July 11, 2018
A bright blue sky and a cool breeze were all that was needed to bring the crowds to last Saturday’s LFM. That and possibly the chance to listen to our own Minas roll out their Brazilian bosso beat.
But whatever reason got you there, the main attraction was the eye-popping bounty that was bursting out of the produce tents. The first of the peaches, tomatoes, cantaloupes, cauliflower and carrots in every shade from white to maroon. It’s all here! Let’s hear it for summer!
The LFM is extremely and rightfully proud of our produce vendors and about this time of the year is when I start to run out of superlatives…or risk repeating myself. But hey, I have to fill this space somehow…so…let’s talk tomatoes.
Here in the tri-state area we live and die by what we loosely call “the Jersey tomato”…even when we grow it in our own backyards. Imperfectly round, but firm and dripping with flavor. Beautifully, impossibly red (insert sound of record scratching) Wait, What? Yellow? Maroon? Green striped? Ladies and gentlemen, the LFM presents…drumroll…the Heirlooms! As the name suggests, not exactly new, but, boy are they making a comeback! And they’re ready for their closeup!
Combine these stunners with a slab of buffalo mozzarella and some fresh basil and you’ve got a Caprese salad that may just be too pretty to eat…but do! And in case you missed last Sunday’s Parade Magazine headliner…gotta try this Heirloom Tomato Tart. Buon appetito!
In the Music Tent: David Falcone and REVERBNATION. Back for a BONUS second time this summer, David plays the songs that make the whole Landing sing…
Artist of the Week: a change to the schedule. Chez Claire has handmade glass plates, bowls, votives, vases, and jewelry, as well as hand-dyed and sewn-rope bowls. With the LFM’s stable of artists and artisans, how many holiday gifts can you knock off by September?
T-shirts and other LFM swag will be for sale this Saturday, along with discounted 5K and Arts Fest shirts from years gone by, as we clean out our cupboards to make room for this year’s new garb. Look for the LEDC tent.
Don’t forget that July 28 is Kids’ Day! Lots of fun stuff for kids who have had to watch you have all the fun up ‘til now.
Community table: Lansdowne Votes is a non-partisan initiative. Make sure that you are correctly registered in time to vote your choice in November. Have you found any of their rocks around town?
It occurs to me that my last letter was written prior to our 125th 4th of July Celebration…so before I leave here, I need to look back for just a sentence or two to THANK THE UNION AA for their tireless efforts, year after year, to make it all happen. So THANK YOU ALL! And thanks to the many whose donations were, as always, the only source of funding. You know who you are…and if you know who you AREN’T, the UAA is already working on 2019, so your chance to step up is alive and well.
While I’m on the subject of contributions: School is out, and that means that some of our kids in the district are missing the one daily meal they could depend on. And we have some seniors and disabled neighbors who need a little help feeding themselves and their important pet companions. You can help each week by dropping a few bucks into the Community Cupboard jug at the Manager’s tent. Your pocket change can make a difference in a life. PLEASE GIVE.
See you Saturday!
-Terry Baraldi, Reporting from ‘downe Town