The mosaic in situ at Presbyterian Hospital

Argentinian staggers under the weight of excessive empanadas.Selections from the malbec tasting.

party or malbec tasting.

I’ve noticed these little farmer’s markets popping up around town and at first I was very excited. What’s not to like about a farmer’s market? There is fresh, local produce everywhere and sometimes baked goods. Frequently, they attract artists, musicians and street performers and thus are a great addition to communities. However, I’ve found myself avoiding these places because the goods are too expensive.  Recently I saw one vendor selling a ciabatta bread for $12.00, seriously! The produce, as well, seems a little high compared to the super markets, which is curious since they presumably don’t bear the costs of transporting goods around the world.

I  like  the idea of walking or biking to the market. In the time I’ve spent in New York, Buenos Aires, or even smaller communities, I’ve always enjoyed walking to the market or finding clusters of vendors that  facilitate the shopping process. This is not typical of Charlotte. Granted, many Charlotte neighborhoods have a Harris Teeter or Food Lion and it can be convenient to shop in a big box, or category killer as they like to say, but these establishments rarely have everything you need, and thus I find myself driving across town to another category killer.  Sometimes I prefer the smaller boutique-style experience, especially when there is a sole proprietor or artisan around who is actually invested and cares about the business.

I have met a woman who lives on one side of South Boulevard and patronizes businesses on the other side. She told me she drives the short distance in her car for fear of crossing that street on foot. Her automobile is a suite of armor that she wears to safely traverse a distance that she would probably, otherwise, walk or bicycle.  I believe traveling around in this way isolates people from their habitat, limits the experience of their city, and denies them the sensation of blood flushing their muscles. Yes, there is some evidence that Charlotte is improving for the pedestrian, but this town still has a ways to go in terms of locomotion.