Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Growth Markets
Besides the farmer's market at the upscale Ferry Building on Tuesdays and
Saturdays (p. 71), there's another popular farmer's market in town, and
this one, by dint of the fact that its overhead is lower, attracts more small-
time vendors. Prices are also drastically lower than those charged at the
tourist-destination Ferry Building. I'm talking about the Civic Center
farmer's market, also known as the
Heart of the City market
(Market
Street at 8th; Wed & Sun 8am-5pm).
Get there early (before 10am) and
try one of the sublime, sugar-dusted efforts from the Belgian waffle cart
($3 each). The owners say they're the only American seller to import their
batter from Europe. Other booths sell fresh-pressed apple cider, affordable
meats and vegetables, and cheeses, all at sensible prices.
Finally, on Thursdays from 11am to 3pm in the
Crocker Galleria
(50
Post St., at Montgomery; no phone; www.shopatgalleria.com; Mon-Fri
10am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm),
in the Financial District shopping mall, a
small farmer's market deals in nuts, fruits, vegetables, cheese, and fish.
Vendors only sell items they raise, catch, or grow themselves. Happily, this
market is not only affordable but also covered, making it a pleasure in any
weather.
cafe in the French style: with lots of reading material and an invitation to stick
around for much longer than might be seemly anywhere else. It stocks dozens of
international publications (some in English), all available to read for free. The
location, right across the street from the Chinatown gate, is an excellent people-
watching corner. The food, also very French, is not quite cheap despite the fact
that it's light fare—onion soup is $8.50, and mains fall around $20. But you don't
have to eat. You can just look at the pretty pictures in the Italian
Vogue
and have
a pastry.
