Prior to launching an account for this newsletter, I hadn’t been personally active on Instagram in quite some time.

But I have to admit — it’s been kind of fun.

For example, I noticed that earlier this week the Kane County Forest Preserve posted a photo of this big brown bat:

The photo’s fine, but the caption is what really snagged my attention:

So there you go — now you have all the local bat info you never knew you needed. Just in time for Halloween.

Side note: The Forest Preserve just purchasing photos on Shutterstock and posting them to IG alongside mind-blowing animal facts is kind of a power move. We’ll need to look into that.

The 🔒 icon indicates a potential paywall. The *️⃣ icon indicates that an account/login is needed.

🔒 Downtown parade: Main Street (Route 64) in St. Charles will be closed for the NHS homecoming parade early this afternoon.

☑️ The end is (mercifully) near: The Bliss/Main/Fabyan intersection reconstruction project has felt…um…less than convenient. But progress has been made and work should be completed in November.

☑️ Clean energy: Following a Kane County roundtable discussion on the topic, Illinois has been included in a $7B federal project to develop hydrogen power hubs in several states.

☑️ Clean energy, again: As Geneva works toward an “EV Ready Community" designation, the City Council has approved EV charging station text amendments to its zoning ordinance.

*Below I’ve included “listed” start/end times — actual play times tend to vary. The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee. Links to band/event info are provided where available.

✔️ Brian Allison: Flagship on the Fox | St. Charles | 4-7PM | Musician info

✔️ Jake Mack: Preservation | Geneva | 6-9PM | Event info + video

✔️ Sam Wyatt: Pollyanna Brewing | St. Charles | 7-11PM | Musician info

🎟️ Jazz Cabaret w/Tatum Langley + Shout Section Combo: Moonlight Theatre | St. Charles | 7-9PM | Event info

✔️ Stan Karcz: ROX at Hotel Baker | St. Charles | 7:30-11PM | Musician info

🎟️ Harry Chapin at 80 - a Retrospective: Arcada Theatre | St. Charles | 7:30PM | Event info

✔️ Ben Crooch: The House Pub | St. Charles | 9PM-12AM | Musician info

✔️ John Ivan: Geneva Winery Bistro & Wine Bar | Geneva | 4-7PM | Musician info

✔️ Steve Bores (+ Biker Dude!): D and G Brewing | Geneva | 5PM | Musician info

✔️ Jake Mack: Art History Brewing | Geneva | 5PM | Musician info

✔️ Wild Wrek: Tanna Tap | Geneva | 8-11PM | Musician info (+ the 1st Annual ‘Neighbors Night’)

✔️ Gregory Hyde: The Wine Exchange | St. Charles | 6-9PM | Musician info

✔️ Mark “Spiv” Grzelak: Preservation | Geneva | 6:30-10PM | Event info

🎟️ Brookwood Drive: Moonlight Theatre | St. Charles | 7-10PM | Event info

✔️ Chris Powell: ROX at Hotel Baker | St. Charles | 7:30-11PM | Musician info

✔️ Jay Cherry: Bar Evolution | Batavia | 8:30-11:30PM

✔️ Josh Goodman: Sidecar Supper Club | Batavia | 9PM-Midnight | Musician info

🎟️ Last Dance: EvenFlow | Geneva | 9PM | Band info

✔️ Wheels North: The House Pub | St. Charles | 9:30PM-1AM | Band info

✔️ Eric Berglind: 93 Octane Brewing | St. Charles |1-4PM | Musician info

✔️ Billy Denton: Pollyanna Brewing | St. Charles | 2-5PM | Musician info (+ Hat Trick BBQ food truck)

✔️ Noah Gabriel (+Chuck's Pizza): Art History Brewing | Geneva | 4-9PM | Musician info

