Well, the market last week was kind of a wash. The rain definitely kept the lines down, but the downpour also meant that events were cancelled and some of the vendors chose not to attend or packed up early. Can’t say that I blame them; the rain was coming down pretty heavily. The good news is that the cancelled events from last weekend, Art at the Market and the Aduki Jazz trio performance, have been re-scheduled for this week. Art at the Market will feature the tote bag workshop this weekend. Additionally, there will be a Sprouts at the Market event this weekend too, so this is looking to be a great weekend to visit the market. The weather is predicted to be sunny and in the low 80s, so it’ll be pretty much a perfect weekend to enjoy the market.
Sprouts at the Market returns this week with “A taste of the market.” This free program is sponsored by Chambanamoms.com, and will feature a tour of local produce available at the market, a presentation to learn about local foods, and the opportunity to sample some local produce. The program is for children ages 3-8 years old, and runs from 9:30-11:30 a.m. To learn more about the Sprouts program, visit their website. Also, Art at the Market has ben rescheduled for this week from 8 a.m. to noon, and the Aduki Jazz trio performance will happen from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Both of these events are free to market attendees. This is a pretty jam packed market weekend, so don’t miss out on the fun!
With all the rain lately, the produce has been coming up by the bushel. This weekend the market will have many, many produce items. There will definitely be peaches, sweet corn, okra, beets, carrots, zucchini, onions, potatoes, cabbage, and perhaps 
even a few watermelons. With the slightly cooler weather, this is a great time to make pie and cobbler for your summer dessert needs. Last week I made a peach pie and I have to say that there is nothing like homemade pie from market peaches. But if you aren’t a pie maker, there are plenty of baked goods to purchase at the market. You might even find a peach pie or two to take home. I’ve been stopping by Pekara’s market stand most market mornings and the chocolate croissants are quite tasty and the perfect size for eating as you browse. There are a lot of baked goods at the market—give it a try and I’m sure you can find one you like (there are even some pretty good gluten free options if you are so inclined).
Forms of payment: All vendors accept cash, and a few may take checks. There is an ATM in the Lincoln Square Mall just in case you buy so much you need a few more bucks. LINK card tokens are still available. See information about LINK here.
Parking: Parking is available in the parking lots surrounding Lincoln Square Mall and the lot south of Illinois Street for FREE! Bike parking is also available at the entrances to the mall and at the bike corral area past the entrance to the market off of Illinois.
Information: The market provides a lot of ways to get information. You can follow the market on facebook and twitter. Sign up for Market Mail here. There is a map of the vendors here. If you want more information you can email Market Director Natalie Kenny Marquez, or call her at 217.384.2319. Check out flickr for some great photos from the market each week. The market also has instagram: you can follow the feed here.
Pets: The market doesn’t allow pets, so leave your furry friends at home. But there are plenty of places to pick up a special treat for your pet at the market so they don’t feel left out.
The market runs from 7 a.m. to noon every Saturday through November 1st. All events are scheduled rain or shine.
Photos from Facebook.