obligatory post-antiques market post

first, a quick side (front?) note: the previous post was #100!

So I'd lapsed into a rather un-crafty summer, but now that I have my craft-space back and I'm back on the afternoon teaching schedule, things should get moving again.
Last weekend was used up by some activities with Nate the Great. Errands mostly; a new phone for the boy, then eye exams for us both and new glasses as well! Nate finally got some prescription sunglasses, and of course he went with the classic Ray Bans. On Sunday, we went down to the Museum of Science and Industry to see the Harry Potter Exhibit, which wasn't quite up to our standards, but was entertaining for the 1/2 hour or so. I was pleasantly surprised in the chick hatchery - they had a baby turkey mingling with the chickies.

Oh right and Saturday night was girls' night. All the ladies met up at Anna's apartment for some drinks before venturing out into Wrigleyville and enjoying the 2 videos on an apparent loop (No Doubt and Michael Jackson - for real?) at Rockit.
Today, Jenny, fresh off of her first full week of Architecture schooling at UIC, came to the Chicago Antiques Market with me. Of course it was another full afternoon of ogling and haggling (not so much). Jenny found a great book on Architecture which was written by my fave Robert A.M. Stern. I bought a great little owl-shaped pillow from Blue Thimble Designs and some old books for some of my boys :-) This antiques market is really catching on too - they have a Goose Island food stand this year which obliged us with some much-needed bloody marys.

After the market we made our usual stop at JoAnn Fabrics, where they've put out the Halloween merchandise, so of course we had to try on some masks.

Tomorrow we're off to Evanston to warm up the new home of our buddy Pete who is starting Northwestern Business School this week. Go Pete!

Sunny Saturday

It's been a long and beautiful day.  Nate the Great and I were up early for a Saturday - off to the first Antiques Market of the season.  This year, I bought a season pass, so we got to skip the huge line waiting to get in at 10AM and get right to the shopping, or should I say, looking.  

Even though we saw lots we liked (and I was kicking myself for not bringing my camera) like bright blue caned dining chairs AND some more traditional wooden chairs with hot purple seats, I ended up leaving with just a red glass hand-blown christmas-tree ornament.  The guy who had made it had a set-up there where he was making some new stuff right in front of us.  Nate was happy with the purchase of an old Schwinn Unicycle.  

After we had had our fill of antiques and new crafts, our bellies were empty, so we filled them at Jerry's in Wicker Park, and after a quick shopping trip at Renegade, we topped off our sandwiches with some gelato at Caffe Gelato.  I was glad to finally have an excuse to buy something at Renegade, where I've looked before and have always been tempted.  This time we went in looking for a birthday gift for Nate's little sister, but Nate found a few things for himself, including a poster of the Andrew Bird concert we went to in April at the Civic Opera House, and a pair of lego cuff-links.

Now we're back home, baking and otherwise preparing for a cookout tomorrow!

Spring Finally Comes to Chicago!

And to celebrate, I spent the weekend (mostly) outside.

On Saturday morning, the girls and I were up bright and early, on our way down to Soldier Field for a massive swap meet, run by the same people as our summertime Randolph St. Antiques Market.  We were tempted by many items, including a cowboy hat chip and dip bowl and these lovely hats (above), but I limited myself to a milk-glass vase, some grab bags full of ribbon and buttons, a few lilly pulitzer

handkerchiefs, and some very old cookie cutters.
Everything I bought was less than $5 each.  

Nate the great met up with us after riding his bike down the Lake Shore Path, and found some old cigarette cards with pictures of bikes which he plans to frame.  It was a fun setting for a swap meet, in the Soldier Field parking lot, and it got us warmed up for a summer of bargain hunting at the Antiques Fairs.  

After getting our fill of vintage items and random stuff, we went to Fifty/50 in Wicker Park for a lovely outdoor brunch, and what brunch is complete without bloody marys.  These ones were decked out with bacon - I may be ruined for every other bloody mary to come; we shall see.  

Saturday evening we celebrated my friend Katie's birthday at Santorini in Greek Town.  I had Greek mac&cheese/lasagne, and thoroughly enjoyed the Taramosolata we got for appetizers.
Sunday proved to be an even nicer day than Saturday, so Nate the Great and I went for a walk around our neighborhood, stopping at the Golden Apple for a brunch outside, and Scooters for Frozen Custard.  

In the week I was down in Florida, the flowers here in Chicago really 

started to pop.  I was so glad to see some nice gardens while out on our walk today, and am even more inspired to get mine going. 

That's our project for next weekend, unless something else springs up!