Saturday, November 19, 2011
If you're feeding a small army on Thanksgiving day, getting the right food at the right price is a big part of the job. Where do you go?
- HOLIDAY GUIDE
- Jim Pokin
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Saturday, November 19, 2011
Somehow my wife always pulls it off: Thanksgiving is hands-down the best meal of the year—great food with family, without the stress of gift-giving. It's all about being together to share a great meal. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetable casseroles, pies, ice cream—the hot dishes all come out hot and tasting great. Everybody who shows up leaves with leftovers and all that turkey keeps me sleepy for a week. But before the miracle of the meal comes the shopping. And there are many choices, not only the big supermarket chains, but smaller grocers and specialty shops with their own strengths. Who sells the best meat? The freshest veggies? The best deals for dessert? Maybe you've got a Thanksgiving recipe with a hard-to-find …
The group says shopping and dining downtown will help enhance the area's economic viability.
- BUSINESS
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Saturday, November 19, 2011
The Downtown St. Charles Partnership is encouraging residents to shop in the downtown area for Christmas this year to help enhance its economic viability. The DSCP is asking shoppers to participate in the 3/50 Project to provide loyalty and increased revenue for independently owned businesses, with the message of “Pick 3. Spend 50. Save your local economy.” The idea is to pick three locally owned businesses you’d hate to see disappear and spend $50 a month at these businesses to help boost the local economy, according to a press release from DSCP. Every $100 spent in locally owned businesses $68 returns to the local community, according to the press release. Shoppers also are asked to participate in Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26, …
Thursday, November 10, 2011
One official said occupancy in the Charlestowne Mall remains steady.
Cuts to the arts program at a West Aurora middle school where Connie Flores worked left her with an opportunity. Flores, who lives in St. Charles, decided to move onto doing children’s community theater. For the last few years, she directed a mixture of plays and musicals, using local venues such as the Baker Community Center for the shows. Just last month, Flores moved into her own stage, inside the Charlestowne Mall. Two more filled storefronts, including Flores' Marquee Youth Stage, and an indoor farmers market are the latest in the Charlestowne's efforts to redevelop itself as an entertainment destination. “I believe that it’s a great place for us to start with,” Flores said. “And, hopefully, it will evolve into a bigger space, …
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
ProKine Performance on North 17th Street will use "suspension training."
A new gym that won’t be packed wall-to-wall with treadmills and mirrors will open this weekend in St. Charles. Owners of ProKine Performance will host a grand opening on Nov. 12. at the 761 N. 17th St. No. 18. Drew Whitehead and Kate Galliet have created a company that “is designed for endurance athletes, committed fitness enthusiasts, motocross athletes, and your everyday folks who simply want to improve their health,” according to a media release. “In order to keep a body running optimally, we must train it to perform and function at its best,” Whitehead said in the release. Follow St. Charles Patch on Facebook! Galliet earned her degree in exercise science from Valprasio Univeristy and is a certified by the National Academy of Sports …
41.918516
-88.334381
761 N 17th St, St Charles, IL
/articles/new-gym-swings-into-st-charles
/locations/5766852
Friday, November 4, 2011
Students from Andrew Bordoni's Imagine Music Program will perform on Saturday.
Andrew Bordoni is a musical bridge builder, in a way. To Bordoni, who immigrated to the United States 10 years ago, there’s a gap in what a music student might learn in typical private lessons. And this gap often isn't even filled by what public school lessons offer. “My goal is to fill in the gap in between the retail store lesson and the academics lesson,” Bordoni said. My goal is to get my students ready for college.” The guitar instructor and St. Charles resident has developed his own teaching method, called the Imagine Music Program. Some of the students from his program will perform at a concert on Saturday. Donations will be accepted and a silent auction will raise money for a Lithuanian church and orphanage. Bordoni, who was born …
Money from sales made during the grand opening day will go to a local charity and to help out Marine Corps families.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The St. Charles restaurant was selected by St. Charles Patch readers.
The carnivores have spoken. Their pick for the best steak in St. Charles is: St. Charles Place. A quick walk through the menu reveals why this St. Charles restaurant, which “brings back the times of the classic supper club,” is a meat-eaters paradise. The top special (labeled “Divine!” on the website menu) is the Steak Au Poivre—black pepper encrusted Filet Mignon medallions or Manhattan cut strip steak that’s finished in a cognac sauce. And don’t forget about the restaurant’s famous steak burgers. St. Charles Place grinds it own tenderloin steak into half-pound burgers. "Thank you to all our patrons for letting us survive for 18 years," said Thomas Niforatos of St. Charles Place. "And we will see you all again soon for what I agree is …
41.9212
-88.28313
St. Charles Place
2550 E Main St, Saint Charles, IL
/articles/steak-connoisseurs-pick-st-charles-place
996531
/locations/5764467
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Don't be shy! Leave a comment to cast your vote.
It’s Saturday (or whenever you do your shopping) and you’re getting ready to brave the crowds and grab the necessary sundries. But where do you go? Our “Best of” series takes us inside the grocery bags of St. Charles. What’s the best grocery store in St. Charles? Whether you’re a coupon clipper or a list maker, you know where your favorite place is. Tell us in the comments. As usual, only one comment per user. You’ll have until Friday night to cast your vote. (Editor's Note: This list of grocery stores isn't exhaustive. It's just meant to spark inspiration. You don't have to pick just from the list below.) Blue Goose Market—A hometown choice, the Blue Goose is the neighborhood grocery store in downtown St. Charles. It’s family-owned and a …
41.91073
-88.314819
Blue Goose Market
300 S 2nd St, St Charles, IL
/articles/what-s-the-best-grocery-store-in-st-charles
996949
/locations/5721266
41.921251
-88.278808
Butera Market
2732 E Main St, St Charles, IL
/articles/what-s-the-best-grocery-store-in-st-charles
996244
/locations/5721267
41.909958
-88.277579
Jewel-Osco
652 Kirk Rd, Saint Charles, IL
/articles/what-s-the-best-grocery-store-in-st-charles
997234
/locations/5721268
41.903753
-88.33941
Jewel-Osco
2073 Prairie St, St Charles, IL
/articles/what-s-the-best-grocery-store-in-st-charles
997517
/locations/5721269
41.900424
-88.340237
Meijer
855 S Randall Rd, St Charles, IL
/articles/what-s-the-best-grocery-store-in-st-charles
997463
/locations/5721270
41.921155
-88.263394
Super Target
3885 E Main St, St Charles, IL
/articles/what-s-the-best-grocery-store-in-st-charles
997529
/locations/5721271
Two Fox Valley organizations are using grant money to help boost businesses and potentially create jobs.
- BUSINESS
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Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Entrepreneurs poised for growth now have an opportunity to access critical business advice they otherwise might not be able to afford. Behind the effort are two Fox Valley business specialists for start-ups: the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Waubonsee Community College and the Fox Valley Entrepreneurship Center (FVEC). Companies in the second stage of their business lifecycle are invited to fill out an application by visiting www.fvec.org. The program is funded through a grant from the U.S. SBA Small Business Jobs Act. The program is specially designed to create jobs and sustain long-term growth for companies ready to go to the next level. Here’s how it works. An FVEC panel will review submissions followed by a brief…
Jim Pokin
1:16 pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thanks, Marty. Sounds good. more ›