|
Subscribe | Get featured
Hi Naperville, we made it to Thursday! In today’s edition: A $2 billion data center scrapped, Adele by candlelight, restaurant week, and more.
— Cait Baker
|
📰 In the news
Top home sales roundup: A Naperville single-family home sold for $757,000 topped the week of Jan. 12 records in DuPage and Cook counties. The average was $453,269 for sales between $500,000 and $1 million — see the full sales list.
Politics shift around server farms: A $2 billion Barrington Hills data center was withdrawn after resident backlash, including a 1,300-signature petition and canceled commission presentation. It reflects wider pushback, with rejections in Lisle and Naperville — learn what’s behind the shift.
A feast across town: Naperville Restaurant Week is underway through Feb. 8, with about 60 local restaurants offering special menus and discounts, from downtown favorites to new spots you may not have tried — check out the full lineup.
Suburban resistance reshapes approvals: Naperville is pushing back on data centers. City Council rejected Karis Critical’s northwest-side campus over noise, power lines, and property values, raising questions about AI electricity use and monthly bills — see what’s driving the pushback.
Gold & silver are hot: Last year was gold’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150%… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your IRA or portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.
Compare rates for free: Insurance prices drop all the time, but you’ll only know if you check. I assumed my rate was fine until I compared options and realized I was leaving real money on the table. It took a minute to check and instantly showed better offers for where I live. If it’s been more than a few months, you should probably run this comparison tool here.
One pet emergency can easily cost $7,000+ but pet insurance helps ease the financial and emotional burden. It’s something I wish I’d had after spending $10k on last-minute surgery for my cat (her name is Miss Stache). I learned my lesson and signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
|
🫶 We got your back
Origins of underwater therapy: Diveheart shares how scuba therapy took shape in the suburbs. It started at College of DuPage, began teaching adaptive scuba in 1997, partnered with Midwestern University on research including autism, and led the first scuba therapy class at Good Samaritan Hospital’s new recreation center focused on breath and body control. See how it developed.
Black-tie night for a cause: Naperville’s Turning Pointe Autism Foundation will host a red carpet reception at McCormick Place on Feb. 6, ahead of the Chicago Auto Show’s First Look for Charity. Guests get an exclusive first look at the nation’s largest auto show. Tickets are $325 plus service fees. Get all the event details.
Sushi night upgrade: Wild Tuna Sushi, a family-run Naperville favorite founded by Chef Gene and now led by his son Jeff, serves fresh, sustainable nigiri, sashimi, and playful maki, with solid options for non-raw eaters. Ideal for a low-key midweek treat or a lingering weekend dinner.
Fresh finds, good vibes: If your place needs a refresh or your wardrobe wants a win, STARS Resale Shop turns donated treasures into feel-good scores with clothing, furniture, books, and home goods curated by a stellar volunteer crew. Every purchase supports adults with disabilities through STARS Family Services.
A smart way to save on big purchases: When costs hit the tens of thousands, credit card and personal loan interest racks up fast. A HELOC lets you tap into your home’s equity as a flexible line of credit at a lower rate… all without refinancing your mortgage. I’ve been looking into this myself, and Figure’s HELOC stood out for its 100% online application, no in-person appraisal, and quick access to cash.
Your neighbors are Googling you:It’s an uncomfortable thought, but people search names all the time — employers, new friends, other parents at school pickup. If something negative, outdated, or misleading shows up on the first page, it can shape how people see you before you ever meet. BetterReputation helps push down unwanted search results so the first impression you make actually reflects who you are today. And if it’s not your name, you can help a friend or family member with that too.
Get clarity on financial decisions: Managing retirement, taxes, and investments alone can feel overwhelming, especially during big life transitions. Financial advisors provide holistic guidance, help reduce risk, and keep emotions away from costly decisions. I found a tool called Unbiased that matches you with the right financial advisor based on your personal situation so you can get a second opinion… it never hurts.
|
📆 Around town this weekend
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.
🎂 Modern Cake Design: Buttercream Piping Foundations @ The Wilton Sweet Studio | Friday (2/6) at 9:00 AM – Trade your messy birthday frosting for modern buttercream style with a full-day, hands-on piping class. Learn clean lines, refined textures, and actual control as you tackle the first step in Wilton’s Master Series, then claim a spot before your icing melts.
🌈 Echoes of Color @ Pinot’s Palette | Friday (2/6) at 3:00 PM – If your walls, your schedule, and your wine glass could all use a little color, Echoes of Color is a paint and sip at a Naperville studio. Swirl, sip, and pretend your brushstrokes are intentional, then leave with a canvas, a buzz, and a laugh.
🥂 Galentine’s Brunch @ Altiro Latin Fusion | Saturday (2/7) at 11:00 AM – Rally the group chat and claim a table at Altiro’s Galentine’s Brunch, the feel-good excuse to toast friendship without planning a whole trip. For $15 you get a themed mimosa, a DJ spinning brunch-worthy beats, and cheeky friendship cards, plus a themed menu, limited seats.
🧶 Chunky Knit Blanket @ Pinot’s Palette | Saturday (2/7) at 11:00 AM – Your favorite paint-and-sip spot is switching to knit-and-sip with a chunky blanket workshop in Naperville. Bring your own yarn, they supply the wine, patience, and know-how. The rare class where you leave with something you actually want on your couch, plus a pleasant buzz.
❤ Let’s be Lit Valentines! @ Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House | Saturday (2/7) at 11:30 AM – Swap candy hearts for plot twists at a Lit Ladies Valentine’s brunch at Hugo’s Frog Bar in Naperville. Tuck into a Breakfast Burrito, Avocado Toast, French Toast, or the Hugo’s special, then discuss book four with coffee, laughter, and zero forced small talk.
🎭 Improv Show @ Center Stage Theater | Saturday (2/7) at 8:00 PM – This improv night at Center Stage Theater serves up quick wit and zero scripts, right here in Naperville. Grab a seat, bring a friend, and watch them spin your suggestions into laughs for $15, cheaper than parking in the city, and infinitely more entertaining.
🌇 Sunset Stroll @ Pinot’s Palette | Saturday (2/7) at 8:00 PM – Skip the Riverwalk and swap your scroll for a Sunset Stroll, a paint and sip at the Naperville studio where the pours are generous, and the pressure is not. Bring a friend, your humor, and a steady hand. Expect color, giggles, and no HOA-level critiques.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
|
📻 Naperville report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 31°F – Low: 26°F – Precip: 54%
Scattered snow showers before 3pm. Cloudy, with a high near 31. South southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Later: A chance of snow showers between midnight and 3am, then a chance of snow showers and a chance of sleet and a slight chance of freezing rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
—
Tomorrow – High: 39°F – Low: 11°F – Precip: 23%
A slight chance of snow showers and a slight chance of freezing rain. Cloudy, with a high near 39. Northwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 11.
This house is wild
This 5-bed, 4.5-bath Naperville home pairs refined millwork and soaring ceilings with a chef’s kitchen featuring granite, double ovens, and an island. A sunlit breakfast room opens to a fenced yard with a paver patio. Includes an ensuite guest room, office, and fireplace family room. Tray-ceiling primary suite with jetted tub, finished basement recreation, 2024 HVAC, Plainfield District 202.
Take a peek inside →
|
🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we genuinely think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week:
|
 |
Thanks for reading! If you know someone who’d love BaseLocal, send ’em here so they can sign up too 🙂
|
|
|
|
