Buy the Farm

Not a bad one in the bunch

These adjectives rarely combine in Miami, despite our proximity to some of the most fertile farmland in the country. So rejoice, downtown office workers and anybody else who can find his way to Bayfront Park: An excellent farmers market is upon you. Every Thursday until April 4, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the park hosts a mellow market with about ten farm stands — all local, some organic — live music, and tasty lunchables such as schwarma, falafel, burgers, salads and sandwiches.

Blow the cubicle for a while. Get a load of the waterfront, chill under the palm trees, and check out the spread. There's everything from habanero peppers and heirloom tomatoes to orchids, ice cream, and psychedelically beautiful baby eggplants.

During yesterday's produce extravaganza, Tim Schmand, Bayfront's director, strolled the area in his Panama hat, picking up occasional pieces of trash and smoking unfiltered Lucky Strikes. The market is a way to attract some of the 140,000 workers who pour into downtown every day, something special for a mid-day break, Schmand said. "I wanted to do free pony rides for office workers too," he said with a smirk. --Rob Jordan