First Festival Weekend!

Because it's the first real festival weekend and because (fingers crossed) the temperature will consistently be above 65...we decided to dedicate today's post to this weekends festivals; see below!


June 4-5: June Jam
Showcasing the Arts to Engage & Inspire. Marking the end of the school year, the fifth annual Roscoe Village fest, held partially on the grounds of Audubon School, expands this year to feature two days of interactive rides, exhibits, live music and food.

Other links/information:
Metromix
Schedule


June 4-5: Do Division Street Fest and Sidewalk Sale

 

Other Links/Information:
Metromix

Event Overview
Line-Up
Price: $5 Donation



June 4-5: 57th Street Art Fair (FREE)
More than 250 artists showcase glass, jewelry, leather, photography, printmaking, painting, sculpture, wood, ceramics and fiber at the 63rd annual event, billed as the oldest juried art fair in the Midwest. The event is alcohol free and is Chicago’s oldest juried art fair in the streets of the historic Hyde Park neighborhood


Other Links/Information:
Metromix
History
Artist Search


June 4-5: SausageFest (NEW FEST! Formerly Lake View Music Fest)
The 10th annual event, formerly the Lake View Music Fest, just outside Wrigley Field gets a slight rebranding but still features live music, arts and craft vendors and food from area restaurants, specifically encased meats. Vendors include Bobak's Sausage Company, Paulina Meat Market, Chicago's Dog House, Murphy's Bleachers, Notolli & Son Italian Sausage Shop and Greek Delights.

Other Links/Information:
Metromix
For a list of vendors and festival line-up, click HERE

HAPPY FESTIVALLING (it's a word!!!!)

Make It Yours Monday: Signature Cocktails

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A great way to save money and inject a little personality into your event is to have a signature drink.  We love these custom cocktails because they really allow you to get creative with the name and ingredients. These are money-savers too. Instead of having a full bar, you can limit yourself to just beer and wine and the one cocktail. By only having a few ingredients on hand, you'll save big money!

Don't worry, you don't have to be a professional bartender to come up with something fun and tasty.  Just follow a few simple guidelines.

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1. Think about what you and your guests like to drink.  If it's a bachelor party, then you probably won't want to serve up Flirtinis. On the flip side, if you and your friends love swilling rum, make that the focus on your drink.

2. Is there a local flavor that you want to inject?  Georgia brides may create a peach-infused cocktail, while NYC hosts might go for a Big Appletini. Think about what's special about the host city and play off of that either with the ingredients, the name or both.

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3. What's special about the guest of honor? Is she graduating from college? Is he leaving to go work abroad?  Did they meet on a cruise? Find something special and use that as inspiration.

4. Do your research. Check out popular drink recipes on sites like webtender.com, where you can search by ingredients, name and more.  Have a fun night in and experiment with different flavors and combinations.  And be mindful of your budget. Don't pick a drink with pricy ingredients if your budget won't allow for it.  With careful planning, you'll find something that tastes great, wows your guests and doesn't put a strain on your wallet.

Cheers!

Do you need help coming up with a signature cocktail for your next event? Email us at info@wevegotitchicago.com to see how we can help!

Suggestion Saturday: Farmer's Market

If you haven't been to a farmer's market lately, you are really missing out.  With markets set up in more than 20 neighborhoods across Chicago, five days a week, you're always able to find a market near by. 

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What: Chicago Farmer's Market

When: 5 days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) from May 1st to October 31st

Where: In neighborhoods across the city; For a complete list, check out the official website here

Who: Anyone! Farmer's Markets are perfect for the entire family. Bring the kids, bring your dog, bring your friends. 

Why: The farmer's market is a great place to find fresh, local produce, baked goods, and more.  Planning a dinner party? Check out the market for the freshest ingredients. Need a gift for your sweetheart? Bring home a bouquet of gorgeous flowers.  Searching for a thank you gift for a hostess? Pick up a jar of local honey or potted herbs as a thank you.

Check out your local farmer's market this week. And if you've used farmer's market products to help with an event, send us an email at info@wevegotitchicago.com to share your story.

