Today is the last Saturday in June. I have adored it most of my adult life.
The Mermaid Day parade was today in Coney Island, Brooklyn. The first year I went men rode in tiny cars with bald heads capped with red fez's and black tassels. The next year I painted myself with fishes of white theater paint and took pictures of mermaids my mother's age, finishing the day with raw clams and pistachio soft-serve. I still have a poster I painstakingly peeled off a wall on 8th street in 1986.
I joined the Coney Island Hysterical Society, hung out at the museum, bought every T shirt, signed up and became a Coney-O-Phile.
And then I moved to California and the last weekend in June was all about being queer. People I hadn't seen in years showed up and I learned what everyone knows about "Pride." 100,000 people everywhere & you always run into your ex.
The last few years I have made a custom out of going to the the farmer's market in
the morning and heading to Dolores Park in the afternoon. Both are powerful, fill me up, excite, inspire, satiate.
The market was bittersweet for me today. I need to leave Ca. for an unknown quantity of time and I wanted to fill my kitchen with our incredible summer bounty, share with friends my favorite farmers' fruits and veggies, savor a tiny taste of the season I like best in the Bay Area.
Star Route's tendersweet spotted lettuces, jellies and jams, Andante Dairy cheese, Knoll's Black Mission figs and succulent Santa Rosa plums, Swanton strawberries, Della Fattoria's deeply rich brioche, Blossom Bluff's perfect peaches & nectarines, Happy Quail Farms' rare Myago and the most incredible capsicum discovery of 2005: PIMIENTOS DE PADRON, a cute dimple sized green pepper.
Having forgotten to bring my camera to The Ferry Building, I set up still life with produce displayed in some of my favorite dishes.
What I couldn't pay for or capture on film--- hugs, kisses, support and love from 
my extended farm family. Great food and life talk with M. and us both sporting the handsome, suave and debonair night sky navy blue e g g b e a t e r T shirt. A spot-on lunch at Out The Door, great conversation with one of the the innovative owners of Besos Foods, the palpable energy of the summer in full swing, and my forlorn face when I found out that all of Short Night's heirloom okra had sold out.
It's no secret I have my favorite farms but moreover, farmers. {I often give what my friend H.R.L. refers to as "The Shuna's Favorites Tour." It's free but not of opinions.} Those of us who have had the privilege of working for some of the tables joke that we do it to bring home the best stuff from the market. The money is good but the community is better. I give back when I can because the gifts given to me are priceless and innumerable.
I go to farmers markets, more often than not, with no menu or recipe in mind. I come home, usually with too much, and eat in a peculiar manner. Friends affectionately refer to it as 'picnic-style,' but indoors.
If you haven't made time for your local farmer's market this season, wait no longer! Mouth adventures, relationships un-earthed, lazy summer meals await you.
..
Hi Shuna.....there is 'something' about that peach photo. Can't figure out what it is...
Great post! Wonderful photos!
(I do want a T-Shirt! Where can I buy?)
Posted by: Melissa | 26 June 2005 at 12:45 PM
Peaches and plums* and figs, oh my!
(or is it pluots?)
Will you still be teaching Summer Fruit Yumminess at Surly Table in Los Gatos or do you need to leave, like, NOW?
(safe journeys in either case)
Posted by: Charlotte | 26 June 2005 at 09:11 PM
Hey, what's with that photo of the Della Fattoria bread? Are you trying to make me homesick? (I love their bread...)
Posted by: David Lebovitz | 27 June 2005 at 12:12 PM
Don't know whether you're off post haste, but hope you can stay in touch with this part of the world while you are somewhere else.
I wrote you earlier (personally) about comfort in these situations, and one comfort is keeping the words coming and sharing our life -- no matter how much it compresses at times -- with others.
Stay well. Courage!
Posted by: Kudzu | 27 June 2005 at 11:58 PM
Hey Shuna,
Sorry to hear you're setting out. It has to be done though, so put on your boots of courage and do well. We're pullin' for ya!
Biggles
Posted by: Dr. Biggles | 28 June 2005 at 02:31 PM
all I have to say is I'm wearing that exquisite e g g b e a t e r T shirt now, and I look Fabulous! I'm really happy Shuna is in NYC and I am trying to convince him to move back here...
Shuna has only been here for a short time, & my diet is better. Also I had never been to Sullivan Street Bakery, even though I grew up on Greenwich Village!
Posted by: Irene | 01 July 2005 at 01:07 AM
LOL our favorite meal is what we call a "picnic," though it's always eaten indoors, usually after a long day when there's no time to cook. Hot, crusty homemade bread, assorted meats, cheeses, and whatever bounty is in the garden. Visitors are confused when we say we're having a picnic for dinner--until it's served. It's on the menu tonight as we will be putting up hay until very late. But first I need to bake the sourdough onion rye. Better stop blogging, and get clomping. Always love your posts. Thanks for sharing so much wonderful information.
P.S. $21 for a salad? Yikes! You should have come to the midwest! All-you-can eat-fried-everything for $5.95. :)
Posted by: farmgirl | 03 July 2005 at 09:28 AM