If you’re a longtime TCC reader, you may recall that my wife and I are the proud parents of a banana tree named Darryl.

I love watching the yard and vegetable garden come to life each spring, but nothing quite matches the exhilaration of de-mulching Darryl and witnessing him bulk up faster than Sammy Sosa in the late ‘90s.

Anyway, as much as I adore Darryl, this piece isn’t about him — it’s about giving you tips and guidance for spring planting specific to the Tri-Cities area.

Read on for info about local seed libraries, the best timing for our hardiness zone, native plant grouping ideas, detailed planting instructions, and more.

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Most coffee shops pour from bottles that have been sitting on a shelf for months. At Maple Leaf Coffee House in downtown St. Charles, every syrup is made fresh, in small batches, several times per week.

It’s all simple ingredients: water, sugar, and whatever gives it its flavor — whether that's vanilla bean, fresh fruit, or pistachio. No preservatives, no mystery additives. And they recently started making their cold foam in-house, too.

💥 Learn why (and how) Maple Leaf makes their syrup in-house. Pro tip: Maple Leaf also runs syrup-making classes (you'll see the next one here when it drops).

☑️ Community rallying: A 37-year-old Batavia mother of five died following a multi-vehicle crash on Randall Road last week, and the community has already raised well over $100K on GoFundMe to support her husband and young children. Get more details and contribute.

☑️ More housing proposed: If developers get the green light from St. Charles officials, a 29-acre site near Route 38 and Randall Road could become home to a new 306-unit apartment complex and a 167-unit senior living facility. Get the project details.

☑️ TIF tabled: Batavia officials delayed a public hearing on a proposed new downtown TIF district to allow more time for financial planning as major projects like the QT9 headquarters relocation and a planned apartment development wait in the wings.

☑️ Case update: An Elgin woman has been charged with felony reckless homicide in the August 2025 crash in Campton Hills that killed a 57-year-old St. Charles resident.

☑️ Facade funding: Geneva's Historic Preservation Commission recommended a new facade grant program that would offer up to $10K to help historic district homeowners pay for repairs that align with their home’s historic character.

☑️ Road work notes:

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☑️ Better interactions: The Batavia and Campton Hills police departments are both launching the free Blue Envelope Program, giving residents with autism, cognitive disabilities, or severe anxiety a simple way to communicate their needs during officer encounters.

☑️ Green guide: Kane County released its latest Green Guide featuring tips and guidance on how to responsibly dispose of just about anything — plus a calendar of local recycling events in 2026.

☑️ Building in Batavia: Seven Batavia businesses earned Ole Awards from the Chamber of Commerce for new construction and remodeling projects completed in 2025 — and two organizations also received Civic Impact Awards. See all the winners.

☑️ Geneva day: WGN Radio spent a full day last week spotlighting Geneva, including a video segment with Mayor Kevin Burns and Stockholm's owner Michael Olesen on what makes the city's history and local business scene so compelling.

☑️ Helping hands: CASA Kane County’s annual ‘Hands Around the Courthouse' event — which brings locals together to support kids in foster care and recognize their advocates — will take place at noon on April 9 at noon at the courthouse in downtown Geneva.

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Hope ya’ll managed okay without a live music lineup last Thursday — I know I was irritated when I went to check the schedule on Friday night and remembered that I wasn’t able to publish it!

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Sunday brunch at The Little Traveler's Atrium Café has been a Tri-Cities tradition for decades — and for good reason. For just $12.95, 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 spring discovery: Browse the 2026 Spring Almanack for upcoming events and fresh new products — there's always something new to discover beyond the cafe at The Little Traveler.

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☑️ Small batch from scratch: Gourmet Garage is a new small-group cooking class experience in Batavia where a local chef teaches hands-on culinary techniques in an intimate, BYOB setting limited to eight seats per class.

☑️ Video tour: Get an inside look at Simple EJ’s Kitchen & Tap, a new spot that describes itself as “more than a sports bar” as it gets itself ready to open at Fox Haven Square in St. Charles this spring.

✳️ Play ball, shop local: The season is underway, and Urban Artisan in downtown Geneva has you covered — from Cubs/Sox gear and bat barrel mugs to uniform art prints and even a bow tie made from a real baseball. Check out their selection.

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☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for the Tri-Cities area — including this $1.6M equestrian estate in St. Charles with a horse barn (including its own living quarters), a detached cottage, a wine cellar, and a fitness studio with a sauna.

✳️ Need a trustworthy local realtor? Get in touch with Tri-Cities expert Chris Wallace at [email protected] or chriswallacere.com.

☑️ Local obits: Recent obituaries posted by Tri-Cities funeral homes.

☑️ City meetings: Elburn village meetings are moving to temporary locations through at least June while Village Hall undergoes expansion renovations.

☑️ Police reports: View police reports and arrest logs for Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles and Campton Hills.

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☑️ Easter events: There are yet more local egg hunts, bunny photos, and brunch options coming up across Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles — here's the full rundown of Easter events.

🎟️ Japanese Whisky Tasting | Wed 4/1, All Day | Atwater's Bar & Lounge, Geneva | Rare Teitessa single grain flight featuring 20, 25, and 27-year whiskies. 

🎟️ Spring Silk Floral Workshop | Thu 4/2, 6:30PM–8:30PM | Up North Wine Tasting Room, Geneva | Create a custom spring silk floral arrangement with an expert florist.

🎟️ Improv in the Moonlight | Thu 4/2, 7:30PM | Moonlight Theatre, STC | Crazy Shades of Blue Comedy Troupe performs live comedy with full bar and food.

🎟️ Retro Food Fads | Fri 4/3, 10AM–11AM | Geneva History Museum | A historian explores how food innovations transformed American eating from the 1940s–1960s.

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