Monthly Archives: April 2009

Weekend Plans: Cinco de Mayo is May 3rd at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market

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Even though it’s of course the TRES de Mayo, you can still celebrate CINCO de Mayo at the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market next Sunday.mvfmdancers

There will be musical performances featuring the 9-piece salsa band OPA OPA and dance by Folkloriko Veracruzano. For the kids, there will be crafts and pinatas, and since it’s the first Sunday of the month, the Mar Vista Arts and Crafts Collective will be there, too. The festivities start at 9am, but be there at 11am for some “spontaneous community theater”, called JOY, and sponsored by Open Mar Vista. Can’t wait to see what that’s all about!!

Check back on Sunday for a wrap-up of the day.

 

An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Sunday Feature: Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up

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Today our shopper was Leslie Weil,img_0301_21

who was picking out sugar snap peas for Chicken Pot Pie.sugar snap peas

Her recipe comes from the Silver Palate New Basics cookbook, and involves homemade chicken stock, pearl onions, carrots, rosemary, chicken, and this amazing-sounding crust of puff pastry.

The real recipe with all the details can be found in the book, but the basic idea is you cook the veggies and the chicken, make a sauce and put it all in a ramekin and cover it with the puff pastry, which I personally would buy, because I do not have the time to make it while taking care of 2 small children. But that’s just me.

Leslie is making individual pot pies for her book club group, who are very lucky people, in my opinion. By the way, I asked, and they’re reading The Secret Scripture.

 

An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Photos courtesy of Chelsea Magdaleno, official photographer of the Mar Vista Mom Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up.

Reminder: Mar Vista Green Garden Tour This Sunday 4/27

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UPDATE:

The 2011 Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase will take place on Saturday, April 30th.

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Celebrate Earth Day this year by touring local gardens that feature drought tolerant and California native plants and highlight sustainable gardening practices. It’s this Sunday from 2-6pm.3930-keeshen-001

This free, self-guided tour can be previewed at Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase, which includes 4 walking/biking tours that have been mapped out for you! Green AND convenient!

 

This is an original post by Sarah Auerswald. Photo credit: Sherri Akers.

Mar Vista Neighbors Famous For Swapping

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Swapping furniture, that is! (Get your minds out of the gutter! This is not Marina del Rey, people.)

Some of your very own Mar Vista neighbors will be featured on the Oprah Winfrey show Monday, April 27th. And what are we doing? Swapping furniture! It’s a budget makeover on 4 houses in Mar Vista, so to save money, we went shopping in each other’s houses instead of at the store.

Here we are with Nate Berkus, the designer who made all our houses look so fabulous. And, for the record, he’s JUST as nice and as devastatingly handsome in person, by the way!!swap-meet-families

Mar Vista Mom was indeed one of the 4 lucky ones! (That’s me in the denim jacket.)

In fact, it’s because of this blog that we got to be on TV. The show was looking for a group of neighbors who knew each other well and would be interested in having home makeovers — and they found my previous posts about our block parties and chili cook-offs and movie nights. We are a very close-knit neighborhood!

Tune in Monday, April 27th to see it all in action! Oprah is on ABC, Check local listings for showtimes. (Gee, it just doesn’t get old saying that.)

Shopping in Mar Vista: Mechie

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Looking for adorable clothes for your adorable kid? Or how about the coolest toys? Come to Mechie!mechie1

The store is stocked with the latest styles from brands like Rowdy Sprout, Bloomies, and Twirls and Twigs, in sizes ranging from newborn – 8 for girls, newborn – 7 for boys.twirls-and-twigs

It’s a great spot to pick up kid’s party gifts or baby shower gifts, like this basket of goodies any new mom would LOVE to receive!babyshower-gift

In-store events include these keepsake Precious Prints on the 4th Sunday of the month from 10:30am – 1:30pm. The next one is happening this Sunday, April 26th.precious-prints

Located at 12318 Venice Blvd, Mechie is open 7 days a week. 

Oh, and I asked: it’s pronounced Mee-Chee.

Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up

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Today I shopped with Cory Cooperider, who was picking up ingredients for a beautiful vegetable soup.

Cory Cooperider w/KaleShe sautes garlic and onion in the stock pot, then adds veggie stock, about 8 cups, because she’s making enough for the week. To that she adds diced sweet potato, celery and carrots, and if she’s feeling like it, some green beans, too. Then, when the soup is nearly done, she throws big handfuls of chopped kale, chard, and collard greens (any combo will do) on top, seasons with Bragg’s, and adds a can of black beans.

It sounds great — and she says it works even in this warm weather we’re having! Yum!

By the way, Cory also let me know that the market is very generous with carrot tops and leftover greens, which she uses to feed the wild rabbits that live in her yard. As you may remember, we have some wild bunnies living in Mar Vista, and now I know where to get them some food!!carrots

An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Photos courtesy of Chelsea Magdaleno, my neighbor and a fantastic photographer.