Blog

The FUNtivities Continue!

The February FUNtivities have only just begun and we cannot thank everyone enough who came out to the Valentine’s Day Farmers’ and Artisan Market this past Saturday to support our local vendors and enjoy the live music we had by local musicians Noelle Frances and Frank Ridsdale. We've also had 3 of 8 Market Block DJ Skate events on the Rotary Square and something about events taking place, restrictions losing up, and restaurants being open warms my heart so much to see people getting out of the house and enjoying their time at the market no matter what mother nature throws at us! If you weren’t able to make it out to this event yet, don’t worry - we have 5 more Market Block DJ Skates taking place so make sure to check out our Facebook or Instagram page for all the details on that!

Cooking Demonstrations

As mentioned in the last newsletter, our cooking demonstrations will be taking off very soon! March 5th is our first cooking demonstration at 11am in the Market Kitchen. These classes run every Saturday from March until December and are FREE to whomever wants to take part. This is a great opportunity to connect with local chefs and spend a morning learning a new recipe, ask questions, spending time with family or friends and understand why food literacy is so important! Our March Cooking Demonstrations are as followed:

March 5th
Chef: Ankita Vaidya
3 Drinks: Turmeric Milk, Masala Chai, and Masala Milk

March 12th
Chef:
Kimi Abdullah
Weeknight Soups: Potato Leek & Red Lentil Coconut

March 19th
Chef:
Polina Shadman
Traditional Herbed Rice

March 26th Melanie Amadasun
West African Snacks: Nigerian Meat, Tuna & Vegetarian Pie

Saturday Farmers' Market

Our Farmers Market will be taking place this Saturday, upstairs in the Mezzanine from 9am to 1pm with 16 local vendors. Check out who will be there below and click on their name to take you to their social media pages to see what they have to offer!

Saturday Vendor List: 

La Houlette De Vie

Carver’s Natural Farms

Greystead Gardens

Den Bestens Trout Farm

Blanbrook Bison Farm

Harvest Moon Trading Co.

Kynk Naturals

Nightingale Pie Co.

Pillitteri Estates Winery

Helm Baked

Elgin Harvest

Vaka Chocolate

Proper Heathen Hot Sauce

Monforte Dairy

Kayla’s Kitchen

Railway City Brewing Co

Vendor Feature - Monforte Dairy

Did you know, throughout the year Monforte Dairy produces more than 30 different cheeses with milk from local sheep, goat, cow, and water buffalo. They follow the Slow Food model—using local producers and doing as much as we can by hand—so seasonality is key.  This winter, look for the coveted Bliss; a luscious soft-ripened blend of sheep’s milk and cow cream. Think really flavourful butter! Eat it on toast with preserves, or baked in the oven to warm you on a winter night. You can find Monforte at our Farmers Market every Saturday. Check out their website here. 

Live Music Every Saturday

Every Saturday we will have live music during our Winter Farmers’ Market upstairs in the Blue Lounge and outside on the Rotary Square during our Outdoor Farmers’ Market!

This Saturday, February 19th we will have live music from local musicians Katherine Fischer from 9am to 10:30am and Caroline Bulmer & Hevaldo Souza (Fox) from the Aiyoyo Project from 11am to 1pm.

A Little Bit About Katherine Fischer

Like a re-discovered diary entry on your worst day, Katherine Fischer wants you to feel understood. With over 250 songs in her arsenal and counting, she hopes to be your tour guide through the darkest corners to the brightest balcony of her human experience.

In September 2019 Katherine released her second EP “Wildflower Heart”. Her sophomore EP shares folky heart led narratives that rival your favourite coming of age novel. Katherine’s recent single “Roots” was featured on Amazon Music’s “Fresh Folk & Acoustic” playlist alongside Leonard Cohen, Nora Jones and Donovan Woods. Her EP weaves the tellings of an empath soul, with radiant vocals, windblown guitar and a pop sensibility grounded in truth.

From coast to coast Katherine has played over 175 shows from festival performances at Winnipeg Folk Festival and Home County Music and Art Festival to living rooms with SOFAR Sounds. To see her play, is to know her story and end the night as if parting from an old friend. Come to listen, stay to connect and, if anything, know that Katherine Fischer’s songs are her gift to you.

