17 Jun Mountain Village: Market on the Plaza returns Wednesday
Market features larger variety of foods and entertainment
Nothing says summertime in Colorado like an open air market, especially one set in the sun-soaked scenery of Mountain Village Center. Beginning June 19, the paver-laden Heritage Plaza will once again be teeming with white tents and Colorado-proud vendors: the Market on the Plaza returns”uptown.”
In its third year, the Market will run every Wednesday through August 21, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and offer patrons an unconventional variety off goodies. Of course the usual products will be on hand: produce, dairy, meats and prepared foods, but Heritage Plaza also will be dotted with less traditional vendors selling hand-painted glassware, jewelry, textiles, specialty soaps and lotions among other items. In addition, the town has partnered with other community organizations to bring more live entertainment to Mountain Village Center.
“Our day-time entertainment was a big hit last year with cooking demos, live music, and kid’s activities,” explained the town’s Community Relations Manager Nichole Zangara Riley. “It really became an all-day affair for shoppers, which we hope continues this season as there are plans in motion for a balloon artist, magician and more.”
To mark the beginning of the Market season, the award-winning Kitchen Dwellers with play the afternoon of June 19. Based in Bozeman, Montana, the band is no stranger this region. They have packed people in the Last Dollar Saloon and Sheridan Opera House in downtown Telluride – and will compete in this year’s Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition at the 40th annual gathering of Festivarians.
“Music is certainly a mainstay at the Market,” said Zangara Riley. “Though our main focus is bringing in vendors to sell their newly harvested and freshly prepared foods. You hear about it more and more: people want to know where their food comes from and that it is high quality, fresh and organic. The whole concept of farm to table – be it the kitchen table or restaurant table – it’s all about promoting sustainability, supporting our regional economy, and offering healthy food options. Mountain Village is behind all of this 100 percent; it is what we strive for at the Market.”
The Town of Mountain Village also strives to bring additional programming to its downtown area and will partner with the Wilkinson Public Library once again for this year’s Market on the Plaza.
Now in its fifth year, the library series Books and Cooks, which invites guest chefs to cook a dish from one of the many cookbooks in the library’s collection, will have the main stage in Heritage Plaza beginning with the July 3 Market. The first chef scheduled to showcase her remarkable skills is Lisa Dahl, the executive chef and owner of four restaurants in Sedona including Dahl & De Luca and Cusina Rustico. Dahl published the award-winning cookbook “The Elixir of Life: Finding Love and Joy in the Passionate Pursuit of Food.” Many of the recipes in this book focus on different interpretations of some of the lustier and rustic recipes found in Italy. And lucky Market patrons will have the chance to sample what Dahl prepares.
Continuing, beginning July 10, the library will have a “help desk” booth from noon to 2 p.m. Patrons will be able to receive staff assistance such as applying for or renewing a library card and learning about other library services. The library’s IT wizard Joe Huff also will be available every week at the Market from noon to 1 p.m. to answer technical questions regarding iPhones, iPads, laptops and more. For the little ones, the library’s children’s department will bring episodes of story time to the Market July 10 and 24 and August 14, 11:30 a.m. These outdoor story time readings will be accompanied by bubbles, face painting and temporary tattoos, all for free. As if all of that wasn’t enough, the library is scheduling several musicians to play at the Market, including New Orleans singer/songwriter Kerry Grombacher August 7.
To become a Market vendor, applications must be received two weeks prior to the Market date; the town will accept vendor applications all summer long. Vendors can purchase a 2013 Mountain Village Business License for $25, a $100 value, and for another $50 can participate in the remaining nine Markets
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