MidFirst Bank Draws the Winner for Citadelle Plaza Shopping Spree

Thanks to the thousands of people who entered the drawing for a $500 shopping spree for the Citadelle Plaza, at the past nine Twilight Farmers Markets! And special thanks to MidFirst Bank for providing us with $500 for this shopping spree. Their motto is "more than you can expect from a bank" and we could not agree more. When we called and asked if they could provide our farmers market with a portable ATM machine for our shoppers, they had one brought out for the very next market.

We are proud to announce that Nicole Pease is our winner!!

We emailed her to tell her she won just yesterday and we look forward to meeting her and presenting her with the certificate to spent at any of the Citadelle Plaza's stores, next week. She told us that she had attended most of our summer series of the Twilight Farmers Market and had really enjoyed them all. We hope she has fun spending this money at the many fine selections of restaurants, clothing boutiques, hair salons, chiropractor or personal training. Doesn't that sound like fun?

My next blog will show you all the fun we had at the last Twilight Farmers Market on July 29th. There are just so many great pictures, I am having a hard time selecting the shots to use!

Please vote for our farmers market in this national contest (currently we hold the #90 position but moving up rapidly!) Go to: http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket, find AZ, Glendale and the Twilight Market, just add your name, your email address and a comment if you'd like. Then Twitter it, Facebook it and email to all your friends to vote, too. We really do need every one's help to win. (It takes a village).

The Sounds and Sights at the Twilight Farmers Market

This past week's Twilight Farmers Market had wonderful sounds, snowy cold fun, fashion shows and good times with friends and co-workers.

The market bell was rung by the cast from AZ Broadway Theatre's show 'Rent'. I always love hearing beautiful voices singing a Capella.


The sun was trying its hardest to put a damper on people's spirits, but to no avail. The sail awnings that the Citadelle Plaza recently installed give ample shade to the courtyard but also allows the breeze to flow though.


The classically-trained guitarist Nenid Saciv played on the main stage providing soothing sounds to shop to.

And of course, icy cold snow cools you down in seconds. Want to see how snow gets made in Arizona? Well, you hire AZ Iceman and they send out two enormous trucks filled with bags of ready-made ice. Here is a picture of Art Gomez with the spout that crushes up the ice to make AZ snow:


Once the snow fills the "hay corral", the kids jump in. I think this puppy would have joined them if he was not on a leash!


I do not know this group of boys, but they remind me of my boys when they were younger (always together, goofing around, having a blast):





This little girl with the adorable outfit covered in flowers, made the world's smallest snowman:

We had several new vendors participating in the Twilight Farmers Market. One vendor grows a very ancient grain and made cookies and breads using this grain is wheat-free. They were very interesting to talk to and I learned a great deal about the grain varieties:

We had a group of Glendale Firemen stop by to buy vegetables and fruit (which probably contributes to the great shape they are in and their bright white teeth!)

The back stage area located in front of the Haute C and BUSY BODIES business' had activity all night long. Briana Lefevers and Andrew Pelt played guitar and sang for the audience.



Her voice was quite beautiful:
And the back stage had a red hot fashion show modeling clothes from Haute C:Many people have made Wednesday night their night to meet with friends at the Citadelle Plaza for a glass of wine or enjoy dinner at Corbin's bar and grill. It's a nice way to end after shopping at the farmers market!July 29th is the last in the summer Twilight Farmers Market series. La Fiamma (Fire Acrobatics) will be performing, Jobing.com Arena will be giving tickets away for the Saltimbango show that runs from July 29-Aug 3, the Phoenix Coyote's mascot, Howler will ring the market bell and it'll be your last chance to play in the snow, too! Please be sure to join us.

Snow Brings Smiles to the Twlight Farmers Market

This week's Twilight Farmers Market was filled with a little bit of everything: shopping, dining, music and dancing, baseball stars and of course, SNOW!

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher, Chris Snyder, rang the opening market bell. He was such a nice guy, singing autographs and balls for fans. Our manager of Tutti Santi ristorante, Deborah Leader handed him a basket of locally-grown vegetables and homemade goodies from the vendors at the market.

There was so much going on at the Citadelle Plaza, I'm not sure where to begin:



First, we had the amazing band, Shallow Water, playing for us. All over the center, you would see people clapping and singing to familiar songs as they did their weekly shopping. The horns were my favorite. During their short breaks, the Jobing.com Arena street team did drawings for Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire concert tickets. We sure to sign up at their table next to the information booth each week for the next concerts coming up at their fantastic arena.



Next, we had Scorch and the V.P. for the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, Ann Meyers, visiting and giving away some fun items , then went over to Next Coffee for a Heart Tools fundraiser.

Six of our vendors had their family vacations this week and one grower was planting her new crops, but we welcome them all back for the July 22nd and 29th markets.

The corn was plentiful and so very sweet:



And the peppers, photographed here by our photographer, Laura Stone, looks like art but tastes divine:


And speaking of divine, the Owner of Butter Devine is spoiling me rotten with her specialty butters. This week, I tried her special sea salt butter with a tangy twist, which turned out to be wonderful. I can never purchase butter from a grocery store again after buying from this vendor!

