It’s Friday, Elgin! In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Video game art show, paw-jama adoption party, and Juneteenth rhythm and blues festival + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.
Today's sponsor, Babbel, is for folks around Elgin who've traveled abroad without being able to speak the local language. You got by, but more than once you wished you could just talk to people. Ten minutes a day gets you holding real conversations in about three weeks, with lessons built by 200+ language experts. Make your next trip the one where you can -- an annual subscription is 55% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Major industrial deal closes: Lee & Associates closed a $24.8 million sale of a 442,601-square-foot industrial building in Elgin. Buyer PJP Holdings will modernize the site, the second-largest Chicago-area industrial sale of 2026 -- see the industrial sale details.
Cost pressures keep building: Prices in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin rose 1.1% in May and 3.7% year over year. Energy jumped 10.3% in May, gasoline 42.7% annually, while food dipped 0.4%. June CPI arrives July 14 -- track the latest CPI numbers.
Summer tour highlights: A Chicago vocal ensemble will bring a free program of world premieres to St. Charles on July 25 at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, part of a summer tour -- get the concert details.
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest -- this one's $150 off right now.*
Best Father's Day gifts from your local CVS. Sunday is almost here and online orders won't make it. Your local CVS is the fix: the card, the gift, and a little something extra, all ready in hours with same-day delivery or pickup -- see what's available.* Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor You've traveled abroad without being able to speak the local language.You got by. You pointed at the menu, you found someone who spoke a little English, you smiled and nodded through the parts you missed. But more than once you wished you could just talk to people, ask a local where to go, understand what was being said around you, and be part of it instead of watching from the outside. Babbel changes that in ten minutes a day. Most people are holding real conversations within three weeks, because every lesson is built by 200+ language experts. And it works: 92% of users improved their proficiency in just two months, with 25 million subscriptions sold. Annual access is available for 55% off through the end of June.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Gyro cravings, solved: Jester's Fast Food keeps it classic with gyros, Italian beef, rotisserie chicken, and rib dinners, all made to order. Easy online ordering and a drive-thru mean you can grab real-deal comfort food between errands this week and still make it home before the fries cool.
Backyard upgrade alert: Ready to finally enjoy summer on a deck that isn’t one backyard barbecue away from wobbling? O.G Renovations llc builds custom wood or composite spaces, including Trex and TimberTech options, plus pergolas and patios, with over a decade of experience around Elgin and the wider Chicagoland area.
Reset in the neighborhood: Rolling Knolls Forest Preserve is perfect for a quick nature break, a no-pressure round while you tune that backhand, or a laid-back picnic you promise won’t attract geese. Easy, local, and low effort, it’s the kind of green space that makes this week feel a little lighter.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Summer just went on sale at CVS: The seasonal shop is stocked with sun care, beach chairs, coolers, fans, pool toys, and snacks — hundreds of items under $10, with 25 summer staples at buy one, get one 50% off. Sun Bum and Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen are marked down with ExtraBucks back, and the soda 12-packs are buy two, get one free. Pick it up in store, get it same-day, or have it shipped. *Shop the summer sale →
Not every financial advisor has to put you first: It surprises a lot of folks, but "financial advisor" isn't a regulated promise. Only fiduciaries are legally bound to act in your best interest, while others can recommend products that earn them a commission. SmartAsset's free tool asks you a few questions and matches you with vetted fiduciary advisors who serve your area, so you can compare them and decide for yourself. There's no cost to get matched and no obligation to hire anyone. *Find your match →
Plastic and wood are no good: Every time you use a plastic cutting board, microplastics end up in your food. You can’t see it, but it's happening and it’s gross. Wood isn't any better since it absorbs bacteria so deep into the grain you can’t get it out. More than 50,000 people have already ditched both for something better. *See what they're using instead →
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Around town this weekendOur favorite events this weekend. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🖼 8 Bit Life Gallery Exhibition @ The Robin and Mark Seigle Gallery at Elgin ArtSpace | Friday (6/19) at 3:00 PM – Think your cartridge blowing days are behind you? Elgin's Oddball Art Labs is throwing an open call art show of video game inspired work, from homages to weird mash ups, with paintings, drawings, and 3D work, plus a Jam Painting Raffle at the opening reception.
🐶 Paw-Jama Party Adoption Event @ Anderson Humane (South Elgin) | Friday (6/19) at 7:00 PM – Rock your coziest PJs for Anderson Humane's slumber-party adoption bash, with dogs, puppies, kittens, and cats ready to steal your heart. No appointment needed, $60 off puppies and kittens under 6 months, $60 fees for the 6 months and older crowd, plus puppy-breath therapy.
🎬 Movies in the Park @ Wing Park Bandshell | Friday (6/19) – Movies in the Park lands at the Wing Park Bandshell with The Princess and the Frog, a little bayou magic under our very Midwestern sky. Bring a blanket, lawn chairs, and bug spray, then let the fireflies provide ambiance, and the jazz do the babysitting.
🐶 Hyundai + Genesis + Project Hope Dog Adoption Event & Outdoor BBQ @ Elgin Hyundai (Bartlett) | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Skip the showroom shuffle and trade it for belly rubs at Elgin Hyundai and Genesis of Elgin with Project Hope, adoptable pups, and a backyard-style BBQ. Meet your future co-pilot, enjoy good company, and leave with a full heart, a tank, and a new ride.
🎨 An Evening of Art at the Butterfly Garden: Art Unveiling & Open Mic @ The NENA Butterfly Garden | Saturday (6/20) at 5:30 PM – Grab a blanket and head to the Butterfly Garden for an art unveiling and open mic, free and gloriously low-stress. Think birdsong, blooming paths, and neighbors you actually like. Come for the talent, stay for the solstice sunset, skip the small talk.
🎶 Juneteenth Rhythm & Blues Cultural Festival @ Festival Park | Saturday (6/20) – Elgin’s Festival Park turns into a proper Juneteenth block party, with rhythm and blues, performances, art, storytelling, history, vendors, and very good eats. Family friendly, which means culture for the kids, shade for the aunties, and actual history set to a great groove.
💀 Addams Family: Til Death @ Side Street Studio Arts | Sunday (6/21) at 1:00 PM – This playable theater wedding takes over Side Street, letting you crash the Addams Family nuptials as a delightfully weird relative, or the painfully normal in-law. Zero LARP experience required, just your dry wit. Pay what you can, with $30 covering the real costs. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Join The Insiders' ClubWe've had hundreds of folks already join (thank you!!). For a few bucks a month, The Club gives you every newsletter ad-free on your schedule, plus members-only updates to help you stay connected to your community. The Weekly Events Roundup is my favorite feature. You get one email a week with all the best events and nothing else cluttering it up. Want only that? Skip the daily emails and turn the rest off. Join the club → |
07 — The Elgin report Weather forecastToday — High: 76°F — Low: 58°F — Precip: 0%
Sunny, with a high near 76. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Later: A chance of rain showers between 7pm and 10pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58. West wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tomorrow — High: 79°F — Low: 58°F — Precip: 18%
A slight chance of rain showers before 7am. Sunny, with a high near 79. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 20%. This house is wildThis 3,044-square-foot Emerson in Elgin’s West Point Gardens brings 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, and a 3-car garage to a fully sodded homesite. The open-concept layout shines with a gourmet kitchen, quartz counters, a huge island, butler’s pantry, and smart-home tech. A first-floor bedroom, second-floor loft, and luxe primary suite add serious flexibility.
Take a peek inside → |
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