When we wrote about the new youth classes at the Geneva Underground Playhouse back in December in Geneva Patch, we knew there'd be a follow-up. Those aspiring young actors have emerged after working with award-winning, 20-year experienced sketch writer, performer and director Eric Schwartz for the past several weeks. While Schwartz led them on the journey to help hone their comedic delivery skills, the group plucked moments from their everyday lives to create great material for the scripts.  Once you click on the gallery , you'll see they didn't miss a beat in the video clip – acting out, …

As you can see from our photo, the ice-covered trees and, as my own kids pointed out, "even the blades of grass" were glistening in the sunlight. The folks inside the Panera Bread had a sunny disposition, too, on the Monday morning of our Coffee Talk.                                                                              *  *  * We found Rose Haeseli form Campton Hills seeking out warmth near the fire. Rose said, “I don’t have enough time to read up on the news,” though she plans to check out Geneva Patch since it’s local and she seems to like the idea of reading only that which she’s …

Mmmmm, french fried potatoes. The smell of which brings back memories of a time I liked them as much as I like coffee now.  It's been a while since my kids were younger and I had a reason to hang out at McDonald's. Today, I was pleasantly surprised with personable service (see images witnessing such treatment) and delicious, fresh coffee!  This group of regulars has been coming here long before Fuller's came to be, and we had a lot to offer each other, as they shared their wisdom and I, a little lesson in computer technology.  Two of them own computers but none have heard of Geneva Patch …

The big talk at the Cocoa Bean was Valentine's Day aftermath. Cocoa Bean is usually closed on Mondays, owner Chef Paul Saucedo explained. "We decided to open for Valentine's Day, since it landed on a Monday," he said. "But with this economy, we need to take advantage of every opportunity." Saucedo mentioned that while they have a steady stream of wedding orders, his country-club client list is dwindling. Saucedo is still grateful, after six-and-a-half years, to be here. "I was an executive chef in a hotel and surely would have been laid off several times over by now," he said. Something I …

It was quite a relaxing ambiance inside the Starbucks coffee shop this week as barista regular Dean educated the customers and knew many of them by name.  I was intrigued by an unusual sight in the dead of winter—a cyclist who was sporting a bike helmet and all the "gear". When I asked Jim Kirkhoff about the obvious challenges to bicyclists brought on by the recent record snow, he said, "It's a bit more difficult, but the guys at Fermi (National Accelerator Laboratory) always clear the snow off for us. It gets tricky when we have to join the traffic in the street because we can't use the …

As the baristas here at the Caribou on Third in Geneva were steaming lattes and getting a jump on spring cleaning, we gathered with friends to talk about the latest hot topics, like the weather and the good ol' days. As everyone surely knows by now, Tom Skilling is very excited about the approaching snow storm—but hey, that is his passion and it shows, a group of us agreed this morning as we sat and talked over coffee.  Just like helping to shape Kane County has been a passion for a special guest we sat with today. Philip Bus has served as director of Kane County's Development Department and…

We ran into a group of serious runners (pun intended) at Graham's 318 this week. Not only did they stop long enough to visit with me, they just might run into me again at our next Monday coffee stop.  Meeting this fit group made me feel a little guilty for giving only my fingers a work out on the keyboard today. OK, maybe some heavy brain conditioning was involved, too. You ladies were fun to chat with and an inspiration! I wish you the best of luck in the numerous race endeavors you are embarking on. Please keep us posted on Patch!   *  *  * The Hogan group has worked on quite a few projects…

You might recall, last week I invited you (the reader) to come by and visit with me (the writer) at the Caribou (where you get coffee) off Third (Street) downtown Geneva (a small town in the western suburbs of Chicago.) People were clamoring to talk with us. OK, well ... not exactly. Since exactly zero people approached me, I was forced to strike up conversation with total strangers.  That's not the worse thing that could happen, I love meeting new people, and this is what Coffee Talk all about, after all!  Two ladies with abundant energy were sitting at the table next to me, reminiscing over…

As I was sitting at my office with low overhead, free WiFi and surrounded by really good smells—this week, the Starbucks on Randall Road—I started talking with someone I just met.  That's not so unusual. His story is, however.   It started with a question—from him to me, though it usually happens in reverse. "Are you Dutch?" this man asks, and I respond, "Nicht. Ich bin German ..." and lucky for me, he didn't speak German (because that's about the extent of the words I know in German. I used to know more, but if you don't use it, you really do lose it.) So, we agreed we are both muts. I said …