Batavia author shares tales of awkward dates in new book
Just in time for Valentine's Day, a locally-based author whose new book is drawing national attention will be speaking at a bookstore along the Randall Road corridor this month.
Author Stephanie Rische will be at the Barnes and Noble in Geneva, 102 Commons Drive, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6.
Rische is a blogger, whose debut book “I Was Blind (Dating), But Now I See: My Misadventures in Dating, Waiting and Stumbling into Love” came out last month.
It tells the “charming, vulnerable and (whom are we kidding?) often mortifying true story of a girl who tried really hard to find someone to fall in love with — even when she mostly just ended up falling flat on her face,” according a release about the book. “But amid the most cringe-worthy setups and awkward encounters, Stephanie found God's grace and love.”
You can hear Rische talk about her dating journey at her appearance on Saturday.
She says she'll read an except from her book at the event Feb. 6.
“My memoir came out around Valentine's Day with singles specifically in mind, but it's really for anyone whose life and relationships didn't turn out exactly the way they planned,” Rische said. “The book recounts my misadventures in dating as I went on one flopped blind date after another. It's full of awkward, mortifying, funny moments, but it's also about how I found out more about myself and about life along the way.”
You'll also get a chance to meet the local author and can purchase and take home a signed copy of the book.
Rische, who hopes her book will help readers to feel they're not alone in their quest to find true love, is a resident of Batavia. She said after living in St. Charles for many years, she and her husband moved in June to Batavia.
For information on the author appearance and book signing, call Barnes and Noble at (630) 262-8568.
A feast for Romeo and Juliet:
For all of you lovebirds out there, Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano along the Randall Road corridor is hosting a dinner this month inspired by Shakespeare's famous star-crossed lovers.
On Friday, Feb. 12, the restaurant will be serving up the special Valentine's dinner to patrons, who must reserve a spot ahead of time.
The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be a special six-course meal and wine dinner.
It will feature wines from the Veneto region, and the dinner will be guided by Kristin Milles, Midwest regional manager for Dalla Terra Winery.
The dinner and will include a six-course meal specially prepared by Chef Partner Bryant McIntosh to complement the featured wines.
You'll be dining on things such as fried oysters, grilled lamp chop and a dark chocolate panna cotta.
To take part in the dinner, you can make reservations by calling (847) 658-5040.
The restaurant is at 1524 N. Randall Road, in the Algonquin Commons shopping center on the west side of Randall.
• Amy Williams' column covers all the news of business along the Randall Road corridor from South Elgin to Batavia. Contact her at randallbiz@comcast.net or at (847) 894-5036.