Patch Picks

Patch Picks: 5 Places to Get Cheap Eats

Why stay in for dinner when you can go out?

Dining out has been a luxury for many people during the last couple years, but with some careful planning, it's easy to find the funds to make a night out with an inexpensive meal.  There are many places in Geneva where you can get a great deal on dining out. Here are five where you can eat for under $25.  1. When we think "cantina," Mike and Miguel's springs to mind. With quality ingredients and a menu filled with items under $10, it's a great bargain for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  2. One of the best-kept secrets for a great night out is Houlihan's in the Geneva Commons. Their full-priced menu starts with a Small Plates section, which definitely doesn't mean small on taste. Their mini-entrees go from $6.25 to $10.25 for a 4-ounce filet …

• Photos (4)

Patch Picks

Patch Picks: 5 Charities Providing Selfless Service

These local charities provide help you can stand up and be proud of.

In honor of Labor Day, Patch Picks is featuring five charities and organizations that provide service to our community. Philanthropy is an important part of what makes Geneva such a hospitable place to live. Coming together is something the citizens of Geneva do best, and Patch wants everyone to know how much we appreciate the time and support that goes into making Geneva, and the world, a better place.  1. TriCity Family Services is an organization focused on providing affordable and quality family and youth counseling services. This community-based outreach program works with individuals and families affected by substance abuse and mental health issues. Tri-Cities offers early intervention, youth counseling, and family behavioral health …

• Photos (1)

Patch Picks

Patch Picks: 5 'Not-To-Miss' Ethnic Restaurants in Geneva!

Geneva has many dining options, so step outside the box and enjoy food from a vast variety of other cultures.

The exotic foods of foreign countries can transport you to a different culture without leaving your hometown. Geneva certainly doesn't lack when it comes to ethnic restaurants, there are dining options all over town that serve food indicative of another culture.  Here are five that Patch found worth experiencing: 1. Thai restaurants seem to be popping up all over the Tri-Cities lately, but Bangkok Restaurant in Geneva has been serving Thai cuisine for almost 20 years. Their menu is nothing short of authentic, with many of their spices being imported directly from Thailand. Bangkok's service is always friendly which matches with their cosy ambiance.  2. When it comes to dinner and a show, JuRin's chefs fit the bill for food entertainment. …

• Photos (1)

Patch Picks

Patch Picks: Ideas for a Perfect Date Night in Geneva

Whether it's puppy love or a burning eternal flame, making time for your significant other is an important part of any relationship.

Dating is sometimes seen as a juvenile experience full of high anxiety. Aside from the sweaty palms and queasy anticipation, most couples revere their time in the beginnings of a relationship. Unfortunately by the time you get out of the dating stage you're worrying about mortgages, insurance, kids and pets. The next thing you know all the things that made being a couple fun become full of boring responsibility.   The best way to combat lazy relationship habits is to make time for one another. Thankfully, Geneva has plenty of culture and things to do to make a great date night a reality. Here are some tips to make date night a reality in your love life:  Enjoy browsing though an art gallery  Morrison Galleries is located in downtown Geneva…

• Photos (7)

Patch Picks: 5 Great Places for Ice Cream

I scream, you scream; somebody get me some ice cream before I melt.

July is National Ice Cream month, and with the "heat dome" we're experiencing right now there's no better time to enjoy a cool treat.  Patch found five of the best places in Geneva to indulge in ice cream. It might be a guilty pleasure, but it sure is a good one.    1. Graham's Fine Chocolates and Ice Cream doesn't just make ice cream treats, they serve gelato, too. Gelato is a rich Italian treat that takes ice cream to the next level with a smooth consistency and flavors that pack a punch. Try the frozen hot chocolate, as well. It's a chocolate-lovers dream of sweet creamy deliciousness. It's just a beautiful place to sit, as well, with small tables inside and big chairs outside. 2. Batavia Creamery—This is a "must" for anyone who lives …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (8)

Patch Picks: 5 Family Friendly Restaurants

Looking to take the family out for dinner? Patch has 5 great suggestions for a family dining adventure.

