What Harvest Market Means to This Girl, This Month

Okay so it is apparent that I am from Maine when I get excited that Fall is coming after what you Midwesterners call a "mild" summer. But I can't help it. When you are born in the fall, have memories of straw, pumpkins, apples, plus the seasonal changes of entering a new grade, a different swing at work, it all accumulates to good times for this girl.

So having a Harvest Market here in Downtown Elgin during this season floods the memories and realities of a bit of the farm, nostalgia, and crisp, warm yummy items. For example I am so searching for gourds and apples tomorrow, along with possible gifts for friends born in September (maybe soaps and yummy brownies?). And since I don't have a bread maker or much patience in making bread I will load up on some bread purchases via Breadsmith. Plus I might grab a snack while I am in shopping mode from the Community Crisis Center (their last day at market!) and get that popcorn they are always popping up. Then Lucy Elliot, a great Downtown partner and Elgin Area Historical Society chica, will be displaying and playing with old fashioned games: no batteries included she says.

Now if all this fall talk has you disgusted, the market will not fail you in continuing on your summer kick. There is still ice cream and lemonade via Oberweis for sure tomorrow, plus many greens and veggies to make those nice grilled recipes the demo chefs have been displaying at the market each month, or a simple salad. Find that meat to grill over Labor Day, treats for the dog, and bring your knifes to get sharpened before guests arrive over the long weekend!

Whatever purpose the market fulfills for you I hope to see you the next couple Thursday's in Downtown Elgin. I'll be that girl with that big red apple in her hand and a tote bag full with gourds;)

Gasthaus September Bands

Madman Karaoke joins 2 for Tuesdays- every Tuesday great $2 specials on food and drink followed by karaoke! And 2 Nicole bartenders!!

Friday Sept. 4th- local punk bands The Turdles, Sleeping Under 47 & Dressed for Radio take the stage!
Saturday Sept. 5th- Human Garbage --local film crew unveils their own "Jackass" type movie premier with special guests Tongues & the Oil Can Boys performing
Sunday Sept. 6th-- Banner Pilot, Bust, Liarbirds, Arms aloft & Written off - Labor day punk fest!

Friday Sept. 11th- Laterdaze Band - awesome classic rock covers for the "grownups!"
Saturday Sept. 12th- enjoy the Downtown Elgin Car & AFV Show in the Civic parking lot. The Gasthaus is a proud sponsor and will be open for lunch that day offering a 10% discount to car show patrons all day and night! Immediately following the car show enjoy great Rockabilly music with The Boneyard Brawlers & The Blue Lincolns from 5 to 9 followed by Negative One - Classic Rock covers at 10:00! A weekend of music we grew up with!!

Friday Sept. 18th- The Return of BLACKENED- Chicago's premier Metallica cover band!!
Saturday Sept. 19th- Pooch Carver opens for Iron Horse Chicago- Motorhead tribute-

Friday Sept. 25th- The Lenny's - great oldies by a great Elgin band!!
Saturday Sept. 26th- Metal Fest- 5 metal bands perform beginning at 8:00 p.m.

Enjoy our $5 lunch specials Monday -Friday
September is ride your bike month-- The Gasthaus is offering a 10% discount when you show your bike helmet for lunch!

Market Cancelled Today

The Harvest Market is cancelled today due to weather. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Market Cancelled Today

The Harvest Market is cancelled today due to weather. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Kings of the NightTime World Playing Saturday

This Saturday, August 29, performing live at the Gasthaus,will be KINGS OF THE NIGHTTIME WORLD. Chicago's only KISS tribute band performing in full make up and costume! You'll think you're seeing the real thing! Show starts at 10:00pm! Have your picture taken with the band after the performance!

Rediscover Downtown Elgin Walking Tour

This Thursday, August 20, 2-3pm, Steve Munson, Downtown Neighborhood Association board members and business owner will be leading the second walking tour of the summer through Downtown Elgin, specifically around the Harvest Market on Division, E. Highland, and North Grove. Tour goers will be lead through historic buildings like the Professional Building and the old, old Gail Borden Public Library; step into tasty restaurants like La Quebrada, La Puesta Del Sol, Quiznos, Domani Café, Gasthaus; experience the retail and services by visiting The Razor’s Edge and Artistic Framing & Supply. The public is welcome to enjoy this free event by meeting at the Harvest Market location, Civic Center parking lot, corner of Douglas Avenue and East Highland. In case of rain bring an umbrella, as most of the tour will be inside. For more information contact Jennifer at 847.488.1456 or e-mail jbenson@elginil.org. The next Rediscover Downtown Elgin walking tour will be September 17, same time and place.

