This is a collection of musings, reviews, and commentary on Columbia, SC events, eateries, places I like, style, and politics. Hey, if I can't live in a big city, then I'll try to be cultured in my medium-sized one.
Showing posts with label All Local Farmer's Market. Show all posts
Showing posts with label All Local Farmer's Market. Show all posts
Since having a baby 4 months ago, (whew-time flies; I can't believe she's 4 months old!), I have been slooooowly and steadily working towards getting back into "running shape." I define running shape as being able to run 2 miles without stopping, and without totally hating the time I spend doing it.
Today I reached that goal. I had my first enjoyable 2 mile run without stopping to walk; (it was actually 2.3 miles!) And just in time too, as I run in my first 5K in almost 2 years tomorrow night. I'll let you know how that goes...my goal is merely to run the entire thing. No time or pace goals for this girl; I just aim to run the whole way without stopping to walk.
Tonight James & I are taking the babes to EdVenture Children's Museum to hear Like Totally!, a theatrical, kid-friendly band that I think Jones will really dig. He is obsessed with music and instruments and playing his guitar and singing these days; it's pretty awesome.
Tomorrow we plan to go to Soda City, the all-local farmer's market on Main Street. We'll be looking to get a boat load of tomatoes so James can make a huge batch of salsa to can. This market is so cool and Jones loves it too--I love to grab some Indah coffee as soon as we get there, then sip as we peruse. Last time we went Jones got a bag of mini-donuts which were delicious. I also scored some cool records. Very fun.
Jones at the Soda City market last winter--a little hipster-in-training, right?!
I'm also thinking a dinner on the patio at Il Giorgione might be a good way to celebrate completing the 5K tomorrow night; we'll only have Birdie with us, as Jones is spending the night with his YaYa, so we could actually even have adult conversation!
So, I admit, occasionally on this blog I have mentioned that I work for a small non-profit called St. Lawrence Place (SLP). Heck, I may have even shamelessly promoted one or two of our special events in the past...but this time, it's not shameless, I promise! This is really cool, y'all! And you can get a really cool prize if you help us out!
Just a reminder--SLP provides support services, life skills, and transitional housing for homeless families with children in Columbia, SC.
We are looking to re-brand, and as a first step, we are in search of a new logo! You can see the details on our website here.
Dinner for 8 at your home from Pawley's Front Porch Food Truck! (have you eaten from the Pawley's Food Truck before--it is amazing!) I had a BLT a couple Saturdays ago and it was heaven...Fried Green Tomatoes, Pimento Cheese, lots of bacon...mmmm.
Spirits and soft beverages to accompany dinner.
Serving pieces painted by teens and kids living at St. Lawrence Place, compliments of Mad Platter. Mad Platter is awesome--they help SLP with numerous fundraisers and events for the kids throughout the year--much love.
Community-wide recognition, as SLP re-brands using your new artwork as our logo!! You'll be famous!
So, are you interested?! Know someone who would be great at this? Please pass it along. Submissions due October 7th. See details here.
And, now, I'm hungry...Pawley's Food Truck will be at the All Local Farmer's Market tomorrow morning...I think I'm gonna try the Mahi Mahi Tacos this time...
All-Local Farmer's Market--it's been too long since I've been and now that Jones is trying new foods, I can't wait to find some cool local produce to make into baby food for him!
Abby and Peach
Dog wash fundraiser at Earth Fare. It's only $7 per dog and all proceeds will go to helping find retired racing Greyhounds new homes. Abby and Peach will be in attendance; (they just don't know it yet). The shampoos used to bathe the dogs will be organic (naturally), and all dogs get a goodie bag to take home. 11 am- 3 pm.
Possibly a trip to Buy Buy Baby...I have a coupon burning a hole in my pocket, plus Jones really does need a few things:
Now that the babe likes his baths, (hallelujah!), we need some fun bath toys for him to play with...Boon toys are the cutest and they're BpA, PVC and Phthalate-free.
Father's Day lunch on Sunday with my Dad by the pool--homemade hamburgers. Father's Day dinner with my husband's family. Jones has a couple cute first Father's Day gifts up his sleeve for James :)
Another cool thing going on this weekend--the SC State Farmer's Market is giving away FREE BLT's to the first 1,000 through the gates on Saturday morning! You can sign up to get a weekly text from the market letting you know what will be going on each Saturday by texting HARVEST to 313131.
So, since I am not sleeping a whole lot these days--Jones has his days and nights pretty mixed up, and although we're making progress in finding what works for all of us, I am awake at pretty strange hours. I have found myself watching a ton of HGTV, Food Network and Cooking Channel.
*You all know by now my affinity for the All Local Farmer's Market--I went last Saturday and it was hoppin', y'all! It was the busiest I've seen it ever, maybe-and I didn't get there until almost 11. There were lots more vendors than usual, including many with fresh produce like locally-grown tomatoes. Here's what you can expect there this Saturday: Any child with his/her Dad will receive a FREE doughnut in honor of Father's Day--and Dad will get one too!
And, City Roots will be there with so many wonderful herbs, lettuces, and veggies, including chanterelle mushrooms, foraged from the mountains of NC! That's pretty cool.
*And speaking of farmers markets, the Seeds of Hope markets have opened back around town--you may have noticed signs at various locations for these small markets. Seeds of Hope invites small, local farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers, ensuring that they can earn a decent living from their farming. "My" Seeds of Hope market is located at a small church off of Rosewood Drive; the couple who sells their produce there is from Kingstree, SC and they are so sweet. And they grow the best cantaloupes I've ever eaten! Seriously, I am eating their cantaloupe as I type this, and I will be back this Saturday to get another. "My" market is open 8-12 on Saturdays. Others around town are open different hours--there is one at Shandon Methodist Church, one at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, one at the Unitarian Universalist Church, and many more....check one out! Click here for a list of all Columbia Seeds of Hope markets.
