Photos: Monday is a good time to return to Cheverly Community Market...

At least in your mind! We had a great time on Saturday at the Market and hope you did, too! Photos are on our flickr page now.

Did you know that we have over 7,700 photos on our flickr page, spanning the history of Cheverly Community Market? Typically, about 800 photos are taken every Market, and we edit these down to the very best 100-300 of the bunch. What makes these the best of the lot? How do we choose what gets posted? The photos that make the final cut capture the spirit and feel of Cheverly Community Market and tell a story. We've heard many times from people who have seen the Market online and have been pleasantly surprised that what they experience when they visit in person matches the story we tell online. We hope you think so, too, and enjoy the opportunity to revisit your favorite Markets!

Thank you!

Thank you for a truly lovely Market on Saturday. We were especially happy to see so many new faces of all ages, and to meet some new Cheverly residents! A big thank you to Basignani Vineyards, Helen Crosskey, and Simple Pleasures Ice Cream for joining us, too...unexpected treats for everyone! And to KidMarket/CPRC for a fantastic Olympic Celebration and musical guests Making Gin for a great morning of music. We also need to thank all of our volunteers, vendors, community groups, and customers for your continued support. We know Cheverly is an amazing community and we're so very pleased to be part of it.

Photos will be up very soon -- in the meantime, enjoy all your Market treasures!

Good stuff going on at the Market right now!

We have two very special vendors this morning that were not included on our vendor list: Helen Crosskey (clothing and gifts) and BASIGNANI WINERY! Please stop by and say hi!

Who's coming to Market this Saturday? The big lineup.

It's an All-Star Celebration this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market! Come help us celebrate our title as Best Neighborhood, vote for us in the America's Favorite Farmer's Market contest, celebrate the final days of the Buy Local Challenge, and, last but certainly not least, kick off the 2012 Summer Olympics in special KidMarket style! and we haven't even got to all the great food, community groups and music yet! This is a Saturday you really don't want to miss, and we can't wait to share it with you!


VENDORS
(as always, subject to change)
Benny's Fruit Stand/Rebert Farm
Cafe Ambrosia
Cakes by Ruthann
Cherry Glen Goat Cheese/Palmyra Farm Cheese
Cheverly Breadbasket
Classic and Carefree Bake Shoppe
Eve's Cheese
Martha's Jams
Shlagel Farms
Simply Sausage
Two Oceans Seafood
Waltz Family Farm


MUSIC & SPECIAL EVENTS
Making Gin band
KidMarket/CPRC Olympic Celebration


COMMUNITY GROUPS
Cheverly Parents Resource Center (CPRC)
Cheverly Soccer Club/Challenger MultiSports Camp

Finally, Cheverly Community Market extends a big, deeply felt thank you to the ChvProm Committee. Each year the ChvProm Committee donates its proceeds to town organizations to assist them in furthering their great services to the community. We are very honored to be selected this year. Cheverly really is the Best Neighborhood!

See YOU Saturday at Cheverly Community Market!

Community Groups at the Market: Cheverly Parents Resource Center

Cheverly Parents Resource Center -- or CPRC as it's better known -- has  played a major part in the lives of local families for about 30 years now. That's a lot of families! CPRC has great playgroups where children -- as well as parents and caregivers -- meet and make friends (in fact, many a long friendship was the result of playgroup!) There are also a wide variety of other activities and resources, including Cheverly Community Market's long-running Story Time. 


This Saturday, please stop by the CPRC table and sign up or renew your registration. Dues are just $15 per family and each child will receive a free book when their family pays dues at the Market! CPRC has a lot of great events planned for the August 2012 to July 2013 year, and your dues help make these events happen.  

And don't forget, CPRC is co-sponsoring the KidMarket Olympic Celebration this Saturday! The games begin at 10:00am in the Community Center Gym and it's free. Details here.

