Every Saturday morning throughout the summer Evanston has an outdoor farmers’ market. I am not exactly a farmers’ market kind of guy (what man is?), but my sister-in-law insisted that I go, and it is only one block from where I am living.
I bought blueberries, apple cider and a Bennison’s Bakery donut. The blueberries and cider are great. This donut is better than the first Bennison’s donut I bought a few days ago, but not as good as I had heard.
Then I bought a cup of pink lemonade at a lemonade stand operated by my neighbors’ kids and associates. I dutifully paid my quarter and went on my way.
I did not have very high expectations for their entrepreneurial endeavor. As it turned out, they sold their entire inventory and mom had to make more. The five kids grossed $40.
Then I walked to the 30th annual Evanston Fountain Square Art Festival. I used to frequent such sidewalk events when I lived by the UCLA campus in Los Angeles.
Evanston has a smaller event, but it still is significant. The city blocks the traffic on three of the main streets and converts them into a pedestrian enclave.
I enjoyed speaking with some of the vendors. I expected them to be local artisans. The three I spoke with were from Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Orlando. The one from Orlando told me she drives 50,000 miles each year with her paintings.
