Low-Line Market Opens for 2015 Season Under Southport 'L' Tracks

SOUTHPORT CORRIDOR — Cookie Yum was offering triple chocolate chip and brown sugar cherry cookies at the first Low-Line Market of the year Thursday when owner Brigid Novak dished on her big plans for next week.

"I'm thinking about making some strawberry preserves. I have an idea in mind for some peanut butter and jelly cookies," Novak said, eyeing cartons of strawberries at the next tent over. There, farmers from Lyon's Fruit Farm were selling towering stalks of herbs alongside early summer fruits.

^{Tania Cubberly (l.) and Kate Sweeney sell flowers from Tempel Farms Organic during the Low-Line Market under the Southport "L" station Thursday. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]}

Returning to Low-Line for the second year, Novak said she enjoys buying wares from other vendors and incorporating them into her cookies each week.

It's part of what makes the market Kayla Clark's favorite, out of the four she attends each week for Lyon's Fruit Farm.

"Honestly, this market gets so excited about everything. Everyone gets really excited about peaches when they come, when the blueberries come," Clark said.

The market opened Thursday under the Southport "L" station, 3411 N. Southport Ave., and will take place at 3 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 8. Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) joined market organizers and vendors for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the start of the event.

^{Ald. Tom Tunney (center) cuts the ribbon during the first 2015 Low-Line Market under the Southport "L" station. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]}

Most of the vendors Thursday were returning to the market from years past, although Velvet Dessert was a new addition, offering $3 scones, French Madeleines and croissants.

Now in its third year, the Low-Line Market benefits from its location under the "L" tracks, said Lee Crandell, newly appointed director of the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce.

"It's a really great thing when you're hopping off the 'L' to have your food right off the train station. A lot of the businesses stop by; Jeni's [Ice Cream] gets their flowers from the Low-Line every Thursday," Crandell said.

^{Meredith Johnston, of Stamper Cheese Company, sizes up a purchase for Daniel Kapnick, a Southport resident. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]}

Like many shoppers Thursday, Sherri Liao is from Southport. She planned a walk to the park with her two children to coincide with the market's opening.

"We come every Thursday. It's just fun. It's kind of nice to see the local businesses and we try to promote local, buy local, that kind of thing. It's summer, and I like the other markets too, but this one is so convenient," Liao said.

^{Velvet Dessert is a new addition to the Low-Line Market. [DNAinfo Chicago/Ariel Cheung]}

Crandell said the list of vendors will likely continue to expand through the season. The current lineup is below:

- Armstrong Farms (vegetables, Richton Park, Ill.)

- Cookie Yum (cookies, Chicago)

- Fehr Brothers Farms (meat and eggs, Eureka, Ill.)

- Lyon's Fruit Farm (fruit and vegetables, South Haven, Mich.)

- Pecking Order (empanadas, Chicago)

- Phoenix Bean (tofu, Chicago)

- PINT (pressed and blended beverages, Chicago)

- Stamper Cheese Company (cheese, Chicago)

- Tamales Express (tamales and tacos, Chicago)

- Tempel Farms Organics (flowers, Old Mill Creek, Ill.)

- Velvet Dessert (pastries, Chicago)

^{Tania Cubberly, co-owner of Tempel Farms Organics, prepares a bouquet. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]}

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