Suggestion Saturday - DuChamp Restaurant

Suggestion Saturday is back! We've been busy here at WGIC and unfortunately Suggestion Saturday took a hit...but fear not, it has returned!

DuChamp Restaurant: Affordable Outdoor Fine Dining

What: Bucktown's finest. A collaboration between chef Michael Taus and the guys behind Lumen (Jason Freiman, Peter Gogarty and Nick Podesta), DuChamp features delicious food with a French twist. All very reasonably priced, and artfully presented.

Where: 2118 North Damen Avenue (Just north of Armitage on Damen) - (773) 235-6435

When: While the indoor space is small, the outdoor patio more than makes up for it. We suggest visiting during the summer months.

Why: We are currently planning a 30th birthday party at DuChamp.  It's a small, intimate get together with passed hor' devours (personal sized ice cream sandwiches included!) and a drink package.  With long, over-sized tables, the patio is also great for rehearsal dinners or a pre-bachelorette party dinner.

Who: For our event the guest list includes all adults and we'd suggest keeping it that way for yours. Good for first dates, birthday bashes, or just an evening with the girls!

Cakegirls Needs Your Help!

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A little over a week ago, the Cakegirls shop succumbed to a fire.  Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the shop is gone, destroyed. Nothing was salvageable.  As small business owners ourselves, we know how devastating this must be for Brenda and Mary. While we sympathize, we cannot begin to imagine what they must be going through. Our hearts go out to you. We wish you a speedy recovery through this.

Here's where you come in.  Visit the Cakegirls website, where you can purchase a Cakegirls t-shirt for just $20. Proceeds from the shirts will suplement the income of the shop employees while they rebuild.

For those of you not familiar with Cakegirls, if you've ever seen Food Network Challenge, you've probably seen Brenda and Mary. They are a sister team from Chicago and make some amazing cakes. Challenge is one of my favorite shows to watch, and I particularly love when they are competing. Their work is amazing, and they've won a couple times.  Their website doesn't have their portfolio on it right now, but check back again soon to see their impressive body of work.

Chicago Chef Week

It's time for Chicago Chef Week (running from March 22 - March 28) and we couldn't be more excited! If you're not familiar, Chicago Chef Week features 34 (amount varies by year) area restaurants that offer a special, preset lunch and dinner menu for $20 and $30 respectively. You choose from 2-3 options for each course (each restaurant offers between 3-5 courses), and some even pair beer or wine with the meal!

Chicago Chef Week is a great way to try out great, casual fine dining restaurants on a fixed budget. Check out the website chicagochefweek.com for links to menus to pick your favorite!

We liked: Mercadito (Lunch Menu - Dinner Menu). Just looking at the menu makes us salivate! Make your reservation NOW!

Suggestion Saturday: Cortland's Garage

Party at Cortland's Garage

Looking for a hot spot for your bachelor/bachelorette party? Or maybe to celebrate your engagement, or birthday, or job promotion?


What: Local Bucktown bar with great food and drink specials and private rooms for your next big or small event. Mouthwatering food is prepared by professional chef, Jim August (Cortland's was honored with #10 burger in all of Chicago by Chicago Magazine Sept, 2009), and can be ordered in platters for larger events. Already have a venue for your event, but need a place for the recap the next day? Try Cortland's Hangover Brunch, complete with a $5 Build your own Bloody Mary Bar and $5 Mimosas. Believe us, the brunch menu is DELISH!

Where: 1645 West Cortland Street (773.862.7877)

Why: To celebrate, commiserate, eat or even nurse a hangover!

When: We would say anytime.  Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are the best for larger, more rowdy events, but if you're looking to keep it low-key any other day would work.  Sundays are also great with the Bloody Mary Bar at your disposal!

Who: Anyone over 21

Cupcakes!

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Have you ever seen those really amazing cupcakes at a party? You know, the ones with thematic wrappers and beautifully hand-crafted cupcake flags? And you think to yourself, 'Man, that is one good-looking cupcake! But who the heck has the time or the patience to make cupcakes look so darn good?!' Or maybe you just shove the whole thing in your mouth and hadn't given it a second thought until now.  Well, whichever kind of cupcake-lover you are, your life just got better. 

