I knew it was time to address this topic when wedding photos started popping up in my Facebook newsfeed again.  The further we get into our 20′s, the more wedding invitations find their way into our mailboxes. That means, of course, the more outfits you must carefully prepare!  And eternal love, blah blah blah.

I’ve seen some wildly inappropriate selections at the 9 weddings I’ve been to in recent years.  I’ve also seen some great choices.  I’m going to give a few tips on what works and what doesn’t – not that you need it…but someone you know might.

Consult the invitation

I just got an invite for a wedding this summer and “black tie” was written in very small font on the very bottom of the card.  It goes to show you should pay attention and read very carefully.  Another detail to observe is the style of the invitation.  Is it very formal in design or is it quite simple?  What are the main colors?  You can often derive the tone of the wedding (fancy or laid back) as well as color schemes from these cues.  Use this to structure your attire. We don’t want to show up looking like bridesmaids, now do we?

Tone it down a bit

I’m not suggesting you look boring.  I’m merely reminding you that there will be older generations and religious figures involved.  Give yourself a serious once over and make sure you aren’t showing too much. Try and avoid overly bright colors and/or anything you would wear to a club.  This includes extreme shoes as well.

Take your mom shopping

Unless your mom is more Dina Lohan than Charlotte York, bring her along to pick out a dress.  Chances are she’ll gravitate more towards a classic style and will have been to enough weddings to know what will fit in.

I said DRESS

It’s the simplest way to get fancy enough.  Base the style of dress on what you learned above.

Do I really need to spell this out?

Unfortunately, yes.  I’ve seen multiple women show up wearing white.  Once I even saw a LONG, WHITE DRESS.  I’m not going to say this again – only the bride gets to wear a white dress.  The End.

Where do I go?

I’ve found some really excellent dresses at The Limited for small prices.  Try your luck at H&M but proceed with caution  -quality can be an issue sometimes.  Any department store dress section will offer a wide variety in many price points as well.

The moral of the story is, the bride and groom are looking the best they ever have in their lives.  Shouldn’t you honor them by putting some effort into your look?  Be appropriate, and really think about your styling.  Cheers!

photo is property of Whitney Middleton

When I first moved to the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, I decided to check out the area. While strolling down Milwaukee Avenue, I noticed a store called the Boring Store. With a bright orange awning, and an illustration of a private detective with a shopping cart—I was intrigued. I walked into the Boring Store, not having any idea what I would find. Would it really be boring, like the name boasted, or the exact opposite of the word?

Upon entering, I was immediately caught up in all the novelty items for sale, like mustache disguises, Pepsi cans that double as a safe, cameras that squirt water, pencils that are actually pens, and every other gadget an aspiring spy would need to successfully go undercover. After being told that The Boring Store sells things that are “not what they seem,” the confused look on my face promptly caused the volunteer working the cash register to laugh and take pity on me and tell me what the Boring Store really is.

Yes, it’s a spy supply store—but it’s also a “cover” for a writing and tutoring center for kids ages 6-18. Take a photo tour of the Boring Store here.

826CHI, part of 826 National—an organization started by author Dave Eggers—is a place where kids are given the resources, one-on-one tutoring, and encouragement to learn creative and expository writing. They offer drop-in tutoring, class field trips, writing workshops, and in-schools programs. And the best part is, all of their services are FREE!

Wait, that’s only one of the best parts. Another best part is that you can buy books written by the students of 826CHI right at the Boring Store. Have you ever read a book of short stories by a group of elementary students? If you haven’t, I can tell you one thing—it will make you wish you were 8 again.

And yet ANOTHER best part is that the people at 826CHI don’t take themselves terribly seriously. They take what they DO seriously, but will you find them hosting a gala with $900 tickets to raise money for their organization? If they are, they’re doing that undercover, too.

826CHI makes contributing attainable for volunteers of various age and income with events like the Moustache-a-thon, where participants find people to sponsor them as they dare to attempt a feat that’s equally as impressive as running 26.2 miles—growing facial hair! Even the baby-faced can participate by competing in mustache-related challenges, like writing a song about a mustache, or making a mustache related craft. This is an event that doesn’t cost you any money to participate—a little dignity, maybe—but it allows you to give a lot.

And, if you’re feeling nostalgic about your high school days, or you finally have your braces off and would like a second chance at attending prom, you’re in luck. Each year, 826CHI hosts a themed prom where you can dress up, drink, dance and pretend like you’re 17 again. This year’s prom is titled Prom Hanks, and partygoers are encouraged to dress like a character from any Tom Hanks movie. Money raised from this, and other events, goes towards keeping 826Chi’s programs completely FREE. Buy your tickets here before they sell out!

