Harvest Market Goes Americana this Thursday

The Downtown Elgin Harvest Market will be hosting its monthly mini-fest with an “Americana” theme this Thursday, August 20, 10am – 4pm. Live entertainment, a cooking demo, and Cow Chip Bingo will set the tone of the mini fest that day. The market is located at the Civic Parking lot in Downtown Elgin (the corner of E. Highland and Douglas Ave.) and is held every Thursday from 10am – 4pm until October 8. The following opportunities and activities will be offered at this “Americana” themed market:

• Cow Chip Bingo
Two cows from a local farm will be let into a pen at 1pm with 132 chalk squares. The first chip to fall will make one person a lucky winner of the “Basket of Bounty” – a basket filled with items from all of the market vendors. To buy your square before 1pm either go to the Downtown Neighborhood Association at 2 Douglas Avenue between 8:30am – 5pm or on Thursday buy them between 10am – 1pm at the market site.

• Entertainment & Art
Enjoy music between noon – 2pm by the Fox River Trio, a folk band featuring locals Paris Donehoo, Beth Iverson, Steve Stauffacher, and John Kauffman. Also during that time will be The Savino Sisters who help sell produce at the Twin Garden Farm booth. The five sister names are Elizabeth (Savino) Nye, Dana, Caitlin, Stephanie, and Gianna Savino. Also there will be an outdoor exhibit of work by artist Deborah Erica Clarkson.

• In the Activate Elgin Booth:
Be sure to stop by at noon for a Cooking demo with Chef Virginia Lopez who will be cooking Grilled Veggie Quesadillas, be sure to get some tips and samples. The City of Elgin will also have information on hand at this booth before and after.

• In the Elgin Climate Change Organization booth:
The Elgin Public Museum will have a weather presentation for kids along with ECCO’s information.

• In the Harvest Market Sponsor Booth: Chiro One Wellness Centers
Get feedback and questions answered with these chiropractic professionals.

• Buy a Harvest Market or Rediscover Downtown Elgin T-shirt (Med – XXL) for $10 or a Tote Bag for $1 while supplies last.

The Downtown Elgin Harvest Market is organized by the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA), and partners Activate Elgin, Elgin Community Network (ECN) and Elgin Climate Change Organization (ECCO). The Harvest Market’s main sponsor is Alexian Brothers Hospital Network and supporting sponsors are Chiro One Wellness Centers, Lifetime Health & Wellness Inc., and Rominski Active Healthcare.
For more information about upcoming activities, vendors, etc. contact Jennifer by calling 847.488.1456, e-mailing jbenson@elginil.org.

Gasthaus Band Line-Up for August

Friday 14th- Marc the intern's going to Berkley! Come say goodbye and hear him play guitar! Several guitar masters take the stage to showcase shredding techniques! Followed by local bands to round out the night!

Saturday 15th- It's country night! First Jerry Hudson will perform his tribute to Johnny Cash! Followed by a Gasthaus favorite- The Roadhouse Profits playing today's country hits! Line dancing guaranteed!

Friday August 21st- Backyard opens for Selective Recall- one of The Fox Valley's premier Classic Rock cover bands! Feel like dancing?

Saturday 22nd- Heavy rock covers performed by Rough Trade, and Stone Free!

Friday 28th- Jam night- come enjoy a night of jam bands- featuring Rhombus!

Saturday 29th- This is a night you do NOT want to miss-- KINGS OF THE NIGHTTIME WORLD- A KISS tribute band in full costume!! We want to Rock and Roll all night & party every day!!

The Gasthaus is now open for lunch- great specials- many $5 or less! Daily drink specials! We're new and improved!

Gasthaus's Weekend Bands for July

Friday July 3rd- Alterior Motives, Gates of Dis, & Caldera- classic metal covers (Slayer/Pantera) & originals
Saturday July 4th- Punk Night- Join us for your favorite local punk pands including the Oil Can Boys!

Friday July 10th- is a night of metal madness with The Madhatters & Develin
Saturday- Nitrous Rockside takes the stage playing your favorite classic rock covers from the 70s through today!

Friday July 17th- Southern Jack performs the best of ZZ top, Lynard Skynard, The Allman Brothers & all your other favorite southern rock bands!
Saturday July 18th- Local metal and rock bands including Dont' tell Momma, Article B, & Still Kickin perform!

