14 March 2010

Garfield Park!

When my father came into town on an especially cold Chicago winter day, I thought it would be the perfect time to finally check out The Garfield Park Conservatory. I drive past it every day on my way to work, but have never managed to stop in. My friends who are parents can't get enough of the place, so I wanted to see if the childless could have fun there, too. We can!

We were lucky enough to be there on one of their Sweet Saturdays, which meant a treasure map of sweet stops where we learned about and sampled everything delicious that grows there. Cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, coconut, and agave were my favorites.

There was free haagen-dazs ice cream, live music, crafts and activities for the wee ones, food vendors (including vegetarian!) and a packet of seeds prize at the end of the treasure hunt.

Unfortunately for you, the Sweet Saturdays are over for this year, but these events look like they could be even better:


You'll definitely be seeing me at Beer Under Glass.

The Pops in The Palm Room

(Slightly) older than The Pops, Century Agave. This thing is over a hundred years old and the size of a minivan.

The Palm Room

Shot in The Palm Room:

We named this one The Preying Mantis.

Look-alikes?

Mar Caribe

Reading Station