Fox Valley Voice

Blues On The Fox 2010 Lineup Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:39:00 +0000

The annual Blues on the Fox festival is one of the highlights of the summer. It's free and fun for the whole family, featuring food and beverages from local purveyors as well as internationally heralded blues artists. Thousands of people turn out for this party and you should definitely be one of them.

This year (their 14th) the event takes place on Friday, June 18 and Saturday, June 19 in the streets of downtown Aurora. Here's the lineup:

Friday, 6/18/2010 (starting at 6:45pm)

Tinsley Ellis (Memphis rhythm and blues, Southwest blues, and urban funk)
Trombone Shorty (rock, funk, jazz, hip-hop and soul)

Saturday, 6/19/2010 (starting at 2:00pm)

Hix Brothers Junior All-Stars
Guy King and his Little Big Band ("gutbucket" blues, "uptown" soul and Jazz)
Ronnie Baker Brooks (Chicago blues guitar)
Joined at the Hip

featuring Pinetop Perkins (Mississippi blues piano) and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (blues harp)
with special guests Hubert Sumlin and Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin (guitarists both)

Jimmie Vaughan (guitarist and former leader of The Fabulous Thunderbirds)

Blues on the Fox is a part of the Downtown Alive! festival series, which also includes Rock on the Fox on July 9 (last year's headliner: Billy Squier) and Fan Favorites night on July 23 featuring local artists.

Blackhawks Q&A with Brent Sopel (St. Charlie's Pub)

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:10:00 +0000

A few years ago you'd be hard-pressed to find even a mention of last night's Blackhawks score on the radio. Fast forward to this morning. 670 The Score's Mully and Hanley spent 20 minutes talking to Hawks legend Darren Pang about the team's goaltender situation, then followed that up with a conversation with former Hawks anthem-man Wayne Messmer (who sang the most memorable anthem ever during the 1991 All-Star game).

The Hawks are again the toast of the town. And you can toast defenseman Brent Sopel at the Hockey Night in Chicago Chalk Talk Q and A session led by The Score's Jay Zawaski. The event takes place TONIGHT, Tuesday, March 9 from 7pm to 8:30pm at St. Charlies Pub and Grill in St. Charles (map). You may even win tickets to an upcoming game. And if you do, you're taking me with you.

Batavia Beer Walk 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:08:00 +0000

Saturday looks to be the first officially glorious day of the year. Sunny and temps in the mid-40's, which is going to feel like mid-80's. What better way to celebrate the impending arrival of spring than by raising a glass in a toast? Again and again and again...

It's the latest edition of the annual Batavia Beer Walk, Saturday, March 6. The event kicks off at 2pm and goes until, well, let's just say that it probably goes on longer than it should for some folks. Here is the order of the walk: (from the Facebook event page)

Fox Grill and Outpost (35 N Water St)
Fox's on the River (31 N River St)
O'Briens Pub and Grill (12 N River St)
Stop Lite Inn (105 E Wilson St)
The RendezVu (1 E Wilson St)
East China Inn (140 W Wilson St)
Full Moon Bar and Grill (113 S Batavia Ave [Rt 31])

If you attend, be sure to have one in honor of the Batavia Bowl, a popular former stop on the beer walk. Also, please be careful getting there and getting home. And send us your photos.

Meet Our February Giveaway Winner: Eric Harold

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:35:00 +0000

Funny how things work out sometimes.

First and foremost, congratulations to our February Giveaway winner Eric Harold of Naperville. As it turns out, this happens to be the second time this month Eric's name has graced our website. On Feb. 3 I wrote a post about the then-upcoming First Fridays Art Gallery Walk in Geneva. In particular, about an abstract expressionist artist by the name of (you guessed it) Eric Harold.

Well, Eric got wind of the post (probably from The Google) and checked it out, you know, just to make sure we weren't badmouthing him. He noticed our giveaway and decided to take a shot.

"I am a casual golfer," said Eric. "Growing up in Evergreen Park and now Naperville I have lived within feet of a golf course, so I naturally have some kind of connection to them, which must be why I won this giveaway 'cause I never win anything."

When I asked him about his plans for the prize he replied, "I plan to take a group of buddies one day this season. That way they can’t say I never gave them anything."

Special thanks once again to Brian Groszek at the Royal Hawk Country Club for sponsoring this giveaway. Be sure to contact him for all of your golf outing needs.

And the moral of the story is: make sure you connect with us via email, Facebook, or Twitter so you can win some cool stuff. Even if you've never won anything.

Led Zeppelin Weekend On 95.9 The River

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:44:00 +0000

Whole Lotta Love. Black Dog. Stairway to Heaven. Dazed and Confused.

Led Zeppelin IS rock 'n' roll. If you're one of the many fans who never had the chance to experience them live you can be a part of the music when Kashmir, Chicago's Top Zeppelin tribute band, performs at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles on Saturday, March 6.

But wait, there's more! 95.9 The River wants to send you to the show for free. Listen to The River this weekend and whenever you hear one of Zep's iconic tracks, log in to the River Listener Club for a chance to win tickets. (You should probably go there now and register if you haven't already.)

Good luck. And if you win and need a concert buddy, I have an awesome Robert Plant wig in storage somewhere...

Win Free Golf At Royal Hawk Country Club ($400 Value!)

Which Smartphone Should I Buy?

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:32:00 +0000

It's about time to ditch my ultra-rad slider phone and graduate to the big leagues. It's about time to harness the power of the internet in my hand. (It's about time my two-year contract ran out...)

I've been waiting for the convergence of enough bells and whistles in a semi-affordable smartphone and it seems like the time is now.

What features am I clamoring for? Mainly:

Camera
Video
GPS w/ turn-by-turn maps
Music
Email
Facebook
Twitter

Tell me what you're using. Which phone, provider, plan. What makes you want to kiss your phone? What makes you want to throw it into a fairground port-o-potty? Share your thoughts in the comments!

