Learn Which Sweet Treats Grow on Trees at Garfield Park Conservatory's 1st Annual Sweet Saturdays
Release Date: 12/31/08
A new event is budding at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., which is sure to please all candy enthusiasts. The 1st Annual Sweet Saturdays will take place during three consecutive Saturdays in February (Feb. 7, 14, and 21) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Suggested donation is $2.
"The Chicago Park District is excited to work closely with the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance to produce a brand new event that celebrates a variety of plants living here at the Conservatory,” said Mary Eysenbach, Director of Conservatories. “The 1st Annual Sweet Saturdays evolved from Chocolate Fest as a way to celebrate not only our chocolate trees, but the many plants that help create the different varieties of candy we all love.”
The new event focuses on plants that provide the key ingredients to our favorite sweet treats. The Garfield Park Conservatory, a veritable plant-based candy show, is home to many living sweets such as bananas, vanilla beans, cinnamon bark, and chocolate trees. Visitors of all ages can sample the facts, the flavors and the fun of some of the most tantalizing tropical treats. Experience any or all of the following sweet activities at each Sweet Saturday:
* Tropical Treat Stations: Throughout the Conservatory visitors will learn a fact and sample a flavor.
* Hands-on Activity Stations: Visitors of all ages can participate in designing a scratch and sniff necklace with cinnamon and sandpaper, designing a “leaf rubbing” Valentine’s Day Card, making a Chocolate Sachet with the sweet-smelling shells of cocoa beans, and other drop-in stations, such as Sweet Reads & Candy College.
* Samples Sweets: Visitors can sample sweet offerings provided by various product partners hosted in the Sugar from the Sun exhibit. The following companies will be offering samples during the corresponding dates:
- February 7 - Metropolis Coffee
- February 14 - Divine Chocolate (fair trade chocolate company)
- February 21 -Honey produced from the Garfield Park Conservatory’s very own beehives (presented by G.P.C.A.’s Volunteer Beekeepers)
* Tropical Café: Attendees can buy sandwiches, souvenir treats, and listen to the sweet sounds of tropical tunes while relaxing.
* “Member’s Only” Chocolate Lounge: Members of the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance can enjoy special perks and activities. The lounge will be open on Feb. 7 and 14 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Feb. 21 from 2 - 4 p.m. and includes the following sweet activities: - Discover your inner chocolate spirit by venturing on a self-guided chocolate “taste test” quest. - Pot up a special chocolate mint plant to take a little bit of the Sweet Saturday event home with you. - Enter your name into a drawing to win your very own fresh chocolate pod to take home and show off to your friends. - Free coat check in the Chocolate Lounge available to members.Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate while relaxing in our “members only” seating area.
If you or someone you know is not already a member, memberships can be purchased on the day of each Sweet Saturday event or online at: www.garfieldconservatory.org/join_online.htm.
Interested in volunteering at our Fact & Flavor Stations during these fun-filled Sweet Saturdays in February? Contact Melanie Harding at: mharding@garfieldconservatory.org.
- Contact Phone: 312 742 7529