The GFAF Expo is now called Nourished!

Over the past few years I've been attending the Gluten-Free Allergy Free Expo, which is a great showcase for allergy conscious manufacturers and a great learning tool for allergy-conscious consumers. Although I'm not gluten free, my wife is gluten, dairy, soy sensitive, and so we are super aware of what's in food at our house.

I missed the event last year due to being out of town, and was wondering when or if I would get invited back to it.  (I think the last time it was in April)

Well, I have been invited back, but the name has changed!

It's now called Nourished: The Gluten Free, Allergy & Special Diet Festival. (aka The Nourished Festival).   It's happening June 1-2 in Schaumburg.

While all of the foods at the festival will continue to be gluten free, and in previous incarnations there has also been a nut-free section, this year they are adding a vegan section and a paleo/keto section as well.   The booths will be color coded (Blue booths are gluten free; red booths are nut-free and gluten free; purple booths are paleo or keto and gluten-free; green booths are plant-based and gluten free. )

The festival will take place in Schaumburg at the  Schaumburg Convention Center on June 1 and 2 2019 from 10 am-4pm each day.

In addition to booths with opportunities to try products, there will also be classes, book signings, community building, and lots more.

We are offering a 20% discount on tickets(see below), and also giving away some tickets via #rafflecopter

WIN TICKETS!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tickets for a day pass are typically $5 for kids and $15 for adults (and if you want a Sunday family pass, you can get one for  $35 which includes up to two adults and up to 6 kids!)

And if you purchase your ticket before 5/31/19 using the code ADVANCE, you will get 20% off your order, which is a pretty great deal. BUY TICKETS ON EVENTBRITE

NOURISHED FESTIVAL SCHAUMBURG IMPORTANT DETAILS!  BUY TICKETS NOW. WHEN: April 22 & 23, 2017 10:00-4:00 pm on Saturday the 22nd 10:00-3:00 pm on Sunday the 23rd WHERE: Schaumburg Convention Center 1551 Thoreau Drive North  Schaumburg, IL 60173 Click HERE for directions. Free Parking! Note: If the Convention Center parking lot is full when you arrive, there is additional free parking in the lots of the adjacent office buildings. COST: Tickets range from $5-$35 depending on age, cost, and how many days you want to attend. You can get an additional 20% off by using the code "ADVANCE" when purchasing between now and MAY 31.  BUY TICKETS NOW. OTHER: Concessions will be open for beverages and gluten-free salads.

PLEASE NOTE: The show is not 100% gluten free, or allergy free.  It is in a mixed use environment, and everybody is different.  You know yourself best.  If you can not tolerate certain things, DON'T TRY THEM!

Answers to all your questions about the festival can be found on the Nourished Festival website.

Also, please note, I have received free tickets to promote and attend this event.  I am also an affiliate of Nourished, and if you purchase tickets through the above links, I may make an affiliate credit. My thoughts about the event are my own.

Here's a list of the classes by day:

Saturday

Dr. Peter Kan

10:30-11:30 AM

Roadmap to Healing Autoimmune Diseases

Functional medicine and nutrition management of autoimmune diseases is more than just a gluten-free or Autoimmune Protocol diet. The body has a priority list that must be addressed in sequence in order to build a foundation that will lead to fast results and true healing. At this workshop, learn the triggers for autoimmune disease, how leaky gut syndrome leads to loss of immune tolerance and autoimmune disease, and how to use The Ultimate Autoimmune Roadmap to heal autoimmune diseases without frustration.

Desiree Nielsen, RD

12:00-1:00 PM

Understanding the Gut-Brain Connection

An integrative approach to health is critical to digestive wellness. Join Desiree Nielsen, RD to learn more about the gut-brain connection and the role of gut bacteria transforming digestive health, fighting inflammation and supporting mental wellbeing. Learn how to create a self-care routine that encompasses anti-inflammatory nutrition, intelligent supplementation, and wellness practices that fit into real life. Desiree will be available at Booth (# coming) after her presentation for nine, free 1-1 one consultations. Come by early to sign up!

Kim Koeller

1:30-2:30 PM

Restaurant and Travel Essentials for Gluten and Allergy Free Living

Dream of eating safe meals free from gluten and other allergens in restaurants? Want to travel gluten free or with food allergies across the US and the globe? Kim Koeller, world traveler with celiac disease and multiple food allergies, shares her travel insights from visiting all 50 States and flying almost 3 million miles to six continents. Learn tips for ordering safe meals in ethnic restaurants including hidden ingredients, food preparation and cross-contact considerations. Empower yourself with proven tricks for snacks, airlines, hotels, foreign speaking countries and more from Kim Koeller, the award-winning author and creator of the Let's Eat Out Around the World Gluten Free and Allergy Free travel series by GlutenFree Passport.