[Photo by mastrobiggo]

Win Free Golf At Royal Hawk Country Club ($400 Value!)

Art + Wine at Galena Cellars Geneva (First Fridays Art Gallery Walk)

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:14:00 +0000

Got a tweet from Galena Cellars calling our attention to this month's First Fridays Art Gallery Walk in Geneva. They are hosting artist Eric Harold this Friday, February 5 from 6pm to 9pm in their tasting room on Third Street.

According to the Galena Cellars website, Eric "is most known for his flexibility in many styles of abstract, particularly the form known as abstract expressionism and gestural abstraction." Just reading that description involves a level of abstraction heretofore unexplored on this blog. If that's something that sets your art heart racing, however, by all means... [NOTE: the weather will not be as pleasant as pictured above]

Win Free Golf At Royal Hawk Country Club ($400 Value!)

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:00:00 +0000

[This sweepstakes is now closed. Thanks to all who participated and be on the lookout for future giveaways! - 2/26/2010]

I am excited to announce Royal Country Clubs as the sponsor of our February giveaway!

The Royal Country Clubs are three of the most scenic and challenging courses in the western suburbs. They are:

Royal Fox Country Club (4405 Royal & Ancient Drive, Saint Charles, IL 60174, 630-584-4000)

6816 yards, par 71
Established in 1989
Has hosted the Illinois PGA open five times

Royal Hawk Country Club (5N748 Burr Road, Saint Charles, IL 60175, 630-443-3500)

6600 yards, par 72
Established in 2006
Clubhouse is modeled after the Mount Vernon home of President George Washington

Klein Creek Golf Club (1N333 Pleasant Hill Road, Winfield, IL 60190, 630-690-0101)

6700 yards, par 72
Established in 1994
Rated by Chicagoland Golf and Golf Digest as one of the area's premier public courses

Golf Outings
It's not too early to start booking your 2010 golf outing at any of the three Royal Country Clubs. If you (or somebody you know) is in charge of organizing an outing for a company, restaurant, bar, or charity fundraiser, please contact Brian Groszek at 630-443-3500 x 219 or bgroszek@royalfoxcc.com.

SPECIAL GOLF OUTING OFFER FOR OUR READERS: If you book an outing and use the code VOICE, you will receive these mind-blowing incentives: 2 for 1 guest passes to Royal Hawk for each participant, a small outing to Klein Creek for up to 40 players (carts, food and beverage not included) and a 2011 Masters package to be auctioned off for a minimum bid of $2500.

Giveaway Details
Thanks to Brian and the Royal Country Clubs, our February giveaway is a free round of golf for a foursome with cart at the Royal Hawk Country Club. This prize carries a value of $400. Yipes! That's a serious giveaway!

How To Enter
There are three ways to register for free golf: Facebook, Twitter, or good ol' email.

Facebook

Make sure you are a fan of our Facebook Page
Click here to post a message to your profile
IMPORTANT: You must type @Fox Valley Voice to include a tag in your message
Permission for this message should be 'Everyone'
Correctly done, your message will appear on our Facebook Page. Double check to make sure it's there
If your friends tag you (@Your Name) along with @Fox Valley Voice you will earn additional entries

Twitter

Make sure you follow our Twitter feed
Click here to tweet your entry
You can customize your tweet, just make sure you keep the link and '@foxvalleyvoice' in there
If your followers retweet your message, you will earn additional entries

Email
All VERIFIED email subscribers are automagically entered into the giveaway
If you haven't already, enter your email here to

The Fine Print

Royal Country Clubs Giveaway ("Giveaway") begins at 8:00 am CST on Monday, February 1, 2010, and ends at 12:00 pm CST on Friday, February 26, 2010
One Winner will be chosen randomly from all valid entries at the conclusion of the Giveaway
Entries must be submitted by a verified email subscriber, Facebook fan, or Twitter follower to be valid.
Prize Package ("Prize") includes: one round of golf for four golfers, including the use of two (2) golf carts, at Royal Hawk Country Club (5N748 Burr Road, Saint Charles, IL 60175)
Prize must be redeemed on a weekday (Monday through Friday)
Total Prize value: $400
Winner will be notified by email and given instructions on how to claim the Prize
Prize must be claimed and redeemed by October 1, 2010 or else Prize will be forfeit
Participants must be 18 years of age and older
Winner's name and hometown will be published in the Prize announcement
Employees of Royal Country Clubs and FoxValleyVoice.com are not eligible for this Giveaway
Personal information submitted to FoxValleyVoice.com will not be shared with or sold to any third party

Turning Junk, Er, Discarded Industrial Materials Into Art

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:33:00 +0000

Many thanks to Amy Roth, the City of Aurora's Public Information Officer, for giving us the heads up on this artsy event. It's called Transformations and it is a group show of sculptures, photographs and paintings focusing on discarded industrial materials from the urban culture and objects found in natural environments. To put it simply: one man's garbage is another man's art exhibit.

The artists of these works include: Shelley Gilchrist, Peter N. Gray, Alan Emerson Hicks, Ruyell Ho, Beth Kamhi, Jim MacRoberts, Bill Moll, Mimi Peterson, Robert Putnam, Eric H. Steele, and Michelle Stone. They all got together and took turns writing alternating words to come up with this statement:

"In sculpture, a new art piece may be created using bits and fragments of discarded material, such as iron and steel scraps, odd aluminum pieces, rusted metal, wire, leather, glass, plastic bottles, architectural stone pieces, glacial drift stones, and leftover wood pieces. In two-dimensional work, painting, for example, the content is influenced by and thus transformed by the various materials used."

