Cupcakes in the Park

As I arrived downtown, the streets where lively.  Set up on the corner by Urban Outfitters was the Old City Buskers band.  They performed tune after tune.  They played dance music and the crowd did not disappoint.  Many bystanders began swing dancing, while others watched and wished they knew how.  I being one of those that was wishing she knew how.

  

Their music actually made me think I was in New Orleans and I LOVE New Orleans.

Not only was it Cupcakes in the Park day, but also Market Square Farmers Market which is held every Saturday, May through November.

Krutch Park event Cupcake in the Park benefits the McNabb Center.  The Helen Ross McNabb center provides behavioral health services in East Tennessee.  Over 2000 people where at attendance in Krutch Park.  Karen and I were part of that group.   

This was Karen's choice for the best cupcake.  They where superb and tasted like those chocolate covered cherries that are very popular at Christmas time.  I believe they where call Chocolate Cherry Drop Cupcakes.  

Seriously, with all these choices, whats a girl to do.  Have one of all you say?  Actually for the price of $5.00 you could taste five mini-cupcakes and there was ten different kinds.   Lets see, I gave the lady $15.00.  Actually I gave her $17.00.  I needed two containers to carry some home for Stone.  There is no way I would have come to this event without bringing some home for him.  So I was able to get fifteen cupcakes.  I did taste a few while there.  I could not resist.  I liked some more than others, but there wasn't a bad one in the bunch.

Look at these. Not only did they taste good, but they were cute too.   

Looks like real apples on top.

Check this out, it's a REAL cake.

 Gigi's Southern Comfort Cupcakes won first place in the judges choice award.

I wonder how many cupcakes each contestant made. 

The event included five celebrity judges:  Johna Easter from Knoxville Magazine; Chief Walter Lambert from WVLT Channel 8; Robin Wilhoit of WBIR Channel 10; Chef Garrett Scanlan, owner of Garrett's Downtown Deli and star of the PGS show "A Fork in the Road."

Spice Maple Mini's

This was called the Drunken Pecan Pie cupcakes.  Apparently I wasn't the only one who liked this one.  At this tent, they told me that a gentleman came back so many times that they told him if he wasn't careful, he was going to get drunk!  I guess he really liked them.  I bet he voted for them.  

These where the French Toast and Bacon cupcakes.  There where two different cupcakes at the park with bacon. I loved them both but these are the ones I voted for.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes.

Karen casting her vote for the best cupcake.  She even purchased twelve of these to take home for her family to enjoy.  Hmmm, I wonder if they made it home.  If they didn't, no one would know would they?

Look at that okra from the Market Square Farmers Market, so pretty and green.   My mama used to cut it up with some onions and green tomatoes, batter it with the cornmeal mixture and fry it up.  You talk about good!  Now that brings back some memories.

It's nearly time… First day of Fall is September 23rd.

These zinnias also remind me of my early childhood.  My mama always planted them.  They would attract these HUGH butterflies that my brother Bob would catch.  He would sneak up on them.  The flowers and the butterflies were so beautiful.

Karen was making her purchases to prepare for dinner.  If it wasn't for the fact that I had plans for the evening, I would have gone to her house for dinner, not that I was invited.  Hey, friends can just show up, can't they?  After we left the Cupcakes in the Park, we strolled through the Farmers Market.  She was able to get everything except her meat there.  She purchased this fabulous boule of garlic infused bread, omg.  It looked so good. I can't wait to hear how it tasted.

 Karen also bought this for her dinner.  The young man said this type of eggplant was more on the sweet side verses its larger version you typically see at the grocery.  

Its alway nice to run into someone you haven't seen in a while.  This is the lovely Miss Emma.  Who knows, maybe one day she will be building your house.

As soon as I entered my home, I plated my treasures and offered some to Stone.  He had no trouble picking out what he wanted.  We then walked over to the neighbors and Sid, like Stone, didn't hesitate.  To bad Cupcakes in the Park is only once a year, but on the other hand, it might be a good thing.  The cupcakes are small, so its easy to tell yourself that you can have many due to their size.  Next thing you know, the cupcake may be small but you aren't.

Various things during my excursion brought back childhood memories today. That alone was worth the trip.