Right Now Downtown

While it is usually sweltering around here this time of year, the last Market day was breezy and lovely and cool.  Loosely Strung played some old favorites, making the afternoon feel festive.

In search of new treasures this week, I cam across Green Handle Designs.  She has some fantastic jewelry, or rather wearable art.  She also has duct tape flowers that are bright and colorful, catching your eye from afar.  The flowers come as magnets, barrettes and ink pens, and I had to get one of each.  People that can make things out of duct tape besides patches for furniture amaze me.

I also finally stopped at the photography booth just down from mine, Phosegraphe, which means “light writing” in Greek.  His pictures are gorgeous!  The way that he plays with light and color make me want to start collecting his pictures.  If you are coming down this way, I strongly suggest you stop and take a look!

On my way out, I saw a farm stand that I hadn’t yet seen and couldn’t resist stopping for some green beans at Darby Farms.  They are from West Jefferson and I used to live there, so it felt like old friends.  Delicious green beans!  I hope they come back next week.

Counting down until the next market…  Hope to see you there!

Last week Chef Derek from Due Amici stopped by the Market for a wonderful cooking demonstration at the Ohio Proud Mobile Kitchen using Ohio-grown produce.  You’ll want to try these out for yourself!

The weather people keep predicting rain on Market days and it keeps turning out to be a beautiful day.  So you should come to Pearl Market no matter what the weather people say!

While looking around at the Market this week and wondering what new thing I could try, I spotted Take Ten Body Therapy.  Over the past couple of weeks I have had a cold and have generally been a little more stressed out than usual.  So it seemed fate was screaming, “Get a massage!”  Since I’m not one to argue with fate, I gave in and got a massage.  Heavenly!  Oh, the sacrifices I make for this job!  At Take Ten you can pay by the minute instead of having to block off a half hour or full hour, so you really can come by during your lunch break.

This week I also stopped by Heidi’s Homemade.  During the summer I feel like we don’t spend as much time with our pets because we are always out and about.  So I got our cats some treats.  Heidi’s has certified organic cat, dog and horse treats.  It is nice to be able to confidently give your pets something healthy.  I only have cats and they were quite pleased with the new treats.  I can only assume that dogs would feel the same, since they are generally a bit less discerning about what they eat.  Stop by Heidi’s stand and she’ll tell you all about them.

Finally, June 29 is cooking demonstration day!  Be sure to stop by the Market and find out what it’s all about.

I love special sample days at the Market!  Love, love, love them!  Regular Market days are already festive, with all of the people, food and cheer.  But on sample day, there is definitely some magic in the air.  Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties sponsored Strawberry Day on Tuesday and it was heavenly.  Sugardaddy’s had samples of their strawberry blondies; and if you’ve ever had Sugardaddy’s, then you know that they are legendary.  The strawberry blondies were delicious.

There were other notable samples; one in particular turned my eye.  Now, normally I’m a “safe” eater.  I don’t try many new things (aside from those purple green beans a few weeks ago).  I stick to the staples like cheese and… chocolate.  On Tuesday, however, I felt it was my duty to try strawberry salsa.  And you know what?  I could totally sit and eat a bowl of that with some chips.

Also, this week at the Market, I finally stopped by Poppin’ Time Kettle Corn.  I never knew I liked kettle corn until last year at the Market when they reeled me in with their free samples.  Theirs is one of the most enticing smells wafting lazily down the alley.  My last favorite stop this week was at Salaam’s Caravan Fragrances.  I love exotic fragrances and this is the place to get them.  There are so many options and ways to use the oils, once you narrow down your choices.  I put a few drops of oil into the water beads I bought last week and now they are an amazing looking air freshener.

Come see us next week at the Market and find some treasures for yourself!

Capital Crossroads kicked off its summer programming with the return of the ever-popular Pearl Market to the Pearl and Lynn Street alleys on May 18.  Sponsored by WCBE 90.5 and managed by Capital Crossroads, the Market runs on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., May through October.  This season of Pearl Market is bursting at the seams, with more farmers (27) participating than ever before and more than 40 merchants.

The farmers’ fantastic offerings, including asparagus, greens, herbs, peas, green beans, radishes, strawberries, plants, flowers and, later in the season, sweet corn, tomatoes, squash and apples, remain a big draw.

“People realize the importance of purchasing food that is locally grown,” explained Adam Schroeder, Pearl Market Manager.  “Shoppers get to know farmers who grow their food, they get to support area merchants and they really learn the benefits of buying local.”

