Good old B-town. A place where windmills are plentiful, the river runs deep, and the people are second to none. I have had the privilege to call Batavia, Illinois my hometown my entire life. And while it definitely is not the most exciting town to reside in, I can't imagine growing up anywhere but here. Here are the ABC's of the best home this girl could have ever asked for:
A- Art
It's no secret that Batavia is an artsy city. From the numerous sculptures to the frequent art festivals, Batavia is definitely a creative city that supports the artistic expression of all its residence.
B- Bulldogs
No mightier alliteration has been crowned a mascot than the Batavia Bulldogs.
C- Community
The Midwest friendliness of Batavia is something I have come to both appreciate and miss now that I'm miles away form my little hometown.
D- Dairy Queen
The summer hot-spot of the town, DQ seriously needs to think about expanding their parking lot so more of us can enjoy that Oreo blizzard.
E-Engstrom Park
Did someone say 4th of July fireworks?!
F- Fermi Lab
Because every kid gets to take a field trip to a world class energy accelerator lab, right? No? Only Batavia kids?
G- Gold and Red
Batavians bleed the colors of their beloved Bulldogs. Good luck making it a block without seeing a gold and red ribbon tied around a tree during football season!
H- Holy Cross Catholic Church
For me, this is where the heart of Batavia's community resides. I have been so blessed to call Holy Cross my home parish!
I- Ice Skating
The iconic image of the depot pond put the beauty of Batavia on a national stage. And best of all, the skating tradition continues every year when the ice thickens and that green flag is finally raised!
J- Japanese Gardens
Okay, so technically this is in Geneva, but as Batavians, we get to take all our senior pictures in this breathtaking place of nature. So it definitely counts as a "J" for Batavia. Fight me.
K- Kane County
Because I like to secretly believe that we get to reside in a county named after Patrick Kane.
L- Library
Seriously, our library is second to none. Just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside, I can spend hours in this building simply reveling the greatness of literature.
M- Mary Todd Lincoln
Batavia's claim to fame! Our 16th President's wife spent some time in our beloved town! (Granted it wasn't for a vacation and more like an ugly mental breakdown but...) I guarantee you had to drive past Bellevue place and snap a picture during your 4th grade town research report!
N- Nature
I don't think I realized how pretty Batavia was until I left. Between the glistening river, winding bike path, and wooded landscape, the natural beauty of Batavia is truly breathtaking.
O- Oberweis
Okay, you caught me again. Though not technically in Batavia, Oberweis is only a very short drive. And it has the best chocolate malts the world has ever experienced, so of course I had to include it in this list.
P- Portillo’s
Italian beef. Fries. Chocolate Cake. Need I say more?
Q- The Quarry
Some towns have community pools. But is Batavia "some" town? Of course not! Hence, the sandy bottom, fresh water Harold Hall Quarry!
R- Randall Road
Home to the hustle and bustle of Batavia's shopping centers! (and most importantly, Portillo's) While the weekend traffic is a pain, the convenience of Randall Road can't be beat!
S- Special Occasions on the Avenue
Am I the only that has nearly missed a green light because I'm entranced by the latest window dress display?
T- Tri Cities
The heart of the Western suburbs, I am so grateful to have grown up and experienced all Tri-Cities have to offer! (Especially some pretty incredible soccer!)
U- Unusual Therapy Pets
Seriously, what other town has a therapy pig that goes viral?!
V- Very special people
Once again, this is something I didn't' truly appreciate until I left home. Maybe it's the strong sense of community, Bulldog pride, or Midwestern friendliness, but there's just something special about the people from the land of gold and red.
W- Windmills
Everywhere you look, there seems to be windmill. Batavia takes the title "City of Energy" very seriously!
X- Xsport
If I ever get the motivation to work out, Xsport on Randall Road seems like a great place to go! (Also, it was the only thing that I could think of in city limits that actually started with the letter "X")
Y- Yoga
Every Saturday, I nearly find the motivation to go into Bulldog Yoga on Wilson after I watch a bunch of happy and relaxed Batavians walk out of this trendy place. (If I ever actually attempt it, I'll let you know. I'm sure it'll make for a good story!)
Z- Zip code
The good old 60510. Numbers that I'm sure we all know by heart, these five little digits are quite near and dear to me. There's no other zip code I'd rather be from!
