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[cblj_backup]

I have to say I don't go to a lot of farmer's markets in Chicago. Mainly because (especially after being a regular Haymarket shopper in Boston) most of them are inaccessible or sad. But I thought I'd check out Logan Square Market this morning, because it's close to the El and I was told Logan Square is pretty hip. This turned out to be a vicious lie, but the park in the middle of Chicago's Biggest Motherfucking Roundabout is nice.

So I came up out of the Blue Line near the roundabout and started walking south, but before long I noticed there was a huge crowd of people around some monument in the park. It's a sign I've now thoroughly urbanised that I can't resist a crowd. I pushed my way to the front and was faced, suddenly, with SURPRISE RAHM EMANUEL giving a press conference with the superintendent of police.

This is the second time I've run into our mayor without warning, and I have been laughing about it all day. The first time, I snubbed him without meaning to; this time you can see in the photo on my LJ he's giving me the cold shoulder.

Well played, Mayor, well played. When next we meet, it shall be on equal terms.

Anyway, after listening to him take questions about a new police initiative and make jokes about reporters, I headed down to the market. There were a lot of bakery and vegetable stands, a couple of organic-handmade-soap type stands, some food carts (omg portable crepe cart, lol) and an Ironic Folk Duo featuring a washboard and guitar. I almost bought a jar of apple caramel jam before discovering it was $9.

Open letter to the cheesemonger: get a bigger booth and more employees. If you hadn't spent twenty minutes slow-selling pesto cheddar to hipsters I might have bought some of that good-looking aged gouda.

It was nice to go to the market with a bit of spending cash, too; I've been a little low lately. This weekend I finally took my spare-change jar in to the bank, thinking I'd get five or ten bucks out of it, and was pleasantly startled to find I had $52 in change. So I bought some rhubarb for Rhubarb Crumble, a fried strawberry pie to snack on, and some origami paper from downtown. And I still have enough left over to order out dinner tonight.

I declare Sunday a success.

Comments

[copperbadge.livejournal.com]

I've heard that from a few people, that it's too busy and difficult to get to stalls or buy stuff. I didn't find it overly difficult except at the cheese stall -- maybe because it was colder than usual? I was there around 12 - 1 and had no real trouble. I agree with you about the drinks stand, though.