Hello Joliet! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Fried apple pie display, Route 66 Dairy Queen landmark, and food truck fridays + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Financial excellence recognized: Plainfield Park District received GFOA’s Triple Crown for the fiscal year ending 2024, recognizing excellence in financial reporting, popular annual reporting and budget presentation for Plainfield and Joliet area residents -- see the Triple Crown win.
Classic dessert returns: McDonald’s unveiled Tuesday a 35-foot fried apple pie display on Route 66 in Joliet, with special events celebrating the limited-time return of the 1968 classic -- get the full details.
Route 66 restoration milestone: The world’s first Dairy Queen in Joliet was designated a Route 66 Centennial Landmark, as the museum restores its 1940s look with Dairy Queen archives and grants ahead of 2026 -- see the landmark details.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
New downtown hangout: Joliet City Square is the new downtown front yard with a central lawn, water features, and a red carpet promenade pointing right at the Rialto Square Theatre. Expect concerts, movie nights, morning workouts, and neighborly hang time that makes lingering after errands way too easy.
Spare some fun: Need a low-effort plan this week that still feels like a win? Joliet Town & Country Lanes nails the vibe with bowling that doesn’t take itself too seriously, a ticket-spitting arcade for the kids at heart, and enough snack-bar comfort to keep everyone rolling.
Backyard glow-up alert: Thinking yard refresh this week? Lety's Nursery grows a wide range of plants and trees in their own fields, with both container and B&B stock for everything from quick curb-appeal fixes to bigger projects. Friendly to weekend DIYers and the pros you text in a pinch.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🚗 Cruise Nights @ Babe's Home Cookin' | Wednesday (6/24) at 5:00 PM – At Babe's, Cruise Nights bring out the chrome, the stories, and the kids, ages 3 to 18, who swear every car goes faster than homework. Family friendly, restaurant wide open, so you can trade tales over meatloaf while the youngsters window-shop horsepower.
🍔 Food Truck Fridays @ Carter Realty Group | Friday (6/26) at 4:00 PM – Skip the stove and roll into Food Truck Fridays, a weekly mashup of good eats, games, and music. Every Friday in June, rain or shine, it is the kind of neighborly chaos you pretend to dodge but secretly plan for. Long lines, good stories, guaranteed.
🎶 Sounds on 66 @ Joliet City Square | Friday (6/26) at 5:00 PM – City Square becomes a ska and reggae dance floor as The Selectones crank horns, groove, and smiles across from the Rialto. It’s free, outdoors, and Social District friendly, so roam with a legal cup, call it Route 66 cardio, and enjoy downtown.
📚 Saturday Storytime @ Barnes & Noble | Saturday (6/27) – Kids climbing the walls already? The Children’s department hosts Saturday Storytime, every Saturday at 11 am, where a good book corrals the chaos, imaginations wander, and you can enjoy a civilized, fully sippable coffee, no sticky crafts required.
🐦 Midwest Bird Shows @ Knights of Columbus / KC's Lounge | Sunday (6/28) at 10:00 AM – Ready for a market where the customers squawk back? At the Knights of Columbus in Joliet, the Midwest Bird Show gathers trusted breeders, local vendors, and bird folks for birds, toys, cages, treats, art, nail trims, and yes, your well-socialized feathered diva is invited.
🎴 Disney Lorcana - Wilds Unknown - Set Championship @ Chupacabra Games Joliet | Sunday (6/28) at 12:00 PM – Chupacabra is running the Wilds Unknown championship, so dust off your deck and inner sheriff. $20 entry, 32 player cap, everyone gets a Woody promo, 2-8 get foils, two packs per player pad prizes, and first grabs shiny Woody and a champion playmat.
🥎 2026 Whiteford 4th of July All Star Tournament @ Whiteford Baseball | Tuesday (6/30) – Nothing beats Fourth of July ball in Joliet, and the Whiteford All Star Tournament is peak hometown summer. Expect big swings, bracket drama, and concession-stand diplomacy, while kids chase glory and adults chase shade, sunscreen, and that one open spot along the first-base line.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Joliet report Weather forecastToday — High: 79°F — Low: 60°F — Precip: 40%
A chance of rain showers between 2pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10pm and 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Tomorrow — High: 80°F — Low: 60°F — Precip: 11%
Partly sunny, with a high near 80. West northwest wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Later: A chance of rain showers after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 30%. This house is wildThis Twin Oaks West beauty stretches across a fenced half-acre with only one previous owner and more than 4,700 square feet of living space. With 6 bedrooms, 3 en-suite retreats, and a renovated 2022 kitchen, it blends comfort and function. Fresh landscaping, updated systems, a stylish mudroom, and low HOA add plenty of polish.
Take a peek inside → |
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