🍔 Local burger specials

Not only has it been a minute since we last featured a restaurant special roundup, but a few readers have asked about local burger deals lately.

Ask and you shall receive.

Fortunately for all of us, there are too many to list here in the newsletter — so you’ll have to click the button to see the full list. Please note that several weekday happy hour specials are listed multiple times. Enjoy!

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✨ Award-winning brunch at an unbeatable price

Sunday brunch is a time-honored tradition — and you won’t find a better value in the Tri-Cities than at The Little Traveler’s Atrium Café. In fact, it was named Best Brunch in West Suburban Living’s 2024 Best of the West.

For just $12.95, enjoy a full spread of fresh, house-made favorites, from fluffy omelets with crispy bacon to Swedish pancakes and Crab Cakes Benedict. Trust me, there’s a reason so many local folks have been coming back for decades.

💥 Beyond brunch: Check out The Little Traveler’s Spring 2025 Almanack for upcoming events and exciting new products.

📰 News to use

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☑️ Hanging in the balance: A St. Charles committee voted to approve the potential demolition of the historic Judge Barry House, though the issue still needs to be discussed by the City Council on May 19.

☑️ River rescue: Geneva police and firefighters rescued two women from the Fox River late Sunday night after their kayaks capsized near North Bennett Street (with support from St. Charles and Batavia first responders).

☑️ Tick season: Ticks are showing up earlier, sticking around longer and already popping up across Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles — here's what to know and how to prepare this season.

☑️ Seismic surprise: A 3.3 magnitude earthquake struck near the village of Lerna in Central Illinois late Monday night, with light shaking reported across several towns and as far north as Crest Hill.

🔒 Oasis reclaimed: A $500K restoration project has revived Geneva Creek and the nearly century-old Geneva Grotto, bringing a peaceful natural area back to life for visitors after years of neglect.

🏘️ In the community

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☑️ Rooftop cops: Police departments in Geneva, St. Charles and Batavia will participate in the statewide Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser on Friday, May 16, collecting donations at local Dunkin’ stores to support Special Olympics Illinois.

☑️ Raising spirits: More than 400 residents, business leaders and elected officials attended Valley Sheltered Workshop’s 59th Annual Pancake Breakfast, celebrating inclusion and community while honoring local champions with special awards.

☑️ Leafy treasure: Mt. St. Mary Park in St. Charles has officially earned Level II arboretum status from ArbNet, making it the Tri-Cities’ only accredited arboretum —which happens to be home to more than 100 diverse tree species.

☑️ A step forward: Tri-Cities residents are invited to participate in the 2025 Walk to End Alzheimer’s in September at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles — which is a huge driver of care, research and awareness in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease.

✳️ How will I know when it’s time for memory care? LaVon of Dragonfly Senior Navigation Services in Batavia shares the real-life signs to watch for — and why considering support sooner can make a huge difference for your family.

🎸 Live music

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Insider tip: Sidecar Supper Club’s patio opens this weekend — one of the coolest outdoor spots to catch live music in the area.

And the weekly summer concert series at Lincoln Park gazebo in downtown St. Charles kicks off with the Tyler Brett Caruso Memorial Concert on Wednesday (5/21).

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🌼 11 best scents to add to your garden

Lilacs. Lavender. Lemongrass. Wasco Nursery’s Best Fragrant Plants guide highlights the most aromatic picks for any season — perfect for lifting moods, attracting pollinators and repelling pests (all while making your yard smell amazing).

Stop by the St. Charles garden center to see (and smell) them for yourself this weekend. It’s bursting with color out there.

🤝 Local biz

☑️ Triumphant return: The Batavia Farmers’ Market is back this Saturday — you can keep up with them on Facebook to get updates on weekly activities and vendor lists.

☑️ STC foodies: Have you tasted the delectable pastries at Dear Donuts? Or the bold Mexican cuisine at Taco Urbano? How about the street-food staples at Rud Dogs? The latest “What’s Up St. Charles” podcast episodes feature interesting conversations with the owners of these local businesses.

🗓️ Events & Things to Do

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☑️ River recreation: You can now take a double-decker public riverboat cruise (tickets available here) or rent kayaks and pedal boats from the St. Charles Park District.

☑️ BYO Vinyl Night | Thurs 5/15, 6PM | Preservation, Geneva | Great food, handpicked wine and musical fun for vinyl lovers.

☑️ Senior Wellness Fair | Fri 5/16, 9AM-12PM | Batavia Library | Get valuable resources from local health and wellness providers.

🎟️ Rage Release Dance “Party” | Fri 5/16, 7-9PM | Torus Center, Batavia | Get expert advice on managing your emotions at this women-only session.

☑️ Spring Shred | Sat 5/17, 8AM-2PM | 540 S. Randall Rd., STC | Drop off hard-to-recycle-stuff and get documents shredded.

✳️ Toddler Care Basics | Sat 5/17, 9:30AM-12PM | Zen Loft Collective, Batavia | An info-packed workshop covering picky eating, potty training, early literacy, CPR basics and much more.

☑️ Native Plant Sale | Sat 5/17, 9AM-2PM | Gray Willow Farm, STC | Hosted by Wild Ones Greater Kane County.

🎟️ Chicago Drum Show 2025 | Sat 5/17 - Sun 5/18, 10AM-5PM | Kane Co. Fairgrounds, STC | The longest-running vintage and custom drum expo.

🎟️ Spring Into Summer Wine Walk | Sat 5/17, 11:15AM-2PM | The James, Geneva | A leisurely afternoon of fine wine and food.

☑️ Blessing of Riders & Vehicles | Sat 5/17, 12:30-10PM | STC Motorcycle Museum | Motorcycles, food, drinks, live music and much more.

☑️ Bike Rack - Celebrating 50 Years | Sat 5/17, 6-8PM | The Bike Rack, STC | A party at the family-owned shop featuring live music, food and beer.

🎟️ Summer Barn Dance | Sat 5/17, 6-10PM | Primrose Farm, STC | Live music, swing dance lessons and animal meet n’ greets.

📖 Thanks for reading

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