A Little Bit About the Aiyoyô Project

AIYOYÔ Project invites the audience to experience unique sensations and emotions engaging with an energetic and captivating musical performance!  The Brazilian duo, composed by the pianist Hevaldo Souza, and the singer and percussionist Caroline Blumer, and eventual guests, bring to the stage a diverse repertoire of Brazilian Music, Samba, Choro, Jazz, Bossa, Blues, Soul, and Rock. The audience will recognize their favorite songs presented in special versions with generous hints of improvisation and creativity!​

Hevaldo Souza (Fox)

Brazilian pianist, composer, arranger, and music producer. He performed beside several Brazilian artists. Conducted the musical arrangements and production of the Paulo Apóstolo Novel Soundtrack, winner of prizes in Germany, Spain, Russia and Portugal, screened by Brazilian TV Século XXI. He was a musical director and arranger of many Musical Theatre Brazilian productions such as “Godspell”, “The Best Of Musicals”, “Ópera do Malandro” (Chico Buarque), “Notre Dame de Paris”, “Man of La Mancha” and others. He was musical director and pianist of the Show “Encuentro” with repertoire of Jazz, Chamber Music and Brazilian Music, presented in Duo with the jazz singer Caroline Blumer. He was also director of the audio production company Casulo Music (Brazil). Recently, in Canada, besides his work with Aiyoyô project as pianist and producer, Fox has been performing with the South African jazz singer Lorraine Klaasen, Juno Award winner 2013 and nominee in 2017.

Caroline Blumer

Brazilian jazz singer, musician, composer, and music educator. Caroline participated as soloist of the “Conciertos de Navidad” in the cities of Havana and Matanzas, Cuba, accompanied by the Soloists Symphony Orchestra of Havana and the Brasilia Symphony Orchestra (OCBrass). She was vocal coach and musical director in several Musical Theater plays in Brazil, among the most recent are The Lion King and The Man of La Mancha. She also performed the Show “Encuentro” in partnership with the pianist Hevaldo Souza singing and playing a repertoire of Jazz, Chamber Music and Brazilian Music. As music educator and researcher, she is interested in music teaching for individuals with disabilities, especially to people on the Autistic Spectrum. After ten years developing a inclusive musical work at  SER Institute, São Paulo, Brazil, she decided to continue her studies in Canada.  Besides, her work with Aiyoyô project, she is current a Ph.D. candidate in Music Education at the University of Western Ontario (UWO).

Upcoming Events

Market Block DJ Skates

When:
Friday February 18th 4PM-8PM
Saturday, February 19th 4PM-8PM
Monday, February 21st 12P-4PM (Family Day) (Indoor Market CLOSED)
Friday, February 25th 4PM-8PM
Saturday, February 26th 12PM-4PM

Where:
Outside on the Rotary Square / Skating Rink

What:
Live DJs, Free Hot Chocolate, Heated Patio with Specialty Coffee & Cocktails @ Oliver R. Twist, Food Trucks, Skate Rentals, Light Show

The Market is OPEN!

The Market is open Monday – Saturday 8AM-6PM.

Here’s who’s open…

Produce:

Havaris Produce

Doris Family Prouce

Butchers, Seafood, Poultry:

Chris’s Country Cuts

Mark’s Fine Meats

Seoul Seafood Shoppe

Cheese, Dips, Sauces:

Smith Cheese

Organic, Health Food Store:

Homeopathy London

Foods of the World:

Alo Chicken

Glenda’s

Cucina Italiana

Seoul Seafood Shoppe

Hot Oven

Kleiber’s Deli

Mercado Burrito

Mona’s Shawarma & Grill

Rice Box

Thai Delight

The Salad Bowl

The New Delhi Deli

The Piping Kettle

Olive-Me & Co.

Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, Frozen Desserts, Baked Goods:

Hasbeans

The Tea Haus

Better Blend Smoothie Bar

The Ice Cream Bowl

Chocolate Factory

Market Cafe

Pastry Culture

International Bakery

Services:

Carpe Diem Massage (By appt. only)

Market Lottery

Mr. Kwik Fix

London Community Foundations

Flowers & Gifts:

Bloomer’s at the Market

Magpie’s Collected Creations

Forget-Me-Not Flowers & More

Happy Wear

Tina’s Treasury

Restaurants:

Olive R Twists (519-204-9184)

Waldo’s on King (519-318-5029)

Tanakaya (519-850-8838)