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LEAD STORY
Don’t sleep on these local restaurant specials
The new fire + wine location at Fox Haven Square in St. Charles. 📸 Credit: fire + wine on Facebook
Local happy hours provide a quick window of time to snag food and drink deals, but plenty of Tri-Cities restaurants offer daily specials without the constraint of a ticking clock.
Looking to try out some new spots? This list of restaurant deals across Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles spans everything from affordable breakfast and half-priced burgers to steep drink discounts and Friday fish fries.
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💨 Before you call the AC guy, read this.
Your AC stops working on the first sweltering day of the season, and your first instinct is to call for help. That’s fair.
But there's a good chance you can fix it yourself in under 10 minutes. State Automatic, a Batavia-based HVAC company serving the Tri-Cities area, coaches customers through this stuff for free every summer.
They shared some of the most common summer AC problems and what to check before you pick up the phone — it’s a worth a quick read before the next serious heat wave.
☑️ Best of both worlds: Not only is long-time Geneva establishment Chianti's launching a food truck with a grand opening party on Saturday (6/20), but they're working to add a new dining room to the current Stevens Street carryout location.
☑️ Permit pause: Campton Hills has put a 120-day moratorium on building permits for large accessory structures in farm zones as officials look into whether current rules are doing enough to prevent non-agricultural commercial uses on farm properties.
☑️ Post-storm patching: Kuipers Family Farm in Maple Park is working to repair its property after last week’s derecho downed trees, flipped wagons, and tore into the roof of its Orchard Shop and office building. See photos of the damage.
☑️ Sunday Sidewalk Sessions: A new weekly live music series will add to downtown Geneva’s ambiance starting July 5, bringing acoustic acts to various public locations along Third and State every Sunday through September.
☑️ On to the Illini: Geneva senior Bennett Konkey, a four-star wide receiver, committed to Illinois football over offers from Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and several other Power Four programs.
☑️ News notes:
Batavia has earned Tree City USA recognition for the 29th year in a row thanks to ongoing investments in its urban tree canopy.
Carrie Schneider, who was named the new executive director of the St. Charles Area Chamber of Commerce, brings a background in nonprofit leadership and community engagement to the role.
St. Charles police warned residents to be on the lookout for fraudulent door-to-door handyman services offering home repair and restoration work.
The Quarry Beach in Batavia will offer free admission from 5-7PM on Friday (6/19).
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☑️ Future fairs: The Kane County Fair is a little less than a month away, but there are more than 100 other county fairs celebrating local agriculture across the state this summer with carnivals, live entertainment, food, drink, and more.
☑️ Inside Ward 4: The latest “Area Code: Batavia” episode digs into how Ward 4's aldermen (Tony Malay and Dustin Pieper) are working to protect the neighborhood's diversity, culture, and history amid rapid changes.
☑️ Safer crossings: St. Charles has just about finished installing seven new flashing beacons at key road crossings across the city, bringing the total to nine and rounding out a project funded mostly through grants. See what’s been added.
☑️ A banner day: Batavia's Flag Day celebration drew a crowd on Sunday eager to experience the special flag exhibit, a human flag formation, and a tribute to the Batavia native credited with getting Flag Day established nationally.
☑️ Wholesome harvest: After taking a year off, the Kane County Jail's inmate garden program is up and running with detainees and Geneva Garden Club volunteers once again growing produce together to donate to local food pantries. Learn more and see photos.
✳️ Summer fellowship series: Sunday services at St. Mark’s Church in Geneva now include a casual 10:30AM study series on Revelation (coffee, snacks, and big questions welcome) plus a Wednesday morning prayer service to help you stay grounded throughout the week. See the full summer schedule.
Even more local venues than usual make an appearance in this weekend’s lineup, with performances planned at The Filling Station in St. Charles, plus B.A.S.H and Oscar Swan Country Inn in Geneva.
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🥂 Bocaditos is much more than empanadas and coffee
You already know Bocaditos for the delicious food, empanadas, and that Belgian chocolate mocha — but there's more to this downtown Batavia spot than most people realize.
