LOCAL FOOD EVENTS l If you love locally produced food, then the Illinois Product Expo in Springfield is a chance to meet great producers...

WOMEN FOOD ENTREPRENEURS l March is Women's History Month and Mariano's is marking the occasion with events featuring women-owned businesses

FOOD ENTREPRENEURS l Chicago's twice-a-year One of a Kind Market has a wide variety of handmade items. I went for the food, & found friends.

CRAFT SPIRITS l The owners of Journeyman Distillery are old friends, so I accepted an invite for a trip to visit their new Indiana complex..

BEVERAGES l BottlesUp! is a lovely little beverage shop in Chicago. Its 5th birthday put its owner in a celebratory and reflective mood...