Top 20 of 2019: The Old Elburn Hall opens

The Kane County Chronicle staff compiled a list of the Top 20 most engaging, compelling and important stories of 2019 from the Tri-Cities and Western Kane County area. They are not ranked in order of importance.

The owners of Ream's Meat Market in Elburn are churning out music these days as well as sausage.

The family has transformed their former market location at 130 N. Main St. in Elburn into a venue for live jazz and other public musical performances, private events and additional arts-related endeavors. The name of the venue is The Old Elburn Hall.

Randy Ream’s younger son Stewart Ream, 26, in addition to helping manage the meat market, is in charge of the new venue. Stewart Ream, who recently earned his culinary degree and is responsible for added food offerings and selections of wines and specialty beers at the meat market, also brings his culinary talents to The Old Elburn Hall events center.

The menu during live music offerings consists of small plates and what he calls “heavy snacks.” It includes specialties such as a variation on Canadian poutine, made with french fries, cheese curds, chicken gravy and hot dogs, and another dish with sausage and grits and pickled peppers.