The City Market

With warm weather on its way out, I thought I'd bid a formal adieu to one of our favorite summer activities here in Kansas City -  going to The City Market. (While it's open year-round, I think it's most fun to go during the summer.)

Located just  5 miles  from where we live, the City Market  is nestled in Kansas City's oldest neighborhood, called the "River Market" area.

Kansas City Market 1906 (source)

Kansas City Market 2013

This is the same area where we visited the 4-story antique store that I wrote about in this post.

Here you find the region's largest farmers market with rows and rows of produce stalls set up by local farmers.

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Just grab a bag (or bring your own), load it up with what you want, and pay in cash.

It's a little crowded on the weekends, but not-so-much during the week.

Confession: I had never tasted a homegrown tomato until I went to the City Market.

My life is forever changed.  To think of all those grocery store tomatoes masquerading around like the real thing...

One of my favorite things to do is "casually" walk around looking for samples.

This man sells baklava outside of his Middle Eastern mart. 

And here is some fresh baked pita outside of the same Middle Eastern mart.
It's soft and fluffy and fresh and ...mmm...delish.

Besides fruits and vegetables, people also sell fudge, baked goods, beef, fresh herbs, salsa, homemade candles, soaps, and the most beautiful bouquets of flowers.

Matt, the green thumb in the family, always stops by this man's orchid booth where we ooh and ahh over his AMAZING blooms.

Orchids are not the easiest flowers to grow and care for.  But this guy is an expert and is always willing to give tips when Matt asks.  He says there are over 25,000 varieties of orchids.  I can't wrap my brain around that.  25,000?!  How great is our God!

There are LOTS of spices at the City Market.

And loose-leaf teas.

This man sells locally made honey.

When he saw me staring with quiet, wide-eyed fascination at his bees, he kindly pulled out a beekeeper's hat and bee smoker that he gets out for the children.

This may well possibly be one of the dorkiest pictures of me.  There was just no hiding my enthusiasm for that beekeeper hat.

Around the perimeter of the market are little ethnic eateries.  There's authentic Italian, Mediterranean, and Ethiopian. You can also find pizza or bbq (of course). There's a burrito place and a coffee shop, a bakery and a smoothie place.  A little of this, a little of that.  I love the cultural diversity.

Matt and I tend to gravitate towards the middle eastern food.

Habashi House - our favorite place at the market.

We typically share a plate of shawarma and baba ganoush.  It tastes good AND it's fun to say:)

Everywhere you look, there's something colorful to see, something exotic to smell, and, on busy days, someone who is playing something on an instrument.

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Much to my delight, this man was playing the "Andy Griffith" theme song on his flute.

And much to Matt's delight, these guys were playing playing Led Zepplin.

And there were these guys too.  I loved it!

Every Sunday, there's a "Community Yard Sale" at the market, where people can come sell their handmade goods, collectibles and "gently used items."

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Checking out the Community Yard Sale

If you need a break from the outdoors, you can pop into the little shop on the side that sells stuff.

Like plants and scarves, greeting cards and t-shirts, and these wooden shoes I found that complimented my outfit.

The City Market.  It's a feast for the senses.  If you're in the area, come check it out!