The Transformations show will be on display at the Aurora Public Art Commission (20 East Downer Place) where they will host an opening reception on Friday, February 5 from 5pm to 7:30pm. (The exhibit continues until 5/21/2010) The reception will also feature music by guitarist John Ivan and a trunk show highlighting hand-crafted jewelry created by Laura Nicholson-Tom and Carolyn Krainak.

I've seen John Ivan play at the Hotel Baker in St. Charles so rest assured your ears will be well entertained. Your eyes? You'll have to see for yourself.

Attend This DAAM Food Drive!

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:31:00 +0000

Always good to hear from Friend of the Voice Marissa Amoni, the driving force behind Downtown Auroran Magazine. Marissa also organizes a monthly networking get-together called the Downtown Aurora Arts Mixer (DAAM), of which the February edition has a special theme:

Downtown Aurora Arts Mixer to collect food for Souper Bowl of Caring

On Thursday, Feb. 4, artists and community members will get together once again in downtown Aurora for DAAM! The downtown Aurora arts mixer brings the arts community together to network and discuss ideas, goals and a grand vision for downtown revitalization that includes the arts. The events are held the first Thursday of most months at River's Edge Cafe, 18 W. Downer Place, at 6 p.m.

This month's DAAM invites people to bring non-perishable food items to assist in Fox Valley United Way's Souper Bowl of Caring. The Souper Bowl of Caring raises money and food during Super Bowl weekend. All donations benefit the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry in Aurora. More information is available at http://uwfoxvalley.org/2010_Souper_Bowl_of_Caring.php.

DAAM is an opportunity for artists to mingle, network and discuss ideas that will further both art and the art community in Aurora. Sponsored by Downtown Auroran magazine and the Cultural Creatives, the event is free and open to artists of any kind (writers, musicians, photographers, etc.). Art students and those who appreciate the arts are also invited to attend.

Marissa can be reached at 630-674-2099 or downtownauroran@gmail.com

Fall In Love with Geneva (Win Stuff)

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:45:00 +0000

Love is different things to different people. To some it's a deep-fried Twinkie and the latest issue of Cat Fancy. To others it's something they can only find as a contestant on a television program during which they must "date" a house full of people over three months until they can finally say, "You may be the 37th person I've kissed on this show, but you have my heart now."

The Geneva Downtown Partnership is hoping that you'll fall in love with them this February and they're willing to bribe you. They usually don't have any difficulty attracting visitors (i.e. consumers) when it's nice outside and they're hosting a parade or festival or fair every other weekend. But they need you to come out into the cold and wind and snow and ice! How? Give away free stuff, of course. From the website:

Fall in love with downtown Geneva during the month of February. Visit participating stores, shop, and enter to win a meal for two from one of Geneva's fabulous restaurants or a $50 gift certificate from one of Geneva's downtown shops.

This year there are two ways to win: entering via the sign-up slips available in the participating Geneva stores listed below, and on the website for 95.9 The River - www.959theriver.com. The grand prize will be given away on-air; to win the grand prize, entries must be made via the River Listener Club on the www.959theriver.com website. The Grand Prize includes an overnight stay at the Herrington, services at the Herrington Spa, chocolates at Graham's, flowers from Town and Country Garden Florists, earrings from State Street Jewelers, and dinner at Fiora's Restaurant.

The complete list of participating businesses can be found on the Geneva Downtown Partnership website. If nothing else, this page is a great resource featuring dozens of websites for shops and restaurants.

The Grand Prize will be awarded on the Mackay In The Morning show on February 12, 2010. Best of luck!

95.9 The River Live Broadcast At Ballydoyle Aurora

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:50:00 +0000

If you can't wait until Feb. 5 for a live radio broadcast, then head to Ballydoyle on Wednesday for 12 straight hours of 95.9 The River.

Mackay in the Morning, Leslie Harris, Mellen, and the River Road Crew will be broadcasting live from Ballydoyle Irish Pub on Wednesday, January 27th from 6am to 6pm.

Join us this coming Wednesday at Ballydoyle Irish Pub in Aurora for the latest stop on the West Suburban Bank Suburban Tour! It's all about Aurora next Wednesday and Ballydoyle will be featuring an early Irish breakfast, $1 tacos, $2.50 Dos Equis, $4 pints of Mc Caffery’s Irish Cream Ale (Ballydoyle’s own brew!) and Irish dancers in honor of the event! See ya there!

Thanks to Friend of the Voice Greg I. for the heads up!

ESPN 1000 Live Broadcast at the Filling Station

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:28:00 +0000

ESPN 1000 afternoon radio hosts Carmen DeFalco, John Jurkovic and Harry Teinowitz (a.k.a. the Afternoon Saloon) are bringing their live broadcast to the Filling Station in St. Charles on Friday, February 5 from 2pm until 6pm.

Stop in and wash down some sports talk and delicious food with a cold beer and say hi to Peter and the rest of the gang at the Filler.

Afternoon Saloon at Filling Station (ESPN Chicago)

North Aurora Winter Gala (Fundraiser)

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:31:00 +0000

Got a note from Holly O'Brien of the North Aurora Mothers Club about their upcoming fundraiser. Here are the details:

North Aurora Mothers Club seeks donations for Winter Gala, the annual fundraising event

The North Aurora Mothers Club will host its annual fundraiser — The North Aurora Winter Gala — from 6 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010 at the Fox Valley Country Club in North Aurora. [FVV: 2500 N Route 25 (N. River Rd), North Aurora, IL 60542] (Google Map)

The Winter Gala will include hors d’oeuvres, dinner buffet, open bar, raffles and silent auction, with entertainment provided by Music by Design and a special performance by Moves Dance Studio.

In addition, there will be a pre-raffle before the gala; tickets are being sold now. The first prize is $1,000; tickets are $10 each and the winner does not need to be present at the gala.

