On the Market.

So my son asked today if blogging was legal. I told him, yes, it was and basically showed him that was what I’ve been doing. I also told him I knew of another “kid” - though she’s a teen - who just started her own blog under the guidance of her mother. He thought that was cool and that he might want to start his own blog as well. What would it be about? Well, according to him, politics and how much they suck. Maybe we’ll hold off on a blog for him a while longer. I think I’m terrified of what might come out his mouth knowing he’s my son…

There are many lip balm addicts in the world, and I am one of them. A great lip balm just makes all the difference so I’ve tried more lip balms than I could possibly ever count. My top two lip balms of choice had always been Tea Tree Lip Rescue by Dessert Essence and Beeswax Lip Balm by Burt’s Bees. Recently, however, I found a lip balm that I believe tops them both. Eskimo Kiss by Biggs & Featherbelle offers minty moisture that keeps my lips happy no matter what the season is. It feels great on my lips and keeps them healed and moisturized. The balm is all natural and is a blend of Beeswax, Mango Butter, olive Butter, Cocoa Butter, Sal Butter, Macadamia Nut Oil, Olive Oil, Shea Oil, Vitamin E & Essential Oil Blend (Peppermint & Spearmint). Grab a tube from Biggs & Featherbelle and see if you don’t agree.

Don’t forget the Car/Truck/Motorcycle Show for Star City Motor Madness is being held downtown tomorrow from 2pm to 9pm. Several city blocks have been set aside for the event. The show will not take place on Market St. this year, so be sure to look for your favorite vendors til 5pm on the City Market should you wish to take a detour.

Adam’s new truck - a 1950 Chevrolet Panel Truck (originally a Canopy Express) - will be in the car show downtown this weekened. It is still a work in progress, unfortunately, as he’s only had it two weeks and there was more body damage than he’d realized. He’s spent a good amount of time digging out bondo and welding in new metal plates where areas had rusted out, and still has more to do, but it can be driven. (That reddish brown you see is primer.) The starter and generator also had to be rebuilt and there was some general engine maintenance that needed to be taken care of. Plus he’s had the rain to contend with. So the truck is nowhere near complete, and Adam will not be able to get it painted with chalkboard paint as he had planned, unfortunately. He’s pretty disappointed because he could have at least gotten a panel painted if it hadn’t rained. My sweetie does tell me, however, that he’ll definitely have it covered in chalkboard paint for next year’s show. Sorry for anyone who may be disappointed. Still, he’ll let your kids climb in his car if they want to see what it’s like to sit in the driver’s seat.

Also, On the Rise is looking for an employee. If you need a daytime job and are responsible and courteous and promise not to hack loogies in the bread dough, then you may want to consider applying for the position. Besides, Steve is a really nice guy so he can’t be horrible to work for. Plus, the smell of baking bread evokes happy thoughts.

An editorial on the proposed Center in the Square renovations.
Guest article by “A Simple Country Fella.”

First of all, I am but simple country fella who takes things at face value. Occasionally I find I am further handicapped by not having been born in the shadow of the Mill Mountain Star and therefore am not a true Roanoker, but an outsider who has been contaminated by ideas not native to the Roanoke Valley. I tell you it is often quite a struggle.

Several weeks ago in the Sunday edition of the Roanoke Fish Wrapper citizens were unreliably informed by Ace Girl Reporter 23 year old Jenny Boone Kincad’s article that the Center in the Square folks had planned and were about to execute a coup to take over the parking lots fronting Campbell Ave and oust half the vendors selling at the Farmers Market. For some reason Ms. Kincad never mentioned that the parking lots are owned by the City of Roanoke, a fact that she probably didn’t know or omitted as detracting from the drama of her article.

Well, let me tell you Excitement abounded and the population rose up to protest. It was generally unclear what they were protesting about but it seemed like most of them were concerned because the Weiner Stand might have to move (but not far) to a new location or even worse go out of business! From the Hue and Cry over that it seemed as if half the population of Roanoke might starve if deprived of Gus’ hotdogs and fries rather than have lower cholesterol levels.

