What a weekend!

I was actively doing things almost the entire weekend, so no full blog post. But the Amazin’ Race was GREAT on Saturday, and there is already a blog post about our team available at the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s blog. Check it out!

Time for me to go to sleep. Blogging will resume again soon.

Tags: Amazin' Race, blog, DNA, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin, IL, Illinois, scavenger hunt
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Elgin’s Ribfest on Memorial Day

Although I don’t eat ribs, I still checked out Ribfest on Monday. Check out my photos and videos! Also, click here to check out Ape of Wrath’s set of photos from the Fox Trot that went on earlier that morning.

Here are kids playing in the water at Festival Park:

Here’s a quick scan of the crowd:

Here are kids riding on a fun train:

Tags: beer, clown, drinks, Elgin, Festival Park, food, fountain, IL, Illinois, kids, Memorial Day, music, park, Ribfest, ribs, train, video, water, youtube
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Treating our environment nicely.

I will spend this weekend working at the Green Festival in Chicago. It’s a great place to learn all the amazingly creative ways people are treating our earth better. If you agree with the spirit of Green Festival, but don’t feel like leaving Elgin, have no fear! Look what was printed in the Courier today:

Rain barrels and compost bins will be sold from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Elgin Public Works Department open house, at 1900 Holmes Road. The black plastic rain barrels are 57-60 gallons in capacity; feature a screened, screw-top lid and an internal PVC overflow system; and are the “Wide Overflow” model made by Chicago Rain Barrel. The compost bins are the Earth Machine model made by Norseman Plastics. Bins will cost $40 each and barrels $60 each, while supplies last Saturday, by cash or check only. Learn how to get the most out of your new earth-friendly products by attending a free seminar at 11 a.m. sponsored by the Conservation Foundation on “Creating Rain Gardens in Your Yard & Using Rain Barrels.” More information is available from the public works department at (847)697-3160, or the city’s Web site at www.cityofelgin.org.

Tags: Chicago, compost bin, Elgin, environment, green festival, Illinois, nature, rain barrel, rain gardens
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Cinco de Mayo Festival Dance Video!

Here is an 11 second video clip I took of people dancing at Cinco de Mayo festival today. Enjoy!

Tags: Cinco de Mayo, contest, culture, dance, Elgin, festival, Illinois, music
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Cinco de Mayo!

All of the fun Cinco de Mayo events put on by the Downtown Neighborhood Association start today on Kimball in the old Gail Borden Library lot! I took a photo earlier today of the carnival being set up.

I’m guessing highlights for me will be the food, the parade on Saturday at noon, and the little Miss Cinco de Mayo pageant on Saturday at 1:45 pm. NO make-up is allowed on the girls in the pageant, which I think makes it the coolest pageant ever.

Here is the schedule:
Thursday, May 1: 5 to 10 pm
Friday, May 2: 5 to 11 pm
Saturday, May 3: 1-11 pm
Sunday, May 4: 1-10 pm

PS, Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican Independence Day. Click here for the low down on what it celebrates.

Tags: carnival, celebration, Cinco de Mayo, Elgin, events, fair, festival, fun, history, Illinois, Mexican, Mexico, pageant, parade, rides
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Out to delicious & fun lunch!

I just got back from the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s “Out to Lunch” event at Akina’s Thai Restaurant.

It was great!

Neighborhood Housing Services explained what they do, and I got to meet quite a few people–Representative Ruth Munson, the Downtown Neighborhood Association staff, the man behind the Elginite blog, and all sorts of other people who are involved in Elgin–from architects to real estate agents to Elgin Community Network folks and more.

Once again, it was great! I was a little nervous going in, but everyone was very kind and I felt right at home. I thought I’d be the odd one out since I don’t work in downtown Elgin, but I still chatted with people and made a few unexpected contacts that might turn into really cool opportunities.

Elgin’s Downtown Neighborhood Association plans these events each month. If you are the least bit curious, go for it! Click here for a full list of upcoming events.

Tags: , Akina's Thai, blogs, DNA, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin, Elginite, food, Illinois, lunch, Neighborhood Housing Services, networking, Out to Lunch, Ruth Munson
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