Bengstons is amazing. Definitely worth the price for everything there. Best pumpkin patch in the…read morechicagoland area.

I had a fun experience here! I think this is definitely a pumpkin patch that kids and young adults…read morecan both enjoy. This is a pretty big pumpkin patch, so there's plenty to explore and do. I went on a Saturday with my family which included two toddlers. It did get pretty packed, so getting there earlier the better, or just coming on a weekday if you don't want to deal with long lines or overcrowding. The Apple Cider and Apple Cider Donuts were delicious! I honestly wanted to come back here just to buy some more. They have plenty of other drink and snack options, too. The staff was pretty nice too. There's many things to do like a swing ride, petting zoo, and hayride -- all very fun. I will say, $40 per person is pretty steep for a pumpkin patch. While I had a good time, I kinda had to force myself to do everything to feel like it was worth that much money. Overall, I'd go back, though.

I was very, very impressed with this race. One of my goals this year is to sign up for races I have…read morenot done before. I now live in the burbs southwest of Chicago, so I still try to get all around in the city to experience new neighborhoods. The race was a small, neighborhood race. The course was not crowded. It started on Argyle in the heart of the Chinese community, right by the Chinese Mutual Aid foundation. Packet pick-up and parking on race day was super easy. The race started with some speeches and Chinese traditions. From start to finish, I felt it was so welcoming. It seemed that the people hosting the event were very proud of their neighborhood and so hospitable. This made me love the race even more. The race headed east along the lakefront, then south, back north and then back west to where we started. Beautiful path. A local restaurant, Furama, provided some snacks afterward. There was some kid's karaoke playing on the speakers and tables and chairs were provided to sit down and relax and eat the snack. There was also a local dance troupe performing a traditional Chinese dance. Very impressed. Glad I headed out north to the city to experience this one! Will do again!

fun time. I'll plan my visit better next year since this time I was only walking though for one of…read morethe stores on the block that this was happening. I didn't have time to really stop and enjoy all the vendors although I did make time to grab some business cards and food. very nice.

Fun little (and I do mean little) festival in Andersonville showcasing some cool local shops and…read moreartists. Sadly there aren't that many vendors, and it was quick to check all of them out within 15 minutes. I did appreciate the food trucks and local beer flowing freely. They had some local bands playing too. We got a beautiful day and discovered some great talents that are throughout the city. I would recommend to check it out, make an afternoon of it. Just get more vendors to make us stay longer!

**Review of the 5K event only**…read more This is a nice little neighboorhood 5K. The course starts at 159th and Cicero, runs north up Cicero, trough Oak Forest on the west side of Cicero, and then back south down Cicero. It's all on the streets so there's plenty of room. Like pretty much every race ever, the final stretch is uphill, in this case the viaduct under the Metra tracks. The course support was good - water stations, well staffed race day packet pick-up. Overall it was a very well executed race. The price is on par with other 5Ks in the area ($30). You get a long-sleeve t-shirt in the goody bag and a bunch of random promotion swag from local business - pens, cups, magnets, a letter opener?. Apparently, this year you can drop another $5 for a long-sleeve dry-tech shirt which I appreciate. Dry-tech shirts get much more wear from me. I'm planning to run again this year, and maybe even stick around for the parade or some of the restaurant/ bar open houses.

Charged an illegal fee for entry. Turned people away for…read morerefusing said illegal fee. Lied to city official about said fee.

This new 'festival' was fantastic and a great success in my opinion! Two live bands (16 Candles…read morebeing the one I caught) in the same corridor as the Sunday Farmers Market (from Morse to Lunt). + Free admission + Cheap drinks at sponsoring Glenwood + Composed crowd - I don't have to deal with all the drunk suburb tweens puking on the street during Pride... Okrrrr. - Long lines for the bathroom (Glenwood) or porta-potty. I heard there were around 2,000 that came to the festival, not bad for a 6 hour window after the parade. Hope they bring this back next year! Wish they would extend the area a bit though - perhaps open up the northbound side of Glenwood Ave for another stage/band, or maybe down Morse Ave (like during the Arts Fest).