Seeing a pressing need Mayor Nelson Harris, our fearless leader, stepped up to the plate to demonstrate his leadership ability and calmed the masses by saying unto them, Come let us reason together! At least that is what we thought he said only to find out that reasoning together would be done in private and by invitation only. Realizing he had screwed up royally, Fearless Leader arranged to have a “mediator” ride into town on a white horse to bring us together, using the $100,000 “Comprehensive Market Study” as a starting point.

Meanwhile back at the parking lot Jim Spears, Executive Director of Center in the Square was saying we have no intention of executing the coup – but of course in the hub-bub no one heard him until a month after the fact.

For any of you who have attended the “mediation sessions” featuring the “Market Advisory Committee” each of whom seems to have their own agenda, you will recognize it as same-o, same-o covering ground that has been plowed many times before, resulting in the usual unquantifiable goals that leave the participant with warm fuzzy feelings. This ritual dance is known as “Citizen Input”, results in a report by the consultant/mediator or whatever which City Council members can absolve themselves of any accountability or responsibility by claiming that “the Consultant/Mediator whatever said…..” Being able to think and act intelligently is not a job requirement for being a City Council member.

If anyone thinks something is going to come out of this exercise, I suggest they not hold their breath. The City cannot afford any major investment in the farmers market, market building, or anything else until at least 2012. For those who can’t read financial statements and are unaware of the City’s financial posture, it is pretty bad. If you listen closely you will hear that Fearless Leader has changed his sotto voiced caveat from “if it is for the good of the city” to “if a private developer is involved” or some variation. Anyone noticed that services provided by the City have already been reduced? As in the trash collections in the farmers market area, the sidewalks and the streets not being cleaned, etc. etc.

Gotta tell you it is all too much for a Simple Country fella such as myself. Perhaps someone can explain it to me?

Poppycat News was kind enough to review my Sage & Citrus Soap. Just thought I’d share my delight.

Bad Blues BBQ may be opening soon. Located in the old Confeddy’s space beside The Gift Niche in Market Square, Bad Blues BBQ has hopes of completing their interior renovations by July 15th. Exactly when the new restaurant will open, however, remains a mystery as apparently the restaurant is having issues with inspections.

My question though is whether or not Bad Blues will keep the existing lighting which currently remains in place. It doesn’t seem to me that Tiffany lamps would really go well with a blues themed BBQ joint, but maybe that’s just me.

Hope Hollingsworth, the City Market Manager, is considering organizing an evening Market beginning next year. I had found a forum thread last week that addressed just this subject and I know it has been brought up by consumers before. One of the more interesting posts within that thread was the following comment:

Many years ago, I was instrumental in the development of a Saturday morning Farmer’s Market. It took us several years to build it to the point of looking to an additional evening market.

I’ve since retired from the industry, but had the pleasure of attending the Tuesday evening market several times.

Things they did differently to attract an evening crowd included having superb live, local entertainment, offering a multitude of prepared food booths (you could have dinner there), working with downtown merchants (keep the stores open, please), and also with the Downtown Business Association to attract local car shows, art shows, etc.

That evening market now rivals the Saturday market for overall popularity.

Here’s the link to their website.

http://www.hillsboromarkets.org/

Shari Thomas

I’d love to hear how others in the valley feel about an evening Market, and whether or not it’s worth pursuing. Feel free to leave your comments.

The Roanoke Weiner Stand will remain inside of the Center in the Square Building. Read the story. This was one of the conclusions that was reached during the second City Mediated Meeting held last night regarding the Center in the Square’s plans for renovations.

For those interested in the first meeting that was held on June 5th, here’s a summary of that meeting:

Farmers’ Market Area Advisory Committee
Sense of the Meeting
6/5/07
Prepared by UVA Institute for Environmental Negotiation

Executive Summary

The first meeting of the Farmers’ Market Area Advisory Committee focused on clarifying underlying interests of the key parties and public. Interests can be described within these categories:

Overarching goals – to maintain and enhance the vitality and economic value of the Market and associated retail and cultural organizations, and to maintain and strengthen the sense of history, family and community within and among the Market area merchants, property owners, customers and public.

Safety – address infrastructure (e.g., pavement) and social (e.g., offensive comments from some individuals who frequent the market) concerns.

Access – ensure convenient access for vendors and for customers of all ages and physical abilities.

Aesthetics and Structures – maintain the Market’s unique identity while improving both functionality and attractiveness to visitors.