Harvest Market Goes Americana this Thursday

The Downtown Elgin Harvest Market will be hosting its monthly mini-fest with an “Americana” theme this Thursday, August 20, 10am – 4pm. Live entertainment, a cooking demo, and Cow Chip Bingo will set the tone of the mini fest that day. The market is located at the Civic Parking lot in Downtown Elgin (the corner of E. Highland and Douglas Ave.) and is held every Thursday from 10am – 4pm until October 8. The following opportunities and activities will be offered at this “Americana” themed market:

• Cow Chip Bingo
Two cows from a local farm will be let into a pen at 1pm with 132 chalk squares. The first chip to fall will make one person a lucky winner of the “Basket of Bounty” – a basket filled with items from all of the market vendors. To buy your square before 1pm either go to the Downtown Neighborhood Association at 2 Douglas Avenue between 8:30am – 5pm or on Thursday buy them between 10am – 1pm at the market site.

• Entertainment & Art
Enjoy music between noon – 2pm by the Fox River Trio, a folk band featuring locals Paris Donehoo, Beth Iverson, Steve Stauffacher, and John Kauffman. Also during that time will be The Savino Sisters who help sell produce at the Twin Garden Farm booth. The five sister names are Elizabeth (Savino) Nye, Dana, Caitlin, Stephanie, and Gianna Savino. Also there will be an outdoor exhibit of work by artist Deborah Erica Clarkson.

• In the Activate Elgin Booth:
Be sure to stop by at noon for a Cooking demo with Chef Virginia Lopez who will be cooking Grilled Veggie Quesadillas, be sure to get some tips and samples. The City of Elgin will also have information on hand at this booth before and after.

• In the Elgin Climate Change Organization booth:
The Elgin Public Museum will have a weather presentation for kids along with ECCO’s information.

• In the Harvest Market Sponsor Booth: Chiro One Wellness Centers
Get feedback and questions answered with these chiropractic professionals.

• Buy a Harvest Market or Rediscover Downtown Elgin T-shirt (Med – XXL) for $10 or a Tote Bag for $1 while supplies last.

The Downtown Elgin Harvest Market is organized by the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA), and partners Activate Elgin, Elgin Community Network (ECN) and Elgin Climate Change Organization (ECCO). The Harvest Market’s main sponsor is Alexian Brothers Hospital Network and supporting sponsors are Chiro One Wellness Centers, Lifetime Health & Wellness Inc., and Rominski Active Healthcare.
For more information about upcoming activities, vendors, etc. contact Jennifer by calling 847.488.1456, e-mailing jbenson@elginil.org.

Gasthaus Band Line-Up for August

Friday 14th- Marc the intern's going to Berkley! Come say goodbye and hear him play guitar! Several guitar masters take the stage to showcase shredding techniques! Followed by local bands to round out the night!

Saturday 15th- It's country night! First Jerry Hudson will perform his tribute to Johnny Cash! Followed by a Gasthaus favorite- The Roadhouse Profits playing today's country hits! Line dancing guaranteed!

Friday August 21st- Backyard opens for Selective Recall- one of The Fox Valley's premier Classic Rock cover bands! Feel like dancing?

Saturday 22nd- Heavy rock covers performed by Rough Trade, and Stone Free!

Friday 28th- Jam night- come enjoy a night of jam bands- featuring Rhombus!

Saturday 29th- This is a night you do NOT want to miss-- KINGS OF THE NIGHTTIME WORLD- A KISS tribute band in full costume!! We want to Rock and Roll all night & party every day!!

The Gasthaus is now open for lunch- great specials- many $5 or less! Daily drink specials! We're new and improved!

An interesting fact to note about the Downtown Elgin HarvestMarket is the additional shopping that consumers do in the businessdistrict. According to one of my recent consumer dot surveys, 26% ofthe people noted that they would be spending $1-$10 while on this tripat a local establishment. When I questioned what types of purchaseswere going to be made, most said that they ate or were going to eat at alocal restaurant like Quiznos. Additionally, 22% of the people surveyedmarked that they would be spending between $10 and $30. Some of therespondents in this category said that they were going to places likeMad Maggie's and Red Bar Winery.

