Lynn W.
Yelp
Great medium-sized Farmer's Market and Crafts Fair. It appears to be aiming for arts and crafts fair/farmer's market -- but the art part is still a little thin.
Based on the other reviews here, I'm guessing that this market has grown significantly over the last 2-3 years. It appears to be over-flowing it's marked-off city block sections -- spilling into wide sidewalks and alleys in every direction. Besides crafts, food, fresh, and bakery tents, there were also such novelties as Grateful Dead-wear, palm readers, massage tables, reflexology foot massage, and comic (perhaps) street musicians!
One of the park-blocks is all crafts and food court -- and between us we tried cookies (mmm), iced chai (yummy), fresh fruit with whipped cream (perfect), pizza by the slice (husband gobbled it up like it was the best he'd ever had), and a fresh tamale topped with a little dollop of sour cream -- that rolled my socks down. And there were a dozen choices that came in second.... we'll probably be back to try them another day.
First Saturday in June, and the cherries were beautiful! There were also several booths with strawberries, and dozens with beautiful veggies and greens. On our way out we picked up a bag of toasted and salted hazelnuts -- always a favorite -- and a bag full of bakery delights that include marion-berry pies, scones, and muffins; chocolate dipped macaroons, cherry brownies, and cherry turnovers -- all just the right size to share for 2.
There were many booths with herb plants, garden starts, and bright, colorful flowers -- and street musicians playing in every walkway and park-lawn. A magician was unloading and getting set up as we were walking back to our car -- so there must be an ongoing turnover among the performers.
My only real complaints may be things that can't be reasonably addressed --
1. There is virtually no place to sit and catch your breath. -- and that's a literal problem. There are several places where low walls are shaded and would be a good place to park for a couple of minutes -- but the number of smokers who already populate the area make this a real problem for somebody with bad asthma. It would be nice if there were designated smoke-free areas with benches or something....
2. This was not a particularly warm day -- but there was an unmistakable sewer/trash smell everywhere we went. I'm not sure how places like Disneyworld -- or even Manhattan -- avoid this (well -- they employ hundreds of people to constantly cart away trash and clean the streets....), but it was more than noticeable. It was offensive in general -- and gasp-worthy at times. With all the good food cooking, plants/flowers, hand-crafted soap etc -- who'd have expected that the strongest smells would be garbage, sewer, cigarette smoke, and department-store perfume?
3. Posted maps that show things like seating, shaded lawn, restrooms, music, water fountains etc would help -- especially if the market continues to grow. Maybe some idea of where crafts are vs food court or fresh goods etc...?
4. Whoever made the choice to post signs prohibiting dog, but not smokers -- is the main reason we left after just 1/2 hr, without bothering to see the whole market. The car was warm -- and so was the dog -- even after that short time. There's no way a dog could make the place smell worse, or feel more unclean than it already does -- and other markets let our little short friend walk with us.