As the club's largest fundraising event, the proceeds from the Winter Gala will go toward supporting the community. Since its inception in 1997, the North Aurora Mothers Club has dispersed more than $150,000 towards programs benefiting local children and their families as well as the police department, fire department, library and community outreach programs.

North Aurora Mothers Club is currently seeking contributions from individuals and business for the Winter Gala. Those interested in helping make a difference in the community can make a donation or to attend the event and purchase tickets in advance please visit www.northauroramothersclub.org. Tickets are $50 per person only while supplies last.

The North Aurora Mothers Club is committed to improving the social, emotional, educational and physical well-being of the children and families of North Aurora and its surrounding communities. We meet the needs of our members and those we serve through charitable aid and public-spirited events providing education, fellowship and support. Membership is open to all those who are interested.

For more information, please visit www.northauroramothersclub.org

CLOSED: Doug's Rockhouse

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:43:00 +0000

Got a tip from Friend Of The Voice Greg I. to check out the blog for Doug's Rockhouse Grill in Aurora. What I found was a heartfelt message from owner Doug Agee explaining that the worst has happened:

Hello Everybody, I'm sorry to announce that due to the present unfavorable business climate Doug's RockHouse has closed. We still strongly believe in the local music scene and are seeking a better location as conditions improve. [....] THANK YOU ALL--SEE YOU SOON!!

If you aren't familiar with Doug's, it was nestled in the corner of the strip mall that also houses the Aurora DMV office on Indian Trail just east of Route 25.

Doug's was also THE place to go if you wanted to listen to serious live metal: heavy/thrash/death/speed metal. They hosted acts with names such as the Suicide Bunnies, Enjoy The Massacre, It Dies Today, and many others. Heck, I enjoyed adding the shows to our event calendar just to see the crazy band names. You just gotta love a place whose Black Wednesday poster (pictured, above) features a turkey with laser beams shooting out of its eyes in the shadow of a mushroom cloud.

Best of luck to Doug and the rest of the gang at the Rockhouse. Share your thoughts with us in the comments. If you were a patron of Doug's we'd love to hear from you.

Yay, It's 2010! Now What?

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:57:00 +0000

A belated Happy New Year to our readers. I'm back from an extended holiday hiatus. I suppose you want to hear some resolutions now, eh? Nope! I don't do resolutions. Nobody sticks to them. "I'm gonna walk three miles every day..." Please. In this weather?

I do, however, have some goals in mind for 2010. What are they? I'm glad you asked!

Post more often

Last year I posted 159 times, which averages out to about 3 posts per week. Pretty good, but I can do better!

Increase reader interaction

I'd like to know that the time and effort I put into writing this blog is useful to somebody. The best way to (A) let me know what you like or dislike, and (2) share information with our other readers is to leave comments, either on our Facebook page or on our website below each posting. In fact, I challenge each of you right now to leave a comment on this post by doing the following:

Click on the title of this post (Yay, It's 2010! Now What?) to get the full page view
Proceed to the end of the post and sign in using one of several methods (Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, etc.)
Leave a comment
There, that was easy wasn't it?

Help promote local businesses

Last month we gave away three $50 gift cards to Four Beans Coffeehouse. I would love to help other local businesses get the word out by offering more promotions to our readers. If you or somebody you know is interested in a promotion, please contact us.

Volunteer for local charities and fundraisers

I believe that we can build a tight-knit community around this website. As this online community develops, my hope is that we can organize into a group that can offer its time and energy in order to benefit the real communities around us. Pie-in-the-sky stuff, I know. But I'd like to get there.

Participate in more local events

More photos, more video. Of what? Festivals, music, parades, restaurants... Whatever you're doing for fun, we want to be there. Who knows, perhaps there will be a FoxValleyVoice.com sponsored event. Now THAT would be schweet.

Here is where the 'Increased reader interaction' part comes in. Please let us know what your think about 2010. What are your goals? What would you like to see from us this year? We need your comments!

[Photo by Florian Seiffert (F*)]

Merry Christmas 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:43:00 +0000

Merry Christmas from your friends at FoxValleyVoice.com!

Here's hoping that you are surrounded by whatever makes you the happiest. (Family, friends, food, Stormtroopers bearing gifts, etc.)

[Photo by ShellyS]

Fox Valley Weekend Forecast (December 18, 19, 20, 2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:48:00 +0000

Once again we're featuring a special Christmas section loaded with lots of holiday-type activities. And this is your last chance to enter the $50 Four Beans Coffeehouse Sweepstakes. Our third and final winner will be chosen tomorrow (Friday, 12/18/09) at high noon!

[Photo by murilocardoso]

If you find this information useful, please share it with your friends! Check the Event Calendar for times, locations, and event descriptions.

NOTE: Events are subject to change so please confirm ahead of time so your weekend isn't ruined. Thanks!

Art

Sunday
- Altered Gaze (Rick Moreno art show) (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 3pm

Christmas

Friday
- Tiny Candle (A night of music and people, joy and peace) (Backthird Audio) 7pm
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (theater) (Albright Theatre Co.) 7:30pm
- A Christmas Carol (theater) (Steel Beam Theatre, Main Stage) 8pm
- A Christmas Carol (theater) (Riverfront Playhouse) 8pm
Saturday
- Breakfast with Santa (Hotel Baker)
- Breakfast with Mrs. Claus (The Little Traveler) 9am
- Back to the Manger Book Signing (The Little Traveler) 11am
- Visit Santa at Santa's House (First Street Plaza, St. Charles) 12pm
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (theater) (Albright Theatre Co.) 2:30pm
- A Christmas Carol (theater) (Steel Beam Theatre, Main Stage) 3pm
- Tiny Candle (A night of music and people, joy and peace) (Backthird Audio) 7pm
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (theater) (Albright Theatre Co.) 7:30pm
- A Christmas Carol (theater) (Steel Beam Theatre, Main Stage) 8pm
- A Christmas Carol (theater) (Riverfront Playhouse) 8pm
Sunday
- Breakfast with Santa (Hotel Baker)
- Strolling Santa (Geneva Commons) 12pm
- Free Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides (Geneva Commons) 12pm
- Visit Santa at Santa's House (First Street Plaza, St. Charles) 12pm
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (theater) (Albright Theatre Co.) 2:30pm
- A Christmas Carol (theater) (Steel Beam Theatre, Main Stage) 3pm
- A Christmas Carol (theater) (Riverfront Playhouse) 3pm
- Tiny Candle (A night of music and people, joy and peace) (Backthird Audio) 6pm
- A Christmas Carol (theater) (Steel Beam Theatre, Main Stage) 7:30pm

