Parks & Rec Board Meeting, Downtown Tech Blender

I went to two meetings last night. First, the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board meeting because I wanted to support the dog park. Click here for a great write-up of where the park would be and how it would operate.

I decided to stay for the entire meeting out of curiosity. It was interesting! Surprisingly I already knew two people on the board–Carl Missile from the Elgin Community Network and Paul Bednar from his involvement with Bike-to-Work Week. I also recognized Mike Bailey from his column in the Courier News. (Didn’t get up courage to introduce myself.) Aside from the dog park they also discussed possible improvements to Hawthorne Hills Nature Center, whether or not the Cyclone swim team is outgrowing the Centre pool, and if they should fund a defibrillator or lightning predictor for a local football league.

I think for fun I will make a visit to each board and commission meeting in Elgin. I’m a nerd, I know. I like knowing what goes on and how things work behind the scenes.

Downtown Tech Blender

This was the third event of its kind put on by the Downtown Neighborhood Association. The purpose is for tech-minded people to network and talk about how technology can affect Elgin for the better. It was held at the office of Sensory Productions. There I knew Steve Munson from DNA (he’s the one who invited me) and Sensory Productions’ Adam Flikkema–an acquaintance I’ve known through mutual friends for years.

The more involved I become in Elgin the more aware I become of the six degrees of separation phenomenon. Really I think it’s more like three degrees of separation around here.

There were 6 people at the meeting and I was definitely the least tech-minded of them all. It was still interesting and I can imagine good things coming out of it. I plan on going again.

What did you do last night?

Tags: , DNA, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin, IL, Illinois, networking, tech blender
Filed under Elgin | Comment (0)

Boricua Fest coverage @ DNA’s blog

I really wanted to check out Boricua Fest (a Puerto Rican festival in Festival Park) today, but I had already committed to two barbecues. No fear! DNA (Downtown Neighborhood Association) was there in full effect and took great photos. Click here to view.

Tags: Boricua Fest, DNA, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin, Festival Park, fun, IL, Illinois, Puerto Rican
Filed under Elgin, fun, internet | Comment (0)

Harvest Market

[I am out of town and scheduled this blog to post. It is a direct copy and paste from the Downtown Neighborhood Association’s press release about this week’s Harvest Market.]

For Immediate Release
Date: August 11, 2008

Salon Couture & Mirai Corn

Elgin, IL- This Thursday, August 14, from 10am – 2pm one can come and receive the “Couture” experience at the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market. Salon Couture will be offering complimentary chair and hand massages, as well as giving out a limited amount of sample products. Salon Couture partnered with Aveda in order to provide high performance botanically based products for their guests and environmentally friendly products for our planet. Salon Couture is located at 176 E. Chicago St. For more info call 847-488-1465 or go to www.saloncouture.biz.

Then from 2pm – 6pm continue treating your back with Landin Chiropractic Care. They will perform spinal screenings that day on whoever would like them and they will also have free chair massage to anyone over 18 years of age. They will also bring a pair of bi-lateral scales that people can stand on to determine balance in weight bearing or not. So come out for an educational and fun time! For more info call 847.888.3131 or go to www.chirolandin.com.

Highlighted Harvest Market Vendor of the Week: Twin Garden Farms
You may not have heard of Harvard IL based Twin Garden Farms, but you might have heard of their “Mirai”corn, which means “future is coming” and “taste”. Their corn is known for its sweet taste that you could eat it raw if you wanted to, and most do when they are trying it for the first time at the market for a sample. But then again it should taste good, with 15 years spent developing and patenting this special corn. How is it different from other corn? It has less starch and more sugar, which helps it cook faster (only 2-3 minutes). It is also guaranteed to last 7-10 days in your fridge with the husks still on. Also because it is so tender it requires being handpicked! Twin Garden Farms also sells natural honey and will be selling fall vegetables like squash later in the season.

The Downtown Elgin Harvest Market is held every Thursday, now through September 25, featuring everything from fruits, vegetables, bunch flowers, delicious jams, healthy gourmet dog& cat treats, breads, pies, muffins and scones, to free range meats and eggs, cheese, olives, hummus, spices, pickles, olive oil, honey, and Mirai corn all displayed in an open-air market like venue. The market is held at the Civic Center parking lot at the corner of E. Highland and Douglas Avenue, near the Post office and City Hall, and is open 10am - 6pm.

The public is invited to enjoy a great season right in the heart of our community. All merchants interested in an application to be at the market on a weekly basis can call the Downtown Neighborhood Association at 847.488.1456, go to www.downtownelgin.org, or stop by the office on the first floor of the Elgin Tower Building, at 2 Douglas Avenue in Downtown Elgin.

Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin is a volunteer-based, non-profit coalition that represents the interests of individuals and organizations with a presence in Downtown. The Association’s purpose is to foster a center of activity and ensure economic stability for the heart of Elgin through historic preservation, communication, education, promotion, and economic revitalization. If you are interested in more information on how to be part of the Downtown Neighborhood Association or would like to volunteer please contact the office at 847-488-1456 or visit www.downtownelgin.org.

Tags: DNA, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin, farmer's market, food, Harvest Market, IL, Illinois
Filed under Elgin, food | Comment (0)

Elgin Bike Clinic & Harvest Market

The bike clinic today at Harvest Market was fantastic. Thank you Stephen Pickett (Bicycle Garage) for doing it, and Paul Bednar (Elgin Parks & Rec) for coming up with the idea.

Downtown Neighborhood already posted a great blog post complete with photos (including one with the back of my head). Click here to read it!

Harvest Market was good too. Honestly, I was very surprised at how low the prices are! I am used to farmers’ market food costing a significant amount more than grocery store food. I got a loaf of bread for $4, which is what whole grain bread costs at Jewel (not on sale). I also got 5 mini-cucumbers for $1, and hummus for $4. I came home and toasted some of the bread, sliced a cucumber and carrots and celery, then threw it all on a plate with some cherry tomatoes and olives. Yum, yum, yum!

Tags: DNA, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin, food, Harvest Market, IL, Illinois
Filed under Elgin, bicycling, food | Comment (1)

Elgin Harvest Market, Coon Creek Country Days, & Foxfire Fest

I’ve been meaning to go to Elgin’s Harvest Market all summer, but today is the day! Click here for the Courier article that won me over.

Also I plan on checking out Hampshire’s Coon Creek Country Days tonight. I’ve wanted to do this the past couple years, but once again, today is the day! Click here for the Courier article.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Elgin’s Foxfire Fest is going on. I plan on attending at least two days, if not all three! Click here for more info.

Of course I’ll report back later on all three happenings!

Tags: Coon Creek Country Days, Courier News, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin, farmer's market, Foxfire Fest, Harvest Market, IL, Illinois, music
Filed under Elgin, Hampshire, food, fun, music | Comment (0)

Elgin Community Network

Remember when I told you I went to DNA’s Out to Lunch and might’ve happened upon a cool opportunity? Well that opportunity was the Elgin Community Network, and now I am on their board! I’ve been meaning to mention this for a couple months, but was too lazy to write up a description of the organization.

They have a website now, so I don’t have to write a description! Click here to visit the brand spanking new Elgin Community Network website and check out who we are, and what we do.

My main role right now is to find ways to promote safe bicycling in Elgin, and the first thing we’re doing is an Elgin Bike-to-Work Week August 2-8th. Click here for more details!

Tags: bicycles, bicycling, bike, bike to work week, bikes, DNA, Downtown Neighborhood Association, ECN, Elgin, Elgin Community Network, IL, Illinois, Out to Lunch, website
Filed under Elgin | Comments (6)