Looking for a family fun event? On July 16th, Whole Foods will be teaming up with Kiddy Cuisine to host children’s cooking classes and other activities to benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital.

Whole Foods will be providing cupcake decorating, and Kiddy Cuisine will provide children’s cooking classes. Other neighboring kids specialist partners will also be joining in on the fun. Bubbles Academy will have sing-a-longs, Arts Party Play Date will have crafts, and Psycho Baby will have an activities corner. Safe Kid’s will remind children of safety first by showing demonstrations on kitchen safety. Blue Plate Catering will provide hors d’oeuvres for the parents.

The event begins at 3:30pm on July 16th at Whole Foods. Registration is now open and the price is $25.00 per adult and $10.00 per child. All of the proceeds will benefit Children’s Memorial Hospital.

Meg Black

Technorati Tags: Lincoln Park, Family Event, Cooking, Children Activities

Now, for the first time in my life I saw, or maybe I just noticed a street sign that kind of bewildered me. The restrictions indicated by the sign: “No Parking – Vaulted Sidewalk.” I have never heard of vaulted sidewalks, nonetheless seen parking signs associated with them. So, I found the whole thing amusing. Then I began wondering…what exactly is a vaulted sidewalk?

Honestly, I had no clue. I wasn’t sure if they were sidewalks that were locked because there was pirates’ treasure below (I do remember that when I was younger, I was convinced that there were people and treasure buried all over the city in random places), or if the locked under-lair provided access to say…electrical lines. Frankly, I was fascinated by the whole concept. So, what did I do – research.

Turns out the vaulted sidewalks are common in Chicago around the loop due to Lower Wacker Drive. To those of you who don’t know, Lower Wacker was designed in the days of coal heat so that the coal could be delivered in less conspicuous areas than say in the middle of ritzy Michigan Avenue. Coal is dirty, and needed to be delivered where it wouldn’t create quite as much of a mess. Lower Wacker still serves as the delivery address for many of the buildings that have lower areas down to Lower Wacker. So, it’s really a win-win situation, right? Not to mention, Lower Wacker does help to cut down traffic on and around Michigan Avenue, Wacker Drive and much of the loop.

Anyway, even I learn something new about Chicago every day. Who’d have thought…vaulted sidewalks?

Posted by: Conci N.

Technorati Tags: Chicago, IL, The Loop, Lower Wacker Drive, Vaulted Sidewalks, Chicago History

Cruising west on North Avenue, heading to the Kennedy Expressway, I pass Stanley’s Fruit and Vegetable Market. The sign has a goofy looking man, in what looks to be a watermelon airplane, smoking a cigar. The signs in the store windows advertise unheard of prices like, “Seedless Watermelon $0.39 per pound,” and “Mangos, 2 for $0.98.” I was intrigued by the prices, but feared walking in and being overwhelmed by the smell of fermenting fruit. The prices seemed too good to be true.

It took me a year and a half before my curiosity got the best of me. The first time I wandered into Stanley’s Fruit and Vegetable Market, I was astonished. There wasn’t any smell of fermenting fruit. Instead, I was blown away by their incredible selection of both regular and organic produce. It was like Costco prices combined with the quality comparable to a farmer’s market. Why I had I been blowing my money on poor quality, overpriced fruit at the grocery store down the street?

Today at Stanley’s Fruit and Vegetable Market, I bought Gala Apples for $0.98 per pound. Afterwards, when I went to the supermarket to purchase the rest of my groceries, I did a comparison. There, Gala Apples were $1.68 per pound, and the quality of the selection could not compare to Stanley’s.

Stanley’s Fruits and Vegetables Market is located at 1558 N. Elston Ave., Chicago, IL 60622. The phone number is 773.276.8050. There hours are Monday through Saturday 6:00am until 10:00pm, and Sundays 7:00am until 10:00pm.

Meg Black

Technorati Tags: Food, Shopping, Lincoln Park

Riding down Martin Luther King Drive is like turning back the hands of time.
You can feel a spirit of pride, struggle, and triumph.
MLK street is an experience in most urban cities but here, it’s truly a lesson right out of the history books. From 87th street which is considered Chatham to 31st which is Bronzeville a story, better yet a tale unfolds before you very eyes.
There’ s so much to be seen and so much is being said.
Tell you what, the next you feel list a history lesson and you don’t want to be cheesy and seek out a tour guide, hop in your car or take the # 3 CTA down the Historic King Drive. It’s a wonderful way to explore and experience what makes King Drive so Historic. Rich landscaping, family owned restaurants, businesses, and everyday people. It’s a beautiful sight to see the history of city come alive right before your very eyes with each block telling it’s own story of what’s it’s people have overcome and accomplished, it’s no wonder that they say with pride “The South-side is the best side!”

Technorati Tags: CTA, Bronzeville, Chatham, Martin Luther King Drive,