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Good morning, Naperville! In today’s edition: The Phantom of the Opera in concert, a glow-stick workout, Stacia Stark: We Who Will Die, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Welcoming a seasoned contributor: NCTV17 announced that Mary Browning has joined its Board of Directors, bringing nearly 20 years as a Crime Prevention Specialist and broad community leadership, from youth programs to neighborhood associations — read about her community work.
Role at award-winning publisher: Sourcebooks is hiring a Marketing Assistant in Naperville supporting its children’s books. Expect in-office days, social media work, and book festivals at $21.16 per hour. Applications are now under review — get all the job details.
Community gratitude on display: Monarch Landing residents in Naperville raised a record $227,606 for the Employee Appreciation Fund, underscoring a close bond as distributions rewarded hourly staff for years of service and hours worked — see how funds were shared.
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.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*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:
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🫶 We got your back
Serving a growing community: A new appointment-only DMV in Naperville recently opened with a larger, modern space, shorter waits, and streamlined services. The state reports steady demand at about 2,700 customers a week and says it will boost appointment availability by 10 to 15 percent this year. See what’s changed and coming.
Hands-on brain boost: Feeling cabin fever? At DuPage Children’s Museum, kids engineer, tinker, splash, and climb through hands-on STEM exhibits while you sip coffee and call it learning. It’s lively, a bit chaotic, and, surprise, genuinely fun for grown-ups too.
Burrito night sorted: Craving a burrito that eats like a meal? Burrito Parrilla Mexicana builds it your way, with al pastor, grilled skirt steak, or veggies, plus suizo style if you’re feeling saucy. A reliable don’t-cook-tonight fix that rewards future you.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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🎼 The Phantom of the Opera In Concert @ Madden Theatre | Friday (1/9) – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to trade the couch for culture, here it is. Yeston and Kopit’s Phantom glides in as a concert, not the Lloyd Webber one, with lush orchestrations, soaring voices, and haunting romance. No crashing chandeliers, just goosebumps.
🔫 Nerf Attack @ Vaughan Athletic Center | Friday (1/9) at 5:15 PM – VAC is turning into a Nerf battleground with obstacles, barriers, and organized games, all the fun with none of the bruises. Gear, darts, and eye protection are provided, so you can channel your inner action hero, break a sweat, and then gloat at brunch.
📚 Stacia Stark: We Who Will Die @ Barnes & Noble – Oakbrook Center | Friday (1/9) at 6:00 PM – Barnes & Noble at Oakbrook Center is hosting Stacia Stark for We Who Will Die, so consider this your excuse to loiter among actual books, not tabs. Expect a reading, a chat, and signed copies, plus the joy of beating your book club to it.
🌲 Volunteer Workday @ Oakhurst County Forest Preserve | Saturday (1/10) at 9:00 AM – Trade screen time for green time at Oakhurst Forest Preserve’s low-key restoration workday for all ages. No RSVP unless you’re rolling ten deep, just show up a few minutes early, sign in, and bring boots, water, gloves, and your finest sunglasses.
🎨 Waterlilies, Monet Style @ Pinot’s Palette | Saturday (1/10) at 11:00 AM – Trade errands for art and sip your way through Monet-style waterlilies at a Naperville studio. Think guided strokes, decent wine, and no judgment when the lilies look more like Riverwalk puddles. Bring your dry wit, your favorite friend, and an apron.
⚕ Pelvic Health 101: Beyond Kegels @ Afferent Influence | Sunday (1/11) at 11:00 AM – Whether you’ve perfected your Kegels or just pretend during commercials, this workshop with pelvic floor pro Leena Bird covers fixes for leaks, pressure, hip, pelvic, back pains, and navigating changes through perimenopause and menopause. Bring a yoga mat, open mind, and your questions, snacks included.
🕉 Aligned Living: The Power of Dinacharya @ YogaSix | Sunday (1/11) at 1:00 PM – Ready to swap chaos coffee for a routine that actually helps? Learn the Dosha Clock, add simple Ayurvedic morning and evening rituals, build quick daytime resets, then seal it with yoga that balances the doshas. Accessible, calming, and far cheaper than another wellness gadget.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Naperville report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 55°F – Low: 43°F – Precip: 100%
Rain after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. South wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Mostly cloudy. Low around 43, with temperatures rising to around 50 overnight. South southwest wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 44°F – Low: 36°F – Precip: 21%
A slight chance of rain before 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Northeast wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
This house is wild
In Columbia Estates, minutes from downtown Naperville, this luxury renovation layers timeless craftsmanship with modern polish. Brand new red oak floors run through light filled rooms with custom accent walls and multiple fireplaces. The kitchen pairs Treasure Chest cabinetry with Calacatta style white quartz and GE Profile stainless steel, a clean, durable workspace with quiet glam.
Four bedrooms sit above grade, plus a legal fifth in the fully finished basement. There are 3.5 designer baths, including a spa inspired primary with freestanding tub and walk in shower. A 2 car garage and a spacious backyard complete the turnkey feel.
Take a peek inside →
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