Good morning!

Who else has been to the Kane County Flea Market lately?

I stopped by for the first time since I was a kid on Sunday. I wish we wouldn’t have waited this long — it felt like a little adventure navigating the sprawling sea of booths while chatting with the eccentric vendors overseeing them.

If you’re into that type of thing, check it out over at the Kane County Fairgrounds the first weekend of each month (excluding January and February).

Which is a fitting segue into our next topic…

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As I was researching for a report on last weekend’s Vintage Shop Hop event, it dawned on me that the Tri-Cities area is home to far more vintage, thrift, and consignment shops than I’d realized.

And the variety is so vast — warehouse-style storerooms with a little bit of everything, high-end designer apparel stores, shops focused on historic artwork, unique home decor, 90s vintage gear. The list goes on.

So naturally, I dug a little deeper…and ended up with today’s lead topic.

Read on to see the full list of local spots.

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Local partnership alert! Valor Carts — a great friend and supporter of Tri-Cities Central — has teamed up with the Chicago Steel, Geneva’s hometown junior hockey team, which plays its home games over at Fox Valley Ice Arena.

Their custom Steel-branded Valor Max cart (pictured above), complete with underglow and Steel logos, will be mascot Rusty’s ride as he cruises the rink in style all season long. And you can ride the very same cart — see photos and features here.

☑️ Infestation alert: Spotted lanternfly sightings are rapidly increasing across the Chicagoland area this fall, prompting officials to urge residents to report and squash the invasive bugs to help slow their spread.

☑️ Hidden gem: A restoration project transformed the 7th Ave. Creek area in St. Charles into a scenic, nature-filled refuge, replacing a flood-prone stretch with a thriving prairie landscape and new walking paths. See how it looks now.

☑️ Project progress: A long-planned mixed-use development at 122–130 E. State Street in Geneva is coming together, bringing a Great Western Flooring showroom, new retail space, and 14 apartments to the corner of State and Crissey.

☑️ Fresh face: Batavia City Council selected Bob White to fill the vacant 7th Ward seat following Sarah Vogelsinger’s resignation in September, with his swearing-in set for Monday (10/6). Learn more about White and the other applicants.

☑️ Riverfront feud: A Kane County judge ruled that Geneva can enforce property maintenance rules at the historic 1800s blacksmith shop site, rejecting the developer’s legal challenge and upholding daily fines tied to the long-running dispute.

☑️ County cuts: During a “State of Kane County” address in Geneva, Board Chair Corinne Pierog warned local leaders that county cash reserves could fall below the required minimum by 2027 as she outlined budget challenges and next steps.

☑️ Local legacy: Kane County is mourning the passing of longtime public servant and former North Aurora village president Dale Berman, 91, whose decades of leadership and community involvement left a lasting impact on the area.

☑️ Serving STC: The City of St. Charles is seeking residents to fill eight open seats on local commissions and a board, offering locals a great chance to get more involved in shaping community decisions.

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☑️ Autumn agenda: St. Charles community experts have put together a three-day fall itinerary packed with seasonal spots to eat, local shopping, scenic destinations, and festive activities to help you make the most of autumn.

☑️ Flower power: Project Daffodil will return to Mt. St. Mary Park in St. Charles on October 18 for its annual community planting event, inviting volunteers to help add to the thousands of blooms that brighten the park each spring.

🔒 Holiday spirit: Local nonprofit Big Hearts of Fox Valley is seeking volunteers and sponsors to shop for personalized Christmas gifts for hundreds of local students in need through its annual Santa’s Helpers program.

☑️ All juiced up: Batavia’s first public Level 3 electric vehicle chargers are now up and running at Batavia High School, offering super-fast charging in under an hour thanks to a city–school partnership and state grant funding.

☑️ Herbaceous revival: Volunteers and folks from Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley are restoring a Memorial Garden behind the historic Beith House in St. Charles — and inviting the community to sponsor plants to help bring it back to life.

Shout out to Maple Park Pub — a very fun spot to take in some live music on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Worth the short trek from the Tri-Cities.

Here’s what’s coming up this week.

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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.

💥 Autumn Almanack is out! Check out The Little Traveler’s Autumn 2025 Almanack for upcoming events and exciting new products.

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☑️ New chapter begins: After 15 years in downtown Geneva, the owners of All Chocolate Kitchen are retiring and transitioning the business (which will be called “Coffee, Cones, & Cabernet”) to longtime barista Marissa Kirch. See their final message.

☑️ Bursting with flavor: The Graceful Ordinary is partnering with renowned Chicago chef Bill Kim to serve a limited-time “Pizza Burger” as part of its returning Big City Burger Collab series in St. Charles. Wait ‘til you see this thing.

☑️ Year-round tee times: The Birdie Collective — a new self-serve, members-only indoor golf club with professional simulators — opened this spring on Dean Street in St. Charles. They’ve just applied for a liquor license for BYOB purposes as well.

✳️ Halloween hub: We just transition to October, which means spooky season has arrived. From Halloween decorations to autumn candles and even a cauldron serving set, Urban Artisan has a nice selection of seasonal favorites. Shop local!

☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for Kane County — including this $1.6M home on Dow Avenue in Geneva (complete with a golf simulator and climate-controlled wine room).

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

☑️ City meetings:

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

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☑️ Oktoberfest | All October | Squire Ale House, Campton Hills | A month-long celebration with seasonal brews, German food, music, and more.

🎟️ Spooky Crafting Event | Tues 10/7, 6:30PM | Riverlands Brewing, STC | Paint a serving plate and bowl while creating spooky candles and crafts over a beverage.

☑️ Paella on the Patio | Thurs 10/9, 5-8M | Geneva Wine Cellars | An evening of wine, paella, and 3rd Street patio vibes.

🎟️ Mysterious Batavia Walking Tour | Thurs 10/9, 6PM | Downtown Batavia | Learn secret historical facts about the Windmill City at this spicy seasonal event.

🎟️ “Area Code: Batavia” Live Show | Thurs 10/9, 7PM | Sturdy Shelter, Batavia | Hear from special guests (like the Batavia Paranormal Investigation Squad) on a night of conversation, comedy, and community.

☑️ Scarecrow Weekend | Fri 10/10 - Sun 10/12 | Downtown STC | See 120+ spooky scarecrows on display, plus sales, live entertainment, kids activities, and more.

☑️ Howl O’Ween Dog Parade | Sat 10/25, 9AM | Peck Farm Park, Geneva | Bring your costume-laden pooches for a parade in the park. Registration required.

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