Cross Street Market — Attraction in Baltimore

Where are the veggies and fruit? What happened to the farmers market for this Saturday morning (which fell between May and October) at the Cross Street Market. This Cross Street Market farmers market is talked about by major Baltimore touring organizations, magazines and social media sites. Maybe their publications are outdated. If so, then their announcements should be updated.

At 9:00 this Saturday morning it seemed things were just getting started. There were not many people around and no one could provide any information about a highly-touted farmers market. Well, so much for the fruit and veggie inspection and purchase. At the renovated market, a few shops were open and serving breakfast and coffee, but that was just about it. The place was quiet, I remember the hustle, bustle, laughter and people from the good old days.

The building is nicely renovated. There is a noticeable alignment of shops along the side walls of the interior of the building. There are also easily accessible entrance and exit areas. Artwork and signage on the building is pretty. There is tabled seating outside on the side of the building, but I am not sure if it is general seating or for specific shops. There is limited parking around the building and additional parking within walking distance, but pay close attention to parking signs. There were plenty electric scooters available outside. Because it was early morning there was not much traffic....

Before seeing the Light City festival in Baltimore, we stopped here for dinner. The renovated Cross Street Market reminds me of the Union Market in DC. Gone are most of the vegetable and farm related vendors, now filled with restaurants and bars - although Fenwick Choice Meats remains and is worth the time to buy quality products. I ate at Southside Burger Bar, which had a simple approach to burgers. The burger was a double patty, with toppings of your choice. The burgers weren't over cooked as often happens, just a little bit of pink which I love. The fries were so good my friends kept stealing them. I enjoyed a Sam Adams beer. My wife ate at Sobeachy, Caribbean food. She had chicken thigh dish which was flavorful, tender and delicious. So many other choices depending on your goal, including craft beer stall, the excellent Ceremony coffee, Baltimore's Old Line Spirits have a bar here, try their whiskeys. Next visit I want to try Royal Farms fried chicken and see if it lives up to the hype. Will be curious to see how Cross Street fairs in the...

Cross Street Market has much unrealized potential at the present moment. I remember its bustling past as a market with produce and much less expensive offerings in general. I started at the end on Light Street and surveyed an excellent looking meat stall wishing that I lived closer to take home some of their well-presented offerings. There was a Ceremony coffee shop that was sort of hermetically-sealed off from the rest of the market (as was the Watershed at the far end by Charles Street). I opted for a couple of shrimp tacos at a stand in the main dining area that were excellent! If I get a prompt to review the location specifically I will. The only reason the fifth star is missing is that the place seems incomplete in my opinion and is not as inexpensive as the former market (ah nostalgia). If more stalls fill up, I might revise...