Community Groups at the Market: Cheverly Soccer Club/Challenger Sports

We're very excited to have Cheverly Soccer Club join Cheverly Community Market for a registration morning for their Challenger MultiSports Camp. Many families in Cheverly have enjoyed British Soccer Camp over the years. this year, a third session highlighting a variety of sports has been added. Coordinator Jill Konieczko shares the details: 

"While you're at the Market picking up bread, peaches and plums, French Country sausages, lamb chops, and green beans (or maybe that's just my list), be sure to stop by the Cheverly Soccer Club/Challenger Soccer Camp table and meet Challenger Coaches Josh and Gary. Chat with camp coordinator Dave Konieczko, a.k.a., Deciduous Dave and pick up a registration form. Cheverly is hosting a THIRD Challenger camp, August 6-10. Camp registration is also available online, and full- and half-day options are available. 

"This one offers a twist -- an even more British twist, that is! Our third week of camp features basics of cricket, rounders, and touch rugby, as well as soccer. This Challenger MultiSports camp is the only one of its kind in Maryland, and it promises to give kids a jolly good time!"

Thanks, Jill! We'll see you at the Market!

This Week at the Market: Benny's Fruit Stand/Rebert Farm

The best of summer fruit is at Cheverly Community Market this Saturday! Benny's Fruit Stand/Rebert Farm will have white and yellow peaches, yellow nectarines, donut peaches, three types of plums, blueberries, ginger gold apples, zestar apples, and summer rambo apples...wow! So much good fruit to eat fresh or cook...it's the best time of the year to savor intense fruit tastes, and the Reberts pick their fruit at the perfect time to get the very best flavors. Make sure to stop by early for the very best selection!

This Week at the Market: Classic and Carefree Bake Shoppe

Danielle and Laura of Classic and Carefree Bake Shoppe wanted us to pass along their congratulations to everyone in Cheverly for the WTOP Best Neighborhood contest win -- they were very excited for us. Thanks, Danielle and Laura...we're looking forward to celebrating with you this Saturday at the Market!

Get your celebration going with some of delectable Classic cupcakes:

* Vanilla bean cupcakes with pink daisy decorations
* Lemon poppy seed cupcakes with lemon frosting and sunflower decorations
* Snickers cupcakes (chocolate and caramel) drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce and topped with chopped nuts
* And a special "kid-friendly" (although aren't all cupcakes kid-friendly?) black and white panda bear cupcakes!

As always, they'll have variety boxes available so that you can try all four flavors, but be sure to come early -- they go fast!

Those with gluten allergies or other special food considerations don't need to go hungry -- Classic and Carefree will have plenty there for you as well!

Carefree items (as always, all gluten- and allergen-free!) will include:

* Pecan-Raisin Bread

* Banana Bread

* Orange Blossom Cupcakes

* Cinnamon Bun Cupcakes
* Carrot Cake Cupcakes

* Honey Cookies

* Vegan Breakfast Cookies

Can't wait to get the celebration started this Saturday with Classic and Carefree Bake Shoppe!

This Week at the Market: Waltz Family Farm

We always love getting updates from our vendors. It can be like getting a postcard from a wonderful old friend who's on a trip somewhere you'd really like to visit. This week, Laurie shares this:

"Greetings from Waltz Family Farm. We’ve been extremely busy this week with the local Fair our kids are involved in. Will be looking forward to Sat. It’ll be like a break for us! For those of you who’ve been patiently waiting we will be well stocked with lamb. Will also have pork and beef.  Stop by and say Hi."

Thanks, Laurie! We'll be sure to stop by, say hi, and stock up on the most delicious beef, pork, and, lamb available for miles around!

This Week at the Market: Martha's Jams

Martha Allen has been hard at work this week and she has something new to share...smaller 4oz. sizes of some of her most popular flavors! This is a great way to try something new without making as big commitment, or to get just the right amount for that secret marinade. And a few jars would make a lovely gift for your vacation hosts...or a great picnic treat (paired with some cheese and bread) while you're on the road on the way to the beach or the mountains.

