A Local Experience: The Farmer's Market

{Photo by Taylor Hudson}

When the normal "grocery store" experience becomes too boring or monotonous for you, try heading to the local Harrisonburg Farmer's Market. You get quality food and a unique shopping experience, you can't go wrong!

Staycation Ratings:

Food: ★★★★★  (Local, fresh, and healthy.)

Price: ★★★☆☆ (A lot of food for a resonable price. However, some vendors can be a bit pricey.)

Uniqueness: ★★★★☆ (Not much different from other farmer's markets, but a great alternative to a grocery store)

Comfort: ★★★☆☆ (The vendors take great interest in their customers, but very busy place)

Overall Experience: ★★★☆☆ (You have to walk around a few times to get the hang of the layout).

What?

{Photo by Taylor Hudson}

Wal-Mart, Martin's and Food Lion just can't live up to the personal and local atmosphere of the Harrisonburg Farmer's Market. The Farmer's Market houses anywhere from 15 to 20 booths, where local vendors set up to sell their products. You an buy everything from quilts, to beeswax lotion, to homemade candles. However, the star of the show truly is the local food options. Local farmers and small businesses love to set up shop in order to promote their unique products. Many of the vendors offer local produce and vegetables, such as organic grown spinach or hand-picker apples. But there is also hand-made cheese, personalized cakes, organic beef, original recipe hot-sauces and organic coffee beans. If you get hungry while walking around, don't fret! The Farmer's Market also offers warm meals such as chicken BBQ or breakfast sandwiches to fill your tummy as you peruse the pavilion.

Why?

Why is the Farmer's Market worthy of your stay-cation experience? For the simple fact that grocery shopping becomes fun. Not only do you get to meet the people that grow your food, you get to bond with people. Conversations are not lacking, and people are always in a good mood, which is surprising for an early morning outing.

Who?

Here is a sample of some of the yummy food vendors that grace the Farmer's Market on a regular basis. However, there are many more, so visit their website to see the full list.

• A Peace of the Earth
• Avalon Acres
• Charis Eco-Farm
• Clover Blossom Farm
• Donuts and More
• Elk Run Farm
• Fine Flours Bakery
• Green Haven Farm Cheeses
• Joe's Sausage

When?

The Farmer's Market usually runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. However, the hours change in between Thanksgiving and April, it only occurs on Saturdays from 9 a.m. until noon (excluding Christmas and New Years).

Where?

The Farmer's Market is located on the edge of Downtown Harrisonburg on South Liberty Street. It is housed in it's own pavilion and offers its own parking lot. If you need a map or directions, visit their website.

My Experience?

My roommate and I visit the Farmer's Market every few weeks, so our trip was not a new experience. However, I clearly remember my first trip being a bit overwhelming. There are so many vendors and a lot of people, so I had to walk around a few times to scan the products and get my bearings straight. But, once you get the hang of it and pinpoint your favorite vendors, the experience becomes much less chaotic and more of a routine.

{Photo by Taylor Hudson}

I have a few favorite vendors. One is the organic grown coffee by Grains of Sense. Their coffee comes directly from coffee farms in different countries; I'm partial to the Guatemalan roast. It's robust and strong, just how I like my coffee

A second favorite is the home-harvested honey from Pure & Simple Farm. They have three types of honey: light, medium and dark. The darker the sweeter, and I absolutely love the medium honey in my daily cup of tea.

And lastly, I love the raspberries from Jerry's Berries. Although berry is over, I couldn't buy any on my excursion on December 1st, but once spring rolls around again, I plan on stocking up on those juicy, fresh raspberries.

I wish that the market could some how plan out vendor location and provide customers with a map. It would make for much less confusion for first time attendees. Most of the vendors of friendly, but some vendors don't talk much due to the fact that they are very busy.

But, overall, I love the food too much to avoid the hustle and bustle.

International Comfort: Earth and Tea Cafe

{Photo courtesy of Earth and Tea Cafe}

Earth and Tea Cafe offers a unique experience: dozens of tea options in the comfort of an authentic Indian-inspired atmosphere.

Staycation Ratings:
Food: ★★★★☆ (Unique teas, but small food menu)
Price: ★★★★★ (Really cheap!)
Uniqueness: ★★★★★ (Not many authentic international restaurants around Harrisonburg.)
Comfort: ★★★★★ (Cozy atmosphere with a Moroccan flare)
Overall Experience: ★★★★☆ (Service can be a little slow)


What?

