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Friday, November 30, 2012

Saturday: First Farmer & Artisan Food Market at Evanston Ecology Center

From the City of Evanston website:

First Farmer & Artisan Food Market Dec 1

The market returns this winter to the Evanston Ecology Center at 2024 McCormick Blvd. and will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. every Sat. from Dec. 1, 2012 through April 27, 2013. The market extends the farmers' selling season for local fresh produce and gives them an opportunity to add value to their produce by making and selling sauces, pickling products, soups and salsas. The market also provides local food artisans with a place to sell their products.

This market extends the farmers' selling season for local fresh produce and gives them an opportunity to add value to their produce by making and selling sauces, pickling products, soups and salsas. The market also provides local food artisans with a place to sell their products.

It is anticipated that fresh produce will include root vegetables, spinach, kales, broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower and herbs. Lettuces will be available as indoor growing conditions allow. The market will also sell pork, beef, chicken, eggs, lamb and goat that are natural free range meats, as well as frozen blueberries, apple cider and fruit preserves. Locally-produced cheese, artisan breads, honey, pastries, coffee and ice cream will also be sold, with goat milk soaps and organic herb teas rounding out the selection.

New this year! Some prepared foods will be sold, including crepes, tamales and other savory dishes. Finally, don’t forget to bring your knives to be sharpened. For more info., please call 847/864-7238.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Dec. 15: Evanston PD will buy your gun for $100

From the City of Evanston website:

Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl announced today that the City of Evanston will be teaming up with several community organizations to co-sponsor a gun buyback program for Evanston residents. The gun buyback event will be held from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church located at 1711 Simpson St. in Evanston.

Guns must be unloaded, in operational condition and participants must have proof of Evanston residency. Examples of proof of residency include a piece of mail, Evanston Public Library card, student ID or a government-issued ID.

This is an amnesty-based buyback program and no police enforcement action will be taken as a result of someone turning in a firearm. Participants are encouraged to bring in ammunition, ammunition clips, and magazines, but kept separate from the weapon at all times. Weapons should be transported in the trunk of a vehicle or in an inaccessible area of a van or pickup truck.

There is a two gun limit and participants in the buyback program will receive cash for each firearm. The program will operate on a first come, first served basis and will end at the designated time or when all funds are exhausted.

If an Evanston resident wishes to participate in the gun buyback program, but is unfamiliar or uncomfortable with handling a firearm, they can call 3-1-1 for assistance and an officer will come out to the residence to retrieve the firearm. Amnesty will still apply for this type of request.

If a participant wishes to receive a receipt indicating that the weapon is no longer in their possession for record keeping purposes, they will then be asked for additional information.

In addition to their organizational efforts and $1,000 contribution to the program, the Evanston Community Foundation has established a fund to accept residents’ contributions in support of the program at www.evanstonforever.org or by mail to: Evanston Community Foundation, 1007 Church St. Suite 108 Evanston, IL 60201.

“I would like to thank the Evanston Community Foundation for their efforts in helping organize this important community event along with their generous financial support,” said Mayor Tisdahl. “I would also like to thank Evanston resident Carolyn Murray for suggesting the idea, Northwestern University, the Cherry Family Foundation and NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) Evanston Hospital for their help and most generous financial support that will go far in removing dangerous weapons off our streets and protecting our innocent youth from gun violence.”

“There is no instant or single solution to the problem of gun violence, nor any way to undo the losses we have already suffered. The Foundation has responded to the Mayor’s request for assistance in the hope that our community can decrease residents’ access to guns in moments of anger or fear and that we can demonstrate our shared resolve to prevent violence,” said Sara Schastok, President and CEO of the Evanston Community Foundation.

Northwestern University has donated $10,000, NorthShore Evanston Hospital has donated $1,000 and the Cherry Family Foundation has donated $5,000 to the program.

"We're pleased to partner with the City of Evanston, the Evanston Community Foundation and others to provide funding for this program," said Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro. "We appreciate Mayor Tisdahl's leadership and the work of the Evanston Police Department in their efforts to help keep Evanston safe for everyone, including members of the Northwestern community."

“We are committed to demonstrating our leadership to preserve and improve human life,” explained Douglas Silverstein, President of NorthShore Evanston Hospital. “In an effort to extend NorthShore’s mission, we applaud and support the City of Evanston’s continuing efforts to prevent violence and ensure a safe community environment for all citizens.”

“The Cherry Family Foundation is responding to the Mayor’s call for the reduction of weapons in order to reduce the potential of violence in the City of Evanston,” said David Cherry.

Firearms are a potential hazard in any home. Firearms can be stolen, used in an accidental shooting or a suicide. When guns are used in criminal attacks, the outcomes are often irreversible and fatal.

Guns are often used to settle disputes. Settling disputes with guns can have a devastating impact on communities and innocent victims. The access and availability of firearms is associated with an increased risk of suicide in the home.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Tonight: Mayor Rahm Emanuel talks politics at Northwestern's Technological Institute

Tonight you can hear Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel talk politics for free at Northwestern's Technological Institute. There are no tickets for this event. The doors open at 4 p.m. and there is open seating.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will provide his perspective on the 2012 Election. Mayor Emanuel, a Northwestern alumnus, previously served as the White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2003 – 2009. He also served as a senior advisor to President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1998. Chicago Politics and the 2012 Election

Wednesday, 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Warning: There is a whiskey distillery less than a mile from my home

Update from Few Spirits Facebook wall! It's harvest time here at Few, which means we are asking for volunteers to come help us bottle & label this Saturday the 17th, from 9:45am-1pm. Please message us via Facebook if you can make it in. Or, hey, just come on in...we will make it fun.