Event details:
April 24th, 2010 at 8pm
Pulaski Park Field house (Wicker Park)
Tickets are $35 and (according to their site) include: refillable cup for hooch, food, silent auction, not silent music, and dancing, dancing, dancing

I was lucky enough to get Patrick Shaffner, the Lead Spy in Residence at 826CHI, to answer a couple of questions for me about the organization. Basically, he owed me for using a picture of me with an onion ring mustache in a Moustache-a-thon newsletter without telling me!

How do you come up with the ideas for your events? Mustache-a-thon, Prom Hanks, Scrabble for Cheaters, etc…?
After eating a seven-course meal, heavy on pasta and candy, I sit on the Idea Throne. Once on the Throne, a volunteer shouts, “What shall the event be?” And then, inspiration strikes and I am able to declare the new event. In other words, there is no method, per se, for developing events.

I’m fortunate to work with amazing volunteers and staff members and friends and family that are eager to brainstorm.  826CHI is also fortunate to have a few brother and sister 826 chapters in other cities that we bounce ideas off of or steal ideas from!

What’s one thing you want our readers to know about 826chi?
Come to Prom Hanks. Come and volunteer. Stop on by the Boring Store. Buy our students’ books.

Maybe, if you stop in, Patrick will let you sit on his idea throne. Or maybe, you’ll just end up making an impact on some kids’ lives. Either way, YOU WIN!

I was 10 years old when my grandpa gave me the jewelry box painted with orchids and reeds. Inside, two opal swans slid across the mirrored top as I wound it and the music began to play. Sitting there in my lawn chair that summer afternoon, surrounded by family and friends visiting for my birthday, my eyes began to water, my cheeks flushed, everyone was looking and there wasn’t anything I could do. I cried. Not because I didn’t like it; not as my parents and grandpa worried as they told me they’d take it away. No. I cried and swatted their hands away. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

Twenty years later, the jewelry box and the grandpa who gave it to me may be gone, but starting tomorrow, American Ballet Theatre will bring the swans and music of my memory to life on Chicago’s Civic Opera House stage.

(image credit)

American Ballet Theatre, or ABT as the world’s premiere ballet company is fondly known, returns for another rousing opening night repertoire on April 14 with principle dancers Julie Kent, Gillian Murphy, and Jose Manuel Carreño scheduled to perform; followed by seven performances of the stoically beautiful Swan Lake from April 15-18.

Different from Chicago’s own Joffrey ballet company, ABT is known for choreography that uses techniques from the classic French, Italian, and Russian schools of ballet. And, whereas the Joffrey typically performs contemporary and/or abstract ballets with unconventional choreography and has its foundation in original ballets by founding member Robert Joffrey, ABT regularly performs classics like Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote and Sleeping Beauty.

So, whether you’re a veteran of the ballet world who knows the difference between a demi- and a grand plié, or a novice who’s watched Center Stage once or twice (you’ll recognize a few faces on stage if you have!), be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to see the ballet world’s best and brightest. Come for the soaring leaps of the men, the glittered tulle tutus of the women, and the lifts of the pas de deux; and stay for the singular elegance of experiencing ABT perform in one of the city’s most lauded venues.

Moms, take your own future ballerinas to a matinee showing that they won’t soon forget. Single gals, get the girls together, coordinate your fancy dresses, and down champagne at intermission in the gilded lobby of our legendary opera house. And everyone else, ditch the significant other at home and treat yourself to a night of music and artistry.

As for me, I’ll be there when the house lights go down and the first notes of Tchaikovsky’s symphony begin to play. Sitting there seemingly subdued, I may look like a grown up, but the part of me that’s still a 10 year old girl with a jewelry box that plays Swan Lake will be tapping her toes and smiling.

Tickets still available on Ticketmaster.

A fellow Chicago bloggy friend, Maris of In Good Taste,  has been working hard to plan the National Food Blogger Bake Sale here in Chicago. I’m definitely going to try to stop by because with treats and helping a good cause? You just can’t go wrong!

Who: Some of Chicago’s finest food blogs and bakeries will be there, including Kudos Kookies & Foiled Cupcakes.

What: Remember your childhood bake sales? This one will be even better! Food bloggers and baking aficionados are teaming up to give readers the opportunity to sample some of their favorite baked goods and treats. Proceeds from the sale benefit Share Our Strength.

