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Hello Naperville! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: St. Patrick’s Day party, a kids D&D adventure, and a 9,000-tree survey + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Naperville protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Acclaim spans tradition and opportunity: U.S. News named nearby Aurora University among the 30 most beautiful campuses, praising Eckhart Hall and historic architecture, while noting a 2026 national ranking and standout social mobility performance — get all the details.

Celebrating civic dedication: Wheaton is seeking nominations from residents for the 2026 Good Citizen Awards, honoring student and adult volunteers. City Council will review winners May 18. Applications available online or by mail — learn how to nominate someone.

Urban canopy assessment planned: Nearby Darien will rate 9,000 trees in rights-of-way with Davey Resource Group. The survey is expected to take nine to ten weeks and catalog size, species, and risk ratings — get project scope and timeline.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/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.

Highlights this week:

• Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with hands-on fun
• Pedal to fight muscular dystrophy
• Strengthen your core at mat Pilates pop-up
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home

💎 Local business spotlight

Where savory meets flaky: When you’re craving something warm, buttery, and portable, Pie Boss turns out South African-style pies like pepper steak, chicken & mushroom, and veggie curry, plus mini custard tarts for dessert. Savory, flaky, and ready to grab, these hand pies make comfort feel easy.

Florals that actually wow: Whether it’s a birthday, a pick‑me‑up, or you finally remembered an anniversary before lunch, Naperville Florist delivers fresh, hand‑arranged blooms from a family shop going strong since 1993. Expect beautiful custom designs for weddings and everyday moments, plus reliable same‑day delivery.

Got a kid who climbs? ABC Climbing Academy Naperville is a kids-only gym with real routes and playful Funtopia features. Think confidence-building classes, weekend open gym, and coaches who speak fluent kid. Swap screen time for sends… and bring home a happily tired human.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.

🫶 We got your back

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

What doctors wish every 65+ adult had at home: Physicians call it “long-lie,” and it’s the real reason falls are so dangerous for older adults. It’s not a broken bone… it’s lying on the floor for hours waiting for someone to notice. We dug into the options that actually solve this problem, and one stood out. See which one →

Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Check out my favorite online options →

📆 Fun for the whole fam

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🍳 Gourmet Giggles: Cooking Class for Teens! @ Alive Center | Friday (3/13) at 4:00 PM – Let someone else teach your teen to chop onions at this hands-on cooking class at the Alive Center in Naperville. Ages 11–18 get guest chefs, real skills, and take-home treats, and you get peace, a clean kitchen, and bragging rights. Spots are limited, so pounce.

✂ 19th Annual WVHS Band Boosters Craft Fair & Vendor Showcase @ Waubonsie Valley High School (Aurora) | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – The band boosters’ annual craft fair is packing in 90 plus vendors slinging legit handmade goods, from jewelry and toys to bath and body, candles, wreaths, and fine woodworking. Swing by to support the kids, stockpile gifts, and smugly skip the big-box chaos.

🌳 Volunteer Workday @ Oakhurst County Forest Preserve (Aurora) | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to trade screen time for fresh air, Oakhurst’s restoration workday is it. All-ages, no RSVP unless you bring ten or more. Wear boots, bring water and gloves, arrive early, bask in a do-gooder glow.

🎾 Pickleball for a Purpose @ Sure Shot Pickleball | Saturday (3/14) at 1:00 PM – Clear your afternoon cardio with pickleball at Sure Shot, paddle in hand, and call it philanthropy. Adult doubles tourney, spectators welcome, kids under 12 free, a free‑play court, apps and drinks, with 100% of tickets going to Cal’s Angels, so bragging rights do good.

🐉 Dice & Dragons: A Kids D&D Adventure @ Treasures Naperville | Sunday (3/15) at 12:00 PM – Got an aspiring hero ages 8 to 12? Drop them at Treasures Naperville for a guided D&D quest with a savvy DM, small-party storytelling, a dice set to keep, and no experience needed, while you remember what quiet sounds like; six spots, $25, RSVP.

⛺ Naperville Camp Fair @ Northern Illinois University – Naperville Campus | Sunday (3/15) at 12:00 PM – If your summer childcare plan is ‘we’ll wing it,’ consider this your lifeline. NIU Naperville is hosting a camp fair with 40-plus programs, camp directors to grill, and raffle prizes. Tickets are free, limited, and worth the babysitter.

🍀 A Pinch of Green – St. Patrick’s Day Party @ The Fun Playce | Tuesday (3/17) at 9:30 AM – Need a St. Patrick’s Day plan that lets the kids go wild while you sip coffee in peace? Expect a scavenger hunt, DIY green playdough, open play, goodies for kids in green, and parents get in free. Grab a spot before the crowd finds it.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Naperville report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 43°F – Low: 27°F – Precip: 78%

Patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms before 4pm. Cloudy. High near 43, with temperatures falling to around 38 in the afternoon. North northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 27. West northwest wind 5 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 48°F – Low: 41°F – Precip: 2%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. West southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Later: A chance of rain showers after 7pm. Cloudy, with a low around 41. South southwest wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

This house is wild

This luxury DJK Custom Homes residence in Downtown Naperville pairs modern performance with timeless character, just steps from the Riverwalk, Centennial Beach, and a walkable dining, shopping, and nightlife scene. Energy-efficient and high-performance features meet thoughtful design for comfort and lasting value. Top-rated schools and easy access to Metra, Amtrak, I-88, and I-355 complete the sought-after setting.

Take a peek inside →