***

As you all know, I’m in the love with the walkability factor of living in Evanston and the more I get to know this city – the more walkable it becomes.

Just a few months ago I heard something from somewhere about a gin distillery in Evanston. How funny I thought to myself and how old school to have an actual distillery in your hometown. Doesn’t that only happen in the Deep South? And didn’t Evanston’s history involve a healthy and prolonged Temperance movement? My mind soon moved on to another topic and I forgot all about this alleged distillery.

Then a few weeks ago my husband’s coworker told him all about this “amazing distillery where they make gin and whiskey and spirits and it’s the best you’ve ever tasted and they have tours!” I quickly went online and found Few Spirits of Evanston and signed up for a tour which I totally flaked on. Do you see a pattern here dear reader? The party has to come to ME!

Background added today: Few Spirits is located just off Chicago Ave. in a former chop shop adjacent to the Purple Line tracks and offers tours and tastings ($10, more info on their website at fewspirits.com.) The distillery opened in 2011 and is owned and operated by Paul Hletko, a 41-year-old patent attorney with an undergraduate degree in industrial engineering. Opening up the distillery was a long and complicated process which included Evanston changing zoning laws. Last February Mike Sula of the Chicago Reader did a good story on Few Spirits and Hletko's work, click here to read it.

This is the part where the party comes to me! Last weekend I heard that Few Spirits was doing a tasting at Whole Foods Evanston South from 1-4 p.m. and seeing as I needed juice boxes for lunches, I ran out the door faster than you can say “free whiskey”. (I can never recall in my long life (40 years) being able to walk to a whiskey tasting in less than 1 mile from my house.)

The line at the Few Spirits table was long and the offerings were plenty, so I waited patiently, and was rewarded with a smooth, hearty and heart-warming Bourbon Whiskey taste served up by Brooke Saucier, Brand Manager at Few.

I intend to sign up for a tour again but before that I’m going to the Fifth FF, a party at Few Spirits the day after Thanksgiving featuring live music, food, cocktails and the food truck Samich Box. See party info below and see you there!

Fifth FF, Friday, November 23, 2012
5:30-8 p.m.
918 Chicago Avenue
847-920-8628
info@fewspirits

After swearing that our Fourth FF would be our last one at the distillery until spring, we hereby unswear. Thiiiiis one will be 2012's final fling. We're putting up a tent, with perhaps a Few fancy heaters.

Join us the evening after Thanksgiving for music, food and cocktails. Bring family & friends. You just know they want to go do something...

Music will be provided by Precious Moment, aka Adam Voss Unplugged, who will be rockin' an acoustic set sure to please, amuse and confound.

The food truck presently known as SamichBox will join us again, and they promise not to foist any turkey leftovers on us.

Cocktails will again be served, along with juice boxes for the kids, as well as for those who really really love juice.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Breaking news: Bennison's calls Election results hours before media outlets come around!

You say it's just a cookie sale but it's obviously much more than that. Yesterday's cookie sales for Obama and Romney cookies above precisely predicted Obama's victory over Romney in this year's presidential election.

Look at this post from Bennison's Facebook wall around 7 p.m. on election night:

The polls have closed on the 2012 Presidential cookie count, final tally is:

Obama: 724
Romney: 220

Here's to Bennison's for having their finger on the pulse of America's voting public! And here's to living in Evanston, a wonderfully liberal community supportive of Obama!

Monday, November 5, 2012

11.16.12: Get your tree lit, Evanston!

From the Downtown Evanston website:

The Downtown Evanston Holiday Bash & Tree Lighting is downtown Evanston’s kick-off celebration to the holiday season!

4pm - 9pm Throughout Downtown Evanston 5:30pm Tree Lighting at Fountain Square with Mayor Tisdahl, Music Institiute of Chicago & Santa

Shopping & Dining Specials * Music * Stolling Singers * Refreshments * Trolley Rides

Get the family together and spend the evening in downtown Evanston for shopping, dinner or simply an evening out! Take advantage of special offers and events in shops, cafes and restaurants throughout downtown Evanston. Experience trolley rides around the downtown and live music in shops and restaurants. In addition to live music, strolling carolers will take to the streets! Enjoy seasonal treats and refreshments at some of your favorite downtown businesses and be sure you and the kids are present when Mayor Tisdahl and Santa light the tree in Fountain Square!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

You've got 20 days to train for the Flying Turkey 5k

This certified 5K run and walk will be along the beautiful Evanston lakefront newly paved path beginning at Sheridan Rd. and Church Street.

Thursday, November 22, 2012
9:00 AM – Evanston, IL

SWEATSHIRTS TO FIRST
2,000 REGISTRANTS! GOODIE BAGS TO THE FIRST 2,000 REGISTRANTS!

• Chip-timed certified 5K course
• Long sleeve crew neck sweatshirt and goodie bag
• Beautiful Lakefront course
• Course water stations and finish line refreshments
• Awards to top three overall M/F and top three in
. five year age divisions

Click here to register

More info at http://www.evanstonflying5k.com/