Troy Waterfront Farmers Market (Summer) — Local services in Troy

The Good: I love this market. The vendors are in the same place each week so if you are able-bodied and get around well, you can get what you need and out quickly. Of course we usually spend a couple hours there. They often have very good entertainment. I wish I could do it every weekend. I take my dog sometimes. There are a lot of dogs there but they have good rules about keeping them on short leashes. The Not So Good: There is not adequate parking in the parking garage or street parking. I couldn't find anything special for handicapped drivers on their web site and there is clearly not enough handicapped parking on the street. There has always been a big line to get into the garage with impatient drivers honking, so that has made me steer clear from there. I would love to see a shuttle that takes people from further outside the city center and drops them off at the core (down one of those closed streets). That would make it much easier when I am escorting someone with...

Perhaps I’m biased because I live downtown, but this Farmer’s Market is amazing! Everything from jewelry, clothing, produce, fresh meats, pickles, eggs, coffee/iced coffee, juices... Everything. There’s also live music, and most of the store fronts open up their doors giving a nice indoor to outdoor feel as you walk down the streets.

Other, “bonuses” are that it’s dog friendly, the park right off Front Street that has a water feature for kids, and there is ample seating placed along River Street for family members of all ages who may want to do less walking and more watching.

There is FREE PARKING on Front Street, and if you follow Front Street to the empty lot that’s also free parking. (And I believe the Uncle Sam’s Garage is free on weekends, but...

Farmer's Markets are great and, when it's warmer, it's a great way to spend the morning. The vendors aren't always consistent so it's worth it to go a few times. If you plan on doing your weekly shopping, I haven't had a problem telling the vendors what I had in mind. They will usually attempt to keep that in mind for next week. If you're planning on cooking a specific meal, it's a good idea to plan ahead, get there early, and figure out what are your favorite vendors. I've heard that they're starting to use cards to sell tokens, so you don't have to worry about bringing cash, but I haven't tried it. And I gave it four stars because, during winter, they use the atrium outside CVS and it loses...