Above / Riverwalk Visionaries stand to depict businessman Jim Moser and Mayor Chet Rybicki, representing a private/public partnership of can-do spirit that built the Riverwalk beginning in 1981. The Century Walk sculpture, one of 52 local public art locations, is situated along the Riverwalk, just around the bend from the Exchange Club Veterans Plaza west of Main Street. (PN File Photo)
Remember! Help keep the community safe. Pandemic or not, stay home when not feeling well. Follow local advisories and protocols upon entering a business or restaurant. Always cover coughs and sneezes. That’s just commonsense.
Most importantly, help protect physical and mental health of everyone around you. Eat healthful foods. (Pears, grapefruit and oranges have been particularly juicy and tasty this season.) Drink plenty of water. Take in fresh air and sunshine whenever possible.
Wash your hands often, but don’t wash away your commonsense.
Hold onto hugs for future giving. Keep a reasonable social distance. Take walks and appreciate the changing seasons.
Call family and friends.
Have faith, hope and charity to fulfill unmet needs of less fortunate with appreciation for all critical care providers, first responders and everyone eager to serve.
Be safe, remain calm and continue vigilance. Follow best practices. Play it safely so schools and all businesses, all essential, can thrive with open doors.
No matter where you live, aim with enthusiasm to support businesses at a local shopping destination near you.
Stay healthy and fit!
Happy mid-January events!
Plenty of cultural events welcome your attendance in this active city. A number of events listed here, are marked free*** of admission charge.
Dine Naperville via choices at www.dinenaperville.com. Consider to-go orders for pick up or delivery. Enjoy a hot time in the cold town this MLK weekend…
Bundle up for winter to create fond memories and have a ball!
Jan. 2022 / Positively Naperville goes to press a little later every January to avoid being thrown out with the holiday wrapping paper. Look for the first 2022 edition of PN at a supermarket near you.
Jan. 14, 2022 / Quigley’s Irish Pub Open daily for lunch and dinner with take-out available, too. Note live music most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. This weekend Tres’ Moustache performs at 8:30PM Jan. 14. This End Up performs at 8:30PM Sat., Jan. 15.
Jan. 14, 2022 / Friday Thermometer Check – Temperature is 30 degrees. (6AM Fri., Jan. 14)
Jan. 14, 2022 / Kreger’s Sausage and Brat Haus is where Bill Kreger offers classic sausages today. Other delicious menu items are available, too. With a history in Naperville dating back to 1893, Kreger’s now is located at 6th & Ellsworth in Naperville, just one block north of Historic 5th Avenue Station. Open Fridays and Saturdays. (11AM-3PM Fri. & Sat., Jan. 14 & Jan. 15.)
Jan. 14, 2022 / Annual Indoor Winter Sidewalk Sales throughout downtown Naperville are the perfect time to redeem Downtown Naperville gift cards to help local merchants make room for spring times. (Fri., Jan. 14-Mon., Jan. 17, 2022)
Jan. 14, 2022 / BrightSide Theatre presents Neil Simon’s “Promises, Promises in Concert” Jan. 14 to 22 at North Central College’s Madden Theatre. (8PM Fri., Jan. 14, 2022) Note: Curtain times are 8PM Fridays and Saturdays and 2PM on Sunday. Matinee also 2PM on Sat., Jan. 22. Tickets are $33; students and seniors are $28. Purchase tickets at www.brightsidetheatre.com, by phone at (630) 447-TIXS (8497) or before showtime at the box office at the Madden Theatre in the North Central College Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Avenue.
Jan. 15, 2022 / North Central College Arts Calendar – Jim Peterik’s World Stage at Pfeiffer Hall – Postponed (8PM Sat., Jan 15, 2022)
Jan. 15, 2022 / Wedding Showcase at Naper Settlement (Sat., Jan. 15, 2022) ***Pre-Registration
Jan. 15, 2022 / American Legion Monthly Dinner/Social hosted by American Legion Post 43 at the Judd Kendall VFW Post. Advance reservations. (Sat., Jan. 15, 2022)
Jan. 16, 2022 / North Central College Arts Calendar – Chicago Sinfonietta “MLK Tribute Concert: Joie de Vivre” at Wentz Concert Hall (3PM Sun., Jan 16, 2022)
Public Schools closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day
Jan. 17, 2022 / MLK Annual Tributes to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday (Jan. 15, 1929) at North Central College (Mon., Jan. 17, 2022)
North Central College MLK Events / Virtual from 9AM to Noon
Click here for Teach-in Choices by the Hour Beginning at 9AM
Dr. Martin Luther King Day, Jr., Annual Prayer Luncheon at Noon with music performed by the Voices of Praise Gospel Choir. /youtube.com/c/NorthCentralCollegeNaperville. (Update: The video of the virtual lunchtime program is now streaming in the third row of choices, first position.)
