Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/835995
"CHICAGO HAS SOME OF THE FINEST NECTAR SOURCES IN THE WORLD." —sydney barton PHOTOGRAPHY BY FOXYS_FOREST_MANUFACTURE/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS OH, HONEY! FROM THE CITY'S FIRST MEADERY TO A LUXE BEAUTY LINE, CHICAGO'S HONEY SCENE IS SUDDENLY BUZZING. BY SAMANTHA STAHL Forget agave—the sweetest new trend in Chicago is honey, and three businesses in particular are helping locals get a taste. Taking a cue from Chicago's booming beer scene, Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery (9030 S. Hermitage Ave., 773-233-7579; wildblossommeadery .com) specializes in handcrafted mead, aka honey wine. "People [try mead] and are like, 'Wow, what was I missing?'" says owner Greg Fischer, who compares the flavor to cider and who brews more than 20 variations of the stuff, from cran- berry to hot chili pepper. Fischer's new tasting room in Beverly also includes a whopping 14,000-square- foot patio, set to open in June. "Chicago has some of the finest nectar sources in the world," says Sydney Barton, operations manager for Chicago Honey Co-op (2000 W. Carroll Ave., 312-508- 8142; chicagohoneycoop.com), which gives locals hands-on experience with beekeeping and beehive maintenance. From late July to early October, Chicagoans can sample the co-op's own honey at destina- tions like Green City Market and the Logan Square farmers market. In the beauty realm, Sweet Beginnings (a North Lawndale nonprofit that helps former offend- ers transition back into society) now crafts a honey-infused skincare line, beelove (beelovebuzz.com), with products like triple-butter lip balm and Nourish & Smooth body cream. Why honey? Says executive director and CEO Brenda Palms Barber, "As a natural emulsifier, honey keeps even the roughest skin moisturized—and it never spoils." . Sweet on Chicago: Local companies are embracing the honey trend with everything from beekeeping classes to beauty products and more. 76 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM SCENE TREND