📜 The lore of a Geneva landmark

For nearly 80 years, the Mill Race Inn served Geneva locals and visiting diners at its riverfront nook on Geneva’s east side. I’m sure many readers remember lively dinners in the dining room or enjoying a drink with a view at the gazebo.

Since the popular restaurant’s closing in 2011, the property was sold and most of the structures were demolished. Only the blacksmith shop — or the “Stone Room” — remains.

Although that humble building is the subject of well-publicized debate today, I didn’t realize that the shop had actually been enclosed within the walls of the Mill Race Inn.

I also learned that over the course of nearly two centuries, the property reinvented itself many times over as Geneva evolved around it. The story of its wide-ranging uses over the decades offers an interesting glimpse into the city's past.

Looking back: Have any stories or memories from visits to the Mill Race Inn? Feel free to hit “reply” and share — would love to hear them.

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🏡 Checking in: How’s the local real estate market?

Local real estate expert Chris Wallace says the local market is strong. As you can see above, he’s been keeping busy.

Inventory is climbing and prices remain solid, reflecting continued buyer demand and market stability. Read on for more details and to learn how your home’s value may have changed in recent months.

📰 News to use

☑️ Work in progress: Geneva is moving forward with several infrastructure projects, including pre-work for the East State Street reconstruction, a Delnor Hospital water main upgrade, and new bike-friendly sharrow markings. Get the details and timing.

☑️ Food banks concerned: At a recent event in Geneva, the Northern Illinois Food Bank and other food pantry leaders joined local elected officials to raise concerns about new federal SNAP changes, warning they could lead to more food insecurity locally.

☑️ Motorcycle tragedy: A 39-year-old Sycamore man died early Sunday morning after his motorcycle veered off Fabyan Parkway in Geneva and crashed into an embankment, police said.

☑️ Joys of homeownership: A new report shows Illinois homeowners now spend nearly $20K a year on under-the-radar expenses like taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance as the cost of owning a home keeps creeping up.

☑️ Child safety: Illinois has added more Kane County ZIP codes (including Batavia, St. Charles, and North Aurora) to its list of high-risk areas for pediatric lead poisoning, which will mean mandatory lead testing for young children in those ZIP codes.

☑️ Simplified city portal: Geneva launched an upgraded SeeClickFix portal that allows residents to report non-emergency issues like potholes, tree trimming, or streetlight outages online or through a mobile app.

🏘️ In the community

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☑️ Nonprofit support: Batavia United Way has awarded $140K in Community Impact Grants to 21 nonprofits serving the Batavia area, supporting healthcare access, youth programs, financial stability, and more. Learn how the funding will make an impact.

☑️ Flood flashback: County officials highlighted the area's flood risks as the 29th anniversary of the devastating 1996 Kane County flood coincides with a recent flurry of flash floods across the country. Here’s what to know about local flooding hazards.

☑️ Cash for a cause: Kane County is putting over $1M in Grand Victoria Riverboat grant money toward 26 local projects, from food pantries and mental health programs to museum upgrades. See which organizations and projects are benefitting.

☑️ Aptly named: Boo Boo Days may be over for now, but the latest episode of “Area Code: Batavia” — which explores the event’s rich history, the story behind its quirky name, and even Batavia’s longtime connection to Geneva — is worth a listen.

🔒 Protest pivot: Organizers canceled a planned John Lewis tribute vigil in St. Charles and will instead hold a protest rally in his honor on Saturday (7/19) in Geneva on Randall Road near Gleneagle Drive.

☑️ Scarecrow city: The St. Charles Scarecrow Weekend is approaching in October — and if you've got a knack for creating spooky displays, you can apply through 9/15 to participate in the contest. Cash prizes will be up for grabs in several fun categories.

🎸 Live music

Hopefully the weather cooperates for most of the prime live music hours this weekend.

In addition to the usual spots, you’ll be able to catch performances at Acquaviva in Batavia, the Geneva Farmers Market, and the St. Charles Motorcycle Museum & Art Gallery.

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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 Summer 2025 Almanack for upcoming events and exciting new products.

🤝 Local biz

☑️ Point of pride: Batavia-based Aldi just landed on Time Magazine’s list of the world’s most influential companies, thanks to a no-frills, low-price approach that’s made it the country’s fastest growing grocer — with big plans moving forward.

☑️ Stirred for summer: Batavia MainStreet’s Cocktails in the Park returns July 26 with live music, food from local vendors, and a set of original cocktails crafted exclusively for the event.

🎯Get the word out: You find out about local things to do from Tri-Cities Central — why not flip the script and promote your own events? It’s easy to get your organization’s “Featured Event” listed in future newsletters. Learn more here.

🗓️ Events & Things to Do

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🎟️ Kane County Fair | Wed 7/16 - Sun 7/20 | Kane County Fairgrounds, STC | Bull riding, demolition derby, music, rides, a car show, and much more.

☑️ HUGE Garage Sale | Thurs 7/17 - Sat, 7/19 | Immanuel Lutheran Church, Batavia | If you’re a fan of garage sales and thrifting, check this one out.

🎟️ Peach Festival | Fri 7/18 - Sun 7/20 | Windy Acres Farm, Geneva | Celebrate all things peach with food, drinks, treats, and activities.

☑️ Artist’s Reception: Sculpture in the Park | Fri 7/18, 5-7PM | Mt. St. Mary Park, STC | Meet the sculptors behind the park’s art while enjoying wine and refreshments.

☑️ Paella on the Patio | Fri 7/18, 5-8PM | Geneva Wine Cellars | A pop-up paella night paired with great wine and good company on 3rd Street.

☑️ Kane Co. Recycling Extravaganza | Sat 7/19, 8AM-12PM | 540 S. Randall Rd., STC | Easy recycling for items that are hard to dispose of.

☑️ National Ice Cream Day | Sun 7/20, 10AM-10PM | Batavia Creamery | Get deals on ice cream flights, face painting for the kids, live music and raffles.

🎟️ Family Fun Day | Sun 7/20, 10AM-2PM | Batavia Boardwalk Shops | A Rooted Home is hosting a passport-style adventure for kids.

🎟️ Historic House Tour | Sun 7/20, 12-4PM | Downtown Geneva | A rare chance to explore historic Geneva homes and hear little-known stories from their past.

🎟️ Sun Catcher/Faux Stained-Glass Workshop | Sun 7/20, 1-4PM | Pollyanna Brewing, STC | Learn how to create beautiful works of art, then take them home.

🎟️ Burlesque Bake Sale | Sun 7/20, 4:30-7:30PM | The Dance Lab, STC | Shop treats and goods from local vendors amid dance performances.

☑️ Preparedness, Police, Pups & Popsicles | Thurs 7/24, 9:30AM | Sheriff’s Office, STC | Kids can learn how to handle emergencies and have fun in the process.

✳️ Pilates & Pints | Sun 7/27, 11AM-12PM | Sturdy Shelter Brewing, Batavia | After an invigorating session of stretching and strengthening, reward yourself with a refreshing local brew.

☑️ Reminder: Save the date for our upcoming Tri-Cities Tunes on Tap live music happy hour event at Preservation in Geneva on July 23 (next week!). Looking forward to meeting some readers.

📖 Thanks for reading

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