Of course, Martha's Jams will still carry the larger sizes, so stock up on your favorites. Yum!

This Week at the Market: A Special KidMarket!

We have a very special treat in store for the kids this Saturday...a special KidMarket Olympic Celebration!


CPRC is co-sponsoring this very special kid-size Olympic celebration. Games begin at 10:00am in the Community Center Gym and it's free. Kids can compete in several events, including the Torch Relay Race, the Beijing Bean Bag Toss, the Athens Aerial Hoops and the London Long Jump. Medals will be awarded to each participant. What a great way to usher in that Olympic enthusiasm and allow our children to be part of their very own Olympic event this year! 

Kids, wear clothing that represents the country of your choice and get set for a morning of fun! We can't wait to see your Olympic spirit shining through this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market!

This Week at the Market: Shlagel Farms

This Saturday, Shlagel Farms is bringing a bumper crop -- literally -- to Cheverly Community Market. You may want to bring extra bags (or buy a Market logo shopping bag for all your purchases, just $3 at the big green Market tent.) This is a great way to end the Buy Local Challenge week and keep on eating local, amazing produce in the coming weeks!


Eileen will have corn, beets, leeks, scallions, Italian and specialty eggplants, green peppers, specialty and hot peppers, squash, zucchini, pattypan squash, red and green cabbage, kale, collards, tomatoes, blackberries, peaches, cantelopes, watermelons, eggs, cider, cucumbers and onions. And the very last of the blueberries (we'll miss those!) Stop by and stock up!

This Week at the Market: Simply Sausage

Just looking at this photo, I can smell the amazing odor of Simply Sausage. Stanley Feder and his team make the best, most flavorful sausages you'll ever eat. They've even been known to tempt vegetarians!


This week, Simply Sausage will bring a yummy assortment of sausages, just as they do every market. If you have a special request – say for a barbeque – let us know and we’ll bring it. That's what we lobe about our vendors -- not only do they bring incomparable products to us in Cheverly, they'll do everything they can to accommodate special requests. We are so lucky!


Make sure to head over to the Simply Sausage tent this Saturday. Stock up on amazing sausages and enjoy this expertly prepared food at home.

This Week at the Market: Cakes by Ruthann

In addition to her delicious spicy empanadas, ginger beer, cupcakes, and Jamiacan-inspired treats, Cakes by Ruthann will have ready-made Sorrel drink, which is a refreshing cold drink made from the Jamaican Roselle/Hibiscus flower. Ruthann will also have packets of the dried hibiscus flowers for sale with directions on how to make your own cup of Hibiscus tea. Hibiscus tea is delicious hot and very refreshing cold -- make sure to stop by Cakes by Ruthann this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market and try it (and other wonderful treats) for yourself!

Read about what Dr. Oz has to say about the health benefits of Hibiscus tea.

This Week at the Market: Cherry Glen Goat Cheese/Palmyra Farm Cheese

This week, we're excited to pick up some Brie, Monocacy Gold (perfect goat Brie style), and Crottin (an amazing substitute for Parmesan) from Market favorites Cherry Glen Goat Cheese! And Palmyra Farm Cheese might have a mozzarella this weekend...I think it's time to whip up some pizza on the grill, gorgeous brie omelettes, panini with fresh amazing cheese and local herbs. I'm ready for lunch and I bet that, after reading about the treasures Cherry Glen and Palmyra have in store for us this Saturday, you are, too!

Music from the Market: Making Gin

Riverdale Park's Mike Sevener and Hyattsville's Jim Groves are Making Gin. Mike and Jim have been jamming together for a decade or so, covering music from blues to jazz to rock...even a little blue grass. While Jim sticks to guitar and vocals, Mike plays guitar, banjo, harmonica, bass, tres, mandolin, uke and pretty much anything with strings...and he sings, too! 


Join Making Gin this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market for a great morning of music -- you'll be sure to hear something you love!


