Weekend Fun: Meet Me on Market

59°f/15°C, partly cloudy.

Parkersburg Actors Guild, performing selections from their current musical, Oliver.

With beautiful weather on tap, we played hooky on grass and gardens and went gadding about.  I figure it will be too hot soon for us to enjoy festivals and such, so better have some fun before the heat arrives.

The terrible storms we were told to brace for actually went south of us Friday night. Early that evening we drove upiver to Parkersburg for their first ever "Meet Me on Market", a sip-and-stroll event on downtown Market Street. Businesses normally closed at 5 stayed open and offered specials, and there were arts and crafts for kids, street performances by the local actors guild, live music, food trucks and so on.

Entrance to the United Bank building on Market is a shiny delight in gold mosaic tile.

I was especially interested in the tour being offered by the historic Blennerhassett Hotel, so we went there first. 

It turned out to be about a half-mile walk from where we parked,  not bad but the heat and humidity didn't make it too pleasant.  And when we got there? No tour, no drink specials as advertised by the event's Facebook page, and clueless staff. Tours, they said, only happened at 4 pm and the drinks special ended at 5, when the event actually started. But they were gracious and friendly, and offered the drink special anyway, which was gratefully received after our walk!

We then went to the new Resilience Center, where hotel staff told us the Vet Center was now located, and that there were tours of this new facility. A further block or two and we arrived to find the place seemingly empty,  but soon a young lady came from the building's nether regions with a tour group. But no, the Vet Center was not there, it was uptown! She took was very gracious, and gave us a lovely hardback book of Parkersburg 's history, and we had a nice chat with her.

A mural I spotted as we walked. I need to go back for a better photo. I had never noticed this one before.

We passed the Wood county courthouse as we walked. I believe it was built around 1899.

Then the long, uphill hike back uptown! Things were hopping! Lots of people were enjoying the beautiful evening, restaurants were busy and streetwise tables were full. A bookstore had a book launch, and the atmosphere was festive and upbeat. 

Inside the book store, a cozy seating area.

Beautiful laurel in front of the Catholic Church.

This place is called Wine Down on Market. Next time I want to go there; we usually go to the brewery because Larry prefers beer, but it's time I had a turn 😊 and he can have ice watering! I like the outdoor seating.

Music, vendors and food had many customers.

We stopped at the Parkersburg Brewery where Larry had another beer and I enjoyed a tall ice water. A table full of young Asian men in the center of the brewery seemed to be having a good time. (in our area, that is not a common sight. Our diversity is woefully non- diverse.) An older man approached them and then began a lively conversation as they asked about places of interest and he offered suggestions and they made notes on their phones.

Saturday's event setup for "A Taste of Parkersburg".  They expect a big crowd, but we had other plans, so maybe next year we will give this a try.

Another Meet Me on Market is planned in June, and we may go back to see how it improves. I have a feeling the town is on to a good thing. 

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.