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission recently released the region’s first Central Ohio Local Food Assessment and Plan, which highlights the importance of having fresh, local, healthy food available to all neighborhoods in Central Ohio.  Executive Director of MORPC, Chester R. Jourdan, Jr., addressed the crowds on opening day of the Market, emphasizing that Pearl Market’s offerings fit right into this “locavore” movement.

Joining some returning vendor favorites, such as Great Harvest Bread Co., 3 Babes & a Baker, Sweet Thing Gourmet and Nellie’s Samosas, are some vendors making their Pearl Market debut, including Let Us Eat Cupcakes, J Squared Organics, Devour Cookie Co. and Afrikan Designs.

In addition, daily live entertainment and a public eating space will encourage visitors to pick up lunch from one of the food vendors or bring a packed lunch and enjoy the hustle and bustle.

There are some changes afoot.  Due to overwhelming requests from the farmers and merchants, the Market will now spill out of the alleys and expand on to both Broad Street and Gay Street.  The spill-over will include both farmers and merchants, with farmers setting up shop on the Gay Street end of the alley for the first time.

“This will give the Market more presence on those high-traffic thoroughfares,” added Schroeder.  “Especially on Gay Street, where folks are beating a path to new lunch spots like Plantain Cafe’, J. Gumbo’s and Sugardaddy’s.”

In addition, after a test run during the Winter Pearl Market, the summer Market now accepts credit cards and the Ohio Direction Card.  Customers just need to visit the Market tent located at the intersection of Lynn and Pearl to pick up red credit card or green Ohio Direction Card tokens.  All vendors that are accepting the tokens will display a special sticker on their vendor sign denoting which tokens they accept.  This change will allow those who may not be cash-carriers to make some must-have purchases.

As the summer progresses, fans of the Market should keep an eye out for special events.  The Ohio Department of Agriculture will bring their Ohio Proud Mobile Food Kitchen to the Market, where area chefs will shop the Market, do a live cooking demonstration and let visitors sample their dish.  Mark your calendars for June 29, August 31, September 28 and October 26.  Other special events include Strawberry Day on June 8, Sweet Corn Day on July 13, Kids’ Day on July 27, Tomato Day on August 10, Squash Day on September 14 and Apple Day on October 12.  The Market will be closed on Friday, July 2 in observance of Independence Day.

For a sneak peek at the beautiful sights of Pearl Market, take a look at our Opening Day Photo Album.

ON YOUR MARK, GET READY…

Grab your walkin’ shoes and shoppin’ bag and GO!

Pearl Market opens in just one short week and shoppers will find record numbers of vendors this year offering a cornucopia of treasures.  One-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry and artwork, baked goods, meats and cheeses, and don’t forget the freshest seasonal fruits, vegetables and flowers abound on Tuesdays and Fridays beginning May 18 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Get to know the farmer who grows the food you purchase and find out what inspired the artist who creates that can’t-live-without necklace.  While you’re there, grab a bite of lunch and enjoy the live entertainment.

Shopping is even easier this year since Pearl Market now accepts major credit cards and the Ohio Directions Card.

Want a little preview?  Check out the video below.  Farmers Jarrod and Carie Starr from Cherokee Valley Bison Farm and Steve and Gretel Adams from Sunny Meadows Flower Farm tell you all about the benefits of Pearl Market.

Pearl Market Opens Soon from Downtown Columbus on Vimeo.

WHO’S YOUR DADDY?

Sugardaddy’s is open and ready to tempt you.  Wow, where to begin?  Who would ever guess that brownies and blondies could offer so many possibilities?

Co-founders/creators Tom Finney, self-taught baking genius, and Mark Ballard, marketer extraordinaire, created a business like no other that began as a labor of love.

The venture launched online at sugardaddys.com and the two experienced profound success after appearing on Food Network.  Did you know InStyle and Ellen DeGeneres rave about Sugaraddy’s?

Mark and Tom discovered along the way that customers want to touch, feel and, don’t forget, taste their products, so they opened their first retail store in the Polaris-area last year.  They had a hunch that downtown was the place to be and Pearl Market offered the perfect opportunity to test their hypothesis.  Now you can find them on the corner of Gay and High streets serving up their Sumptuous Sweeties in a beautiful store you won’t want to leave.

These two Sugardaddy’s hook you with the first bite – Brownie Biscotti, Brownie Cheesecakes, Brownie Truffles, Brownie Pocket Change, Brownie Ice Cream and Brownie Bark envelope you as soon as you hear the baby grand piano playing in the background.

