Entertainment Columns
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Restaurants must adapt to boomers’ needs and preferencesDec 31, 2025 10:11 am - Restaurants are always changing. New concepts come and go, trends shift, prices climb, portions grow — and then shrink again. But for those of us who are baby boomers, these aren’t the changes we’re thinking about.
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How Christmas traditions help spark holiday spiritDec 17, 2025 12:39 pm - It has seemed a little tougher to muster up the holiday spirit this year. Reflecting on Christmas traditions and seasonal events may help to get us in the right frame of mind.
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Geneva’s Christmas Walk, Aurora Christkindlmarket among local holiday traditionsDec 03, 2025 1:15 pm - Tradition fuels the joy of the holiday season, whether it is within our homes, churches, or community festivals and holiday parades.
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Along for the ride: Judson in Elgin named Bicycle Friendly UniversityDec 01, 2025 9:49 am - With holidays approaching, my annual book reviews offer suggestions for biking gift lists, your own or others. First, however, positive bicycling news: League of American Bicyclists recently awarded official Bicycle Friendly University status to three Illinois institutions on Nov. 13, including Elgin’s Judson University.
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Captive consumers are paying way too muchNov 26, 2025 7:34 am - Even though their leases require airport businesses to charge prices that are competitive with downtown Chicago, it sure doesn’t seem that way. I took the time to look at many items for sale at an airport, and the typical markup is 100% to 300% over industry standards.
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A map of the past: Geneva history buff relishes portraying land surveyor from 1770sNov 21, 2025 3:30 am - As a history buff who enjoys re-enactments but isn’t drawn to battles or military uniforms, portraying an 18th century land surveyor is the perfect fit for John Schubert of Geneva.
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Sweet memories: St. Charles Colonial Cafe’s mini-museum shares ice cream history spanning 125 yearsNov 07, 2025 3:57 pm - Next year will mark 125 years the Anderson name has been involved in milk or ice cream production, distribution and sales throughout the region, with many of those years as a St. Charles icon in the Colonial name.
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Opening a restaurant is a scary business: real-life horror storiesOct 22, 2025 10:12 am - If you want some real Halloween thrills and chills, try opening a new restaurant. Here are some real-life horror stories from Izzy Kharasch’s life as a restaurant whisperer.
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Siblings’ fairy village attracts attention in Geneva neighborhoodOct 08, 2025 11:48 am - The Brayton siblings of Batavia have created a fairy village in their grandparents’ Geneva yard, using their imagination and creativity without digital devices. The village has attracted attention from neighbors and passers-by.
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‘Groovy’: Colorful outdoor art installations transform the Tri-CitiesOct 01, 2025 9:29 am - The Terrain Exhibitions art festival started in Oak Park and has spread to other cities, including Geneva, where residents are hosting artwork in their front yards through Nov. 15.