Multiple Uses & User Groups – providing for varieties of attractive uses during special events and after the market closes.

Marketing – improving awareness of Market Area offerings.

Implementation – ensuring that the Committee’s time and efforts are not wasted and that consensus is legitimate and able to be implemented.

All Committee members endorsed the continued presence and growth of the Market. The Center in the Square Executive Director Jim Sears explicitly repudiated news reports claiming that they plan to take away vendor space. He noted that they have neither plans nor interest in doing so, and would have no ability to do so even had they wanted to, as that area is public space.

At the next meeting, which will occur from 6 – 9 p.m. Tuesday June 26th at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, the Committee will review requested information and develop and confirm ideas and actions to meet each of these interests.

Meeting Notes

Acting Assistant City Manager for Community Development Brian Townsend opened the meeting, welcomed the Committee and the 90+ members of the public in attendance, and introduced UVA’s Institute for Environmental Negotiation team of Frank Dukes, Caroline Wilkinson, and Miranda Maupin.
Dr. Dukes invited the committee to offer some ground rules that would make the best of their time working together. Committee members offered the following guidelines:

Practice cell phone etiquette (turn it off or, if necessary, take it outside)
Listen
Have an open mind, be open to new ideas
Be polite
Use the golden rule
Speak up
Use a bigger room with more seating for the next meeting

Dr. Dukes invited each committee member to identify key their goals for the committee’s work and for the farmer’s market area. Committee members identified the following goals for the process:

Key Goals of Committee
Clarify understanding, get a better sense of what’s going on
Start with positives
Help residents, vendors, businesses to succeed and preserve history of Roanoke’s “outdoor living room”
Benefit vendors, users, others
Increase vitality of the market
Retain opportunities to sell
Increase daily energy / expand market
Find ways to move forward together protecting all interests
Build a shared vision
Build trust
Determine best use of public space
Serve as a resource
Come to common set of principles for both function and design

Following the identification of overall goals, Dr. Dukes invited a discussion of the needs and interests of each committee member relating to the market area. The Committee identified many key needs and interests for themselves and the stakeholder groups they represent. The needs and interests identified are grouped here in the following categories: overall comments, safety, access, aesthetics and structures, the needs of multiple user groups, marketing and implementation.

Needs / Interests of Committee Members

Overall
Maintain and enhance sense history and community
Envision Market as part of larger dynamic
Maintain and increase the value of the Market on city and regional level economy
Use elements of the 2006 City Market District Plan

Safety
Provide places for display and holding sold items, with secure locks
Address slippery sidewalks and crosswalks
Address swaying light posts
Address loitering

Access
Provide customer and vendor parking and access, especially for elderly, disabled, handicapped and bicycles
Retain access while constructing any improvements
Link to greenway systems
Reduce speed of through traffic

Aesthetics and Structures
Increase cleanliness and attractiveness
Provide a dry place to sell
Keep products dry and fresh
Upgrade facilities, e.g. awnings, stamped pavement for identity
Climate - consider ceiling fans for cooling; consider radiant heat for winter
Provide vendors access to phone lines for charge card transactions
Seek creative, long-lasting designs, e.g., tables that convert for multiple uses
Address ginkgo trees
Address trash pickup

Multiple Uses & User Groups
Increase number of farmers, vendors, merchants, especially organic – consider holding more than one market, e.g., Victory Stadium
Explore possibilities for evening use and events (Saturday), e.g., entertainment, civic events
Consider different crowds, users of the area
Recognize needs of residents (e.g., noise)
Attract next generation downtown

Marketing
Make Market Square more pedestrian and shopper friendly
Increase visibility of Center in the Square and other storefronts
Support increased vitality, people, customers
Get information to public (especially via market website - www.roanokefarmersmarket.com

Implementation
Ensure Committee’s work gets something done
Seek balance between common and individual interests

Frank Dukes thanked the Committee members for their candid discussion. He summarized the main points as creating a safer, more functional and attractive space, attracting and providing access for more people, and the need for a shared vision that addresses multiple uses of the space. He highlighted the committee’s desire to bring a shared vision toward action and implementation.

The Committee then identified areas where they felt they need more information, as well as existing resources that are available for the committee’s consideration in its work.

