Dave knows Tri-Cities eateries . . . mostly
Readers often assume I am aware of every eatery in the Fox Valley. It's true that I have been to plenty of them, but Judith Jablecki of Batavia stumped me last week.
She was wondering why the Rodeo Red's in Batavia was closed. I had to stop and think about where that hot dog joint was. I knew one in Geneva along Anderson Boulevard had become Mike and Miguel's, but I wasn't aware of a Batavia location.
Jablecki steered me to the industrial park on Paramount Parkway, just east of the Fabyan Parkway and Kirk Road intersection. The city had granted a liquor license to this Rodeo Red's, at 1055 Paramount Parkway, and that confirmed what she said - that the owner was expanding the restaurant with a bar and evening dining. But recently, Jablecki was finding closed doors.
"And no one was answering the phones, and we hadn't heard anything about them closing," she said. When I stopped by, a For Sale sign was on the parkway and a note on the door stating the restaurant was temporarily closed but would reopen soon with new management. Both must have just gone up.
It may solve the mystery, but Jablecki had some good feedback: "Every time we were there it was always busy. The fries were the best I've had outside of Parky's in Forest Park or Jimmy's in Chicago."
So there's free advice to any new owner. Don't mess with those fries.
Try this auction
We'll be reminded again of the power of the Great Washout of two weeks ago at the silent auction party from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday at Old Towne Pub in Geneva.
It's a fundraiser to help the Geneva Academic Foundation forget the annual Mighty Boat Race was canceled. This pub is a popular spot along State Street, so the setting and cause should make for a fun night.
He gets around
Jim Wheeler knows his way around a golf course, after nearly three decades as the professional at Pottawatomie Golf Course in St. Charles. But he also knows his way around pursuing his other passion - watching high school sports.
He watches a St. Charles football game, either at North or East, every Friday night. And when Geneva is at home, he gets a bonus. He lives near Geneva High School, so if he gets home from the St. Charles game and Geneva is still playing, he walks over to watch the Vikings finish.
"And I saw the last three minutes of the game against Glenbard South," Wheeler said with a smile on his face. The most excitement in that game occurred in the final 2:29 as Geneva scored twice in that span to secure a nail-biting 14-7 win.
Swarming attacks
There were no leisure strolls in the forest preserves last weekend. The mosquito swarms kept you moving at a fast pace. A guide at Fabyan Forest Preserve's Japanese Garden had a can off mosquito spray on hand to engage in battle. These pests were as bad as we've ever seen in the aftermath of the heavy rains.