Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Coos Bay Sights


In Coos Bay farmer's market days are Wednesdays, May through October, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Arrive early if you have your heart set on cranberry walnut bread. We came for fruit and baked goods, to leave a message with a gallery owner for my Mom, to visit "Threads That Bind", a wonderful quilt shop that sits right in the heart of the farmer's market, and to take in whatever sights there might be to enjoy. Sights like a tall sailing ship in the bay, slipping by Commercial Avenue.


Just behind the boys is the gallery where my Mom has jewelry for sale... Bay Moss Studio is a beautiful gallery, with many lovely examples of Oregon art. And those tables you see there are laden with all kinds of breads and nutty, fruity treats. I liked the cranberry-apricot bread I sampled.


And speaking of good food, Alex remembered our visit last year to Foodies Grill and we had to go back. Before I launch into gastronomic praise of Foodies: I am so tickled because when I Googled "Foodies," my recent post about them came up... I am happy to spread the good news about good foods! So, I was wrong about there only being 3 menu items. Did they expand? I dunno, but you can see for yourselves that the menu is small. Do not be dismayed... small menu, big flavor! Oh, I wonder if I can order some of that Blackberry Barbecue Sauce? Savory and sweet, and full of berry delectability. So, half a block up from the farmers market, just across from the fire station, look for a stand (bigger than a bread box, smaller than our minivan) and inside they are cooking delicious food and serving it with smiles and style. Max recommends the freshly blended strawberry coconut lemonade.
I recommend arriving hungry!


Honestly, we could have spent many days seeing sights just in Coos Bay and North Bend, and in the few square blocks where we went to the farmer's market, Threads That Bind quilt shop, Foodies, Bay Moss Studios and Leaf's Treehouse, we were not seeing all of the sights. It would have been fun to spend the afternoon in The Pottery Company, on Anderson Avenue, where we could have painted pottery. I think it could be fun to paint my own teacup and saucer, then turn it in to a bird feeder, like this one I saw in Leaf's Treehouse, "Your this-n-that Store."

In The World article about the reopening of the "Flea Market," the Leaf's said, “(We) live locally, and want to see this historical town noticed in people’s travels." Well, I certainly noticed. Their shop is full of old stuff, cool stuff, funky stuff, and it was a nice place to browse and treasure hunt. I had to bring home some those bird feeders and Maria found an armful of books she could not part with.


And yes this is the same place where we came across the Polish hens I posted about. Maria was so excited to have her picture taken with them. If ever a hen dressed for high tea, it was a Polish hen for sure. You might think I am satisfied with the zoo I have already, but seriously... I regret not bringing these 3 hens home with me. If you know where in So Cal I can get Polish chicks, please don't let me know!

9 comments:

Jennifer said...

Home. I am glad you are home. I am happy that the journey was safe, and that you had good adventures, that you were able to spend time with and help your mom, and that you are home. I like your analogy about unpacking and about sharing the bits and pieces of the trip; I feel like that with Maine -- a suitcase and a bag still to be unpacked, stories still to be told.

I love those adventurous tent dweller stories, the weather changes, the farmers' market, the sense of your journey. keep telling!

Anna Banana said...

Oh those Polish hens. Maybe the namer meant polish hens. They look like they could polish things.

cristina thornburg photography said...

What a fun place to visit. We'll have to take the family someday!

Chris said...

Coos Bay is such a fun place! I've never been there during the Farmer's Market - need to rememdy that! And, I'll be sure to visit Foodies Grill. But then I have to have some geoduck clam fritters too!

Glad you had such a great time!

Missy said...

glad to hear you are safely home...sorry to hear that your trip had to be cut short. I hope Maria is feeling better.

love the Polish Hens....so fancy!

Mama Spark said...

Looks like a wonderful place to visit. I'll have to put it on the bucket List!

Liz said...

Fabulous post! Gorgeous pictures!

nikkipolani said...

Natalie, your descriptions remind me of Ave. Del Mar in San Clemente.

gloria said...

GRACIAS POR TUS BELLAS PALABRAS A MI PAU, NATALIE, GRACIAS ♥

YO QUISIERA ESTAR EN ESE MARKET