Where do tree hugging, vegetarian liberals belong in north Chicago? (Evanston: high school, restaurant)

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by luc23

You will have a tough time finding something in your price range in Northbrook and having lived there as a teeanger, I can tell you it is the antithesis of Liberal.

I live in Libertyville now and they have a great downtown area with a great park on the north side of town and the Metra to take you downtown. Your price range should buy you a decent place there.

Do you not feel like Libertyville is the antithesis of liberal as well? I spent some time at a park today in Libertyville and it seems like a pretty conservative area to me. Maybe I am wrong...either way, Evanston still feels best to us. When we drive down there and spend any time and then have to drive back up to our hotel near Mettawa, we are sad to leave Evanston.

[chet everett]

...is the antithesis of where you want to live. If your parents were hemp harvesting stoners and you are Alex P Keaton you move to Wall St.

You want to live where your GRANDparents did -- they were always so much cooler! Plus they'll be close enough to spoil you. You neither of you will tell mom, it'll be "your little secret".

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

Do you not feel like Libertyville is the antithesis of liberal as well? I spent some time at a park today in Libertyville and it seems like a pretty conservative area to me. Maybe I am wrong...either way, Evanston still feels best to us. When we drive down there and spend any time and then have to drive back up to our hotel near Mettawa, we are sad to leave Evanston.

[chiados]

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

I went back to the beginning of the thread and I am re-reading everything to refresh my memory. Chiados, I wonder if you have learned more about the elementary schools in Evanston now? Also, where is the organic farm being started? That is so great. There are more and more people becoming urban farmers as climates change, fuel prices rise and food shortage looms. This was the 2nd recommendation I got for The Parent's Circle. It is on my list of things to check out. Thanks!

The Talking Farm organic farm is awaiting their permanent home but has started in a community gardening area for this year. You can check them out at Welcome to The Talking Farm - FRESH FROM THE FARM…RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY!

I may have posted twice on the the Parent Circle. Folks in The Parent Circle were very nice when we were involved a couple of years back. They have a babysitting coop arrangement so that you can trade off with others parents which is nice when you're trying to get comfortable with leaving your little ones.

Our elder child will be starting kindergarten at Washington School this autumn. We've meet with the teachers and been very impressed by everything we've seen and heard about the school. Our neighbors with kids in upper grades have nothing but good things to say. The PTA is very active with a great email list; we've been lurking on that this year in preparation. The school/neighborhood is diverse without needing to bring kids to the school from other parts of Evanston and we really value that neighborhood involvement.

Other neighbors send their kids to Bessie Rhodes Magnet School and really like it given the particular strengths and needs of their children. It's been characterized as a large home-school setup by some but also sounds interesting. In any case, Evanston has some interesting and varied options, depending on what one is looking for and what one's children need.

Hope you continue to find Evanston to be a good fit as you transition in.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by chet everett

...is the antithesis of where you want to live. If your parents were hemp harvesting stoners and you are Alex P Keaton you move to Wall St.

You want to live where your GRANDparents did -- they were always so much cooler! Plus they'll be close enough to spoil you. You neither of you will tell mom, it'll be "your little secret".

Nah, my grandparents lived in Hammond. No thanks!

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Nah, my grandparents lived in Hammond. No thanks!

My grandparents lived in Howell Michigan. Again, no thanks!!! Not to mention that fact that my grandparents weren't exactly the warm fuzzy types.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by chet everett

...is the antithesis of where you want to live. If your parents were hemp harvesting stoners and you are Alex P Keaton you move to Wall St.

You want to live where your GRANDparents did -- they were always so much cooler! Plus they'll be close enough to spoil you. You neither of you will tell mom, it'll be "your little secret".

This is so true.

[Calidreemer]

Originally Posted by chiados

The Talking Farm organic farm is awaiting their permanent home but has started in a community gardening area for this year. You can check them out at Welcome to The Talking Farm - FRESH FROM THE FARM…RIGHT HERE IN OUR CITY!

I love this idea. Does The Talking Farm only serve Evanston or will it serve other communities? I know there are other programs like this in Illinois and I have always wanted to try it.

[chiados]

Originally Posted by Calidreemer

I love this idea. Does The Talking Farm only serve Evanston or will it serve other communities? I know there are other programs like this in Illinois and I have always wanted to try it.

Wish I knew the answer. As I understand it, they try to have someone at the Ridgeville Farmer's Market (Wednesdays) FARMERS MARKET @ Ridgeville Park Dist., Evanston, IL to answer questions. I'm not sure where you are located, but if you're able to drop by that farmers market it might be an easy way to get more info. Seems like the folks organizing this particular farmer's market are really trying to do some nice things - e.g. folks from the Recyclery (The Recyclery: Used Bikes and Bicycle Repair [Chicago and Evanston, IL]) to tune up bikes, etc.

I tried to finally stop by the farmers market last night but faced a toddler rebellion that nixed that plan which was too bad. There's actually a fun little playground right next to the tennis court area where the vendors set up, and my kids had a great time there last year.

[Calidreemer]

I guess there are more locations then one for the Farmer's Market in Evanston. I thought it was always on Emerson near Technology Park? Or did it move? I'll have to ask my sister - she goes to the market every weekend so I'll see if she can get me some info. I should also check with our FM and see if there is anything close to us. During the summer and fall it's Ok because we can get our local, fresh produce, but from Nov - mid June we don't have that option. What do they do over the winter? Do they still offer anything? Canned items?

Thanks! Evanston has so much to offer - I know Jay and her family will love it!

[jaynetarzana]

We are moving into our rental tomorrow and I'm so excited! I am really enjoying it here.