Time for a Cool Change
The last warm-weather market for a while, the weekend sked, and buzzy photos
One More Summerish Market Ahead of the Cooloff
This was the bright, warm, sunshiny look at Green City Market’s Wednesday edition yesterday. As I’ve noted before, this is the neighborhood market version of Green City, without the Saturday crowds (and with fewer vendors).
My main purpose for this visit was to meet with a friend to catch up and chat about what I’m doing with Local Food Forum. There is no market haul photo because, having shopped the SOAR Farmers Market in downtown Chicago Tuesday, I just didn’t need much. In a rare instance of farmers market discipline, all I bought were two pretzel rolls from Bennison’s Bakery (Evanston, Illinois) and two pastries from Hoosier Mama Pie (Chicago).
The weather looks good, albeit much cooler, for the Saturday and Sunday markets. I’m sure I’ll be hitting markets (with a longer shopping list), and I hope you’ll be, too, because the outdoor market season in our region is going to start winding down fast.
Here’s your guide to this weekend’s farmers markets (and please check out the cool farmers market calendar on the new Local Food Forum website).
This Weekend’s Regional Market Schedule
Friday, October 6
Gary Comer Youth Center Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 7230 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago
Lake Bluff Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sheridan Rd. & E. Scranton Ave.
Olde Schaumburg Center Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 190 S. Roselle Road
St. Charles Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Baker Memorial Church, 307 Cedar Ave.
The Market by the River, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 333 W. Wolf Point Plaza, Chicago
Saturday, October 7
Aurora Farmers Market Downtown, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 65 Water St.
Batavia Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., N. River St. betw. Willow and Spring
Brookfield Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 8820 Brookfield Ave.
Deerfield Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Park Avenue between Jewett Park & Hazel
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.
Elk Grove Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 901 Wellington Ave.
Englewood Village Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 58th and Halsted Sts., Chicago
Grayslake Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 201 Center St.
Glenview Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1510 Wagner Rd.
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
Horner Park Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2741 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago
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.
Mercado de Colores, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4345 W. 26th St.
Naperville Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 200 E. 5th Ave.
Northcenter Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 4100 Damen Ave.
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
Plant Chicago Mini-Market, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 4459 S. Marshfield Ave., Chicago*
61st Street Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6100 S. Blackstone Ave., Chicago
South Chicago Farmstand, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 9000 S. Mackinaw, Chicago
Streator Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Streator City Park
The Lincoln Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2001 N. Orchard, Chicago
Tinley Park Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 17375 S. Oak Park Ave.
West Humboldt Park City Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 3601 W. Chicago Ave.
Winnetka Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 510 Green Bay Rd.
Woodstock Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Historic Woodstock Square
*Plant Chicago holds a full-scale market in Davis Square Park every 3rd Saturday of the month and mini-markets on other Saturdays at 4459 S. Marshfield Ave. The next full market is scheduled for October 21.
Sunday, October 8
Bronzeville City Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 4700 S. King Dr., Chicago
Buffalo Grove Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 951 McHenry Rd.
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.
Glenwood Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Glenwood Ave. betw. Morse & Lunt, Chicago
Independence Park Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., W. Irving Park Rd. & Hamlin, Chicago
Jefferson Park Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 4818 N. Long Ave., Chicago
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
Mount Prospect Lions Club Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Northwest Hwy. & Main St.
95th Street Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1835 W. 95th St., Chicago
North Park Community Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5515 N. Kimball Ave., Chicago
Pilsen Community Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1821 S. Blue Island Ave., Chicago
Roscoe Village Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 3149 N. Wolcott Ave.
Skokie Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 5127 Oakton St.
Wicker Park Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1425 N. Damen Ave., Chicago
Bob’s World, and Welcome to It
No sky show today, due to the cloud cover and rain heralding a chance to more fall-like temperatures. Fortunately, I spotted some pretty yellow flowers Wednesday while waiting for the bus home from Green City Market, and as I got closer, I saw that they were busy with hungry bees.
These pollinators weren’t easy to capture as they were flitting to and fro, but I think these photos are rather nice.
Visiting Northern California a couple of years ago, I had people offer their consolations for the terrible food I must have to eat in the Midwest, all trucked in from the Golden West. This is pretty rich, since I well remember how dreadful all the produce was when I arrived in CA from England in the early 80s, before California cuisine was a thing: Tasteless tomatoes and lettuce, milk and cream. I have told them of the farmers' markets in the upper Midwest, but they look at me pityingly, like I'm out of my mind. Now I shall point them to @BobBenenson's Local Food Forum, with a big smile. 😂
SOAR is my market, Bob! Love it.