{Photo by Taylor Hudson}

The Earth and Tea is the only restaurant of its kind in Harrisonburg. It offers an extensive tea menu, as well as small-portioned meals, that give Harrisonburg dining an international Moroccan flare. The tea menu offers everything from light teas, such as rooibos, or heavy teas, such as their Masala Chai. All of the teas are homemade and natural. Each tea is around $3.00 for a small pot, for $5.00 for large if you feel like sharing with a friend. You can sit at table, or relax in one of the many vintage-styled couches that line the walls.

Why? 

Why is this restaurant worthy of your stay-cation? It is one of the few places in Harrisonburg that offer an authentic international experience. Harrisonburg is a diverse area, so you mine as well learn about the cultures you are immersed in everyday.


Who?

If you are a student, this is the perfect place to bring your books and study. Forget about Carrier Library; go to Earth and Tea and relax with a huge pot of tea. But, if you are family, don't hesitate either. They offer many kid friendly options, such as decaf tea, smoothies, and hot chocolate. And, for the parents, they have a beer and wine menu.


When?

Earth and Tea Cafe is open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. every Monday through Saturday, and it is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Sundays. However, it's menu is primarily breakfast and lunch, so plan to go to Earth and Tea Cafe if you are looking for a hefty dinner.


Where?

If you are interested in trying Earth and Tea Cafe, just head to Downtown Harrionsburg. It is located right on South Main Street, next to Cat's Cradle.

My Experience?

{Photo by Taylor Hudson}

I am a huge tea drinker; so imagine my excitement when I opened up the menu. There are over thirty different tea options, and almost all of them are loose-leaf tea. They are brewed on the spot, and given to you in your own personal tea pot; you can the tea pour into your cup as you please.

I tried the Masala Chai. This tea is a bit more expensive than the rest; $4.00 for a small pot. But, it was worth it. The tea is thick and creamy, and has just the right amount of spice for a chai tea. My friend, who tagged along with me on this excursion, decided to purchase a Rooibos Vanilla Cream, and that was equally as tasty. It's light with a small hint of vanilla, which gives it an extra flare compared to most Rooibos teas.

I also decided to try one of the food options, and decided upon the Monte Cristo Sandwich. In short, it's a ham, turkey and swiss sandwich battered in an egg and milk mixture and deep-fried. Anything fried is delicious, but this sandwich didn't even taste like it was friend; which is a good thing! It was so lightly battered and fried that it was still soft (like a sandwich should be), but warm with a little bit of crunch. I'm not a fan of heavily fried foods, so that was a pleasant surprise.

My only critique is the service. Our waiter was kind and polite, but the restaurant was a little understaffed. There were only two employees there, and with about half of the restaurant full, it was hard for them to attend to everyone well.

Harrisonburg for the Holidays

Tis the season for holiday decorations! Unfortunately while our parents are enjoying the smell of a fresh Christmas tree in their living room, our houses smell like stale alcohol covered in febreze air freshener. Okay so maybe not everyone’s house smells bad, (if it does see here) but most college students aren’t enjoying the normal holiday sights they are used to seeing at home.

I like to drive through the neighborhoods in my hometown and judge all the holiday light displays. My house normally wins first place. And that is not because I am biased, my house has the best decorations on the block. Just take a look at the picture, and that’s before my dad finished wrapping all the bushes with lights.

Harrisonburg doesn’t seem to have the same spirit. Though there is one house display in Foxhill Townhomes on Devon lane that has gone all out with its light display. They have JMU written in Christmas lights on their roof. They have clearly won first place in the light display contest that doesn’t actually exist.

Though my roommates and I have plenty of Christmas cheer, neither one of us were going to climb on the roof of our squire townhome. The risks outweighed the rewards. We went with a JMU Christmas theme of course, but no ladders were required. Though I can say proudly, that we have the best decorate house in Squire.

The decorating process started during a much needed study break. My roommates and I decided enough was enough and our house needed to get into the Christmas spirit. It didn’t help that our neighbors, who we like to refer as the “Stoop Kids,” had already placed a string of white Christmas lights on their railings and over their doors. We couldn’t let them win the unofficial Squire decorating contest, the one that only my roommates and I knew existed.

