Experimental Station

Experimental Station Building Independent Cultural Infrastructure > food access, bike education, & arts & culture support

The Experimental Station seeks to build independent cultural infrastructure on the South Side of Chicago by providing essential resources that respond to local needs. Since 2002, Experimental Station has supported food security, youth education, and independent journalism. Our programs include Blackstone Bicycle Works (BBW), Link Up Illinois, and the 61st Street Farmers Market.

06/18/2026

Today, we are honored to be tabling at the Obama Presidential Center’s Grand Opening Ceremony Official Watch Party and, most importantly, sharing our work—and plenty of plants—with the people who came out to celebrate this historic occasion.

The opening of the Center and the many opportunities it will bring to our community give us hope for the future.

As an organization rooted in Woodlawn and Chicago’s South Side, we are inspired by the Center’s commitment to expanding opportunity, strengthening communities, and investing in the next generation. We, too, are committed to building independent cultural infrastructure on Chicago’s South Side to advance food access, youth opportunity, and arts and culture through the 61st Street Farmers Market 61st Street Farmers Market, Blackstone Bicycle Works Blackstone Bicycle Works, Link Up Illinois Official Link Up Illinois, and our arts and cultural programming.

Looking for fun, affordable ways to connect and build community? Experimental Station hosts free public events throughou...
06/18/2026

Looking for fun, affordable ways to connect and build community? Experimental Station hosts free public events throughout the year—from 🎲 Game Nights and 🎬 Movie Nights to 🎶 The Portal Artist Jam Series and more.

Whether you're looking to meet new people, enjoy a film, play games, experience local artists, or simply spend an evening in community, there's something for everyone at our space in Woodlawn.

Visit the link in our bio to RSVP for upcoming events, and sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on what's happening each month.

💛 Free and open to the public.

It’s summer—and Happy Pride Month!To celebrate, Common Threads is screening the award-winning documentary Paris Is Burni...
06/10/2026

It’s summer—and Happy Pride Month!

To celebrate, Common Threads is screening the award-winning documentary Paris Is Burning. This landmark film reminds us that q***r people are not defined by trauma or by society’s ideas of what is normal. Instead, the queens of the 1980s Harlem drag-ball scene show what it means to speak, create, and live authentically without waiting for acceptance from a world that often overlooks them.

Thursday, June 25 | 7–10pm
Experimental Station, 6100 S Blackstone Ave. Chicago
Co-hosted by Common Threads & Experimental Station

Don’t miss this special screening. Come dressed in your favorite camp outfit and celebrate Pride Month with us. Be sure to RSVP to receive event reminders.

Snacks and drinks will be provided. Stick around after the screening for a discussion and conversation.

While RSVP is not required, it helps us prepare. Free & open to all.
Link in bio or at this link: expstation.org/parisisburning

Since 2010, Experimental Station has partnered with the City of Chicago to help make fresh fruits and vegetables more ac...
05/25/2026

Since 2010, Experimental Station has partnered with the City of Chicago to help make fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible and affordable for SNAP users through SNAP/Link and Link Match services at city-run farmers markets.

This year, we continue providing services at:
🥕 Division Street City Market
🥕 Daley Plaza City Market

If you’re a SNAP user planning to shop at these two city markets, look for the SNAP/Link Match Accepted sign and stretch your food dollars with doubled benefits for fresh fruits and vegetables.

Looking for more farmers markets near you? Visit to find participating locations.

🥕🍓 Ever wonder what’s in season—and why? 🌿Slide through to see what’s in season! 🍅 Here are some fun facts about how sea...
05/19/2026

🥕🍓 Ever wonder what’s in season—and why? 🌿

Slide through to see what’s in season! 🍅 Here are some fun facts about how seasons, soil, and climate shape when your favorite fruits and veggies appear—and how they taste.

Higher temperatures mean more variety becomes available. Weather affects not only when items arrive but also how they taste. Strawberries, for example, are sweetest when hot days are followed by cool nights. Carrots and other root crops taste best in the fall and winter, when their sugars concentrate in their roots.

Our seasons were once predictable, but as the climate changes and temperature extremes become more common, we’re seeing unexpected early crops—zucchini and cherries in mid-June, anyone?—or devastating losses, like peaches wiped out by early frosts in recent years.