Plates and Napkins: Designer Party Supplies offers you just that: amazingly beautiful designer party supplies at not-so-designer prices!  I got sucked into their website the other day for almost an hour, crusing through their inventory, browsing by color and theme and occasion.  And the best part: they offer eco-friendly party supplies. They have an entire line of Ultra Green paper goods, described here:

100% Biodegradable, Compostable & Sustainable. Ultra Green Tree Free sugarcane paper products biodegrade or compost in 60-90 days. Cornstarch cups and utensils biodegrade or compost in 150 days. These eco-friendly products withstand heat, hot liquids, oil and are safe for microwave and freezer. Plates are made of sugar cane fiber and plastics are made from cornstarch.

Okay, I've digressed enough. Back to the cupcakes. While I was cruising around Plates and Napkins, I found the most adorable cupcake kits. These kits come with themed cupcake papers along with the cutest little cupcake topper figurines. There's quite a variety too, so whatever type of festivity you're throwing, there's sure to be a cupcake kit that fits the motif. And at .50 a cupcake, it will fit your budget too!

Here's a few of our favorites:

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Let the Madness Begin!

Second to Christmas, this may just be my favorite time of the year.  St. Patrick's Day is upon us.  And so is March Madness!  This is a great time to get together with friends and family to watch all the big games, cheer on your alma mater, and talk some smack! But most of all, it's a great excuse to throw a party.

Selection Sunday is just over 48 hours away.  Why not invite the whole gang over for an impromtu gathering?  This would also be a great time to organize a basketball pool (if you're into that sort of thing).  For me, this week is all about cinderallas, bracket-busters, 12s vs 5s, and a whole lot of crazy prognosticating (my inner-voice sounds a lot like Dickie V). 

So you're throwing together a last-minute shin-dig for this weekend's Selection Show. What do you need?

Snacks
The show is on at 6 pm (est). Invite your friends over around 5 and do light hors d'oeuvres and drinks, and they'll be headed home to dinner when the show's over. Mini pigs in a blanket are always a big hit and super easy!  Baked sweet potato chips with dill dip and mini soft pretzels are also sure to be a success! For dessert, how about some basketball themed cakeballs?  With chocolate coating and a thin black icing gel, these would be darling for the party.

Drinks
It's Sunday, and after a long weekend of early St. Patrick's Day revelry, your guests will probably want to take it easy.  White wine citrus sangria is one of my favorite laid-back drinks. It's so easy and so pretty. Your guests will love it.  Of course, we also recommend having some beer on hand for the guys, who will probably scoff at drinking sangria.

Decor
While this is a last-minute gathering, you shouldn't shirk on decor.  As my mother always says, "Presentation is everything."  If your guests are all primarily fans of the same team, go for your school's colors as the motif.  Plates, napkins and cups can reflect this theme easily enough.  A few small vases of flowers or candles in the right colors, while subtle, can create a more welcoming atmosphere.  Mildly scented decor can also add a pick-me-up to any room that needs a bit of freshening up.  If you've got a party store nearby, stop in to pick up some pom-poms in your school's colors.  Arrange them in a vase just like flowers.  If you have a little extra time, make some of the infamous Martha Stewart pom poms to hang over your buffet table.

Who will you be rooting for this year in the NCAA tournament?  Are you planning any festivities to cheer on your team along the way?

Suggestion Saturday: Bleeding Heart Bakery

We're sorry for the late post today: but it's definitely worth the wait! - check out the

Where: 1955 West Belmont Avenue (Damen and Belmont) 773.327.6934

What: Local, organic and sustainable Punk Rock Bakery.

Why: Number one, because their treats are delicious. Number two, they're a green business: they use local, organic and sustainable ingredients to provide amazing and thought provoking pastry. Number three, they consider everyone: vegan versions are available for many of their popular treats (and they're just as good, too)

When: Anytime desert is needed. They do wedding cakes, cupcakes, cake balls, brownies, muffins, you name it. If you're thinking of a desert table, this would be a great spread. Do you have to consider gluten free guests? No problem, they do that too.  We're actually going there tomorrow to pick up some vegan brownies for a Thank You gift for a friend!  