These facts illustrate that the HarvestMarket draws consumers to the downtown Elgin area for more than just vendors selling fresh produce and specialty items. Local businesses are thriving and their long-term sustainabilityis being reinforced by the patrons that frequent the market each and every week. The downtown area is expanding rapidly primarily because of the support given to local businesses, and showing that Elgin is capable of considerable economic growth. Shopping at the Harvest Market is the first step in showing that you care about Elgin!

Keep it up!

My purchases:

Gloria's Gourmet Meats-One pink rose $1
Twin Garden Farms-Half dozen Mirai Corn $4

Thursday July 16, 2009 harvest market recap

The Peruvian market was filled with interesting sights and sounds that made the atmosphere on this particular day one of a kind. My favorite part had to have been Inkapirka, an Ecuadorian pan flute band from Wisconsin. Nothing compares to renditions of my favorite Elton John and Beatles tunes while volunteering at the market!

Today my two main tasks were conducting my second consumer survey and filming a YouTube video that is going to profile the atmosphere of the Harvest Market. My consumer survey had over 75 responses, and is telling me some important information about why people come and what they come for. This week I learned about spending patterns in the surrounding business district and in the Harvest Market, how frequently consumers purchase organic foods, and why people tell others to shop at the Harvest Market. In the middle of recruiting consumers to take my survey, I helped direct Tony from Hudson Productions with the video shoot. We captured some great footage of the live alpacas, the tribal drum group from Heather's Studio for Drums and Percussion, and El Cenzontle dance troupe. Also in the mix were a few customer testimonials and interviews with our vendors Sweet Whimsy and Twin Garden Farms. Be sure to check the video out, you can find the link through Facebook when complete!

Unfortunately this week I was strapped for cash, so my purchases were minimal:
PawPrint Barkery
One Pig Ear $2
Gloria's Gourmet Meats
One package Beef jerky $5

Waffle Fries and the (Almost) All-New Gasthaus

Funny, the things that inspire us.

I haven't blogged in a while, but today I just couldn't help myself. I was inspired by the strangest thing . . . waffle fries.

I ordered lunch to go at Gasthaus. YES! Gasthaus is open for lunch (and dinner for that matter). I ordered a BLT wrap from their surprisingly varied and "non-bar food" menu, and my good friend Ack asked me if I would like regular fries or waffle fries.

OMG...the only thing I love more than waffles is waffle fries.

I was reminded of the first time I ever had them - at Shoney's on Rte. 25 in Carpentersville. Anybody remember that place?

Anyways, the fries were great and the wrap was great, too.

You can check out the (almost) all-new Gasthaus and its almost all-new menu (there are still some German favorites on there) at the DNA's Out to Lunch on Monday, July 27 at Noon.

Our speakers are the Elgin Bicycling Ambassadors. Some of you may have seen them at Wing park concerts, the Harvest Market, or at other events promoting bicycling in Elgin.

The cost is $10.50, all inclusive, for lunch. To RSVP call 847.488.1456 or e-mail jbenson@elginil.org by Friday, July 24.

Peruvian Harvest Market

Downtown Elgin Harvest Market will be Peruvian themed with live entertainment and live alpacas to add some South American flavor to the market on Thursday, July 16. Located at the Civic Parking lot in Downtown Elgin (the corner of E. Highland and Douglas Ave.) the market is held every Thursday from 10am – 4pm until October 8. The following opportunities and activities will be offered at the Peruvian market:

Live Alpacas
An alpaca or two from Rivendell Alpaca farm here in Elgin will be on site for the public to meet and learn about, including what clothing items you can make out of their fleece.

Entertainment
Enjoy music throughout the day by Inkapirka, an Ecuadorian pan flute band from Wisconsin, and between noon and 2pm El Cenzontle, a dance troupe from Church of the Redeemer here in Downtown Elgin, a tribal drum group from Heather’s Studio for Drums and Percussion.

In the Activate Elgin Booth:
Listen and ask questions during “Robin’s Ramblings on Food and Health” with Robin Migalla, along with enjoying a cooking demo at noon with a grilled vegetable salad. Enjoy some samples!