When: Saturday, April 17 from 12pm – 3pm (CST)

Where: Smash Cake Bakery, 2961 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago IL 60657 (at Wellington) Get a sneak peek at its BRAND NEW location!

Why: Food bloggers from across the country will unite to support the Share Our Strength’s efforts to end childhood hunger in America by holding bake sales in their states. Proceeds from the sale will support the 17 million children (almost one in four) who face hunger in America. More information on SOS can be found at www.strength.org.

Check out In Good Taste and the Great American Bake Sale to find out more!

I would very much like to be one of those people – who have original works by amazingly talented artists in their homes and sleep on big piles of money.

Unfortunately, I am not one of those people – but it doesn’t mean that I can’t get enough of art.

Fortunately, that’s where the twice yearly School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Art Sale comes in. The sale is put on BY the students – who get to sell their own work and keep 85% of the profits. (The other 15% is retained by the school in order to pay for the production costs of the Art Sale.)

This event allows the students to effectively learn how to brand themselves, sell and price their products, and interact with buyers.

In a nutshell, it’s a fantastic event that allows Chicagoans to support local art students and discover some amazing talent.

The SAIC Spring Art Sale

• Friday, April 9, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

• Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Location:  MacLean Center Ballroom, 112 South Michigan Avenue

• Cost: Free!

photo credit: arndog

Hear that? It’s the crisp sound of the first Old Style being cracked open on the Cubs home opener at Wrigley Field on Monday, April 12^th. After five long months of baseball-lessness, the Cubbies are back in the Friendly Confines hoping their 162-game road leads to post-season glory in October. White Sox Fans, Southsiders, and Barack Obama – stop reading now as an all-Cubbies crash course with roster breakdowns and dos and don’ts may cause nausea, headaches, eye rolls, and indigestion.

Ask any Chicagoan and they’ll tell you that one of the best parts of summers in the Windy City is baseball. While the Cubs have tortured fans for years, people still turn out in droves to watch the lovable losers. Although there are many devoted students of the game, Cubs fans have developed a reputation as partiers rather than true baseball fans. To avoid becoming a walking Cubs fan stereotype, make sure you have a few nuggets of general knowledge regarding  your 2010 Chicago Cubs:

Starting Pitcher Rotation:

1. Carlos Zambrano: hot tempered and unpredictable, this right-handed hurler is the Cubs ace. Not only known for his prowess on the mound, Zambrano also boasts 20 career homeruns. Pretty impressive for a pitcher.
2. Ryan Dempster: strong in spring training, the Cubs need him to keep the momentum going.
3. Randy Wells: called up from the minors in 2009, Wells had a decent rookie debut with the Cubs, racking up 12 wins.
4. Carlos Silva: dont get too attached; S ilva could potentially be replaced when Ted Lilly returns.
5. Tom Gorzelanny: acquired in 2009 from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Gorzelanny rounds out the starting five.

Starting Lineup:

• Catcher – Geovany Soto: Soto might have been the 2008 NL Rookie of the Year, but his performance in spring training has been anything but award-winning. Hitless in his last 17 at bats, Soto better turn it around or he’ll be hearing boos from the bleachers.
• First Base – Derrek Lee: hottest butt on a first baseman this side of the Mississippi. More opinion than fact, but keep an eye out for this badonkadonk next time he’s up to bat as Lee led the Cubs in homeruns with 35 last season.
• Second Base – Mike Fontenot: good things come in small packages (that’s what she said?). At 5”8, the lefty hitter brings a little diversity to a predominantly right-handed batting order.
• Third Base – Aramis Ramirez: much to the chagrin of Cubs fans, Ramirez durability has been called into question with multiple injuries over the past few seasons. He led the team in batting average in 2009, so look to him to rack up some serious offense for the Cubbies.
• Shortstop – Ryan Theriot: although his nickname is “The Riot”, be sure you know how to actually say his last name. My phonetic spelling is “Tear-E-O,” but feel free to learn it whatever way you see fit.
• Left Field – Alfonso Soriano – Referred to by bitter fans as “overpaid” and “overrated,” this hops-when-he-catches outfielder was quoted as saying that he believes in this year’s team. Hopefully his performance will have fans believing as well.
• Center Field – Marlon Byrd: stepping out in a Cubs uniform for the first time this spring, Byrd was acquired on a three-year contract from the Texas Rangers.
• Right Field – Kosuke Fukudome: His arrival from Japan was met with much fanfare in 2008 and has prompted local vendors everywhere to carry Fukudome-inspired apparel and souvenirs.

