A Cooking Demonstration

Tomorrow is Tuesday which means it's Farmer's Market day.

There are special events planned for most Tuesdays this summer.  The events will start at 10am and you are invited to join in the fun!

Tomorrow's event is a cooking demonstration.  The Cafe on Broadway will be making salad.  Yum!

 (Photo Credit: Hope Johnstone)

Pictured above is one of my favorite cafe salads.  It is the Winter Harvest Salad with Orange Vinaigrette.  Oh my!  It's one of their seasonal salads and just looking at this picture makes me eager for fall when it will appear back on the menu.

In the meantime, remember to head Downtown tomorrow for the summer salad demonstration at 10am in City Park.

--Karyn

Gazebo

Every time my boys run around the benches at the Downtown gazebo, the lyrics to one of the songs from The Sound of Music runs through my head.

"I am sixteen going on seventeen..."

I'm certainly not sixteen going on seventeen, nor do I live in Austria.  However, the gazebo would still be a fun place to have a mid-day lunch break.

And that's what I think we might do today! Gazebo, here we come!

--Karyn

Facebook

If you love Facebook and Downtown Siloam Springs, here are two groups you should join:

Friends of Main Street Siloam Springs, Inc.

and

Siloam Springs Farmer's Market

Just thought you'd want to know...

--Karyn

More than Vegetables

Last week I was excited to discover some new things at the Farmer's Market.

Chaney Farms has recipe cards to help inspire cooks to try their produce in a new way.

Along with their vegetables, Beacon Hill Farms had fresh eggs for sale.  (FYI-Click here to find a list of what Beacon Hill Farms is bringing to the market each week.)

And then the next items I found made me so excited I completely forgot to ask the name of the business!  Oops!  What local items caused me to loose my mind?  Fresh baked goods.  This past week we tried the French rolls and apple-filled empanadas.  This week we're going to try the wheat rolls...and maybe some cookies...and maybe some more of the French rolls...
Oh my!  Bottom line: get to Farmer's Market in the morning!

--Karyn

Saturday Morning

Not sure what to do with your Saturday morning?

(Photo credit: Christina Drake)

Grab a cup of coffee at The Cafe on Broadway and then head next door to Books on Broadway.  They're having a $1 book sale.

Local Flair

Watching Mr. Morgan's class enjoying their morning reminded me of my recent gallery experience...

A few weeks back while browsing in the Downtown shops, I purchased a note card at Local Flair Art Gallery.  On the front of the card is an original watercolor portraying one of my favorite local places-The Cafe on Broadway.

A couple of days after my shopping trip, I was given a gift.  It's another original watercolor note card painted by Victor Parkerson; this one is of the Gazebo in the park.

Rather than use them to send a note to a friend, I've decided to frame my cards and I'm still searching for the perfect frame (maybe I'll find it at Four Corners).

I think these little pieces of art are the perfect thing to send to friends who don't live Siloam Springs but have fond memories of time spent here--jot a note, pop it in the included envelope, "stick" on a stamp, and drop it in the mail box!  So easy!

Local Flair has a wide variety of art created by local artists available for purchase; from note cards to framed canvases there is something for everyone!

PS: The paintings by local artist John P. Lasater IV are my very favorites. One of these days, I'd love to have one on my wall at home.

--Karyn

Last Minute Info

A while back I signed up to be on Emelia's Kitchen's email list.  Every couple of weeks I receive an email letting me know what's happening at Emelia's.

Here's some info included in Emelia's latest email:

Tasting Event

We are having one of our tasting events with some great food and drinks coming up on May 20th.  If you have not been to one yet what are you waiting for??  An Invitation.  Well then here you go.  We would like to invite you to our tasting event.  Just call and make a reservation.  We will be serving 4 different courses.  Meet lots of friends and have fun trying something new.  The event starts seating at 6:30 and we start serving at 7:00 p.m.  For more information please give us a call at (479) 524-4411.  We will see you there.

So...if you're looking for something to do tomorrow evening, this might be just the thing!

 Oh, and while you're there, remember to get on their email list.  Often the email include coupons!

--Karyn

A Fieldtrip

Yesterday morning as I was choosing our weekly Farmer's Market produce, I couldn't help but notice the line of children walking down the sidewalk.  Curious about what they were up to, I kept my eye on them.  Their destination: Local Flair Art Gallery.

It seems Mr. Morgan's 4th and 5th grade class had a field trip yesterday.  The left Southside and headed downtown to experience our local gallery.  Christina Drake (pictured above with the class and owner of Local Flair) was happy to show them the pieces of art in her shop.  It looks to me like these children had a fun outing exploring one of the many things our Downtown has to offer.

--Karyn

Farmer's Market: Grand Opening

This past Tuesday was the Grand Opening of the Siloam Springs Farmer's Market!

We headed down to participate in the activities and find our weekly supply of fresh veggies.

First stop: Veggies!

Next we headed to jump in the bounce house while listening to the live music.

We sure enjoyed our morning!

The Farmer's Market is open every Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8am-1pm.

Will we see you there?

--Karyn

Make a Splash!

The Siloam Springs Public Library is gearing up for their summer reading program.  This year's theme is "Make a Splash--READ!"

Stop by the Library to pick up a log and get all the details, or click here.

Some of the activities planned are as follows:

• Family Programs on Tuesdays at 2pm
• Story/game/craft time for preschoolers on Thursdays at 11am and 2pm
• A party with food, activities, and rewards for those who read the required hours or more.

