Book Reco: Most Likely You'll Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine

A former colleague wrote this book and I noticed it this weekend when my family and I were enjoying some ice cream in the Lincoln Square neighborhood in Chicago. The Book Cellar had it featured in their window since Ben Tanzer, the author, had just done a book signing the week earlier.

From what I've been able to read about the book so far, I'm intrigued...enough to go back to the Book Cellar this weekend to purchase the book and enjoy it while on my 24 hour flight to South Africa next week. I can use a humorous book on a flight that long. No matter how much you enjoy the company of the stranger seated next to you, you need a break and this will be perfect.

This isn't the first time a fellow colleague has written a book (in fact, as I count on my hands, it's quite a few!) and, I admit, I've purchased them all. Sometimes I've been invited to their parties at book shops and other times I've just been interested in reading their work (much like I attend art openings for my artsy friends who have shows of their work in art galleries). Some are awesome and others are really the genre I'm drawn to but I can honestly say I've enjoyed reading them all because I feel like I have some sort of personal connection to the author.

Nonetheless, if you find yourself in need of a good book to read, consider local Chicago author Ben Tanzer's latest: Most Likely You'll Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine. And, if you do read it, please let me know...I'd love to compare notes!

Happy reading!

-Megy Karydes
Karydes Consulting
www.KarydesConsulting.com

It's time for FRESH

I'm on a food kick...maybe because I need to have breakfast and another cup of coffee? In any event...

The second screening of FRESH (http://www.freshthemovie.com/) will take place on Thursday, July 30, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at EP Theater (1820 S. Halsted- in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood). According to the show promoters, FRESH offers viewers from all walks of life an informative look at our current food system and then leaves them with a hopeful glance at radical, feasible industry reform.

FRESH celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Viewers have hailed FRESH as “emotionally powerful” and the film features notable contributors to the sustainable food movement such as progressive farmer Joel Salatin, urban food-activist Will Allen, and author of Omnivore’s Dilemma Michael Pollan.

The screening is FREE (although there is a $10 suggested donation to help cover costs with presenting the film). Seating is limited and complimentary beer is provided (alcohol is present so please remember to bring a valid ID). To RSVP, email FreshMovieChicago@gmail.com.

EP Theater is easily accessible via the #8 Halsted bus, the Halsted Metra stop, or Interstate 90/94. Enter the building through a discreet back door opposite of the Halsted façade.

To help celebrate all things fresh this month, I wanted to share a picture of some of my farmer's market bounty (see photo). For those who think it's not possible to buy healthy food at a farmers market that won't break the bank, below is a rough break down of what I bought from a local farmer in Homers Glen and the total (feel free to compare this to your regular grocery store prices). And, don't forget that Lake Side Cafe's veggie cooking classes are an option if you want to learn how to make new veggie dishes, veggie sushi, vegan baked goods, etc.

5 pickled cucumbers - 50 cents a lb
2 pints of grape tomatoes - $3 each pint
3 onions - 50 cents each
2 green peppers - 50 cents each
2 red peppers - 50 cents each
2 yellow (orange?) peppers - $1 each
a HUGE bundle of basil - don't remember...I was too intoximated by the smell
3 lbs of red baby potatoes - 50 cents per lb
10 ears of corn - 50 cents each

The prices might be a bit off but my entire bill was less than $25. For FRESH food. That tasted AMAZING. Not everyone has the opportunity to purchase (or raise) fresh fruits and vegetables but if you do have the chance, jump on it. You will taste the difference!

-Megy Karydes
Karydes Consulting
www.KarydesConsulting.com

Lake Side Cafe Voted Among Top 5 for meatless meat

Metromix chose Lake Side Cafe's Chicago Polish as one of its Top 5 picks for meatless meats!

Featured in this Saturday's RedEye (July 25) as part of its cover feature on grilling veggies, Metromix loved that fct that the "traditionally dressed vegan Polish ($9) is topped with sauerkraut, yelow mustard and hose-made relish and comes with your choice of coleslaw, salad or blue corn chips."

Still not sure how to prepare meals with just veggies (or what do do with those gorgeous veggies popping up at the Farmer's Markets right now?), Lake Side Cafe's August veggie cooking class is booking up quickly so don't delay: http://lake-side-cafe.com/cooking-classes.html. Might even give you some tips on what to plant in next year's garden!

Ellu.COLOR launches this week

I'm so proud of one of my clients, Leslie Pozen! This past Saturday, at the Beckman's Handcrafted Gift Show (R) Chicago, she launched her latest line, Ellu.COLOR. To help highlight the new line, she designed a larger-than-life bag standing 7 feet tall and 4 feet wide (see photo) in the North Lobby of the historic Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago (where the trade show is held bi-annually).

Leslie isn't just any handbag designer, though. What makes Leslie and her line so special is that she designs her bags with color in mind. Color energy, how color affects our moods, what colors complement us, make us feel certain ways, etc. Ellu.COLOR is about color just as much as it is about the handbags.

The line debuted this week to retailers with rave reviews and will find themselves in retail shops later this season.

We're excited about the energy already created around the line and hope you'll visit www.ElluBags.com to learn more about Leslie and Ellu!

-Megy Karydes
Karydes Consulting
www.KarydesConsulting.com

Cover Story - From Farm to Table in Mindful Metropolis, July 2009

I've loved the written word as long as I can remember. As soon as I was able to read on my own, I was usually entrenched in some thick novel. Don't you recall getting into a book and you just had to finish it to find out what happens? With all do respect, you just can't capture that feeling watching reality television...the anticipation, the twists, the turns.

It was that love of reading that formed my love for writing stories. From my high school creative writing class, to my college newspaper days as a copy editor and features writer, I've loved writing feature stories. Unlike the short 800 word pieces, features allow the writer to delve a little deeper...to conduct a few interviews and get to the heart of the story. That may be why I love PR and pitching the media story ideas - each and every one of us has a story to tell. I want to help share those stories with a larger audience.

It was this reason that I jumped at the chance to write a possible cover feature story for a magazine I very much admire - Mindful Metropolis. The story was about a man who started a catering company using produce and meats from local and sustainable farms. But it's more than that - Cleetus Friedman, the owner of City Provisions and the focus of this piece, also shares the stories of his farms with those who want to learn more about how food comes to their table by hosting monthly farm tours during the summer months. You can learn more about City Provisions by reading the story here: http://digital.mindfulmetropolis.com/publication/?m=6071&l=1&p=23.

Thank you for sharing this story with me asnd I hope you take a moment to tell me what you think of the piece!

Until next time,

-Megy Karydes
Karydes Consulting
www.KarydesConsulting.com