The Kankakee Speedway will host Friday Night Lights racing on Friday, May 8.

Leaning into lighter, seafood-driven fare, new additions to the menu include an asparagus and prosciutto salad, with burrata and truffle honey mustard, and grilled prawn toast on brioche.

United Way of Lee County is inviting community members to take part in a drive-thru community pasta drive on Friday, May 8, to help support local children through its upcoming Summer Eats meal program.

On a gray April morning, Lovina reflects on the rush of spring, the helping hands of family, caregiving for a loved one in declining health, and the quiet strength found in everyday routines.

Local bars and restaurants are celebrating Cinco de Mayo with food and drink specials.

The Tequila Dinner is Thursday, May 7, and the Spring Wine Tasting event is Saturday, May 9.

Batavia-based grocer Aldi is being sued by an animal rights group, alleging deceptive marketing of its egg products as 100% cage-free, according to a lawsuit filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court.

Wine on the Fox is presented by john greene Realtor. Proceeds from the event help offset the cost of Oswego’s annual event programming and provide community amenities throughout the year.

The Legion will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with tacos and chicken enchilada meals available from 5-7 p.m. May 5.

The menu offers beef brisket, chicken & waffles, pulled pork and southern classics like fried okra.

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 10.

The fourth annual Dement Town Music Fest will take place May 30 along Dixon's Depot Avenue, bringing a full day of live music, food, art and community to help kick off the summer season.

Meals on Wheels for Northern Illinois delivers more than 1.1 million meals annually to older adults across suburban Cook, Grundy, Kendall, and Will counties, the organization said.

The first Kankakee Farmers Market of the 2026 season is Saturday, May 2.

The annual Bicentennial Bluffs Neighborhood Association spring cleanup in Joliet will include free doughnuts, a raffle and a free "thank you, lunch."

Economic problems forced the owners of Piggy’s to close the restaurant’s doors at the end of March. They started a GoFundMe page to create a food truck business.

Chef Paul Virant brings his specialty, the Vistro Burger, to The Graceful Ordinary, St. Charles’ riverside dining destination.

From Capitol News Illinois: Illinois launched two websites last week that share various work, training and volunteer opportunities that meet federal food assistance work requirements

Meals will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. May 1.

A family of 30 wakes before dawn to travel to Indiana for a wedding — and discovers what matters most in the journey.

Local artists, bakers, crafters, farmers and growers will be offering their homegrown, homemade and home-raised products.

The wood-fired pizza restaurant and its Moo Joe’s ice cream shop is opening in a vacant building at 5 S. Madison St., next door to Freddie’s Off the Chain restaurant and across Jefferson Street from the Oswego Public Library.

Tacos El Tio, which has a location at 1606 W. Jefferson St. in Joliet, bought the space for $1.7 million, according to the Chicago Business Journal.

The West Suburban Community Pantry is anticipating more families turning to them and other area food pantries for help as SNAP benefit eligibility changes in May 1

Bloom Lockport and the Lockport Township Park District are the latest Will County community organizations to launch a community garden initiative, designed to help residents grow their own produce.

The B. Harley Bradley House will host the Ikebana Society Floral Art Show on Saturday, April 25.

For 14 years in Batavia and 50 years in West Chicago, Pal Joey’s Restaurant has been a “fabric of the community.” But the final Batavia location will close in a matter of days.

The new Guzman Y Gomez restaurant will be located on South Route 59 in Naperville, and will open later this year.

Communion services are held twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Singing is usually done for the first hour or so. 

The restaurant opened in the former Crab Boil 59 space at 15507 S. Illinois Route 59 in 2023. It had previously been located in Oswego.

Pete’s Fresh Market is expected to open this summer, according to New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann.

America’s Best Restaurants is a national media firm focused on highlighting independent restaurants.

The Chana Mother’s Club annual salad supper will be Monday, May 4, at the Chana Education Center.

The Rochelle Elementary School Board on April 14 unanimously approved the renewal of its food management contract with Whitsons Culinary Group.

Uni Uni Boba Joliet will hold a grand opening at noon at 1504 Essington Road, Suite 1 in Joliet.

Check out these restaurants where you can find the best breakfast and brunch in the Illinois Valley.

BG Hospitality Group’s new restaurant elevates the local dining experience in Fox Haven Square, located at Main Street and Kirk Road.

Meals will be served from 5 to 7 p.m.

They’re great for dipping, fresh eating, and quick snacks straight from the garden. This variety is bred to resist bacterial leaf spot, an important advantage in humid growing conditions.

Iniga Pizzeria is located in downtown DeKalb at 206 E. Lincoln Highway, in the former Eduardo's Restaurant location.

The family-run restaurant boasts a legacy as a gathering space for celebrations and as a local employer.

Food Truck Mondays, a monthly event featuring regional food trucks in downtown Amboy, kicks off from 4-8 p.m. Monday in the Depot Museum parking lot in downtown Amboy.

Check out these 5 things to do in Kankakee County this weekend.

Nostalgia overload: Wind through the hills of northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin, from Scales Mound to Lead Mine, and there are scenic views and a time warp back to life – in the form of old-time stores and taverns – from many decades ago.

Oberweis and Giordano’s announced Monday that they’ll be teaming up in downtown Naperville, with the dairy opening its first scoop shop inside the iconic pizza chain’s restaurant at 119 S. Main St.

The Oregon Lions Club will host a pork chop drive-thru event Saturday, May 2, in the Supervalu parking lot.

Granddaughter Jennifer (daughter of Susan and Ervin) wrote the column for me while she was at our daughter Verena’s.

The patriotic-themed venue in New Lenox features comfort food, cold drinks and live music.

The winner of the inaugural Joliet Chamber Premier Raffle will win two monthly prizes.

Sterling Main Street is excited to kick off a season of engines, entertainment and community connection with the Sterling Main Street Car Show on Sunday, May 3, at the Sterling Marketplace in the city’s downtown.