In the Elgin Climate Change Organization booth:
Create sugar skull masks and/or paper marigolds with the Elgin Public Museum for Dia de Los Muertos – “Day of the Dead”.

In the Harvest Market Sponsor Booth: Rominski Active Health
Get feedback and questions answered with these chiropractic professionals.

Buy a Harvest Market T-shirt (Med – XXL) for $10 or a Tote Bag for $1 while supplies last.

Highlighted Vendor of the Week: Olives 4 You
Pierre welcomes you with a “Bonjour” and a debonair smile while methodically keeping his olive containers neat and in a straight row with more than 15 varieties of olives, and pita bread, hummus, tapenade, and bab ganosh on either side. Perfect for snacks, Mediterranean dinner, pita sandwiches to take to work and so gosh darn yummy, this should be a staple to get at the Harvest Market. For more information on their olive varieties go to www.olives-4-you.com

The Downtown Elgin Harvest Market is organized by the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA), and partners Activate Elgin, Elgin Community Network (ECN) and Elgin Climate Change Organization (ECCO). The Harvest Market’s main sponsor is Alexian Brothers Hospital Network and supporting sponsors are Chiro One Wellness Centers, Lifetime Health & Wellness Inc., and Rominski Active Healthcare. For more information about upcoming activities, vendors, etc. contact Jennifer by calling 847.488.1456, e-mailing jbenson@elginil.org or visiting http://www.downtownelgin.com/Page.aspx?ID=149&PID=17

July 9, 2009 Harvest Market

July 9, 2009 Harvest Market
For a moment, I would like to focus on the short distance that most of these items travel to get to the market, and the impact it has on the environment. According to sparkpeople.com, the average food item travels over 1300 miles to get to your table. This puts a strain on an enormous amount of energy and resources across the United States, while also creating significant problems for the environment. Not to mention, the product must suffer in regards to freshness and quality due to the duration of the transportation. Vendors at the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market are aware of these facts and pride themselves in bringing fresh produce from a very short distance. When talking to Twin Garden Farms at the market today they mentioned that their location in Harvard, Illinois is less than 25 miles away. Because they are so close, they use a significantly smaller amount of fossil fuels when transporting their product which aids the environment, and deliver a more nutritious product than many commercial sources. Facts like these are why I choose to shop at the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market.

This week, my mother came along to the market today for the first time, and couldn't help but make some purchases of her own:
Windy City Farms
1/2 Pound of white asparagus, 1/2 Pound of green asparagus- 2 For $5.00
Copa Do Sol
French Malongo decaf coffee $15.00 For 8oz. can
Sweet Whimsy
One raspberry and one caramel walnut specially cake $4 ea.

July 2, 2009 Harvest Market

One of my favorite parts about the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market is the atmosphere that I get to enjoy on a weekly basis. Meeting genuine people and the great conversations that follow make my trip to Elgin from Aurora a worthwhile commute. It is so relaxing going into my volunteer efforts knowing that I am going to have a great day because of the stress-free environment that a farmers market embodies. Today, I started by greeting all of the vendors and passing out my weekly survey. These surveys are helping me find out important information regarding each vendor such as peak times for sales, how many transactions were made in a given day, and what their top products sold were. In my conversations I can tell that all of the businesses that participate are comprised of hard-working people that truly care about the customers. They are not just in it for the money!
Of course my blog would not be complete without mentioning my weekly purchases. They say it's always better to give than to receive, and it seems that the saying holds true in my mind when shopping at the Harvest Market. Today, I couldn't help but thinking of my significant others’ fond desire for anything involving cinnamon. I stopped at La Spicera and Pierre recommended some finely ground Vietnamese cinnamon that he had just got in. Afterwards, I proceeded to Breadsmith where a cinnamon roll and a cinnamon scone found their way into my tote bag. I couldn't help but steal a small bite of the cinnamon roll and wow! What a treat. The quality and freshness of these products was excellent. What more is there to say, it was another successful day at the market!

Harvest Market Recap- July 2

I hope everyone had a happy 4th of July! Melissa here from Activate Elgin. This past Thursday's market again was a bustle of activity, and the weather was perfect to do some last minute shopping for the holiday weekend. I was not an exception, as I stocked up on some goodies to bring to the lakehouse for an Independence Day feast. I also brought my puppy Layla to meet some new friends and sample some tasty treats!

