An ideal Midwest getaway: Hickory Hills Campground
Hickory Hills Campground in Edgerton, Wisconsin is one of the top weekend camping trips within a couple of hours of the Tri-Cities, and Batavia-based Valor Carts has tips for making the most of your excursion with its brand-new T4 model.
Asian food, smoothies, and saunas: new businesses open up shop in St. Charles
St. Charles has welcomed the newly opened Soksay Kitchen, Smoothie King, and Perspire Sauna Studio, giving residents new spots for Asian street food, smoothies, and infrared sauna sessions.
Locals are raving about Power Moves Yoga's recovery float sessions
Power Moves Yoga's float tanks are giving Tri-Cities exercisers and runners a new way to recover during training season, offering $39 intro sessions — plus a "Mom Reboot retreat" on the calendar for August.
Enjoy the beautiful, wooded Healing Gardens in St. Charles on July 12
A two-acre woodland garden off Dean Street in St. Charles opens to the public July 12, with yoga in the gardens and a chance to pick your own summer bouquet from the garden.
Moonlight Theatre is leaving its downtown St. Charles space
Moonlight Theatre announced that it is leaving its historic downtown St. Charles home after three years and relocating to a yet-to-be-announced new location.
Big Blue Swim School coming to Geneva Commons this August
Big Blue Swim School plans to open a new location at the Geneva Commons this August, bringing warm-water swim lessons for infants, kids, adaptive learners, and adults to the Tri-Cities.
Industrial Treasures is pulling its warehouse outdoors for a two-weekend tent sale
Industrial Treasures in St. Charles is pulling its warehouse and private inventory outside for a two-weekend tent sale June 26–28 and July 3–5, including pieces that have never been available on the retail floor.
New counseling practice opens its doors in downtown Batavia
A new therapy practice called Clever Fox Counseling has opened in downtown Batavia, offering mental health counseling for individuals, couples, and families.
8 outdoor getaways worth the drive from the Tri-Cities this summer
We've rounded up eight worthwhile outdoor getaways within three hours of the Tri-Cities, with travel tips from Valor Carts for making the most of nearby camping, lake house, and state park destinations.
Swank Coffee & Wine Lounge is coming to Fox Haven Square
Swank Coffee & Wine Lounge is preparing to open at Fox Haven Square in St. Charles, with a fireplace lounge vibe and a menu that shifts from pastries and coffee in the morning to sandwiches and wine in the afternoon.
Don't sleep on these Tri-Cities restaurant specials
This list of restaurant deals across Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles spans everything from breakfast and half-priced burgers to steep drink discounts and Friday fish fries.
Chianti's in Geneva is launching a food truck and hoping to add a dining room
Not only is long-time Geneva establishment Chianti's launching a food truck with a grand opening party on Saturday (6/20), but they've filed with Geneva to add on-site dining to the current Stevens Street carryout location.
A new Balkan bakery may be coming to downtown Geneva
Geneva officials are expected to vote on a grant that would help bring Astoria Bakery and Café, a Balkan and Eastern European sweets shop currently operating out of a ghost kitchen, to a vacant space on State Street downtown.
A New York-style deli just opened in downtown Geneva
A New York-style Italian deli from a Long Island native just opened at 17 N. Fourth St. in Geneva (just off of State Street), with a grand opening celebration set for Saturday, June 13.
In its 104th year, The Little Traveler is thriving — and looking toward its next phase
If you've heard rumors that The Little Traveler is closing, they're false. Owner Mike Simon says the Geneva landmark is thriving, and he's simply looking ahead to find the right person to carry it forward someday.
Siblings Allison Patrick-Yeager and Brandon Patrick spent their teenage years hanging out at Charlestowne Mall — and now they're opening their fourth OS Salon location in the new Fox Haven Square development next door.
A parent's struggle, a child's responsibility: The emotional cost of the technology gap we don't talk about
A new Fox Valley service is pairing seniors with dedicated tech advisors (same person, every session) to help them use their devices confidently and stay one step ahead of scammers.
Batavia Boardwalk Shops open for seventh season on May 8
Downtown Batavia's Boardwalk Shops return on May 8 for their latest season of local vendors, handcrafted goods, and weekly "Downtown Dollar" raffle prizes at the corner of Wilson and River streets.
The Graceful Ordinary's burger collab series returns with a James Beard finalist
The Graceful Ordinary's popular Big City Burger Collab returns May 7–15 with a limited-run "Vistro Burger" from James Beard finalist Chef Paul Virant that's decked out with pimento cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, and pickled asparagus.
Pal Joey's announces that it's closing its riverfront Batavia restaurant
The owner of Pal Joey's announced that it will close its Batavia riverfront location, citing "dramatic changes" in a heartfelt social media post that drew dozens of supportive comments, well wishes, and shared memories.
Power Moves Yoga shifts to bigger St. Charles space with free community event coming up
Power Moves Yoga has opened a new, larger space off North Avenue in St. Charles with plans to add cold plunge, sauna, float rooms, and contrast therapy — and is hosting a free spa sampling open house on Friday (4/24).
A tea shop that makes its own pottery is opening in downtown Geneva
Steep N' Clay, a family-owned tea shop and working pottery studio from Elgin, opens its second location in downtown Geneva on April 18 with tea samples flowing all day.
Riverlands Brewing celebrates 7 years of bringing the community together through beer
The St. Charles brewery just celebrated its seventh anniversary, and co-founder Steve Marck reflects on how a Fourth of July barbecue, a decade of homebrewing, and a commitment to transparency turned Riverlands into a Tri-Cities institution.
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.