Who: For Everyone, vegan or otherwise.

Suggestion Saturday: Vosges

V is for Vosges - Haut Chocolat

Where: 951 W. Armitage (at Sheffield) in Lincoln Park

What: Chocolate heaven!

Why: Because who doesn't love chocolate? Gift boxes are available in all different sizes, from 2 or 4 pieces to 32; perfect for any size or type of event. Hand pick your flavors or let the experts do the work. Because they are committed to helping preserve our planet (see below). And because edible favors always provide less waste!

When: We feel any time is a good time for chocolate, but the great thing about Vosges is that they have a great event space inside the Lincoln Park boutique location. With an amazingly ornate 12 seat table in the middle of the space and a full kitchen in the back (did I mention they do shakes and coffee drinks too! YUM!), this is a perfect place for a low-key bachelorette party, classy birthday get together, or just a fun night with the girls! If you're just interested in favors for your events, don't worry they do that too.

Who: We suggest going with your girl friends to nibble quality chocolate and sip champagne, but we don't completely rule out the boys. With many fun (and delicious) aphrodisiac-infused options, having a couples event could be fun!!

Another reason to love them (in their own words)!!

MANUFACTURING GREEN
— We are powered by wind! Vosges Haut-Chocolat is proud to announce that our chocolate is produced using 100% renewable energy. Our boutiques in Chicago, New York and Las Vegas also run on 100% renewable energy. Learn more at www.renewablechoice.com.

PACKAGING GREEN
— At Vosges we are continuously sourcing sustainable and biodegradable options for our packaging.

— All of our candy bar boxes and folding cartons are made from 100% recycled paperboard and are recyclable.
— We use PLA (a plastic made from cornstarch that is compostable) for any plastic boxes and lids.
— We use paper that is at least 10% post consumer/recycled for all printed materials, including press folders, insert cards and wraps. Whenever possible, we use vegetable and soy based inks for printing.
— Our purple boxes are made from 100% recycled material.

And because of all that, they get our

Social(ly Responsible) Butterfly stamp of approval!

Reader Email: Eco-Friendly Food

We're taking a break from our Wedding Wednesday series on Green Weddings because we got a great email from a reader the other day asking for our advice.  We love to hear from our readers, and we love to help you out. If you have a question, please email us at info@wevegotitchicago.com, and we'll be happy to help you out.

Hi,
I love reading your blog and getting great tips for weddings and being eco-friendly! I'm planning my wedding and I'm trying to go green myself.  I haven't been able to find a "green" caterer in my area. Any suggestions for how to find one or make the best out of this situation?

Thanks,
Amy

Well, Amy, we're glad you asked.  We did find this great directory of meal delivery/catering services that are eco-friendly. But if there's not one in your area, there are a few key things you can look for when selecting a caterer.

• Go Local. A big part of being green is cutting down on the carbon foot-print.  If your caterer has to travel 50 miles with a big truck full of food, they are making a big carbon foot-print on your area.  It's also important to find a caterer who uses locally produced foods.  For the same reason, locally produced foods travel less distance and make less of an impact.  Additionally, local foods are often fresher and thus taste better (an added bonus!).
• Stay in Season. As with going local, seasonal produce definitely is fresher and tastes better, but seasonal produce is able to be produced closer to your venue.  If you live up north, it will be harder to find fresh produce in the dead of winter. Instead, it will be shipped in from South America.  Use this guide to find produce that's in season.  Then base your menu selections off of that.  Seasonal produce is also cheaper, which will give you extra money to spend elsewhere, like buying carbon off-sets.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Give your caterer an accurate head count so that an abundance of food is not prepared and thus wasted.  However, all caterers make some extra food. Find one who donates their surplus to a homeless shelter in the area.  By donating leftovers, you'll cut down on the waste going straight to the landfill. Finally, find a caterer who recycles.  If your caterer recycles even some items, it will cut down on waste and be a greener wedding.

