📣 Celebrating women in the Tri-Cities

March is Women’s History Month, and Saturday (3/8) is International Women’s Day.

For those looking to mark the occasion(s), the Tri-Cities area has plenty to offer.

Whether that’s diving into history, supporting local organizations or gathering with like-minded women, here’s a quick sampling of opportunities in the area:

• International Women’s Day March: A march for those looking to unite, resist and advocate for women’s rights. (Saturday, March 8 at Island Park in Geneva)

• Women’s Day Music: Riverlands Brewing is featuring Chryyys in a special International Women’s Day live music event. (Saturday, March 8 at Riverlands Brewing in St. Charles)

• Women’s Day Ride: Grab your bike and join a friendly group ride courtesy of the Fox Valley Bicycle & Ski Club. (Saturday, March 8 at the Batavia Riverwalk)

• Release & Receive: Join a workshop that helps women let go of stress through guided self-reflection. (Sunday, March 9 at Zen Loft Collective in Batavia)

• A Brief History of the Girls’ School: Attend a fascinating event that will dig into a lesser-known part of local history. (Tuesday, March 11 at the Geneva History Museum)

• Sex Ed for Adults: A professional Sexual Health Educator will share useful tips and insights. (Thursday, March 13 in St. Charles)

• The Revolutionists: See a play celebrating bold women from history who changed the world. (March 16 at Playhouse 38 in Geneva)

• Women & Money: The STC Library is hosting a workshop on financial literacy for women, covering everything from investing to retirement. (March 19 at the St. Charles Public Library)

And that just covers upcoming events — check out this overview of women-centric organizations and experts to know about in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles.

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✨ Award-winning brunch at an unbeatable price

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.

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.

💥 Don’t just take our word for it: The Atrium Café was named Best Brunch in West Suburban Living’s 2024 Best of the West!

📰 News to use

☑️ Voting begins: In-person early voting for the April 1 election begins Friday (3/7). Here’s what you should know about early voting in Kane County — and here’s where you can look up your ward in Batavia, Geneva or St. Charles.

☑️ Rallying cries: A protest on Randall Road and a speech from Gov. Pritzker — both occurring in St. Charles last weekend — highlighted local concerns over national policy actions that some view as a threat to democracy.

☑️ Multiple charges: The Illinois State Police arrested four men during a two-day human trafficking suppression operation, including a 38-year-old from Geneva.

☑️ Tax pitch: Kane County is eyeing a retail sales tax increase that voters will consider on the April 1 ballot — officials say it would generate $51M in revenue to fund important public safety initiatives.

☑️ Fact vs. fiction: A coalition of educator unions is raising concerns about the spread of misleading campaign flyers that misrepresent their endorsed candidates for the St. Charles school board, urging voters to verify information from trusted sources.

☑️ Geneva rail project: Starting this month, crews will begin installing the third railroad line between Peck Road in Geneva and West Chicago, which might get noisy at times. Get more info on the traffic impact and project timeline.

🏘️ In the community

☑️ Help needed: With rents soaring and apartment vacancies at a record low, Lazarus House in St. Charles is seeing an unprecedented number of children in need of shelter, already surpassing last year’s total. Consider donating if you’re able.

☑️ Bright future: The conversation about St. Charles’ energy future — and the role of our area’s current power contract — will continue on Monday (3/10) during a discussion hosted by the Tri-Cities Clean Energy group at the STC Library. Learn more and how to register.

☑️ Wheels in motion: The two local teens who founded the Saint Charles Urban Design Advocates nonprofit are rallying for safer, more accessible streets and public transit — an inspiring effort that’s caught the attention of local transportation officials.

☑️ Watchful eyes: With spring break quickly approaching, the St. Charles Police Department is offering a vacation watch service for residents heading out of town. It seems that Geneva offers a service as well, but Batavia doesn’t appear to do so.

☑️ Captain on duty: Kane County’s Child Advocacy Center just got a little more comforting with the arrival of DuoDog Captain, a specially trained dog who’s now helping kids through their toughest moments. Meet the two-year-old yellow lab.

☑️ Celebrate smart: With St. Patrick’s Day around the corner, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office is stepping up patrols to crack down on drunk and reckless driving from March 7-18.

🎸 Live music

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Any Motown fans in the inbox? You may want to look into “Uptown: A Celebration of Motown & Soul” at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre on Friday night — in addition to the dozens of other live performances on tap for this weekend.

🤝 Local biz

☑️ Diners’ delight: Batavia’s new Chamber Eats program is spotlighting a different local restaurant each month, giving diners a chance to win prizes while supporting the local food scene. Get the details and see which spot is up first.

☑️ Retail news: Nordstrom Rack will open a new Geneva location with a grand opening party on March 13 at Randall Square, where it will occupy part of the former Bed Bath and Beyond space. There’s also a “Pre-Opening Shopping Party” on March 11.

🗓️ Events & Things to Do

The 🎟️ symbol indicates an admission fee. The ✳️ symbol indicates sponsored content.

✳️ Family Movie Night | Fri 3/7, 6-9PM | Zen Loft Collective, Batavia | Watch an enchanting tale of ice and adventure — plus a meet n’ greet with the snow queen herself at 6PM!

🎟️ Premier Card Show | Sat 3/8, 9AM-3PM | Kane County Fairgrounds, STC | Dive into the world of trading cards, memorabilia and related collectibles.

🎟️ Maple Fest | Sat 3/8, 10AM - Sun 3/9, 2PM | Red Oak Nature Center, N. Aurora | Learn about all things maple syrup then indulge in some tastings.

☑️ Seed Swap | Sat 3/8, 1-3PM | New Moon Vegan, Batavia | Bring seeds to exchange with fellow local gardeners.

☑️ Community Resource Fair | Sat 3/8, 1-3PM | Geneva Public Library | Connect with folks from a wide range of local community-focused organizations.

🎟️ Swedish Meatball Dinner | Sat 3/8, 4:30PM | Bethany Lutheran Church, Batavia | Celebrate National Meatball Day Sweden-style with a children’s choir benefit dinner.

🎟️ Pi Day Bake-Off | Sun 3/9, 1-4PM | Sturdy Shelter Brewing, Batavia | Make a pie, taste some pie, or both — just be ready for all things pie.

🎟️ Hooks & Laughter | Sun 3/9, 5PM | Comedy Vault, Batavia | A hilarious night of comedy benefiting Batavia Firefighters Local 3436.

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