Ellenville Is A Hit!

If you love green markets as much as I do, then have I got a great little piece of news for you! When everyone else shuts down for summertime in May, Boca Raton has a new little upstart green market that has big plans to stay open—all year long. It’s brand new right now, and takes place every Thursday afternoon from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ellenville Garden Center at 220 N.E. 11th St. Ok, so this place—opened a year ago by Beth and Craig Peschl— is so cute you want to plop down in one of the rocking chairs and just sip a lemonade. There is live music, food, lots of kid stuff, and big plans to attract many more vendors as time goes along. I went last Thursday (only their second week) and spied the following vendors: Chowder House, My Sweet Dolce (cakes and pastries), Happy Dog Bakery, a large produce stand, a tea vendor, jewelry vendors, a lady selling little girl tutus, someone with fresh pickles—you name it. A big hit was La Stella’s booth—hot meatballs, whole-wheat penne with mushrooms and peas, wine and beer. Yum. Truly delish. And all this is on the grounds of a quaint tin-roofed garden center selling shrubs and flowers and hanging baskets. There were kids everywhere, getting their faces painted, drawing with chalk, trying out kid-sized hula-hoops in a grassy patch. “We try to do something different each week for the kids,” Beth says, “It’s all kid-friendly, family-friendly. We want to bring the community together.” I think that nails it. Just as Bedner’s out west is offering farm-fresh foods and simple activities that feel good, like picking your own strawberries, so is Ellenville celebrating the small things, the good things, the way life used to be. I wish them much success, and hope everyone will stop by.