Clean your oven while you sleep. Forget those nasty lung choking oven cleaners. Don’t use that auto clean setting either, it can set off your smoke alarm and leave the entire kitchen smelling funky. Go all natural. Mix 1/3 cup water along with 1/3 cup white vinegar and ½ cup baking soda mixed in a spray bottle. Remove the oven racks and thoroughly cover the entire inside with the solution being careful to avoid heating elements. Take the racks and place in the bathtub with a cup of powdered laundry detergent and hot water. Let both solutions work overnight. Rinse the oven racks and let air dry. Wash the interior of the oven with soapy water, rinse and dry with microfiber cloths. 

Sink disposals can really get smelly over time. Lemons come into use here. Make some cleaning ice cubes with rock salt, lemon wedges and water. Pop a few down the disposal and run till they are gone. The ice and salt clean the blades while the lemon cleans and freshens. The rubber gasket cover of the disposal can harbor smelly greasy yuck too. Take an old toothbrush soaked with dishwashing liquid and scrub all the nooks and crannies top and underneath. Rinse with your faucet spray with hot water. 

Lemon is a great cleaner for wood in the kitchen too. Fill a spray bottle with 1 part lemon oil and 1 part vinegar. Spray on and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. Leaves all your wood, cabinets, doors and baseboards clean and shining. Before cleaning the cabinets vacuum with the hose attachment on your vacuum. Easier than wiping out crumbs onto the floor. 

Another natural solution everyone has around is hydrogen peroxide. This works great to rejuvenate cookie sheets and other metal bakeware. Along with baking soda it provides a powerful punch. Sprinkle the sheets liberally with baking soda. Place the peroxide in a spray bottle and wet the surface. Sprinkle on another layer of baking soda. Let sit for a minimum of two hours. Rinse and wipe dry. 

The dishwasher is another place where gunk and hard water stains can be a problem and leave your dishes dull. Here is a unique solution, Tang! Tang powdered drink mix contains a good amount of citric acid along with orange essence. Dump an entire container on the bottom of the dishwasher and run through a full cycle. Run through a cycle with dirty dishes and you will love how clean and sparkling they come out. 

Do you have any kitchen cleaning hacks using natural cleaners?

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago

As the Earth continues to awaken from its winter hibernation here in Chicago, the city is investing in our planet by celebrating Earth Day with various events to clean up what winter has left behind as well as supporting the environment, all with a little help from its citizens!

Come Celebrate Earth Day with the Chicago Park District by helping to clean and beautify one of Chicago’s 90+ parks this Saturday between 9 a.m.-12 p.m. (for most parks).  All Chicagoans are encouraged to come out to their local parks!

Afterwards, continue your Earth Day celebration by attending the Earth Day Action Fair at the Chicago Cultural Center’s 2^nd Floor Rotunda (78 E. Washington St.) in The Loop on Saturday (12:30 p.m.-2 p.m.).  Attendees will be able to visit with groups to learn about their work, opportunities, and events.  Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy fellowship with other environmental advocates along with some refreshments, and then attend a film screening about biomimicry after the festivities!

Join one (or both) of Brookfield Zoo’s (8400 W. 31^st St.) Earth Day festivities this weekend:

Saturday (9 a.m.-2 p.m.) the Zoo will Party for the Planet in their main parking lot on 31^st Street.  Everyone is encouraged to gather their unused electronics, textiles, used books, and any other items, taking up space in your home or garage then disposing of them in an environmentally friendly way.  The website lists what items are acceptable and those that are not.  Come make a difference for the natural world and wildlife by recycling!

Sunday (8 a.m.) the Zoo will host an Earth Day Run – A Run for the Planet.  This non-competitive 2.2-mile fun run of twists and turns through the Zoo during its pre-park hours is geared to participants of all ages providing fun for the whole family to enjoy!  Afterwards, stick around and stroll through the park as you visit with your favorite animals!!

Once you’re done celebrating Earth Day, treat yourself to these non-Earth Day weekend events!

