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During the week I pore over pages and pages of entertainment options and choose FREE and inexpensive things to do in Chicago on the weekend. But, not this weekend. It’s NATO Summit weekend and getting around Chicago won’t be easy. So, I’m going to make the best of the situation in my neighborhood.
I live in the West Loop where the possibilities are endless, but no matter which neighborhood you call home, you can find something to do this weekend:
Go to the library. If you don’t have a library card, you’re wasting your money on ebooks, museum admission, resume writing advice and more. It’s all FREE at the library.
Spend the afternoon at your neighborhood park. The Chicago Park District operates 580 parks. Have a picnic or sign up for a class.
Shop locally. Browse through an independently owned store you’ve never been to before.
Visit a place of worship, a church, a mosque, a synagogue, a temple.
From Division Street to Beverly Chicago’s farmers markets are back this year. Who can resist baskets of berries, crunchy vegetables, sweet fruits and fresh flowers? If you’re like me, you enjoy wandering down rows of booths at neighborhood farmers markets, chatting with local growers and carrying home armloads of sunflowers and rhubarb. Despite, my best intentions I often over buy and when vegetables go bad because I didn’t get around to making the perfect crudite or strawberry jam I regret the money I spent.
Fortunately I read an article by Chicago Tribune food writer Monica Eng, who resolves to be realistic about shopping at Chicago’s farmers markets. I found her tips useful so I’m sharing a link to her article: “The freshest tips to get the most out of your farmers market trips”
This is scary – according to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer. The good news is that with early detection and treatment, most skin cancers are curable.
The envelope, please. And this year’s winner of One Seed Chicago is – drum roll — basil. Like a good Chicagoan I voted in the Spring election. Unlike many elections where I wished I could cast my ballot for NONE OF THE ABOVE, I had a difficult time deciding which of the three excellent candidates to vote for. In the end, I chose basil. Now I have nothing against the other two candidates: cilantro and chamomile, but you can’t make a Caprese salad or pesto without the leaves of a basil plant. And really, with former winners like last year’s Swiss Chard and Sunflower in 2008, the bar was set high.
In exchange for my vote – well, you don’t expect to vote in Chicago and not get something do you? I received an envelope containing FREE basil seeds, instructions for growing basil plants and harvesting the seeds to use next year. Well, actually everyone who voted received the envelope.
One Seed Chicago is an annual project of NeighborSpace. Onward to 2013!
Due to the NATO Summit The Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, The Clark House Museum and Adler Planetarium will be closed on Sunday, May 20. The Museum of Contemporary Photography will be closed May 18 – May 21. Expect some last-minute closings this week because of the NATO Summit. At press time here are the FREE admission days for Chicago museums.
Clarke House Museum Wednesday, May 16, 2012. FREE guided tours are limited to 12 guests, first-come, first-served.
Glessner House Museum Wednesday, May 16, 2012. FREE guided tours are limited to 12 guests, first-come, first-served.
Charnley-Persky House Wednesday, May 16, 2012. FREE guided tours are offered every Wednesday at 12 Noon. Tours are limited to 15 guests, first-come, first-served.
Since you will undoubtedly be confined to your own backyard this weekend during the NATO Summit, you might as well make the best of it. So, pop open a cold one and grill burgers on the old Weber grill. If you stop by Whole Foods on Friday, May 18 you can pick up ready-to-grill burgers for $1 each, limit 20 per person. (Yeah, that oughta be enough.)
