Woo hoo! Sunday adventure!
If you've never been into Hollywood, it is...well...an amazingly historic, touristy, beautiful mess. The name alone invokes visions of stars on a sidewalk and those in real life walking into grand cinematic openings. Theaters, shops, restaurants, hotels - there's a ton of history in each square block; everyplace has a story. However, the streets are almost always packed with tourists, and traffic can be an absolute nightmare. So for as excited as I was to check out the farmers market, I decided it was in my best interest to forego the car, save myself a headache, and utilize the L A Metro system.
Woo hoo! Double adventure!
Similar to subway systems in other cities, the Metro is just as easy to negotiate and utilize. A one-day pass gave me the freedom to jump on and off the trains as much as I liked, wherever I liked, and explore the city all day long.
Some of the stations were more customized than others. But I definitely knew I had entered the heart of movieland when I reached the station at Hollywood and Vine.
Isn't that awesome?? The movie reels cover the entire ceiling of the Metro station...there are old movie projectors on display and artwork incorporated in the tiles on the wall. I easily spent an extra 10 minutes lingering the hallways of the Metro station just looking around.
Eventually I emerged at street level and walked the block and half over towards Selma and Ivar, where the Hollywood Farmers Market sets up shop.
And what a shop it is! From the center, the vendors stretch out down all four directions of the intersection - and the tents line the streets for 2 - 3 blocks each way! There are tables filled with gorgeous, fresh fruits and vegetables:
Everything from in-season veggies you'd expect to find:
To foods you didn't even know you needed:
These are lobster mushrooms from the LA FungHi booth. I stopped because they were not only the strangest mushrooms I'd ever seen, but also the most vibrant! When I asked why they were called Lobster Mushrooms, the gentleman at the table suggested I pick one up and smell it. Sure enough - the mushroom smelled like....lobster!! Really and truly - they smelled of salty, briny seawater. Apparently lobster mushrooms can be found in Northern California and Oregon and can be used as a substitute for seafood in dishes for those who just can't bear to drop a lobster in a pot to boil. I had no idea what in the world I would ever use a lobster mushroom for, but they were definitely interesting.
Continue walking along the streets and you'll find entertainment down each section of the market:
And vendors selling their goods:
This is Hattie, and she makes the tastiest pickles ever!! Starting with a recipe that she learned from her Grandmother, Hattie crafted and created recipes of her own and started up a business. She sells at local farmers markets and events and online HERE! Personally, I couldn't pass up the Vampire Slayers...garlic dill pickles that have just the right blend of tart and tang!
And just in time for National Pickle Day!!! Perfect!!!
Now I foolishly showed up to the market with no bag in hand. Truth be told, I wasn't actually expecting to buy anything! But the pickles started a landslide of shopping that left me with hands full and pocket empty. Luckily, the information booth at the market had a "Take a bag, leave a bag" box set up which helped greatly - because by the time I started my walk back to the Metro station, I was armed with everything from pickles and almonds to ingredients for a variety of suppers later this week (hmmm....maybe one of those recipes will pop up in a post shortly down the road....). The bag also helped keep everything together, because the train was pulling into the station just as I was walking in. After a mad dash down the stairs, I was able to slip into a seat just as the doors closed behind me. Phew! All I had left to do was sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride back home.
And wouldn't you know it...just as the train started zooming its way to the next stop, I came up with an idea for those lobster mushrooms.
Oh well....guess that just means I'll have to go back next week.
Woo hoo! Repeat adventure!!
