Save the Date

Cliff Fest, Oak Cliff, November 14th, 2009

From "Oak Cliff People", 6/26/09:

‘Cliff Fest’ Planning Begins
New festival will take cues from Taste of Addison
By Silver Hogue
Staff Writer
http://www.peoplenewspapers.com/ME2...E75FD51480D8A7D

The wheels are turning on one of the biggest festivals to hit Oak Cliff’s Bishop Arts District....Cliff Fest.

The event, which is slated for Nov. 14, will be a showcase of all things Oak Cliff and is being modeled after Taste of Addison, a food and entertainment festival held each year in the suburb north of Dallas.

“I want it to show the best of Oak Cliff,” Sheri Mathis, event coordinator for the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce. “All the things people don’t know about — the artists and galleries that are out there that people don’t know about, the restaurants, the neighborhood feel of it.”

Dallas Farmers Markets

Not all markets are as "dealer"-loaded as the downtown sheds of the Dallas Farmers Market. The Dallas Morning News has a good summary of the options in the Metroplex, but here's the list:

CITY OF DALLAS FARMERS MARKET: Daily, 7 a.m. to

6 p.m., year-round. More farmers, including organic, sell on Saturday mornings than any other day. Also pasta, beef, Alaskan seafood, pastured meats, cheese, eggs, butter. Many small markets buy local produce from farmers at the Dallas market. 1010 S. Pearl; 214-939-2808. If you are going to the market for a specific item, call 214-670-5879 for availability.

COLLEYVILLE FARMERS MARKET: Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Season opens in March and closes at Christmas. 5409 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville; 817-427-2333.

COPPELL FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 8 a.m. until sell-out. One of the area's best small markets, with farmers (including organic), pastured meats and chicken, Gulf seafood, Alaskan salmon, cheese and more.

455 W. Bethel Road (between Denton Tap Road and Freeport Parkway) in Old Town Coppell; 972-304-7043; www.coppellfarmersmarket .org.

CORSICANA FARMERS MARKET: Tuesday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to sellout. Season opens Saturday and closes at the end of September. Run by Navarro County Farmers Market Association. State Highway 75 Business at Sixth Avenue, Corsicana; 903-874-2670.

COTTON'S PRODUCE MARKET: Monday through Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to

5:30 p.m. Mom-and-pop stand that shops the Dallas Farmers Market for local seasonal produce. 4200 Broadway, Garland; 972-240-8810.

COX FARMS MARKET: Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to

7 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. A small natural-foods market that sells local produce in season as well as locally produced meats and pastured chicken. 1026 S. Main, Duncanville; 972-283-8851.

COWTOWN FARMERS' MARKET: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to sell-out. When season gets going, may add Wednesdays. Besides farmers, it has an artisan bread baker, coffee beans, natural granola. Part of North Central Texas Farmers Markets. The market's Fresh Line tells what's going to be at the market and any changes due to weather. Closes after the first fall freeze. State Highway 377 at Southwest Boulevard, Fort Worth (east side of Weatherford traffic circle, parking lot in front of Texas Outdoors); 817-462-1426; www.simplyfreshfw.com.

DENTON COUNTY FARMERS MARKET: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to sellout. Season opens Thursday and continues through Sept. 15. Farmers from Denton County only. Fruit, vegetable, herb and flower show in mid-June is open to all growers; cash prizes. Mulberry at Carroll, adjacent to Bayless-Selby House Museum; 940-891- 0051.

EDEN'S ORGANIC GARDEN CENTER: First and third Saturdays of each month,

9 a.m. to noon. Small organic farmer's market with eggs, meats, chicken, plus fruits and vegetables. For products such as meat, it's best to order in advance through the vendor. Get the contact number or e-mail from Eden's, 4710 Pioneer Road, Balch Springs; 214-348-3336; www.edens organicgardencenter.com.

FAIRVIEW FARMS MARKETPLACE: Tuesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to

9 p.m. Year-round produce market with produce from local farmers through October. 3314 N. Central Expressway, Plano; 972- 422-2500; www.fairview- farms.com.

FRISCO FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or sell-out, through first Saturday in September. 6048 Frisco Square Blvd.; 214-538- 8161; www.friscofarmers market.com.

GEORGIA'S FARMERS MARKET: Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Starts bringing in locally grown produce this weekend or shortly thereafter.

916 E. 15th St., Plano (east of Central Expressway); 972-516-4765.

GRAPEVINE FARMERS MARKET: Thursday and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to sell-out. Season opens May 24. Part of North Central Texas Farmers Markets. 325 S. Main St. (behind the gazebo downtown); 817-410-3185 or 1-800-457-6338 (toll-free).

GRAND PRAIRIE FARMERS MARKET: Thursday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to sellout. Opens May 22, with grand opening May 24, and continues through Nov. 1. Part of North Central Texas Farmers Markets. City Hall Plaza, south side of city hall, 317 College St.; 972-237- 8000; www.gptx.org.

LAKE WORTH FARMERS MARKET: Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Run by Fletchers Produce with several local growers. 7601 Jacksboro Highway at Surfside Drive (on Azle side of the bridge); 682-238-7864.

McKINNEY FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon. Local produce (including organic), pastured meats, chicken, eggs, farm butter and more. In Chestnut Square Historic Village, about three blocks south of the main square at McDonald and Anthony (park in lot on McDonald); 972-562-8790; www.chestnutsquare.org.

OLD TOWN LEWISVILLE FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or sell-out, through Oct. 27. Wayne Ferguson Plaza between Main and Church streets; www.cityoflewis ville.com. (Old Town Business Association)

RIDGMAR FARMERS MARKET: Sunday through Thursday,

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Year-round market operated by Parker County peach and vegetable growers; Cowtown Barbecue inside. Selection includes local produce.

900 State Highway 183 North (across from Ridgmar Mall), Fort Worth; 817-246-7525.

RUFE SNOW FARMERS MARKET: Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Year-round produce. Shops at Dallas Farmers Market for local fruits and vegetables. 6871 Rufe Snow Drive, Fort Worth; 817-281-4313.

WAXAHACHIE DOWNTOWN FARMERS MARKET: Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Opens May 31, closes Oct. 18. Local farmers plus organic gardeners, kitchen tools and more.

Franklin Street between Rogers and College on south side of Ellis County Courthouse. 972-937-7330, ext. 198.

Natural Easter

Craftastica had a great description of using natural materials (cabbage, onion peels, and flowers) to dye eggs. This is similar to what I did with my grandmother as a child, although I like the idea of using the flowers and clover as resist.

Almond Corner uses brown eggs to get a tone-on-tone look, but using white eggs and a variety of onion peels can get some very interesting marbled designs.

Happy Easter!