Stacey Littlefield

3:00-4:00 PM

Breaking the Cycle of Stress, Anxiety and Depression

The stress we live with today can be overwhelming. Not only do we have more on our to-do lists than time available, but financial, relational and other concerns compound our stress levels. In addition, our bodies are under a significant amount of stress due to toxins in our environment and food lacking in proper nutrients. Stacey Littlefield will address the problem and present solutions that everyone can follow to restore hope and ultimately a fuller and more vibrant life.

Sunday

Elizabeth Anthony Gronert

10:30-11:30 AM

Bone Broth - SO Much More Than a Pot of Bones!

A pot of healing soup has been “medicine” for centuries. Learn why a daily dose of Bone Broth may help nourish, heal, reduce inflammation in the gut and body. Many experience healthier skin and shiny hair. Best of all, she will guide you on how to accomplish all this affordably – how to eat healthy AND maintain your budget!

Chen Ben Asher, M.A.

12:00-1:00 PM

How to Shift Your Metabolism on a Gluten Free Diet

Going on a gluten-free diet is very often only the beginning of your healing journey. Discovering what your body needs to heal and balance your systems is a process that requires knowledge, experimentation, and diligence. Chen Ben Asher will present the science behind an elimination diet, removing gluten and other foods, and how it challenges our six bodily systems. With the right direction, you too CAN achieve BALANCE, VITALITY and WEIGHT LOSS.

Chef Einat Mazor

1:30-2:30 PM

New Flavors and Ideas for Plant-Based, Gluten Free & Vegan Baking

Join Chef Einat Mazor as she teaches us how to make delicious pizza, waffles and breads. These recipes are fast, easy, delicious and plant-based!

Jasmine Jafferali, MPH, ACE-CPT

3:00-4:00 PM

Gluten Cross-Reactivity: 10 Foods You May Be Eating That Your Body Thinks Is Gluten

You've gone gluten free and follow a strict gluten-free diet. You are beginning to feel better, but not quite what you expected? There are a number of naturally gluten-free foods which contain proteins so similar to gluten that your body confuses them with gluten. Learn more about what gluten cross-reactivity is, how to tell if it’s causing your symptoms, and what you can do about it.

The Gluten Free Expo is Back!

Last year, our family attended the Gluten Free Allergy Friendly Expo and had a great time. We're planning on going again!

This year  GFAF is coming back to Schaumburg Saturday April 22 and Sunday April 23, and it's going to be just as busy and even better than last year.  BUY TICKETS NOW.

Photo courtesy of GFAF Expo website.

GFAF is the largest expo of Gluten Free and Allergy Free foods in the country, and Chicago is now one of 7 cities they visit on an annual basis. This is their tenth year coming to Chicago!

While at GFAF, you can meet over 100 exhibitors, test gluten free samples, purchase all kinds of items at a discount,  meet other people who have similar food restrictions, and find out more about eating Gluten-free and allergy free.

Photo courtesy of GFAF Expo website.

What do you get with your Expo Ticket?

• Entry into the vendor fair with over 100 brands 
• Valuable coupons at the vendor booths 
• Samples from the vendors are considered to be gluten free. 
• Discounted products available for purchase 
• Informative classes related to the gluten free and allergen-friendly lifestyle 
• Free reusable bag to carry your goodies 
• Meet your favorite vendors, authors and bloggers

Photo courtesy of GFAF Expo website.

In addition to dozens of food  and lifestyle vendors and plenty of samples to go around, the GFAF will be having some classes and seminars available. All are taught by either doctors or experts who will be able to impart their wisdom on you.  Classes are included as part of your ticket!


SATURDAY APRIL 21
10:30-11:30 “Food Allergy and Gluten Sensitivity Testing: Conventional and Alternative Methods”

12:00-1:00 "Gluten, gluten-free, what's it all about?"

1:30-2:30 "Tips, Tools and Tricks for Gluten Free and Allergy Friendly Travel Around the World"

3:00-4:00  "5 Steps to Healing Your Inflammation"

SUNDAY APRIL 23
10:30-11:30 "Not Just Gluten Free ... Make It Low Carb!"

