'Bike and Dine' requires two wheels instead of four
The Downtown Neighborhood Association is putting a new spin on the proverbial progressive dinner.
The Elgin "Bike and Dine" will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, beginning from the civic center parking lot, 120 E. Highland Ave., in downtown.
The 14-mile ride around downtown and surrounding historic neighborhoods will stop at five downtown location for drinks and food.
First up is Ravenheart Coffee, 176 E. Chicago St., for a specialty drink or small coffee and pastry.
Next is the Douglas Street Sports Bar and Grill, 231 Douglas Ave, for an appetizer buffet and then the In The Neighborhood Deli, 185 N. Edison St, for soup and salad.
The Elgin Public House, 219 Chicago, will serve up entrees and then it's on to the Elgin Public Museum, 225 Grand Blvd., for dessert prepared by Al's Cafe and Creamery, 43 DuPage Court.
Tickets are $30 and checks can be hand-delivered through Wednesday.
For more information, call (847) 488-1456. The ride will be held rain or shine.
Help needed in South Elgin: The South Elgin Leo Club will host a spaghetti dinner from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 at 500 Fulton Street, South Elgin, to raise money to help pay medical bills for two twin girls - Devin and Emma Hassan - who were born prematurely in last year.
Devin passed away in May 2009 from pneumonia and both parents have since been laid off from their jobs. They had medical insurance after their daughters were hospitalized but it has not covered all the costs.
The cost for dinner is $7 for adults and $5 for kids 10 and under. A cash bar will be available.
For more information, call (847) 697-8611.
Cooking something good: The Kiwanis Club of Elgin's 50th annual barbecue fundraiser last month was a success, according to organizers.
The group sold about 2,000 tickets, which was an increase of 600 or more than 40 percent from last year.
About 50 Kiwanis members volunteered for the dinner, which raised $7,685 in sponsorship funding, more than twice the result from 2008.
Overall, Fay's cooked 1,625 dinners for the event.
The club also honored two of its longest serving members and former presidents: Gene Blair, member since 1953, and Jim Geister, a member for 52 years. Geister's father was a charter founding member of the club.
Congratulations to...: The folks at the Candlewood Suites, 1780 Capital St., Elgin. The facility recently opened and is looking forward to constructing an indoor pool in 2010 to better serve its guests.