If you are lucky enough to work in the food industry - a producer, manufacturer or processor, then…read moreyou might be able to take part in this industry-only trade show. It takes place on the last week of October once every 2 years. A joint show featuring meat industry equipment, dairy products, ingredients suppliers and building maintenance/construction services, this is THE premier show for the meat & dairy industry. Admission relates to your connections, whether you can obtain a pass or not. Since my workplace is a major exhibitor at the show, I was able to obtain a free pass. Really, the whole place becomes a giant buffet, with different exhibitors giving away different foods, drinks and yes, ICE CREAM and plenty of it! I recommend skipping lunch, and ultimately I skip dinner as well. The show features new food processing technologies, automation, and introduction of new products. Several years ago, I got to taste the fluffy "whipped" yogurt a few month before Yoplait introduced Whips! line of yogurts. Similarly, I have seen bottled water in collapsible plastic pouches that look more like Capri-Sun than the traditional water bottle, which is bulky waste. Ingredients manufacturers give out marinades, seasoning salts, spice packs, or drink mixes. Meat processing people give out free hot dogs, ham cubes, cheeses, pork loin slices, and even whole burgers made of 85% lean beef! It's amazing all the things offered on the floor. I got to sample the #1 ice cream sold in Scandinavian countries. Another place put a scoop of ice ceam into a donut-shaped brownie. And this roving food orgy went on for about 3 hours till I covered the North and South exhibit halls and my belly was full. At the same time, there's a bit of a dark underbelly to this show. Back in 2007, I tasted a 70% soy burger that when flavored properly deceived even me into thinking it's all beef! This was a vendor that sold to the school cafeteria folks. And then there's a company that makes slaughtering equipment. You get to see the hoof cutters, saws and drills used to chop up cows, pigs or sheep. And if you saw "No Country for Old Men," they even had one of those stunners like the one the serial killer was using. The place also played a video loop of some pretty graphic animal slaughtering. Definitely not a place for PETA folks or vegetarians/vegans but a nice overall experience trying new food samples and seeing what will be in the marketplace in the coming year(s). While 2009's show was a bit tame compared to previous years and the number & amount of freebies was a little bit down, I did not leave disappointed. If you're lucky enough to attend, make an effort to see it and your tummy won't be disappointed.

Happy New Year! This…read moreevent is crazy and raw. There are no frills. No noticeable sense of order. I went because I heard Darth Vader would be there but I left with even crazier (and colder) memories. It was 23°F with a windchill of 11°F. It snowed buckets yesterday and continues to snow today. I wore smart wool pants and top, jeans, long-sleeved t-shirt, long down coat, and the rest of normal, outdoor attire for winter weather. These crazies took swigs from their fifths, stripped off their pajama pants and blanket panchos, and walked right up to the icy lake. The lake was LITERALLY ice. Not just icy cold. It was frozen. They brought blankets and heat packs for their hands. Some of them had water shoes. That was the extent of their preparation. This unorganized gaggle of crazy drunk people discussed the risks of breaking the ice and potentially being stuck under. There was no ambulance on hand. No leader to make a resounding decision. So one man must have said, "F- you all! I'm doing this!" because he broke a hole in the ice at the edge of the lake and sat down in it. My video: http://youtu.be/EuxY_99FRXA Then more people followed him! My video: http://youtu.be/RQybg-CwUFU Then my fingers froze off and I had to stop taking pictures and videos. My fingers hurt so bad that I made the game-time decision to leave. As I left, I heard and saw more people taking the plunge - even people who were previously ambivalent were taking turns. All I gotta say is that I'm glad that nobody died and that their insanity made for a memorable start to the new year!

