The Farmers Market Is Back Home In Market Square

Maybe it’s because we recently moved our offices to the fourth floor of 925 Liberty Avenue, but we couldn’t wait to get our feet on the street again to head to Market Square for the first day of the 2010 Farmers Market.

That’s right. After selling their wares in Gateway Plaza last summer to make way for the initial phase of the fabulous makeover of Market Square, our favorite vendors — plus some new faces — are back in one of the city’s best-loved gathering spots. And it really does feel like a homecoming.

Of course, we stopped at the Salsa Man’s stand to sample some of the spicy dips and chips. Even though the skies were a little gray, the Spanish peanut sauce turned up the heat, for sure. And pie man Bob Schilling’s big, bright smile supplied more than enough sunshine at Sand Hill Berries in front of all the lunchtime diners chowing down al fresco style on cheesesteaks outside of Primanti’s.
And you know we can't stop talking about how great it is to live, work and relax in Downtown, but even city slickers couldn’t resist the homemade goodness of farm-fresh cheddars and other cheeses at the Clover Creek Cheese Cellar stand — a rookie this year in the Square.

Even though workers are still laying terrazzo and yellow caution tape surrounds newly planted saplings, the Square was bustling, which is usually the case during the Farmers Market. Did you know that on Market Thursdays, about 6,000-7,000 workers, shoppers and other passersby gather in the Square for tasty Greek pastries, just-picked produce for dinner and first-rate live music? Not that we were counting, but Market Square was packed by time the Lincoln Park Steel Drum Corps started entertaining with a mix of calypso and jazz tunes that had just about everyone tapping their toes to the irresistible beat. Before we forget to mention it, free, live noon concerts are part of the Farmers Market through August 19, with a variety of rock, country and more in store.

If you’re a people watcher, Market Square is a prime spot just about anytime. But it’s even better during the Farmers Market. Along with paparazzi from local TV stations and newspapers, we caught Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Bobby Crosby with his wife, Gina, and son, Tyler. The Crosbys, who happen to live Downtown, said the Farmers Market was grand slam for them.

Now, as hard as it is to believe, some people in the area were finding out about the Farmers Market for the very first time. And we think that’s just great. We noticed Jackie Valley of Bethel Park sniffing a pretty bouquet of flowers and just had to ask her what she thought of the new Market Square and the Farmers Market. “I was just walking through and discovered,” Jackie told us. “It’s fabulous. I’ll be down here again.”

Jackie, we can’t wait to see you and everyone else this summer and fall for all the fun at the Farmers Market in the new Market Square.