What: Randolph Street Market Festival and Antique Market, Indie Designer show
Where: West Loop
How much? : $9 online in advance or $12 at the door
How to get there? : Red line to Lake, Green line to Ashland
I realized my mistake the minute I stepped off the train. I could feel my skin baking and wished desperately that I had applied 8 layers of sunscreen before I departed. I checked my shoulders periodically and though they seemed ok through the morning, several hours later I was a warm shade of ouch.
When I first walked in, the festival was an overwhelming spread of row after row of antique and "made to look antique" wares. Directly inside the doors was this display of rehabbed Schwinn bikes, which had me immediately drooling.
Despite my quickly melting skin I was determined to see everything the market had to offer. Not long after arrival I ran into this sweet babe.
She was clearly up for a good time but there were places to go and things to buy.
This amazing display of art my nephew could have painted if I had a nephew was pretty much center stage at the fair. It had the distinction of being the only thing I saw that I thought, what the hell is this doing here? This photo doesn't do justice to the whimsical, childlike quality of this work.After about an hour and a half of browsing and having seen about half of the show, it was time for lunch. I opted for a vegetable tamale. I have actually never had a tamale. It wasn't half bad and hit the spot for my dehydrated, burnt to a crisp self. I actually resorted to donning my sweater during lunch despite the temperatures to show my shoulders some mercy.
After that it was inside to the Indie Designer Market. Perhaps on another day there will be more to see here, but today the wares were unappealing to my appetites. One interesting thing about the fair as a whole was that I saw numerous examples of steampunk jewelry and art, which is hard to come by (Check Etsy if there's no street fairs where you live).After three total hours, it was time to go home. But I have to say it took that long to see everything the fair had to offer, and I felt I had spent my $9 well. There were many things I would have liked to buy. Prices were overall fair, only a few gougers. The most interesting thing I saw was an antique gynecologist's exam table complete with stirrups for $395.
So, what did I buy? I practiced extreme self restraint and left with only two purchases:
This yellow sailor dress was a steal at $20. I turned down a much cooler green dress that the dealer said he'd "take down" to $70.These handmade soaps happened to be from an Evanston based chandler. (That's right you just learned a new word. A person who makes soap is a chandler) $3/each
If you're sad that you missed this festival, don't be! This happens to be one of the festivals that happens once a month all summer (and has some events all year). The next date is June 19-20 and the theme is "Americana".
Notes to self: wear sunscreen!! Bring a car to this fest if you plan on taking home some larger treasures. They do have valet parking or there is free parking all along Randolph St.
Catch me tomorrow at the Belmont/ Sheffield music festival in Lakeview. I'll be there by 6:30 to catch Too White Crew.