Comedy

Friday
- Shay Shay (comedy) (Pheasant Run, Zanies) 8pm
- Patti Vasquez (comedy) (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 8pm
- Shay Shay (comedy) (Pheasant Run, Zanies) 9:45pm
Saturday
- Shay Shay (comedy) (Pheasant Run, Zanies) 8pm
- Patti Vasquez (comedy) (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 8pm
- Shay Shay (comedy) (Pheasant Run, Zanies) 9:45pm

Dance

Saturday
- The Nutcracker' presented by State Street Dance (Dellora Norris Cultural Arts Center) 7pm
Sunday
- The Nutcracker' presented by State Street Dance (Dellora Norris Cultural Arts Center) 2pm

Food & Drink

Friday
- Twilight Tasting (Gibby's Wine Den) 5pm
- Garden Atrium Dinner Buffet (Pheasant Run, Garden Atrium) 6pm
- Saturday
- Community Winter Market (Inglenook Pantry) 9am
- Garden Atrium Dinner Buffet (Pheasant Run, Garden Atrium) 5:30pm
Sunday
- Sunday Brunch (Claddagh Irish Pub) 9am
- Champagne Jazz Brunch (Pheasant Run, Garden Atrium) 9:30am
- Sunday Brunch (Wildwood Restaurant) 10am
- Sunday Brunch Buffet (Sergio's Cantina) 11am
- Free Halftime food; beer specials (Ballydoyle Aurora) 11am

Kids, Teens & Family

Friday
- Teen Center Teen Scene (Eastside Community Center) 6pm
Saturday
- Disney’s Sleeping Beauty (Pheasant Run, Mainstage Theater) 10:30am
- Jammin' at the Underground (live music; teens) (Baker Community Center) 7pm

Click Here To Win A $50 Gift Card To Four Beans Coffeehouse

Music

Friday
- Patrick James (acoustic) (Four Beans Coffeehouse) 12pm
- John Arthur (live music) (Ballydoyle Aurora) 5pm
- Fridays@5 w/ The Pederson Players (wine & music) (Gibby's Wine Den) 6pm
- Live Music (Sage Bistro) 6pm
- the horrids; others (live music) (Doug's Rockhouse Grill) 6pm
- Friday Feature:The Secret Night of Science (house/electro/hip hop) (Water Street Studios) 7pm
- Open Mic (live music) (Four Beans Coffeehouse) 7pm
- Tiny Candle (A night of music and people, joy and peace) (Backthird Audio) 7pm
- Family Reunion (live music) (Villa Verone) 8pm
- Mike Heaton (Americana music) (McNally's Irish Pub) 8pm
- Train Company (live music) (Chord On Blues) 8pm
- Gregory Hyde (acoustic) (Wildwood Restaurant) 8:30pm
- Antonio Soriano (Guitar) (Hotel Baker) 8:30pm
- Dead Giveaway (live music) (Real Time Sports Bar) 9pm
- One Sweet Jane (live music) (The Beehive) 9pm
- Corey Stevens (rock) (Ballydoyle Aurora) 9pm
- Never Was Band (live music) (Thirsty Fox Pub) 9pm
- I-Pop (live music) (The Foundry) 10pm
- Red Woody (Party Rock) (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 10pm
Saturday
- Live Music (Sage Bistro) 6pm
- Tiny Candle (A night of music and people, joy and peace) (Backthird Audio) 7pm
- American Stars In Concert For The Holidays (American Idol singers) (Paramount Theatre) 8pm
- Family Reunion (live music) (Villa Verone) 8pm
- Copycat (live music) (Chord On Blues) 8pm
- Hans & the Hormones (live music) (McNally's Irish Pub) 8pm
- Mary Hunt Duo (jazz) (Wildwood Restaurant) 8:30pm
- Dennis O’Brien (Folk, Blues & more) (Hotel Baker) 8:30pm
- Red Wanting Blue (original rock) (Ballydoyle Aurora) 9pm
- F.H.O.D.; others (live music) (Doug's Rockhouse Grill) 9pm
- 7Th Heaven (live music) (Real Time Sports Bar) 9pm
- Painkiller Hotel (Rock Originals & Covers) (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 10pm
Sunday
- Maurice Lennon & Friends (Irish music) (McNally's Irish Pub) 4pm
- Tiny Candle (A night of music and people, joy and peace) (Backthird Audio) 6pm

Nightlife, Bars, Pubs, Clubs & Taverns

Friday
- Jonathan Kamm (magic) (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 7pm
- Miller Lite "Ugly Xmas Sweater Party" (contest) (The Beehive) 9pm
Saturday
- Jonathan Kamm (magic) (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 7pm
- Saturday Night Party (Thirsty Fox Pub) 9pm
- Santa's Helpers (nightlife) (Filling Station) 9pm
- Jack Daniels Party (nightlife) (Filling Station) 11pm
Sunday
- Bags Tournament (Ballydoyle Aurora) 8pm

Shops & Shopping

Saturday
- Saturday Night Pajama Party (pottery) (Color Me Mine, Geneva Commons) 5pm

