Author: Fox Valley Magazine

O&D Hospitality, the family-owned restaurant group founded by husband-and-wife industry veterans Megan Curren and Chef Chris Curren—best known for their award-winning riverside dining destination The Graceful Ordinary —has announced plans for two new venues in the heart of historic downtown St. Charles. The Currens are excited to unveil very early details on The Idle Hour, a members-only cigar lounge, and RILY, a raw bar and live jazz venue, both slated for a 2026 debut, plus, an update on Vicolo in Aurora. The Idle HourLocated at 11 South 2nd Avenue, next door to the historic 1900 Moonlight Theatre (formerly known as…

Note: This is the latest in a weekly series from Anderson Humane spotlighting wonderful animals currently looking for a “forever home.” We encourage you to support Anderson Humane and it’s tireless efforts to care for our animal friends and place them in loving homes. For more information please visit https://ahconnects.org/. Meet Lily!Lily is a 10-year-old beauty with a gorgeous coat and an even more beautiful personality. She is a very sweet and affectionate girl who truly loves attention. When you pet her, she’ll reward you with loud, happy purrs that show just how content she is. Despite being a mature lady, Lily…

Comedy mastermind Brad Upton will be performing at The Comedy Vault in Batavia on Sunday, March 1, for one performance only. With a career spanning over 37 years, comedy veteran Upton is just getting started. The former fourth grade teacher and part-time track coach is seeing a resurgence unlike anyone else. His 2019 Dry Bar comedy special, “Boomer Triggers Gen-Z Snowflakes” with 16.1 million views on YouTube, is the 2nd most viewed comedy special on the planet. The viral phenomenon sent the album to #1 on the iTunes Charts and drove his ensuing special “I’m Not Done Yet” to new heights. Collectively,…

Kanecountyconnects.com Away from public view in the basement of the historic Third Street Courthouse in Geneva is an object that has puzzled staff and historians alike for years. It’s not a document, a painting, or an old piece of furniture. It’s a headstone,resting on the floor, with missing letters and an incomplete date. The stone’s inscription reads, “Willie C. Cright… , died October 188?” It is missing letters from the last name and the complete date of death. Scouring the internet and reviewing archival records with the Geneva History Museum reveal that the headstone belongs to William C. Crighton, the first-born child of…

They Sing. They String. They Shred!!! FEMMES OF ROCK is a high-octane, multimedia rock experience that redefines the electric violin. Fronted by three powerhouse female violinist/vocalists and backed by a thunderous three-piece band, this show takes classic rock and heavy metal to a level you’ve never seen—or heard—before. From Queen, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Ozzy to Van Halen, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Rush, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, The Who, and beyond, FEMMES OF ROCK tears through legendary anthems with jaw-dropping precision and fire. You won’t believe it’s violins driving the sound until you see it for yourself.…

A Hollywood dream-factory farce. 1939 Hollywood is abuzz. Legendary producer David O. Selznick has shut down production of his new epic, Gone with the Wind, a film adaptation of Margaret Mitchell’s novel. The screenplay, you see, just doesn’t work. So what’s an all-powerful movie mogul to do? While fending off the film’s stars, gossip columnists and his own father-in-law, Selznick sends a car for famed screenwriter Ben Hecht and pulls formidable director Victor Fleming from the set of The Wizard of Oz. Summoning both to his office, he locks the doors, closes the shades, and on a diet of bananas…

Guitarist, singer/songwriter, bandleader, recording artist, producer & podcast host Dave Specter will perform with his band at The Venue in Aurora on Friday, February 20 at 8pm (doors 7pm). Specter has earned an international reputation as one of the premier talents on the Chicago music scene. Since 1985 Specter has performed regularly at top venues and festivals throughout the USA and has toured internationally in 19 countries. Before forming his own band in 1989, Specter toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe behind such blues greats as Son Seals, The Legendary Blues Band, Hubert Sumlin, Sam Lay and Steve Freund.…

This February, the Gail Borden Public Library rotunda will welcome a very special guest: a century-old milk wagon. Part of the “Celebrating 250 Years of Elgin” commemorative exhibit, the wagon’s arrival marks a homecoming for a piece of the city’s rich dairy legacy. A Nod to Our Roots Given that the Gail Borden Public Library is named after a titan of the dairy industry, library officials were thrilled when Liz Marston of the Elgin History Museum offered to loan the vintage Elgin Sanitary Milk Company wagon. This marks the first time the wagon has been on display within the city.…

Note: This is the latest in a weekly series from Anderson Humane spotlighting wonderful animals currently looking for a “forever home.” We encourage you to support Anderson Humane and it’s tireless efforts to care for our animal friends and place them in loving homes. For more information please visit https://ahconnects.org/. Meet Chika — Your Sunshine-Loving Gentle Companion!  Looking for a sweet, quiet soul to share sunny afternoons and unconditional love? Chika might be your perfect match. She can be a little shy at first, but with patience, she blossoms into a loyal, affectionate friend who simply loves being near her people — especially…

One stage. Countless undiscovered treasures. Running from February 20 to March 1 at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, Unsung Broadway is a musical revue celebrating unforgettable songs from shows that time forgot, and unforgettable numbers that never made Opening Night. From overlooked masterpieces to cut classics from iconic musicals, this show brings a fresh take to Broadway’s best-kept secrets. Join us for an evening of nostalgia and surprises that will have you asking, “Why haven’t I heard this before?”! Tickets are $22 ($20 for students and seniors) and can be purchased here. Elgin Community College Arts Center is located…