When you peel back the layers of seasonality—the factors and conditions that determine your favorite foods’ local availability—you begin to understand how farmers work year-round to bring the freshest produce close to you.

✨ Join us tomorrow to support local farmers at the 61st Street Farmers Market! Saturdays, 9 AM–2 PM, at 6100 S. Blackstone Ave.

See you at the market! 🌿🥕🍓

💛 2025 Wrapped: Link Up IllinoisWe’re proud to share the impact of our work in 2025—$2.2M+ in Link Match redeemed statew...
05/19/2026

💛 2025 Wrapped: Link Up Illinois

We’re proud to share the impact of our work in 2025—$2.2M+ in Link Match redeemed statewide, helping tens of thousands of SNAP shoppers access fresh fruits and vegetables each week.

This impact would not be possible without the dedication of farmers market managers and their teams across Illinois, as well as the grocery stores and co-ops who make Link Match work every day on the ground.

Together, we’re strengthening local food systems, supporting farmers and local businesses, and making healthy food more accessible for families across the state. 🌱

Thank you for being part of this work.

👉 Learn more about Link Match and find a participating location at the link in our bio.

Blackstone Bicycle Works’ 2026 Summer Camp for youth Ages: 14–18!Youth will:1️⃣ Learn hands-on bike mechanics and repair...
05/19/2026

Blackstone Bicycle Works’ 2026 Summer Camp for youth Ages: 14–18!

Youth will:
1️⃣ Learn hands-on bike mechanics and repair skills
2️⃣ Participate in group rides, STEAM activities, field trips, and food education
3️⃣ Gain real-world experience while working alongside professional bike mechanics

Participants who complete the program will earn their own bike and receive a $200 stipend, with opportunities for future paid internships, apprenticeships, externships, and scholarships.

📅 Summer Sessions:
Session #1: June 15 – June 26
Session #2: July 6 – July 17
Session #3: July 27 – August 7

🕘 Monday–Friday | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM

Spots are limited to 15 participants per session, with priority given to South Side youth.

Blackstone Bicycle Works (B*W) is a free after-school and summer youth program of Experimental Station that empowers youth from under-resourced communities on Chicago’s South Side through bicycle mechanics, advocacy, cycling, and workforce development. 🚴‍♂️

Our 61st Street Farmers Market returns outdoors this Saturday! ☀️🌱Alongside 30+ vendors offering fresh produce, baked go...
05/19/2026

Our 61st Street Farmers Market returns outdoors this Saturday! ☀️🌱

Alongside 30+ vendors offering fresh produce, baked goods, prepared foods, and locally made products, we’ll also have fun and educational market activities for you to participate in every week. Whether you come alone, with friends, or with family, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

✨ Weekly Activities:
🥘 Chef Demo at 10:30 AM
🌱 Market School from 10 AM–1 PM
🌼 Sprout Station from 10 AM–1 PM
🚲 Blackstone Bicycle Works’ Open Shop from 10 AM–12 PM

The outdoor market season runs through October 31.
📍 Market entrance at 61st & Dorchester
🕘 Saturdays | 9 AM – 2 PM

For our SNAP customers, we accept SNAP and match your SNAP purchases through Link Match. Look for the red tent in the middle of the market on 61st Street to use your SNAP benefits and get matched for fresh fruits and vegetables.

Sign up for our newsletter for weekly updates! Link in bio!

The 2025 Increasing Food Access Report is now available.This report marks 18 years of Experimental Station building heal...
05/14/2026

The 2025 Increasing Food Access Report is now available.

This report marks 18 years of Experimental Station building healthier communities through food access, education, and systems change. This work is only possible thanks to our dedicated team, partners, collaborators, supporters, vendors, educators, volunteers, and community members across Illinois.

Check out the impact of Link Up Illinois and the 61st Street Farmers Market in the full 2025 Increasing Food Access Report at expstation.org/2025foodaccess ❤️

Address

6100 S Blackstone Avenue
Chicago, IL
60637

Opening Hours

Tuesday 1pm - 6pm
Wednesday 1pm - 6pm
Thursday 1pm - 6pm
Friday 1pm - 6pm

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