Ray C.
Yelp
Every now and then, I find a hidden treasure among the most ordinary places. As a senior volunteer, I could have my choice of assignments, since there are a lot of organizations that operate mainly on the weekends. I stumbled on this place while looking to help a worthy cause.
I got a choice assignment; counting people coming in at the far side of the lot. Having been there now for what has become my 2nd season, I think I have a pretty good handle on this event. I've been to a large number of these types of things over the course of my life, from roadside stands to huge flea markets.
This one never lets me down in terms of the good people perspective.
Everyone, from the volunteers to the vendors to the guests seem to come and go in high spirits. This market attracts a vast cross section of people from every demographic. There are a few, in each category, who come and go, but for the most part these people are committed to the event as it is.
There are a few staples, and as small as the weekly event is, people look forward to seeing the people they consider friends. The goods change as the season progresses and the prices aren't the bargain basement, but the quality of the goods and the people are 1st rate. There is a coffee vendor that is always busy chatting with her customers, a mushroom vendor that forages for his own stock in the Laurel Highlands, and local meats and vegetables, harvested within a few miles of the site.
There are several bakers that seem to sell out every week, regardless of the amount of stock they bring with them. There is beer here and other libations. A local practitioner gives free chair massages and there are specialty items, such as smoked trout.
Of course, there are a few farms represented, and each seems to have their own unique array of items. There are a couple that seem to focus on apples, including cider, and some different food choices. One of the best is a small stall that happily hands out samples of their gyro meat, cut from the large spinning roaster.
Being one that looks forward to and appreciates Greek food festivals, this stand with grape leaves and baklava stands out in terms of quality and pricing. I'm used to paying $10 or $12 gyros from these events, but you get quality here for just $8. The vegetables are fresh and the tzatziki homemade.
You can find quality soups frozen for you to take home and enjoy, cookies and even authentic Mexican street corn. There is a great cross section of life here. Get here early, since the most popular items often sell out.
Whatever you're looking for, from cheese and soaps to specialty teas to drink while you browse, someone here has it. The most important thing this market offers is smiles. Well, that and dogs of every kind, from huge great Danes to tiny Chihuahuas, all on leashes and well behaved.
Come out and check it out. Say hello to Annie and Heather, who seem to be ever present from open to close, running things. You'll find a lot more than produce here.
You'll find friends.