We made our rounds to Wal-Mart and K-mart to get the following supplies:

• 1 strand each of Purple and gold garland ($6 each)
• 1 Gold bow ($5) it is similar to this
• 2 packages of white lights (200 bulbs each)
• 4 stockings (less than $2 each)
• 1 Package each of assorted green and red ornaments ($9)
• 1 roll of red ribbon

Side note: the prices they list online are more expensive than what they are in the store. Everything was marked down, the links are just so you have an idea what I am referring too.

We started by wrapping the tinsel and lights up our railing and around the door. We had to add some tiny nails around our door to hold the lights up, but the holes are so small no one will notice. We then added another strand of lights to wrap around our bush. A task that my father makes look a lot easier than it really is. After the outside was done we moved to spread the Christmas tree indoors. I had brought a Christmas tree and calendar from home so those were technically free. We used the ornaments I had brought from home to decorate the tree and saved the red and green ones for to hang on the walls.

For the walls, we just strung the ornaments one by one until we had enough to stretch across our living room. The ones we had left over, we used to hang from the curtain rod using ribbon. The rooms all became complete when we tied up our stocking. Then the moment of truth came. We plugged in all the lights and just marveled at our holiday spirit.

Decorating our house was exactly what we needed to make the place feel like home. Being away from the holidays is hard enough, but it’s even harder when your house lacks any holiday spirit. It also is something nice to come home to after spending hours studying for finals!

Happy Holidays!

Funky's: We Just Want to Have Fun!

(Photo Courtesy of John Simpson)

Do not fret, I promise I am a trained roller-blading professional, as evidenced by the photograph above. As difficult as it is to believe, I was not always adept on inline skates. 

Sticking to the theme of cost-efficient forms of entertainment in the Harrisonburg area, Funky's grades out just fine. Funky's Skate Center is an indoor skating rink located at 100 Miller Circle, which is off of South Main Street and close to the restaurant El Charro. During the week, Funky's is open on Wednesdays from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Fridays from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. On Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Funky's allows for private rental of their facility for those interested. On Saturdays, Funky's has varying hours and special events throughout the day. Sundays has open hours hours from 1 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Rates for admission range from two dollars to seven dollars, depending on the day of the week and event taking place. Skate rentals are one dollar for regular skates and three dollars for a pair of fancy inline skates. If you are feeling lucky and skillful, pick the latter of the two!

Enough monotonous operational information, where does the fun begin? Straight ahead, but make sure you turn in time!

(Photo Courtesy of John Simpson)

The main rink within the building is in the shape of an oval, similar to many NASCAR tracks. Skaters are free to go at their own pace and can rest their legs on seats placed around the hardwood skating floor. Skating really is an art of sorts. There are many Harrisonburg locals who frequent Funky's and when they move around the rink, their legs swoop back and forth with a tremendous amount of agility and precision. On the other hand, there are many JMU students who attend and do not look as graceful on moving wheels.

Funky's provides a fun and low-cost option for people visiting the area, Harrisonburg locals and JMU students. It hosts special events of different varieties. These include roller derby tournaments, birthday parties and concerts. We The Kings, a pop-punk band from Florida, was featured in 2009 with a concert that took place at Funky's. 

Ding ding ding, we have a clear-cut winner! Special events, good times with friends and a snack bar, sounds like a perfect college hang out spot. But concerts featuring big name bands? You can call that the epitome of an added bonus.

(Photo Courtesy of Funky's website)

Funky's receives an A in my book. They are very people friendly, customer service is over the top, and the atmosphere suits individuals of all ages. 

JMU students should be spending time at Funky's on Friday and Saturday nights as there is nothing else in the area like it.

Puppy Farm: A brightened day is only 20 minutes away!

(Photo courtesy of John Simpson)

Cute? Cute?! You can't handle the cuteness! The photo above shows roughly nine fuzzballs doing their best to keep warm while taking a snooze.

Tugging at shoe strings, house-training and excessive amounts of drool are terms used to categorize puppies. At one location 20 minutes from campus, however, a whole lot of lovin' between humans and puppies occurs on a daily basis. Puppies, you say? Yes, there is currently one litter yearning to be played with and fed human attention. Gap View Ranch & Kennel (known by locals as the Puppy farm) hosts numerous visitors throughout the year, and an influx of JMU students has boosted its popularity exponentially. It is open from 12 to 6 on weekdays for any and all visitors. But there has to be a catch, right? You cannot simply go to a farm and play with golden retriever puppies all day, can you? Of course you can, and donating one dollar upon arrival is your ticket to infinite joy and happiness.

