Right Now Downtown

Market Days in the fall are coming!  That always means a change in produce, a change in the smells surrounding the Market.  You can almost smell the cooler air coming.  More farmers are bringing apples, which I love and so do the kids.  I’ve been waiting for it to get cooler so I can make some warm cider with local apples.  The miles that these apples travel are less than one hundred from tree to your table.  The miles that apples from a typical super market travel can number closer to thousands and thousands.  By coming down to the Market and buying our apples, you are saving the world from all that extra pollution.  You are also single-handedly helping our local economy by keeping your money here.  It’s just another reason why the Pearl Market is such an outstanding place.

Another thing that comes with fall, customers are starting to look for Christmas presents!  I saw on Facebook recently that there are quite a few vendors at the Market that will take custom orders for their work.  If you are looking at a vendor’s work and want something that you help control the design, ask them!  We have been asked for quite a few pieces of custom work over the summer and we have obliged every order.  It’s a wonderful option to mix your own creativity with someone else’s know-how, and it’s such a lovely idea for a gift.

Now that the days are gorgeous and cool, come help save the world and buy local with us!

We’re so excited about what the future of Pearl Market might be.  Check out this video where Cleve Ricksecker dreams big and our vendors share what they love about selling their wares a the Market.

IT’S ALL GOOD, ALL FRESH

If you haven’t made dinner yet this summer using only fresh-from-the-farm treasures found in Pearl Market, you are missing out.  But the good news is you still have time.

Grab some tomatoes, melons, peaches, corn, zucchini and meander on down Pearl Alley where you will discover savory meat and bread before heading home tonight.  If that isn’t enough to fill you to the brim, stop by and pick up one of the yummo dessert options found in the Market.  It’s all here, all fresh and all GOOD.

Here is a great video of last week’s Tasty Tuesday.  When you’re done watching and your mouth is watering, click here for the recipes for the delicious goodies that were sampled.  Let us know what you think.

Sample Day at the Market!  That’s what I’m talking about!  After setting up our booth, we sat down and watched Market Manager, Adam, in his chef’s hat, carry by plate after plate of fantastic looking food, all made with Market buys!  There was a surprisingly good beet hummus.  Surprisingly because, who really likes beets anyway (aside from the color)?  But this was gorgeous and yummy!  There were also pickled green beans, tangy and zesty!  Plus some zucchini bread that melts in your mouth, and some sausage breakfast casserole!  They handed recipes out at the Market, or you can find them here.

This week my kids were exceptionally hungry so we moseyed on down to Honey Run Farms and got some cherry tomatoes for them to munch on during the day, which were delicious.  We also picked up three beautiful sunflowers for only two dollars for all of them!

I was very excited to see Sweet Stella there with Maram.  I have seen their work around town and am excited to have them at the Market.  Sweet Stella makes jewelry that is just so sweet!  You’ll understand if you go look at it.  Maram makes recycled and eco-friendly things, most notably recycled purses, and these great pins with recycled pins.  There are some great ones of Columbus, like a close-up of the Brewery District, downtown or Worthington.  Very cute and very affordable!

Well, if you missed Sample Day at the Market, I am sorry because you missed out.  So don’t miss another!  Come down to visit on Tuesdays and Fridays!

Tuesday at the Market was supposed to be ridiculously hot, but Pearl Street had such a lovely breeze that it felt like spring.  Usually I pick a couple of booths to check out and head straight for them, but this time I meandered slowly down the road to see everything.

Crimson Design Group has a store front on Pearl and they set out a Market booth as well, so you can see the amazing things that they have in their store.  I haven’t bought anything from them yet, but I always see the decor they sell and think, “Ooohhh, pretty!  Those are the people I want to make my living room pretty!”

Another booth I always like to see is The Sweater Lady.  Everything is so colorful and it always draws my kids over.  There are little hand-knit finger puppets that are so incredibly detailed that I just don’t understand how somebody can do that.  I also love the adorable kids’ sweaters that have scenes on knit into them, with suns and animals.

This week I also bought a good deal of produce from an array of farmers.  Some tomatoes from one guy, some zucchini from another, and English peas from a third.  I feel like I eat so much better in the summer when I get to spend so much time at the farmers’ market.

Hope to see you at Pearl Market soon!

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!

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.