The 'Burg

Nicole and I decided to have an adventurous Saturday and got up this morning to spend the day in Blacksburg. Part of my job involves finding out about events that are taking place in the area, but ironically, Nicole usually finds much more interesting things than I do - and she heard about some cool stuff going on in downtown Blacksburg today. And of course, both had a strong emphasis on food.

As the weather begins to warm back up (not that it ever got particularly cold), more farmer's markets are starting open up. The Blacksburg Farmer's Market isn't very big, but it does have a lot of character, community support, and it's in a great location. I'd say there were about 10 merchants with tables, and there might be more vendors once we get farther into the growing season. Also, the market is open on Saturday and Wednesday afternoon, and Wednesday might be a more popular day. However, for a small market, there is a surprising amount of variety in the products offered. There are handmade craft items available as well as fresh produce, meat, cheese, baked goods, coffee, butters and jams, homemade ice cream, and more - even a station where two guys (not five) were grilling burgers and other types of sandwiches. The market is located in the heart of downtown and receives a lot of business from Virginia Tech students and Blacksburg locals. It's really cool to see the college students supporting the local economy and helping area farmers and it gives the market some unique character. Even if it's just for a stroll, spending some time at the Blacksburg Farmer's Market is a fun way to enjoy a Saturday morning.

After hanging out at the market, Nicole and I grabbed some drinks from Starbucks and walked over to the Virginia Tech campus for another fun gathering. A group of student organizations had joined together for the "International Street Fair" - and to be honest, I was stunned at how big this event was. I was expecting to see five or six tents set up with the only people attending the event being the ones who were already involved with the organizations. I was way off. There were probably 25-30 tents set up, each one representing different countries from around the world and serving unique cuisine from that country. The students did a great job representing their countries, serving authentic dishes, dressing in cultural attire, and playing regional music. There were probably a few thousand people that attended the event and I'm sure this was a great fundraiser for many of the campus organizations involved. Nicole and I supported the Vietnamese Student Group (Viet Tech) by enjoying some Shrimp Spring Rolls. I shouldn't have been surprised at the interest and support of the event - the Virginia Tech student body has a strong international presence and a great sense of community. Good for them for embracing their cultural diversity.

We had a lot of fun hanging out in The 'Burg for the day. The weather was great and it felt good to get out and do something different. I also tried a new restaurant and hope to post a review about that later in the week. Now, we just have to be sure not to hang out in Blacksburg so much that we become, as Nicole says, "the creepy older people who hang out at college events but aren't actually in college."