Facebook profiles of JMU students have been blowing up recently with pictures of these golden retriever pups. Friends, sorority sisters and organizations are flocking to this petting zoo of sorts. There are a number of pens and enclosures that house the golden retrievers, large and small. However, all of the "eeks" and squealing result from cuddling, playing and laughing with the puppies. A majority of the visitors to the Puppy farm are college girls, but what about us guys? Why would we want to go?

The answer is actually quite simple, and it is two-sided. The Puppy farm provides an ideal location for guys trying to score some brownie points with their significant other. Many girls would be ecstatic if their guy friends/boyfriends invited them along to play with puppies for an afternoon. Also, think about it guys, one of these young canines could become your own "man's best friend." 

(Photo courtesy of John Simpson)

Truth is, I would love to adopt one of these two! However, JMU students (myself included) who live off-campus must pay a monthly fee to have a pet. Not to mention, the puppies up for adoption at the Puppy farm are not cheap. Prices were not disclosed, but word on the street is that the price range is not accommodating for college students. Oh well, we can still play with them on a college budget, no sweat. What about non-JMU students, they need a reason to come too.

If puppies are not a big enough draw, the Puppy farm has a wide variety of animals to see. There are peacocks, ducks, geese, turkeys, and even a large bull who welcomes you at the entrance. (Disclaimer: it appears to be a cow or bull, do not take my word for it!) There is also a talking parrot inside the stable where newborn puppies are held. Be careful though, he says random phrases that will startle you. Yes, I promise that there are no talking dogs at the kennel.

(Photo courtesy of John Simpson)

The Puppy far provides a cost-efficient place for people to have fun during the week. For students, frolicking with puppies equals stress relief. As for families visiting the area, it provides a unique experience in the entertainment department.

Girl or guy, JMU student or Harrisonburg visitor, the Puppy farm offers a wide variety of playful options for all ages. However, JMU students MUST CALL AHEAD OF TIME AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO VISIT. If you are interested in adoption with Gap View Ranch & Kennel, visit their contact page or call them at 540-896-7327.  

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

When I think of fall I think: PUMPKIN EVERYTHING. Restaurants all around town bring out their signs that say “Pumpkin (insert food or drink) is here!” My personal favorite is Pumpkin Spice Lattes but I also have a major sweet tooth for baked goods.

I consider myself a baker, not a cook, a baker. I like to bake cookies, cakes and pies, I leave the other food groups to my roommates. My most recent experiment was pumpkin spice cupcakes. I found the recipe on pinterest, which is where I seem to be getting all my baking ideas from lately. I scrolled through my options and found what appears to be the easiest option. 

Besides the basic cookies supplies that you’ll need (spoon, cupcake tins, measuring spoons), you will also need the following ingredients:

• 1 Package Yellow Cake Mix
• 1/2 c. Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 c. vegetable oil
• 1 can pumpkin (15 oz.)
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tub Cream Cheese Frosting

When I went the grocery store was in the process of setting up its holiday displays, but by now you should be able to find everything in one place. You should see a huge mound with some sort of cornucopia décor, that’s your target.

I will admit the spices were a bit pricey, but I plan on making this recipe more than once, so the cost will eventually even out.

Once you get home put on your favorite holiday tunes and get ready to bake. 

• First Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
• Then get your baking tins prepared and line then with cupcake liners.
• In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, sugar, vegetable oil, vanilla, pumpkin, water, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and eggs.   
• Beat until well blended.  Transfer to the cake pans.
• Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 min.  or until it springs back to the touch.

 I personally stick to the toothpick method. Poke your cupcake with a tooth pick and if it comes out without batter sticking to it when you pull it out, then the cupcakes are ready.  

• For the finishing touch, frost with your favorite cream cheese frosting.

Just a tip for icing your cupcakes: use a Ziploc bag as if it was a piping bag. Just turn it inside out and then scoop out the icing as if you were wearing the bag as a glove. Then turn the bag right side out. Zip it shut. And then snip a small hole in the corner. You now have a homemade piping bag, that will make your cupcakes look like you spent more time on them than you actually did.