Above / The heart of the Riverwalk provides a warm welcome every day at the corner of Jackson Avenue and Eagle Street, marking the spot of Landforms, a sculpture donated by the Naperville Art League to the community in 1984. Every visit to the Riverwalk is a chance to discover historic markers that help showcase a small sample of the community’s contributions to the city’s rich heritage, dating back to the city’s rural roots.
Periods of light snow appeared on Wednesday, followed by mostly cloudy Thursday and Friday with temperatures in the mid-teens, were reminders to keep storm drains clear with high hopes of thawing to begin soon.
But first, expect light snow showers on Saturday with temperatures dropping on Sunday, Valentine’s Day. Bundle up and head outside for a little fresh air. Venture to your favorite shopping destination and check out the windows chock full of sale signs for winter bargains as merchants welcome new spring merchandise just about every day.
Shopping now for something new can be an uplifting experience, especially when winter doldrums begin to beat for a bright new look, even if your job finds you working from home.
Check out Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea, opening this weekend at 110 S. Washington Street, just north of US Bank, and learn a lot about Little Friends, Inc.
Valentine’s Day “Red” is attention-getting, aiming to ignite warmth, power, passion, action and hunger. That’s why shopping signs and restaurant interiors feature red! Red means business! Though red also signals “stop,” consider it also means “Go shop and dine for a good time!”
Now open, coming soon or reopening in Downtown Naperville
- Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea – Opening this weekend Sat., Feb. 13, 2021
- Vasili’s Mediterranean – NOW OPEN on Water Street
- Lovesac – Opening February 2021
- Andrew’s Garden – Opening April 2021! (This new concept for downtown that will be located along W. Chicago Avenue, has been receiving lots of looks!)
- Front Street Cantina – Reopening April 2021 with a newly renovated and adding an outdoor dining garden too! (PN’s choice for Mexican faire will be back! ¡Viva! ¡Viva!)
Look for all the bright red signs in store windows that signal hot bargains inside. Follow local protocols. Wear a face covering as requested, keep social distance, wash hands often, but don’t wash away commonsense.
Find great 50-percent-off bargains at Dean’s Fine Clothing and many other winter deals displayed on mannequins, hanging on racks and sitting on shelves all along Main Street, Jefferson Avenue, Washington Street, Water Street and Van Buren where downtown Naperville shops, all sizes, continue to need to make room for Spring inventory 2021.
Redeem Gift Cards before you forget you have them!
What’s more, sale days provide a perfect excuse to redeem those Downtown Naperville holiday gift cards at more than 50 shops. Be sure to have gift cards handy when you head downtown.
Chinese New Year begins Feb. 12. It’s the ‘Year of the Ox.’
According to the Chinese Zodiac, it’s time to decorate with the “lucky color red” for the Year of the Ox. Individuals born in the Year of the Ox are considered “strong, reliable, fair and conscientious, inspiring confidence in others.” They are also calm, patient, hardworking and trustworthy as well as quiet; yet, opinionated. The last zodiac Year of Ox was 2009. The next one is 2033. Celebrate safely! Dine Naperville!
And for 2021, Chinese New Year also falls on Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
Meet Kelly, Brian & their daughter Everdine. What’s in a name?
What makes Everdine’s special? Everdine’s is a happy, fun atmosphere offering up delicious food with a smile.
What do you love about Downtown Naperville? We love being in Downtown Naperville, a wonderful, neighborly community. Come out to W. Jefferson Avenue, just steps from Washington Street, to visit Everdine’s and get a ooey, gooey grilled cheese!
And did you know? Feb. 13 is National Cheddar Day, first celebrated in 2019 in Oregon where renowned cheesemaker Peter McIntosh brought his cheese-making skills to Tillamook County, Oregon, in 1874! As the story goes, cheddar originated in the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England in the 12th century. While cheddar accounts for more than a third of all the cheese sold in the United States, it is a royal hit in the United Kingdom where it was created. In fact, more than half of the cheese sales in the UK go to cheddar. Now you know!
