Lincoln Square's Thursday After-Work Market
Plus, a new surge in Lake County farmers markets, and this weekend's schedule
Reminder: Local Food Rules Podcast Episode 2
We’re hot on the heels of a three-day holiday weekend. Have 25 minutes to spare? Then check out Episode 2 of Local Food Rules, the podcast by Local Food Forum. It’s titled Making the Market Rounds, and Doing Good with Food Non-Profits.
The first part is a virtual travelogue in which I discuss the unique personalities of five recently visited Chicago markets: The Farmer at the Green in the West Loop neighborhood, Uptown Farmers Market presented by Chicago Market; Andersonville Farmers Market; 61st Street Farmers Market; and the super-popular Logan Square Farmers Market.
The second part highlights the work of Fair Trade Chicago, Contemporary Farmer, The Evolved Network, and Link Up Illinois.
Feedback is welcome. We’re only two episodes in and wide open to helpful suggestions for mid-course corrections.
Lincoln Square Evening Market: Weekend Warmup
Thanks to some savvy meeting planning in Lincoln Square, I happened to be nearby to visit both the Tuesday morning market and the Thursday late afternoon/evening market this week.
In part because of its convenience for commuters — it’s right below the Western Brown Line L stop — the Lincoln Square Thursday market appeared the bigger draw, even though the temperatures were chilly for a May 25 evening.
Of course, it probably helped around dinner time that this was one of the many market locations for Tamales Express, which had a line of patrons waiting for their Mexican food fix. They have tents in many of our local farmers market. A shoutout to the hardest working people in the tamale biz.
I had bought my first strawberries of the season from Noffke Family Farm at Tuesday’s Lincoln Square Farmers Market and went through that quart right quick. So I was happy to see that my friends at Los Rodriguez Farm had entered the strawberry race, and picked up another quart of big, juicy fruit from them.
My small market haul looks a bit like a face, in a cubist sort of way. There’s sauerkraut from Pickled Prince; an astoundingly long cucumber and those strawberries from Los Rodriguez Farm; and from Stamper Cheese, one of my favorites, their chive-horseradish havarti.
What up for my weekend farmers market visits? Stay tuned.
This Weekend’s Regional Farmers Markets
Holiday weekend…. check. Seven market season openers… check. More seasonal crops for sale… check. Excellent weather forecast… check.
All the more reasons to visit a market this weekend; get delicious, healthy and sustainably produced food; and support our local farmers!
Friday, May 26
St. Charles Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Baker Memorial Church, 307 Cedar Ave.
Saturday, May 27
Batavia Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., N. River St. betw. Willow and Spring
Division Street City Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 100 W. Division St., Chicago
Downers Grove Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Main St. Train Station
Downtown Evanston Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., University Place and Oak Ave.
Grayslake Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 201 Center St.
Green City Market Lincoln Park, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park, Chicago
Green City Market West Loop, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mary Bartelme Park, 115\ S. Sangamon St.
Homewood Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Martin Square
Huntley Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Town Square
Kankakee Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., S. Schuyler Ave. & Merchant St.
Oak Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 460 Lake Ave.
Park Forest Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 152 Main St.
Park Ridge Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 15 Prairie Ave.
Palatine Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Palatine Train Station
61st Street Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6100 S. Blackstone Ave., Chicago
South Loop Farmers Market Printers Row, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 632 S. Dearborn St.
The Lincoln Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2001 N. Orchard, Chicago
Woodstock Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Historic Woodstock Square
Sunday, May 28
Farmers Market at the Dole, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 401 Country Club Rd., Crystal Lake
Frankfort Country Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Breidert Green & 1 N. White St.
Logan Square Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3107 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago
Maxwell Street Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 800 S. Desplaines St., Chicago
Pilsen Community Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1821 S. Blue Island Ave., Chicago
95th Street Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1835 W. 95th St., Chicago
Wicker Park Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1425 N. Damen Ave., Chicago
Lake County’s New Farmers Market Bounty
Michael J. Brankin is all in for healthy food produced sustainably and locally in Lake County, located in Illinois’ northeast corner. He owns Taste of Eden Market, an e-commerce business that aggregates food from local farmers for home delivery to customers. And after launching North Chicago Farmers Market last year, he is starting up two more markets, in Waukegan and Park City, under the title of Lake County Farmers Markets — plus another in Winthrop Harbor.
Perhaps most significant about this development is that markets will serve the economically challenged cities of North Chicago and Waukegan, where many residents lack sufficient access to fresh, healthy food.
The market’s dates are:
North Point Marina (Winthrop Harbor) Farmers Market, Wednesdays, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. starting June 2.
North Chicago Farmers Market: Sundays, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., beginning June 4.
Waukegan Harbor and Marina’s Farmers Market: Wednesdays, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., beginning June 7.
Park City Farmers Market, Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning June 10.
The markets are seeking additional vendors. Contact Michael at michael.j.brankin@waukeganwellness.com if you are interested in learning more.