Travel the World Without Leaving the State

  Take a trip around the world in August....come on out and check out these fests!  Learn about different cultures and try new foods!

Serb Fest
August 5-7
Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral
5701 N. Redwood Drive, Chicago
Free admission, parking, and shuttle from Cumberland Blue Line
http://www.serbfestchicago.com/

Taylor Street Festa Italiana
August 11-14
Little Italy Neighborhood; Taylor Street and Ashland Avenue, Chicago
http://www.oshows.com/2011-festivals#!__2011-festivals

Ginza Holiday, A Large Japanese Cultural Festival
August 12-14
Midwest Buddhist Temple, 435 W. Menomonee St., Chicago
$5-6 donation

Chicago Korean Festival
August 13-14
Albany Park; 3200 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago
http://starevents.com/events/chicago-korean-festival/

Ukrainian Days Festival 2011
August 20-21
Grand and Campbell in Smith Park
$5 donation

Uketoberfest
August 26-28
St. Joseph Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church
5000 N. Cumberland Avenue, Chicago

Taste of Greece
August 27-28
Greektown; Halsted Street between Van Buren and Monroe Streets
Free
http://greektownchicago.org/

Chicago's Downtown Farmer's Markets

  With the hot weather, enjoy some wonderful, fresh foods at Chicago's Farmers' Markets.  Outdoor markets can also be found all over the Chicago suburbs.  Here are a few downtown locations:

Daley Plaza, Washington and Dearborn
May12-Oct. 20, 2011
Every Thursday, 7am-3pm

Federal Plaza, Adams and Dearborn
May 17-Oct. 25, 2011
Every Tuesday, 7am-3pm

Pritzker Park, 344 South State Street
June 14-Sept. 17
Every Tuesday, 7am-3pm

Willis Tower Plaza, 233 S. Wacker Drive
June 16-Oct. 6, 2011
Every Thursday, 7am-3pm

Plaza 300, 300 N. LaSalle
July 5-Sept. 27, 2011
Every Tuesday, 7am-2pm

Two North Riverside
Jul 6-Sept. 28, 2011
Every Wednesday, 11am-7pm

Let There Be Light!

  I'm a little late in posting this but we did finally get our electricity back Wednesday evening.  Now I'm happy to indulge in a couple of my favorite things like the internet, oven (even though it's gas, it's part digital), and of course the overhead lights.  I can also do some not so favorite things like laundry.
  As far as the film crew I saw on Wacker Drive....they're no longer there so either they moved on to another location or they could have been shooting a shorter piece like a commercial.

Day 3 of No Electricity

  We're currently on Day 3 of no electricity and counting.  Our house is one of the unfortunate ones that has not yet received power.  Many houses in our neighborhood have power but for some reason our house, along with a few others, are on a different generator, or at least that's what ComEd told us.  According to an online article, ComEd states it's working on having 95% of people back up and running with electricity by midnight Thursday.  Hopefully we're one of those and we won't have to drag on until Friday or Saturday.  On a good note, since it's dark by 9pm, I've been going to bed earlier then normal and have been getting extra sleep that I so desperately need.
  On a non-"I need electricity"-note, I noticed a camera crew set up on Wacker Drive along the Chicago River this morning.  I'm not sure what they're shooting but hopefully 1. it's something cool and 2. they don't block off too much of the sidewalks and roads. 

Happy 7-11 Day!

  Help 7-Eleven celebrate it's 84th birthday today, July 11!  Stop by participating 7-Elevens for a free 7.11 oz Slurpee drink!
  7-Eleven was founded in 1927 in Dallas, Texas.  It currently has more then 39,000 stores world-wide.

Folk and Roots

  This July 9th and 10th, enjoy the Chicago Folk & Roots Festival in Lincoln Square!  It's hosted by Old Town School of Music and features performers like Delbert McClinton, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, and Bombino, on six different stages.  More then 30,000 people come out for this huge party and take in the workshops, childrens' activities and food! 

http://www.chicagofolkandroots.org/