12:00-1:00  "Gluten: The Gut, Brain & Skin Connection"

1:30-2:30 "Rediscovering the Art & Science of Nourishing"

See the full schedule and info about presenters here:

GLUTEN FREE EXPO SCHAUMBURG IMPORTANT DETAILS!  BUY TICKETS NOW. WHEN: April 22 & 23, 2017 10:00-4:00 pm on Saturday the 22nd 10:00-3:00 pm on Sunday the 23rd WHERE: Schaumburg Convention Center 1551 Thoreau Drive North  Schaumburg, IL 60173 Click HERE for directions. Free Parking! Note: If the Convention Center parking lot is full when you arrive, there is additional free parking in the lots of the adjacent office buildings. COST: Tickets range from $5-$35 depending on age, cost, and how many days you want to attend. You can get an additional 20% off by using the code "ADVANCE" when purchasing between now and April 21.  BUY TICKETS NOW. OTHER: Concessions will be open for beverages and gluten-free salads.

 PLEASE NOTE: The show is not 100% gluten free, or allergy free.  It is in a mixed use environment, and everybody is different.  You know yourself best.  If you can not tolerate certain things, DON'T TRY THEM!

The full Safety speech is available on the GFAF website

Also, please note, I have received free tickets to promote and attend this event.  I am also an affiliate of the Expo, and if you purchase tickets through the above links, I may make an affiliate credit. My thoughts about the event are my own.

Gluten Free Allergy Friendly Expo (GFAF) is in Schaumburg this weekend!

The largest expo of Gluten Free and Allergy Free foods in the country, GFAF is coming to the Schaumburg Convention Center this weekend.  They've been around for 9 years, and Chicago is now one of 7 cities they visit on an annual basis.

While there, you can meet over 100 exhibitors, take informative classes, test gluten free samples, purchase all kinds of items at a discount, and find out more about eating Gluten-free and allergy free.

Photo courtesy of GFAF Expo website.

What do you get with your Expo Ticket? 

• Entry into the vendor fair with over 100 brands 
• Valuable coupons at the vendor booths 
• Samples from the vendors are considered to be gluten free. 
• Discounted products available for purchase 
• Informative classes related to the gluten free and allergen-friendly lifestyle 
• Free reusable bag to carry your goodies 
• Meet your favorite vendors, authors and bloggers

Tickets cost $15 for adults, $5 for kids, and on Sunday there is a family pass for $35 for the whole family.  And if you use the code "ADVANCE" before May 13, you can get 20% off your tickets.)
Buy tickets to the GFAF Expo 

My local GF bakery- best name ever!

We haven't been before, but I heard from my local Gluten Free bakery (with maybe the best name ever!  DEFLOURED, at Clark & Balmoral)  that it can get super busy.


Find out more about GFAF Expo.

Aquatic Experience this weekend

We're off this weekend to a really fun event-- the World Pets Association's third annual Aquatic Experience at the Renaissance Schaumburg.

The event, which happens November 6-8, has a lot of amazing events and exhibitions, including a Gator Encounter, where show attendees will be able to interact with alligators up close in a touch tank.

There will also be a display of adult gators, a live octopus tank, a piranha tank,  many displays of freshwater and saltwater fish from around the world, a Kids Aquarium contest, and a whole lot more, including discussions and q &a sessions with aquatic experts, lots of exhibitors that will have on display products for beginner and advanced hobbyists alike.

They even have an app available for Iphone and Android that will let you plan out your schedule as well as send you alerts during the show.

Tickets are now on sale for Aquatic Experience – Chicago, Nov. 6-8, 2015 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center (1551 Thoreau Drive N, Schaumburg, IL). 

Daily family passes are $25 and individual tickets start at just $10. Children ages 5 and under are free. 

Registration for the Kids Aquarium Contest for children ages 5-16 is $5 and includes a 10-gallon aquarium kit plus a wristband for free admission to the show floor with a paying adult. 

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit  www.aquaticexperience.org.

Medieval Times:- Dinner Jousting in Schaumburg.

Disclosure: I and my party were given a meal and free admission to this event.  As always, my opinions and critical view are all my own. 


Last weekend our family and some friends went to Medieval Times, a medieval dinner/jousting experience in Schaumburg.   It was a lot of fun!