*Did you watch Top Chef last night? It was exciting, although I don't have a clear favorite yet. Obviously, Angelo is really good, (he won both the Quick Fire and the Elimination Challenge last night), but he's a bit of a "chach."* So far, I think I like Kenny, just because he agrees with me that Angelo is indeed a "chach," and because he was pretty bangin' at themise en place challenge. No other stand-outs to me, so far. What did you think? Here's another review of the season premiere.
*On a sweeter note, I read about a fun new candy store, Sweeteeth, in Charleston, SC here. Isn't the packaging cool? And they specialize in artisan chocolates like peanut butter & chipotle dark chocolate or salted caramel with dark chocolate. I really want to try some...and, lucky me, (and all the rest of you who don't live in Charleston), you can order the bars on-line here. The bars are also sold at various local shops in and around Charleston, for list, click here.
Happy Thursday, folks! I think I'm going to try the new Vista restaurant, Tako Sushi, Saturday night--I'll let you know my thoughts next week.
*"Chach" is a word that I learned from my sister and her husband...not sure of the origin, but I find it is the perfect word in many cases. Basically, it means d*bag or tool...you know, a guy who is arrogant for no reason whatsoever. I looked it up in Urban Dictionary, and it is defined there as "a person (usually male) who attempts to exhibit a cool and popular look but generally comes across as either an asshole and/or a total loser." (We all just brought one to mind, right)?
Greenberg, the new Ben Stiller film about being a failure, opens at The Nickelodeon today and runs through June 17th. Here's a trailer; I think it looks pretty funny:
Tomorrow at theAll-Local Farmer's Market, there is seafood! Sea Eagle Seafood will have jumbo shrimp, flounder, grouper and more. Of course all the other staid favorites will also be there selling local produce, grains, flowers, dairy, meat..you get the idea.
And, there is a FREE wine tasting and sale at Cellar on Greene from 12-2 PM tomorrow afternoon!
That's about all I have on my plate for the weekend, what do you have in store? James' best friend, Jason, is coming in town and we'll be cooking out at the house at some point. It's gonna to be disgustingly sticky in Columbia this weekend, brace yourselves.
The older I get, the more difficult I find it to sit still and just "be." At times when I seem restless and unable to sit still, my husband says to me, simply: "Stop doin' stuff, babe." It's pretty cute, and usually is exactly what I need to hear in those moments of frantic fussing about, not really getting anything done...
Anyway--today's post is meant to send just the opposite message--go do stuff, my dears!
Impending spring and the excitement of a big St. Pat's celebration in Columbia have me really excited for the weekend!
Here is a quick list of fun things to do around Columbia: *USC baseball hosts 3 games against Brown, Friday at 7 pm, Saturday at 4 pm, and Sunday at 1:30 pm.
*Of course, St. Patrick's Festival in 5 Pts. Click here to see my previous post all about that!
*Gervais & Vine has live jazz on Saturday night, no cover--and they always have amazing tapas and wine.
*The Nickelodeon is showing Out in the Silence one screening only--tomorrow, March 13th at 7pm. Screening will be held in the lobby of the Fox Theater - 1607 Main Street. See the trailer:
*All-Local Farmer's Market, 8-12 Saturday, with some new vendors, including Ryan's Veg House featuring Hydroponic Butter Crunch...um, sounds amazing?! Breakfast by Rosso.
*Free show by SoftSpot at The Whig on Sunday night--plus they have $2 burgers (and veggie burgers).
What are your plans?? This weekend, I'm doin' stuff, babe.
This blog was always meant to include reviews of restaurants and local eateries, and since my newly-nourished, (no pun intended), interest in eating healthier, more humanely, locally, and organic, I have been posting a lot about food-related issues and topics. So, as I was planning my post for today, realizing it again discusses local farms, it came to me to establish Thursday blog posts as "Thursday's Thinking of Food" posts. {Full disclosure...the name for this new feature came to me as I was listening to my local NPR station's "Speaking of Schools," hosted by Doug Keel. The titles have the same rhythm and structure...Speaking of Schools...Thinking of Food...yeah? Anyway.}
Here's the first Thursday's Thinking of Food post: I am officially a member (half-share) of a local CSA!! For those of you wondering what a CSA is, (as my husband was when I broke the news to him last night), CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. The CSA I have joined is in Leesville, SC and is called Round River Farms. It's website says: "CSA's are healthy relationships between a community of people and a local farm and farmer. Realizing that in these times not everyone can be on the land growing their own food, a CSA farm entrusts the care and nurture of the land and crops to one skilled in organic farming."
Staff of Round River Farms will bring shares of the harvest weekly to a designated spot in Columbia for shareholders to pick up. Deliveries will begin in early May and go through October, and the variety of produce and herbs that they grow is amazing! Click here to see a list of the Spring, Summer and Fall crops. I am so excited to have fresh, locally and organically grown vegetables all Spring, Summer and Fall! The CSA accepts full or half shares, full shares providing enough veggies weekly for a family of 4 or more, and a half share providing enough for 2-3 people. You can bet that once I start getting my weekly haul I will be posting about it here!
If you're interested in why grass-fed beef is actually better for humans, cows, and the earth than corn-fed beef, click here for an interesting article on the subject.
I am a 30-something social worker, teacher, and momma to Jones and Birdie; surprised daily by how amazing motherhood really is. I love to cook and eat. I also blog for Fig Columbia here: www.figcolumbia.com.
