St. Charles

Antique stores littered downtown St. Charles more than 20 years ago, and the owners of The Filling Station Pub and Grill found a way to capitalize on it.

“The goal was to get (collectors) in here for a sandwich,” says Peter Milligan, who co-owns the restaurant with his older brother, Casey Milligan. Looking to attract antique lovers to the restaurant, the brothers found themselves becoming collectors. Today, hundreds of old photos and beverage signs – that are no longer produced – decorate the walls and ceilings of The Filling Station. An antique gas pump, which is probably from the 1920s and donated by a customer, sits in a corner of the restaurant.

The Filling Station server Julia Clements brings a Packard Caribbean Melt to a table. STAFF PHOTOS BY STEVE BITTINGER

When Noble Fool Theatricals presents its holiday show, "Plaid Tidings," at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, 100 percent of ticket proceeds will benefit Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley.
 
“The Forever Plaid” four-part harmony group returns thanks to a heavenly phone call from Rosemary Clooney. The heaven-sent boys (Sparky, Smudge, Jinx and Frankie) are back to sing songs of the Thirties, Forties and Fifties in a "Plaid-erized" version of Christmas. The show includes a comic tribute to Ed Sullivan’s Christmas spectaculars, featuring such performers as the Rockettes, the Chipmunks and The Vienna Boys Choir.
 
“Donate any amount to Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley and receive ‘free’ tickets as our thanks,” says the agency. It notes regular ticket cost is $29 to $39. The show is presented at Pheasant Run, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles.
 
For more information or to reserve tickets, call (630) 584-4428 or visit www.lvfv.org/events/theaterbenefit.

The Beth Fowler School of Dance is opening a second location in St. Charles at 3720 Illinois Ave. A weekend dance workshop will be offered Nov. 14 and 15 before regular classes start Jan. 4. The school will offer classes in ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, lyrical, modern, ballroom and creative dance.

The new dance studio’s recent open house was attended by parents, local dignitaries and St. Charles Chamber of Commerce representatives. Events included free dance classes, a tour of the 8,000-square-foot dance school facility, a performance by the Beth Fowler Dance Company, and a prize drawing for classes. SUBMITTED PHOTO

“The Diamond Celebration: A Past to Cherish, A Promise to Fulfill” is the theme of this year’s Delnor Auxiliary Charity Ball.

It will be held Saturday, Nov. 14, at the St. Charles Country Club in St. Charles. The event will mark 60 years of the Delnor Charity Ball tradition, and will feature cocktails, a live auction, dinner, dancing and entertainment reminiscent of the period when the first ball was held.
 
Tickets cost $175, and the ball is black tie optional. All proceeds raised will be used to fulfill the Auxiliary’s $1 million dollar pledge of support to Delnor Health System. To reserve tickets, call (630) 208-4265 or visit www.supportdelnor.org.

Guess Who is coming to St. Charles.

That’s more of a statement than a question.

The Canadian rock band The Guess Who — with band members Garry Peterson (drummer), Jim Kale (bass and vocals), Leonard Shaw (keyboard, flute, sax and vocals) and Derek Sharp and Laurie MacKenzie (both guitars and vocals) — is returning to the Arcada Theatre for a performance on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Peterson, an original member of the 47-year-old band, believes technology has aided the band in gaining new, young fans, calling the Internet “a new delivery system for music.”

The Guess Who. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Children and their parents can learn what the Noble Fool Theatricals Performing Arts Academy is all about with a Fall Open House from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles.

The open house is open to local youth ages 3 to 18 and will be located at the Studio Theater on the resort grounds at 4051 E. Main St.

The open house is designed for interested children and their parents to meet the accomplished teachers and even try out a mini-workshop with fellow students. Each workshop will include a short performance from past students.

Thanks to a little divine intervention from Rosemary Clooney, the members of the fictional four-part harmony group from ‘Forever Plaid’ are brought back from the great beyond for a holiday sequel. In the original, set in 1964, the four were killed when their car was struck by a bus load of fans en route to see The Beatles on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” The holiday incarnation recaptures the smooth sounds of the ‘30s to ‘50s with a cast that includes Geneva native David Meadows of Chicago. The baritone, who takes on the bass part, talks about the musical comedy presented by Noble Fool Theatricals.
 

David Meadows (from left), Robert Deason, Sean Effinger-Dean and Brad Simanski unleash Christmas cheer in the “Plaid Tidings” musical at Pheasant Run. PHOTO COURTESY OF KIMBERLY G. MORRIS

Emmy-winning actor Armand Assante will be in St. Charles this week as part of a promotion for Gurkha Cigars at 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.

The event will be presented at La Vita Cigars, described as Illinois’ largest walk-in humidor. It marks the delivery of the high-end cigar line’s anniversary cigar, The Archive. Guests can mingle with Assante and enjoy high-end smokes, complimentary food, drinks and live entertainment.

Armand Assante SUBMITTED PHOTO

It’s not so crazy that the “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” shadowcast group Completely Crazy is celebrating their 20-year anniversary. Just like the movie, the performance group also has a cult following. Completely Crazy, which was started at Prospect Theater in Mount Prospect by founder Gene Chiovari, has been “miming” the infamous movie and rocking the Time Warp since 1989 throughout the suburbs and have stayed sane doing it. Jessie Witt of Bolingbrook, a 15-year performer with the shadowcast, says despite their name, Completely Crazy isn’t insane at all.

(Clockwise from top) Jared Lombrano (as Magenta), Ben Crawford (as Riff-Raff), Jessie Witt (as Frank 'n' Furter) and Samantha Becker (as Columbia). SUBMITTED PHOTO

Sweetest Day is officially this weekend, and many area restaurants are acknowledging the day with dinner and dessert specials and musical entertainment. So don't just celebrate the day with your sweetie, save money too.