🏆 Local favorites shine in “Best of the West”

Dozens of local businesses and attractions in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles landed a coveted spot in West Suburban Living Magazine’s 2025 “Best of the West” competition.

From best burger to best place for live comedy — and even a nod to Geneva as the “best downtown for shopping” — Tri-Cities favorites appeared throughout the list, reflecting both the strength of the local business community and the loyalty of the people here.

The annual reader-voted awards highlight the top spots for dining, shopping, entertainment and services in the western ‘burbs.

There are far too many honorees to list here, so I rounded up all the Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles winners in one place.

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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. 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.

💥 Beyond brunch: Check out The Little Traveler’s Spring 2025 Almanack for upcoming events and exciting new products.

📰 News to use

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☑️ Dangerous encounter: A man suspected of injuring a Geneva police officer during a traffic stop was shot and killed by Aurora police last week after a chase ended at a local cemetery.

☑️ Senior benefits: Two separate tax exemptions for senior citizens in Kane County could provide you with property tax relief — see if you’re eligible.

🔒 Power debate: St. Charles residents packed a recent City Council meeting, with many voicing opposition to a long-term extension of the city’s coal-reliant energy contract due to environmental and health concerns. A related Q&A will be held at the Monday (3/24) committee meeting.

☑️ Phone crackdown: A bill requiring all Illinois school districts to restrict student cell phone use during class (something currently being explored in St. Charles) has passed a Senate committee and could soon move to a full vote.

☑️ Foam update: Batavia officials have taken samples of the foam observed in Mahoney Creek last week and sent them to a lab for testing. An investigation into the source is ongoing.

☑️ Hydrant flushing: Spring fire hydrant flushing is underway in Geneva. It will start on 4/7 in St. Charles (full schedule) and on 4/3 in Batavia.

🏘️ In the community

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☑️ Bold ideas: The River Corridor Foundation has been thinking about the potential of a “Wild Mile”-style floating garden and boardwalk project along the Fox River in St. Charles — with a discussion event planned for 4/16.

🔒 Outdoor dining hub: St. Charles officials approved a new layout for First Street Plaza that will add outdoor dining space for nearby establishments and require restaurants to pay a new $2K damage deposit for plaza use.

☑️ Resident feedback: Batavia is hosting two events (Tues 3/25 and Wed 3/26) to gather community input on the Park District’s master plan as well as a special public discussion event on Tuesday (3/25) about the city’s new electrical studies/plans.

☑️ Lease locked: A new report ranks the Chicago suburban area as the second-most competitive rental market in the country, with occupancy rates topping 95% and limited new housing supply.

☑️ Seasonal activities: From farmers markets and pickleball to art events and the great outdoors, there’s plenty to do in St. Charles during the spring. Here are some ideas.

☑️ Local connections: The Kane County Association for Home and Community Education, a local group focused on lifelong learning and community service, recently hosted a travel-themed presentation at its March meeting in St. Charles.

🎸 Live music

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New live music website: Local musician Drew Clausen (whose name you’ve undoubtedly seen if you read our weekly live music roundups) has launched a new online hub for live music events in the greater Tri-Cities area called Local Vibz.

Not only is Drew a great musician, he’s a good guy with a creative vision for this community-driven project. It’s a useful tool for residents to find music and venues/artists to showcase their events.

🤝 Local biz

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☑️ Locally grown: Rustic Road Farm will resume its presence at this year’s Batavia Farmers Market, but they’ll also be offering Summer CSA Pickup in Batavia. Learn about the program.

🔒 Throwback threads: Neighborsgrid, a vintage sportswear shop known for ‘90s nostalgia that got its start at the Batavia Boardwalk Shops, has settled into its new brick-and-mortar location on 3rd Street in downtown Geneva. Meet the owners.

💥 Local advertising: Want to showcase your business in Tri-Cities Central? Check out our easy, cost-effective advertising program.

🗞️ Un-classifieds

☑️ Local home sales: See recent property sales for Kane County — including this wild-looking $1.2M home on the riverfront in St. Charles.

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

☑️ City meetings:

• Monday (3/24): STC Government Services Committee (agenda)

• Tuesday (3/25): Batavia Committee of the Whole (agenda)

☑️ Police reports: Batavia police report summaries | Geneva police reports | St. Charles daily arrest log

🗓️ Events & Things to Do

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☑️ iCash Unclaimed Property Event | Wed 3/26, 10AM-2PM | 406 Surrey Woods Dr., STC | Find unclaimed cash and property at the office of Sen. DeWitte and Rep. Ugaste.

☑️ Rummage Sale | Thurs 3/27, 1PM - Sat 3/29, 12PM | Baker Memorial Church, STC | Get great bargains on all kinds of items.

🎟️ Smoke & Spirits | Thurs 3/27, 6-8PM | Foxfire, Geneva | Whiskey, charcuterie and cigars in good company.

☑️ Artists’ Reception | Thurs 3/27, 6-7:30PM | Geneva Library | Meet and celebrate the artists from Tell Your Story: A Community Art Exhibit.

🎟️ AfterImage: First Look | Thurs 3/27, 7PM | Moonlight Theatre, STC | A sneak peek at the 2025 AfterImage Film Festival lineup.

☑️ Garden for Lepidoptera | Thurs 3/27, 7PM | Baker Community Center, STC | An exploration of butterflies, moths and how to attract them to your yard.

🎟️ Kentucky Derby Soirée | Sat 4/12, 6:30-11PM | Arcada Theatre, STC| A Derby-themed dinner with music, dancing and raffles in support of the STC Women’s Club.

📖 Thanks for reading

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