Plan on regular visits – each taste will find you with a new favorite, and you must try the newest creation, Sugardaddy’s Drunken Chunky Blondie, or if you only have eyes for chocolate, get the Sugardaddy’s Fiery Brunette or Auburn Original.

Sugardaddy’s is open at 11 E. Gay Street from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and you won’t want to miss the month-long grand opening specials.

Sugardaddy’s from Downtown Columbus on Vimeo.

Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties
11 E. Gay Street
614.888.4491

They vied for your votes via video.  The competition was fierce.  And the final margins were razor thin.

Congratulations to the 2010 Show Your Love Contest Winner (drum roll please…)

Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace!!!

Thanks to all of you who voted for your flav-o-favs!  With hundreds of votes cast, J. Gumbo’s fell short of the winner’s spot by a mere three votes, with Jack’s Diner, last year’s Show Your Love winner, and Burgers Dogs and Fries in hot pursuit.

Now the love showing worked both ways.  By voting for their favorite lunch spot, food fans were entered to win free lunches from our featured downtown restaurants: Barrio, Burgers Dogs and Fries, Caffe Daniela, Dirty Frank’s, J. Gumbo’s, and Plantain Cafe.  Congratulations to our winners who now know that there is such thing as a free lunch:

Erika Haske
Trish Mester
Alyson Miles
Angela Butler
Kristine Kring
Jen Town
Christina Ringley
Mary Groves
Jeremy
Chris Powers
Joshua Young
Rhonda Ries
Sandy Auckerman
Chris Carpenter
Mark Siple
Kris Davis
Charlie Letson

PUT SOME SOUTH IN YOUR MOUTH

Lots of us can do an Aussie accent; or perhaps whip out a leetle somezing zat’s French sounding.

But can you do Cajun?  That one’s tough.

Today is Fat Tuesday.  In this country, that celebration is headquartered deep in the heart of Cajun Country, New Orleans (oopf, N’awlins).  It’s high time to put a little south in your mouth, and downtown’s Pearl Market is just lucky enough to have its very own in-house expert.  Patrons can find real New Orleans Pralines made by a real New Orleans Native: Chandra Noble.

Actually, Noble was born in Ohio – but she spent the first thirty years of her life down in The Big Easy.  While her voice is usually velvety smooth, she can whip out that distinctive dialect from her roots in a heartbeat.

There is a RIGHT was to talk about her New Orleans Pralines.  While we say pray-lines, back south they say prah-lines… or worse.  Noble says, “Sometimes it’s like the L and the R are switched.”  Then she pronounces it in a silky southern style that sounds like a cross between prah-reeeeen and plah-reeeeen.

“Or,” she continues, “We just call it pecan candy.”  Only she does it with an accent again.  Suddenly pecan has three syllables: peh-cah-wnnn.

Regardless of your accent, you can celebrate in Fat Tuesday-style every Friday with New Orleans Pralines in the Pearl Market.  No worries about pronouncing the sweet confections: we all sound the same with a mouth-full.

LOVE ‘EM UP

(to cast your vote immediately, click here.  if you want to learn more about the campaign, read on…)

Time flies: it’s been a full year since DowntownColumbus.com’s Show Your Love project launched.  Back in 2009, six local eateries joined in a good natured contest to become Downtown’s Official Sweetheart.

The competition was brutal.  The love was intense.  Ultimately, Jack’s Diner emerged as number one.

But it can be number one for only one year.  Jack’s reign has ended.  Although we still love the joint, it’s time to find 2010’s Official Sweetheart.

Just like last year, we’ve sweetened the deal for the voting public.  Cast a ballot for your favorite eatery and you’re automatically registered for a set of gift certificates from all the competitors: Barrio Tapas Lounge; Burgers Dogs and Fries; Caffe Daniela; Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace; J. Gumbo’s; and Plantain Cafe.  Vote early and vote often.

(Sigh)… and it seemed like just yesterday when Jack’s claimed its award.

EDITOR’S NOTE: It was yesterday.  SOMEBODY kept hoarding Jack’s award plaque in our office.  Oops.

If you want to re-watch anyone’s video, to really take in the message, just click on the link: Barrio Tapas Lounge; Burgers Dogs and Fries; Caffe Daniela; Dirty Franks Hot Dog Palace; J. Gumbo’s; and Plantain Cafe

Show Us Some Love 2010 from Downtown Columbus on Vimeo.