Elgin Public Museum and "De La Cocina al Ojo" Exhibit

Mandoline Vista Catering was honored to be selected to provide some authentic Mexican appetizers for an art exhibit at the Elgin Public Museum. It's a wonderful exhibit in the EPM located in scenic Lords Park in Elgin, Illinois.

We were able to provide roasted vegetables, salsa verde, salsa rojo, and fresh guacamole. Our header page is a view of our display.

Here is a link regarding the story that ran in the Elgin Courier News. A log-in is required but can be done in minutes via your email or various social media passwords.

Courier News Story "Elgin Museum Go-ers Can Get Eyeful of Food Photos"

It's easy to get additional information on booking a party with us! Just send us an email at mandolinevista@gmail.com or give us a call at 847.767.4459. We can cater your need with just a simple fruit platter or a full plated dinner.

Lords Park Museum "Reflections of Mexico Art Exhibit"

On April 9th 2011 we had the honor of being asked to participate in the launching of "Landscapes of Mexico". "Landscapes of Mexico" is a photo exhibit in the Lords Park Public Museum to showcase Mexico's Biodiversity.  The exhibit runs until May 29th, 2011. Please make time to visit the exhibit. The Lords Park Museum is conveniently open on the weekends from 12-4 Saturdays and Sundays.


There were also distinguished guests there including; Ed Schock Mayor of Elgin, Federal Judge Manuel Barbosa, President of LULAC Helen Lopez Strom, Manuel Rodriguez-Arriaga the Consul General of Mexico, and local Historian E.C. "Mike" Alft. Other notable guests included Elgin Chief of Police Jeff Swoboda, Elgin Commnunity College Trustee John Dalton, and Elgin Councilwoman elect, Anna Moeller. In addition, there was a crowd of over 100 people to enjoy the festivites. The Folklorico Ballet was fantastico. A very special thank you goes out to Peggie Stromberg and the staff at Lords Park Museum for having us. Great hosts!


We were flattered to able to supply the Hor d'oeurves for the event. Here are a few of the photos from the event. Most of these feature the idea of different props in our display to reflect the theme of the event. There are various native to Mexico bowls used for the food, Mexican books, coffee cups, a Cafe Tacvba CD, and various Elgin History items from our own collection.

Chips and roasted tomato salsa

Since this was an Elgin event, we often use appropriate props like a menu from the Elgin National Watch Factory "National House" from Thanksgiving 1921

Full view of the display. Grilled Shrimp Cocktail, Fresh Fruit
and Sliced Cheese, Medley of Grilled Vegetables

Black and white view of the display, just for a different look

A nicely skirted table (Thank you Peggie Stomberg and EPM)
with a full view of two of the art pieces,
"Reflections of Mexico"

Once again, the use of props appropriate for the event, Spanish - English books,
Mexican rock band Cafe Tacuba CD's, Elgin History Books

Los Chivas!  Viva!

Just another look at the utilization of props in our Catering displays.

Saving the Lords Park Zoo

I've posted here in these parts various things about Lords Park. Being that we live across from Lords Park, it holds a very special place in my heart. I even have a folder specifically for Lords Park in the photo link in this blog. Word has recently leaked through various voices in the press that they ("They" being the City of Elgin) are going to remove the animals from Lords Park in a cost cutting measure in these troubled economic times. Maybe the times are not as troubled as they once were but I just like writing, "troubled economic times". Here is a recent story from August 16th from the Elgin Courier News. Elgin-Bye-bye-bison

There are bison, elk, and deer in the park, not to mention several, seemingly thousand, Canadian geese and ducks. There had been a farm petting zoo during the summer months but that was removed this past summer in a Elgin cost cutting measure. The bison have been in Lords Park since the early 1900's. Generations of families have come to Lords Park to see these animals. When I tell people I live near Lords Park, ultimately, the first thing they ask me is if the buffalo are still there. I always proudly tell them they are.

Now, they are in serious jeopardy of being moved elsewhere. It's a crime but there is hope. The "Friends of Lords Park Zoo" have a website with info regarding this. Most importantly is a petition to sign. If you are reading this, please take a moment to sign the petition.

http://www.petitiononline.com/LPZBISON/petition.html

Sunday Morning Serenity

This morning I was enjoying my Sunday morning on my front porch.  I had my coffee, the sun was shining into my face and into the spindles of our porch.  It was a great morning and it's mornings like this that I think that I really have a good life.  When I have a view like this of Lords Park it really makes me think why would I want to be anywhere else.  As this blog subtitle suggests, I don't have to chase the dangling carrot anymore.  I'm home and I'm home in more ways than I can articulate.

I was up before the family and I was spinnin' Centro-matic's "Dual Hawks" as these pictures were taken.  I got some speakers wired for out on the porch.  It's great to listen to music or even the ballgame on.

If the Walls Could Sing

The house we live in dates from 1885.  The other day I was listening to Blind_Willie_McTell, an old blues singer who's music dates from the late 1920's.  That sentence is vague enough I'm totally understating his influence.  His death in 1959 went largely unnoticed until his music was reissued and Bob Dylan immortalized him in a song from The_Bootleg_Series_Volumes_1-3 in 1991.  Listening to McTell in my old house just got me thinking that perhaps someone else had listened to McTell in this same house, in the same room, looking out to Lords Park,  on 78 speed records, and on a record player not to different from the one I own.   Now, if I only had a couple original McTell 78's instead of the dime-a-dozen waltzes and foxtrots that I picked up at thrift stores and flea markets that were the pop songs of that era.

It's nice to imagine someone listening to McTell, the Carter Family, or some old Robert Johnson records in our old house but what people were probably listening to was the pop songs of the day, waltzes and foxtrots.

Shovel off!

So we had a big snow storm this morning.  The wet and heavy variety that makes your shovel feel like it was loaded with bricks.  I'm out there huffin' and puffin' and I see my neighbor out with a quadrunner with a shovel on the front.

I ask him to see if he could drop his plow to, you know, help a guy out.  He says, "No problem" and then the next thing I know the guy has his pants down to his ankles!

I said, "Drop plow, drop plow, not drop trow!"

He says as he quickly lifts his drawers, "Oh-oh-oh, plow, plow.  Some weather we're havin', huh?"

I soon went back to my shovel.