Every Thursday, they run a 2-for-1 deal on alcoholic beverages, valid all day. Make sure to note that on your calendar.
And while you're there, browse the shelves — Bocaditos carries one-of-a-kind merch and a curated selection of books right inside the cafe. So pop in for a meal, stay for some light reading, and leave with a local gift for someone special.
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☑️ Quarter-century mark: The Homebrew Shop on W. Main Street in downtown St. Charles (also home to Broken Brix Winery) is celebrating its 25-year anniversary on Saturday (6/20) with special food and drink offerings.
☑️ Here’s the scoop: Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, a national franchise with Midwestern roots, is bringing its first locations to Illinois with a spot in Geneva or St. Charles expected to open in late 2027.
✳️ Need a dumpster? One of the few truly local waste companies left, Midwest Waste serves Tri-Cities homeowners with clear pricing, no hidden fees, and friendly service — reliable cleanup whenever you need it. Check out their dumpster services.
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✳️ Summer fitness deal: Empower Her Fitness in Batavia is running a limited-time summer special — 3 months of unlimited group fitness classes with free childcare included, all for less than $3 a class (and morning, evening, and weekend options to fit your schedule).
🎟️ Pickle Paradise | Fri 6/19, 5:30PM-7:30PM | Pottawatomie Park, STC | All-ages evening of DJ music, pickle riddles, and yard games.
☑️ WellBatavia Festival 2026 | Sat 6/20, 8AM-12PM | Peg Bond Center, Batavia | Explore wellness resources, fitness activities, and community vendors.
☑️ Summer Kick-Off | Sat 6/20, 9AM-1PM | Geneva Commons | Welcome summer with family fun, face painting, raffles, and a classic car cruise.
🎟️ The Meathead Method Grilling Seminar | Sat 6/20, 9:30AM | The Little Traveler, Geneva | Learn grilling secrets from BBQ Hall of Famer Meathead.
🎟️ Super Saturday Wine Tasting | Sat 6/20, 4PM-7PM | The Wine Exchange, STC | Taste 28+ wines with food and live piano music by Sam Wyatt.
☑️ Bourbon & Bites | Sat 6/20, 4PM-7PM | Atwater's Riverside Courtyard, Geneva | Free bourbon tastings by the river, with cocktails and bites available.
☑️ Taste the Beats | Sat 6/20, 6:30PM-9:30PM | Oscar Swan Country Inn, Geneva | Enjoy food trucks and live music by Guitars & Cadillacs Band.
☑️ International Yoga Day on the Green | Sun 6/21, 9AM | Geneva Commons | Celebrate with Power Moves Yoga session, followed by refreshments.
🎟️ 116th Swedish Midsummer Festival | Sun 6/21, 9AM-4PM | Good Templar Park, Geneva | Enjoy Swedish culture and festivities at the Father's Day Midsummer Festival.
☑️ Dad's Day at Rec Haus | Sun 6/21, 11AM | Rec Haus, STC | Celebrate Father's Day with games, prizes, food, and drinks.
🎟️ Chattanooga Bourbon Dinner | Mon 6/22, 6:30PM | The Graceful Ordinary, STC | Do some bourbon tastings along with a chef-curated dinner.
Looking ahead:
🎟️ Lepidoptera & Libations | Sat 6/27, 5PM-7PM | Peck Farm Park, Geneva | Enjoy cocktails, live music, food, and a unique butterfly house experience.
Pets of the week
Introducing this week’s featured pets from Anderson Humane:
Ludo is a perfect match if you love big, handsome dogs with even bigger hearts. This stunning 60-pound tri-colored boy is sure to steal your heart with his adorable cheeks, sweet expression, and friendly nature.
Belinda is a beautiful 1-year-old kitty with a sleek black coat, striking green eyes, and a sweet personality who’s always ready to make new friends.
Ready to add a loyal new friend to your family? Visit Anderson Humane’s website or reach out to [email protected] or 847-697-2880.
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