Dave comes up with his own 'best of' for the Tri-Cities

Last week I was moaning about our fair cities not being included in enough "best of" lists on various topics.

It's time to reveal my "Reasons Why the Tri-Cities Area Should Be on Nearly Every 'Best Of List' That Anyone Concocts."

The list comes mostly from my experiences, but readers provided input as well. Quite a bit came in, so to be fair, the last couple of items will mention key comments that weren't the same as my list.

As for my "reasons why," let us count the ways.

That sweet tooth

Any list considering what an area offers in tasty treats has to include Kimmer's Ice Cream in St. Charles; Kilwins, Graham's Chocolate, the All-Chocolate Kitchen, The Latest Crave and Sugar Path in Geneva.

When you include some great bakeries in the area, there's enough sugar around here to send you into another stratosphere.

Play that music

If you want to brag about music, how can you pass up Batavia? The city has a great band shell right on its Riverwalk and a terrific record shop called Kiss the Sky that features live music on occasion. The Ides of March recently played there for an hourlong free concert. It was worthy of any "best of" list.

Which brings us to Ron Onesti and his Arcada Theatre in downtown St. Charles. Night after night, this place brings a variety of music and other entertainment that beckons back to its days as a vaudeville showcase.

Mayors who care

It would be hard to say we have the "best" mayors, because when you get into the political world, it's hard to determine what that really means. But a major reason this area belongs on many "best of" lists is because we have mayors who really care about their towns and have invested most of their lives in them.

If you have any doubt about what makes Ray Rogina in St. Charles, Kevin Burns in Geneva or Jeff Schielke in Batavia tick, consider this: Rogina, a business instructor at St. Charles East High School, was the public address announcer at the school's football games for years; Burns has been a humorous emcee for so many fundraisers, you lose count; and Schielke was on WGN TV last week lip-syncing to "My Girl" to promote his town and special causes.

Those prep rivalries

There are many high school sports rivalries, but it's hard to imagine any better than Geneva vs. Batavia or St. Charles North vs. St. Charles East. And who will ever forget the Geneva vs. St. Charles East regional basketball final this past March? It belonged on a "best ever" list.

Love of arts

No one can deny this area's love of the arts, from excellent art shows to the commissions and councils that focus on all facets of the arts. We can see great plays at Fox Valley Repertory, Steel Beam Theatre, Elgin Community College, Paramount Theater or the Batavia Fine Arts Theater.

And don't forget those bronze statues in various parts of our towns.

We can thank sculptor Guy Bellaver for many of them, and he's sharing his skills with visitors at Lincoln Park Zoo through October.

That's where his "Prairie Song. Q" sculptor now sits near the zoo's cafe, so it's going to draw plenty of attention as one of 15 exhibits in the "Nature in Motion" display at the zoo.

For biking or hiking

If you have a list singing the praises of outdoor activities, it has to include the biking and hiking trails along the Fox River. How could it not? And our forest preserves or park district sites away from the river offer many nice settings as well. Peck Farm Park in Geneva belongs on any list related to outdoor enjoyment.

Ah, those restaurants

I'll let the category of restaurants go to the many readers who shared their ideas. In no particular order of importance, these were the restaurants mentioned that collectively puts us on any "best of" list for cities with good chow: Za Za Trattoria, Francesca's, Top Table and The Office in St. Charles; Bien Trucha, Nobel House, Preservation Bread and Wine, Little Owl, Masturi, Fiora's, Morano's Pizza, Stockholm's and Heidi's Bakery in Geneva; Tribella, Daddio's Diner, Fantastico Italian Restaurant, Gaetano's, Pal Joey's and Aliano's in Batavia.

Of course, we know there are plenty of other favorites out there, but you get the point.

More from readers

Just a few other things mentioned by readers that fall into the category of giving us "best of" status simply for lifestyle factors - those things that make us enjoy our communities.

One of those places is Fermilab, as a spot for art, music, lectures and educational opportunities. "This is truly a gem in our area," one reader said.

Another cited State Street Jewelers in Geneva as a place for some "sinful indulgence," while also choosing Geneva Barber Shop as a place for great conversation and a great haircut.

Another mentioned the Thursday evening concerts in Lincoln Park in St. Charles during the summer as a great way to relax with friends. And another brought up the various free community dinners offered monthly at local churches.

That wraps up the "reasons why" list, so hopefully we've made our point and won't have to feel slighted by somebody else's "best of" lists that too often leave us feeling neglected.

The best part of this "best of" exercise is that so many other great places or events weren't mentioned in the space of this column. I mean, what about Swedish Days?

That tells you something right there.

One reader summed it up quite well. "What a blessing to be able to live in this area."

dheun@sbcglobal.net