Tuesday: Discovery of the Week

This week's new discovery is Rockford City Market. According to its website:

“There’s a new reason to come downtown! The Rockford City Market has something for everyone including families, young professionals, kids and seniors. Whether you plan to pick up your weekly fresh produce, buy your Saturday dessert, find a unique gift or just relax and take in the atmosphere, this NEW Friday tradition has something for you!

The market will feature local retailers, food producers, artisans, kids’ activities and live performances. Most vendors and performers will come from a 150-mile radius, ensuring locally grown produce and unique retail items.”

This was the opening week of City Market, which will occur regularly every Friday, now through October 22. My parents and I strolled through the Market at about 6 pm on Friday evening, an hour before it was supposed to close (hours were 3-7pm). The market stretched along Water St. between State & Jefferson. It was very warm out but people seemed to be enjoying themselves. I enjoyed myself too!

I came to the Market right from work and was a bit tired, warm and thirsty.... so of course our first stop was at Java Mania for an iced hazelnut latte. Yum yum.


Danielle Kelley, the proprietor of BurlapWorks, was kind enough to let me take a photo of her with some of her awesome creations. She makes super cool handmade products out of recycled burlap, including pillows, bags, coffee cup cuffs, and much more. Very green and very fun. While I was there a girl buying a bag joyously claimed it must have been "waiting there just for her." Be sure to look Danielle up this Friday or check out her etsy shop in the meantime.


I have to admit, I'm not sure who was selling these flowers, but they sure were a sight for sore eyes.


A nice offering of local produce.


So, these fountains sit just west of Water Street next to the river, and I honestly didn't know they existed. These kids were loving it. The City Market supposedly had kids activities, though I think they may have been earlier in the day because I didn't see them.



Mmm... cheese just might be my favorite food.



Ma mère et père.


Elk?!? Seriously... elk meat for sale. Not to mention cut up elk antlers. I have to admit that when you live in a home with deer hanging on the walls, antlers sort of lose their novelty. Actually, I not sure they're all that novel to begin with.


I think these guys were Frank & Mike, at least that's according to the Market's website. They were playing up in the beer garden area.


Overall, I think the Market is a really nice idea, but I really would have liked to have seen more vendors. Though there weren't a ton of them, there was a variety of offerings, from local food and produce, bakery and cafe goods, handmade crafts, plants, and some other various vendors.

It seemed there were quite a few visitors, and I hope that trend continues throughout the summer season. My parents and I ate downtown afterward (at Capri... their Chicken Chardonnay is WONDERFUL, by the way), so I hope that the Market also draws patrons to the wonderful restaurants and bars downtown Rockford has to offer.

Well, that's all for this week... any questions?