So Many Reasons to Look to the Sky
Plus, new-in-season stuff and Star Farm Chicago's Fresh Market opening
Man and Nature Lit Up the Sky
Of course, the day-after-July 4th issue is going to have fireworks photos. With the City of Chicago deciding to hold its regular Wednesday night Navy Pier fireworks instead of a special event on Tuesday, I accepted a friend’s invitation to a rooftop party in Logan Square.
I knew that there were some pretty big amateur fireworks displays there because we could see them over the years out our apartment’s western windows. But I didn’t know how big and intense they were until I got to see them up close for the first time.
I know a lot of people loathe these displays because of how the noise affects them and/or their children and pets, so I am not advocating for allowing these unauthorized events to continue. But I was there and some of the photos are pretty spectacular, so I’m sharing them here.
Nature, however, had its own sky shows on Monday and Tuesday, and I’ll share photos below after some local food news.
Green City’s Chill Wednesday Market on a Hot Day
Folks at Chicago’s Green City Market have long described their Wednesday morning markets as the ones that draw people who are there only to buy lots of delicious, fresh local food. Without the throngs that regularly crowd the Saturday openings at Green City’s flagship Lincoln Park location, and with an excellent (but smaller) collection of vendors, visitors can shop at their leisure and strike up conversations with the farmers who produce their food.
I made a run this morning and, as I’d expected as we are nearing peak season, there were some new-for-the-season beautiful things to report. They included the apricots seen in the above photo, sharing space with cherries and berries at the stand of Mick Klug Farm (St. Joseph, Michigan). As you’ll see in the market haul photo below, I also came home with my first full-sized zucchini, green bell peppers and Japanese eggplant (it’s baba ghanoush time!) of this year.
From the left, strawberries (yes, still a few around), broccoli, big red bulb onions, zucchini, eggplant and bell peppers from Nichols Farm and Orchard (Marengo, Illinois); sourdough bread from Bennison’s Bakery (Evanston, Illinois); two tofu-eggplant salads from Phoenix Bean (Chicago); and apricots, red raspberries and black raspberries from Mick Klug Farm.
Neighborhood Markets on Natural Awakenings
Speaking of ambient market experiences, I’m happy to share an article I wrote for Natural Awakenings Chicago magazine in praise of neighborhood farmers markets.
I do love the big markets, such as Green City’s Lincoln Park Saturday market and the Sunday Logan Square Farmers Market, for all they do to boost our local food community. But sometimes the mega-crowds at these locations are a little much even for a farmers market pro. The Natural Awakenings article puts a spotlight on six markets (there are many more of course) that satisfy customers’ needs for a variety of locally and sustainably produced food, but with a more relaxed atmosphere.
Read about The Lincoln Park Farmers Market, Green City Market’s West Loop Saturday satellite market, Oak Park Farmers Market, Austin Town Hall City Market, 61st Street Farmers Market, and Uptown Farmers Market. Click the button below to get the article.
Star Farm Chicago Fresh Market Opens Friday
Star Farm Chicago’s Fresh Market — a brick-and-mortar store that has long been in the works for the urban farming non-profit in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood — has just announced its Grand Opening this Friday (July 7) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5254 S. Ashland Ave.
The event will include a live cooking demo, produce giveaway, face painting, music and more. The Fresh Market is the latest project in the efforts by Star Farm Chicago founder Stephanie Dunn to use urban farming as a means to restore jobs, hope, opportunity and healthy local food to an under-resourced and economically challenged community.
Local Food Forum wishes Stephanie and her team great success at its Fresh Market.
Sunset, Moonrise
Before the fireworks boom in Logan Square Tuesday night, there was this gorgeous sunset.
And on Monday, after nearly a week of smoke pollution from Canadian wildfires followed by torrential rains, the skies cleared to these amazing scenes of a full orange moon throwing its light onto Lake Michigan.
Thanks for sharing your great article in the July issue of Natural Awakenings Chicago magazine, Bob!!