We hope that helps, Amy. If you have any other questions, feel free to email us!

Cupcake Crawl

Photo: NBC Chicago

We recently did a post about a great low-key bachelorette party idea. Well this is right along those same lines. It's also a great idea for a kid's party, but make sure you have reinforcements as there will be a lot of walking/location changes and sugar involved (perhaps for the kids you only do two or three stops)!!

No doubt you've heard of a Pub Crawl, but have you ever heard of a Cupcake Crawl?  One of our local favs, Chicago Bites, put together everything you need to know about how to plan a Cupcake Crawl in Chicago. Complete with maps, transportation suggestions (we suggest going green with Public Trans, of course), what to bring, how to dress, and much more! Check out their website for great CC suggestions or click here to purchase the full ebook for coupons and continuous updates on the matter.

As featured on NBC Chicago

YUMM-O!!

Dinner and A Movie

Photo: Chicago Bites

We love all types of events here at WGIC. Big ones, little ones, and all those in between.  Most of the time all the hype surrounds big events because they're the ones that require the most time and effort. But what if you just want to go out with a few of your girlfriends or a night with your buddies? OR what about a low-key bachelor/bachelorette party? Or birthday/aniversary celebrations?

Well, do we have a suggestion for you.  We got this great idea from Chicago Bites (@ChicagoBites) and think it's fabulous:  Good food, cocktails and a movie - ALL in the same place!

Check out the great review that Chicago Bites posted on their blog not too long ago about the
Kerasotes ShowPlace ICON.

Let's Go Bowling!

From the Meineke Car Care Bowl to the Super Bowl next month, some of the best games of the season are about to be played and we want to help you host the best Bowl Game Party ever.  This isn't just any old game-watching party, this is the big game, so pull out all the stops.  When planning a game-watching party, there's several key factors to consider.  We'll walk you through every little detail so you're sure to score a big victory.

Setting the Scene
Chances are, you're hosting your bowl game party at your home, and depending on your living situation, you may or may not have many options.  When setting up the party area, consider these things:

• do you have enough seats for all the guests?
• will all guests have a clear view of the TV and be able to hear ok?
• is there a bad glare on the TV from the window?
• will guests have access to end tables or coffee tables for setting down drinks and snacks?
• is there an easy path to the food and restrooms so guests aren't constantly walking in front of the TV?

Food and Drinks
Game-watching parties give an easy theme for menus.  You can use the game, your team, or your opponent as your menu theme.  Here's a few examples:

• If your team is the Chicago Bears, treat your guests to Chicago deep dish pizza or legendary Chi-town hot-dogs. 
• If your team is playing in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, prepare traditional Cajun fare like etouffe, jambalaya and crawfish.
• Or if you're team is playing the Miami Dolphins, why not serve up dolphin fish sandwiches?

You can also get creative with naming your menu items, like Buffalo Bills' Hot Wings or Alabama Slammer shots or Heisman Winning Chili Bar.

Decor
Set the mood for your big game party by decorating in team colors.  If you're a big fan of one of the teams, you're likely to go all out for that team. However, for games like the Super Bowl, where casual fans gather to root for either team, you can show spirit for both sides.  Pick napkins and plates the represent both teams in action.  Spread some shakers around the room for guests to get pumped up.  And be sure to have a couple of footballs on hand for a half-time scrimmage in the backyard.  Or check out your local party supply shop for a Super Bowl ring to award to the guest who comes closest to guessing the final score.

So what are your go-to plays for a game-watching party? Have you scored big with a Super Bowl party?  Leave a comment to tell us about what you've done.

Holiday Countdown

Boy does time fly! Our last post about Holiday Countdowns had Thanksgiving 75 days away!! Not the case anymore - as you all know Thanksgiving is now only two short days away. While most of your menu items, decorations and preparations are no doubt complete, check below for some last minute ideas you just might want to include in your holiday celebration!

1. Keep the Kids from Getting Cranky
Do you have a large amount of young children attending your Thanksgiving festivities? If so, check out what Amazing Mom's has come up with to keep your kids busy! Our favorite is the Turkey Treat Holder - makes a great centerpiece!

