Two weeks ago I traveled from Broomfield to Five Points to Civic Center Park and got a lot of material from that short journey. Today, finally, I have reached the end.
Civic Center Park hosts Denver’s newest farmers market (this is the first year) on Tuesdays from 11 to 2. It runs through September 29, but please NOTE: there is no market on September 8. If you want to check it out, go on September 1st, 15th, 22nd, or 29th, but not the 8th!
Compared to the Cherry Creek farmers market or the Boulder farmers market, it’s fairly small, but it has the advantage of a central location. If people working downtown got wise to it, I could see it really taking off.
When I showed up at 1:30 on a hot Tuesday afternoon, there were a few people having a late lunch and shopping. The woman at Verso Cellars winery wasn’t sure if she wanted to keep her booth at this market; she said they did much better at the Greenwood Village market.
Perhaps, I suggested, people are reluctant to taste wine in the middle of the day, and she agreed. I enjoyed the Cabernet 2004, made from Palisade grapes, and the pinot noir, which was very fruity; you can try them at Verso’s tasting room at 46th and Pecos or at Metropolis Coffee.
I noticed this market was home to several vendors who do not yet have storefronts: Sugar Bakeshop and My Mom’s Pies, for instance. The Sugar Bakeshop cupcakes looked really good, even though the frosting was melting.
Also present and accounted for: a looseleaf tea stand, falafels, tacos, Malaysian food, Papardelle’s Pasta, Beijo purses (great-looking but made from vinyl), the Produce Stand, Raquelita’s Tortillas, located at 31st and Larimer (I liked the blue corn tortillas and the tiny yellow corn tortillas), and a well-stocked spice stand (Spice Guys or something like that; it’s not the business that used to be located in the Golden Triangle on Cherokee Row).
I recommend going there for lunch on a cool fall afternoon.
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Friday is the last Skyline Park Summer Concert, featuring Speakeasy Tiger, Pirate Signal, and Danielle Ate the Sandwich. The concert begins at 12 pm at Skyline Park off the 16th Street Mall. If you’re feeling generous, you can bring a non-perishable food item to donate.
Are you ever reluctant to eat a meal served at an outside stand? 🙂
I think if I were, Bernard, it would depend on the type of food served. I’m particular about hotdogs, for example, so if I can’t get an all-beef hotdog, I probably won’t buy one.
A friend of mine, who went to India and ate a lot of street food there, gave me this good advice: “If the food is hot, it’s probably safe. If it’s cold, spit it out and get something fresh.”
I don’t think I’ve had any problems with Denver food that I got from a stand. I tend to have more problems with rich or spicy food from restaurants.
.-= Beth Partin´s last blog ..Denver Farmers Markets: Civic Center Outdoor Market and Café =-.
I had no idea that there was a Farmer’s Market there!– The things you learn from reading local blogs. They should hold it from 4-7 pm Tuesdays. Then, the wine lady could serve more wine and people could pick up vegetables on their way home.
.-= Mary´s last blog ..I’m already used to this!: Weekend Doggie Double =-.
Yeah, Mary, I think that’s good advice. I don’t know why they schedule it when they did. Maybe they were worried about thunderstorms?
.-= Beth Partin´s last blog ..DNC Revisited =-.
I think I have to agree with your friend’s advice. If it’s hot, it’s probably fine.
.-= saint´s last blog ..A Victim of Hospitality =-.
Oh, and I’m glad to see this kind of thing get started. Though I think it’d be more successful at Market Street Station, since that would be right at a transportation hub as well, so people could buy things as they get going, and it’s much more easily accessible to pedestrian traffic, whereas Civic Center is a bit of an oasis that people tend to avoid due to bum traffic. But I hope it takes off, and becomes even a daily thing, and maybe this is what’s needed to bring people back into the park and the bums and crack dealers out of it.
.-= saint´s last blog ..A Victim of Hospitality =-.
Saint, glad to hear from you again! I hope everything is going well in the Republic of Georgia. There’s been talk in Denver of establishing a market like the one in Seattle, but of course it’s just talk right now. It would be nice to have a centrally located farmer’s market in Denver.
.-= Beth Partin´s last blog ..DNC Revisited =-.
Thanks for these views of the market. Can you supply or point me to any more that show the market and the plaza area, or other markets in downtown Denver, if any ? Thanks !
Gene, this link may help you.
http://www.denverfarmersmarket.com/locations.htm
The most well known farmers market in Denver, I think, is the one at Cherry Creek. There’s also a farmers market this winter at 200 Santa Fe on Saturdays. You might try checking that one out.
.-= Beth Partin´s last blog ..Denver Shops: Tomte Modern Craft =-.