Now that you’re armed with a general command of the Cubs starting line-up, there are a few things you should abide by when frequenting the hollowed ground that is Wrigley Field. Use my Dos and Don’ts to successfully navigate the stadium, avoid social suicide, and exponentially increase the satisfaction of your overall Chicago Cubs experience. Check the list to make sure your game-day etiquette is up to par.

DO sing “Go Cubs Go” when the Cubs win. All wins should be celebrated by breaking into an uplifting song.

DON’T order ketchup on your Chicago-style hot dog. This ain’t your momma’s backyard BBQ, so show a little respect.

DO know your stuff (ahem, see above). Be able to name at least three Cubs players (and their positions), who the Cubs are playing that day, and what division the Cubs are in. There are less expensive ways to get drunk than to shell out money for a Cubs ticket; make sure you’re somewhat vested in the game.

DON’T forget to tip the beer vendors. A little green will keep your guy coming back, ensuring that you are never overwhelmed by debilitating thirst.

DO belt out the 7^th Inning Stretch with ruthless abandon. While all baseball parks partake in this time-honored tradition, no one does it quite like the Chicago Cubs.

DON’T wear pink Cubs apparel unless it’s Mother’s Day or for Breast Cancer Awareness. Last I saw, no Major League Baseball team took the field in pink uniforms (besides said exceptions). You think you’re being cute, but you’re really just annoying everyone around you. Especially me.

DO tastefully and respectively heckle the opposing team. A little playful banter should be expected. After all, we don’t want visiting teams to think Wrigley is the home of warm fuzzies and positive affirmations.

DON’T obstruct a player’s ability to make a play on the ball. Ever heard of Steve Bartman? While I’m sure he’d love for someone else to take his place as ‘Most Hated Person in Chicago’, a foul ball isn’t worth becoming a social pariah.

DO take off work in the middle of the week to attend a Cubs day game. Even though it’s a legit vacation day, you’ll still feel a little Ferris Bueller-esque as you drink your Old Style while everyone else slaves away at their 9-5.

DON’T be ‘that person’ with a seat in the middle of the row that constantly gets up to go to the bathroom, get food, grab a beer, etc. Unless you like hearing the exasperated sighs of the people you’re climbing over, try and consolidate trips and wait as long as possible to break the seal.

DO be sure to get one last beer/Mai Tai/margarita before the 7^th inning ends. Alcohol sales stop after the 7^th inning, which leaves you high and dry in the 8^th and 9^th.  And just imagine the horror if the game goes into extra innings.

DON’T leave in extra innings. You know how Cubs fans have a reputation for knowing nothing about baseball and not caring about the outcome of the game? Yeah, don’t add more fuel to the fire. Besides, if the game goes to 14 innings, you get another 7^th inning stretch.

DO play the dollar cup/Moundball game http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moundball. It keeps the group interested in the game and gives you a shot at additional beer money. It’s a win-win.

DON’T ever give up hope. Sure the Cubs last won the World Series in 1908, but that just means they’re due. Stay strong. And remember, every year can be the Cubs’ year.

It may seem like a lot to take in, but just as a sommelier can appreciate the subtleties in a glass of wine that an unrefined palate cannot, you can now savor and enjoy the Chicago Cubs 2010 season with a new level of sophistication. So sit back, grab a hot dog and an over-priced beer, and let the Cubbies take you away.

Follow me on Twitter @lynnakarlstrom

Looking to get your eating habits back on track? Eat Like the Pros (ELTP) is an organic Chicago meal delivery service dedicated to meeting the needs of anyone looking to improve their health and wellness through good nutrition. Since working with Eat Like the Pros for the past 4 months,I realize that what is great about this company is its flexibility, convenience, fresh menu items, and its proven success with both athletes and non-athletes alike!

Our clients include professional athletes, busy Chicago/suburbs executives, families, and wellness-oriented people that strive to achieve optimal health. Owner Julie Burns’ past experience working with professional athletes including the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Bears players has culminated in the development of a meal delivery service designed to meet the needs of active people by providing portion controlled real food from clean sources in a convenient, customized and personalized way. The “build your own” meals are flexible to meet your needs. Want only dinners? No problem! Want to add on breakfasts the next week? Great! They even offer customized meal plans to more effectively meet your health goals.