Friday July 24th- The Bungdoons, Hay Perro, & the Repulsators - punk rock is alive in Elgin!
Saturday July 25th- Life Sentence & The Pimps- High energy classic rock is performed! PLUS- the Elgin Bar crawl- a night of music/prizes and great entertainment!

Kitchen is now open serving great wraps, sandwiches, appetizers & even a couple of classic German favorites! Stop in today! Open for lunch beginning in July!!

Initial Harvest Market Grocery Purchases

I finally was able to go grocery shopping at the market this past Thursday after eyeing the food items longingly the previous week during Opening Day. Now, five whole days later, I am wondering if I need to talk to my husband about changing our budget to accommodate weekly purchasing as half of the below items are gone. And don’t think it is for summer hors d'oeuvres to entertain the friends on the veranda or anything like that. My husband and I work hard for our money and have found that most of what we eat is at the market. Take into account my first purchases of the season:

• 1 Cherry Almond Scone (Breadsmith)
  Mid-morning snack, gone as soon as I got back to the office Thursday, soooo tasty!
• ½ a Hotdog (In the Neighborhood Deli)
  Sigi actually bought this and shared with me.
• 1 Small bag of Dill Cheddar Cheese Curds (Gloria’s Gourmet Meats)
  My sister, husband and I polished it off while partaking in…
• 1 Roasted Garlic Hummus (Olives 4 You)
  Completely gone in one seating with some tortilla chips I had in my pantry.
• 1 Cute box of Ham and Cheese Dog Treats (Paw Print Barkery)
  My friend’s two golden’s inhaled them like they are never spoiled in that household.
• 1 Carmel Pecan Brownie (Sweet Whimsy/Monkey Bar)
  A tasty treat for dessert on Friday, so moist, and all the ingredients I can pronounce!
• 6 Ears of Mirai Corn (Twin Garden Farms)
  Also gone for dinner Friday and Saturday, and were good despite our overcooking. There are also stories of a city staff member eating the raw corn on her drive home every Thursday.
• 1 Loaf of Honey White Bread (Breadsmith)
  Still have a couple slices left, but I have been diligently eating it for a snack or with dinner, with butter, jam, toasted or not. This also has ingredients I can pronounce and has less than ten ingredients to make dense, tasty bread.
• 1 Container of Blueberries (Windy Acres Farm)
  Tasty in French Vanilla yogurt or just plain to go with my lunch today.
• 2 White and I Red Onions (Windy Acres Farm)
  Overestimated the onions I had left, so they are patiently waiting in my fridge.
• 3 Green Peppers (KAP Farms)
  I also underestimated the peppers I had left over from those “other” stores. Maybe I will have stuffed peppers one of these nights.
• 1 Bag of Lettuce (KAP Farms)
  My husband likes it in his sandwiches he takes to work.
• 1 Pound of Hamburger (Gloria’s Gourmet Meats)
  Starting to unthaw now in my fridge.
• 1 Spice Container of Smoked Sea Salt (La Spiceria)
  This was to appease my husband as he is an addict for anything smoky or salty.
• 1 Package of Wheat Linguine (Gloria’s Gourmet Meats)
  Have not broken it out yet, but I am thinking a light pasta dish one of these hot summer days this week.
• 1 Bunch of Asparagus (Windy Acres)
  Waiting for the chance to grill out.
• 3 Zucchini (KAP Farms)
  Will become Zucchini bread before the week is over and who knows maybe after Thursday there will be blueberry cake, raspberry tarts, more grilling, etc.

Harvest Market Top Ten on Opening Day

The time has come to peruse this weekly market which opens Thursday, June 11 10am - 4pm and is every Thursday until October 8, where area growers bring fresh, quality vegetables, fruits, bread, meat, eggs, olive oil and more in this neighborhood setting in Downtown Elgin at the Civic Parking Lot - corner of E. Highland & Douglas Avenue.

So here are the Top Ten reasons to check out opening day at the market this Thursday:

1) The Harvest Market Vendors
Welcome and sample new vendors like Oberweis, Monkey Bar, Copa do Sol, and later on in the year Royal Oak Farms and Oriana's Orchard. But don't worry the “regulars” are all back like the "Dog lady", Breadsmith, "Olive Man", "Spice Man", Gloria's Meats & Eggs, KAP Farms, Windy Acre Farms, and the "Mirai Corn" folk!