Sounds crazy?!? It IS!…read more But since most of us went all wild the night before, why not just go on with insanity and just dig deeper in? January 1, 2012. Air temperature around noon: 30. Feels like: 17. Wind gusts of 45 mph. I arrived miserable on the beach, but left with a huge smile on my face, (frozen feet) and the sense that I started the year with a great kick! PROS: - bragging rights for the rest of the year - "cool" pictures opportunities - hang over cure, without the calories associated with eggs, bacon, pancakes and donuts - a way to bond with your crazy fellow Chicogoans - no preparation; just show up, strip and go! CONS: - it's.....cold, let's say. - there are some definite eyesores on the beach, most notably a "New Year Baby" wearing a giant diaper and a top-hat that has lost all sensibility to the elements by the look of him (picture included. Look at your own risk) - it's cold...men may experience some shrinkage problems. Cross that: men WILL experience shrinkage problems. Sometimes it's good to be a lady. - you get wet, and it's cold and at some point you feel like your feet are going to fall off. Good news: they won't. Hey, kids: One only lives once...

I went to this event yesterday and ended up spending more time there then I originally anticipated…read moreI would! It was such a well put together event and such a fun, relaxing time. This event celebrates street food & artistry in Chicago, just as the event title suggests. It brings together art, music and delicious food! This was the first year the event went out and it was held at the Galleria Marchetti. This was a great location with an indoor section, fancy tented area that was wedding reception-esque, and two outdoor areas. I loved the outdoor areas! The weather was perfect so it was so pleasant to grab some bites, listen to some music and soak up the sun in a decent temperature! They had a silent auction going on and I wish I knew it was because they had some great items for sale! A signed Justin Bieber album!??!? Ummmm amazing!!! And other artists on the same level as him like Michael Jackson! hehe I'm only kidding! Half kidding. Really some amazing items with low starting bids. Seriously wish I had known! Tickets were $31 and I think well worth the price! They had a kid's cooking demo, some amazing musical acts plus an awesome hip hop tap dance group M.A.D.D. Rhythms! I loved all of the music and bands that played!!! On to the yummies! There were some food trucks & carts representing and the best part for me was trying new ones I haven't tried before! I had never had any of these before! The coolest part was talking to the people who ran the trucks & carts. It's not often you get that privilege and for a foodie like myself it was a good thing. Homage Street Food - New food truck to Chicago! The owner was super nice and enthusiastic about what he is bringing to the city and how different it is. Both dishes we tried had some kick to them. I had the buckwheat noodles and really enjoyed them! Arrf Scarf Cart - Treats for dogs! Friendly group and have yet to say how the dog likes these treats. I got treats to give to one of my BFF's dogs Minion...I'll keep you posted on how Minion likes them! Bergstein's NY Deli Truck - I tried their slider and potato pancake. Both were yummy! Puffs of Doom Cart - Super friendly people here! I'm not a huge fan of cream puffs but these little guys were cool. Interesting choices in flavors and I opted for the oreo, yum! Uptown Pie Company Truck - I think they were a no show! Sad. Herby Pop - Gourmet popcorn and it was tasty! I just had my onion & dill popcorn sample after dinner tonight and really enjoyed the savory taste of it. Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen - Now that was some good naan! The hummus was some of the best I've ever had! Everything on this HUGE sampling plate was delicious! Adding this to my list of restaurants I must visit. English & Porkchop both had pulled pork sandwiches. Both were good but it was kind of funny they had the same dish and were right next to each other. I have been to English a bit for the bar aspect of it so was interesting to see them at a food event Old School Root Beer Float Carts - Awesome! Root beer floats are the bomb diggity! A root beer float sitting outside on the grass was the perfect treat! Dark Matter Coffee Company had hangover coffee! It doesn't get cooler then that! Wow Bao is always good! They had pulled pork buns and some other flavors which I didn't get to try! e.leaven had some yummy food plus amazing brownie bites! They were so thick and delicious! Macy's Chefs A-Go-Go Tour - Takashi!!! My friend and I are big Takashi fans and it was so cool to see him there and walking around the event. I wish I would have had more courage to ask for a picture! Either way, I ate his cold noodle dish for lunch today and loved it! Yum.Yum.Yum. The Macy's truck was also handing out Bananas Fosters Pops from Emeril! They were beyond delicious and I don't like bananas! Forever Yogurt Truck - Ended the night with some strawberry lemonade frozen yogurt with no toppings. Delicious and I loved the cute, colorful truck! All in all, a fantastic event and I hope they throw it again next year!