Vendors

As the sounds of Latin music filled the Timonium Fairgrounds, Efren Perez and his workers helped fill the bellies of hungry festival-goers with tenderly grilled flank steak cooked at his vendor booth. The 37-year-old owns a Colombian restaurant, Rancho Mateo, in Paterson, N.J., and, on weekends, looks to make extra money by serving food at Latin festivals. This year, he added Baltimore County to his itinerary, where he served food as part of the first Maryland Latin Festival. "It's a big community," Perez said as he looked around at the vendors representing other Latin American countries.

Cars pulled off Ruxton Road, one after another Monday morning, almost as soon as the first crates of fruits and vegetables were unloaded from the large white truck parked on the shoulder. At the roadside market operated by Hampstead-based Misty Valley Farm, under the shade of a tent, customers filled brown paper bags with tomatoes, peaches, squash and melons. They selected ears of white corn from a pile in the open back of the truck. "I've never gotten a bad piece of fruit," said Megan Kelly of Towson, who stops at the Ruxton stand several times a week, even after work when more than a dozen cars can be lined up on the roadside.

The reopening of Annapolis' Market House, set for October, is likely to be delayed. "It may not be Oct. 1, so I may be walking the plank after all," said Mayor Joshua Cohen. He had vowed to take a plunge into the harbor if the historic building at City Dock wasn't refurbished and reopened with new vendors by then. The state bond funding that was authorized in 2011 for renovations added the Maryland Historical Trust as a holder of the historic easement on the Market House, said David Jarrell, director of the city's Department of Public Works.

Fourteen-year-old Carl Bradley sank long jump after long jump Saturday from the Xtreme Basketball Xhibition courts at Baltimore's African American Festival in a sweat-soaked gray T-shirt, while his former NBA star father, Dudley Bradley, hung out in the shade nearby. The Bradleys, of Randallstown, made the free festival, in its 36th year, a family event. Sandra Bradley, 12, who was recently crowed Miss Exquisite Pre-Teen in a Randallstown-based pageant, was set to participate in a fashion show, and the children's mother, Stephanie Bradley, said she enjoyed the way the event unites so many people.

The year's first edition of the Towson Farmers Market on Thursday brought new and old customers to downtown Towson to enjoy an event that's become a staple for local residents. "I love this," Pat Mott, 73, of Baldwin, said as she prepared to buy her second load of produce of the morning. Her first load - fresh broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, squash, onions, peas, and asparagus - was already in her car, but Mott showed no signs of slowing down. After she finished shopping, she planned to have lunch at one of Allegheny Avenue's cafés.

Annapolis, trying once again to revive the landmark Market House, is renovating the historic waterfront building and looking for vendors to fill it. Plans call for it to reopen in about four months. "If we are not open by Oct. 1, then I'll put a board off City Dock and walk into the harbor," Joshua J. Cohen, the city's mayor, said. Although the 19th-century city-owned Market House won't be packed with summertime tourists, the planned opening is in time for the fall boat shows that draw thousands of people.

Three weeks ago we told you that The Pea Man (aka Thomas McCarthy of Woodside Greenhouse, Caroline County) said he should be bringing peas in about three weeks. Three weeks later he brought peas. By 10 a.m. all of his peas were gone. And so was he. He'll be back next week with more peas. Still, the market seemed especially crowded on Mother's Day, and the craft booths were doing brisker business than usual. Baltimore Sun contributor John Houser III checked out the market's new pizza vendor, Pizza Ruby , which has just stepped in for the departed Red Zebra.

Imean Shaheed was working last Sunday when federal agents rushed into the Patapsco Flea Market, announced over the loudspeaker that the bazaar was closed for business and shut down vendors selling knockoff Nikes, Louis Vuitton bags and Tiffany & Co. jewelry. "It was like the movies," the 20-year-old Shaheed said Saturday after the Cherry Hill flea market re-opened. Some booths were empty, but the parking lot was full and customers flocked to vendors such as Shaheed who were open for business.

The Pikesville Chamber of Commerce is throwing a tasting event on May 3 at the Hilton Baltimore North/Pkesville. Participating vendors include Marin Luna Latin Grille, Mari Luna Latin Grille, Pikes Diner, Island Quizine, Suburban House and Quarry Bagel. Taste Pikesville , "a night of food, festivitiy and fun," costs $30 in advance, $35 at the door. For information call 410-484-2337 or email the chamber at info@pikesvillechamber.org Other vendors include Mt. Washington Tavern, Ledo Pizza, Pasta & Pub, Sofi's Crepes, Simply Elegant Catering, Van Gogh Vodka, The Wild Pea, Gourmet Again, Boordy Wines, Quarry Wine & Spirits, North Oaks, Innovative Gourmet, Original Fish & Chips, Vernisage, Coffee with T, The Fresh Market, Royal Wines, Many Mini Cakes and Marb, LLC A portion of proceeds are headed to the Baltimore County Community Relations Council.

The Baltimore city school system will host its first-ever spring food festival, an event desgined to showcase the strides the system has made in offering new, nutritious options in student meals.  The event will take place Saturday, April 14 at the Polytechnic Institute/Western High complex from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., according to a release from the system. More than 40 vendors that are either currently providing food services, or intend to, will be featured at the event including the school system's own Great Kids Farm.