Join Watson Adventures at their Field of Screams Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt at the Field Museum (1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.) in the South Loop on Saturday (2 p.m.-4:30 p.m.).  Each team of sleuths will have to crack a hieroglyphic code, question a suspect, and uncover the museum’s secrets to stop the killings of the museum’s staffers.  To assist you in solving this mystery, you’ll search an Egyptian tomb for clues, interrogate spirits of the dead in the South Pacific, barge into a cocktail hour at an African watering hole, and more.  These fun challenges are a great way as well to tour the best of the Field Museum!  Museum admission is included in the price of a ticket, and advanced purchase is required.

The 7^th annual Spirits, Cocktails and Wine Festival is being held at Plumbers Hall (1340 W. Washington Blvd.) in the West Loop on Saturday (11 a.m.-6 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.-5 p.m.).  Take an afternoon to unwind with some choice libations as dozens of vendors offer wine and liquor tasting sessions.  Spirits brand ambassadors will be on hand to discuss their process as well as demonstrate the art of mixed cocktails.  Enjoy the same experience as visiting a winery from the wine representatives in attendance.  Plus, all non-alcoholic Artisan Chocolate and Specialty samples are complimentary.  Most of all, all proceeds from the tastings will benefit Voice of Care, which helps people with disabilities and their families!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

I’m a pushover for retro-chic soda fountains. For me, it brings back my childhood memories, going to Peterson’s in Oak Park and Margie’s Candies in Bucktown.

Upscale breakfasts and sandwiches set Humboldt Park’s Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain apart, along with a nearly perfect (4.7) rating on Google. 

Old fashioned décor is part of its charm. The building is in a former art gallery. Every decoration and item was repurposed or recycled, including the 1928 Liquid Carbonic marble bar, barstools, and brass foot rail, which, according to their website, were all salvaged from a basement outside Milwaukee. 

Breakfast is served all day. For something completely different, try the Smoked Trout Biyali, a house-caramelized onion biyali with cream cheese, flaked Ducktrap smoked trout, and spicy giardiniera. Or, the Gravlax Sandwich, which pairs beet-cured salmon, capers, pickled red onions, cream cheese, and greens on house-caramelized onion bialy. Gluten-free selections including an enticing Egg and Olive Pesto on Polenta, a soft-scrambled egg, sharp white cheddar, sun-dried-tomato/green olive/basil pesto, between two slices of crispy polenta. Their Quiche is “always vegetarian, made with roasted vegetables, cheeses, and herbed custard.“ For an upcharge, you add a side salad of Werp Farm seasonal greens in mustard vinaigrette. Very few restaurants make Strata except for special occasions, but Spinning J makes theirs every day they’re open. This savory bread pudding—always vegetarian, according to their website—is made with house sourdough, roasted vegetables, cheeses, and herbed custard.

As we often say here…save room for dessert! Spinning J is awash in sweetness, from its ever-changing menu of seasonal pies (try the hibiscus key lime or passion fruit,) to gelato and soda-fountain classics. All soda syrups, they note, are made in-house using their own recipes with fruits, herbs, botanicals, and essential oils. Choose from Lemon Drop, Cola, or Ginger Lime, or more unusual flavors as a Thai Tea Egg Cream, Strawberry Rhubarb Phosphate, or a King Crimson Palmer.

Google reviewers were effusive in praising Spinning J:

 “I visited late morning on a Saturday and there was a long line, but worth the wait,” said one. “Quaint little place with limited seating, great staff and delicious food. Cherry scones, savory rolls and biscuits were all amazing.”

“Perfect in every way,” said another. ”Whether you need a little pie slice or some old fashioned egg cream, spinning j is a fantastic choice if you’re in the area. Recommended dishes: Malted Vanilla Shake, Cookies, Breakfast Sandwich, Hibiscus Key Lime Pie”

Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain is located at 1000 N. California, and is open Wednesday-Sunday, 9am–3pm. They are closed on Monday and Tuesday. For more information, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

As consumer demand for fresh, affordable produce has risen, more homeowners than ever have become interested in growing their own. But with homes so tightly packed together in newer neighborhoods, finding space to design and nurture a garden can be challenging.

With a little creativity, however, you can grow fresh fruits and vegetables in your own back yard. Here are some great ideas for creating a winning garden in limited space.

Grow Upward

Some types of crops require extra space, but there are still plenty of options available. Even in a small area, some crops can thrive through the use of trellises and stakes. Tomatoes and peas grow upward rather than outward, making them ideal for limited square footage. Peas will need a trellis with a height of approximately three to four inches, while tomatoes require a tall stake to anchor them as they grow.

