A Saturday in Brookside
Kansas City's Organic Farmers' Market at Brookside, our favorite shopping district, and a visit to one of our FAVORITE parks, Loose Park... can you think of a better way to spend a Saturday?
Brookside Farmers' Market
63rd St. & Wornall Rd. KCMOEvery Saturday 8am – 1pm thru Nov. 23, 2013
Not all farmers' markets are the same. Brookside Farmers’ Market stands out as one of the only exclusively organic markets in the area. This small market is located at 63rd and Wornall across the street from the Brookside shops (Reading Reptile, Stuff, Brookside Toy & Science, The New Dime Store - a mecca for family-friendly window shopping!) and it has a true neighborhood feel. All of the vendors at Brookside Farmers’ Market are local to the Kansas City area, so you know that the dollars you spend on your family’s food are directly benefiting your local community. Enjoy live music while you shop!
Brookside Farmers’ Market hosts many vendors selling fresh fruit and produce, but you will also find plants, organic soap, bread, meat, and my girls' favorite... H & C Ice Cream!
Upcoming Events:
- July 13 Tomato Festival: Weekly Farmers’ Market and annual Tomato Festival featuring a Chef Demo from Jasper Mirabile of Jasper’s Restaurant. Live music from Kirby Wendler Band.
- September 14, 2013: Local Food, Global Flavor Festival. Weekly Farmers’ Market and first annual Local Food, Global Flavor Festival featuring a Chef Demo from some of our favorite vendors. Learn how global flavors influsence local produce and foods. Live music from Mark McGonigle.
What to Bring to the Farmers Market:
- Comfortable Shoes and Bottled Water
- Shopping bags (some vendors provide them, but its always good to reuse)
- Cash in small bills (many vendors do accept credit cards or checks; however, many do not.)
- Wheels! If you plan to purchase large quantities of produce, a wagon or cart will come in handy.
- Coolers with ice if you’re concerned about berries arriving home fresh after a day in the summer sun.
Farmers Market Shopping Tips:
- Know what is in season. The Brookside Market website offers vendor profiles telling you about their sellers and the products they offer.
- Shop early in the day for the freshest produce.
- Shop late in the day for the best bargain.
- Let the kids choose something new. Encourage your children to choose a new fruit or vegetable to try. It helps broaden the horizons of young taste buds and teaches them to explore.
- They’ll enjoy eating food from a farmer they personally met!
- Get to know vendors. Tim Sullivan recommends, “Take time to walk the entire market before making your purchases. Observe and talk to the other customers to see which vendors are the most popular and reliable. Most importantly, ask questions. Who grew the product and where did it come from? How was it grown? Many vendors supplement their offerings with products purchased from who-knows-where. Some vendors don't produce anything they sell. It takes time to get to know your vendors. If you aren't satisfied with something you bought, let the vendor know about it the next week. His response will tell you a lot about him.”
More Fun Nearby:
Shop in Brookside
Brookside is known for quaint boutiques and eclectic shops... including some of the most FUN shops for kids! The list below features our favorites... but we're just scratching the surface:
330 W 63rd St
816.523.4501
Brookside Toy & Science specializes in the most unique, gauranteed-to-be-enjoyed toys, and science supplies and equipment. The small shop is overflowing with fun treasures!
328 W 63rd St
816.753.0441
Reading Reptile - close your eyes and dream. Dream of the most magical, whimsical, creative, and fabulous neighborhood children's bookstore you can imagine... THAT is Reading Reptile. The shop, a tradition in Brookside, offers play areas and reading areas for family, the staff happily recommends beloved books, and the cupcake shop in the corner is just icing on the cake!
316 W 63rd St
816.361.8222
"STUFF is a store dedicated to artists and the people who collect art for their homes and themselves...and give art as gifts. They offer work by local, regional, national and international artists that create one-of-a-kind, handmade, original, unique, inspirational, clever, artistic, innovative, eclectic and witty collectible, decorative and usable art."
314 W 63rd St
816.523.3140
The New Dime Store is the place to find the perfect party papergoods, unique coloring books and fun toys, misc. craft materials, cute odds and ends for the kitchen, useful things you wish you had and great novelty items. This summer The New Dime Store is offering great classes for kids (see photo to right with the list or visit their website).
and MORE! Read a complete list of Brookside Shops.
Loose Park
51st & Wornall, Kansas City, MO.
Just down the road, Loose Park is famous in Kansas City for its rich history and its beauty. The park is 75-acres including a pond, shelters, playground, spray park, tennis courts, fields, walking paths, and the famous Laura Conyers Rose Garden. Read our Loose Park blog for more information about this jewel in the heart of the city!