Family time can be hard to find, but everyone usually gets excited to go out for dinner. Geneva has some great family restaurants with entrees kids and adults can enjoy.  1. Tia Maria's is a great place for families to spend time together over a basket of chips and salsa while waiting for entrees to be prepared. The authentic Mexican menu has plenty of selections for older appetites and keeps kids happy with some simple dishes prepared exactly to their liking.  2. Tom & Eddie's put a great deal of thought into their restaurant concept and how it would apply to the family eatery scene in Geneva. Not only do they serve up some of the best burgers in town but their high-tech way of serving food and drinks gives an extra entertainment factor …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Patch Picks

Patch Picks: 5 Ways to Celebrate Father's Day

Patch found 5 ideas to give Dad a Father's Day to remember.

1. Dad will will get a free round of miniature golf at Stone Creek Miniature Golf Course in Wheeler Park, this Sunday. Bring the family out for some friendly competition and test their skill on this fun, yet challenging, mini-golf course.   2 The centennial celebration of the Swedish Midsommar Festival will keep the whole family entertained this Father's Day. A day of Swedish themed activities have been planned for children and adults: take part in a traditional May Pole celebration, explore a Viking Ship, hear live Swedish music, and much more. If dad's a real man—or at least a real Swedish man—he'll go for the herring breakfast. 3. If Dad craves an experience outside Geneva, why not indulge him with a day of delicious food and sights set…

• Photos (2)

Patch Picks

Patch Picks: 5 Hair Salons With Stellar Stylists

Patch found 5 Hair Salons in Geneva with stylists who make the art of looking good, look easy.

1. Colour Line Hair Studio is on a mission to provide excellent customer care to each client through artistically serving their styling needs. The stylists at Colour Line offer a wide range of services which include cuts, color, permanents, and waxing. They use the highest quality hair care products from Bumble and Bumble and color by Redken.  2. Downtown Geneva hair salon, Act One, has been serving clients in the Fox Valley for over 35 years. They are proud of the reputation they have built during that time and continue to be a Tri-Cities' favorite for hair shaping and styling.  Act One also caters to teens and pre-teens with Act One Academy, which aims to give busy students a style that is personally unique and easy to maintain.  3. John…

•  5 Comments
• Photos (1)

Patch Picks

Patch Picks: 5 Favorite Memorial Day BBQ Recipies

Memorial Day weekend is the start to the summer season and it's full of family time spent together cooking outdoors.

Here are five recipes that will help ring in the season and bring a smile to your loved one's faces. But the real purpose of this exercise is to find out YOUR favorite grilling recipes, so that we can share them with other Geneva readers. Send your recipes to Rick Nagel, rickn@patch.com. 1. Whiskey Grilled Baby Back Ribs will be a crowd favorite at this years Memorial Day BBQ. This recipe uses two techniques to make the meat tender and flavorful; they're slow cooked in the oven before fired on the grill.  2. When it comes to side dishes, there's nothing as complementary to BBQ like coleslaw. The tangy crisp combination of greens and dressing will cool your palate and amplify savory flavors. For a familiar taste of this popular dish that …

• Photos (1)

Patch Picks

Patch Picks: Here Are 5 of Geneva's Top Chefs

Geneva is known as a culinary destination on the Fox River, but some of the best restaurants around didn't become what they are without the direction of a highly acclaimed executive chef.

1. Kevin Gillespie of FoxFire, prepares dishes in a New York-style kitchen where diners can watch him create culinary masterpieces. From traditional steaks and chops, to inventive seafood dishes, his food pairs perfectly with FoxFire’s extensive wine list. 2. Bien Trucha’s highly acclaimed Latin fare comes from the culinary mind of executive chef Ricardo Garcia-Rubio. Garcia-Rubio is no stranger to creating delicious Latin food for Geneva; he once ran Tia Maria’s before leaving for Mexico, only to return in 2006 to open Bien Trucha. 3. Traditionally trained in the French fashion, chef Serena Perdue creates the upscale contemporary American fare at Niche. By depending on local growers and suppliers, she is able to combine her skill and …

• Photos (2)