Jan. 17, 2022 / Ever wonder what Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), Betty White (1922- 2021) and Muhammad Ali (1942-2016) have in common? Each one was born on January 17.
Jan. 18, 2022 / Happy 91st Birthday to Ann Good Lord!
Jan. 18, 2022 / Naperville City Council Meeting (7PM Tues., Jan. 18, 2022) Agenda (Update / Thanks for visiting downtown Naperville to shop and dine. Merchants are grateful for all business. Thanks, too, for following parking limits as posted on signs. During public comments, City Council was advised about recent parking challenges when folks overstay limits of two hours. Warnings may be given, followed by parking tickets for repeat offenders. To avoid tickets, kindly give up parking spots. Thanks.)
Jan. 18, 2022 / Naperville 203 Board of Education Meeting, held in person at Washington Junior High School, 201 North Washington Street, usually on the third Monday of the month. (7PM Tues., Jan. 18, 2022) Agenda (Update / New appointment for NCHS Principal Jackie Thornton was announced)
Jan. 18, 2022 / Meson Sabika hosts fundraiser for disaster relief…Call (630) 983-3000 X2 or visit www.mesonsabika.com.
Jan. 19, 2022 / National Popcorn Day! For 2022, this day arrives on the scene within crunch time to watch the PZC meeting featuring the City’s Master Plan. Stay tuned via TV, live streaming or by reading the plans posted online. (See meeting notice below.)
Jan. 19, 2022 / Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) Meeting (7PM Wed., Jan. 19, 2022) Agenda (Update! The City of Naperville sent a reminder that at its Dec. 15, 2021, meeting, the PZC continued the hearing to tonight’s meeting. The updated plan includes a future land use map with low-, medium- and high-density residential designations, as well as a reduced number of key sites due to project approvals and construction that have taken place. Meeting materials are available here.) If unable to attend in Council Chambers, watch on government access TV or streaming.
Jan. 21, 2022 / Quigley’s Irish Pub Open daily for lunch and dinner with take-out available, too. Note live music most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Jan. 23, 2022 / Zade’s Lounge in River District at 22 E. Chicago Avenue is now open! Enjoy Karaoke every Sunday evening at the gastropub and cocktail lounge that also features retro arcade games. (Karaoke, 7-10PM Sun., Jan. 23, 2022)
Jan. 28, 2022 / It’s Magic! Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala (7PM Fri., Jan. 28, 2022, changed to April 8, 2022.) (Note! The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, aka NACC, recently honored Naperville business Paul Gregory Media with its inaugural “Shining Business Award” for the business’ commitment to providing the nonprofit community with grants and pro-bono services during the pandemic.) UPDATE! Date changed to April 8, 2022.
Jan. 28, 2022 / Quigley’s Irish Pub Open daily for lunch and dinner with take-out available, too. Note live music most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Jan. 31, 2022 / Paczkis for Fat Tuesday. Plan ahead to call DeEtta’s Bakery (630-548-4078) to place preorders for the donut-like filled pastry called “pączki,” a traditional Polish treat popular for Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. DeEtta’s Bakery is known for the tasty treats (and much more!) at 428 W. 5th Ave., just off Mill Street. (Fat Tuesday is Tues., March 1, 2022)
Wrap up wisely for winter…
Dozens of shopping destinations throughout Naperville promote winter sale days now in progress. Find big bargains at your favorite local businesses. Remember safety protocols whenever entering a store or restaurant.
Take some “feel good” time to treat yourself and use gift cards that may be stashed in your wallet. Downtown Naperville is ready to get you fit and dressed for every season, with plenty to do in between meals at local eateries that’ll whet every appetite.
“Exercise, eat right and be your best self,” say downtown merchants. Follow local protocols. Stay healthy! Click here to find out what’s happening throughout downtown Naperville!
More EVENTS / STORIES under ‘Latest News’
Thanks for linking up and reading PN. Many stories about this active community are saved in the PN archive. Try using the “search” tool to find posts about the “Riverwalk,” “Naper Settlement,” “North Central College,” “Century Walk,” “Dine Naperville” or the “DuPage Children’s Museum,” for example.
Whenever possible, shop, dine and bank locally. Your support of the local business community is appreciated greatly.
Instead of mixing, mingling and connecting in support of traditions in this active community, many events usually planned this time of year are on hold. As “virtual” events and other outdoor events take their place, PN pages will be updated.
Keeping up with cancellations and postponements is a challenge and time-consuming. We regret errors, really we do.
For now, the calendar page you’ve visited here is likely to have only updated happenings for the next few weeks. Be sure to check the posted date/year. We regret so many community traditions are on hold due to the pandemic and the protocols in Illinois.
Stay safe. Wash your hands often, but don’t wash away commonsense. If you’re not feeling well, stay home. That’s wise advice for a lifetime that dates back way before the pandemic.
Again, thanks for reading!
