Nothing but good thoughts for The Quad
Does a grand groundbreaking event featuring smiling city and business officials equate to a successful venture? The answer to that would be "no."
Many businesses and large ventures have gone belly-up in the past seven years, and most probably had flashy ribbon cuttings and glad-handing when they opened. Those events generally mean the new business is happy to be here, but it doesn't tell us anything about how they plan to be successful and properly manage their business.
But we have our fingers crossed that the recent groundbreaking event at The Quad, effectively illustrating that construction has begun on the overhaul of the ailing Charlestowne Mall, will lead to a better conclusion.
There are no guarantees, but St. Charles needs things to go really well in terms of consumers and merchants at The Quad. It also wouldn't hurt if the economy doesn't decide to slip up again, or the winter doesn't paralyze efforts to keep the project moving.
That great street
Some folks in Batavia might still think the large wooden entry arch on North River Street was a waste of money, and looks dumb to boot.
I am on record as being in the opposite camp, thinking it was great to have the courage to do something new and different. This was especially true since Batavia was virtually recasting a whole new look along its restaurant row.
Turns out, it wasn't so new and different. The facelift is of the type that has gone on in Europe for years, in which a streetscape is tailored more to pedestrians to congregate and do things.
It was nice to hear Batavia's project won an award from the Illinois chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Even better, the number of people spending time on North River Street shows it has some appeal.
As for the arch? It's likely to continue to draw mixed reactions.
Hard to see
Ouch. You sure don't like to see a pile of burned up rubble sitting on the sidewalk outside of one of your favorite establishments.
That rubble was once kitchen equipment and fixtures inside The Office Dining and Spirits along Main Street in St. Charles.
Hopefully, owner Sean Williams can get the place back up and running as well or better than before the kitchen fire Aug. 27 made a mess of things.
An eye strain
It's been fun to watch a strong Richards High School football team play our local teams the past two years but not so fun to cover for the newspaper.
Players from the Oak Lawn high school wear white jerseys sporting gold numbers that blend right in with the jersey. In other words, you can't see the numbers.
That makes it really hard to figure out who did what in a pile of football players. Basically, the reporters in the press box try to help each other dissect the plays. Over time, you get a general sense of who did what, because the same few players tend to have the football in their hands.
Mexican food aloft
Each time I have had a meal at El Molcajete on State Street in Geneva, it has been quite good. It made me hope more people would give it a try - and it appears they have.
So much so that El Molcajete is adding a second location, in the upper level restaurant spot in the Berry House on Third Street. The "coming soon" signs sit along the rooftop deck at Berry House. Many restaurants have come and gone from that location in the past, but this Mexican restaurant already has a solid following.
That might be the secret ingredient to have some staying power in a pretty nice spot along Geneva's bustling retail sector. El Molcajete on Third is hoping to open in a couple of weeks.
Festival paradise
A reader asked me the other day which local community festival was my favorite. Swedish Days in Geneva always pops into my head first, but you really have to give all of them their due.
Swedish Days, Windmill City Fest in Batavia, Riverfest in St. Charles, Elburn Days and Scarecrow Festival in St. Charles fall into the family fun category.
Festival of the Vine in Geneva is an excellent festival for adults, though I would imagine kids certainly enjoy the food offerings.
The art festivals are wonderful, but obviously are best for those who truly admire art.
How do you really say one is better than the other for its residents? Some are bigger than others, so outside visitors might be a barometer of which one qualifies as the most attractive in terms of which draws the most.
I know a lot of locals stay away when their community festivals get too big. But these events keep an important central theme at heart - trying to bring a town together to plan and enjoy them.
You could go on about what makes these events important, but here's something that has to be said: Thanks, to the many organizers and volunteers who make our festivals bring out the best we have to offer.
My taste buds
I can't let readers slip away without my thoughts on what I had to eat at the Festival of the Vine's Flavor Fare last weekend. Had to try the barbecue pulled pork from the Nobel House booth, because I haven't had a chance to visit that new restaurant in Geneva yet. The sandwich was really good.
And I went with lemon chicken and fried rice from a reliable longtime Geneva establishment, Gen-Hoe. It was tasty and, more importantly, they gave you a lot of it in one little dish.
After topping it off with some French vanilla chip ice cream from Graham's, I was one happy camper.
Mostly, I always leave the Flavor Fare thinking of - and thanking - the late Chuck Lencioni. It was his idea many years ago to bring this type of fun to Geneva.
dheun@sbcglobal.net