Whether you’d like to lose weight, gain muscle, improve health, or maintain body composition, Eat Like the Pros has it covered at breakfast, lunch and dinner. They use organic and locally grown ingredients whenever possible. They only use 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef and dairy and other pasture foraged meats and eggs to truly provide premium fuel as nature intended. For more information, visit Eat Like the Pros or email customerservice@eatlikethepros.com.

With spring right around the corner (allegedly), the sounds of birds chirping outside our windows is sure to soon greet us. And this spring, they’ll have company. Chicago’s diverse independent music scene has a new voice joining the chorus; only that voice is more CHIRP, less tweet.

Launched in January, CHIRP Radio is Chicago’s only indie online radio station. With the support of the Chicago Independent Radio Project (CHIRP) and the efforts of over 100 local volunteers, the non-commercial station is two and a half years in the making. Founder Shawn Campbell paints a vivid picture of just how much of a group effort that process has been.

“We literally built the station ourselves — we framed out walls, hung drywall, painted, laid carpet, built furniture, installed equipment. People have poured their hearts into this thing — and the community has responded in kind.”

When it came time to flip the switch, that community support wasn’t forgotten. Campbell inaugurated the station with a song she kept secret until the moment it played. Fittingly, she chose Alex Chilton’s acoustic demo of the Big Star song “Thank You Friends.”

As CHIRP continues to push for a change in legislation that would enable them to license and move the station to FM radio, you can’t deny they’ve come a long way with the support of volunteers, donations, and a studio made with some tender loving care. Campbell confesses that even now, “When we get together, over the course of the evening, someone will say, still with some amazement, ‘Hey, we started a RADIO STATION!’”

With music now steaming live from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. seven days a week, you’ll hear a range of artists depending upon the DJ’s varied interests (DJ bios on the site help). Regardless of the artists played from one set to the next, one common thread binds each together.

The music heard on CHIRP Radio is of a nature otherwise overlooked by larger stations. In fact, it’s the music you WON’T hear them playing. No Rihanna, no former American Idol contestants, and no Black Eyed Peas here! CHIRP Radio’s recent playlists have included Charlotte Gainsbourg, Interpol, The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Yellow Swans, even Edith Piaf.

Although Campbell herself is coy in designating any particular artist or song as representative of the station- “our whole goal is to be pretty unpredictable, to consistently surprise people!”- she will, however, describe the station itself as “adventurous, passionate, welcoming.”

With that welcome extended, CHIRP is gearing up and taking donations for their annual Record Fair & Other Delights on April 10 & 11 at Plumbers Hall. They also continue to regularly host CHIRP night at the Whistler the third Monday of every month (up next, Paper Mice and Runnies on March 15). And be sure to keep an eye out for their record sale and table at Pitchfork this July!

But for now, log on, listen in, and become a part of Chicago’s vibrant independent music community at http://chirpradio.org/ (email or IM your requests!) or follow CHIRP Radio on twitter @CHIRPRadio.

Maybe you haven’t heard, but St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago is kind of a big deal. There are many ways to celebrate, and thankfully, you don’t have to be Irish to partake. Whether you’re into more of a traditional celebration or just want an excuse to start drinking before noon, Chicago has got you covered. Here’s your guide to unleash your inner leprechaun:

The Chicago River Dyeing. Saturday, March 13th at 10:45am

Every city has green beer, but only Chicago has a green river. Resulting in an accident over 40 years ago where a chemical reaction caused the river to turn it’s now trademark kelly green, Chicago has been keeping up this festive tradition ever since. . Line up early to get your spot along the Columbus Avenue and Michigan Avenue bridges for the best view. And speaking from experience, dress warmly and be patient. The dye does take awhile to flow completely downstream, so depending on where you are, you could be waiting quite some time for the river to completely transform into all of its shamrock splendor.

Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Saturday, March 13th at 12pm

Everyone loves a parade. And if Irish dancers and bagpipes are your thing, then be sure to stop by the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade kicks off at Balbo and Columbus and ends in front of Buckingham Fountain. This event is a magnet for families, so if you’re looking for a rowdy party akin to the former Southside Irish Parade, look elsewhere. Most of your time will be spent dodging strollers and trying not to step on the little ones running underfoot.

Traditional Irish Bars, Pubs, & Restaurants. Saturday, March 13th

The novelty of green beer never gets old, which is why you’ll see Chicagoans flocking to every restaurant and bar decked out in varying hues of green. With most people slaving away 9-5 on the actual St. Patrick’s Day, most bars and restaurants throw their parties the Saturday before. So, with a Sunday ahead of us to recover, we all get to pretend we’re Irish and celebrate our newfound heritage by gulping pints of Guinness, tossing back shots of Jameson, and chowing down on bangers and mash. So skip out on your typical weekend haunts and opt for a more authentic establishment to enhance your St. Patrick’s Day experience.

