Rain City Breakers bring it

Rain City Breakers were part of the last course on the entertainment menu yesterday at the last of this year's Renton Farmers Market. Hailing from our town, some even graduates from Renton High, these guys were really fun to watch. So fun, I took loads of photos and had to create a special posting just for them. Look at the pics and you will see what I mean.

Let me take you to the Market, this one last time

Last call for friends of the Renton Farmers Market - today finished a stellar season for the vendors and visitors with sunny blue skies, warm temperature and sweet, sweet treats to be had by all. The Picaroon will be featuring some of this blog's favorites of the market today. Selfishly, it is all about what The Picaroon has come to love and associate with the market over these last three months. I have even more photos, but I had to limit myself to the task at hand.

These were the wackiest pair of squash, in shapes and sizes akin to small household pets and children. They were for sale - but it was like arranging for an adoption of an unwieldy beast - no one wanted to cart either of them home.

I am sooo gonna miss the fruit. Bags, boxes, bunches - every way you can think of to describe and buy a mess of fresh grown goodies.

Cute hand drawn signs and things to gnaw on - what more could you ask for from your local market?

Boy, when Marcie Palmer, member of Renton City Council told us she did a number on her foot, boy was she not kidding. Here she is keeping Brian Larson, MC of the market and Rocco Fiore company after demanding to be set free from the house for the afternoon and hopping into her wheelchair. Okay, she didn't hop into the wheelchair, and it will apparently still be some weeks more before she can even begin to think about that kind of frivolous footwork.

Some of my favorite market peeps - seen on a weekly basis and always enjoying the market scene - Pam and Lee Chiccoine and Phyl Carroll.

Another pair of my peeps that I love to see - Jim Gould, Renton Police and Linda Middlebrooks, Farmers Market Volunteer Manager. I will miss not seeing these folks on such a regular Tuesday occasion.

I love my flowers - so just get over it!

So do others - like lovely Charlie here with her specially chosen bouquet. Pretty as a picture.

This man and his lovely wife served my Mom I don't know how many servings of Teriyaki Chicken with Rice or Orange Chicken over the past weeks. This was her favorite place to eat at the market, bare none.

Gary Palmer, photographer wunderkind and hubby to dear Marcie Palmer is always where a good photo is to be had - he also tries to sneak in shots of the photo-shy Lady P - arrrrghhhhh!

John aka JJ Springer aka the best dancer and giver of hugs, laughter and smiles in town is the upbeat part of any market outing. I will miss not seeing him weekly. I need my shot of JJ juice to keep me regular and happy.

Oh, the honey was delicious and so sad that some of you will be missing it. Local honey, some infused with local strawberries that is aged for a few weeks before getting to you - it was amazing - called Strawberry Cream Honey. Sweet as Can Bee Honey has a website and some other infused honey flavors, like chocolate, that are not to be missed, in addition to the blessedly good plain old scrumptious golden liquid stuff. It is a 2 person, 60 hive local concern that should be a shopping stop for all of you - online, of course, after today. sniff. (Oh, above with the honey is Cherisse).

Quincy had some incredible music stylins that he was putting down with his electric keyboard and singularly good singing voice! Recent grad of Renton High School, he came on stage to wow the audience after the Rain City Breakers danced.

The Rain City Breakers were break dancing as both a group and then individually for the last of the music and show performances of the Renton Farmers Market season. The group hails from good ole Renton and they were really good. I loved the music too - not hiphop, but soft, melodic R&B like tunes with a great beat. I have some more great shots, so I will do another posting about just them tomorrow. Fun.

The sweetest flower for last. This is Sophie and she has flowers. That and the photo pretty much say it all.

The Last Call - this is your Farmers Market Day

Today is the last day of quite an incredible market season for Renton. Great weather, record turnout and tasty pickins has been the order of the day for the Farmers Market here in our lovely little burg. The Picaroon will be there, and today, will take photos of all of our favorites from so many lovely weeks of visiting and eating and shopping.

Don't forget that at 4:30 pm today, the Chef Demo will feature the local restaurant, The Redhouse and then at 5:30 pm there will be music the Rain City Breakers. For recipes and more, remember to check the Renton Farmers Market website.

Renton Farmers Market
Today from 3 pm to 7 pm
The Piazza/ South Third Street and Burnett

Let Me Take You to the Market - with a little Western Flare

Western gear and the Renton Farmers Market are a natural fit - so the theme for the next to the last Farmers Market (that's right, so Cowboy Up and come next week!) was a very fitting choice. The Picaroon has been on a camping vacation these last few days, and arrived back in town just in time to catch some produce at the market and snap some shots.

Don Sorenson is one of those market volunteers that really puts in a good, hard day at work - he deserves to take a load off. Don told me that within the Renton city limits, spurs were in fact, not illegal. So I had to make certain that I included them in this shot. Just make sure to give way when you see Don up and out of his chair though.

I love all the people who come out to the market, list in hand and an eye for appreciating all the fresh produce and more that is being offered. For many, it will be the ending of a really great market season that was a part of the weekly shopping routine for 14 weeks. Today's weather was in the 70's, and all told, we only had one rather dreary, wet market day this year. Amazing.

