The days are getting chilly, but you still have time to stock up on fruits and veggies and other great stuff, right downtown. Come on down to Pearl Market and see plenty in full bloom and harvest ready.

The 2011 season wraps up at the end of the month, so plan now to shop every Tuesday and Friday while farmers and merchants are still in Pearl and Lynn Alleys. If you tell us what you’ve enjoyed the most this year or what you would like to see in Pearl Market next season, you’ll be entered to win 30.00 in Pearl Market tokens (they spend just like cash!).

Having a hard time narrowing it down? Take a peek here to see some of your choices. And enter a comment below by Friday, October 7 for a chance to win.

To learn more, check out our vendor spotlight video.

CaffeineDaddy.com is new to Pearl Market this season. Entrepreneur Jeffrey Foulke created CaffeineDaddy.com and sells all kinds of caffeinated products. Whether you’re looking for caffeinated soap, toothpicks, lollipops, beef jerky, or more; if you can name it, CaffeineDaddy has it. Want something to slow you down? CaffeineDaddy has that too. To learn more about CaffeineDaddy.com visit their website and check out our weekly vendor spotlight video. 

To learn more about McCormick Family Concessions and to see some of their products, check out the video below.

Spring has been a long time coming, and you deserve a treat.  We have a fantastic way for you to celebrate the arrival of warmer temperatures – ice cream, perhaps?  Oh and by the by, Pearl Market opens one week from today.

Hmmm… wonder what they two have in common?  Here’s a hint:

I don’t want to miss getting a last box of Aboxa Fudge.  I might need a couple more tubes of water beads to get me through the winter.  If I don’t buy that necklace from Salon D’art, I’m going to regret it.  If I don’t buy another bag of kettle corn, where else can I get it fresh?  And all this produce!  I know there won’t be this type of selection in the winter.  I definitely need some more green peppers and hot peppers.  And cucumbers to make cucumber water.  And apples picked from trees not bins.  And on and on and on.  So, before I start to get excited about the Winter Market, I’ve got one week left to make sure I get everything I need.  And so do you.  See you there!

Last week was also a Taste of Fall at the Market.  That means it was a sample day, everyone’s favorite.  Sweet potato bread pudding was amazing, especially with the praline sauce.  I must have the wrong idea about bread pudding because I expected it to be, well, pudding-like.  It was more like a bit of cake or donut and it was delicious.  The maple apple ginger cake was just as good as it sounds.  And the one I was very intrigued with was pumpkin dip.  Fabulous, and perfect for fall or Halloween parties.  For the recipes, just click here.

There are only two weeks left of the summer Market.  Make sure you come visit us before it’s over and get the lowdown on the upcoming winter Pearl Market!

If you have been down to enjoy the Market this season, then you have probably noticed our fantastic Market staff.  They are always on hand to help and have done a marvelous job with everything from directing traffic when a car has to pass to tents flying away in the wind to capturing it all in pictures.  They are also the reason the Market is continuing.  The Winter Pearl Market has found a location (33 N. Third Street) and is set to begin after the summer Market is over, but we need everyone to come and support it!  Hope to see you soon!

I stopped by Zapico Foods this week to sample their sauces.  This place has it all!  Owner Mike tells of his grandmother making these recipes a hundred years ago for the family, and teaching him about growing his own vegetables to put in the recipes.  These sauces and dressings are all made and packaged at The Ohio State University.  He makes a rich tomato sauce, a balsamic dressing and a smoky barbeque sauce, all at a very reasonable price.

The Vintage Vamp has beautiful jewelry.  Her things have such an exquisite look about them, like you would belong in an old movie while wearing them.  If you like her style, she does custom work as well.  Definitely worth checking out while you are at the Market.

See you next time!

As we near the end of the summer Market, I’ve noticed some vendors having clearance sales.  One of them is Salon D’Art.  Her prices are already extremely reasonable and her jewelry is gorgeous!  Her things are more like pieces of art than jewelry.  This is definitely the place to find one-of-a-kind pieces.

My favorite vendor from last summer was definitely Sugardaddy’s, probably owing to my serious brownie addiction.  They have since moved into a store right around the corner from the Market.  Last week, in another sign of the changing seasons, Tom stood out in the Market with pumpkin brownie samples for Sugardaddy’s.  They were cooked perfectly and utterly delicious!

See you at the Market!