Shows & Expos

Sunday
- Walneck's Motorcycle Swap Meet (Kane County Fairgrounds) 8am

Sports

Saturday
- Aurora University Men's Basketball vs Elmhurst College 4pm
Sunday
- Bears Tailgate Party (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 12pm

Theater

Friday
- The Jilting of Miss Havisham (Mystery Dinner) (Oscar Swan Country Inn) 6:30pm
- Plaid Tidings (Pheasant Run, Mainstage Theater) 8pm
- Second City: Dysfunctional Holiday Revue (Pheasant Run, Mainstage Theater) 8pm
Saturday
- Plaid Tidings (Pheasant Run, Mainstage Theater) 5pm
- It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Pheasant Run, Studio Theater) 7pm
- Plaid Tidings (Pheasant Run, Mainstage Theater) 8:30pm
Sunday
- Plaid Tidings (Pheasant Run, Mainstage Theater) 2pm
- It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Pheasant Run, Studio Theater) 2:30pm

Again, check the Event Calendar for times, locations, and event descriptions. If you attend one of these events, please share your story with us in the comments. And tell 'em you heard it from The Voice!

The Fox Valley Weekend Forecast is your handy guide to weekend events in St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, North Aurora, and Aurora, Illinois.

Connect with us!
Follow The Voice on Twitter, be a Fan of our Facebook Page, or if you'd like the Forecast sent to your inbox around 3:00 pm on Thursdays, please Subscribe to the Fox Valley Voice by Email. (it's free!)

Where Do You Shop For The Holidays?

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:05:00 +0000

It's time to ask the readers: where are your go-to places in the Fox Valley for holiday gifts? I don't mean an mp3 player from the local big box store, either. I'm talking about items that are different, unusual, weird and/or unique.

I'll get the ball rolling. Mrs. Voice loves to shop at Cocoon on Third Street in Geneva. They have a very eclectic selection of items including furniture, home decorations, jewelry, books, signs, lotions, soaps, you-name-it. What I like about Cocoon is the fact that if you give somebody a gift from this shop, you will instantly seem three times cooler than you actually are.

So please share your story with the rest of the class. Leave your comment below!

Photo by S.A. Young

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Tiny Candle at Backthird Audio (Aurora)

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:19:00 +0000

Here is a great opportunity to hear some holiday and original music performed by six local acoustic artists this weekend.

Owner Benjie Hughes would like you to join him at his professional music studio, Backthird Audio in downtown Aurora (map), for an annual event they call Tiny Candle. It is billed as, "A night of music and people, joy and peace."

Benjie will be accompanied by fellow musicians Andrea Dawn, Ben Thomas, David Yeager, Mandy Hughes, and Zach Goforth.

Performances are at 7pm on Friday, December 18, and Saturday, December 19, and 6pm on Sunday, December 20. Tickets are $25 and can be obtained online or by calling 630-264-2366.

[Photo by James Jordan]

For a better idea of what this evening is all about, have a look at this video of Tiny Candle 2008.

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Tap House Grill/Two Brothers Beer Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:39:00 +0000

Got a note from Candie Richardson, Manager of the Tap House Grill in St. Charles (map) about an upcoming event that, even though I just ate lunch, made me salivate on my space bar.

We'd like to welcome the new year with Two Brothers Brewing Company and we'd love to see you there. Please join us on Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 at 7:00pm. At $45 per person you get amazing food, and get to learn about the beers you are sampling. Let us take care of you, while you get to have fun! Its a great night out so call and make your reservations while space is still available. Call (630) 443-1664 or Email me personally at candie@taphousegrills.com. Hope to see you there!

And here is the mouth-watering menu, listing the beers and their associated dishes:

Heavy Handed IPA - Phyllo crusted shrimp, stuffed with crab, potato, calamansi gastrique
Cane And Ebel Red Rye Ale - Pheasant confit, wilted frisee, caramelized onion and bacon tart
Bitter End Pale Ale - Venison Meatballs, rhutabega mash, roasted orange demi
Northwind Stout - Roasted mole crusted Durac pork tenderloin, arancinis, poached fennel
Ebelweiss Hefeweizen - Mango Passionfruit cake, banana cream

Why not purchase a seat for the beer- and food-lover in your life as the greatest Christmas present ever? And tell 'em you heard it from The Voice.

Click Here To Win A $50 Gift Card To Four Beans Coffeehouse

Good Times: Eddie's Pizza First Anniversary Party (North Aurora)

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:24:00 +0000

Took the family last Saturday night down to Eddie's Pizza & Pub, located in the Clock Tower plaza at Oak and Randall in North Aurora. The Empty Can Band was there to help celebrate the first anniversary of the eatery and drinkery.

The band sounded great as they belted out some classic tunes to the packed room. We also ordered some pizza (a Jackpot and a Taco, both delish!), some BBQ wings (messy, but also delish) and beer to go along with the entertainment.

Here's a tip that we mentioned in our original post on Eddie's: service is at the bar only. Once you've placed your initial order, they will hand you an oversize playing card to display at your table. (We were the 8 of clubs on Sat.) When your food is ready, a runner will bring your grub by finding your card. If you want to purchase additional food, run back up to the counter to order and tell them which card you are.

Congratulations to Steve Edwards (Eddie), Ryan, Denise and the rest of the gang. We wish you many more years of continued success!

Click Here To Win A $50 Gift Card To Four Beans Coffeehouse

P1000609 [Flickr]

Fox Valley Voice — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:07:39 PST

Fox Valley Voice posted a photo:

Get Your Twilight Jewelry Here (SPONSOR)

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:02:00 +0000

The Twilight Saga could not be more popular right now. With over 85 million books sold and two major motion pictures, Bella, Edward, Jacob, and the rest of those crazy kids from Forks, WA, are running away with the world's imagination. Chances are somebody close to you is a full blooded Twilight fanatic.

