LTH,

Baylor peanuts, roasted, no salt, hard to resist............

"The true Southern watermelon is a boon apart, and not to be mentioned with the commoner things. It is chief of this world’s luxuries, king by the grace of God over all the fruits of the earth. When one has tasted it, he knows what the angels eat. It was not a Southern watermelon that Eve took; we know it because she repented.—"

Mark Twain
Pudd’nhead Wilson’s Calendar

Anyone know if they're still open?

yep - picked up two on sunday.

shyne

cilantro wrote:Anyone know if they're still open?

They were tonight. I asked when was their last day and they said it would be this week. I can't think of a better way to celebrate the 1st day of Fall than with the last taste of Summer.

Hi,

Passed by Baylor's mothership on Halsted yesterday hoping to see signs of life. Not yet, though when someone does see some action there, please advise. I am looking forward to watermelon season.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

Passed by Baylor's mothership on Halsted yesterday hoping to see signs of life. Not yet, though when someone does see some action there, please advise. I am looking forward to watermelon season.

Regards,

Phew! For a moment there I thought you were going to say they were open. I definitely want in on the first GA, SC, FL, melons available.

pairs4life wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

Passed by Baylor's mothership on Halsted yesterday hoping to see signs of life. Not yet, though when someone does see some action there, please advise. I am looking forward to watermelon season.

Regards,

Phew! For a moment there I thought you were going to say they were open. I definitely want in on the first GA, SC, FL, melons available.

Baylor's melons are from Mississippi.

HI,

According to a Baylor relative, the first watermelons we see from them are from Florida. The source comes from further north as the season progresses. I, too, thought they were exclusively Mississippi, too. I thought they grew their own, too. Instead, they contract their watermelons.

Wherever they come from and whatever their connection, a Baylor watermelon is almost better than any I buy anywhere else. I have a watermelon soup recipe I am itching to try.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:HI,

According to a Baylor relative, the first watermelons we see from them are from Florida. The source comes from further north as the season progresses. I, too, thought they were exclusively Mississippi, too. I thought they grew their own, too. Instead, they contract their watermelons.

Wherever they come from and whatever their connection, a Baylor watermelon is almost better than any I buy anywhere else. I have a watermelon soup recipe I am itching to try.

Regards,

I don't doubt that someone told you that, but they certainly make it seem like they come from Mississippi.

Cathy2 wrote:Passed by Baylor's mothership on Halsted yesterday hoping to see signs of life. Not yet, though when someone does see some action there, please advise. I am looking forward to watermelon season.

I think the Melon Market opens every year on Mother's Day. Why not give Mom a melon this year?

stevez wrote:I don't doubt that someone told you that, but they certainly make it seem like they come from Mississippi.

I thought the Mississippi sign is to alert customers that the Baylor product is at its peak, the watermelon equivalent of the Hot Doughnuts Now light.

Baylor’s Melon Market
10100 S Halsted St
(a few blocks south of the I-57 Halsted exit)
Chicago

Took a ride Mothers Day weekend, no action. Thinking about Donuts and watermelon this weekend, anyone know if they have opened?

We should take up a collection and buy them a phone so we can find out if they are open. I don't care about the gas money, but I hate wasting a trip down there for nada.

I'm planning a trip June 5th, so I hope they're open by then. Got to see what "good watermelon" tastes like.

Cogito wrote:We should take up a collection and buy them a phone so we can find out if they are open. I don't care about the gas money, but I hate wasting a trip down there for nada.

Hi,

They all have cellphones. When Baylor was selling in Highland Park last year. The guy was reading his text messages while waiting for customers. OR maybe we ask them to put us on an e-mail distribution to advise two things: when they will open and close for the season.

Regards,

Rene G wrote:I think the Melon Market opens every year on Mother's Day. Why not give Mom a melon this year?

babaluch wrote:Took a ride Mothers Day weekend, no action. Thinking about Donuts and watermelon this weekend, anyone know if they have opened?

Very sorry for the misinformation. I read it in a newspaper but unfortunately it doesn't hold for the Chicago location this year.

Crocker Stephenson in the 12 August 2002 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote:In the spring—Baylor's opens every year on Mother's Day (watermelons are a very popular Mother's Day present)—Baylor has to drive his truck all the way to Florida to find fresh melons.

I went by the Melon Market today and it still is not open. It's closed up tight and there's no activity around it so it seems unlikely it will open tomorrow.

Hi,

I read the Shriner's annual vidalia onion sale was postponed a few weeks due to weather conditions where they were grown. Maybe there are similar growing conditions preventing Baylor from opening as early as they have in the past.