Take out for Valentine’s Day or choose to reserve indoor dining…
Throughout Naperville, Tier Four mitigations now allow restaurants to resume indoor service with some limitations. And places like Quigley’s Irish Pub, Catch 35 and Meson Sabika have set their tables just right and ready to serve all weekend. Safety remains the #1 priority. Call in advance for reservations and adhere to all local protocols.
Dine Naperville continues to promote tastes from fast casual to fancy dining at nearly 300 eateries. Discover plenty of choices for take out to whet every appetite and pocketbook.
Meet folks at Quigley’s Irish Pub
Quigley’s Irish Pub is an authentic Irish pub designed, built, and shipped over from Ireland. Located in the heart of downtown since 1998, Quigley’s is known for being a neighborhood-friendly bar and restaurant. Family (female) owned and independent, the waitstaff is ready to welcome and serve patrons EDAQ (Every Day at Quigley’s). “We love seeing familiar faces and we’ve missed seeing everybody!” said owner Nancy Quigley. “While we’ve been closed we’ve upgraded some of our dining areas. And our staff has been working jigsaw puzzles in between take-out deliveries. We’re looking forward to welcoming everybody back!”
Take-out for curbside pick up remains open. To place orders to go, just give Quigley’s a call at (630) 428-4774. Until further notice, Quigley’s is closed on Mondays. Find Quigley’s at 43 E. Jefferson Ave.
360 Youth Services hosts Virtual Valentine’s Chefs Dinner
360 Youth Services is hosting a Virtual Valentine’s Chefs Dinner on Sat., Feb. 13. Attendees can learn a “life-skill” to help improve any culinary game when Michelin Star Chef Giuseppe Tentori from Boka Chicago leads cooking instruction, featuring a delicious menu with Whinningham Beef Tenderloin. Proceeds will help 360 cover gaps in funding programs, and also help advance the new Emergency Shelter Program, a program recently begun to chip away the wait-list for youth experiencing homelessness.
Individual tickets start at $50. Other ticket options and sponsorship packages are available at www.360youthservices.org. Thank you!
Valentine’s Day is Sunday… Popcorn? Chocolate? Tapas, anyone?
Plus, more than 40 eateries, ice cream stores and treat shops welcome shoppers to get a taste of good hospitality.
Looking for a quiet table in a corner for Valentine’s Day? Be sure to make a reservation in advance at Meson Sabika where there’s always a warm welcome with a large sampling of tapas at 1025 Aurora Ave., just west of downtown.
Catch 35: Located at the corner of S. Washington at Van Buren, Catch 35 offers weekly specials every day and a children’s menu, too. Dine-in now open! Take-out continues.
Click here to see a list of downtown restaurants that are currently open and ready to serve via curbside pickup and/or delivery. Hint: Tips for curbside service are welcome, too.
Look for all the bright red signs in store windows that signal hot bargains inside. Follow local protocols. Wear a face covering as requested, keep social distance, wash hands often, but don’t wash away commonsense. And in case you’ve missed this granite marker along the Riverwalk, always consider that a little kindness is we need.
For everything about downtown Naperville shopping, dining, entertaining and safety protocols, visit www.downtownnaperville.com.
Bundle up. Stay warm! Get a little fresh air every day.
As temperatures dip this weekend, be sure to bundle up in layers when heading outside for a little fresh air and exercise. To keep warm, a well-insulated jacket or snowsuit is recommended. Top it off with a thick hat that covers ears, warm mittens (known to be better hand-warmers than gloves), face cover, a neck warmer and winter boots. Venture to learn about Naperville’s rich history every day.
Find more stories about the city’s early beginnings, growth and development at Naper Settlement.
Remember Presidents Day is Mon., Feb. 15. Many local history buffs recall that Captain Joe Naper served in the Illinois State Legislature with Abraham Lincoln. When the “Laughing Lincoln” Century Walk sculpture was dedicated in Central Park in 2018, folks were reminded that when DuPage County was separated from Cook County in 1839, the two men were serving together in Springfield.
Updated, Feb. 13, 2021
