I'm realizing there are different vibes Santa Cruz will put on depending on the time and place. The boardwalk vibe is teeming with tassle-topped high schoolers and Bay Area families anxious for a real beach day. The campus is expansive and its murmurs get absorbed by towering groves of redwoods. 

And then the downtown farmer's market is actually bright and uniquely free. 

I think I get overwhelmed sometimes by the liberal angst of the city and the hollow vibe of the university, but visiting the Santa Cruz downtown farmer's market for the first time with my friends Ayaka and Rinko totally unfolded the sunnier side of this town. Located in the parking lot by Cedar and Lincoln every Wednesday, the market blew me away with the neighborliness of the people and the variety of the market produce. In some ways, it seems to represent what Santa Cruzians love the most about themselves: they're down to earth, against the trend, and fantastically creative. 

In particular, I appreciated the balance of produce stands to artisan goods and the well-rounded variety that was available. The participating farms were evenly distributed: some had stone fruits, others had berries, there were varieties of squashes, cauliflowers, tomatoes, and onions, and some had shishito peppers and shiso! 

Of the local eats and goods, I saw a bone broth stand, incredible flower arrangements, drinking chocolate, etc. but the best part was watching Rinko eat her ice cream. Guys, this was literally the second time she had ever had ice cream. In her 2.5 years of life. I've had Penny Ice 3 times in 24 hours! 

Anyway, now that I've visited this market once, I will definitely be back. I came home with some bi-colored corn, juicy heirloom tomatoes, some spinach bulani, a box of strawberries, and some nectarines. There are some things Grocery Outlet just can't give you. 

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