This week at the Market: CrossKrafts

We love having Cheverly's own Helen Crosskey at Cheverly Community Market. An accomplished seamstress and jewelry designer, Helen is also a wonderful raconteur with a great personal story to share. Visit CrossKrafts this weekend and find great pieces, from lovely dresses and coats to hats, blankets and slippers, as well as great jewelry in a variety of styles.

This week at the Market: Cygnus Wine Cellars

We're thrilled to have Ray Brasfield of Cygnus Wine Cellars with us this weekend at Cheverly Community Market. A favorite for several years now, Cygnus focuses on producing dry table wines and methode champenoise sparkling wines (champagne) from only locally grown grapes. Cygnus began in July 1996, emerging from the shell of an abandoned 1939-vintage slaughterhouse in downtown historic Manchester, Carroll County. Depending upon the growing season, Ray also produces reserve wines in very small quantity, including late harvest dessert style wine, and a reserve dry red. Cygnus wines are vegan friendly, with no animal products used in their production. Table wines are sold under the Cygnus label, while the sparkling wines say Royele on the label.

This Saturday, visit Cygnus Wine Cellars at Cheverly Community Market for these exceptional Maryland wines:

REDS

CYGNUS ROSÉ fresh red fruit aromas & flavors with some spice in a pleasant long finish in this dry light red wine. A flavorful companion to casual meals, grilled ocean fish, salads, fruit, and cheeses. (dry table wine)
CYGNUS RED earthiness and ground black pepper frame aromas and flavors of black fruits, in this smooth dry red. Enjoy with roast meats, game, sausages, and homemade pizza. (dry table wine)

WHITES

CHARDONNAY dry complex white wine with great mouthfeel and long finish. No oak. Serve with pasta, fish, and seafood. (dry table wine)
MANCHESTER HALL fresh and fruity green melon and peach aromas and flavors, this light flavorful wine goes well with simply prepared fish, seafood, and fowl. (off-dry table wine)
ROSE OF TINTAGEL an aromatic white wine with a melange of tropical fruit flavors and sweet citrusy finish.Serve with fresh fruits & nuts, spicy asian food, and cheeses. (off-dry table wine)
LATE HARVEST VIDAL BLANC sweet dessert-style wine made from 100% Maryland grown Vidal Blanc, this wine has aromas and flavors of lemon and grapefruit, with ripe pear and mineral flavors on the long, sweet finish. 

Have a particular Cygnus wine that you want? Please pre-order before Friday, September 6, and Ray will be happy to bring it with him on Saturday morning. Call the winery at 410 374 6395 for these special orders.

This week at the Market: Alcoba Coffee

Visit Jose Castillobeza and his family this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market for wonderful, rich, smooth locally roasted Guatemalan coffee beans in three roasts: Dark, Light and Mixed (note: Mr. Castillobeza will be able to grind beans onsite this week). The crown jewel of South American coffee production, Guatamalen coffee beans are widely known for a wide variety and many interesting characteristics.

Read all about Guatemalan coffee growing here. And visit us on Pinterest for coffee-based recipes and latte art tips & techniques (or this site for a terrific rundown of brewing techniques), as well as recipes and more that will help you get the most out of your Market purchases.

This week at the Market: Natural-holic with Scents

We've been so happy to have Wanda Butler and Natural-holic with Scents, of Upper Marlboro, with us this season, and we're thrilled to have her back this Saturday. Wanda has been handcrafting bath and body products using the highest quality ingredients in small batches since 1998. These artisanal soaps are gorgeous -- a treat for you or for someone very special to you.

Freshen up your morning routine and feel good about supporting local artisans, to boot! Visit Natural-holic with Scents this Saturday at Cheverly Community Market and find a terrific array of handmade fine soaps, as well as t-shirts and other items.

Community at the Market: CPRC Membership Drive & Story Time!

Stop by the Cheverly Parents Resource Center (CPRC) table to join or renew your membership in CPRC during their annual membership drive. Founded in 1989, the group has served generations of Cheverly families through playgroups, storytimes, educational activties and other outreach. We're proud to support Cheverly Parents Resource Center and all the great work they do in our community and hope that you'll consider becoming a member!

And make sure to join CPRC on the steps (or under the tent!) at 10am for story time! This week, we'll read To Market, To Market by Nikki McClure, a beautifully illustrated tale of a mother and son and their weekly trip to the market, and their interactions with the people who grow, bake, or make their food. Read a great interview with Nikki McClure here, or find some educational activities for kids relating to farmers and markets here and here.

This week at the Market: All in the Details Floral Arrangements

Did you get a chance to meet Kira Barker of All in the Details Floral Arrangements at our August 24 Market? Kira's flowers were very popular -- we know they graced many Cheverly homes last week! This week, make sure to visit All in the Details for late summer and early fall floral arrangements as well as bunches of unarranged flowers and loose stems. And don't forget -- this is the perfect time to order Homecoming floral arrangements, boutonnieres and corsages, so chat with Kira this weekend about upcoming events.

It's Yard Sign Time!

It's time to get those yard signs out!  We have a great Market lined up for you this Saturday -- the return of great favorites (New Starts Farm, Cygnus Wine Cellars, Little Peeps Emporium, Cheverly Breadbasket, as well as our regular lineup), great new vendors (Handmade Habitat), great community groups (CERT, CPRC, Prince George's County Master Gardeners, and more) and we're looking forward to sharing the morning with you, your family, your friends, and your neighbors.  

We will no longer be placing yard signs in the public ways (our big signs will still be posted on Mondays before Markets to help you remember!) That means we need as many people as possible to host yard signs on their lawns -- if you can help us, we'd love to hear from you! Please email us your address, and we'll deliver a sign to your home and add you to our yard sign ambassador list (or stop by the big green Market tent on Saturday -- we'll bring a few extra signs). We have all sorts of terrific vendors, groups, and special events coming your way through the end of our 2013 season, and we need your help spreading the word!

Don't forget...there's still time to vote for Cheverly Community Market in the American Farmland Trust 2013 I Love My Farmer's Market contest. Just pledge to spend $10 each week at the Market -- you can vote every day! We see you at the Market...show us some love!