✔️ Andi Balloun: Geneva Winery Bistro & Wine Bar | Geneva | 4-7PM

✔️ InFunktious Duo | D and G Brewing | St. Charles | 6PM | Musician info

✔️ Chris & Lisa Marie: Eden Restaurant | St. Charles | 6-9PM | Event info

✔️ Burnt Biscuits: Preservation | Geneva | 6:30-10PM | Band info

🎟️ Tommy James and his Shondells: Arcada Theatre | St. Charles | 8:30PM | Event info

✔️ Side Piece: Bar Evolution | Batavia | 8:30-11:30PM

🎟️ Tony Ocean: Club Arcada | St. Charles | 8:30PM | Event info

✔️ Kevin Presbrey: Sidecar Supper Club | Batavia | 9-11PM | Musician info

🎟️ Eclipse: EvenFlow | Geneva | 9PM | Band info

✔️ Corey Dennison Band: The House Pub | St. Charles | 9:30PM-2AM | Band info

✔️ Jack Whittle: Preservation | Geneva | 1PM | Musician info

✔️ Blue Grass Sunday: Sidecar Supper Club | Batavia | 4-7PM | Event info

🎟️ Glenn Miller Orchestra: Arcada Theatre | St. Charles | 5PM | Event info

☑️ Fermilab happenings: America’s favorite particle physics lab (which now requires REAL ID identification to access the grounds) plans to reopen the Wilson Hall Ground Floor and Atrium to the public in 2024.

A brand new Welcome and Access Center is also in the works. ETA: 2025.

☑️ Spooky season: The St. Charles Business Alliance assembled a great roundup of Halloween-themed sales, specials and promotions you can find at local businesses over the next couple weeks.

🔒 Changing hands: The new owners of Kava Diem Cafe in St. Charles are planning subtle improvements to the riverside establishment, but no radical changes (as of yet).

☑️ Used Book Sale: Speaking from experience, used book sales are awesome — coming from someone who despises shopping. The St. Charles Library is hosting one all weekend.

☑️ Geneva Fall Fest: Minor league baseball season may be over, but the Cougars’ ballpark is the place to be — complete with rides, games and concessions all weekend long.

☑️ Thriller on 38: Led by Vargo’s Dance, what started as a small sidewalk dance in 2018 is now a choreographed performance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” expected to draw 500+ attendees on Friday evening in downtown Geneva.

☑️ Project Daffodil: Volunteer on Saturday to help plant 5,000 mixed daffodil bulbs and 150 Virginia bluebells that will beautify the entry point into downtown St. Charles.

☑️ Howl O’ Ween Dog Parade: A family-friendly event for dog lovers out in the fresh air on Saturday morning at beautiful Peck Farm Park? You had me at canines in costumes.

🔒 A Scandinavian Adventure: The whole family can experience forest magic at Geneva’s Good Templar Park, where artists, bakers and other exhibitors will engage with visitors in whimsical Swedish cottages. It’s also the final weekend to visit the famous 1893 World's Fair Viking Ship.

🎟️ Flannels on the Fox: The St. Charles Rotary Club’s inaugural Pub Crawl kicks off at 1PM on Saturday and includes The Office, McNally's, Alley 64, Whiskey Bend, Alter Brewing and Pollyanna Brewing.

☑️ Outdoor Family Fair: Fermilab is throwing open its proverbial doors for an afternoon of scavenger hunts, insect sweeps, bison viewing, pond critter nettings, liquid nitrogen shows and more.

☑️ Today: High 61F | Low 50F | A couple random showers

☑️ Friday: High 61F | Low 45F | NICE + a lil windy

☑️ Saturday: High 59F | Low 36F | Cloudy, maybe a sprinkle

☑️ Sunday: High 55F | Low 35F | Brisk, sunny October glory

We’re also on Facebook and Instagram. We tend to be a bit more active on Instagram throughout the week.

🔥 Loved it, keep up the good work [this]

😐 Decent, like the Bears defense on Sunday [this]

🛑 3 minutes I’ll never get back [this]

If you have any questions, feedback, tips or suggestions, don’t hesitate to reply to this email — I respond to all replies. Same goes if you’d like to explore newsletter sponsorships or working together in any other way.

Cheers,

Sam

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