UPDATE: Mike and Jim will donate half of their proceeds to the Anacostia Watershed Society, so dig deep, tip early, and tip often!

Don't forget: It's Buy Local Challenge Week!

Did you take the Buy Local Challenge Pledge? We started with a fantastic field trip on July 21 to UnionMarket DC where we tasted amazing compressed watermelon, local pickles and oysters, and a whole lot more. This week, we'll be using local ingredients to make our meals and trying some new (to us) preparations, like grilled canteloupe with goat cheese and a sprinkle of fresh mint, or blackened tomatoes atop basil and marinated eggplant. It's a great week to challenge yourself -- expand your palette and your cooking skills!

It's Yard Sign Time!

We're all celebrating Cheverly's win in WTOP's Best Neighborhoods Contest...show your civic pride and let everyone know you support a special part of your town -- Cheverly Community Market -- by getting your yard our in your yard today! This Saturday we'll celebrate Cheverly and the final days of the Buy Local Challenge with the very best local food and drink. Make sure to tell your friends and neighbors to visit the Community Center 8:00am-noon for the best kind of local celebration!

Field Trip: Union Market DC

We're attending the picnic fundraiser at Union Market DC today and finding all sorts of great ideas for using fresh local produce during the Eat Local Challenge...

Keeping cool on a very hot day: iced herb water

So...hot enough for you? As temperatures hover near 100f for yet another day, we're looking for all sorts of ways to keep cool. One of our favorites: iced herb water. Mint is a natural, but try some other herbs -- lavender, thyme, basil...mint and lavender together? Perfection. Or use seltzer water, add a little rosemary and a lot of ice. Of course, adding a few blueberries or slices of peach would be delicious. The possibilities and combinations are endless -- and this is an ideal time to experiment.

What are your favorite ways to combat this oppressive heat? We'd love to hear from you!

Beautiful Market last Saturday!

What a gorgeous Market we had last Saturday! Sometimes, in the middle of pouring rain and stifling heat, it's hard to remember just how gorgeous everything is. Take a look at our flickr page and you'll see!

Help make Cheverly #1

We love Cheverly. You love Cheverly. Show the greater metro-DC area that Cheverly is #1! WTOP is running a best neighborhoods contest, and Cheverly is in the running. Want to let the world know how much you love this town? Visit the WTOP website today and vote for Cheverly!

Thank you for a terrific morning!

Thank you to all of our vendors, volunteers, and customers for spending Saturday morning with us! After a very wet start to the morning, the sun -- and humidity -- brought what many of us think of as classic DC-region summer weather. Through it all, you spent your morning with us, and we are, as always, very grateful for your support.

Believe it or not, we're closing in on the midway point to our Market season -- the July 28 Market is the sixth of the 12 regular Market dates this season (not including our Thanksgiving and Holiday dates). That means that we're truly at the height of the season! It certainly shows, given all the beautiful food and craft we saw this Saturday. Photos will be posted on our flickr group page very soon.

We need  to extend a special thank you to Volunteer Coordinator Mike Callahan and his crew for the tremendous amount of work they did setting up in the rain and helping vendors and the band get ready -- a big task accomplished with ever-present grace and humor -- thank you. We're also extending a big thanks to KidMarket Coordinator Rachel Dabney Rice, resident bee expert Eileen Shlagel, and Zumba pro Ronald Johnson for a fascinating, lively KidMarket. Finally, to talented musicians of the Roosevelt Dixieland Combo from Eleanor Roosevelt High School -- many, many thanks for a wonderful morning of Dixieland jazz. What a treat!

Who's coming to Cheverly Community Market this Saturday?

Boy oh boy, do we have a Market in store for you! From everything you need to start the Buy Local Challenge off right to delicacies to help you celebrate National Grilling Month in style to the perfect ice creams to salute National Ice Cream Month, you'll find it at Cheverly Community Market this Saturday! And if over 15 amazing vendors aren't enough to keep you occupied for the morning, we have KidMarket activities, BioBlitz information, and the Roosevelt Dixieland Combo from Eleanor Roosevelt High School. 


