Right Now Downtown

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!

LEAVE THE LUGGAGE AT HOME

Close your eyes, lean back and imagine yourself at an outdoor cafe’ along the side streets of Paris.  Can you hear the French accordion music waft out the doors of the restaurant along with the smell of freshly baked bread?

No need to cash in your greenbacks for Euros just yet.  Alfresco dining is offered all around Downtown Columbus, and Gay Street is a great place to kick off an international expedition.

Leave the passport at home and head to Due Amici.  The European feel of this outdoor dining experience may leave you wanting to study Italian.  Sit down and relax with a superb glass of wine, and you don’t even need to worry about the exchange rate.

Is Cuban fare your thing?  Check out Plantain Cafe’, but make sure to save room for the plantain chips.  You will never look at another bag of Lay’s the same way again.

The coffee is roasting at Cafe’ Brioso, and you’ll have a hard time choosing among all the freshly prepared sandwiches and salads.  Those crunchy little handmade croutons are about as close to heaven as you need to be.

Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails celebrated their three-year anniversary last week.  Honor the milestone with a cold one and big plate of sweet potato fries.  Go ahead, throw in a pot roast sandwich if you dare.

Is your stomach growling yet?  We haven’t even hit J. Gumbo’s for jambalaya, and Latitude 41 builds delicious meals around fresh ingredients purchased right here from local merchants to create a meal that you won’t soon forget.  Rendezvous Cafe’ is nestled across the street and offers a wide assortment of delicious stews, sandwiches and salads.

If that’s not enough, just around the corner Pearl Alley plays host to burgers at Ringside, pizza at Cafe’ Napolitana and Latin cuisine at El Arepazo.  Wrap it all up with a Drunken Chunky Blondie at Sugardaddy’s or loosen your belt and head on down High Street for even more options.  Let us know your favorites.

DANIELA’S DOWNTOWN HOMECOMING

Caffe Daniela’s spelling makes more sense than it looks.  It is still tempting to point out that spell check really prefers “Cafe” to Caffe.”  And the newest eatery at Broad and High is a cafe… but it’s a cafe with caffe.

As it turns out, caffe is Italian for “coffee”, a most necessary part of any productive person’s diet.  Caffe Daniela serves the drink in its most loveable forms.

The cafe’s most loveable items, though, might not be the java.  The coffee has serious competition from an array of fresh Italian fare – including divine pasta dishes like Alfredo and lasagna.  Run by the Milano family, they are now in the second generation of Italian eateries in Columbus.  And downtown’s is the second location of Caffe Daniela itself.  The first was born in Worthington.

While there’s nothing wrong with downtown Worthington (it’s provincial with lots of nice people and businesses)… it’s not like the real downtown.  It’s not the very center of the city, with skyscrapers and art and people of all sorts and sizes.  Daniela’s owner, Joe Milano, understands the magic, “I am overjoyed in being downtown and seeing what it has come from – and where it may go.”

Maybe that’s why more businesses that start in the outlying areas are coming home to the city’s core.  Polaris’ Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties is setting up shop downtown too.  We’ve still got room for more… Who’s next?

Capital Crossroads Summer Programming: Pearl Market

The crown jewel of Capital Crossroads’ summer programming is the Pearl Market, which has graced Pearl Alley since 1991.  Capital Crossroads became involved with the Market in 2003, adding a merchant element to the already established farmers’ market.  The Market runs on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 10:30 am – 2 pm, May through October.

Last year, Capital Crossroads hired a full-time Market Manager, Adam Schroeder, to focus on expanding the Market’s offerings and to help spur downtown retail by incubating small businesses as they start up.

“This year, we have nearly 90 vendors enrolled and a long waiting list, which is a good – and new – problem to have,” said Kacey Campbell, Promotions Coordinator for Capital Crossroads.

What sets Pearl Market apart from other farmers’ markets around the city is that all farmers are local Ohio farmers and required to sell only what they grow themselves.  This means that the produce is really farm fresh and in-season.  Capital Crossroads has been able to use this as a promotional tool, holding special Market Days for particular in-season items, including Strawberry Day in June, Sweet Corn Day in July,  Tomato Day in August and upcoming Apple Day.  On each of these special days, visitors can enjoy samples prepared by Market staff and a guest restaurant.  In addition, there was a special Kid’s Day held in early July, with face painting, art projects and other fun aimed at kids, and there will be a Buckeye Day held later this summer.

The merchant side of the Market continues to grow, with a wide range of offerings including arts, crafts, jewelry, toys, home goods and more.  Expansion in both produce vendors and merchants has necessitated expanding the booth spaces to Broad Street and Gay Street, giving the Market a presence on two main thoroughfares.  And there is talk of further expansion.

Pearl Market has also become a popular lunch destination, with several new food vendors providing the draw.  Si Senor’s Sandwiches and More and Nellie’s Samosas are two popular spots, and Sugardaddy’s Sumptuous Sweeties - a favorite of Ellen DeGeneres – offers a delightful dessert option.  Nearby restaurants, such as El Arepazo and Ringside Cafe, also enjoy increased traffic on Market days – a Capital Crossroads’ goal.

Cleve Ricksecker, executive director of Capital Crossroads states the importance of the Market.  “There are three main reasons Capital Crossroads produces the Pearl Market.  It’s a downtown amenity for employees; it supports local businesses; and it’s a retail/business incubator for the participating vendors who want to grow their business.”

A second year Market vendor, Kyla Touris of Sweet Thing Gourmet, praises the Market and Capital Crossroads.  “What I love about Pearl Market – it combines my country side with my urban edge.  And I love the people who run the Market – Adam, Kacey, Tiffany and the rest of the crew are incredibly helpful and positive.  Really, it feels like a party!”

And well it should, so far this year staff estimates that 4,500 – 5,000 people walk through the Market each Tuesday and Friday.

A Special Thanks to our Friends of the Market for help make the Pearl Market possible:

Wolfe Associates

Bricker and Eckler

Kegler Brown Hill and Ritter

Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease

Chester Wilcox and Saxbe

John Gerlach and Company