Karen's Kreamery is always a hit with her frozen lemonade drinks and other frozen treats (just look for her multi-colored umbrella):



Kids made tortilla wraps with Chef Morgan this week and the Kids Adventure Fire Truck let kids shoot water out of a child-sized water hose! And the shop owners had all kinds of surprises for people visiting their shops. Indulge Med Spa kept people cool by making snow cones.



Haute C and Vivaldi Hair Suites provided a fashion show and hair demos that were really fun to watch. And you'll find wine, special drinks and homemade cookies in many of our stores, just to name a few tenant offerings.

But, more than anything I will remember this week's Twilight Farmers Market for the joy some icy cold snow brought to faces of the children (and their parents!) who attended.




Thanks to Steve Bales and Bales Hay Sales, who donated the hay that provided the edges to our snow playground! And the snow was made by AZ Iceman. Yes, 5 tons of ice got crushed through a giant machine, making snow for everyone to play in.

Looks like this younger brother's going to get his big brother all wet with a snowball:


Good, family fun; isn't that what summer is supposed to be about? Getting out with your family and enjoying each others' company. I think this adorable red-headed child's shirt says it all: "Focus All Attention Here"; as it should be!



At the July 22nd Twilight Farmers Market, we have a wonderful guitarist on the main stage and seeing that the weather continues to be hotter than normal....yes.....more SNOW. Please come and join us and as always, be sure to sign up for the end-of-summer shopping spree giveaways at the main information booth. You can sign up every week, so there's 2 more opportunities. And who doesn't like shopping at the Citadelle Plaza?

Love our Market? Vote for us here: http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket/30977. Thanks!

Tomorrow Night's Weather Forecast: 100% Chance of Snow

There is so much to tell you about tomorrow night's Twilight Farmers Market, I do not know where to begin! This is one night you are not going to want to miss! Of course, we have 26 of the best AZ growers and artisan bakers (and a few vendors are off on vacation or planting their new crops this week and will be back next week).

First, Chris Snyder, AZ Diamondback Catcher will ring the bell to open up the market. I love him and I am ready to see him back in action after the All-Star break.

Next, we have Scorch and company coming to pay us a visit from the the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury.

Shallow Water Band plans to liven up the market with their terrific selection of music. (Many of you may have heard them playing at the Peoria and Scottsdale Salty Senorita locations).

Chef Morgan has some wonderful recipes for her kids cooking classes.

The Kids Fire Truck Adventures are back for the kids, too.

Shops like Zethina's, Vivaldi Hair, AMG Jewelry, Indulge Med Spa (to name just a few) have specials, sales and free services!

But, the most exciting thing of all: S N O W ! ! ! !

That's right, there will be snow on site (look for the hay barrels). Just what you need when it's July in Arizona!

We hope to see everyone out tomorrow night, 6-9 PM.

Twilight Farmers Market: Bigger, Better, And Red Hot

I am sitting down eating my breakfast (Chocolate Pumpkin Brownie) from the Sweet Art Bakery table from last night's Twilight Farmers Market at Citadelle Plaza in Glendale.



Yes, that's a breakfast food!

The market had several new vendors last night. We welcome Siam's Gardens and her unusual and exotic vegetables and fruits:


Gateaux ZoZo with their fresh croissants and Madeline's:

And homemade granola from The Healthy Nut.

The entertainment seemed to have a RED-HOT theme going with the Flamenco Del Sol dancers dancing to the soulful music by guitarist, Miguel Rodriquez:


In Chef Morgan's 'It's Child's Play' Area, the children were content making and eating their yogurt, granola and berry concoctions:




And every child's dream of becoming a fireman came true (if only for an evening) on the Fire Truck Adventures for Kids. They tried on kid-sized uniforms and got to pretend to drive the truck but really toot the horn:



It was just so nice seeing thousands of people relaxing and enjoying an evening in July....in AZ!


Couples strolling the Citadelle Plaza's courtyard,





Young and old people enjoying each other's company,


And of course, those wonderful, local-grown fruits, vegetables and one of my favorites, specialty oils from Pastamore!





July 15th we are looking forward to 'Shallow Water' playing. They are a great rock and roll band. See you soon!

Vote For Twilight Farmers Market in 2Care Contest

If you are reading this blog, you've probably also attended one of the Twilight Farmers Markets, right? Well, I have a little favor to ask....

Local Harvest with 2Care is holding an online contest this summer where people all over the country are voting for who has the best Farmer Market. The Twilight Farmers Market just entered the contest this week, so we are a little behind some of the other markets...but not for long! Just click on the widget below, look for Arizona, then the Twilight Farmers Market.

If we win, all the best AZ growers will want to have a booth here and give our wonderful growers and artisan bakers some much needed attention. Arizona Community Farmers Markets has been such great help providing us with great vendors, too.

Send this post to your friends, too. The more the merrier!



We thank you for your support!