Halloween at the Green City Market

Green City Market: Halloween Kids Party

The annual Halloween Kids Party is Saturday, October 31st from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at Green City Market.

We will kick things off at 9:00 am with a special Halloween Kid's Tour of Green City Market with our fabulous volunteer, Devin.

At 9:30 am, sample tastings prepared for kids by some of the best pastry chefs in Chicago: Tony Galzin (MK), Toni Roberts (C-House), Nathaniel Meades (Fritz Pastry), Mindy Segal (Hot Chocolate), Elissa Narow (Illinois Institute of Art) and Allison Levitt (Mado).

Join us at 11:00 am for the Kids Halloween Costume contest, judged by Joel from Hawks Hill Elk Ranch , Lyle from Green City Market and Portia Belloc-Lowndes from Heritage Prairie Market and Farm. The winner will take home a special prize!

We'll end the party with the Club Sprouts kids cooking demo at 11:30 am with Courtney Treutelaar from Common Threads.

For the adults, we'll have a chef demo at 10:30 am with Chris Pandel of the Bristol. Green City Market will also have a membership drive at the market. For more information about Green City Market or the Halloween party, please e-mailadmin@chicagogreencitymarket.org.

Creating A Life

Having kids makes me nicer.

I was so selfish before. Never thought beyond my amazing dinner plans or my next fashion must-have... how could I have come so far?

The clincher for me was staring into my new baby's eyes and knowing I was responsible. For everything. This little person looked to me for their every need and it was up to me to create a life for someone. Not just the living and breathing part, but I had a hand in creating the memories of another being. Like a science experiment, I was imprinting messages into a person. Whoa. What could that world look like?

Once I opened my heart for them, it was available for everyone and I started to think of our collective future and all the possibilities. From that time it has been a journey of conservation and community. Chicago Green Families started it for me. First with simple play dates last year and then the adoption of 2 beaches this year. It feels so good when people come together for a shared goal.

This weekend I helped co-chair a Clean & Green Event hosted by our local school and the Alderman and sponsored by Eli's Cheesecake, Method and Surf Sweets. Despite the rainy weather, local families and homeowners took time out of their weekend routines to show their support. And it made a difference. Our community looked better and, after spending this time together, I believe it became stronger too.

I am so grateful to have found a community that embraces diversity, conservation and parenting. It seems like I've been searching my whole life to get to where I am at right now. Healthy, happy, connected. All of the life lessons I so desperately needed were found in two little human beings.

Thanks kids, you've made me a better person.

Stocked For the Season

Many of you know I went off prescription medication for chronic sinusitis last winter and have felt better than ever. For my seasonal allergies I take Boiron homeopathic tablets and it makes the world of difference. None of the disgusting side effects like cotton mouth and bad taste in your mouth, not to mention what all those meds do to your system.

Now that I feel the benefits firsthand, I am going to try Boiron has a new Children's line for the occasional cold or flu symptoms. I'm thankful that we have been relatively healthy this year (even though there were a bunch of cases of swine flu in my husband's office last month) but now we're stocked. You know what happens when you aren't prepared, right?

Welcoming Autumn in the City

It's that time of year again.

I've been holding my breath from the first chilly morning until I saw the fateful sign- the boats being taken out of Monroe Harbor. Exhale.

Today I reflected on the missing boat slips that reminded me of an abandoned game of checkers where the players just got bored and left. The pieces left wondering about the next move.

Can't say I am surprised when the boats leave, but I am wistful when they do.

My Celebrity Playlist

Obsession is a polite word for my infatuation with iTunes. As a recent convert to a MacBook Pro and iPhone, I am quickly in on the secret- life with technology can be easy & playful. I'm hooked.

Downloading iTunes for me is like shutting down Barneys & letting me roam at my own pace about all things shiny and sparkly. I peruse at my own pace, try on this and that, and ultimately walk away every time purchasing something.

I'll admit I made mistakes at first. I went for my "old favorites" that I assumed would be a comfortable fit. Those old standbys that remained in my cerebral playlist

for years, and even decades.

Del Amitri - Kiss This Thing Goodbye

Hole- Doll Parts

Paul Westerberg- Dsylexic Heart

Everything by Tori Amos

Iggy Pop & Kate Pierson- Candy

Jane's Addiction- Jane Says

John Hiatt- Cry Love

Funny thing is that when I started to really listen to the words again, they felt like a trippy time warp. After the initial blast of nostalgia wore off, I started to fast forward through these. They yanked me back to a time when I was less than thrilled. Needy, in fact. Looking outside myself for love and validation. Yesterday I simply unchecked the box and poof! Of my current playlist & relegated to my past.

Ditto with two soundtracks that I downloaded immediately and then regretted. Every time I listen to them I am transported to two different, emotionally charged times in my life marked with overwhelming sadness. Sayonara Miss Saigon & Man of the Mancha. Now to build my own life soundtrack!

Left with a tabula rasa of sorts I had to ask myself - what is good for me right here and right now? What fills my heart, rocks my soul and gets my money maker shaking like nobody's business?

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow- I could listen to this song forever. Angelic and hopeful and soft. I love it.

Everything by Ladysmith Black Mambazo- Like a village rocking me to sleep, melting my anxiety and lifting me into the clouds.

OutKast- Hey Ya!- Can't help but shake it. I adore this song. Big smile.

Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks- This is my life soundtrack as I walk the city streets everyday taking it all in. Might feel like a Michael Cera movie song, but I adore it. And my butt shakes a little every time I play it. Walk behind me... I am serious!

Everything by Seu Jorge- Another soundtrack of my life, especially Team Zissou. I walk on my tiptoes when I listen and twirl with joy.

Rufus Wainwright (& even more Michael Nolan)- Hallejujah- LOVE.

Black Eyed Peas- Boom Boom Pow- If you have a pulse this song starts the party. Anywhere, anytime. Another butt shaker. I rock this everyday when I walk home from taking the kids to school. Picture this girl poppin' it at the stoplights. Probably less Fergie and more Elaine Benes, but I don't even care. The next Youtube sensation- you heard it here.

Nouvelle Vague- In A Matter of Speaking- If I had a singing voice I would sing this way. Like Zooey Deschanel. Like I'm zipping around Paris in a fabulous stiff Burberry trench wrapped tight at the waist. Starting to rain and I am humming this tune. Pop into a cafe? Perfect.

So now that you know My Top Rated, tell me yours. What does your playlist say about you?