HP_062217

4 | June 22, 2017 | The highland park landmark news
hplandmark.com
French Market debuts in Highland Park
Erin Yarnall
Freelance Reporter
Not even the rain could
keep marketgoers away
from the opening of Highland
Park’s French Market.
The market, which
opened Saturday, June 17,
features a variety of vendors
selling a wide range
of small batch products,
from Tupperware to jewelry,
and is hosted in the
North St. Johns parking
lot.
“I came here because
I was hungry,” Deerfield
resident Howard Lesh
said.
Lesh had bought a loaf
of bread from Hahn’s Bakery’s
booth, and was planning
on purchasing fresh
fruits and vegetables from
another vendor.
A majority of the booths
at the market were selling
various fruits, vegetables
and other edible items.
One of the more unique
booths at the event was
The StoryBus, which was
invited to be a part of the
market by the Highland
Park Public Library. The
bus is a full-sized school
bus decorated with a storybook
theme. The current
theme of the bus was
“Goldilocks and the Three
Bears.”
When children walked
on to the bus, StoryBus
driver and storyteller Nancy
Setnan would recite the
story of Goldilocks, and
act it out with puppets and
other props.
“It’s been great here so
LOVELY TOWNHOUSE WITH POND VIEW
far,” Setnan said. “The
parents love it, the kids
have a ball. In two hours,
I’ve had about 55 kids
come through.”
One of the other main
attractions of the market
were the numerous food
booths, including Hahn’s
bakery which sold bread,
cookies and pastries, and
Bettina’s Artisan Tea,
which handed out free
samples of tea and additionally
sold its products
by the glass.
“We walked up here,
and we thought we would
check out the first French
Market,” Milwaukee resident
Sarah Deneve said.
Deneve was visiting her
mom in Highland Park, and
wanted to check out the
market.
FOR SALE BY
OWNER-
Highland Park Rare End Unit
Available August 10
2 bedroom / 2.5 bath
Patio / Attached Garage
2 bedroom, 2 full bath, and one
1/2 bath on first floor. New HW floors,
quality window coverings, updated
kitchen. Lovely view onto pond. HOA
$308/mo. 2 fireplaces (one in master
bedroom). Garage with direct access
to unit. Great opportunity, close to
downtown Highland Park, owneroccupied.
Nestled off Hwy 41, very
peaceful.
Asking $252,000
SHOWN BY APPOINTMENT,
please call 224-316-0066
or email cabuerger@yahoo.com
www.zillow.com/homedetails/1119-Deerfield-Pl-Highland-Park-IL-60035/4908633_zpid/
Deneve and her family
stopped at numerous
booths to sample the food
and products available.
“We ate our way through
the market,” Deneve said.
In addition to all the
food, small batch artisans
sold their products as well,
including Mary Patterson,
the owner of Ayurveda
Alchemists, which sells
organic, homemade products
including anti-anxiety
calming spray and wool
dryer balls to replace dryer
sheets.
“I started making all
my own stuff for my family,
but then people really
liked it and started asking
me for it,” Mary Patterson,
the owner of Ayurveda Alchemists
said. “I put it on
Etsy, and before I knew it
stores started calling me
and asking if I would sell
wholesale.”
“I make way too many
products, but it is such a
passion for me,” Patterson
said.
Patterson said she participates
in a lot of markets
A variety of onions available from a local farmer.
around the North Shore,
because she feels that it is
a welcoming area for vendors
like her.
“The people have been
very welcoming, and really
interested in learning
more,” Patterson said.
“Highland Park is very
open to natural living, so
my products are well-received
here. I think this is
a great community, and I
want this market to get up
and grow because this is a
community that supports
local businesses.”
The French Market is
one of two new markets
to open in Highland Park
this year, as a Food Truck
Market opened on June
1, and will run through
Sept. 14. The two markets
join the Ravinia Farmers
Market to make the city
flourishing with a variety
of markets throughout the
summer.
The market is open from
9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and
will run most Saturdays
through Oct. 14.
Berries for sale Saturday, June 17, at the Highland Park French Market in downtown
Highland Park. Photos by Erin Yarnall/22nd Century Media