VENDORS (subject to change)

Benny’s Market/Rebert Farm

Cafe Ambrosia

Cakes By Ruthann

Cherry Glen Goat Cheese/Palmyra Cheese

Classic and Carefree Bake Shoppe

Cheverly Breadbasket

Eljk Run Vineyards

Eve’s Cheese

Gigi’s Quilts

Martha’s Jams

Shlagel Farms

Simple Pleasures Ice Cafe

Simply Sausage

Studio 617

Two Oceans

Waltz Family Farms

MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

Roosevelt Dixieland Combo

10:00am Buzz Buzz Busy Bee at KidMarket

10:30am Zumba at KidMarket

COMMUNITY GROUPS -- focus on BioBlitz!

Friends of the Lower Beaverdam

Prince George's County Master Gardeners

It's going to be quite a morning. You don't want to miss it -- and we don't want to miss you...so see YOU at the Market!

This Week at the Market: Shlagel Farms

This weekend, Shlagel Farms brings a summer's bounty to Cheverly. The list is a veritable catalogue of the tastes you associate with summer: peaches, blueberries, blackberries, green beans, green peppers, hot peppers, eggplant, kale,collard greens, cabbage, squash, zucchini, onions, corn...maybe even some cantelopes and watermelons! Eileen and Russ still have to check the ripeness of the melons -- they won't sell them until they're just perfect. Adding to the bounty: farm-fresh eggs and honey sticks!

Make sure to visit KidMarket at 10:00 because Eileen will be giving a short bee talk! As a special great, she'll have honey sticks for any child over the age of two. We hear Eileen may even be persuaded to do a special bee dance...we'll have to use our best manners to ask!

This Week at the Market: Waltz Family Farm

Ah, Waltz Family Farms, July (National Grilling Month) is truly your month. My tummy is growling just thinking about grilling up  steaks, ribs, burgers...I can almost smell the grill right now!


This week, Laurie has a new supply of beef and pork, and a limited supply of lamb. Waltz Family Farm will bring thick cut steaks, beef stew, short ribs, beef stir fry, and ground beef. She'll also have a few nice briskets, so if you want one send her a note (via Facebook) or come early!


The Waltzes stocked their pork supply this week, so there's lots to choose from: chops, hams, ribs, loin roasts, and shoulder roasts.   They have whole shoulder roasts available (weighing about 18 lbs. each), and Laurie will bring them along if you send her a message. Lamb will be restocked and available at the July 28 Market.


Get to the Waltz Family Farm tent early -- they tend to sell out of their most popular items and we know you won't want to miss out. Then fire up those grills -- it's going to be a delicious weekend!

This Week at the Market: Elk Run Vineyards

We're always excited to see Bob Cecil of Elk Run Vineyards at Cheverly Community Market. He's extremely knowledgeable and helpful in selecting the perfect wine for any occasion. 


This Saturday, Bob will have more than 15 different wines, all made at their vineyard and wine-making facility in Mt. Airy, Maryland. Elk Run is featuring their recently released red wines from the 2010 vintage, the best year for at least a decade for growing grapes. And best of all, many of these varieties will be available for sampling! Make sure to stop by the Elk Run tent and chat with Bob. Sample a wine or two and find the perfect pairing for your Market meals!

This Week at the Market: Cafe Ambrosia

For those of us who have a deep and abiding relationship with caffeine, one of the most refreshing things on a hot summer day is iced coffee. Sure, we may still start out the day with a hot cup, but there's something special about iced coffee...almost like a little mini-declaration of freedom from expectations of the regular year. Cafe Ambrosia is here to help you declare this weekend a mini-vacation!

This Saturday at Cheverly Community Market, the Ladies of Charity will be serving up iced and regular coffee, water, juice packs...and chocolate chip cookies. Pretend you're on vacation this Saturday morning, and get things off on the right foot with a little caffeine!