Layla and I first went to the Pawprint Barkery for some of her favorite treats- peanut butter cookies! (I later found out that my roommate tried snacking on these cookies while I was gone because they look and smell like the real thing!) We then made our way down the rows of vendors and stopped for some focaccia bread, cherries, tomatoes, corn, cheddar cheese, and specialty olive oil. I also grabbed a hot dog and some popcorn to top it off with a quick lunch. After leaving the market, I headed up to Wisconsin to spend some quality time with the family. The focaccia bread was dipped in the olive oil as a snack, and the cherries, tomatoes, and corn accented our 4th of July picnic out on the boat. These items went over BIG, even though I didn't buy the cheese in cheese country!

I was also sure to check out the educational booths while I was at the market. The Elgin Area Historical Museum was teaching people how to make butter- such a great idea if you couldn't wait to get home to munch on some of your goodies from the Breadsmith. The League of Women Voters space was also bustling with people registering to vote, and Ina was hard at work at the DNA booth entering people in the raffle and promoting downtown businesses.

Be sure to check out this coming market day on July 9th- there will be plenty of familiar faces, new foods to try and interesting sights to see :)

June 18, 2009 Market Summary

When talking to consumers at today's market, more people are focusing on the healthy choices they can make by purchasing foods from local farmers markets. These purchases are not only beneficial for consumers, but have a positive impact on the environment and promote sustainability of local businesses. In the past, I have not always shopped at farmers markets however working at the Downtown Elgin Harvest market has changed my outlook when I purchase foods for my household.
This week after work I made some great buys from some of our vendors at the market. Twin Garden Farms was my first stop where I purchased boldly colored yellow and red peppers, along with fresh corn that had just been placed in bags a few days before. As I made my way down the line, I found myself at PawPrint Bakery to buy ostrich jerky for my neighbor’s 150 pound Newfoundland. Debbie the owner advised me that I could cut the large strip in half if it is too much for the dog however, that was not the case as Gracie devoured it in a matter of a few bites! I finished my round of purchases at Olives 4 You where I couldn't help but think of my mother's fond desire for Mediterranean olives. These locally produced products were all affordably priced, and supporting local businesses made me feel good about my decision to buy at a farmers market.

Gasthaus's Weekend Bands for July

Friday July 3rd- Alterior Motives, Gates of Dis, & Caldera- classic metal covers (Slayer/Pantera) & originals
Saturday July 4th- Punk Night- Join us for your favorite local punk pands including the Oil Can Boys!

Friday July 10th- is a night of metal madness with The Madhatters & Develin
Saturday- Nitrous Rockside takes the stage playing your favorite classic rock covers from the 70s through today!

Friday July 17th- Southern Jack performs the best of ZZ top, Lynard Skynard, The Allman Brothers & all your other favorite southern rock bands!
Saturday July 18th- Local metal and rock bands including Dont' tell Momma, Article B, & Still Kickin perform!

Friday July 24th- The Bungdoons, Hay Perro, & the Repulsators - punk rock is alive in Elgin!
Saturday July 25th- Life Sentence & The Pimps- High energy classic rock is performed! PLUS- the Elgin Bar crawl- a night of music/prizes and great entertainment!

Kitchen is now open serving great wraps, sandwiches, appetizers & even a couple of classic German favorites! Stop in today! Open for lunch beginning in July!!

Parade in the works

The 4th of July Parade is coming along nicely. I never realized how many people want to be in a parade before. Once all the paper work is done the real challenge then becomes getting people in order on the day of the parade. I can only imagine the (organized?) chaos that will ensue on that day. People really seem to care about this event which is good. The amount of people in this event makes me appreciate the amount of logistics that are involved in this. The amount of people really makes this amazing.

--

There was a reporter who came in yesterday asking what was going on in the downtown area. We gave her a few ideas and talked about what's happening in the downtown area. She was a change of pace from a few people I've seen walk in here so far. A few eccentrics have walked in here talking about the town. Well, to be fair they're really more passionate than anything else. They have an investment, having lived here for so long, they can't just stand by and let things happen. This is where our organization becomes the unoffical "suggestion box."

It's usually someone older, who still wants to be active in some way. If I keep working here long enough I could probably learn enough history from them to fill up another blog. The next time the reporter is in here I should probably just send her to one of the people who come in here. It will either be a great article or the Courier News will bill me for wasting a reporters time.

