Maggi sang at the Whistle Stop Market on Saturday, September 29, 2012. Her renditions of modern classics and show tunes entertained Whistle Stop shoppers. Thanks Maggi for sharing your talent and beautiful voice.

Maggi is the lead vocalist for North Platte’s Premiere Irish band the Flat Rock Irregulars.

Stu Meesenburg performed at the Market on Saturday, August 25, 2012. Stu entertained shoppers with folk, Irish, and Rock tunes.

The Market continues to offer a variety of vendors including vegetables, art work, jams and beef from the Sandhill Ranchers Beef Company. If you haven’t tried the beef from the Sandhill Ranchers Beef Company you owe it to yourself to give it a try. The beef is usually available at the Market beginning a round 10:30 a.m.. If you’d like to pre-order your meat visit their web site at www.sandhillranchersbeef.com and pick it up on Saturday at the Market.

Saturday, September 1, 2012 the Market will feature an Open Mic. If you have a song to sing, a story to tell, or a poem to share come to the Market on Saturday between 8:00 a.m. and 1 p.m. and take to the mic. A good way to spend a Saturday. If you are not inclined, come and listen for a while and have a cup of coffee.

Attendees who “bring your own bag” will be entered in a drawing to win a Husker-themed tote bag filled with goodies at the Whistle Stop Outdoor Market on Saturday at Garden Glove Garden Center, 1800 E. 12^th Street.

The market, which is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., will feature live music by Stu Meesenburg.  And, just for the fun of it, attendees can compete in a hula hoop contest with the winner being announced at noon.

At the outdoor market, vendors will be selling fresh produce, home-made baked goods and a variety of hand-crafted items. Nebraska-raised meats provided by Sandhill Ranchers will be on sale around 10:30 a.m.

If you have questions, contact Hope Hunt, 308 2212015 or Ann Milton, 308 660 3845. The weekly event is a non-profit project sponsored by the Original Town Association and Garden Glove Garden Center.

Country music fans can enjoy the talent of local musician Ray Mullen who will play guitar and sing during his performance at the Whistle Stop Outdoor Market on Saturday at Garden Glove Garden Center, 1800 E. 12^th Street.

During the market, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., attendees can enjoy coffee and muffins while listening to the music or browsing among numerous vendor booths. This week, the market’s ever expanding array of garden produce will include Colorado peaches and cantaloupe.

To learn more, contact Hope Hunt, 308 221-2015 or info@whistlestipmarket.com This weekly community gathering is sponsored by the Original Town Association and Garden Glove Garden Center.

The market is a magical and mystical place… where one can appreciate the creativity of others and be inspired to realize their own hidden talents. The music of local artists sets the tone, gets us into the rhythm of relaxing and being invigorated at the same time.

The setting with live flowers, gravel paths and the sunlight streaming through the trees returns us to the serenity of nature in a place that celebrates the many ways individuals express their creativity and then have the courage to market their wares.

The beat goes on at Whistle Stop with Latin Jam

Each Saturday, the Whistle Stop Outdoor Market offers a new experience in entertainment and creativity.

This week, Latin Jam, a local seven-piece band, that includes a drum, three guitars, saxophone and two keyboards, will provide a lively musical fest at the market located at the Garden Glove Garden Center, 1800 E. 12^th Street.

Among the more than 35 vendors have signed up to display a variety of wares are:

• Glass Painter Sandra Baumgartner, who uses an “alcohol paint” technique that she learned from the internet. Although she’s only been creating her art for a few months, she’s quickly gotten the knack and has numerous pieces. She’s also willing to “reface your vase” in whatever colors you want.
• Crafter Jessica Martinez, who initially started by creating colorful bibs and unusual “crinkle toys” for babies, has expanded to include handmade tote bags, pillowcase dresses for little girls other fun items.
• Among the many great bakers, is Lisa Girard who creates buttermilk and blueberry coffee cakes, cinnamon rolls and other baked items. Other choices at the market include yummy jams and jellies, candies, homemade tortillas, salsas, tamales and burritos.
• At his booth, Tim O’Neill, a local artist who sells his work internationally, offers prints of his works and demonstrates his silk screen painting skills.
• And, of course, the variety of fresh produce keeps getting more abundant.

Another special feature this week is a drawing for a $40 gift certificate from the Sandhills Ranchers Beef Company   that markets locally-raised beef with no artificial hormones or animal by-products.

The market, which is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., provides coffee and rolls with seating provided. Attendees also area invited to bring their own lawn chairs.

The market is an opportunity for area musicians, artists, writers, and crafters to showcase their talent and wares as well as a way for individuals and organizations to sell approved items and promote fundraising projects. To learn more about getting involved, contact Hope Hunt, 308 221-2015. Visit the website at whistlestopmarket.com.

The Whistle Stop Outdoor Market is a non-profit project sponsored by the Original Town Association and Garden Glove Garden Center.

Keyboard artist to entertain at Whistle Stop on July 28

Sue Elmshauser, that smiling gal who often plays the keyboard at A to Z’s Open Mic Night, will provide this week’s entertainment at the Whistle Stop Outdoor Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Garden Glove Garden Center, 1800 E. 12^th Street. Sue plays songs just about everyone knows and loves.

The Whistle Stop Outdoor Market offers a different experience every week.

In addition to a wide variety of garden produce and baked goods, the market includes numerous craft booths, including photography, decorated gourds, glass art, necklaces, garden art, Mexican blankets, rag rugs, homemade soaps, leather work, books, woodcarvings and wooden bowls

Coffee and rolls are available with some seating provided. Attendees also invited to bring their own lawn chairs.

The market is an opportunity for area musicians, artists, writers, and crafters to showcase their talent and wares as well as a way for individuals and organizations to sell approved items and promote fundraising projects. To learn more about getting involved, contact Hope Hunt, 308 221-1057.

The Whistle Stop Outdoor Market is a non-profit project sponsored by the Original Town Association and Garden Glove Garden Center.

As with any project, there are a lot more people responsible for its success than the person who gets her name in the paper.

Credit for the idea and the means to carry out Whistle Stop Market goes to Penny Billingsley who owns Garden Glove. She donates the enchanting setting and allows her beautiful greenhouse area to be overrun every Saturday.

Judy Oliver, Hope Hunt, Rose Mary Buhrman and Morgan Greenwood are co-chairwomen of the committee. They give freely of their time and energy to organize, as well as birthing wild ideas and making dreams happen. Judy and her mother Marcy also make sure there is plenty to eat and coffee to drink. (If you haven’t had Marcy’s banana bread you are missing a delicious treat.)

The Do It Center supplies tables and chairs, duct tape and extension cords — items the need of which was not even realized until the market was underway.

Dozens of musicians have donated their time and created the harmonic atmosphere that makes it so pleasant to shop or hang out and have coffee.

And the vendors! No market would be complete without people willing to set up and break down a booth every week — an enormous undertaking with no guarantee that baking in the sun for hours will even be profitable.

Whistle Stop Market is another splendid Original Town Association venture. Thanks to that organization the Garden Glove, and all the people involved, North Platte is enjoying another way to celebrate creativity and community.

Saturdays — 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Garden Glove Garden Center,
1800 E. 12th St., North Platte