2. Try a New App

A new appetizer that is! Change things up a little this Thanksgiving with a new menu item - try this super simple recipe from the Food Network's Giada De Laurentiis for Stuffed Mushroom's.  Suggested prep time is 25 minutes, we think it would take closer to 10-15! And they look just delish! Or, instead of the classic, and dare we say BORING, dinner rolls, try Paula Deen's Parmesan Puff Pastery Recipe. Prep time is 12 minutes, how easy. And YUMMMMMY!!

                             

3. Kick the Cran

Cranberry sauce from an aluminum can is quite cliché (and lazy) in our minds here at WGIC. With so many simple recipes for delicious, fresh, quick and easy homemade cranberry sauce, there's no reason to waste your money and your reputation on store bought! Try our very own, family recipe:

                                                                          

4. Where's the Host Gift?

Forget to get your host something? Don't have an extra bottle of wine lying around, or do you think wine isn't thoughtful enough?  Well we've got a great idea for a host/hostess gift, and the best part, it's under $20!!!   Try a plant and Go Green, literally!!  You can even stop ON YOUR WAY TO DINNER to pick it up - try Walmart, Target or even Home Depot. You'll want to make sure you get an indoor plant. Flowers are nice, but not necessary. Get creative, pick an exotic looking leaf, or a plant that you have in your own home.  Your host/hostess will be impressed that you thought outside the box and you might even brighten up there day!!

And here is the rest of our Holiday Countdown:

18 Days until the start of Chanukah

32 Days until Christmas

33 Days until the start of Kwanzaa

38 Days until New Year's Eve

Mmmm . . . Cake

Yesterday was one of our lead planner's birthdays, and we still have cake on the brain.  Around here, we wanted to have our cake and eat it too, but also feel good about it the next day.  So we went in search of eco-friendly bakeries in the Chicago area.  Man, did we find some tasty-looking treats that may not be good for your figure, but they are certainly good for the planet!

All of these bakeries can be found on a great green directory called Ecovian. 

Bleeding Heart Bakery

Kristoffer's Cafe and Bakery

Sweet Dreams Organic Bakery

Earth-Friendly Spirits

Now St. Patrick's Day isn't the only time of year when you can serve green beer and wine. Thanks to organic and sustainable brewers and vintners popping up across the country, it's now easier than ever to serve eco-friendly drinks at your next event.

Calypso Organic Selections offer beer, wine and spirits. As an added bonus, they donate 1% of the proceeds from their Sunset Rum line to development efforts around the world. Check out their website for more on their products and the areas they donate to. Currently available in Washington D.C. and Virginia.

Fish Brewing Company, out of Colorado, offers organic ales, ciders and beers. While they are located in Colorado, their products are available in several states and for home delivery if they aren't in your area.

Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery is Chicago's first winery and meadery offering the most sustainable wines on earth. Check out their site for more product information and events around Chicago.

Finally, Mother Earth Brewing Company offers a variety of organic brews and sustainable practices. While they are only available in North Carolina, we think it's worth checking out if you're ever in the area.

Have you recently discovered a new organic beverage that you love? Tell us about. We love to hear what you're into.

Pumpkins, Pumpkins and More Pumpkins!

Carving a jack-o'lantern is one of my favorite holiday traditions. These days, it's more than just a couple triangle eyes and a goofy uneven smile.  Pumpkins are becoming elaborate works of art. Thanks to the internet, there's no limit to the inspiration you can find. Here are some great inspiration sites I've found:

Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Gutter

Wackolantern

This one is my favorite, though:

But once you've carved the pumpkin and scooped out all that flesh, what do you do with it?  Most of you will probably just toss it in the garbage. But why not put it to good use?  Pumpkin is a delicious ingredient in a wide array of foods.  Why not repurpose that pumpkin "waste" into some tasty treats for your Halloween party?

Pumpkin Tiramisu

Pumpkin Pork Chops

Pumpkin Cream Cheese

Pumpkin Chili Stew

And once the party is over and your pumpkin is no longer fresh, don't forget to compost it!