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30 | September 21, 2017 | The frankfort station life & arts frankfortstation.com Frankfort resident organizes vendor fair at Mokena bar and grill Vendor fair brings local entrepreneurs to popular eatery Amanda Stoll, Assistant Editor Shopping is associated with malls, craft fairs, department stores and trendy boutiques. It’s also now come to Jenny’s Southside Tap in Mokena. A bar and grill isn’t the usual place to find entrepreneurs selling their wares, but Megan Riofski decided to give it a try. It was so successful when she organized an event back in June that she decided to give it another go. “Most of these girls are local, and it gives them a chance to meet other people in the community,” Riofski said, “because nine times out of ten you can never know your neighbor.” She started organizing the events partly out of frustration with other similar events where she couldn’t get a booth as a newcomer. Riofski said many other locations that host vendor events give priority to sellers who have been there before, leaving very few spaces available for people looking for a new venue. Riofski started her own business last year, Meg’s Creations, designing and making her own jewelry. She said getting started can be a drain on both time and money but events like hers help get the word out and help with networking. “It’s rough,” she said. “It’s hard to start but you have to go out there, and get it done. After having a fundraiser for her daughter’s softball team at Jenny’s Southside Tap, Riofski said the location came to mind right away when she was thinking Ladies Night Out at Jenny’s Southside Tap in Mokena featured 18 vendors selling clothing, jewelry, home goods and services. The event was organized by Frankfort resident Megan Riofski, who designs her own jewelry and is the owner of Meg’s Jewelry. Eighteen different vendors and entrepreneurs set up shop at Jenny’s Southside Tap for Ladies Night Out on Wednesday, Sept. 13. about hosting her own event. “I knew that they had the space for the amount of people to make it worthwhile,” Riofski said. There were 19 vendors signed up for the event on Sept. 13 — including Tresses Salon, LuLaRoe, Lip Sense, Scentsy and Pampered Chef — which Riofski said is about as many as she had last time. She said it was encouraging because “everybody seemed to have a good time and come back.” “It’s very interesting. “I love meeting any ladies who come up to the table,” said Pat Bauman, a sales representative for Pampered Chef. “The last two ladies who came up to the table, they’ve been using Pampered Chef for many years so that’s kind of fun.” Bauman said the event was also an opportunity for her to give back, as Pampered Chef was donating 30 percent of sales to Hurricane Harvey and Irma relief efforts and Bauman herself donated 10 percent of her own commissions from the evening as well. Lori Cagney, a sales representative for Scentsy, said the event provided an interesting change of environment for the businesses and a relaxed, “no pressure” atmosphere for shoppers who attended. Sue Wilkins (right) and her mother, Ann Brink, browse the clothing selection at the LuLaRoe booth during Ladies Night Out on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at Jenny’s Southside Tap in Mokena. Photos by Amanda Stoll/22nd Century Media Pat Bauman (left) talks with Betsy Travaglini (right) of Manteno about Pampered Chef products while Betty Jaeger (center), a Tinley Park resident, browses the items available. “This is wonderful,” Cagney said. “I love it. [It is my] first time being here, and I wasn’t expecting such a big place. And, I love how everyone is friendly to each other and we all network with each other, and that’s what it’s all about. It’s spreading our word. Getting to know everyone. It’s a chance for people that have never been in here before or if they’re just stopping in [to see what’s happening].” Cagney, who works fulltime as a pharmacy technician, said she’s able to sell Scentsy as a side-job while still spending time with her children and husband. This event won’t be the last of it’s kind if Riofski has her way. She said in the future she wants to continue hosting similar events at Jenny’s, including a pre- Christmas shopping event and an event to support St. Baldrick’s in the spring.
frankfortstation.com dining out the frankfort station | September 21, 2017 | 31 The Dish Outpost unveils new, diverse burger menu Max Lapthorne Contributing Editor Outpost Bar and Grill owner Patty Gerny planned on taking a backseat to her granddaughter when it came to the food at her bar/restaurant. But that is not quite how things worked out. Patty’s granddaughter Morgan studied culinary arts in college, and the 28-yearold had big plans for the menu at Outpost. “She was revamping everything, restarting everything; she said, ‘Grandma you don’t have to worry about a thing; I’m going to handle this,’” Patty said. But Morgan never got the chance to take the reins at Outpost, as she died unexpectedly during a trip to Colorado with friends last August. Outpost Bar and Grill 14929 Archer Ave. in Lockport Hours • 11 a.m.–1 a.m. Sunday–Thursday • 11 a.m.–2 a.m. Friday–Saturday • Kitchen open 2-8 p.m. everyday For more information ... Phone: (815) 836-8893 “You don’t ever expect to get a phone call like that,” Patty said. “It was just terrible. After that happened, we almost shut down. We closed for a long time.” Outpost reopened its doors near the start of 2017 and decided to revamp the menu approximately two months The Buffalo burger ($9) combines a Buffalo breaded chicken breast with a half-pound burger and comes complete with blue cheese crumbles on top. ago — just how Morgan had planned. And Morgan’s brother Brandon, who Morgan trained in the kitchen, will be the one executing the new menu, as he is the chef at Outpost. “She always said, ‘You’ve got to make it smaller [and], whatever you do, you’ve got to do it good,’” Patty said. “Everybody has always loved our burgers, so that’s what we started with.” The BBQ cheddar burger ($9) comes topped with an onion ring, cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce. photos by max Lapthorne/22nd Century Media The new burger menu is not set in stone, but as of now it contains 11 different offerings, all of which start with Outpost’s signature halfpound burger patty and are served with french fries or coleslaw and a dill pickle. From there, the burger can go a number of different ways. Those looking for a burger with a kick can opt Please see dining out, 33 40 th Montessori School of Lemont 815.834.0607 www.lemontmontessori.com 16427 W. 135th Street Spanish • Mandarin • Computers • Art Before and After School Specials; 7:30am - 6:00pm Chess Club • Drama • Crafts • Art • Yoga • Engineering • Dance Schedule Your Visit Today
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