What do you get this Twi-hard for Christmas, then? A book? No way, they've read all four books 17 times already. A poster? The bedroom is wallpapered with them. Twilight-inspired jewelry? Ah, NOW you're talking!

Friend of the Voice Kim G. is the force behind the eBay store AKJ Twilight Picks, specializing in Twilight-inspired jewelry including charm bracelets, key chains, earrings, blood vial & bottle cap necklaces, cell phone charms and other miscellaneous items. She will also take custom orders. Kim is an eBay Top-Rated Seller with a rating over 1500 and 99.9% positive feedback.

As a special offer for FoxValleyVoice.com readers, mention the secret code VOICE on your order and you will receive an official Twilight NECA* trading pin for free. Score!

Forget the battle between Edward and Jacob, when your Twilighter receives this thoughtful gift, they'll be on Team [insert your name here]!

AKJ Twilight Picks

*National Entertainment Collectibles Association (I think...)

Fox Valley Weekend Forecast (December 4, 5, 6, 2009)

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:58:00 +0000

Check out our special Christmas section in this Forecast. You can't throw a rock without hitting Santa this weekend. We're not telling you to smite Santa, mind you, it's just a saying.

Photo by garlandcannon

If you find this information useful, please share it with your friends! Check the Event Calendar for times, locations, and event descriptions.

NOTE: Events are subject to change so please confirm ahead of time so your weekend isn't ruined. Thanks!

Art

Friday
- Batavia Arts Walk/Mistletoe Magic (downtown Batavia) 5pm
- First Friday Gallery Walk (shops) (Downtown Geneva) 6pm
Saturday
- Water Street Wonderland Holiday Showcase Event 2009 (Water Street Studios) 12pm

Christmas

Friday
- Christmas Walk & House Tour (Downtown Geneva)
Saturday
- Christmas Walk & House Tour (Downtown Geneva)
- North Aurora Lions Club--Pancake Breakfast with Santa (North Aurora Activity Center) 8am
- Holiday Breakfast with Santa (Eastside Community Center) 8:30am
- Breakfast with Santa (Riverside Receptions) 9:30am
- Celebrating with Santa (Eola Community Center) 9:30am
- Visit Santa at Santa's House (First Street Plaza, St. Charles) 12pm
- Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides (Third St., Geneva) 1pm
- The Polar Express (Blackberry Farm) 4pm
Sunday
- Brunch with Santa (Pheasant Run, Garden Atrium) 9:30am
- Strolling Santa (Geneva Commons) 12pm
- Free Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides (Geneva Commons) 12pm
- Visit Santa at Santa's House (First Street Plaza, St. Charles) 12pm
- Holiday Open House (Messenger Library, North Aurora) 1:30pm
- St. Nicholas Celebration (Peg Bond Center, Batavia) 2pm

Comedy

Friday
- Gilbert Gottfried (comedy) (Pheasant Run, Zanies) 8pm
- ComedyComedy w/Best of Chicago (comedy) (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 8pm
- Gilbert Gottfried (comedy) (Pheasant Run, Zanies) 10pm
Saturday
- John Caponera (comedy) (Pheasant Run, Zanies) 7:30pm
- ComedyComedy w/Best of Chicago (comedy) (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 8pm
- John Caponera (comedy) (Pheasant Run, Zanies) 9:45pm

Dance

Saturday
- The Nutcracker (ballet) (Paramount Theatre) 1pm
- A Spirit-Filled Christmas (ballet) (Arcada Theatre) 3pm
- The Nutcracker (ballet) (Paramount Theatre) 5pm
- A Spirit-Filled Christmas (ballet) (Arcada Theatre) 7:30pm

Food & Drink

Friday
- Fridays@5 w/ The Wandering Endorphin (wine & music) (Gibby's Wine Den) 5pm
- Garden Atrium Dinner Buffet (Pheasant Run, Garden Atrium) 6pm
Saturday
- Community Winter Market (Inglenook Pantry) 9am
- Shady Hill Twilight Tasting (Gibby's Wine Den) 3:30pm
- Garden Atrium Dinner Buffet (Pheasant Run, Garden Atrium) 5:30pm
Sunday
- Sunday Brunch (Claddagh Irish Pub) 9am
- Sunday Brunch (Wildwood Restaurant) 10am
- Sunday Brunch Buffet (Sergio's Cantina) 11am
- Free Halftime food; beer specials (Ballydoyle Aurora) 11am
- Port and Dessert Wine Tasting (Gibby's Wine Den) 5pm

Fundraisers & Charity

Saturday
- Snowflake Shuffle 5K Run/Walk (Mill Creek Golf Club) 9am
- Geneva Academic Foundation 5K Santa Shuffle (Kane County Government Center) 9:30am

Kids, Teens & Family

Friday
- Teen Center Teen Scene (Eastside Community Center) 6pm
- Friday Live! (fun for grades 4 through 6) (Pottawatomie Park, St. Charles) 6:30pm
Sunday
- The Polar Express (Blackberry Farm) 4pm

Knowledge

Saturday
- Aurora Police Station Open House 10am
Sunday
- Aurora Police Station Open House 1pm

