Welcome to Tri-Cities Central, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting local happenings in Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and surrounding communities.
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Good morning!
When I stepped into my local dry cleaner last week for the first time in about nine months, the old setup had been replaced by a solid wall with nothing but a touchscreen and a dropbox.
While it felt odd, everything went fine — the clothes got clean. I just found that I missed the in-person interaction; there’s something to be said for conducting everyday transactions like that with another human.
Dinner Club reminder: If you’re interested in joining us for Tri-Cities Dinner Club at Fox Haven Square next Thursday (9/24), make sure to sign up soon (you can register with a plus-one if you’d like).
It’s a great way to meet new local people, and checking out those brand-new restaurants should be a hoot.
Schedule note: There will be no Thursday edition of the newsletter this week. We’ll pick things back up on Monday, Sept. 21.
📮 Need to contact me with questions, tips or suggestions? Get in touch here.
LEAD STORY
Date night ideas
It's always nice to have something to look forward to once the days get short and the cold creeps in. As we transition from summer festival season into fall, it feels like a good time to line up a date night or two for the months ahead.
However, no local date night guide would be complete without input from Tri-Cities Central readers. Have a go-to spot for special occasions? A dinner-and-a-show combo you keep coming back to? An annual activity or event?
Click the button and tell us about — it’ll be super helpful for putting together the guide.
SPONSORED CONTENT
There's always a reason to visit The Little Traveler (including an incredible brunch deal for $13)
Sunday brunch at The Little Traveler's Atrium Café has been a Tri-Cities tradition for decades — and for good reason. For just $13, you get a full spread of house-made favorites: fluffy omelets, crispy bacon, Swedish pancakes, Crab Cakes Benedict.
Plus, it’s routinely named Best Brunch in West Suburban Living's Best of the West awards (trust me, it’s well-deserved).
💥 Your guide to autumn discovery: Browse the 2026 Autumn Almanack for upcoming events and fresh new products — there's always something new to discover beyond the cafe at The Little Traveler.
Below are the most clicked stories from our last newsletter issue.
☑️ Mahjong mania: From a downtown game shop to community clubs and ongoing programs at local libraries, there are plenty of ways to find a mahjong game in the Tri-Cities regardless of your skill level. Here’s where to play.
☑️ Beyond noise complaints: Campton Hills police said a series of disruptive house parties near Route 47 this summer has grown into an illegal event operation with admission fees and unlicensed food and alcohol sales.
☑️ Legacy Lofts in STC: St. Charles officials recommended approval of a redevelopment agreement for a 12-unit apartment building to go up on a prominent downtown lot that's been sitting empty for 20 years.
☑️ Financial crimes: A Batavia woman faces felony charges after being accused of stealing more than $1.5M from two local construction companies over six years.
☑️ Local remembrance: Fire and police departments across the Tri-Cities held ceremonies on Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, including remarks from leaders and special tributes. See videos and photos.
☑️ Project Warm, Safe, Dry: Batavia schools recently finished nearly $27M in safety and building upgrades, but the district says another $30M+ in repairs and improvements are still needed in the years ahead.
☑️ Site swap: After a half-million-dollar plan to install it at the Geneva courthouse fell through, Kane County now has a less expensive destination in mind for its America 250 “Liberty Tree” — the Judicial Center in St. Charles. Read more on the new plan.
☑️ Traffic notes:
S. 3rd Street in St. Charles will be closed Monday and Tuesday (9/14 and 9/15) for fire hydrant and water main valve replacements at the Indiana Street intersection.
The Fox Valley Marathon will close several downtown Geneva streets from 7-9AM on Sept. 20, with detours in place along Route 31 and Route 38.
SPONSORED CONTENT
☑️ Wildlife success story: After a Campton Hills boy found an orphaned mink kit on his driveway, his family transported the animal to Anderson Human, where it was successfully rehabbed and ultimately released into a local wetland last week.
☑️ Competition for a cause: A group of Fox Valley community leaders will trade their day jobs for the dance floor on Oct. 7 at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, competing in a "Dancing with the Local Stars" fundraiser supporting CASA Kane County. Learn more and see who’s dancing.
☑️ Program details: Batavia has launched a webpage explaining the proposed telehealth program that would let residents text a physician for non-emergency care and cost $9 per month per household (City Council hasn't voted on it yet).
☑️ Donna Dallesasse Award: The Batavia Chamber will present this year's top volunteer honor to Ellen Huxtable for her contributions to the community at the annual "Chamber Cheers" fall celebration on Sept. 28.
☑️ Safe cities: In the latest report on suburban Crime and Safety grades from the school/neighborhood ranking website Niche, Campton Hills led the Tri-Cities area with an “A” rating. See where the other local towns landed.
PRESENTED BY PRESERVATION
With no newsletter edition forthcoming on Thursday, this live music report includes performances for the full week — Monday through Sunday. Bookmark it for later this week!
SPONSORED CONTENT
Before you buy a new air purifier, read this first
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.
The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.
☑️ Where it’s always October: A digital travel magazine just published an in-depth feature on Ghoulish Mortals, the “year-round Halloween haven” shop in downtown St. Charles that’s a maze of local art, horror merch, pinball machines, and other quirky finds.
✳️ Bear down in style: With football season in full swing, Urban Artisan's Chicago Bears collection has something for every fan in the house — unique apparel, toddler gear, fun decor, and even a framed 1924 World Champs team photo.
The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.
☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for the Tri-Cities area — including this $1.6M, 4-bedroom home on Franklin St. in downtown Geneva.
☑️ Local obits: Recent obituaries posted by Tri-Cities funeral homes.
✳️ Need a local Realtor? Get in touch with the Tri-Cities’ trustworthy expert Chris Wallace at [email protected] or sign up for his newsletter.
☑️ Renovation Sneak Peek: The Batavia Public Library will host an open house Sept. 20 at 2PM, giving residents a first look at renderings, floor plans, and timelines for its upcoming renovation.
☑️ Police reports: View police reports and arrest logs for Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Campton Hills.
The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee.
Events note: Since there will be no Thursday edition of the newsletter this week, we’ve rounded up a comprehensive list of events through this coming weekend and beyond. Below is a sampling of the full lineup.
🎟️ Paint Your Pet (Paint & Sip) | Wed 9/16, 6-9PM | Riverlands Brewery, STC | Paint your pet's portrait with artist/instructor Maria Ananieva, first drink included.
🎟️ John W. Gates: St. Charles's Accidental Benefactor | Wed 9/16, 7PM | Baker Community Center, STC | Talk covering how Gates's wealth shaped local philanthropists Baker and Norris.
☑️ Woodworking Tool Sale and Swap | Sat 9/19, 8AM-3PM | Batavia Hardwoods, Batavia | Sell, swap, or browse tools at this fall event.
☑️ 48th Annual Holmstad Bazaar | Sat 9/19, 9AM-3PM | Covenant Living at the Holmstad, Batavia | The annual bazaar features crafts, treasures, food, and raffles.
🎟️ Move-A-Thon | Sat 9/19, 11AM-2PM | Kane County Cougars Stadium, Geneva | 20 tent vendors, live fitness performers, DJ, and inflatable fun.
☑️ United Fall Fest | Sat 9/19, 3PM-10PM | Congregational United Church of Christ, Campton Hills | Live music, car show, and BBQ benefiting community charities.
What’d you think of this issue?
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😐 Mediocre, could take it or leave it
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