The experience brings you back to an eleventh-century king's feast and tournament.  You get served a four course meal by a wench (well, in our case we had a self-proclaimed mensch- a male wench!) You eat with your hands.  You wear a crown.  And you watch knights ride around on horses, jousting and fighting for the championship.

When you go, you should go a little bit early to take in all of the pageantry.  As you enter, you are given a crown, and then  have your picture taken with a princess or a lord, for possible purchasing afterwards.  You are also assigned to a color (the color of your knight, who you will be cheering for)  You then enter a great ante-room, which is also the gift shop, bar, dance floor, and fun area.  (Yes, they make no bones about it-- here you ENTER through the gift shop.)

Before too long the king's minister came out to make some announcements, sounding like a medieval flight attendant.  Finally, you get to enter the arena,  which is approximately the size of a football field.  The arena is in the round, with tables and seats flanking the playing area, and go up probably 6 or 7 rows.  Every seat has a very good view.  I estimated that the arena can seat around 1000 people, maybe even more.

The food is served in between portions of the show.  The menu is the same for everyone-- chicken, corn, roasted potato, tomato soup, garlic bread, and a pastry.  No silverware, you eat with your hands just like eleventh-century nobility did.  My wife has some dietary issues, and they were pretty accomodating, with  gluten free and vegetarian options.  The food was quite good, especially considering that they were turning out about 1000 meals per show.  You can also get served libations, including ale, mead, wine, and soft drinks.  I am pretty sure Ye Olde Pepsi is not a medieval drink, but what the heck!

The show was fun, with lots of swashbuckling, horsemanship, and a falconry exhibition.  I joked to my wife afterwards that it was like a circus, but without the clowns.  (There was some chatter/repartee between the king and the princess as a lead in to some of the competitions, but it wasn't comedy.)  In fact, now that I think about it, it's a little surprising there was not a comedy element to this.  A jester lampooning  the jousting, or a comedy fire juggling act with a pre-renaissance feel would go over quite well.  (Shades of Game of Thrones!)

The stage combat was pretty good, and thrilling to see.  

Here's a 30 second video of the end of one of the swashbuckling fights:

And here's a video I took of 2 and half minutes of fighting, including some jousting!

As you can see, the fighting is pretty entertaining.

Over all, this is a great event for families, and group gatherings (work buddies, etc) My kid and his friends had a wonderful time.  (And so did we parents!)

There are nine castles throughout the United States, and my guess is that they will build a few more over the next couple of years.

To find out more about Medieval Times in your area, go to http://www.medievaltimes.com

Brickworld Chicago- The top Lego Exposition in the area!

Brickworld, one of the premier Lego events in the country, is coming to Chicago June 20-21.

 The exposition, which will be held at the Renaissance Convention Center in Schaumburg, will feature over 66,000 square feet of displays, interactive activities, stop-action lego films, and vendors.

 Nearly 400 artists and engineers will display their creations, which include everything from scenes from mythology and history to futuristic space stations.  Also on display will be replicas of famous paintings, replicas of actual buildings, robots,working trains, cityscapes,  and many more things built entirely of Legos.   Last year they presented the largest LEGO great ball contraption in North America, and that will be back this year as well. (see video to the right)

There will be a play area with 20,000 bricks for kids to build their own Legos, and plenty of Lego vendors and enthusiasts on hand to give tips and sell models and other Lego gear.

There are a number of regional Brickworld expositions, but Chicago is one of the largest.  Says Bryan Bonahoom, organizer of the festival, "Chicago is the crowning jewel of our shows."


(Brickworld is a private company not connected with the Lego company.  Brickworld brings together Lego enthusiasts of all ages to celebrate the creativity, diversity, and inventiveness that characterizes the best of what Lego can represent.)





Brickworld Chicago will be held on June 20 and 21, 2015 at the Renaissance Convention Center in Schaumburg, IL.

Hours are 10 AM – 4 PM on Saturday and 10 AM – 3 PM on Sunday.

General admission tickets are $10 in advance, $11 at the door and kids under 3 are free.

DISCOUNTED TICKETS: Readers of this blog before June 17 can get in for $8.50.  To do so, purchase tickets online at https://brickworld.thundertix.com/events/59051 and use the code DADA15.

Click the image to the left.

This is going to be an awesome event for everybody who likes Legos.  Hope to see you there!







If you are unsure of what to expect, you can take a VERY VERY COMPLETE video tour of the 2014 event.  This video is presented by BEYOND THE BRICK.

And here are some more photos of past events (click to enlarge):