Good morning!

Tucked in a little downtown Geneva space just off State Street, a new sandwich shop is quietly preparing to open.

I noticed the new awning for Nino’s Italian Deli a month or two ago, but attempts to dig up information online had proven unsuccessful (aside from finding its Google Maps listing).

Then I read Dave Heun's weekly Daily Herald column last week, which filled in the blanks: the new owner is bringing a New York-style Italian deli to 17 N. Fourth St., and is currently working to finalize his bread source before opening.

The owner, who moved to the Tri-Cities to be closer to family, said high-quality meats, Italian-style sandwiches, and homemade dressings will anchor the menu — plus meats available by the pound.

I believe Yatai Japanese Kitchen, which closed last summer, was the most recent business to occupy the space. It was also previously home to The Burger Shop (miss that place!) and Firehouse Pizza & Grill.

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If you’ve crossed the Fox River in downtown Geneva recently, you may have noticed a change in the scenery.

Geneva's 1843 blacksmith shop was wrapped in white plastic last week, raising questions about whether the move (made without notifying the city) will protect or accelerate the deterioration the historic landmark at the center of a well-publicized standoff.

It’s just the latest chapter in a lengthy saga surrounding the building.

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There aren’t many truly local garbage companies left. This is one of them.

When Tri-Cities homeowners need a dumpster, they call Midwest Waste — not a national chain, not a call center, and not a company that buries fees in the fine print.

Midwest Waste is locally owned, locally staffed, and known for helping local residents and businesses choose exactly what they need — whether that’s a quick garage clean-out or a full-scale remodel.

Clear pricing. Real answers. Reliable service. If you’re planning a project this spring or summer, you already know who to call.

Below are the most clicked stories from our last newsletter issue.

☑️ Happy hours: Friday happy hours are tougher to find than you'd think — but if you know where to look, Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles have plenty of solid options waiting for you.

☑️ St. Charles death update: The Kane County Coroner's Office says a South Elgin resident whose body was pulled from the Fox River on April 29 likely drowned, with a death investigation ongoing pending toxicology results.

☑️ Massive property’s future: The Q Center hotel and conference campus — which features 1,000+ rooms and 15 buildings on 95 acres along the Fox River in St. Charles — is up for sale, which could potentially lead to parts of it being redeveloped if sold.

☑️ Street scouting: According to the mayor, speculators are already walking Batavia neighborhoods and requesting city infrastructure information in anticipation of the state's BUILD plan as the housing legislation works through Springfield.

☑️ Fatal incident in Batavia: The Kane County Coroner's Office has identified the man who was found dead from a gunshot wound in a Batavia apartment on April 25.

☑️ June tax deadline: Kane County property tax bills are arriving soon (if they haven’t already). The county also announced new features like a spending breakdown chart and a paperless billing option, plus addressed some frequently asked questions.

☑️ School summer: Geneva CUSD 304 is kicking off a major summer of capital improvements in June, with projects including everything from new tennis courts and parking lots at the high school to upgrades at the middle and elementary schools.

☑️ High-tech talent: Fermilab is joining forces with Northern Illinois University to launch a new master's program specializing in quantum science and technology that will kick off this fall and involve hands-on research at Fermilab.

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☑️ Building Batavia’s vibe: The latest episode of “Area Code: Batavia” features a conversation with Beth and Kristen from Batavia MainStreet on how the nonprofit shapes the character of downtown — including a behind-the-scenes look at organizing the Boardwalk Shops.

☑️ A glimpse of Big Boy: The world's largest operating steam locomotive, Union Pacific's “Big Boy,” will pass through Elburn, La Fox, and Geneva on June 3 before stopping in West Chicago as part of a tour celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

☑️ A local gem returns: The Fabyan Villa Museum and Japanese Garden opened for its 2026 season this weekend, offering both guided and self-guided tours and free Japanese Garden visits through September 30. Get all the details.

☑️ Art in plain sight: Local artists have until May 8 to apply for two paid Batavia public art projects — a $9,650 “America 250” mural at City Hall and up to $3,200 to turn upcycled wind turbine blades into benches for the new River Street Plaza.

☑️ Preservation month: Geneva is marking National Preservation Month with historic walking tours and a workshop for property owners in the city's historic district, all free and open to the public.

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We did some exploring during Geneva’s Art Explosion event on Saturday and ended up on Chi-Cuterie’s patio for some live music to cap it off. If you've never been, it’s a vibe — I imagine even more so on a warm summer day.

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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 $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 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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✳️ Screen-free fun: Power Moves Yoga's Kids Summer Yoga Camp is back for its fifth year with a four-week Thursday program for kids age 5–9 that blends movement, mindfulness, and creative arts — with a $25 discount for TCC readers.

☑️ Long-awaited opening: The St. Charles location of fire + wine will open on Tuesday (5/5) at Fox Haven Square, bringing the wood-fired cooking and curated wine concept to the Tri-Cities for the first time. Get details and see the menu.

☑️ New campus proposed: Two Brothers Brewing is partnering with a developer on a 20-acre mixed-use project in Warrenville that would relocate its tap house (which is adjacent to Fermilab) to a Butterfield Road corner site with 180 new apartments.

✳️ Mom-worthy finds: Urban Artisan in downtown Geneva has a whole Mother's Day collection ready to go — clever cards, fragrant candles, unique books, Chicago gear, and all kinds of stuff that will totally make her day. Browse the selection.

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☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for the Tri-Cities area — including this whimsical, 100-year-old Tudor Revival style home that sold for over $1.1M in downtown Geneva.

✳️ 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: Geneva wants to know what residents think about housing, development, and sustainability — and a May 7 community event is your first chance to weigh in on the city's new comprehensive plan.

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

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🎟️ Mal Bien Cinco De Mayo Takeover | Tue 5/5, 4PM–9PM | Mosaic Kitchen & Cocktails, Geneva | Tacos, tequila, smoky mezcal, and Cinco de Mayo specials.

☑️ State of the City | Wed 5/6, 6-7:30PM | Arcada Theatre, STC | Mayor Hull emcees updates from city, park district, library, and D303, with Q&A reception to follow.

🎟️ History Rocks 2026 | Thu 5/7, 6PM–9PM | Club Arcada, STC | A museum fundraiser with Italian buffet, Afternoon Logic live music, and 50-50 raffle prizes.

🎟️ Beginner Bonsai | Thu 5/7, 6:30PM–8:30PM | Sturdy Shelter Brewing, Batavia | Learn to pot, prune, and craft bonsai with expert instructors and enjoy brewery bevs. 

☑️ Veteran Resource Fair | Fri 5/8, 10AM–2PM | VFW Post 1197, Batavia | Over 40 organizations provide veteran community resources and free lunch.

☑️ Late Night Vibes: A Second Friday Event | Fri 5/8, 6PM–10PM | Urban Apothecary, Batavia | Massage, salt therapy, and botanical beverage sampling. 

🎟️ Tri-Cities Dinner Club | Thu 5/21, 6:15PM | Downtown Geneva | Enjoy an outstanding Geneva restaurant, meet new people, and mingle with the local Dinner Club crew.

🔥 Loved it, keep up the good work

😐 Mediocre, could take it or leave it

🛑 3 minutes I’ll never get back

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Final word: The forecast for this week is still mostly highs in the 50s, but it looks like a permanent warmup may be materializing next week. Would planting the vegetable garden the weekend of May 16 be too bold?