A jar of peanut butter started it. John Smolen told Community Impact that he was making his kids sandwiches from an H-E-B delivery order when he saw the peanut butter had about 14 ingredients. "I was like peanut butter should have one ingredient: peanuts," he said. Smolen had lived in London and New York, where a local market was always about 10 minutes away on foot, and he missed having one close by.
That market is now the Zilker Farmers Market. Its first date was set for Sunday, Oct. 18, in the teacher parking lot at Zilker Elementary, 1900 Bluebonnet Lane, near Little Zilker Park. After that debut, it meets once a month on the second Sunday, and the first of those is Sunday, Nov. 8. The market is planned around the 10-minute walk Smolen remembered, and that shapes how a Zilker morning on market day works best.
Built for the walk over
The rules on the market's official site suit people who live a few blocks away. Parking is free street parking, with a request to "respect the neighbors." There are bike racks in front of the school, and shoppers are asked to keep the sidewalk and market areas clear. Leashed dogs are welcome to shop. Community Impact adds that strollers are welcome and that admission is free.
Because the market sits on an AISD campus, school rules apply. There's no smoking, alcohol or weapons, and the market also bans political campaigning.
Here's the short version for Nov. 8:
- Where: Zilker Elementary teacher parking lot, 1900 Bluebonnet Lane
- When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine
- Getting there: on foot, by bike to the racks out front, or by car using free street parking
- Paying: most vendors take cards, but a few are cash-only, so bring some bills
- Dogs: leashed dogs are welcome
The site also says to "arrive early for the best selection." That matters more at a monthly market than a weekly one. If a farm sells out of eggs, the next chance to buy them here is a month away.
A month between markets changes the shopping list
A weekly market lets you buy for a few days and come back. A once-a-month market works better when you think in two kinds of purchases: fresh produce for the week, plus things that keep until the next second Sunday. The vendor list covers both.
The market lists 18 vendors in two groups.
Farmers and ranchers: 2x4 Farms, Bali Family Farm, Goatilicious, Hurry Home Farm, Margaret's Farm, Plot Plant Co., Runamuckas Flower Farm and Vaquero Veggies ATX.
Locally prepared foods: Austin Jam Company, Banana Betty, CTRUS, Desnudo Coffee, Feliza's Bakery, Kurty's Cookies, Sourbros Baking, The Greek Bar, Two Sisters Kimchi and YAPA Empanadas.
Community Impact describes the offerings as seasonal produce, eggs, dairy, meat and honey, along with coffee, sourdough, jams, pastries and prepared meals. Jam and kimchi keep well, so they're good things to stock up on. Bread and cut flowers from Runamuckas are for the week. Desnudo Coffee is on the list for the walk around the lot.
According to the market's website, vendors are chosen from feedback in its Community Interest Survey. That means the lineup is still taking shape, and neighbors can nominate a vendor or a musician through the same survey.
The music runs on a schedule, too
The market describes its live music as low-volume and family-friendly, usually played in two sets. Evan Charles was booked for the Oct. 18 opener, and Sahara Smith is booked for Nov. 8.
| Time on Nov. 8 | What's happening |
|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Market opens; best selection |
| About 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. | First music set, Sahara Smith |
| About 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. | Break between sets |
| About 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. | Second music set |
| 2:00 p.m. | Market closes |
The table gives the morning a natural plan. Shop first, while the farm tables are full, then stay for the first set. Another option is to come late for the second set and accept whatever produce is left.
Who runs it, and where the money goes
The market isn't a commercial operation. The website calls it a Texas Department of Agriculture Certified Farmers Market run by a nonprofit corporation with an all-volunteer board that is seeking 501(c)(3) recognition from the IRS. Community Impact reports that founder Smolen leads it along with board members JD Leonard, Emma Catlett, Kim Lippy, Marissa Vetter, Martee Hathorn and Garret Nick.
The school connection goes beyond the parking lot. Community Impact reports that representatives from Partners for Education, Agriculture, and Sustainability and Zilker Elementary will be on-site to share sustainability education programs. It also reports that any excess market proceeds will go to the Zilker PTA. The market's site lists first-year needs of $10,000 or more and is asking for volunteers and donations through its survey.
"Our goal is that we're setting up for a prolonged sustainable market and then anything in surplus will benefit the school and the community," Smolen told Community Impact.
After the market: what's new close by
A morning at the market leaves the rest of the day open, and several places near Zilker have opened or changed this fall.
Coffee among vintage cars. Alloy Autohaus at 2706 S. Lamar Blvd. combines a vintage-car showroom with an antique shop and a coffee bar from Second Wind Coffee Co. Community Impact reported that it soft-opened Sept. 5 and held its grand opening Sept. 19.
A sandwich stop on South Lamar. Mendocino Farms opened Sept. 22 at 1100 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 1125. It serves specialty sandwiches, salads, wraps and soups.
Spanish tapas on Josephine Street. Casa Fina has moved into the former House Wine space at 408 Josephine St. near Zilker Park. Chef Erind Halilaj of Il Brutto and operating partner Charity Sadoy are behind it, and Community Impact reports a menu of seafood tapas, paella, Spanish wines and cocktails, served indoors and on a new patio. Reservations opened Oct. 8, but its OpenTable page still showed "Opening Soon!" in mid-October. Check the restaurant's site before you plan a night there. The online menu includes salt cod croquetas, mussels with chorizo, arroz negro, lamb shank confit and pistachio tiramisu. Its OpenTable listing shows dinner Monday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 11 p.m., with happy hour on weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m. That puts it on a different day than a Sunday market, so it's a separate outing.
Handrolls in a new home. Little Nishi closed its South Congress trailer on Oct. 1 to move into its first full restaurant, Nishi, at 2000 Southern Oaks Drive. Community Impact reported an Oct. 15 opening date, and the menu centers on handrolls, sashimi and appetizers such as roasted chili edamame. Check the Little Nishi site for hours before you go.
On pause on South Congress. Perla's at 1400 S. Congress Ave. closed temporarily after a kitchen fire on Sept. 6. The restaurant's site says a reopening date will be announced as soon as possible.
Coming later on South Lamar
More is on the way at The Code, 2323 S. Lamar Blvd. Community Impact lists a Manhattan Cowgirl flagship store with a custom cowboy-hat-making experience, expected this fall. It also lists Pure Sweat + Float Studio, with infrared saunas, cold plunges and float therapy, and ISI Elite Training, which offers 50-minute strength and conditioning workouts. Both are expected this winter. Bartlett's has a second location planned at 301 W. Riverside Drive. A state filing estimates construction will start in early 2027.
Put the market dates on your calendar now. After Nov. 8, the second-Sunday rule makes Dec. 13 the next market, though the market's site doesn't list that date separately yet. The market's homepage shows a running count of neighbors going to the next market, and you can add yourself on the RSVP page.
If a market you can walk to is part of what you want from your next home, AZTX Realty Group can show you which Zilker and South Lamar streets are within walking distance of Bluebonnet Lane and what homes on those blocks cost right now. Book a Consult and bring your second-Sunday route with you.