What fun!  After all, summer is a great time for reading!

--Karyn

Did you know you can follow the Library (along with the City of Siloam Springs) on Twitter?  Click here for more information.

Window Displays

Early one morning, I took a walk Downtown.  Most of the shops had yet to open, so I was limited to window shopping.  Still I enjoyed looking through the glass and seeing the creative displays.

Heather Hill Boutique's new location looks great!

There are all kinds of "pretties" in Joni's display case.

I love the line of cheerful flowers in the window at Amandromeda.

Just to make sure one knows Fratelli's has gelato.  :-)

At Two Gal's Junk, the cutest little green table/telephone desk is calling my name.

Cheerful posies at Flowers on Broadway.  They happened to be opened early that morning for all the children who may have forgotten the special mother in their life.

It seems Downtown is quite charming early in the morning.

--Karyn

Farmer's Market: Grand Opening

The market has been open for a few weeks, but this Tuesday (May 11th) is the Grand Opening!

Head Downtown for the festivities!

Produce, plants, and crafts will be available during regular market hours: 8am-1pm.

Special Opening Day Events will take place around 10am.

Regarding Farmer's Market produce, this week I had quite a few random bits left in my fridge's veggie drawer.  A couple of leaves each of kale and spinach, a few onions, a stem of almost picked-clean basil, etc.  Determined not to waste the last few vegetables, I whipped up some eggs and made a quiche throwing in all the bits!

To make the "left overs" seem more special, I made individual quiches.  They were enjoyed by all!

Just an idea to use up the last of your veggies before Opening Day tomorrow morning!

--Karyn

Downtown for the Weekend

One of my monthly magazines arrived in the mailbox this morning.  Each issue contains an itinerary should one decide to spend a weekend wandering through one of the many little towns scattered throughout Northern California.  I thought it might be fun to copy their idea and plan a weekend in our little Downtown.  So, humor me, if you will, as I share my weekend thoughts.  Who knows?  Maybe you'll even join me Downtown!

Friday Evening

Do you follow the Cafe on Broadway on Twitter?  If you don't already, you should.  This week they tweeted about their latest concoction: sno-cones.  I headed down for a wild grape flavored treat immediately this past Wednesday.  Thank goodness for Twitter!  Eager to try another flavor, I'd start my weekend at the cafe on Friday evening with a light dinner followed by a wild cherry sno-cone.  Lemon is good, too; it's my boys' favorite flavor.  (Note: the syrups are made with pure sugar cane and natural flavorings.)

Saturday Morning

Loving the cafe as I do, I'd probably start my Saturday morning there as well.  Grabbing a cup of hot tea (I often bring my own travel mug to save a paper cup) and a fresh scone, I'd sit at an outside table and watch Downtown wake up.  Tummy happy, I'd head next door to Books on Broadway and peruse the latest titles. 

I'm currently keeping my eyes open for a dresser that I could paint navy blue to put in my boys' room, so I'd head to Dave's Appliance next.  (Believe it or not, I've found quite a few things there over the years.)  Two Gal's Junk is another fun place to find a treasure and is worth a walk through.  I'd probably swing by Flowers on Broadway just to make shameless hints to my family about flowers and Mother's Day.  And, speaking of Mother's Day, I have yet to take care of my own mother and mother-in-law (shame on me!), so I'd continue my morning Downtown and swing by Creative Corner on Broadway to find some paper for the craft I have planned to make.  Then again, it might be better to pick up something already made, so perhaps a better option would be Four Corner's Frame and Design--have you see all their lovely stationery?  It's beautiful, just beautiful.

By the time I'd finished up my shopping, it just might be time for dinner.  Fratelli's is always yummy, so wandering through Heather Hill Botique (to see the new shop location), Amandromeda, and Local Flair on my way to eat, I'd settle into my booth and order my favorite margherita pizza.

Second Saturdays kicks off with a concert in the park.  A cup of gelato would be the perfect way to enjoy some music and, lucky for me, Fratelli's has all kinds of new flavors.  Jim and Kim Lansford start playing at 7:30pm, so I'd be settled on my blanket at Twin Springs Gazebo Park just in time.

Sunday Morning

Being Mother's Day this Sunday, I think I'd take it easy and have my guys take me to brunch at Emelia's.  They're serving brunch beginning at 10am.  Be sure to call ahead for reservations.

Whew!  That looks like a fun, full weekend!

But I think I'm up for it.

I'll see you Downtown!

--Karyn

(Note: Links for the above mentioned shops and eateries can be found in the list to the right.)

Egyptian Onions

Not sure what to get at Farmer's Market tomorrow morning?

I'm going to (hopefully) pick up my fifth bunch of Egyptian Onions.

I can't seem to get enough of the tasty onions.  They are best cooked, and so far my family has enjoyed them in soups and quiches.  Yum!

Remember to visit Tuesday's Famer's Market

Remember to head Downtown to Farmer's Market tomorrow morning.  They are open from 8am-1pm.

Last week along with my vegetables, I found pots of basil, oregano...

...and nasturtiums!

All of which are happily growing in my backyard ready to be picked and put in my summer recipes.

Did you know that both the flowers and leaves on the nasturtium plant are edible?  I knew the flowers could be eaten, but the information about the leaves was new to me.  This is one of the many benefits to shopping at our local market, not only does one know exactly where his or her food is coming from, one also gets helpful tips and hints from the farmer who grew the item.