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Happy Friday, Naperville. In today’s edition: Naperville’s Music Box debut, DuPage Symphony Orchestra Holiday Magic, Santa brunch, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Anticipation for public art: After a snow delay, Naperville’s Music Box was to be unveiled Tuesday downtown Naperville, transforming the alley between Apple Store and Sephora into an experience of sound, color, and light — see where and when it debuts.
Behind the zero-proof boom: Neer Beer opened in Wheaton, bringing the suburbs’ first dedicated non-alcoholic bottle shop. A free sampling event is Saturday, Dec. 13, 11 am to 3 pm — read the full story.
Citywide winter safety reminder: Naperville reminds residents to clear sidewalks within 48 hours of snowfall, keep hydrants and storm drains clear, and avoid pushing snow into streets. Enforcement is complaint based, with Adopt-a-Drain program — get the snow removal rules.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.
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🫶 We got your back
Warmth and wonder await: Joy & Light, a family holiday event from Naperville nonprofit First Light Pathways, pops up Dec. 13 from 12–3 pm at the Chicago Marriott Naperville. Expect crafts, cocoa, cookies, and meet-and-greets with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Kids take home a gift, and your fun supports a local cause. Get all the event details.
Third-generation craftsmanship shines: Colbert Custom Framing & Art Printing in Naperville is celebrating the season with custom framing, photo restoration, and art printing at its newly relocated studio. Take 15% off custom framing through December. Thanks to a deep in-stock inventory, they can accept Christmas orders right up to Christmas Eve. See offerings and December savings.
Week-to-week hair sanity: Niki Moon Salon & Spa is your low-stress fix when grown-out bangs start freelancing. Get precision cuts, dialed-in color, keratin, and extensions, plus a calm spa side that steadies everything. Walk out polished this week, no drama, just hair that behaves.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.
Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.
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📆 Around town this weekend
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
Today
⛸️ Ice Rink & Cocoa Cabanas @ Visitors Center Parking Lot | Friday (12/12) at 4:00pm – Lace up for an outdoor skate, then unwind in a rinkside Cocoa Cabana with warm drinks, fire tables, and cozy seating. Whether you’re skating or spectating, it’s a relaxed winter hangout for families and friends.
😂 An Evening of Comedy with Chris Ryan @ Meiley-Swallow Hall | Friday (12/12) at 7:00pm – Take a break from the grind and catch Naperville’s own Chris Ryan back at Meiley-Swallow Hall for a one-night-only homecoming. He skewers midlife chaos, parenting, and commuter marriage mileage with sharp, heartfelt humor, the kind that makes you snort, then text a babysitter.
This weekend
🍪 Holiday Fun: Gingerbread Decorating Events @ La Briola Ristorante | Saturday (12/13) at 8:00am – Build your own gingerbread house with help from La Briola’s pastry pros, plus a full breakfast buffet and a visit from the North Pole. A cheerful, hands-on morning for families and brunch lovers.
🎅 Kids Brunch with Santa @ Tapville Social – Naperville | Saturday (12/13) at 10:00am – Skip the mall chaos and do Santa the civilized way at a kid-friendly brunch where the big guy swings by each table. The littles get pancakes, you get hot coffee, and you snap your own photos, no upsell. Reserve a spot, save your sanity.
🎁 Holly Jolly Days @ Naper Settlement | Saturday (12/13) at 1:00pm – Whether you’re the type who labels the ornament boxes or the type who “stores” them in the garage year-round, Holly Jolly Days at Naper Settlement brings cozy crafts, classic stories, and small-town sparkle. Think hot cocoa, happy kids, and zero mall parking meltdowns.
🥞 Santa Brunch @ Downtown Naperville | Sunday (12/14) at 10:00am – Santa Brunch is landing at Lennon’s with pancakes, photos, and zero mall madness, all benefiting Little Friends. Bring the kiddos for the jolly, then treat yourself to a civilized plate and a proper coffee. Tickets are disappearing faster than cookie trays, so reserve now.
🎨 Kids Merry Minis Workshop @ The Growing Place Aurora | Sunday (12/14) at 11:00am – Kids can craft a mini pot of holiday greens with a touch of sparkle, perfect for gifting or their shelf. Ages 6 to 12, materials and guidance included, about 30 minutes, $10 per pot, registration required, at the Aurora location. You supervise, they beam.
🎶 DuPage Symphony Orchestra “Holiday Magic” @ Wentz Concert Hall & Fine Arts Center | Sunday (12/14) at 3:00pm – DuPage Symphony Orchestra is bringing Holiday Magic to Wentz with festive favorites from around the world, nods to Christmas and Hanukkah, and a guest narrator telling a cozy tale. Expect lively medleys, fresh arrangements, and that familiar special someone leading Sleigh Ride, grins required.
Next week
🎄 Festival of Lights and Christmas Tree Sale @ Cosley Zoo | Monday (12/15) at 9:00am – Cosley Zoo becomes a winter wonderland, all twinkly lights, hot chocolate, and a forest of Christmas trees, wreaths, and greenery waiting to challenge your decisiveness. Admission is free, the gift shop tempts, and every purchase supports the zoo, your holiday spirit, and local charm.
⭐ Cinnamon Stick Himmeli Ornament @ Westmont Public Library | Monday (12/15) at 2:30pm – Make fragrant, geometric ornaments inspired by traditional Himmeli designs using cinnamon sticks. A cozy craft session with guidance and accessible support upon request.
✨ Fiesta de Luces @ Phillips Park Visitors Center | Tuesday (12/16) at 5:30pm – Shine up your shoes and head to Phillips Park Visitors Center for an elegant night of lights, Latin-inspired bites, and grownup mingling that feels like the holidays used to. Bring a new toy for the Aurora Police Department drive, glow a little, give a little.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🎶 Live music & entertainment
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🏠️ Price is right – Naperville edition
How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).
Listed by: Stephanie Boswell (Keller Williams Success Realty)
Custom 5-bed, 4.5-bath in Tall Grass with pool and clubhouse. Two-story foyer, formal dining, and a library wrapped in floor-to-ceiling built-ins. White-on-granite kitchen with pull-outs, SS appliances, and two pantries flows to a bay-windowed family room with gas fireplace.
Upstairs brings a tray-ceilinged primary suite with updated bath and huge walk-in, plus a princess suite and three more bedrooms with a refreshed hall bath. Finished basement adds office, full bath, gym, and rec room. Fenced yard, paver patio, built-in grill, gas fire pit. Naperville 204 schools.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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