Though construction workers were still pounding away at Sweetbrier last week, the fences and the machines will be gone just in time for West Crockett Street to be transformed into an eclectic and colorful farmers market.
Chair of the Queen Anne Farmers Market Association, Julie Whitehorn, called the event "magical and powerful," despite opposition and logistical speed bumps traversed along the way.
"This is a unique year where we started over from scratch," Whitehorn said.
After losing a market manager, fundraising $8,500 to start a new one in a short time period, and creating a diverse lineup of entertainment and vendors, the Queen Anne Farmers Market could be called simply one thing: unique.
Though not always 100 percent sure a successful and sustainable market could be established in the timeline given, Whitehorn now brims with confidence in the market she's helped bring to the neighborhood.
"The most difficult thing was the perception that a community managed market would be too difficult to do," Whitehorn said. "One of the challenges is there has been controversy, but we made a decision to not focus on the past and instead focus on the future and the possible."
The fervor in the community that made the market a reality transferred its energy into a diverse and entertaining lineup of entertainment for market patrons. In addition to 30 booths, with over 20 food vendors, the future for this market includes chef demonstrations, book signings and live music.
"With this market, because it's done by neighbors for neighbors, there is a sense we have creative license to adapt to the needs of the neighborhood," Whitehorn said.
The creative license for Thursday includes the toe-tapping Hot Jass sounds of Snake Suspenderz and the strings of Andre Feriante's classical Spanish guitar. In between these two entertainers, market patrons can see a chef demonstration from Jason Franey, a chef at Canlis, and meet up with Matthew Amster-Burton, for a book signing of "Hungry Monkey." Even Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels will be there to usher in the Queen Anne Farmers Market by ringing the bell with neighborhood children.
Market goers can stroll from a booth with refreshing gelato to pick up items for the weekly dinner menus, including fish, cheese and fresh produce. Two rows of booths will be set up on the sidewalk in front of Sweetbrier and the remaining vendors will set up on the street side in front of Eden Hill, stretching all the way to the parking lot for the aquatic center.
The support, both from the neighbors and the city, has been outstanding according to Whitehorn. From poster designs to the market's lineup, this year's Queen Anne Farmers Market became a meeting of community support and a neighborhood's vision.
"We hope this is a trend; if there's a desire for [the market] it will come back," Whitehorn said.
Whitehorn also emphasized her role in the event's existence was minimal compared to the amount of volunteers and community members who committed to developing a sustainable and successful market.
"I'm very happy with how things have come about. It's like all the unique pieces have fallen into the right place to create one great event," Whitehorn said.
With the support of neighbors and advocates, the Farmers Market will start its season from 3 to 7 p.m., June 18 on West Crockett Street between Eden Hill and the newly finished Sweetbrier.[[In-content Ad]]
