Farmers Market Expansion Receives Mixed Reviews

Food and beverage businesses on Antioch Street seem OK with the idea of increased foot traffic, while those offering crafts or other goods are uncertain or against the proposal.

A proposal to expand the Pacific Palisades Farmers Market from Swarthmore Avenue to include Antioch Street has received mixed reactions from local businesses. Some welcomed the change while others seemed uncertain about what it could mean. Food and beverage businesses on Antioch Street seemed OK with the idea of increased foot traffic, while businesses offering crafts, goods and other items were uncertain or against the proposed enlargement of the farmers market. Running from 8 a.m. to noon on Sundays, the market’s operations would probably have little effect on Antioch businesses that are closed Sundays, such as Intemperantia Chocolates, Laura M Jewelry and the UPS store. But others that are open, such as Collections Antiques & …

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Eating Greens and Going Green

The Palisades Community Council is considering plans to expand the farmers’ market and install bicycle racks around the Village.

Two plans, independent of each other, were presented to the Pacific Palisades Community Council that would affect the community's health ... for the positive, according to their respective creators. Organizers of the weekly Sunday farmers’ market on Swarthmore Avenue want to expand to Antioch Street while Palisades Cares intends to install bike racks all over the Village. Marie Steckmest, founder of Palisades Cares and a longtime environmental activist respected for such green projects as implementing recycling bins all over the Village, stood before the council Thursday night and reported on the progress of her latest green endeavor. The Sparkplug Award winner is currently in the process of trying to install modernized bike racks around …

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Ellen Lutwak

12:43 pm on Monday, January 17, 2011

Palisades Cares is inspirational. Some great ideas for Beverly Hills, especially the bike racks around the town. We're encouraging more people to get to our Farmers' Market as well! Keep up the good work!   more ›

Community Council Rings In New Year

Going green and eating more greens mark inaugural 2011 meeting at Palisades Branch Library.

In what was the first Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting of the year on Thursday night, organizers of the Farmers' Market approached the Council with the idea of expanding the popular and successful market to include Antioch Street. Jennifer McColm, president of California Certified Farmers' Market, stated that setting up the weekly Sunday Farmers' Market on Antioch Street, in addition to Swarthmore Avenue, would be good for the local economy. She said that Swarthmore businesses had reported to her that the Market had brought more foot traffic to their storefronts. John Edwards, president of Raw Inspiration, emphasized the health benefits of eating more greens and legumes, and he suggested that an expanded Market will mean a …

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Palisades Food Adventures

Seeking Comfort in Your Soup

Sundays in the Palisades with a bowl of vegetarian goodness.

Everyone has their Sunday routine. In ours, The New York Times features prominently. As the sun comes up, we have early morning decaf coffee (me), green tea (my wife) and enjoy our Spartan breakfasts. My wife prefers an apple, cereal, and yogurt. A toasted English muffin with sweet butter and either strawberry jam or orange marmalade works for me. Breakfast dishes washed, we’re off to the Palisades Sunday Farmers’ Market.  We have our favorite vendors: Givens Farm for Italian parsley, Mr. Yang for his amazingly sweet carrots, beautifully lush arugula, bargain garlic (3 for $1.00), and petite sweet potatoes. A visit with John Sweredoski to pick up watercress, spinach, and trade jokes, before we head off in our different directions.  My wife…

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Farmers Market Weathers Hard Times

A remarkably resilient Palisades tradition on Swarthmore Avenue bucks recent economic trends.

It's a nearly decade-long Pacific Palisades tradition. Every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Swarthmore is blocked off between Sunset and Monument and becomes the dependable farmers market. There Palisadians can buy fresh apples and apricots from stands such as Mark Boujikian Farms from Raisin City or organically grown fruit from Givens Farms. Locals can find quality feta cheese and olive oil from the Aliki's Greek Tavern booth or purchase a handcrafted vase at the Useful Pots concession stand. Yet with the economic downturn that has gripped the country since late 2007, one would guess that, like the stores in town, the market would be adversely affected as well. Guess again. "Your regulars are still going to come," Lesley McAndrew said. "We…

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Woo-hooo! Norky Hits the Palisades!

The titular character of the children's book “Christmas with Norky” recently paid a visit to the Palisades' farmers' market

On Sunday, Dec. 19, a visitor from the south––not the South Pole but Santa Monica––strutted his stuff up and down Swarthmore Ave., bringing much mirth and merriment to Pacific Palisades' farmers' market: Norky, the fine, feathered star of Steve Allgeier's 2007 children's book, Christmas with Norky: The Adventure Begins. Norky was in town to spread the word that Santa Monica resident Allgeier's debut children's book was available at Village Books. In Christmas, Santa Claus appoints Norky to be in charge of his Naughty/Nice list. Norky just doesn't go out before Christmas to accomplish this, he checks on kids all year around. If a child has a problem, Norky distributes a Fix-It Card. Once the problems are systematically fixed and approved by…

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