2) Chicago Bandit’s “Veggie Pitch”
The 2008 World Champion Chicago Bandits will be testing their fast pitch skills not with 12 inch softballs, but with vegetables! Not only will the Bandits be tossing veggies around, but they will be signing autographs as well as giving Harvest Market customers a quick lesson in how to really pitch a softball. (Must be at least 18 years old to play ball) They will also be raffling off game tickets and an autographed pennant.

3) FREE Harvest Market Reusable Tote Bags
NEW THIS YEAR you can own a free Harvest Market tote bag by showing us your proof of purchase at the market and then reuse it again, again, and again while promoting we are your preferred market. And plus our bags are eco-friendly made out of 100% recyclable materials!

4) Harvest Market Sponsors
Alexian Brothers Hospital Network has partnered with the Harvest Market as its main sponsor to bring you those spiffy eco-friendly tote bags mentioned previously and will be at the market every week helping your overall wellness. On Opening Day they will be providing blood pressure and body fat screenings, pedometers and step tracking logs and other health related information.

But not to be left out, our supporting sponsors of the market are chiropractic in nature from Chiro One Wellness Centers, to Lifetime Health and Wellness, and Rominski Active Healthcare. These three will rotate in and out during the season offering various information, advice, etc. Lifetime Health and Wellness will have a money box where everyone can grab a prize like t-shirts and various chachkeys.

5) Activate Elgin Educational Booth
Learn about this great partnership that concentrates on combating obesity and is all about eating healthy. They will have handouts and giveaways at their booth, along with hosting a cooking demo with Chef Virginia Lopez at noon. Come learn how to make Veggie Kabobs and savor a sample! For more information about this Elgin organization go to www.activateelgin.org

6) $1 Raffle Tickets – BBQ Set
Also take advantage of a $1 raffle (or 6 for $5) to win a Bears Tailgate BBQ Grill and Tool Set (which will be set up on site). The winner will be notified Thursday afternoon/evening after the market. Proceeds of the raffle will go back into the market getting bigger and better!

7) Elgin Climate Change Organization (ECCO) and Elgin Community Network (ECN) Educational Booth
Join these two groups at their booth that is all about sustainability and Elgin neighborhoods! They will have “Take the Challenge” postcards, rain barrel information, FREE CFL’s (Yes, those energy efficient light bulbs), and a composter. Also joining them will be the Elgin Public Museum with soil samples and info on ecosystems.

8) Free Rediscover Downtown Elgin Tour
Join Jennifer Benson, program coordinator for the Downtown Neighborhood Association, in perusing and rediscovering stores and organizations like Pastigel, Bella’s Fashions, Super Print, Central Barber Shop, Ravenheart Coffee, Salon Couture, Top Notch Tattoo, YWCA, Carswell’s Flooring, Simple Balance Holistic Center, Elgin Public House, Elgin Books & Coffee, Wrona Brothers, Antiques & Uniques and Union National Bank.

9) Lunchtime/Snack Options
Besides munching your purchases from Harvest market vendors, there will also be on site In the Neighborhood Deli, an Elgin deli which will be providing hotdogs (regular and organic), chips, and beverages during your lunch hour – roughly 11am – 2pm.

Also the Community Crisis Center will be selling popcorn 10am – 3pm every Thursday, so make sure to buy it with your lunch or for a quick snack during the mid-morning or mid-afternoon break!

Want more variety? Visit one of 15+ Downtown Elgin restaurants which are in walking distance of the market. Get your lunch to go or sit in their air conditioned locations, and enjoy food to match your mood from Italian, to American, to German, to Thai, to Pub fare, to Mexican, to Chinese, to Bistro or Café menu items. Downtown Elgin restaurant flyers and maps will be available at the market.

10) Outdoor Art Exhibit
Elgin artist, Erin Herner, will showcase her paintings and print makings all day at the market, along with the rain barrel that is DNA’s Harvest Market submission in “Rain Barrels on Parade” which will be at the market the next 6 markets. Several of her art pieces will be for sale for those interested.

For more information go to www.downtownelgin.org or call 847.488.1456.