Right near the MC and front stage is the best purveyor of pot stickers and dumplings around - Jovee is her name, and she always has a winning smile and a line in front of her booth.

The ears of fresh corn abound, and I don't resist on buying them to take home or eating them right there at the market. I am not the only one who finds this summer delicacy a tasty and portable treat.

Eating corn can be a great way to loosen up before your martial arts class where you have renewed energy to kick somebody's you know what.

Linda Weldon, who works for the city on the Finance Dept. along with her friend, Collen Thornquist of McCorkle's and Associates, like their corn as well. It goes right along with hanging out together and making plans on what to buy for dinner.

Lisa has all the bright yellow energy she can carry today.

The fruit prices at many of the vendors today were really good. Like this sign says, your choice of an assortment of different fruits all for the price of a buck and a half per pound. Plums, nectarines, apple pears, apples, peaches - to name a few.

How did yet another corn photo get in here??! Guess you know what I ate for dinner and what' s on the menu at chez Picaroon tomorrow.

This man by the name of Tex was singing some of the prettiest western tunes and the whole piazza was in his thrall. Hat's off to this fine balladeer.

The Master of Ceremonies will never let you down, nor fail to provide a rootin' tootin' time at the Market. Brian Larson, at your service.

J.J. Springer, aka John or the happy dancing man, is perhaps my favorite market volunteer. His mere joyful presence gives everyone license to laugh and dance at the market each week. Here he is with Abraham, and Lena, making the market a fun place.


How could I leave you without a bouquet of flowers and the promise to share them with you, on this, the second to the last market day of the year. Haven't come yet this year? Make it next week. The market does not disappoint.

The Renton Farmers Market
Next Tuesday 3pm - 7pm
The Piazza/ S. Third St. & Burnett

Let Me Take You to the Market - Week 14

Renton Farmers Market is heralding the Fall - you can see it in the subtle change of the colors of the flowers in the stalls. Gorgeous jewel tones nestle up to the brights of summer and tell of of the imminent change to come.

The shirts that bear the lovely artwork for the market this year are dropping in price each week and so now is the time to stock up. Last I heard they were discounted by $3. Here is Rentonite, Steve, in a picture perfect pose.

Sometimes you need to focus on the happy faces that make these market days possible - like Faye and Bill Moss, market volunteers.

Or how about Linda Middlebrooks, Renton Farmers Market Volunteer Manager and local police officer Jim Gould, who can often be seen in the DTR on his days off sharing a cup of coffee with the rest of us cafe goers (like Linda).

Hayton Farms continues to have berries that would make anyone blush for joy. They go fast - people buying them by the flat and freezing them, canning them, just plain eating them by the handful. Is this a recurring photo, recurring theme here? Why, of course it is - you haven't bought your berries yet, and until you do, I will continue to pester you with the sight of these luscious berries.

Call me impulsive - but is really just one bouquet of $5 flowers really enough?

I love the variety of chilies that you can buy - these colors just spark off thoughts of entrees and salsas to me.

Are these watermelons on the loose, or just meandering over to find their way into your car?

Serendipity Artisan Dip Mixes of Kirkland,WA have been selling their wares all market long, and I have been so remiss not to speak of them until now. Buy 4 and get a special price. They always have the yummiest samples for everyone to try. Just combine the dip mixes with sour cream or mayonnaise - then combine them with veggies, or crackers, or get creative.

This is Austin - he has been coming to the market since the very first year it began and he was a mere babe of 4 years of age. Austin loves to come and sing karaoke and is very fond of rock music, and of course, brightly colored shave ice.

The Twisted S Ranch in Enumclaw,WA is now selling their farm fresh eggs at the market. Bring your own egg carton/ $3.50 a dozen or $4 without. If you want to drive out to the farm, owners Cali and Robin welcome you all year round, with artisan cheeses and soon a full range of smoked meats to complete their offerings. Purchase directly at the farm for only $3/dozen and bring the whole family. There are goats and chickens and rabbits to pet and see, it can be an afternoon of farm fun.

Everyone comes to the market - some even dress for the occasion. This is Junebug and she is cruisin' the market in style in a special doggy day bag with matching coat to complete the ensemble. Sue Rider and Gabe accompanied this stylish pup on her market rounds.

The Hayburners were playing their music and setting some toes to tapping, as you can see. Originally from Arizona 4 years ago, Jennifer and David now live in Renton up Fairwood way and really enjoyed playing for the hometown.

This is the kind of sign that I like to see when I am going to the market. Makes me want to hurry up and see what kind of shopping mischief I can get into.

This is not the kind of sign I want to see when I am at the market and trying to enjoy the sights and smells of fruits, veggies and some really tasty treats to take home. Don't get me wrong, I fervently support free speech - just not so close to the apple stand, okay?

I heard that the vendors on this side of the Piazza felt that their sales were being a little cramped by the Ross Perot cronies, and so the Rossies were asked take a hike by the local bicycle police. On their way to scene of "Ross", the one policeman chose to ride his bike through the market, instead of dismounting and walking his vehicle like the rest of the population, and Brian Larsen, MC, took him to task - "walk your bike, please". It was the best laugh of the afternoon. We all get caught outside of the law every now and again.