Information Needed

Case studies, examples of other markets
Briefing (from Brian, Gary) on City Market Plan from 2006
DRI strategic plan elements (DRI will email to the Committee)
Financial information, especially on private-public partnerships
Quantify costs, benefits, demographics, especially for public transit to increase access
DRI has conducted user surveys and is willing to do additional surveys
Video on history of Roanoke market produced by Cox Cable (DRI can follow up)
Existing plan for bicycle connectivity with Mill Mountain Greenway

Additional Public Comments

Several members of the public offered questions and reflections throughout the meeting. Their comments and ideas are included in the sections above. Members of the public also requested that the Committee strongly consider the historic elements of the market, the multiple user groups and uses of the area, and the area’s potential to draw and retain young people.

City Council member Sherman P. Lea was in attendance and thanked the Committee and the public for attending.

Next Meeting

The next committee meeting was set for Tuesday, June 26 at 6 – 9 p.m. at the Roanoke Higher Education Center.

The husband and I went to 202 Market last night for a late dinner. (We celebrated our 6 year anniversary on the 21st.)  Chatham County Line was playing and while we had originally opted not to hear the band - don’t we hear enough bluegrass on the market? - we changed our minds when we got there and were able to score bar seats that gave the perfect view of the band. It turned out that Chatham County Line is a nationally touring band and they were very good. I was especially fond of their original songs they’d just come out with, and Adam liked them so much, he hit me up for $15 to buy a cd. (I was blowing my market money last night so I was paying.) Adam also got a chance to talk to the band members while they were both outside on cigarette breaks and it turns out Roanoke wasn’t exactly what Chathm County Line was expecting. Apparently our city and 202 Market were a bit small compared to most of the places they tour. However, the band did tell Adam that they would have come just for the food at 202 Market. And I have to agree. I tried their Lobster and Sweet Corn Agnolotti for the first time last night and was really surprised at how they made such unusual combinations taste so good, and Adam was trying to figure out how they got their “Fried Chicken” Again so incredibly moist and tasty. The Sweet Corn Agnolotti was very unusual and while one server described it as a little eggroll filled with corn, I thought it tasted more like a tiny pie, though not as sweet.

A visit from Karl Phillips, Publisher of Roanoke’s City Magazine, really gave us a great laugh though. He swung into 202 Market late last night as the band was in full swing and gave everyone in the restaurant a little show by dancing in front of the stage. It seemed he was a bit inebriated. After a short little hoe down by himself, Karl then tried to convince a table full of girls attending a bachelorette party to dance with him. When that failed, he was off to the table full of older women on the other side of the room. While no one succumbed to his charms, Karl did give us all a good laugh. I don’t believe anyone else there would have dared to get up and dance. Karl left very soon after though I couldn’t have said where as I was enjoying the music too much. It could be he simply dashed off to the Piano Lounge upstairs. Anyhow, thanks to everyone who bought soap over the weekend as it really was everyone of you who paid for my dinner and entertainment this weekend.

Tomorrow kicks off the 15th Annual Roanoke Valley Wine Festival in Elmwood Park. The event runs from 1pm to 6pm and tickets at the gate are $25 each. There will be live music from Tim Martin and G. T. Swing and of course wine tasting! Wineries present include Davis Valley Winery, AmRhein Wine Cellars, Fincastle Vineyard and Winery, Hickory Hill Vineyard and Winery, Horton Winery, Naked Mountain Vineyard, Peaks of Otter Winery, Rockbridge Vineyard, Savoy-Lee Winery, Virginia Mountain Vineyards, White Rock Vineyards & Winery, Blue Ridge Vineyards, Chateau Morrisette, and West Wind Farm Vineyard & Winery. This is your chance to grab all those wines you’ve been dying for but haven’t been able to get since VA decided Virginia Wineries needed to use a distributor in order to sell to retail stores. Proceeds from the event are being donated to charity. Sorry, but you’ve gotta be 21 and no pets are allowed.

Additionally, I have heard - from one of the many little birds around downtown Roanoke - that most folks go to this event not to learn about the wines, but to get drunk… Whether it’s true or not, it does sound like a great excuse! So if you’ve got nothing else planned, why not give it a go.