_{LEAD STORY}

Tri-Cities Dinner Club is back with a fresh new experience.

You’re invited to a fun evening out at the Fox Haven Square entertainment district in St. Charles on Thursday, September 24.

In addition to the new Rosebud Steakhouse (which just opened this week), we’ll be reserving tables at fire + wine, Simple EJ’s Kitchen & Tap, and Cooper’s Hawk around the corner.

Quick reminder — how Dinner Club works:

This will be our first event at Fox Haven Square — hope you can make it. And if you know anyone else who might enjoy meeting new people, please share it with them!

_{SPONSORED CONTENT}

Your home’s air filter is catching the big stuff, but a bunch of the particles floating around in your house (like viruses, bacteria, and mold spores) are likely too small for a standard filter to stop.

Batavia-based State Automatic Heating & Cooling has offered insights into what’s really happening with your indoor air quality — and what to look for before you spend money on a new filter or some other fix.

It’s worth a quick read, and it may change how you think about your HVAC system.

☑️ Data center details: Batavia just updated its data center project information page, adding new details about estimated water usage, noise levels, and revenue the 120K-square-foot facility is expected to generate for the city.

☑️ SWAT response: Following a domestic battery call in Virgil Township (just west of Campton Hills) on Aug. 25, an investigation led to a two-hour standoff between the Kane County SWAT Team and a man who appeared to have a firearm.

☑️ Century celebration: The Arcada Theatre is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Sunday (9/6) with a centennial parade through downtown St. Charles, plus a special “behind the scenes” experience and a history of rock n’ roll music showcase.

☑️ Woman sentenced: The Kane County State’s Attorney’s office announced that a Batavia woman was sentenced to eight years in prison for a 2023 drunk driving crash on Bliss Road that killed a Sugar Grove man and a Batavia woman.

☑️ Free measles vaccine: The Kane County Health Department is offering free measles vaccines through Sept. 4 for eligible residents following a confirmed measles case in the county.

☑️ A fascinating legacy: Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley will host a Sept. 17 dinner in Batavia honoring Nelle Fabyan, shedding light on her life's mysterious untold stories and her trailblazing role at the historic Fabyan Villa and Riverbank Estate.

_{SPONSORED CONTENT}

The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.

☑️ Local artist profile: Drawing on decades of experience as a healthcare worker, Batavia songwriter Steve Cohen now writes original "personal anthems" for clients and communities — including a recent tribute to John Lewis performed in Geneva.

☑️ Raffle returns: The Rotary Club of Batavia, which has contributed $1.1M to support local nonprofits, is now running its 38th Annual Raffle through Nov. 1, giving you a shot at the $50K grand prize plus $6K in additional prizes. Tickets are $100 and only 1,200 will be sold — get more info here.

☑️ Bears on the big screen: Simple EJ's Kitchen & Tap in St. Charles is launching a “Season Table” program for Bears fans this fall, allowing folks to reserve a table for the 15 Sunday regular season games (only 30 spots are available).

☑️ Service & community: As part of its ongoing community initiatives, Batavia's American Legion Post 504 handed out $6K in scholarships to high school grads entering medical fields and is prepping 100+ gift bags for local veterans this fall.

☑️ Fall native plant sale: If you’re in the market for native plants, trees, and shrubs, orders for the Kane-DuPage Soil & Water Conservation District's fall native plant sale are due Friday (9/4). Check out the catalog.

✳️ A magical visit: The two-acre woodland Healing Gardens off Dean Street in St. Charles opens to the public on September 13, with yoga in the gardens and a chance to pick your own summer bouquet.

As is often the case at the beginning of a new month, a couple of venues haven’t yet announced their September schedules. I’ll add any new performances to the already lengthy list as they materialize.

_{SPONSORED CONTENT}

Geneva’s Festival of the Vine returns Sept. 11-13, which means The Little Traveler’s front lawn will once again transform into an outdoor tasting room.

Try more than 50 wines (age 21+) from around the world, sample four for only $5, and know that all sampling proceeds will go to the Geneva Community Chest, which raises funds to benefit 28 local social service agencies in our community.

💥 Stocking up? Save 10% on half cases and 15% on full cases of wine all festival weekend.

☑️ Neighboring marketplace: Warrenville is launching a “pop-up marketplace” on Sept. 10 that will remain active into December, and (though I have no evidence of this) it certainly looks like it could’ve been inspired by Batavia’s Boardwalk Shops.

☑️ Golf season extended: Back Nine Golf is planning to open a high-tech indoor golf facility in North Aurora next week offering a 24/7 access to simulator bays, private event options, and memberships.

☑️ Garden deals: Heinz Brothers Greenhouse in St. Charles is running a summer sale (up to 50% off select items) through Sept. 7 plus a progressive clearance event on garden decor and supplies that extends into the fall.

☑️ September art sessions: The Art as Alchemy Studio in St. Charles is offering 50% off all in-studio classes throughout September, including its Neurographic Art and Art Flowshop sessions.

The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee. The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.

☑️ Broken Brix English Beer Event | Fri 9/4, 4:20PM | Broken Brix, STC | Enjoy cask ale pours, English beers, and pickled eggs. 

☑️ Cruise Night 2026 | Fri 9/4, 5PM-7PM | Towne Center, North Aurora | Classic cars, food trucks, and awards for Mayor's and Chief's Choice. 

☑️ Cookbook Swap | Sat 9/5, 9AM-5PM | Batavia Boardwalk Shops | Swap or buy cookbooks, proceeds benefit the Batavia Public Library. 

☑️ Electronic Recycling Event | Sat 9/5, 9AM-12PM | North Aurora Police Department | Recycle electronics, clothing, books, TVs, and more.

🎟️ Well Spent Day Party | Sat 9/5, 11AM-4PM | Batavia Riverwalk | Fitness classes, wellness vendors, food, and music at the riverwalk. 

🎟️ Kane County Flea Market | Sat 9/5 - Sun 9/6 | Kane County Fairgrounds, STC | Antiques, vintage finds, and crafts from indoor and outdoor vendors. 

🎟️ Fox Valley Folk Music and Storytelling Festival | Sun 9/6-Mon 9/7, 11AM-6PM | Wheeler Park, Geneva | Six stages of folk music, storytelling, and workshops.

☑️ Buildapalooza & LEGO Drive | Sun 9/6, 1PM-4PM | Riverlands Brewing, STC | Free-build LEGO event benefiting hospitalized kids through Bricks of Hope.

🎟️ Fall Wine Walk | Sat 9/12, 4PM | Eagle Brook Country Club, STC | Taste over 100 wines with dinner and appetizers included.

✳️ Adult Tap Classes | Sun 9/13, 11AM-12PM | Zen Loft Collective, Batavia | Weekly adult tap classes for beginners and returners, running through mid-November.

🎟️ Underground Railroad in the Tri-Cities | Sat 9/19, 10AM-12:30PM | Batavia Depot Museum | Narrated bus and paddlewheel tour of local Underground Railroad history.

🎟️ Beignet 5K Run/Walk | Thu 9/24, 6PM | Gunnar Anderson Forest Preserve, Geneva | 5K race benefiting Geneva Community Chest, with a post-race porch party. 

🎟️ Behind-the-Scenes Tour of the Traveler | Thu 10/1, 5:30PM-7:30PM | The Little Traveler, Geneva | A fundraiser tour supporting the Geneva History Museum. 

Enjoy Tri-Cities Central? Support local journalism and spread the word!*

*Scroll back to the top of this newsletter for a special referral link — you can get gift cards to local restaurants for referring friends.