Initial Harvest Market Grocery Purchases

I finally was able to go grocery shopping at the market this past Thursday after eyeing the food items longingly the previous week during Opening Day. Now, five whole days later, I am wondering if I need to talk to my husband about changing our budget to accommodate weekly purchasing as half of the below items are gone. And don’t think it is for summer hors d'oeuvres to entertain the friends on the veranda or anything like that. My husband and I work hard for our money and have found that most of what we eat is at the market. Take into account my first purchases of the season:

• 1 Cherry Almond Scone (Breadsmith)
  Mid-morning snack, gone as soon as I got back to the office Thursday, soooo tasty!
• ½ a Hotdog (In the Neighborhood Deli)
  Sigi actually bought this and shared with me.
• 1 Small bag of Dill Cheddar Cheese Curds (Gloria’s Gourmet Meats)
  My sister, husband and I polished it off while partaking in…
• 1 Roasted Garlic Hummus (Olives 4 You)
  Completely gone in one seating with some tortilla chips I had in my pantry.
• 1 Cute box of Ham and Cheese Dog Treats (Paw Print Barkery)
  My friend’s two golden’s inhaled them like they are never spoiled in that household.
• 1 Carmel Pecan Brownie (Sweet Whimsy/Monkey Bar)
  A tasty treat for dessert on Friday, so moist, and all the ingredients I can pronounce!
• 6 Ears of Mirai Corn (Twin Garden Farms)
  Also gone for dinner Friday and Saturday, and were good despite our overcooking. There are also stories of a city staff member eating the raw corn on her drive home every Thursday.
• 1 Loaf of Honey White Bread (Breadsmith)
  Still have a couple slices left, but I have been diligently eating it for a snack or with dinner, with butter, jam, toasted or not. This also has ingredients I can pronounce and has less than ten ingredients to make dense, tasty bread.
• 1 Container of Blueberries (Windy Acres Farm)
  Tasty in French Vanilla yogurt or just plain to go with my lunch today.
• 2 White and I Red Onions (Windy Acres Farm)
  Overestimated the onions I had left, so they are patiently waiting in my fridge.
• 3 Green Peppers (KAP Farms)
  I also underestimated the peppers I had left over from those “other” stores. Maybe I will have stuffed peppers one of these nights.
• 1 Bag of Lettuce (KAP Farms)
  My husband likes it in his sandwiches he takes to work.
• 1 Pound of Hamburger (Gloria’s Gourmet Meats)
  Starting to unthaw now in my fridge.
• 1 Spice Container of Smoked Sea Salt (La Spiceria)
  This was to appease my husband as he is an addict for anything smoky or salty.
• 1 Package of Wheat Linguine (Gloria’s Gourmet Meats)
  Have not broken it out yet, but I am thinking a light pasta dish one of these hot summer days this week.
• 1 Bunch of Asparagus (Windy Acres)
  Waiting for the chance to grill out.
• 3 Zucchini (KAP Farms)
  Will become Zucchini bread before the week is over and who knows maybe after Thursday there will be blueberry cake, raspberry tarts, more grilling, etc.

Opening day at the Harvest Market

My first experience at the Downtown Elgin Harvest Market was filled with friendly faces and fresh food! When I first arrived it looked as if there was the potential for rain, but it turned out to be a warm sunny day with a nice cool breeze. I started the day by meeting all of the vendors that will be participating in this year's market and telling them about the free reusable tote bags available for customers . It looks like we are going to have a great lineup offering all kinds of fresh produce, along with unique products that you will not be able to find in your grocers freezer!
After greeting the vendors I got down to work. One of my main tasks as the intern for the Harvest Market will be conducting consumer surveys next to the Downtown Neighborhood Association tent. These surveys are going to help me compile data relevant to the market so I can log results for this year, and recommend areas of improvement for the 2010 season. I started recruiting people to take my dot survey, and before I knew it I had over 50 responses. As the day progressed, it seemed like more and more people came to the market on their breaks from work looking for that perfect lunchtime option. Conveniently, the organic hotdog vendor was on site taking care of appetites (including my own). When the market came to a close I packed up my survey materials and chatted with the vendors one last time. Overall, the opening day for the market was a great success and I look forward to helping every Thursday!