QuoteFew things do as much to “build a strong sense of community†as a neighborhood farmers market, says Joy Durst, a landscape architect who is a member of the San Marco Preservation Society board.
Saturday, after several months of planning and preparation, San Marco Preservation will launch Market in the Square in Balis Park.
The farmers market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon. It’ll be small, local and focused entirely on food and plants, Durst said.
It is intended as a “total complement,†not a challenge, to the successful Riverside Arts Market across the river.
full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-09-23/story/farmers_market_to_open_in_san_marco
From coj.net:
Balis Park is located in the middle of The Square at San Marco â€" a commercial district in south Jacksonville. Development of the San Marco subdivision began in 1925, and one of the first commercial structures (completed in early 1927) was a quaint, Spanish-style Gulf service station, in the middle of the Square. Gulf Oil later replaced the station with a modern version, and the City purchased the parcel in 1984 for development as a park â€" which the San Marco Preservation Society and local merchants envisioned as a center piece for the Square. Sheffield and his wife Abla Balis were longtime residents of San Marco, and Mrs. Balis funded the park’s development, in memory of her husband who passed away in 1976. The dedication ceremony took place in January 1988, and later improvements included a sound system, the bronze sculpture Windy Days, and landscaping, which were funded by the estate of Abla Balis and the City.
Now with 90% less of those pesky artsy 5-points types. No longer will you have to wade through a sea of unwashed Riverside residents to buy your produce! :P
"Total compliment" my hoo-haa-two-times-tuesday!
Sorry, someone had to say it.
Exactly.
QuoteI think everyone should be thrilled at the "Green"aspects of the new local market.
Nice spin! Or they could ride their bike across the Acosta and utilize the service of the wonderful and talented (and free!) BikeJax Bike Valet! Green AND good for you.
QuoteNow when we want our produce, the hired help can WALK to get it for us instead of drive to Riverside!
"Yessa Massa! Lemme go getcha vegetables to make ya dinnah!" I'm really sorry it's hard to find a place to park a BMW or Mercedes on a Saturday to go to RAM. I truly hope San Marco FArmers MarKEt (SM FAKE) does well!
Quote from: RiversideLoki on September 28, 2009, 09:28:43 AM
QuoteI think everyone should be thrilled at the "Green"aspects of the new local market.
Nice spin! Or they could ride their bike across the Acosta and utilize the service of the wonderful and talented (and free!) BikeJax Bike Valet! Green AND good for you.
QuoteNow when we want our produce, the hired help can WALK to get it for us instead of drive to Riverside!
"Yessa Massa! Lemme go getcha vegetables to make ya dinnah!" I'm really sorry it's hard to find a place to park a BMW or Mercedes on a Saturday to go to RAM. I truly hope San Marco FArmers MarKEt (SM FAKE) does well!
Don't forget the much larger (over 100 produce and plant spaces) Jacksonville Farmers Market, a 7 day a week, all day, year round, real working farmers market, on West Beaver Street, a mile from Downtown and just 10 minutes from either San Marco or Riverside. And, lots of parking right in front of the vendor stalls, for your BMW or clunker ;) - both can be found there most of the time, side by side.
If you are going to be doing some of the big mall shopping for Christmas the Avenues has incorporated a nice "Green Market" in side the mall on Sundays. Last week it had a good selection of local vendors Growers alliance veggies, crafts, treats and even Fort Caroline Coffee.
Ft. Caroline coffee? How is that even possible, coffee can't grow here.
It doesn't grow at Dunkin Donuts either. It is a brand roasted Downtown named after the original European settlement here.
Alright smartass, I was thrown off a little by the name. Coffee can only be grown in high altitudes in the tropics, about 1,500 to 4,000ft.
You are right and maybe my joke fell a bit shall we say flat.
re: flat jokes - JeffreyS, don't feel like the lone ranger. It seems some days humor will not be tolerated/welcomed in this here town...
JeffreyS, I laughed!
I have yet to visit the San Marco Farmer's Market -- we've been going to the Beaver Street market for years once or twice a month. Yeah, it's not yuppie friendly, but $20 gets you more vegetables than you can carry.
Is the one in San Marco really a farmer's market, or is it more of an "art fair" type of thing?
The San Marco market is pretty much a joke...I walked through it a few weeks back...there were like 4 tables of stuff
Quote from: JeffreyS on November 13, 2009, 10:21:57 AM
You are right and maybe my joke fell a bit shall we say flat.
Or decaffeinated maybe? LOL
Back to Mr. Balis and the gas station - maybe I have my facts skewed, but didn't he own that gas station, and wasn't he robbed/murdered there? I thought I read that eons ago, and that was the reason they built and named the park after him.
Quote from: sandyshoes on November 14, 2009, 11:38:28 AM
Back to Mr. Balis and the gas station - maybe I have my facts skewed, but didn't he own that gas station, and wasn't he robbed/murdered there? I thought I read that eons ago, and that was the reason they built and named the park after him.
After searching the web, I couldn't find any references to indicate that Mr. Balis died of unnatural causes but I have the same impression you do about his demise. Here is the official City version of why the park is named as it is:QuoteBalis Park is located in the middle of The Square at San Marco â€" a commercial district in south Jacksonville. Development of the San Marco subdivision began in 1925, and one of the first commercial structures (completed in early 1927) was a quaint, Spanish-style Gulf service station, in the middle of the Square. Gulf Oil later replaced the station with a modern version, and the City purchased the parcel in 1984 for development as a park â€" which the San Marco Preservation Society and local merchants envisioned as a center piece for the Square. Sheffield and his wife Abla Balis were longtime residents of San Marco, and Mrs. Balis funded the park’s development, in memory of her husband who passed away in 1976. The dedication ceremony took place in January 1988, and later improvements included a sound system, the bronze sculpture Windy Days, and landscaping, which were funded by the estate of Abla Balis and the City.
http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:vAn9bmEI1BAJ:apps2.coj.net/parksinternet/parkdetails.asp%3Fparkid%3D27+abla+balis+jacksonville&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Here is a picture of the gas station where the park is now:(http://www.landonhighschool1956.com/MEMORY%20LANE/Gulf-San-Marco.jpg)
Did you know this tower in Oaklawn Cemetery was also named after the Balis family?
Quote(http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/display/903c7be0-411d-4e25-8b33-d21999c12919.JPG)
The mausoleum is also a tower that is a focal point in this cemetery.
It was built in loving memory of Sheffield H. Balis by his wife, Alba Balis.
Both husband and wife are now interred in this mausoleum.
Sheffield H. Balis - February 14, 1900 - December 6, 1976
Ablis Balis - February 14, 1900 - September 1, 1996
http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM5JXF
Here is another link on Balis:http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19800626&id=cAoLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lFEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3030,7766327
stjr, thank you for the info and photos, I'll check them out.