This Week at the Market: Gigi's Quilts

We're happy to welcome Gisela Lombardo of Gigi's Quilts back to the Market this season. A favorite at our 2011 Thanksgiving and Holiday Markets, Gisela makes really lovely quilted bibs, placemats, potholders, table runners, bags and more, in addition to sweet knit baby booties. Her fabric combinations are lovely and the craftsmanship is terrific.


This year, Gisela has increased the offerings in her line -- stop by Cheverly Community Market to check out her Chalkboard Placemats -- perfect for keeping the little ones busy. This is a great time to begin stocking away those holiday gifts, and placemats or bags are lovely, thoughtful presents when you're vacationing at your friends' or family beach house...stop by and see Gisela this Saturday!

Community Groups at the Market: Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek

This week at Cheverly Community Market, Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek will be hosting the sign-up table for Cheverly's own BioBlitz, which was rescheduled due to the storms to July 14. Join in the BioBlitz to help our experts inventory Cheverly's plants and animals. The full schedule for the day is on the Cheverly Green Plan website.

You can also visit the FLBC table to weigh in on the future of Town Park. This will be the last chance to give your ideas before the professional charrette on July 21st, so make sure to make your opinion count.

This Week at the Market: Classic and Carefree Bake Shoppe

Danielle and Laura make fantastic classic cupcakes as well gluten- and grain-free cupcakes, cookies (vegan, too!) and breads. Indulge that sweet tooth without sacrificing your health with Classic and Carefree Bake Shoppe.

This week, Classic and Carefree brings a motherlode of treats to Cheverly Community Market...we can't wait to taste them!

Classic Cupcakes

Chocolate

Vanilla

Carrot

Blueberry Pancake

Carefree (gluten- and grain-free)

Vanilla Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Icing

Lemon Glaze Cupcakes

Chai Spice Cupcakes

Pecan Raisin Bread

Olive Tomato Bread

Honey Cookies (regular and vegan)

Power Cookies (vegan)

This Week at the Market: Benny's Fruit Stand/Reberts Farm

Ah, the best part of summer is here. Juicy, wonderful stone fruits are in full season! We eat as many as we can, trying to store away the taste of sweet, sun-warmed, orchard-ripened fruit for the winter months that are coming. The sensation of juice running down your wrist as you devour a perfect peach? Store it up. The delicious tanginess of a plum bursting with complex flavors? Store that memory, too. You'll want to remember as you pull your coat on one of those frigid February mornings.

This week, Benny's Fruit Stand/Rebert Farm will have white and yellow peaches, as well as donut peaches, white and yellow nectarines, blackberries, a variety of plums, cooking apples, and new red potatoes to enjoy on a perfect summer weekend. Want to ensure that you have a little bit of summer with you all year long? Stock up and can or preserve some of summer's treasures this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market. Or make a pie, a cobbler, a delicious accompaniment to a grilled meal...the possibilities are endless.


You'll want to bring extra shopping bags for all the delectable wonders in store this weekend!

This Week at the Market: Martha's Jams

This week, let Martha's Jams be the perfect secret ingredient in your National Grilling Month adventures! Cheverly's own Martha Allen makes the most delightful jams and preserves (in fact, she's even been known to get an idea or two from Market regulars) -- this is hyper-local treasure. Not grilling? How about warming and thinning a spoonful of peach preserves with...maybe, some rum? and topping your fresh vanilla ice cream with it as celebration of National Ice Cream Month? Add fresh sliced peaches and some blackberries to your bowl for the best sundae ever! It's also National Blueberries Month, so some of Martha's delicious spiced blueberry preserves wrapped in fresh, warm crepes would be festive and delicious.

In addition to her regular fare, Martha will have some very special things for us this week: a wonderful tart plum-orange, as well as  spicy preserves just perfect for grilling. Make sure to stop by this Saturday to stock up and start creating your signature grilling marinades, ice cream treats, and just plain delicious breakfast treats!