recycling, shredding, and e-waste drop-off event.

☑️ Free Community Seed & Plant Exchange | Sat 4/18, 10AM–2PM | Urban Apothecary, Batavia | Exchange seeds and plants with gardeners across the community.

✳️ Yoga with Puppies | Sat 4/18, 10AM-1PM | Zen Loft Collective, Batavia | 20-minute sessions pair gentle yoga with adorable, adoptable puppies from Dog Rescue R Us.

🎟️ Viking Ship Open Day | Sat 4/18, 10AM–4:30PM | Good Templar Park, Geneva | Tour the historic 1893 World's Fair Viking Ship with volunteer docents on site.

🎟️ Story Time & Craft With Jenni Glow | Sat 4/18, 10:30AM–1PM | Wilson St. Mercantile, Batavia | Kids story time with author visit, lantern making, and rock painting.

☑️ Earth Day Celebration | Sat 4/18, 11AM–1PM | Peck Farm Park, Geneva | Free recycling, chalk art, plant giveaways, and food vendors.

☑️ Community Day: Create Where You're Planted | Sat 4/18, 12PM–2PM | Water Street Studios, Batavia | Free crafting day making planting pots and garden decor.

🎟️ Apple Cider Donut Truck | Sun 4/19, 9AM–12PM | Peck Farm Baseball Fields, Geneva | The Little Red Donut Truck will dish out hot fresh apple cider + mini donuts.

☑️ Dazed & Brewed Spring Makers Market | Sun 4/19, 12:30PM–5PM | Pollyanna Brewing, STC | Family-friendly market featuring 15 vendors and Pollyanna beer + cocktails.

🎟️ Wine Tasting With Emile Beyer | Sun 4/19, 3PM–5PM | Le Cochon Wine Bar & Bistro, Geneva | Meet the maker, sample the portfolio, and buy at exclusive retail pricing.

Had to feature this wild photo shared by the City of St. Charles depicting the moment lightning struck the Municipal Building tower downtown at 10:26AM on March 31, 2026.

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