One lone dollar

and two South Loop places with many things to buy

08/21/2010 10:55 PM

By Bonnie McGrath

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My prized Roma tomato (photo by Bonnie McGrath)



Dearborn Park Garage Sale (photo by Bonnie McGrath)

I left the house today with only one dollar in my purse (one of the things I had to do was get to the ATM) and then stumbled frustratingly into two places where I needed some cash: the Dearborn Park annual garage sale and the Printers Row farmers market.

What could I get at the garage sale for a dollar that I could really use/really need? It was packed with people. And with every manner of old household goods dragged over to the park--from cheerleader pom poms to a water color. One friend I ran into said she found a sweater set for fifty cents. Something I could have gotten! I thought. But I left empty-handed.

The farmers market in the new Printers Row park looked really wonderful; it’s amazing how a clean, new setting really sets off the fruits and vegetables, making the scene look like an upscale test kitchen.

One South Loop friend had been telling me not enough people in the neighborhood know it’s there and that there are great values, wonderful freebies, white cheddar cheese scones for sale made by catering students and lots of other goodies. Not to mention fresh produce.

There was a sign that said this would be the last week for Heirlooms--but they were four dollars a pound (about one tomato) so getting one was out of the question. The girl from her family farm said she thought I might be able to get two Roma tomatoes for a dollar but when she put two on the scale they weighed in at $1.75.

So she told me to pick one Roma of my choice--which I did. Then she told me to place it on the scale and she said, “Oh, point 9.” I asked her what that translated to--and she said, “about a buck.” So I bought it.


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