Weekly Family Fair in Uptown Whittier is the Place to Go for Fun, Food and Shopping

In the summertime, you will often find me on Wednesday evenings in Uptown Whittier, walking up and down Greenleaf Avenue during the Weekly Family Fair.  The street is blocked off and filled with vendors under canopies.  Among them you will find sellers of products such as candles, toys and jewelry, and services such as massage, ear candling and non-profit groups.

This is where I eat my dinner on Wednesdays, fresh from the street vendors.  There are BBQ sausages, chicken and pork for hot dishes.  If you prefer, you can also visit the many farmers' tables to sample fresh fruits and vegetables or buy them and take them home.  If you prefer a sit-down meal, try Crepes & Grapes or Datillo's on Greenleaf Avenue, or mosey over a block to Bright Avenue and try the asparagus at Phlight Restaurant.

The Whittier Uptown Association has published a list of restaurants at http://www.whittieruptown.org/diningguide2004.pdf.

After eating, and visiting with all the vendors, we usually make our way up the street to sample some wine.  Our hosts at Vinatero Wine Shop are owners Ernie and Lisa Ceja, and Eddie, who will always greet you with a smile.  They have expert knowledge about all the wines they serve and sell.  Every day they have a new list of six wines for tasting, at $1.50 per tasting.  I like to start at the top of the list and sample each one of them, going from the light, white wines down to the heavier red wines.  If you are in the mood, you can also have a cheese sampler or finish it all off with a desert wine and a piece of delicious chocolate that is hand-made by local chocolatier, D's Delights. 

There is always something happening in Uptown Whittier, especially in the summertime.  Every Friday you can go to the Certified Farmers' Market from 8 a.m. till 1 p.m. to get all your fresh fruits and vegetables.  Last Friday I bought the most delicious Concord grapes I had had in years.

Note:  I first published this blog last year.  I am reposting it to appear on the new localism site.