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Music

Friday
- Y 103.9 FM Morning Show w/ Ides of March (Live Broadcast) (Arcada Theatre) 6am
- Patrick James (acoustic) (Four Beans Coffeehouse) 12pm
- Live Music (Sage Bistro) 6pm
- Noah Gabriel (live music) (Kiss The Sky) 6pm
- Open Mic Night (Panera Bread, Batavia) 6:30pm
- Ty Stone & Company (live music) (Villa Verone) 8pm
- Dan Tedesco and the Long Haul; The Rikters (live music) (Chord On Blues) 8pm
- Jack Miuccio Holiday Show (Crooner) (Onesti Dinner Club) 8pm
- Noah Gabriel Band; RAJ (live music) (Chord On Blues) 8pm
- the horrids; others (live music) (Doug's Rockhouse Grill) 8pm
- Paul Willaert (Classic Rock) (Hotel Baker) 8:30pm
- Rebel Highway (live music) (The Beehive) 9pm
- New Invaders (British Invasion) (Ballydoyle Aurora) 9pm
- Automatic Fixx (live music) (Real Time Sports Bar) 9:45pm
- Final Say (live music) (The Foundry) 10pm
- Friday Night Karaoke (Sanfratello's Pizza) 10pm
- This End Up (70s, 80s, 90s & Modern Rock) (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 10pm
Saturday
- Fox Valley Concert Band Holiday Performance (Baker Community Center) 4pm
- Live Music (Sage Bistro) 6pm
- Fox Valley Concert Band Holiday Performance (Baker Community Center) 7pm
- Empty Can Band (blues/classic rock) (Eddie's Pizza & Pub) 7pm
- Ides Of March featuring Jim Peterik (Dellora Norris Cultural Arts Center) 7:30pm
- Andrew Patrick and Samuel Wyatt Jazz Rock Duo (Onesti Dinner Club) 7:30pm
- Ty Stone & Company (live music) (Villa Verone) 8pm
- suicide bunnies; others (live music) (Doug's Rockhouse Grill) 8pm
- Greg Boerner (Original Folk & Blues) (Classic Rock) (Hotel Baker) 8:30pm
- Battle of the Ballybands -- Semi-Finals (Ballydoyle Aurora) 9pm
- High Infidelity (live music) (Real Time Sports Bar) 9:45pm
Sunday
- Goodwill to All Christmas Concert (Crimi Auditorium , Aurora University) 3pm
- Fox Valley Philharmonic Orchestra presents Holiday Magic (Dellora Norris Cultural Arts Center) 3pm
- wyatt; others (live music) (Doug's Rockhouse Grill) 4pm
- Goodwill to All Christmas Concert (Crimi Auditorium , Aurora University) 7pm

Nightlife, Bars, Pubs, Clubs & Taverns

Friday
- Jonathan Kamm (magic) (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 7pm
- Q101/Bud Light Twisted Ticket Tour (The Beehive) 9pm
Saturday
- Jonathan Kamm (magic) (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 7pm
- Saturday Night Party (Thirsty Fox Pub) 9pm
Sunday
- Bags Tournament (Ballydoyle Aurora) 8pm

Shops & Shopping

Saturday
- Kane County Flea Market (Kane County Fairgrounds) 12pm
- Saturday Night Pajama Party (pottery) (Color Me Mine, Geneva Commons) 5pm
Sunday
- Kane County Flea Market (Kane County Fairgrounds) 7am
- Homespun Holiday Market (Garfield Farm Museum) 12pm
- 5th Annual Designer Holiday Showcase Open House (Tanner House Museum, Aurora) 1pm

Shows & Expos

Friday
- Coast to Coast Hot Tub & Pool Show (DuPage Expo Center) 3pm
Saturday
- Coast to Coast Hot Tub & Pool Show (DuPage Expo Center) 9am
Sunday
- Coast to Coast Hot Tub & Pool Show (DuPage Expo Center) 9am

Sports

Sunday
- Bears Tailgate Party (Walter Payton's Roundhouse) 7pm

Theater

Friday
- Disney’s Sleeping Beauty (Pheasant Run, Mainstage Theater) 10:30am
- Plaid Tidings (Pheasant Run, Mainstage Theater) 8pm
- A Christmas Carol (theater) (Steel Beam Theatre, Main Stage) 8pm
Saturday
- Disney’s Sleeping Beauty (Pheasant Run, Mainstage Theater) 10:30am
- A Christmas Carol (theater) (Steel Beam Theatre, Main Stage) 3pm
- Plaid Tidings (Pheasant Run, Mainstage Theater) 5pm
- It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Pheasant Run, Studio Theater) 7pm
- A Christmas Carol (theater) (Steel Beam Theatre, Main Stage) 8pm
- The Night Before Christmas Carol (theatre) (Fermilab) 8pm
- Plaid Tidings (Pheasant Run, Mainstage Theater) 8:30pm
Sunday
- Plaid Tidings (Pheasant Run, Mainstage Theater) 2pm
- It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Pheasant Run, Studio Theater) 2:30pm
- A Christmas Carol (theater) (Steel Beam Theatre, Main Stage) 3pm
- A Christmas Carol (musical) (Paramount Theatre) 3pm
- A Christmas Carol (theater) (Steel Beam Theatre, Main Stage) 7:30pm

Again, check the Event Calendar for times, locations, and event descriptions. If you attend one of these events, please share your story with us in the comments. And tell 'em you heard it from The Voice!

The Fox Valley Weekend Forecast is your handy guide to weekend events in St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, North Aurora, and Aurora, Illinois. Connect with us!

Follow The Voice on Twitter, be a Fan of our Facebook Page, or if you'd like the Forecast sent to your inbox around 3:00 pm on Thursdays, please Subscribe to the Fox Valley Voice by Email. (it's free!)

WANTED: Holiday Carolers

noreply@blogger.com (Fox Valley Voice) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:21:00 +0000

Passing along a message from Amy Downing, Director of Marketing at VNA of Fox Valley:

The Visiting Nurse Association of Fox Valley (VNA) is assembling its annual VNA Holiday Carolers group. Anyone who loves to sing is welcome to volunteer.

The VNA Holiday Carolers will visit retirement centers, assisted living facilities, libraries, shelters, and hospitals in the greater Aurora area.

This year, caroling will take place on December 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, please leave a voice mail message for Carolyn Bracken at 630-978-9754, extension 8399.

Photo by Chrontourage

Click Here To Win A $50 Gift Card To Four Beans Coffeehouse