Regards,

Still no melon sightings? These guys are MIA.

Cogito wrote:Still no melon sightings? These guys are MIA.

I have an email address for one of the Baylor's, sent an inquiry a couple of days ago and have not received a response. I am really looking forward to the first Baylor melons of the season, whenever that may be.

G Wiv wrote:I have an email address for one of the Baylor's, sent an inquiry a couple of days ago and have not received a response. I am really looking forward to the first Baylor melons of the season, whenever that may be.

LTH,

Recieved an email from Keith Baylor this morning, Baylor watermelons is up and running for the season. Considering the blah melon I had from Fresh Farms today this is very good news.

Enjoy,
Gary

Gary,

Have you tried the black diamond watermelons? We picked one up last week from your Fresh Farms, and it was decent. Not exceptional, but didn't suck. Wow, what a recommendation! I was actually not too disappointed for before Memorial Day.

I've never had a Baylor melon, but I've had pretty good luck over the years with the black diamonds.

(We also went home with a pretty good musk melon. It actually had some aroma!)

G Wiv wrote:Recieved an email from Keith Baylor this morning, Baylor watermelons is up and running for the season. Considering the blah melon I had from Fresh Farms today this is very good news.

Yes, the melons have arrived. Baylor's opened last week but honestly the watermelon I sampled wasn't all that great. Not a bad melon, mind you, but not up to the usual Baylor standards. It might be mere coincidence that there was no Mississippi signage to be seen, perhaps supporting the Mississippi sign theory (see above). I know I'll be waiting a little longer before buying my first melon of the season.

G Wiv wrote:

G Wiv wrote:Considering the blah melon I had from Fresh Farms today this is very good news.

Aha! I took the free sample (quite a generous one, I thought) twice, and the first two bites were delicious but the rest were incredibly bland. Glad it's not just me.

Baylor's Melon Truck (small version) spotted yesterday on the corner of 95th and Colfax. Mississippi sign proudly displayed. I was on my way to Calumet Fisheries and didn't stop.

Did anybody score any Baylor melons this weekend? I'm waiting for some of the usual positive, glowing reports of watermelon nirvana on the South Side again, before I make the trek.

Wondering if they are returning to the US-41 and IL-22 weekend location.

LAZ wrote:Wondering if they are returning to the US-41 and IL-22 weekend location.

Can you be more specific?

Dave148 wrote:

LAZ wrote:Wondering if they are returning to the US-41 and IL-22 weekend location.

Can you be more specific?

On Aug 02, 2009, Cathy2 wrote:Today I was heading north on US-41 in Highland Park, when I noticed a watermelon truck in front of the closed Highland House. There were watermelon slices on the curb as well as on the edges of the truck. It reminded me of Baylor's presentations at other outdoor venues.

On the way home, I stopped by for a quick visit. On the truck's flatbed I saw a bag of peanuts, another Baylor customary product. When the salesman walked over, I asked, "Are you related to Baylor's Watermelons?" "This is Baylor Watermelons." "Where are they from this week?" "Georgia."

I was absolutely thrilled to learn they plan to be at the corner of US-41 and IL-22 on weekends.

This is the intersection of Skokie Highway and Half Day Road in Highland Park.

Hi,

I only saw them there once at 41 and 22. When I see them, I will be certain to ask, because it sure would be convenient. I have seen some Baylor's melons selling on the side of the road in the Kenosha-Racine area, though I don't recall where.

Regards,

LAZ wrote:

Dave148 wrote:

LAZ wrote:Wondering if they are returning to the US-41 and IL-22 weekend location.

Can you be more specific?

On Aug 02, 2009, Cathy2 wrote:Today I was heading north on US-41 in Highland Park, when I noticed a watermelon truck in front of the closed Highland House. There were watermelon slices on the curb as well as on the edges of the truck. It reminded me of Baylor's presentations at other outdoor venues.

On the way home, I stopped by for a quick visit. On the truck's flatbed I saw a bag of peanuts, another Baylor customary product. When the salesman walked over, I asked, "Are you related to Baylor's Watermelons?" "This is Baylor Watermelons." "Where are they from this week?" "Georgia."

I was absolutely thrilled to learn they plan to be at the corner of US-41 and IL-22 on weekends.

This is the intersection of Skokie Highway and Half Day Road in Highland Park.

I know the intersection well. I was just wondering where they hang out. Thanks for the details. I'll do a drive-by this weekend.