• Mystic Celt, 3443 N. Southport Avenue: Irish food, green beer, bag-pipers, and Irish dancers transform this spot into a mini-Dublin. Doors open at 9am, but plan on getting there at least a half-hour early as there will be a line forming way before that. Great bar, but from experience, order your drinks two-at-a-time or else you might be left with green with green beer envy.
• McFadden’s, 1206 N. State Parkway: Make sure you get to bed early. This Gold Coast spot opens its doors at 7am for the festivities and will keep you busy all day long with Irish Car Bomb contests, giveaways, and various forms of Irish entertainment.
• Irish Oak, 3511 N. Clark Street: This Wrigleyville pub boasts traditional Irish food on their menu year-round, so you can only imagine that they give St. Patrick’s Day the red carpet treatment.
• The Kerryman, 661 N. Clark Street: Always packed on the weekends, so St. Patrick’s Day will be no exception as this bar promises a “modern Irish” experience to patrons.
• Irish Eyes, 2519 N. Lincoln Avenue: Many an Irish eye will be smiling as they make St. Patrick’s Day mischief in this Lakeview dive-bar. Have a drink and dance a little Irish jig to their live music.
• Hidden Shamrock, 2723 N. Halsted Street: Their website hails them as “the oldest Irish Pub in Lincoln Park,” and with a name like that, you better believe this place will (sham)rocking on the 13th.
• Paddy Long’s, 1028 N. Diversey Parkway: Those of you donning “Who’s Your Paddy” shirts will fit nicely at this bar that prides themselves on serving up a little bit of Ireland all year-round.
• Johnny O’Hagans Restaurant & Irish Pub, 3374 N. Clark Street: If you want your Guinness served by real Irish bartenders, here’s the place to have a pint and some shepherd’s pie.

Strange Cargo, http://www.strangecargo.com

No, you can’t come here to quench your thirst, but you should swing by prior to the St. Patrick’s Day festivities to make sure you’re properly outfitted for the big day. Strange Cargo allows you to customize your St. Patrick’s Day look by choosing one of their Irish-themed prints to be screened onto a t-shirt style of your choosing. Best of all? You can order online and pick it up later in the store – just beware of their funky hours.

Photo Credit: Lynn Karlstrom

Flexible + Vegetarian = Flexitarian. This term, coined by Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian and author of The Flexitarian Diet, was the recurring theme of her cooking class at Merchandise Mart’s The Chopping Block. As my fellow classmates and I gathered into the instructional kitchen, our tastebuds waited anxiously for the 5-course meal to come. Dawn not only served up tasty dishes, but shared her nutrition knowledge, and culinary how-to’s, along with a side of laughs! “Hey, if sprinkling a little sugar on your fruit or a little salt on your vegetables means that you’ll eat them, go for it!” she jokes.

Dawn’s flexitarian approach to healthy eating is so down-to-Earth—literally! It is pro-plants, not anti-meat, which is great for anyone that still wants to enjoy grass-fed beef and pasture-raised poultry like me! Being pro-plants is something we all need to be though, and if you never thought you would CRAVE vegetarian dishes, think again. Take beans, for example. If you add a citrus flavor in the mix, blah becomes BAM! And it’s not just with beans. I learned some tricks about mixing the right type of flavors with the right type of foods—this is extremely useful for when I have only a few food items left in my fridge and pantry to work with. My favorite recipe of the night was the simple and refreshing Zucchini Carpaccio with Mint & Pinenuts. The highly-touted mandolin (a kitchen tool used for quick and precise slicing and cutting juliennes) is the MVP for this recipe, convincing me that I must invest in other culinary tools beyond the apple slicer if I really want people to take my cooking seriously! Other delish recipes included: Three-Ingredient Honey Apple Tart, Slow Roasted Tomatoes with Giant Beans and Olives, and Portobello Parmesan. Mmmmm.

When I asked Dawn what her favorite part about teaching this class is, she replied, “Showing people how to use super nourishing ingredients to create delicious food fast is my passion and in class I get to experience people trying and enjoying my food which is beyond rewarding.”

Dawn teaches at The Chopping Block each month at both the Merchandise Mart and Lincoln Square Mall locations. To learn more about her class, view her recipes, or purchase her book, The Flexitarian Diet, visit: dawnjacksonblatner.com.