Zucchini and yellow squash can also be grown in a small space, since their growth can be driven up a trellis. You’ll just need to tie each individual item to the trellis by its stem to make sure it has the support it needs as it grows.

Grow in a Window

You don’t even have to go outside to grow some types of vegetables. Items like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant can be grown indoors, using the sunlight coming through a window. To effectively grow vegetables indoors, you’ll need a window that gets at least six hours of sunlight on a daily basis. You can use window boxes or hanging baskets to contain your vegetables as they grow. With the type of vegetables that grow upward, you may need to situate your boxes next to a trellis or stake as an anchor.

Ideal vegetables for indoor gardening include bush beans, bush and patio tomatoes, carrots, peas, spinach, radishes, and scallions. Indoor vegetables may not have the strength of flavor as those you plant outdoors, so be aware of this before choosing this option.

Grow Container Vegetables

Some vegetables can be grown in a small area like a patio, deck, or balcony. Called container gardening, this type of cultivation allows you to grow vegetables in a very limited space. Ideally, your containers should be placed in an area that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight a day. Vegetables like tomatoes and peppers should be situated in an area with plenty of air circulation to prevent disease.

To ensure your vegetables flourish, you’ll need a container with plenty of room for the plant to grow, while also having holes that allow excess water to run off. As a general rule, each pot should be at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches deep. An oversized pot or large container such as a bucket would work perfectly.

You don’t need to have a five-acre piece of land to grow delicious vegetables. Using these tips, you can set up a garden in a small space and enjoy fresh vegetables throughout the year. Experiment with different types of gardening and plant options to find the right combination for your own space.

Take an evening stroll on the Riverwalk, by the historic Merchandise Mart, 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza. Around 7:30pm, and again at 8pm, watch a myriad of colorful images illuminate the Riverwalk, creating a digital portrait on the side of one of Chicago’s historic landmarks. 

For the past five years, ART on THE MART  has transformed the Merchandise Mart into a larger-than-life art canvas. In 2023, the side of the Mart will come alive again, featuring the works of  internationally renowned artist Derrick Adams, as well as new works by local Chicago Public Schools (CPS) seniors. 

This year’s spring programming will be on view nightly at 8:30 p.m. from this Friday, April 14 to July 5.

The digital display Funtime Unicorn: Ruby Rides Through Four Seasons, celebrates Black joy, love and play, according to the display’s website. “The story  unfolds across the four seasons and begins with Ruby in a playground before she embarks on adventures through joyful dreamscapes. Ruby’s journeys feature a majestic display of colorful backgrounds and light tunnels across the 2.5 acres of THE MART, while visitors will also watch the flowers bloom, leaves fall, and snow drop in the playground as she returns for each season.” 

 Viewers will be transported through Ruby’s journey by the narration of a young girl, with background vocals by Cleo Reed, set to an original jazz-trumpet soundscape by Dave Guy from the Roots. 

Funtime Unicorn will also be part of a new public commission on Chicago’s Navy Pier, as well as Adams’s work featuring as part of Rhona Hoffman Gallery’s booth. 2023 is a significant year for the artist with a new ‘Art at Amtrak’ commission inside Penn Station, the Beyond Granite project inviting him to install a temporary work on the National Mall in DC, and his Last Resort Artist Retreat welcoming its first month-long residence to Baltimore this Spring. On view from Adams’s ART on THE MART commission is presented in partnership with Rhona Hoffman Gallery, which also has a solo exhibition of Adams’s work on show until April 1, 2023.

Art on theMART is the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, projecting contemporary artwork across the 2.5 acre river-façade of theMART.  Collections are typically on view seven evenings per week for approximately three months and generally rotate with the spring, summer and fall seasons. The platform is on view and open to the public 9 months per year, April – December. Last year, they featured works from artists Nick Cave, Jasmin Taylor, and Yuge Zhou, as well as select works from the CPS Class of 2022.

Addams’ work is best viewed on The Chicago Riverwalk, between Wells and Lake Streets, according to the website. The Riverwalk is accessible via any of the stairways along Wacker Dr. There are ADA compliant ramps providing Riverwalk access located at the east side of State Street, the west side of Clark Street, and the west side of Franklin Street.

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago