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Dispatches from #OccupySF [Updated 12/4/11]
Davi Barker will be sharing his thoughts and experiences from #OccupySF. We invite readers to share their own experiences from similar #Occupy movements across the country.
It's time to acknowledge that the Occupy movement began as an anarchist movement. Adbusters, the magazine that started the ball rolling, describes itself as "anti-consumerist," but it's arguably anarchist, or at least heavily influenced by anarchists.
The hand signals now commonplace at Occupy originated with the Direct Action Network, a confederation of anarchist groups formed to coordinate WTO protests in 1999. And the whole concept of the consensus process used at the general assemblies comes straight out of anarchist organizing manuals.
Mainstream commentators are baffled, because they are trying to define how this horizontal, leaderless movement intends to influence top-down, authoritarian politics. They don't realize that the movement was designed from its outset to replace mainstream politics with a horizontal, leaderless society — building a new society in the shell of the old, as the saying goes.
There are no demands, because the movement is the demand.
Most of the occupiers probably don't even know this, but it was those familiar with anarchist thought who picked up on these themes and became the early adopters of the movement. Anarchists still represent a minority, but they hold many key organizing positions.
Admittedly, most of them are social anarchists, not market anarchists; but I'm still hoping that the movement expands into a full-blown autonomous anarchocommunist experiment, because nothing spoils someone on communism quite like actually trying it. (Or I could be proven wrong. Either outcome would be excellent.)
I do have one piece of advice. It strikes me as strange that the "social-justice" crowd focuses on legislativeprocesses like democracy, when justice comes from ajudicial process. The movement needs to develop a judicial branch for dispute resolution. I suggest that the Occupy movement look to the existing anarchist judicial method in Somalia, which anthropologist Michael van Notten calls "kritarchy." It could easily be adopted with or without approval from the general assemblies.
Kritarchy is a judicial process in which justice ("krito" in Greek), rather than written law, is the ruling principle. A kritarchy does not form a court of law. It forms a court of justice, which is completely compatible with the horizontal, leaderless nature of the Occupy movement.
There are two types of justice, commonly symbolized as the sword and scales. The sword connotes punitive justice, which assigns punishment for breaking written laws. The scales connote restorative justice, which holds that a person is liable for the damages they cause another person. Kritarchy is only concerned with restorative justice, not punitive justice.
Until someone claims to have suffered an injustice, all behavior is permissible. Disputes are mediated by judges, but it's important to understand that judges do not enjoy any special status. They serve only at the request of the disputants. Anyone in the community may serve as a judge, or request a judiciary be formed, so a court of justice is truly a people's court.
A simple kritarchy involves just three people: two disputants and any third person they approach to help them resolve the injustice. The judge investigates the conflict and attempts to discover the justice between them — to balance the scales. This could be as simple as mediation or as complex as weighing evidence and witness testimony.
The judge decides a case based on the normative customs of the community and the reason and conscience of the disputants. This judicial model is elegantly suited for the Occupy movement, because it's not based on written law, and it can accommodate a wide diversity of philosophies.
The seeds of a simple kritarchy are already developing in the movement. Normative customs emerge out of people's natural respectful conduct without any written law or central coercive authority; and there are already individuals in the movement developing a reputation for diffusing conflicts. They are commonly being called "peacekeepers."
Peacekeepers are already engaged in the first phase of the judicial process in a kritarchy, which van Notten calls "segmental opposition." Whenever there is a physical altercation between two individuals, those around them move in to establish a stalemate so that the dispute must be settled with words instead of fists. All that would need to change to make this a simple kritarchy is to transition from having proactive peacekeepers who break up fights to having proactive disputants who seek out peacekeepers to act as judges.
A recent conflict that occurred at OccupySF (San Francisco) could easily have been resolved by a simple kritarchy. Someone left his guitar in the common area while he went to the restroom. While he was gone, another Occupant used it without permission and accidentally broke one of the tuning pegs. This erupted into shouting. Segmental opposition prevented a physical fight, but justice was never satisfied.
A court of justice might have decided that the guitar player was liable to replace the broken part, or that the guitar owner was negligent in leaving the guitar in the common area. But either way, the discussion would happen in public, which facilitates the development of normative customs.
Hopefully the disputants honor the decision of the court, but if they refuse, they do so with their own names and reputations on the line.
Enforcement of a verdict requires a more complex level of kritarchy, and it would likely require the participation of the general assemblies. Somali society is organized into extended clans, called xolos, each composed of many subclans, called jilibs. Somali clans are unified by family ties, but they could be replaced by self-selecting groups based on common philosophies or goals. The regional occupations, for instance, could replace extended clans: Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Denver, Occupy Phoenix, and so on. And the autonomous groups within each occupation could replace subclans.
Clans serve two basic functions for the judicial process. First, judges emerge from the confidence of subclans. So if a dispute occurs between individuals in different subgroups, they may select a judge from each subgroup to decide the case. Second, clans maintain communal funds that members voluntarily contribute to. This fund serves many purposes. Among them, it operates as a social insurance for every member against liability. If a person owes restitution that they cannot or will not pay, the responsibility falls on the subgroup to cover the liability with the communal fund.
This ensures that victims can always be made whole, and also incentivizes clans and subclans to enforce verdicts on their own members, because they are ultimately liable for the damages. The regional occupations already have substantial communal funds of donations that could easily serve this purpose.
A conflict at Occupy Oakland can help illustrate how a complex kritarchy operates. During one of the marches, the windows of Tully's Coffee were broken. This was particularly egregious because the owner of Tully's Coffee had been a substantial supporter of the occupation. The cafe is adjacent to Oscar Grant Plaza, and the owner had allowed activists to use her restrooms and Wifi Internet, and she had made donations of food and money.
The specific activists who broke her windows are unknown because they cover their faces with bandannas, but the subgroup is known and had a regular tent site. In a kritarchy, the owner of Tully's Coffee could serve a claim of injustice against the offending subgroup. A judge representing Tully's Coffee would approach a known judge inside the subgroup and request a Court of Justice be convened, and the two judges would attempt to find agreement over the liability.
If the individuals who broke the windows will not take responsibility, the damages can be paid by the subgroup collectively. Holding them accountable for their actions would incentivize them to be more judicious with their tactics in the future.
But imagine that an agreement could not be reached. In that case, a third judge would be approached from the extended clan, meaning the general assembly of Occupy Oakland. If this third judge awards damages and neither the individuals nor the subgroup will abide by the verdict, the restitution would come out of the occupation's general fund.
First and foremost, this prevents the movement from losing the support of its productive members because of the injustices of its destructive members; but also, by placing the burden of injustice on the general fund you express clearly that the movement will not tolerate injustice internally, and you cause a huge hit to the reputation of those activists who refuse to balance the scales.
If the price of injustice becomes too great, and reputations become too poor, an individual may be cast out of a subgroup, or a subgroup may be cast out of the occupation to preserve justice. Social ostracism is sufficient to enforce the vast majority of verdicts in Somalia, and it would likely be the only mechanism available to the Occupy movement. (Also, in a kritarchy, an outcast no longer enjoys the protection of any court of justice until they offer restitution.)
Developing a judicial branch of the movement also has exciting and powerful long-term potential. If a simple kritarchy can become a normative custom and a complex kritarchy can become as firmly established as the general assemblies are, then we will be able to begin developing a real alternative to the state monopoly of the courts.
Oakland Occupants meet at the Main Library at 4pm to protest the pre-dawn raid of the encampment. What was just a hundred, becomes thousands as they march in an effort to reclaim the plaza but are met with police in riot gear & are diverted to side streets.
This young woman was targeted, pulled in & slammed onto the ground by two huge police officers after protesting the arrest of another Occupant.
At some point a group of Occupants covered police in paint. I didn't witness this, but here is Tom's raw footage.
At least two helicopters with spotlights and one low flying CHP helicopter followed the Occupants through Oakland. After being diverted into side streets by police the march returned briefly to Snow Park, which was a backup location and ultimately decided to take their stand at the Plaza, which was blocked by multiple levels of metal barricades, and multiple lines of riot police. Every side entrance was also barricaded and guarded by riot police standing shoulder to shoulder in two rows at least. It was the most well protected empty field I've ever seen. Occupants immediately grabbed hold of the first line of barricades and dragged them into the street (knocking me over by the way). And police began repeating over the loud speaker, "This is the Oakland Police Department. This has been declared an illegal assembly. Immediately Leave now! If you do not you are subject to removal by whatever force necessary which may result in serious injury."
A lone Navy Veteran stood toe-to-toe with the police line waving the flag of Veterans for Peace.
After everyone refused to leave the intersection of 14th and Broadway, in front of the Plaza, police began firing tear gas, flash bombs, and percussion grenades into the crowd.
The crowd disbursed, if only temporarily. Tear gas is nasty! It's like rubbing a first full of wasabi in your eyes. And the Occupants in wheelchairs got it much worse than me. But the last to leave was that lone Navy Veteran who stood right in front and then walked through the tear gas calmly, seemingly unaffected. They must have special training. It looked like a scene out of an action film.
The protest was scattered at that point. Divided groups walking back and forth between the Plaza and Snow Park. Scattered reports of more tea gas and flash bang grenades throughout the night. Small patrols of riot police stationed on almost every side street. At one point formations of riot cops were clearing streets block by block.
Ultimately everyone ended up at the Plaza. At some point someone threw a bottle at the cops and the crowd began chanting "Don't throw shit!" The person was eventually identified and scolded by other Occupants.
I have to say something about this. There's one perspective out there that force should be met with force. I have no moral objection to this, although I think it's stupid tactically. But when you have a crowd that has an overwhelming consensus that they are non-violent and non-retaliatory, and that's a central part of their message and strategy, if you provoke the beast and then disappear into the crowd you are a coward. You endanger the lives and bodily integrity of others when you should be taking responsibility for your own risk taking. The police response to such actions is completely predictable, and when you take such an action in a crowd you are exploiting the bodies of those bystanders as human shields knowing full well that one of them is more likely to suffer the wrath of the beast than you. If you want to be a tough guy, and throw stuff at police, do it like they do did in Tahrir Square. Stand by yourself in the middle of the street. Don't use our bodies as a shield without our permission. Maybe we can organize a time for trigger-happy cops and bottle-throwing "anarchists" to fight without endangering the rest of us. You probably have more in common than you think.
Around midnight all the black clad riot police were relieved by new grey units who assumed the front line. They had no badges or patches, just "Sheriff" across the front. They had thicker armor and no shields. Just batons and zip ties. I figured new units meant new strategy and decided it was time to leave.
In closing all I can say is I'm optimistic. If they have to call in goons from 12 different departments just to control one Plaza in Oakland that means they're probably spread pretty thin as it is. Imagine if two Bay Area cities marched on the same day? It'd be over.
That's all for now. I'm headed back out there. But if you'd like to contribute a verse to this powerful play you can call Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and let her know how you feel. 510-238-3141
Breaking: Riot Police Destroy Occupy Encampment and Tear Gas Media
Chris Rock once said, "That tiger didn't go crazy. That tiger went tiger!" Well this morning the Oakland Police department went State. 500 paid thugs (i.e. officers and sheriff's deputies) from over 12 agencies assisted the OPD in a pre-dawn raid of OccupyOakland, evicting campers from the newly named Oscar Grant Plaza in front of Oakland city hall. Riot police clad in gas masks used rubber bullets, bean bag rounds, flash grenades, tear gas canisters and an LRAD sonic cannon against non-violent peaceful protesters. Mass Arrests are being reported, and although the police reported that there were no injuries, live-twitter accounts disagree. City Officials have advised downtown business to remain closed until further notice.
The Occupiers were not unprepared for this eventuality and have activated an "emergency reconvergence plan" beginning with an emergency assembly today at 4pm at Oakland Public Library on 14th and Madison. I'll be there, and I'll keep you updated.
One of the first eyewitness accounts is coming from Kevin Army, a journalist with Salon.com. He reports that when the police lined up before the raid he attempted to capture video of their helmet numbers when officer #570 shouted and rammed into him, pushing him to the ground. He was told by a commanding officer to stand in a designated area with the mainstream media trucks and other independent media. After the police had herded all the media together, Kevin reports that they were shot with tea gas, disbursed and not allowed to return to cover the raid. He believed this was intentional.
Here's his video:
OccupyOakland had been dubbed a "demilitarized zone." While OccupySF has faced raids and police brutality from it's inception, the City of Oakland had been exceptionally welcoming of the encampment. They were permitted to set up over 150 tents. The encampment had portable toilets and garbage service. They had both a first-aid and childcare tent. They even hosted live music and screened films with a projector on a theater sized screen. Although there were isolated reports of fights, drug use, and sexual harassment… such is Oakland… and the encampments General Assemblies were already organizing autonomous solutions to these problems. A leaderless patrol of 10 to 20 Occupiers originally formed to run 24-hour "cop watch" for the encampment were working to diffuse fights, discourage hard drug use, and protect women and queer Occupiers from sexual harassment. OccupyOakland had become more than an organized protest. It was an experiment in self-governance, addressing many of the systemic problems the City of Oakland is not addressing. For nearly two weeks not a single person went hungry in Oakland, and many of the cities homeless population reported a sense of safety in the encampment not felt anywhere else in the city.
Friday afternoon the city posted eviction notices saying that those who stayed would be subject to arrest because, "neither the demonstrators nor the City could maintain safe or sanitary conditions." Karen Boyd, a spokesbureaucrat for the mayor, told the Oakland Tribune that, "the protesters had shown themselves incapable of self-governance." But that's patently false. All the city's complaints were already being spontaneously handled by the Occupiers. The purpose of this raid, in my opinion, was precisely because they were showing that they were capable of self-governance, and both Police and City Officials are terrified that you'll realize we don't need them. Occupiers had no intention of leaving, deciding at the next General Assembly to defend the encampment. Several hundred Occupiers worked to block off the entrances to the plaza using dumpsters, wooden pallets, and even police-style metal barricades in the hours before the raid.
Around 3:00 AM reports circulated amongst the campers that 10 to 20 police cars were patrolling the streets around the plaza. At least two helicopters lit up the plaza from above. Police action began around 4:40 AM when hundreds of officers from multiple Bay Area cities surrounded the encampment. About 170 Occupiers remained on site when officers ordered them to disburse over loud speakers. The Occupiers locked arms and shouted as police moved in. The invaders fired tear gas and beanbag rounds at the non-violent protesters and ultimately arrested 75 for "misdemeanor illegal lodging." Police ripped apart the tents and threw them in the street. According to authorities the plaza was "contained" around 5:30 AM.
Truly horrific photos of OccupyOakland police raid
The Occupy Oakland account live tweeted the raid:
The Occupiers fully intend to retake the Plaza insisting that they are neither defeated nor discouraged. They expect this aggression from the city to fire people up even more and to translate into a new protesters.
Occupy Property Rights
One night I stayed up until fajr talking with a young Marxist. We distilled all our political and economic disagreements down to one philosophical split that we couldn't resolve. I believe in property and he doesn't.
I generally take something like the Lockean view. In John Locke's Second Treatise he argues that the individual ownership of property derives from the mixing of labor with nature to produce goods. The Marxist argued that because goods were originally part of the commons to claim individual ownership in anything was to steal from everyone else, echoing that famous social anarchist cry, "property is theft." So, according to the Marxist all goods must always be owned in common. From my perspective, owning the fruits of my labor is akin to owning my labor, which is akin to owning my body, which is akin to slavery.
We discussed a number of thought experiments to see if we could parse out the disagreement. But this flustered the Marxist who then protested that hypothetical scenarios are irrelevant because there is no justly acquired property anywhere. All land has been stolen and all goods are made with exploited labor. So we dropped the hypothetical scenarios.
The ironic thing about the Occupiers that preach against the concept of ownership is that they all behave as if they believe in ownership. They get upset when their things go missing. They ask permission to use other people's things, and they return things when they are finished. They don't steal from individuals. But during the discussion I realized that I had never read an Islamic theory of property. I know that there must be property rights in Islam because theft is prohibited, but it would be handy not to have to rely on Locke.
It didn't take more than two nights at OccupySF to realize that the core group of Occupiers were deeply committed young anarcho-communists, even more so at Occupy Oakland. In fact the magazine that started this whole Occupy Movement, AdBusters, is arguably an anarcho-communist rag. Now, I have a lot of love in my heart for these kids because to a some degree this is my background and I understand that they are coming from a well meaning place. We used to call it "gutter punk." I'm not sure if that's a pejorative term now. If so I apologize. I certainly don't mean it that way. They homeless young adults who are voluntarily unemployed as an act of rebellion against capitalism. Dyed hair, dreadlocks, facial piercings and tattoos are all common. Alhamdulillah, I was never that deeply committed.
What's interesting about that to me is that it potentially means the Occupation could go on for a long long time. They are accustomed to life on the streets. During the day the Occupation swells to over triple the population and more mainstream political perspectives prevail, but at night the crowd goes home and it's the anarchists that hold the ground, run the general assemblies and decide how to spend the donations. Why would they ever leave? This is the lifestyle they have chosen.
"O you who believe, be persistent in standing up for justice." (4:135)
So, I think it's incumbent upon us to occasionally get out from behind our computer monitors and take action.
More precisely the Federal Reserve has been the central focus of my political activism since 2007. In my analysis monetary policy is the root cause of much of the injustice in American society. If the government didn't have limitless credit from the Federal Reserve unpopular wars would not be possible because they would have to tax the people directly which would cause an explosion in anti war protests. Instead they can fund war by recklessly printing money, causing inflation and recession. But how many people understand that the recession is a war tax? Increasing the money supply hurts the poor most of all, because it erodes the people's wages. We tend to blame businesses for raising their prices, but in reality is the value of the dollar that is declining, and Wall Street doesn't keep their savings in dollars. They keep it in commodities.
The fact is that US dollars are not stores of wealth, they are instruments of debt. The Federal Reserve, which is a cartel of private banks, creates money and lends it to the Federal Government with interest. That means, by design, there is not enough money in existence to pay off the debt. As Muslims we should all be acutely sensitive to the dangers of interest. There is a Hadith from the Prophet (saw) which reads:
"There will come a time when you will not be able to find a single person who will not be consuming riba. And if anyone claims that he is not consuming riba then surely the dust of riba will reach him." (Abu-Dawood)
My feeling is that this system of fractional reserve lending is that dust, because even if you never take a loan and never pay a cent of interest, you are still losing purchasing power through inflation which is an effect of interest rates set by the Federal Reserve.
By far the most fascinating and innovative aspect of the Occupy Movement has been the social structure being developed. Obviously I can only speak about what I have directly witnessed at OccupySF, but I've been told these strategies are similar throughout the movement, including a strong consensus against the establishment of any leader or hierarchy.Everyday there is a General Assembly in which proposals and announcements can be made by all participants. On Thursday, after the raid, the General Assembly was so large that it had to be moved to the Ferry Building where guest speakers from the ACLU and NLG offered legal assistance such as Know Your Rights workshops, direct action training, tactical discussions, legal observer training and cop watch training. These meetings are not being organized by a majority-rules democratic process, instead they've developed a number of tools for crowd sourcing decision making by consensus.
General Assemblies are moderated by a volunteer, but all participants have the power of veto. They have also developed a language of hand signals that allow the crowd to express their support or disapproval of the speakers message. Forming an "X" above your head signals disapproval, while dazzling your fingers above your head signals applause without the disruptive sound. If a decision ever must be made by an up or down vote a thumbs up or down is sufficient but the decision is not made by the majority. Instead every individual has the power to block the decision. If it's all thumbs up they call it a consensus. But if someone blocks they are given the floor to express their objection until a consensus can be reached.
Obviously this process can be messy and time consuming. Cigarettes have posed a unique controversy to the process because the culture in San Francisco is very anti cigarette, but the street anarchist crowd doesn't really care about city ordinances. So there is a strong desire by some to ban smoking in the camp, but no consensus can be reached. After a few minor confrontations it seems as though this has already been resolved by polite requests and respectful distances. No hard fast rules were necessary. New customs were sufficient.Many of the innovations have also been a response to police aggression.
They had been using a gas powered electric generator to power the communications center. This was used to charge laptops and phones as well as power the live feed equipment. During the raid Police seized the generator, and then forbid them to use the replacement generator that was donated siting both noise and health concerns over the exhaust. Activists responded by constructing a bicycle powered electric generator hooked up to a series of car batteries, hooked up to a plug strip. They invite people to "donate their rage" channeling their frustration into pedaling the bike, which in turn charges the batteries and provides the camp with electricity. In fact it's only because of this innovation that I'm able to make this post.
Police said at one point that the campers couldn't use amplified sound, although they still use megaphones during active protests and marches. But the rest of the time they use something they've developed called, "The People's Mic." Anyone in the camp may call out, "Mic Check!" and all campers within ear shot echo back "Mic Check!" Once the speaker has the attention of the camp they begin to make their announcement in small segments allowing the crowd to echo their statement in unison, in effect amplifying the sound without any amplification device.
Before the raid the camp had appointed a "police liaison" to carry messages back and forth with the police department. After the raid their was so much animosity toward the police, and so much backtalk to the police liaison that it was decided that having a police liaison was too similar to a leader and they demanded that the police address the group as everyone else addresses the group, by using the People's Mic, which happened yesterday.
So strong is the rejection of leadership and hierarchy, at least in this crowd, that there is a general rejection of codifying the message of the group into a list of demands. This is thought to be exclusionary and limiting of the diversity of the movement. In fact, yesterday a couple arrived in the middle of the day, rolled out a big piece of butcher paper and began hand writing the proposed list of demands from Occupy Wallstreet that has gotten so much attention recently. There was immediate backlash from the campers insisting that this couple had no right to speak on behalf of the community, that there was no consensus on this list of demands in OccupySF and that the original list was the work of one person on a forum, not even the consensus of Occupy Wallstreet. In the end the couple posted the list among all the other signs, but not permitted to claim that it represented the consensus of the group, and many other campers posted amendments along side the list expressing their respectful disagreement.
Whatever this thing is developing into, it is unlike anything we've seen.
At a congressional hearing Wednesday, Ben Bernanke commented on the Occupy Movement saying, "They blame, with some justification, the problems in the financial sector for getting us into this mess, and they're dissatisfied with the policy response here in Washington. And at some level, I can't blame them." But they can certainly blame him. On the streets of San Francisco protesters are calling out Ben Bernanke by name demanding that he be prosecuted and imprisoned for what they say amounts to treason and crimes against humanity.
I just got back from three days and two nights sleeping on the streets with OccupySF, which is the San Francisco manifestation of the Occupy Movement. What began on September 17th with six people people set up in front of the Federal Reserve peaked Friday night when 800 protesters completely blocked off Market Street. We'll get to that, but I want to do this in chronological order, because there's a lot to cover.
By Wednesday night OccupySF consisted of approximately 200 protesters who built a tent city on the grounds of the Federal Reserve Building. The encampment included a working kitchen with propane powered stove, a communications center with power generator, and an infirmary. All supplies from food to medical supplies had been donated by their supporters. Although they had previously been told the tents would be permitted, Wednesday night they received orders from the SFPD that they would need to be taken down. The campers complied with these orders.
At 2:00 am Thursday morning 80 officers wearing riot helmets and carrying batons raided the encampment anyway. Police formed a perimeter separating the protesters from their supplies as the Department of Public Works seized nine truckloads of tents, communications equipment, medical supplies, food and other donations.
About fifty protesters responded with peaceful civil disobedience, standing in front of the trucks, and forming a human chain to impede them from stealing their supplies. Police responded by cracking skulls, which protesters say was excessive force. You be the judge. The first blow from the police occurs one minute in.
Only one arrest was made, but at least three protesters sustained injuries including a 17 year old girl who was punched and thrown to the ground simply for standing too close. One officer reportedly told another activist, "I can't wait to beat your face in."
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) are now both involved to help OccupySF explore their legal options. Many are arguing that the raid on the encampment, and the demands themselves were not in accordance with law. The police have since erected a metal barricade blocking off the Federal Reserve grounds and have officers on guard around the clock until further notice. OccupySF has pledged to hold the occupation on the wide sidewalk in front of the Federal Reserve, but it's just sleeping bags for now.
OccupySF issued the following statement Thursday morning after the raid:
Last night the SFPD issued us an unsigned, undated notice that declared we had to pack up our tents without giving us a timeline or else we would risk arrest. They said that we could remain occupying if we pulled down our tents and complied with their other demands. We complied with their demands by taking down our tents and beginning to clear-out the rest of our infrastructure that was allegedly in violation of City and/or State laws. We made a call to action. Our numbers doubled within half an hour. Yet still, the police, wearing helmets and carrying batons, formed a perimeter around our goods and prevented us from saving anything while they supervised Public Works employees as they stole everything. The police stole food, water, shelter, and other necessities of life from the 99% at Occupy SF.
After the ACLU and NLG involvement police received orders from above to respect the peaceful protesters. The camp was informed that they would not be permitted to build any tent structures or cook any food, but would be permitted to occupy the space.
There's a lot more to cover, but I'm headed back out there and might not find a wifi connection again for while.
7 Comments
Small quibble … following Sept 17, a handful of brave occupiers camped at 555 California Street. They didn't move to 101 Market till a week or so later.
"So, according to the Marxist all goods must always be owned in common. From my perspective, owning the fruits of my labor is akin to owning my labor, which is akin to owning my body, which is akin to slavery… I realized that I had never read an Islamic theory of property. I know that there must be property rights in Islam because theft is prohibited, but it would be handy not to have to rely on Locke."
I wish you could've fleshed out your thoughts in these sentences more. I'm not sure I'm convinced you can compare the common ownership Marxists argue for to that of slavery; that's quite an unsubstantiated leap.
I think, though, that the occupy protests are making a lot of Muslims – at least me – wonder what Islam's stance is when it comes to not just property rights, but the capitalism vs socialism debate as a whole. I really hope that you, or another contributor to this site, can write a piece fleshing our your thoughts on these particular questions more. Thanks for a wonderful post!
Books can and have been written on this issue….but as a socialist who converted to Islam, I would say that there is common ground on social justice issues. Differences arise, however, when means and goals are discussed. For example – the socialist agitates for the establishment of a "classless society" where "everything belongs to everyone" and the government redistributes assets. By comparison, Islam recognizes that there will always exist rich and poor and instead levies a MORAL obligation on the wealthy to help those in need. And this gets to the crux of the issue – Islam is pro-Morality while Marxism is a moral void. IMO, #Occupy needs to exchange its "tax the rich" placards for "tax the BANKS"…
This was a pretty good article. I didn't know the Occupy Movements were functioning in that manner. But sis, to answer your query, there are some resources concering property in Islam. Check out Mohammad Hisham Kamali's book, "The Right to Life, Security, Privacy and Ownership in Islam."
Sure I can clarify.
Let's say I grow tomatoes. From a Lockean view I have mixed the land with my labor to produce a valuable good which would not have existed if had not contributed my labor. I own that labor, as a function of owning my body. There is a theological hair to split here for Muslims, where we might say that Allah owns my body, but I am clearly the vicegerent of my body and all else follows the same.
So, the reason, the incentive I have to transform soil into a valuable good is that I expect to benefit from it, either by feeding myself, feeding my family, feeding my neighbor in charity, or selling the goods in the market.
In my view, because I am the owner/vicegerent of my body and my labor I am accountable for my actions. If I engage in destructive behavior I am responsible for compensating the victim of my actions. If I engage in constructive behavior I am responsible for the goods that I produce. So the responsibility falls on me to allocate the tomatoes. How much to my family? How much to my neighbor? How much to the market? For Muslims Allah gives guidance in this decision, but the responsibility still falls on me to follow that guidance.
If you arrive at my farm and claim responsibility for allocating the tomatoes, even though we have no contract, and you have provided no labor, you are de facto claiming to be the owner/vicegerent of my actions. You are going back in time and saying, "No, you did not labor in soil so that you may benefit. You labored in the soil so that I may benefit."
You are claiming that I labor for you against my will.
LMN: One central figure in the Occupy Movement is David Graeber, who has recently published a book called "Debt: The First 5000 Years". It is a brilliant history of the social institution of debt, and it includes what I think is probably the most informative and compelling analysis of the Islamic economic tradition. Capitalism has a peculiarly European origin, based in the marriage of war and commerce, and so the socialist solution (also European in origin) is like it's mirror image. Trade in the Islamic world was certainly market-based, in fact, much of contemporary "free market" doctrine is stolen from Islamic sources, and perverted by its decontextualization (Graeber presents several examples of this). Without a basis in Islam, which obviates the development of capitalism by various means (such as the abolition of usury), market commerce, and those participating in it, can not prosper without the exploitation that is inherent to capitalism (something that Marxian economic theory has demonstrated). Islam prevents the evil of capitalism, and permits all the good.
I think the author of this article would also appreciate the book, as the chapter on Islam explores specifically the credit system that developed, which extended credit based not (solely) on profiteering, but on honor and reputation, to the mutual benefit between all parties. This too was taken by Europeans and corrupted (or perhaps simply mismanaged), leading to the development of financially-driven capitalist empires.
Salam brother Davi, I appreciate your clarity in using Locke's moral theories, it makes sense. I also do not agree with the anarchists running a muck at times. I do however disagree about adbusters magazine, which has generated much discussion on points that are not available else where whether u agree or not with some of their political statements. I think this magazine is a great step towards decentralizing private ownership by the 1% and giving it back to the 99.
Keep up the good work ak. We all love u for it.


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You can read about all kinds of things people do to power their hot wire foam cutter including things like running 110V through a light bulb in series with the foam cutter, battery chargers, dimmer switches, Variacs, "wall warts", batteries, and so on. There are ways that work, ways that don't, safe ways, and unsafe ways, okay ways, and better ways.
Anytime you have the potential of applying 110V to your foam cutter, it is unsafe. Using just a dimmer switch or just a variac means that if you turn the knob too far, you can have 110V applied to the wire. If that happens, you will either burn out your dimmer or variac or vaporize your wire or both and that could also cause a fire. In addition, if your were to accidentally touched the wire or any exposed terminals, connections, or wires on EITHER the input side or output side, you could get a shock or if the conditions were exactly wrong, you could die from cardiac arrest. A fuse, circuit breaker, or GFI on the input side might help but will not guarantee the negative results above.
If you have a low voltage requirement such as is needed for shorter or thicker wire, you will not be able to get a low enough voltage with a dimmer switch or variac anyway. There is a limit to the low voltage they can put out.
The proper way to power your foam cutter
is with a
A transformer reduces the voltage to a lower level so you can't apply line voltage to your foam cutter with the accompanying hazards. A transformer swaps voltage for current. Most foam cutters take a moderate current and low voltage. For example, with a 12V transformer, you put in 120V and you get out 12V. That is a ratio of 120/12 or 10:1. The current is increased 10 fold and the voltage is reduced 10 fold. If your foam cutter requires 3 amps, then you are only putting in 1/10 of that or 0.3 amps into the transformer which is slightly more than a 40 watt bulb. The voltage goes down, the current goes up, no shock potential on the output side of the transformer or at the nichrome wire,
You can design your foam cutter so that all you need is the right transformer that puts out the right voltage and is big enough to output the current you need. (see the Calculator page and the Transformers page. That is the simplest solution. Note that the green C-shape is representing a bow type foam cutter with the nichrome wire stretched between the two ends. Any type hot wire foam cutter can use the same type power supply as the rest of this article describes.
The problem with this overly simplified design is that it has no protection for the transformer against short circuits and no way to adjust the voltage (and so the current or amps) so you can't adjust the heat for the optimum foam cutting temperature. You can calculate the proper wire gauge and length and it will work fine but if you ever want to change the wire size, wire length, or temperature, you have no way to change the voltage to match it.
The best design will add a dimmer switch and fuse, breaker, or GFI to the circuit above and will use the safety ground wire from the wall plug and attach it to the transformer housing and also to the foam cutter frame if it is metallic.
With these components in your power supply, you have all the necessary features for safe and adjustable features to power your hot wire foam cutter. The dimmer switch allows you to adjust the voltage from a low value to the maximum rated output voltage of your transformer, the transformer steps down the voltage and steps up the current, the fuse protects all your components against accidental short circuits, and the safety ground connections protects against shock in the case of a component or wire failure.
Dimmer Switches
There are a lot of different kinds of dimmers and fan controls. First, you don't need a fan control. You can't use a light dimmer to control a fan because you will damage the motor but a hot wire foam cutter is most similar to a light bulb -- just a hot wire, but not hot enough to glow. Fan controls are more expensive because they have additional circuitry in them. Don't waste the extra money on a fan control.
There are two main manufacturers of dimmers, Lutron and Leviton. There are a ton of different types of dimmers, fluorescent, incandescent/halogen, single pole, 3-Way, 600Watt up to 2000 watt, white, ivory, gold, ganged, rotary on/off, push on/off, combos, etc. Fortunately, the simplest and cheapest is also the best for hot wire foam cutters. What you want is a 600 Watt, Single Pole, Rotary On/Off dimmer, your choice of white or ivory knob. The Lutron model number is D-600R-WH (white) or D-600R-IV (Ivory). The Leviton model is 6602-I (Ivory), 6602-W (White) or 6602-IW (has both colored knobs).
The most common type of dimmer you will find in your local lighting or hardware store is called a pre-set. What this means is that you can set the amount of dimming and then leave it there so when you turn the light on or off, you don't disturb the setting. This is either done with a separate button (used with slider dimmers) or using a push on/off action (used with rotary dimmers). You likely will not find a rotary on/off at a local store, they will all be the push on/off style because that is the most popular by far in the home user market.
If you use the push on/off rotary type, then you won't be able to tell if your foam cutter is on or off just by looking at it because the knob switch is a toggle. It is always out. You push it in to turn it on if it is off, you push it in again, to turn it off if it is on.
If you use the rotary on/off type dimmer, you know it is off because it is all the way counterclockwise. It clicks when you turn it off the same as old style radio volume controls that turned off the radio when you turned all the way to the left. If you knob has no marks to indicate where it is currently set, you can easily put a mark on it with a fine felt pen or a scratch mark or what ever you want. You won't know where you had it last but you can also put a mark on the cover plate for your preferred setting so you just turn it on and turn to line up the two marks.
Adding An Indicator Light And Separate On/Off Switch
If you are using a push on/off dimmer, each time you push the knob, you can be changing the preset position a little. It tends to always be in the clockwise direction for some reason. Of course, if you mark the optimum position, you can always readjust the knob to the correct position.
Another enhancement, especially if you are using the push on/off style dimmer but also just as an enhancement is to add a separate on/off switch and indicator light as shown below. The first diagram shows the light between the light switch and dimmer switch. In this configuration, the light will be on full bright any time you turn the power switch on but will not indicate whether there is power to the foam cutter or not. The advantage is that if the light is off, you know there is no power anywhere in the circuit downstream of the switch. That way you can leave the dimmer switch on and at the desired position all the time and not change it and just turn the power switch on and off separately.
The indicator light is just a standard small 110V incandescent bulb. It can be a standard 40 watt bulb or a smaller wattage appliance bulb or better yet, a night light that uses a small Christmas tree type bulb. You can add a standard household outlet in a box between the on/off switch and dimmer switch or you can put both the switch and the outlet in a double box with a combo cover plate and then just plug the night light into the outlet.
The second configuration shown below is with the indicator light between the dimmer and the transformer. In this case, the light bulb will give an indication of the proportion of the voltage going to the transformer. The advantage is that it shows whether the dimmer switch is on or off which is handy if you are using the push on/off type dimmer switch. If the dimmer switch is set too low, it may be hard to see if the light is on at all but in that case, there isn't much voltage coming out of the transformer, either. You could even put a light in both positions if you wanted to.
As in the configuration above, you can add a power outlet and plug a night light into the outlet. In this case, you could put the dimmer switch and outlet into a double box with a combo plate. This is also handy because you can then put a standard 110V plug on the input side of the transformer and then plug that into the second wall outlet. If you wanted to change the transformer later or even if you wanted to use two separate transformers for different foam cutters, you just unplug one and plug in the other. You could mount two transformers on the same board with the dimmer, switches, and outlets.
Checking the voltage and/or current.
You can monitor either the voltage or the current from the output of the transformer. A clamp on ammeter can be used to check the current flowing through your foam cutter nichrome wire by clamping it around either of the wires coming out of the transformer since the output is AC. If you have a panel type ammeter, you can splice it into one of the output wires. You can check the output voltage by clipping the alligator clips or touching the test probes to the two output wires.
It would be nice to have both a digital panel voltmeter and digital panel ammeter mounted in a metal box along with the other components for a nice self-contained unit but there are two drawbacks. Panel meters, even analog ones, are expensive. Also, panel meters have only one range so if you are working in the 1 or 2 amp range, the panel meter would not be the same as one for one in the 10 amp range. It is the same with the voltmeter, if you are working with 3 or 4 volts, it would not be in the same range as a voltmeter for a 12-24 volt range. Handheld multimeters and clamp on ammeters have ranges so one instrument can be used for any range.
Packaging your Power Supply
You can mount your light switch, dimmer switch, plug-in for the output from you dimmer switch and your transformer on one board. You could then put a plug on your input wires (primary) to your transformer and plug the transformer into one outlet and your power indicator light into the other as mentioned above and you will have a nice neat package. The diagram below shows banana jacks and a panel mounted fuse holder in a blank cover plate on the left side. The output from the transformer goes into the left side and attaches to the banana jacks. The foam cutter would then be plugged into the banana jacks. The 110V plug and cable also goes into the box on the left side, the hot side goes to the fuse holder.
You could also mount everything in a metal box with rubber feet and a carrying handle for an even nicer package. Metal boxes heavy enough for the transformer can be kind of expensive, though. It is also difficult to find just the right box. If you Google electrical box or utility box or device box, you will get the kind of boxes you use in house wiring to mount switches and electrical outlets into. Hammond Manufacturing makes both transformers and boxes and you might find what you want there. For boxes, check here: http://www.hammondmfg.com/9ccat.htm
Calculate wire size, length, voltage, and power required for your application.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Truthfully, I won't be adopting the next Xbox or Ps4 at launch. I learned my lesson last gen with all my systems, except the Wii, overheating and failing. So I'll just stick with Wii U and 3DS for now. As for Ubisoft, I applaud them for having faith in Nintendo, and will most likely buy Watch_Dogs, Rayman, and AC4 this fall on the Wii U. I'll support any third party that supports my favorite game company.
User Profile
Gamer, nerd, dork.
Male, 32, United States
Nintendo loyalist, but not a fanatic. Lol. I love all things games, and electronics. The nerdier the better!
- Joined:
- Tue 27th November, 2012
Recent Comments
Yeah, I read about this on GFaqs forums day one (US). Shame too as I held off on buying it for the PS3 so I could play on Wii U. Here's hoping they can patch it!


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Wave of Green: Boston Celtics edge Detroit Pistons 98-93
So this Jeff Green guy, am I right? He might not be too bad.
The Celtics gave up most of an 18-point lead tonight against the Pistons, but held on to win in unpleasantly dramatic fashion 98-93. The Pistons absolutely smashed the Celtics on the boards, ripping down 25 offensive rebounds to Boston's 34 OVERALL. Greg Monroe was particularly beastly, securing 17 rebounds and eight offensive, while ex-UConn-ers Charlie Villanueva (ugh) and Andre Drummond both pitched in nine.
Fortunately for Boston, Jeff Green shook off a bad performance in Minnesota and came out firing, and I don't mean firing like "he was taking a lot of shots," but firing like "he has actual flames shooting out of his hands and ass." On some nights, Green is efficient because he shoots solely layups, 3-pointers and free throws, the three most efficient shots in basketball. Other nights, he's efficient because he's hitting everything from everywhere, including mid-range. Tonight was one of those nights.
On to the bullets:
- Here's something worth watching: Rajon Rondo participated in a shootaround pre-game and joked around with some Globetrotters. Rondo has an enormous brace on his leg, and he certainly isn't jumping on his shots, but it's still good just to see him on the court. An interesting note: Players who have torn their ACL's sometimes come back as better shooters since A) They build the muscles around their knee, which gives them more lift on the jumper and B) They have nothing better to work on for the better part of nine months. Something to keep an eye on.
- The Celtics clinched their sixth consecutive playoff appearance tonight. Commence tanking/moving up theories as you wish.
- Since the Celtics were handing out second chance opportunities like a garage band hands out fliers, it's a good thing the Pistons were stab-your-eye-out-with-a-gardening-tool awful from the floor (36% overall, 16.7% from 3-point range). The main offenders: Charlie Villanueva (2-17), Rodney Stuckey (5-16) and Brandon Knight (2-10, including the best/worst missed layup of the year).
- Even against a bad team like the Pistons, you want to give the Celtics credit for holding them to 36% shooting. You really do. But a good defensive trip turns into a bad one if the opposing team grabs the offensive rebound and scores, and that happened way, way too much tonight. Boston can't be a good defensive team until they hit the defensive glass more consistently, and that probably doesn't happen until KG returns and shores up the defensive rotations. For now, everyone looks out of place and confused every time a shot goes up.
- Paul Pierce returned and put up inefficient numbers (17 points, 5-14 shooting from the field), but nobody really cared since it was just nice to see him back on the floor. Post-game, he revealed that he just had a son, named Prince Paul Pierce. Related: Paul Pierce just won the "Name Your Son" game.
- Lost in Jeff Green's nuclear detonation all over everything: Brandon Bass scored 17 points on just eight field goal attempts.
- Courtney Lee constantly (CONSTANTLY) puts his left foot back a step when he starts to drive. This isn't a problem when he's above the break, but considering that many of his drives to the basket start in the corner, it leads to a lot of turnovers stepping on the sideline. I've never understood why players need to step back to start a drive, but Lee needs to break the habit as badly as anyone.
That will have to do it for tonight. The Celtics get another home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. Whether or not Boston wants to win remains to be seen.
Follow Tom on Twitter: @Tom_NBA.
One Response to "Wave of Green: Boston Celtics edge Detroit Pistons 98-93"
We give up 25 offensive rebs and still can't lose. Pathetic! How can we manage to drop to the 8th spot, so we can face the Heat, giving up only 25 offensive rebs? We need to obviously give up more. Come-on Cs get it together, will you? Go Cs…
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Nicollette Sheridan
Nicollette Sheridan has won a worldwide audience with her past television and film roles. She recently wrapped production of her latest project, the independent comedy Jewtopia (2009) based on the famous play. She exploded on the small screen with her Golden Globe-nominated role of "Edie Britt", the blonde bombshell of Wisteria Lane, on ABC's hit ... See full bio »
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Free Merit School of Music Concert
Free Merit School of Music Concert
August 15, 2013
Summer Strings at Chicago's Free Zoo
Visitors enjoyed a free, family-friendly mini concert at the zoo near Place Place Café! The Merit School of Music's Suzuki-Alegre Strings Ensemble is a diverse group of young musicians who combine the popular Suzuki method with Latin folk music.
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BPL Community Profile
James Loy (jimbluz) - BPL Premium Member
You cannot send this user a personal message (PM) because they have not specified a PM email address yet.
All Forum Posts by James Loy
Big Agnes 2 Person Tent
I have a Big Agnes SL2 tent which has been set up but never used. I'll sell for $150, including footprint and shipping to conus. If interested email me at firstname.lastname@example.com
Hilleberg Nallo
I have a red Nallo 2 I would be willing to sell. It has been used 2 nites and is in like-new condition. It also includes a ground cloth. I would be willing to sell it for $435 delivered to Conus...
MSR Evo snowshoe tails
I have a pair of these 6"tails in black. I purchased them after the Evo model was introduced but I don't ever recall using them. If interested, let me know. I will be out of town from N...
Winter Sleeping Bag
I have a North Face Snowshoe (0 degrees) purchased new in 2004, size L. It has never been used, just stored loosely. I'd sell for $85 shipped to Conus. If interested, email me at jimincda99@...
Tarptent Virga
Sorry, I should have included my email on my recent post. email@example.com
Tarptent Virga
I have a Tarptent Virga used 3 nites if your're interested.
Tarptent Virga
Weight of this tent is 1lb, 14.5oz.
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I have a Tarptent Virga 2 that's been used 3 nights. If you are interested in that, you can email me at firstname.lastname@example.com.
One Man Tent
I have a Big Agnes SL1 (used one night). If interested, I'll set a price.
Re: wtb: big agnes sl2 footprint
I have one that has never been used. email@example.com
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Mountain Gear
This company has recently moved into a new warehouse and is having problems locating items. I am still waiting for them to locate the item I ordered 5 days ago. First they told me they were waiting ...
Smartwool Microweight Fitted T
Sorry, but I have had poor luck with the 2 L/S Microweight shirts I purchased. I am not at all hard on things, and I can seldom wear anything out, but my first shirt developed a hole the size of a di...


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Showing 1-96 of 130 items found in Shopping
A Hundred Acres Orchard and Market
A fun-filled orchard featuring apples, berries, melons. The indoor market is filled with jams, jellies, sauces, dips, salsas, candy and homemade "take n bake" pies. Also unique is the Krazy Kernel Kettle Korn, produced right in Princeton! Specialty cheeses, such as Antonella, Buffalo Wing Jack, and Tomato Basil Yellow Cheddar are also available. Pair these cheeses with some of the wines that are sold in the new wine shop, or enjoy your purchase on the newly constructed outdoor patio area. The Cider Mill banquet room has been expanded to accommodate 200 guests, so plan your wedding, reception, party, or reunion here!
CITY: Princeton
Ackerman Farms
Ackerman Farms, celebrating over 100 years as a working family farm, invites everyone to join us from the 3rd week in August through the 3rd week in December. We feature over 150 different varieties of pumpkins and squash in all shapes and sizes, over 25 varieties of beautiful hardy mums, and over 15 varieties of apples from our orchard - everything you need for your fall decorations and for your table. Plan to spend the afternoon with us in our family friendly corn maze, ride a hay rack, browse the gift shop and visit our friendly farm animals. At Christmas, join us for hot cider by a cozy fire and leisurely shop our wonderful Christmas selection of gifts and decor. Don't forget to call us to schedule birthday parties or class field trips.
CITY: Morton
Aerie's Riverview Winery
The view is incredible and the wine selection is unbeatable every season of the year on top of the bluffs at Aerie's Winery. During the spring and summer, the outdoor deck offers a breathtaking view of recreation on the river. As the temperatures cool, you can lounge inside next to the fireplace. Aerie's also offers cottages and a lodge to accommodate the needs of overnight guests, all within walking distance of the winery. Seasonally, check our calendar for live music on the decks Wine, cheese, sausages and pizza are available.
CITY: Grafton
All Seasons Apple Orchard
Take a wagon ride to the orchard where you will be surrounded by thousands of apples trees and 12 varieties of apples and pears. Enjoy seasonal activities like pumpkin picking and the corn maze. There is also a cow train, goat bridge, corn crib, giant swings, a spider web, jumping pillow and a petting zoo. The weekends even have pig races and a magic show for the kids. Take your whole family down for some apple picking and make sure to stick around for the many other activities.
CITY: Woodstock
Alto Vineyards - Alto Pass
This award-winning winery's original Shawnee Hills Wine Trail location (Alto also has a Champaign outpost) offers free wine tasting and a gift shop, in addition to spring, summer and fall festivals with music and food.
CITY: Alto Pass
Alto Vineyards Tasting Room
Alto Vineyards' retail wine shop and tasting room offers custom gift baskets, gourmet foods and local artwork. Indoor and outdoor seating offers a place to relax with a glass of Alto's finest. Alto's original location is situated in Alto Pass, on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail.
CITY: Champaign
August Hill Winery
Visit the August Hill Winery & Illinois Sparkling Co. tasting room and experience locally-made handcrafted wines. Wine tastings and flights, wine gifts & accessories, gallery of local art, outdoor patio, private events. Open Monday - Thursday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Friday - Saturday, 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM & Sun 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
CITY: Utica
Backwoods Berry Farm
Pick up fruits of the season from the roadside stand or head to the fields to pick your own strawberries, black raspberries or asparagus.
CITY: Hettick
Baxter's Vineyard and Winery
Baxter's Winery is the oldest winery in Illinois. Homemade arts and crafts, wine tastings, Carol's Pies and tours are available at Baxter's.
CITY: Nauvoo
Bent River Brewing Company
Bent River Breweries in Rock Island serves as the distribution center for Bent River, including a bottling line so the beer can get to the people. This location also includes a tasting room with full bar, an expanded merchandise room, a party room for catered banquets, and great live music.
CITY: Moline
Black Diamond Vineyards
This winery offers a quiet, relaxing setting and great wine. Be sure to check out the gift shop that features handmade truffles by Heavenly Sweets, lotions, oils and candles. Special events are held throughout the year.
CITY: Nashville
Blackhawk Chocolate Trail
A delicious mixture of cocoa is found every which way along the Blackhawk Chocolate Trail in the four-county area of Northwest Illinois. Enjoy visiting candy stores, bed and breakfasts with special chocolate-themed packages, gift shops and old-fashioned soda fountains.
CITY: Polo
Blind Pig Brewery
Located in downtown Champaign, Blind Pig brews its own craft beers. With its beautiful wood interior, casks full of local brews and friendly locals, this bar is a must-see. When the weather is nice, venture outside and enjoy the large outdoor beer garden.
CITY: Champaign
Blue Goose Super Market
Known throughout the Fox Valley for top-quality meats, produce, and fresh bakery products. Where service has been a family tradition for more than 70 years in St. Charles.
CITY: St. Charles
Blue Sky Vineyard
Along the majestic Shawnee Hills Wine Trail you'll find Blue Sky Vineyard—a stunning Tuscan-inspired winery and vineyard. Stroll through the vineyards, enjoy wine tastings, and relax on the outdoor terrace with the rolling countryside as your tapestry.
CITY: Makanda
Brickstone Restaurant and Brewery
Relax in the warm, comfortable atmosphere and try beers made on-site at Brickstone. Their ample menu includes pub favorites and full meals. During the warmer months enjoy your brew on their outdoor patio.
CITY: Bourbonnais
Cameo Vineyards
This family-owned winery manages seven acres of French-American hybrid grapevines and makes eight different wines, including reds, whites and blushes. A gift shop, and complimentary tastings and tours, are available.
CITY: Greenup
Campustown Champaign
Discover Green Street and the heart of campus at the University of Illinois. Restaurants, bars, shops, bookstores and more await your presence in this Orange & Blue themed area.
CITY: Champaign
Cannon Park Community Market
Cannon Park Community Market is a producer-only market that features many of the Southern Illinois region's farmers, growers, and artisans. Wednesdays from 3-7pm at the Carterville Community Center in Cannon Park, the market provides the Tri-C area with fresh local foods, artisan crafts, and family-friendly activities.
CITY: Carterville
Cheese Market
This cheese shop features a wide variety of cheese, as well as local artisan cheese, sausages, Amish salsas, jams and local vegetables. Open: Sunday: 11 am - 4 pm; Monday thru Saturday: 9 am - 6 pm
CITY: Freeport
Chicago French Market
Come visit Chicago's first and only year-round, indoor marketplace providing you with permanent, convenient and personal access to local artisans and purveyors.Featuring nearly 30 individual specialty vendors, Chicago French Market offers fresh ingredients for cooking at home, delicious grab-and-go options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, light snacks, picnics, easy party planning for home and office settings, plus meaningful gift ideas, all in one convenient location.
CITY: Chicago
Chicago Premium Outlets, Aurora
Find impressive savings at over 120 designer and name-brand outlet stores, such as Ann Taylor, Armani, Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, Coach, Cole Haan, Elie Tahari, Gap Outlet, J.Crew, Lacoste, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Salvatore Ferragamo, Michael Kors, Theory, Vera Bradley and more. The opening of an additional 80 stores in the Spring of 2015 will make this even more of a Midwest Shopping destination! In Aurora, 37 miles west of Chicago.
CITY: Aurora
Chocolate Air
Imagine a store filled with chocolate - chocolate turtles, carmels, cupcakes and tiered cakes. Add in a dash of antiques and collectibles and you have Chocolate Air in Godfrey. This homey store makes all its chocolate creations from scratch so they are sure to delight. Don't leave without trying their three signature confections: Turtles, Chocolate Covered Bacon and Chocolate Covered Strawberries. Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
CITY: Godfrey
Collver Family Winery
Family-owned winery that features unique wines, great food, and hilarious dinner theater productions.
CITY: Barry
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant
Experience Cooper's Hawk... a modern, casual restaurant with a menu created with our own handcrafted wines in mind. Start in our Napa-style tasting room, where you can view our wineries and sample our winemaker's latest creations. Shop in our gift store for unique food or wine related gifts.
CITY: South Barrington
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant
Experience Cooper's Hawk... a modern, casual restaurant with a menu created with their own handcrafted wines in mind. Start in their Napa-style tasting room, where you can view their wineries and sample the winemaker's latest creations. Shop in the gift store for unique food or wine-related gifts.
CITY: Burr Ridge
Country Corner Farm Market & Pumpkin Patch
Farm, Fresh, Fun! Explore acres of pumpkins, a giant interactive adventure corn maze, farm-fresh produce, a petting zoo, craft barn, tree house and playground. Hayrack and pony rides, Mine for gems, ride the famous cow train. Special event weekends and concessions are also offered.U-pick pumpkins, interactive adventure corn maze and flashlight maze available in month of October. Ample parking and a nominal charge for activities. May through September 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Month of October Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and S
CITY: Alpha
Crooked Creek Winery
Enjoy fine handcrafted Illinois wines served with a personal touch in a relaxing country atmosphere. Experience the outdoor beauty of Southwestern Illinois' rolling farmland or sip wine indoors by a cozy fire.
CITY: Centralia
Del's Popcorn
Multitudes of flavors of popcorn and ice cream as a tasty stop on your visit.
CITY: Springfield
Del's Popcorn Shop -- Decatur
"The Popcorn Shop" was opened in 1934 by John Baldwin. In 1945, Mr. Baldwin leased his business to Del and Emily Barnett. A year later the Barnett's purchased The Popcorn Shop and changed the name to "Del's Popcorn Shop". Lou Ann Jacobs purchased the Decatur business in 1978 and has added her own flare and expertise to the business taking it way beyond what anyone could have imagined. Del's always has a large variety of tempting treats, most of which can be found and ordered right here online. A package from Del's Popcorn Shop is always sure to put a smile on every face.
CITY: Decatur
Didier Farms
Didier Farms offers a variety of vegetables and flowers in our greenhouse this spring, and our farmers market in summer. U-pick opportunities are plentiful throughout the summer, weather permitting. During our Pumpkinfest, the last week of September and all of October, we offer hayrides, pony rides, and an exotic zoo, in beautiful Lake County.
CITY: Lincolnshire
Downtown Champaign
Discover cute boutiques housed in historic storefronts in downtown Champaign, including antique and consignment shops. Be sure to stop at PACA's Architectural Salvage Warehouse, where you'll find everything from vintage stained glass to ceramic tiles.
CITY: Champaign
Downtown Crystal Lake Main Street
Visit the award-winning Premier Main Street which is full of charming shops, delightful restaurants, quality entertainments and life-enhancing opportunities and events.
CITY: Crystal Lake
Downtown Crystal Lake/Main Street
Visit our award-winning Premier Main Street which is full of charming shops, delightful restaurants, quality entertainments and life-enhancing opportunities and events.
CITY: Crystal Lake
Eataly Chicago
"We cook what we sell, and we sell what we cook." Eataly is an original "marketplace" model inviting consumers to be active participants in an innovative food and beverage experience where they shop, taste and savor high-quality, traditional, Italian food products and beverages along with local produce and artisanal products. This multifunctional marketplace includes a premier retail center for Italian delicacies and wine, a culinary educational center and a diverse slate of boutique eateries. Eataly ambassadors are here to provide a high-quality experience to all of our guests, whether you are here to shop or enjoy a meal.
CITY: Chicago
Eckert's Country Store & Farms - Grafton
Eckert's rustic barn and farm looks just like it did years ago, specializing in peaches, apples and pumpkins. Take a free wagon ride out to the farm to pick your own produce, and enjoy the charming country store and bakery.
CITY: Grafton
Edwards Orchard
Open August through November, come visit our farm this fall to share in our rustic culture and enjoy a taste of the season. Many varieties of apples to taste. Also available, in season, are raspberries, pumpkins, home-made goodies, and our famous apple cider donuts. Take a horse drawn ride out to the orchard to pick your own apples too. Family tradition starts here! There's a petting zoo too.
CITY: Poplar Grove
Famous Fossil Vineyard & Winery
Taste soft reds, crisp whites and luscious fruit wines all make at the winery using the best of Illinois grapes. Watch wine being made and then relax and enjoy a glass of wine in the tasting room or on the deck overlooking the vineyard. The Sweet & Savory Plate of meats, cheeses, fruits and chocolate is available daily for a light lunch or snack. Special events are held throughout the year including vineyard tours, festivals and wine & food pairings and a small private room is available for showers, parties & meetings. To learn more about Famous Fossil wines or upcoming events, visit our website. Open: June thru December: daily: 11 am - 6 pm; January thru May: Wednesday thru Saturday: 11 am - 6 pm; Sunday: Noon - 5 pm.
CITY: Cedarville
Flamm Orchards/Fruits & Cream Stand
Take a drive out to the orchards and buy in-season strawberries, peaches and apples. Flamm's Fruits & Cream Stand offers treats like homemade strawberry shortcake, cobblers, apple dumplings and pies.
CITY: Cobden
Fox Creek Vineyards
Situated on a farm settled by the proprietor's great grandmother, the vineyard sits amid low rolling hills. Enjoy sampling the wines and spend some quality time in the country.
CITY: Olney
Fragrant Fields
This 20-year-old herb and perennial plant nursery offers more than 200 varieties of common and uncommon plants. Sip a glass of lemonade as you view the gardens, feed the catfish in the pond and shop for garden items.
CITY: Dongola
Galena Cellars Vineyard
The Lawlor family proudly offers tours and tastings of more than 40 award-winning wines at its Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery. Take a vineyard tour, then kick back with a glass of wine on the veranda. Galena Cellars also has a tasting room on Main Street in Galena, housed in a beautiful brick 1840s grain storehouse with a shaded wine patio.
CITY: Galena
Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery
You're in good company. Experience the charm of Galena in suburban Geneva. The newest addition to the Galena Cellars Family, the Geneva Wine Tasting Room & Gift Shop hosts a beautiful oak bar in a light, airy setting. In the warmer months, enjoy live music with wine and cheese on the outdoor patio. Sit. Swirl. Sip & Savor. Relax on our beautiful Wine Patio after shopping Geneva's historic district.
CITY: Geneva
Garden Market at Elawa Farm
Seasonal flowers and vegetable crops will be supplemented from the kitchen with soups, jams, pestos, breads and muffins. Please visit our market, kitchen and garden when you come to shop, it's a lovely trip worthy of time spent in a most beautiful place. Open June through October.
CITY: Lake Forest
Geneva French Market
The Geneva French Market is held every Sunday May-October in the parking lot at the Metra Station in downtown Geneva. Offering fresh produce, fine textiles, fresh baked goods, and unqiue gifts, the French Market is a great place for a Sunday stroll.
CITY: Geneva
Geneva Green Market
The Geneva Green Market promotes local, organic and sustainable-produced products from local artisan farmers and producers who provide freshness, biodiversity, the highest quality food and the basis of regional cuisine. Geneva Green Market is an educational forum for consumers to learn the uses and benefits of quality, locally grown or prepared food products. This is designed to establish an appreciation of nutritional values of produce and to provide more flavor, freshness and variety of locally grown product. Held every Thursday, 7am to 1pm, June through October.
CITY: Geneva
GenKota Winery
GenKota's award-winning wines and ports feature reds, whites and blushes, from sweet and semi-sweet to dry. A full line of wine-related items and gift baskets are also available.
CITY: Mount Vernon
Genoa Open Air Market
Last Saturday of the month from June through October. Featuring locally-grown produce, wine, baked goods, flowers, and artisan crafts.
CITY: Genoa
Glunz Family Wine & Cellars - Long Grove
Enjoy four generations of wine making at Lake County's first winery. Our award-winning wines are available for tasting and to purchase by the bottle or discounted cases. Shop unique gifts and accessories for wine lovers at every level.
CITY: Long Grove
Goebbert's Pumpkin Farm and Garden Center
Fall: festival with haunted house, corn maze, farm animals, and more. Spring/Summer: large selection of annuals, perennials, vegetable plants, trees, shrubs, aquatic plants, roses, planters, and gourmet food items. Admission is free - cost for some activities.
CITY: South Barrington
Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch - Hampshire
Ride the wagon to pick your own pumpkin, shop the Harvest Market and visit the Farmers Wife Cafe and Bakery. Goebbert's has a second location in South Barrington.
CITY: Hampshire
Good's Furniture Showplace
Start your exploration with a visit to Good's Furniture. America's Furniture Showplace is one of the oldest and largest family-owned furniture stores in the Midwest and is the centerpiece of Kewanee's downtown. The 250,000 square-foot showroom spans two city blocks and encompasses twelve restored buildings that feature over fifty furniture brands. It's a complete shopping experience: visit Good's Market Square Gift Emporium with unique gifts including upscale clothing and accessories, fine luggage, gourmet food and wine, and much more! Grab a bite to eat at the Wine Cellar Restaurant on Good's lower level. For an afternoon pick-me-up, stop by the Coffee & Wine Bar. A skywalk, glass elevators, and a Koi Pond add to the ambience. Visit for the day and pamper yourself with an overnight stay at the in-store European Bed & Breakfast.
CITY: Kewanee
Goshen Market
Saturdays, May through October, experience the Land of Goshen Community Market! The Market is your best source for locally grown, fresh, naturally ripened farm products; tasty baked goods with locally grown ingredients; and wonderful art and gift ideas.The selection changes weekly so plan to visit more than once to fully appreciate the wide selection available. Live entertainment and free demonstrations add to the festive atmosphere. A safe, wholesome environment for kids, so bring the family and stop on by! From 8:00 a.m. till Noon.
CITY: Edwardsville
Grafton Harbor
Visit this "Key West" of the Midwest located where the Illinois River and Mississippi River meet. In addition to harbor faciltiies, a floating swimming pool and the Big Kahuna Bar and Grill, Grafton Harbor features a gift shop where boaters and landlubbers alike can find unique trinkets and treasures. Snacks, beer and wine, boating accessories and parts, clothing for all ages, navigational maps and gifts for that special child are all available.
CITY: Grafton
Grafton Winery & Brewhaus
Located in the quaint river town of Grafton Illinois along the Great River Road Scenic Byway, the Grafton Winery and Brewhaus overlooks the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Nestled among the river bluffs, our winery offers great views of the river for every season. Come join us for dinner with soup, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and pasta dishes. Private parties & banquets are welcome.
CITY: Grafton
Grayslake's Fall/Winter Farmers Market
Come out to downtown Grayslake on Saturdays for the Fall Farmers Market. The market will offer seasonal produce, baked goods, wine and cheeses, spices, organic selections, ready-to-eat food, live entertainment and much more. The fall market is located at Centennial Park 147 Center Street in downtown Grayslake. For details and vendors please visit the website.
CITY: Grayslake
Hailey's Winery
Hailey's Winery specializes in handcrafted wines from grape varieties native to Illinois, as well as other varietals, and seasonal fruits. We are a fully functioning winery, with all wines produced and bottled on the premises. Wine tastings are available in our tasting room any time during our business hours, and we also have weekend music events. In addition to wine, we have homemade bread, cheeses, chocolates, and gift items.
CITY: Byron
Harrison's Restaurant & Brewery
Upscale casual restaurant and micro-brewery featuring an American eclectic menu with a Cajun flair, eight hand-crafted beers, cigar bar, patio and private dining room.
CITY: Orland Park
Hawkins-Schwartz Orchards
This orchard features fresh-picked apples, peaches, a pumpkin patch, cider and special events for children during apple season.
CITY: Dix
Heirloom Market & Cafe
This rural style cafe will capture your senses. The decor is clearly slated rustic with a cozy and a distinctively pleasant ambience. The cafe is a staple of small town life with a sense of community as it embraces the environment that has been set forth by the Heirloom Market. We feature homemade baked goods and gourmet coffee. The espresso drink with steamed milk or variegated flavoring is designed for a picker upper or as a way to pass your time with a good book or to surf the free wi-fi internet.
CITY: Thomson
Herrin Farmers Market
Local farmer's market with large selection of fruits, local specialties, organic food, vegetables, and crafts.
CITY: Herrin
Hickory Point Mall
The Hickory Point Mall offers shopping at many great stores including Bergner's, Kohl's, Sears, Von Maur and The Limited. Enjoy dining in the food court and at popular adjacent restaurants such as Applebee's, Red Lobster and Texas Roadhouse plus catch a movie at the Hickory Point 12.
CITY: Forsyth
Hickory Ridge Vineyard & Winery
Hickory Ridge is nestled in the hills of the Shawnee Forest, and is family owned and operated. All wines are made from grapes grown solely on the premises, and include excellent dry wines, as well as award-winning whites and rosés.
CITY: Pomona
Hill Prairie Winery
Hill Prairie Winery is a great place to relax, enjoy some great wines and reunite with nature in the rolling vineyard. Bring your friends to take in live entertainment each weekend as we are open all year. We offer over 15 award winning wines (along with beer and soft drinks) by the glass or the bottle. Enjoy our rural environment with rolling hills, ponds, our 100 year old barn, windmill and acres of delicious grapes. We even offer tours of our wine making process. Our facilities are available for special occasions, weddings and corporate meetings.
CITY: Oakford
Homestead Orchard
This u-pick orchard features 14 varieties of apples, plus rhubarb and raspberries. The Homestead's store is located in a century-old horse barn, stocked with homemade honey, candles, dried flowers, dried apple chips and more.
CITY: Woodstock
Hopewell Winery
Hopewell Winery opened its doors in 2007 in Pike County. The winery sits on an acre yard and has a banquet hall. Hosting corporate events, weddings, and other private events. At Hopewell Winery, we boast wine, draft beer and bottled beer and make sure to try our Candy Bar Chocolate Wine. Open weekends and located a half mile outside of Summer Hill, IL on Hwy 54 near Pittsfield, IL.
CITY: Rockport
Huron Farm Market
This multi-seasonal shop offers a garden center in the spring, a summer produce market, and fall and Halloween items in the autumn. From April thru October, also enjoy a flea market every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
CITY: Eleroy
Illinois Nut and Candy
Home of Fantasia Confections. Specializing in hand made chocolates, custom confections, dessert tables, gift baskets, corporate gifts, party trays, bulk candy and nuts. The entire store is certified kosher. Vegan, lactose-free and gluten-free products offered.
CITY: Skokie
Illinois River Winery
Come tour the winery, visit the tasting room and outdoor wine garden, featuring award-winning wines made in the Illinois River Valley. Open everyday!
CITY: Utica
Kickapoo Creek Winery
A full-service winery with a tasting room and gift shop. We invite you to walk the grounds and visit the vineyard. Located just minutes from I-74 at the Kickapoo-Edwards exit.
CITY: Edwards
Lake Hill Winery
Lake Hill Winery was built, not only to be a winery, but to be a gathering place and have the ability to hold a wide variety of functions. Besides the wine production, there is a tasting room bar, a small gift shop, and two banquet rooms. The first is the barrel room, which holds 100 people. This room is typically booked for smaller events such as reunions, rehearsal dinners, showers, company parties, birthday parties, etc. The other banquet room is the main hall. With two levels, capacity for over 400 people, a 160" TV/projector, and two bars, this room is capable of accommodating almost any event.
CITY: Carthage
Lasata Winery
Lasata is a Native American word for "place of peace," and this winery's atmosphere lives up to the name. A variety of wines from blush and sweet to white or dry are created here and offered for tasting. Assorted cheese and other goodies are available, so bring your significant other and friends.
CITY: Lawrenceville
Lau-Nae Winery
This family-owned winery offers fruit wines and a shop selling homemade quilts, crafts and gifts.
CITY: Red Bud
Lavender Crest Winery
Lavender Crest Winery features a wine tasting room, gift shop, an espresso bar that serves lunch, entertainment, tours and more.
CITY: Colona
Lincoln Heritage Winery
Offers complimentary tastings of hand crafted wines and frequently offers special wine recipes to sample as well. Gourmet cheeses, salamis and crackers are available for purchase and you are invited to bring a picnic basket filled with your own goodies. There are a small selection of other beverages on hand.
CITY: Cobden
Lincoln's Farmer's Market
This open-air market provides a great opportunity to buy local produce, baked goods, flowers and more. The market runs from May 1 to the end of October on Saturdays and Wednesdays at Scully Park Downtown Lincoln.
CITY: Lincoln
llinois River Wine Trail
Located two hours south of Chicagoland, this central Illinois wine trail features wineries dotted along the Illinois River Road Scenic Byway.
CITY: Pittsfield
Lynfred Winery
The oldest and largest continuously operating winery in Illinois producing more than 50 varietals and 25,000 cases of award-winning wines each year. Come in for a tour and tasting to experience the finest vintages, gourmet cuisine, and luxurious lodging. Tasting room and gift shop open daily. Complimentary tours on weekends. Gift shop featuring wine-related items, specialty gift baskets, glassware, and elegant home decor. Visit our website for events throughout the year including our renowned Oktoberfest.
CITY: Roselle
Lynfred Winery & Tasting Room
Welcome to Lynfred Winery Wheeling, a satellite location for Illinois' oldest and largest, continually-operating winery. Since 1979, Lynfred Winery has been offering guests with great wine, food and lodging. We offer wine tastings, flights, and bottles every day of the week. We have received numerous awards for our wine, and we have countless events that go on throughout the year at the winery. We also have a variety of gift and gourmet food items.
CITY: Wheeling
Lyn-Nita Vineyards
Lyn-Nita Vineyards was established in 2010 with the planting of three acres of vineyards. The Wine Cellar was opened in November 2010 and features wines from Illinois grown grapes. Local wines produced and sold.
CITY: Elkville
Mackinaw Valley Vineyard
Experience a bit of Napa Valley in Central Illinois. Visit the winery, tasting room and gift shop. Enjoy the panoramic view available for weddings, receptions and meetings.
CITY: Mackinaw
MainStreet Libertyville's Farmers Market
This year we have more vendors than ever, so you'll be able to find more fresh food and flowers, and also have more fun shopping for them. This market can provide you with the opportunity to get to know your food and the producer who grows it or makes it. Enjoy a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, fresh baked goods, cheeses, meats, potted plants, cut flowers bouquets, coffee & donuts, kettle popcorn, jams, jellies and sauces.
CITY: Libertyville
Market on the Green
Pittsfield's Main Street Farmer's Market, featuring fresh, local products and produce, is a true summer treat! Enjoy this farmer's market June through September.
CITY: Pittsfield
Massbach Ridge Winery
Sample award-winning, estate-grown wine while enjoying the breathtaking Jo Daviess County hills. Open daily, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., year round.
CITY: Elizabeth
McEachran Homestead
The McEachran Homestead is offically recognized by the State of Illinois as a sesquicentennial farm. In addition to preserves and fresh produce, the farm sells its own line of grape and fruit wines.
CITY: Caledonia
Mickey Finn's Brewery
Mickey Finn's Brewery is a landmark casual social gathering place famous for handcrafted beer. Since opening in 1993 as Lake County's first brewpub, Mickey Finn's has won a trophy case full of national and international awards for their beer. The menu offers a variety of items including burgers, pizza, fish n' chips, and buffalo wings. Also enjoy seasonal outdoor dining, a huge banquet facility, carry-out food and beer, live entertainment on weekends and a diverse clientele.
CITY: Libertyville
Midtown Champaign
An eclectic district filled with dining and multi-cultural attractions, Midtown Champaign, with the beautiful Boneyard Creek flowing, connects Downtown and Campustown Champaign.
CITY: Champaign
Monte Alegre Vineyard & Cellars
Monte Alegre is the first vineyard and winery within the Southern Illinois city of Carbondale. Come stroll down Ponce Wine Trail and taste the wines grown in this beautiful region of the heartland. Offering spectacular vineyard views and prime red and white wines that have made Southern Illinois a favorite tourist destination for wine lovers and their families throughout the Midwest. Southern Illinois residents and tourists alike flock to this wine trail to get immersed in the beauty of growing, bottling, and degustating wine. Monte Alegre Vineyard and Ponce Cellars form the perfect stop in Southern Illinois for learning how to cultivate grapes for white and red wine, touring the wine cellars, degustating wines. Come visit the Ponce Wine Trail and Monte Alegre Vineyard and Cellars in Carbondale, Southern Illinois!
CITY: Carbondale
Moon Dog Farm & Vineyard
This farm offers fine Illinois wine-making grapes, organic vegetables and a small selection of fruits.
CITY: Creal Springs
Mt. Vernon Market
Mt. Vernon Market is located at the former armory building in downtown Mt. Vernon and features farmers markets, flea markets, vendor fairs, trade shows, entertainment, and other events throughout the year.
CITY: Mount Vernon
Nuts on Clark
For 35 years world famous Chicago icon offering popcorn, nuts & fine chocolate. Also located at O'Hare & Midway airport & Union Station. Order online.
CITY: Chicago
Oak Street Shopping
After the Chicago fire of 1871, many wealthy Chicagoans contracted European-trained architects to build new homes and mansions on the City's Near North side. Oak Street soon became the center of the expanding Gold Coast neighborhood and home to some of Chicago's most prominent families. With the turn of the Century, skyscrapers began to grow along neighboring Michigan avenue, but Oak Street retained its historical brownstone character and intimate scale, combining glamorous style with cozy informality. Today Oak Street has become an International style center, housing many of the world's most exclusive boutiques and salons. It is a street which attracts shoppers from all over the world who seek only the best. Oak Street has become a true "destination", a street of dreams where excitement is generated by sophistication and great taste.
CITY: Chicago
Oakbrook Shopping Center
Over 150 specialty stores with outdoor ambiance! Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Macy's, Lord & Taylor and Sears, The Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano's, The Clubhouse and Mon Ami Gabi restaurants. Voted the #1 shopping center.
CITY: Oak Brook
Obed & Isaacs Microbrewery and Eatery
It all about the freshest and best in local beer, great food and top service. Featuring a diverse and eclectic menu and locally crafted beer, located near the Lincoln Home National Historic Site.
CITY: Springfield
Oh, Olive
Providing a unique opportunity to samples some of the freshest extra virgin olive oils in the world. Offering a broad selection of award-winning and estate produced oils, with a goal is to provide the finest quality oil that is delicious, affordable and Kosher certified. Also offering an extensive selection of the finest aged vinegars from Modena, Italy including 23 varieties: pomegranate, tangerine, grapefruit. Imported specialty teas, natural pasta products, soaps and spices. Customized gift baskets available.
CITY: Glenview
Olive Oil Marketplace
A specialty shop devoted completely to the finest olive oils and balsamic vinegars available, is what you will find at Olive Oil Marketplace. Gathered from top olive farms worldwide, the Extra Virgin Olive Oils are infused with natural flavors included roasted garlic, portobello and garlic, lemon pepper and Italian herb. There are more than 25 flavors of olive oils available. More than 17 flavors of balsamic vinegars are also on hand imported from Modena, Italy. Tasting stations for the olive oils and balsamic vinegars are set up throughout the store for customers. Flavored pastas, coffees and a variety of specialized kitchen gadgets are also available for sale. Open Tuesday - Friday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
CITY: Alton


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Bio: George Barbee is a Batten Fellow and a Lecturer at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. He has been a Global Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and a senior executive of Fortune 500 companies. His 30 years of global business experience combines seven years as a co-founder entrepreneur and board directorship for smaller companies.
His broad base of experience provides rich interpretation into practical choices, especially at a time of strategic uncertainty. He is known for his objective, insightful interpretation of current and future business scenarios and has been recognized in "Who's Who in the World" as a global business leader.
Mr. Barbee appeared on global television (NBC and CNN) following the 1987 stock market crash and the 1991 Russian coup, and has been quoted in hundreds of national print and television stories. For the last ten years, he has been pioneering global expansion and innovation for organizations such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, General Electric, General Electric Capital, PepsiCo, and Gillette across numerous product and services industries. He led and grew this prestigious client portfolio to over $100 million sustained revenue annually.
His teaching and mentoring experience spans innovative cross-cultural client centered teams, one-on-one and small group executive coaching, and MBA and Executive Education programs. He received his AB degree from Brown University in 1965 and his MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business in 1967. He served as a Trustee for Darden and was Chairman of the Darden Alumni Board from 1998 to 2001.
Expertise: Innovating with Customers
Fellowship Focus: During his residency, George Barbee's first project was to work with the Dean's office to inaugurate the PricewaterhouseCoopers/Darden e-Business partnership involving over 1,000 PwC global partners. He also participated in the 2001 Incubator Forum and assisted Professor Robert Callaway with the Darden Incubator. He collaborated with Professors Robert Bruner, Wendell Dunn, Elizabeth Teisberg, R. Edward Freeman, and S. Venkataraman for an Executive Education program on Managing Innovative Enterprises. One output from these relationships and from discussions with Professor Teisberg was Mr. Barbee's technical note, "Innovating with Customers…Strategy through Implementation." He used this note when co-teaching several sessions in Professor Teisberg's Leading Innovation course. The note covers fresh themes such as "Innovation Nodes" spread everywhere in large and small organizations and balancing stakeholders' interests for and against innovation in large, globally complex organizations. It offers opposing thoughts and views on popular beliefs about the dilemmas of innovating too closely with customers.
Additional accomplishments include team-teaching in John Colley's Book Seminar course and collaboration with Robert Spekman for an Executive Education Sales Management session. Another collaboration with Professor Spekman led to the creation of an elective course, Innovative Marketing of Services. Mr. Barbee will co-teach this course as a Visiting Lecturer.
His future projects will focus on working with Darden faculty to design new course offerings and develop new Darden marketplace alliances.
Phone: (434) 924-4722
Appointment: 2000–2001
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Interactive: Economic Impact of U.Va. Entrepreneurial Alumni "Innovation Requires Humility and Courage""In Today's Business Environment Learning is Not Optional" Darden Teams Selected for UVa E-Cup Semi-finals "The MBA of the Future Needs a Different Toolbox" New book: Learn or Die
Learn or Dieby Edward D. Hess (New York: Columbia Business School Press)September 2014
The Designing for Growth Field Bookby Jeanne M. Liedtka, Tim Ogilvie and Rachel Brozenske (New York: Columbia Business School Press)January 2014
The Strategist's Toolkitby Jared Harris and Michael Lenox (Darden Business Publishing)July 2013
University of Virginia Darden School of Business
100 Darden Boulevard
Charlottesville, VA 22903 USA
Copyright © 2014 The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.


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onhair! 5th Anniversary
Kiev 4am with Helios 103 and Ilford Pan F+ 50Taken by zark with a Kiev-4AM loaded with Ilford Pan F Plus 50 (35mm) film in hannover, Germany. These tags describe this photo: 35mm, zark, 50ties, rockabilly, rock´n´roll, white, and, black, schwarzweiß, 50iso, plus, f, pan, ilford, 103, helios, 4am, and kiev. Date: 2013-05-04. This photo can also be found in the album 2013_05_04 : Kiev 4am.
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