Lawrence Farmers Market and Other Weekend Possibilities

The Lawrence Farmers Market (824 New Hampshire) returns from its winter hibernation this Saturday from 7 to 11 a.m. The market is celebrating its 40th year and it’s a beauty. All of the produce and products are produced within 50 miles of Lawrence and there’s a host of local honey, vegetables, fruit, baked goods. Keep your eye out for kimchi from Bubbly Love, fruit popsicles from Honey Bear Pops, and creme brulee from Torched Goodness. The Saturday market runs through November 19 (after September 3, the hours shift to 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.), while a Tuesday market (4 to 6 p.m.) runs from May 3 through October 25.

For those that like to shop around, the Downtown Lee’s Summit Farmers Market (corner of Second and Douglas) opened earlier this month. It’s open on Wednesday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to sell-out.

A cup of coffee goes best with some good conversation. Get both at Coffee Talk — a new monthly series put on by the Kansas City Artists Coalition (201 Wyandotte Street). This month’s conversation, from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, will focus on international artists and connecting via social media.

Transform your backyard and your herb garden. The Sunrise Project is hosting a transplant sale (1501 Learnard Avenue, Lawrence, Kansas) from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The native and herb plants are grown by Moon on the Meadow and Mellowfields Urban Farms.

It’s the second weekend for the Eat Local + Organic Expo. Meet local farmers, food producers, and discover what it takes to grow your own food. The expo put on by the Kansas City Food Circle is at the Penn Valley campus of Metropolitan Community College (2700 E 18th Street) on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

In new beer news, Crane Brewing Company has released their Grapefruit Gose — think the tang of salt meets tart and sweet citrus — and the Boulevard Brewing Company is out with their Tropical Pale Ale in cans (the bright fruitiness is a Midwest beach drink) and Hibiscus Gose (pink and salty) on tap.

Feel like dining al fresco? Lip Smackin’ at Marken Park (1000 E 27th Avenue, North Kansas City) is back. Food trucks will be pulling up in the public park on the second and fourth Thursday (5 to 9 p.m.), Friday (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and Saturday (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.) of each month through October.

— Jonathan Bender writes about food trends and is the author of “Cookies & Beer” and “Stock, Broth & Bowl”. Follow him on Twitter @jonathanbender.