On the Market.

While I personally never made it over to The Festival in the Park this weekend, my husband was able to catch the tail end of the Car Show they had on Saturday. Having just purchased a 1950 Chevrolet Panel Truck he’ll be restoring, Adam was anxious to catch up with car owners and obtain information on registering for this year’s Star City Motor Madness which will be held on Williamson Rd. June 29th from 6pm to 10pm and in downtown Roanoke on June 30th from 2pm to 9pm. June 30th is also Family Fun Day in which there will not only be cars galore, but a band and other activities as well. All net proceeds from the event will be donated to the Virginia Museum of Transportation Automotive Gallery. While hubby’s car won’t be finished in time for the show, it is in driving condition.

Geico made its self well known over the weekend giving away free fans to festival goers. The fans certainly came in handy as temps hovered around 90 much of the weekend. The fans featured characters from Geico’s commercials - the gecko and the caveman.

Kari LeMay, of a Crooked Little House, introduced her new creations on Saturday. Her gorgeous lamps boasted bright colors and a fun design featuring fish and poppies. Click here to see the lamp in its entirety. You can catch Kari most Saturdays on the Farmer’s Market.

Gary, of Wertz’s Restaurant, informed me over the weekend that his grilled Italian sausages and bbq have gone the way of Roanoke’s free parking. Due to Roanoke’s often misunderstood and sometimes unwelcome beauracy, Gary can no longer sell grilled food out of doors. Despite passing a recent health inspection and the desire for more market food vendors by both patrons and the market manager alike, Roanoke requires a special permit for situations such as this. As with the food sold at the Local Colors Festival, vendors must acquire permit at the cost of $40. The permit is then good for only ten days, at which time to continue selling food of this nature, another permit must be acquired and another fee paid. You will continue, however, to find lemon and limeade offered throughout the summer at Gary’s tables across from his restaurant on select days throughout the week.

The building going up beside Sam’s is starting to take shape. Currently there is an elevator shaft and three partial walls. Previously a parking lot, the new building will house office space.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day. I spent the day at my parents where I enjoyed a cookout with my family. My son was excited over it being Memorial Day, and mimicked the acknowledgment of the war veterans given by the preacher at church on Sunday by shushing us all and making his own announcement that his Papa had served during the Vietnam War era as a communications specialist. Several of our Market friends are veterans as well including Bob Craig (Dragon Photography,) E. Bruce Barfield (Millennium III Productions,) and Gary Crowder (Wertz’s Restaurant.)