Do you like Flea Markets?  If you do, you need to put this one on your calendar. On Saturday, August 21, the town of Wheaton, Illinois will be hosting an all night Flea Market. Yep. Last year this event brought in over 10,000 shoppers! They host it at the Dupage County Fairgrounds at 2015 W. Manchester Rd in Wheaton. Imagine six acres of sales! They have approximately 250 vendors along with costumed actors, magicians and food! Bring your flashlight and for more information: www. zurkopromotions.com .

If you are looking for a weekend trip, I have one that I highly recommend. Located in beautiful Princeton, Wisconsin, there flea market is considered Wisconsin’s Largest Weekly Outdoor Market. It opened in April and goes till October 16. There is no admission fee to get in, but be sure to bring some money because you will find plenty to buy. They have antiques of all types, garden items, artwork, flowers, fresh produce, cheese, sausages and honey.  My favorite things to buy are the Hot sugar and cinnamon mini donuts that are sold from a stand. Ummm. If you can’t find what you are looking for here, you probably don’t need it! They open at 6am and close about 1:30pm.

After the flea market is over, go into town and walk the charming downtown area with many stores that carry items that you have not seen before. Every year, my friends and I make a weekend trip. We stay in Green Lake and a visit to Princeton is always on our list of things to do.

Summer has arrived! School is over. The kids are back at home and they are already bored. Looking for something interesting to do with them? How about a drive in movie? Yep, we are fortunate to have one still in operation in the western suburbs! Cascade Drive in is located at 1100 E. North Avenue in West Chicago.  You can find out what is playing by going online to: www.cascadedrivein.com .

Grab the family; pack a cooler (you are allowed to bring food into the drive in) In fact, if you bring your own charcoal they even have grills for you to use in their picnic area!  If you want to be a big spender, they have a small snack bar where you can purchase burgers, popcorn and soda and rumor is after the first show they will sometimes drop the prices down to a dollar! Yes! They actually still have double features! Two shows for the price of one!

Cascade plays 50’s and 60’s music until the first show begins around 8:30. I can remember vividly going to the drive in with my family at the Harlem and Irving Drive-in in Harwood Heights. We would get into our pajamas before we went so my parents could carry us back into the house without waking us up.
We would go with our cousins and sit on the back of the station wagon watching the stars and sometimes even the movies! I am sure some of you have memories as well!

The prices are $8.75 for adults, kids (5-11) $4.75 and kids under 5 are free.  
One word of caution: They only take CASH! No checks or credit cards will be accepted.
The box office opens at 7pm and they are open seven days a week, rain or shine!

I hope you are enjoying these blogs; if you have something you would like me to blog about, give me a call at 630.730.8027.

I don’t know about you, but I have spring fever! As I look out my window and look at the snow on the ground, I realize I am craving spring flowers, nature, sun and some warmer weather. So I checked around to see what is available and was surprised at how much there is to do in Dupage County. Here are a few ideas to get you out of the house this week, without spending a fortune.

Maple Syrup Sundays
Fullersburg Woods  in Oak Brook  Mar. 14, 2010 | 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Get sticky! Take a stroll through the woods, and discover the secret of turning tree sap into syrup. All ages. Activities ongoing. Free. Registration not required. Call (630) 850-8110.

Spring Night Hike
Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook  Mar. 18, 2010 | 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Experience a forest preserve after hours, when animals are accustomed to going about their activities undisturbed. Ages 7 and up; under 18 with an adult. Free. Registration begins March 1. Call (630) 206-9581.

A Nickel’s Worth
Kline Creek Farm  in Winfield  Mar. 18, 2010 | 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Find out what a nickel could buy in the 1890s and how consumer preferences were changing. Free. Registration not required. Tours begin on the hour. Call (630) 876-5900.
Better yet, before you take off, why not make this recipe for crock pot minestrone soup. There’s nothing like coming home to hot soup!

Minestrone
1 -15 oz can Navy beans, rinsed and drained
2 carrots diced
2 baking potatoes, peeled and deced
2 red onions, chopped
2 small yellow squash diced
½ fennel bulb chopped
¼ pound fresh green beans trimmed and cut into 1 inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, peeled
10 fresh parsley sprigs
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 32oz carton vegetable broth
1 cup orzo (or favorite soup noodles)
1.Combine all ingredients except the orzo in a 5-6 quart slow cooker. Pour broth over the beans and vegetables. Cover and cook until vegetables are for tender. 4-5 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low.  At end of cooking time, remove and discard the parsley and garlic and gently stir in the pre cooked orzo.