Local Farmers Markets: A guide to the Auburn-Opelika area’s best farmers markets

Local Farmers Markets: A guide to the Auburn-Opelika area’s best farmers markets

1. O Grows Farmers Market 
When: Tuesdays from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Location: 1103 Glenn Street, Opelika AL 

The Opelika Grows Farmers Market is located across the street from the Cultural Arts Center on Glenn Street, near the community garden in Opelika. Come walk around the square each Tuesday this summer from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. to find fresh, local produce ranging from heirloom tomatoes to collard greens. You may even find some fresh bread, homemade ice cream or local honey. Depending on the year's crop, the market may continue through September or until produce is depleted. Look for further updates about the end date. For more info, visit the Opelika Grows Farmers Market Facebook page.

2. Acre’s Farmers Market 
When: Wednesdays from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Location: 210 East Glenn Ave, Auburn AL 

The Acre Farmers Market occurs weekly on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. until the end of summer. Come enjoy complimentary cocktail tastings and pimento cheese while supporting local farmers.  Located at the Acre restaurant, the Market often features berries, cucumbers, corn, clover, grits, honey, jam & jellies, kombucha, onions, peppers, peaches, squash, taters and tomatoes. Don’t miss out on this unique, urban garden experience. For more info, visit Acre's Facebook page.

3. The Market at Ag Heritage Park 
When: Thursdays from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Location: 925 Camp Auburn Road, Auburn AL 

The Market at Ag Heritage Park is an open-air, growers-only farmers market that operates each Thursday, May-August, at Ag Heritage Park on the Auburn University campus. Hosted by the College of Agriculture, The Market features area vendors offering fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, herbs, ornamental plants and cut flowers as well as locally produced jams and jellies, baked goods, soaps, honey, goat cheese and more. Now in its 12th season, The Market at Ag Heritage Park gives Auburn University employees and students and all area residents the opportunity to Buy Fresh, Buy Local, directly from the growers. The weekly farmers market is open to the public, and everyone is welcome. It is held rain or shine, unless severe weather poses a danger to vendors and customers. For more info, visit The Market at Ag Heritage Park's website.

2016 Summer Camps Part 1: Get Active with University Outreach Youth Programs for High School Students

Part 1: Get Active

Senior Tiger Camp (Football Camp): June 7-8

The Senior Tiger Camp is for boys that will be entering grades 9th-12th in the Fall 2016. This camp consists of a two-day camp where campers will be broken down into groups by grade to receive as much individual instruction on football fundamentals and techniques as possible during the four available practice sessions. Check-In will be at the New Indoor Practice Facility located at 392 South Donahue Drive. Practices will take place at the Athletic Complex practice fields as well as the Intramural Fields. Check-in will be on June 7 at 12 p.m. and camp will end at 8 p.m. Camp will begin at 8 a.m. on June 8 and camp will conclude at 3 p.m. What To Bring: Front and Back Copy of Your Insurance Card, A Copy of a Physical Performed within One Year of the Start of Camp, A Form Which Suffices For School Sports Will Suffice For Camp, Tennis Shoes, Cleats, T-Shirts, Socks and Jocks, No Helmets & Shoulder Pads. Overnight Accommodations: Auburn Football Camps will not provide overnight lodging for campers. Out-of-town campers will be responsible for reserving their own accommodations. For more information on local hotels, click here. (http://www.aotourism.com/Accommodations/) For any further questions you may have concerning the camp, please email Brett Whiteside, Camp Director, at whitetb@auburn.edu, or visit http://www.auburnfootballcamps.com/senior_tiger_camp.cfm

Speed, Agility & Conditioning Camp (For ALLSports): June 14-16, June 21-23

The camp is 3 days from 9:30am-12:00pm. The dates of the camp are: Session I June 14-16 and Session II June 21-23. The cost of the camp is $125.00 per camper. The purpose of this camp is to teach the campers proper mechanics to aid in the development of speed, agility, and explosive power appropriate for any sport. Each day will start with instruction and warm up, stretching programs, drills, and FUN!!!! Water will be provided – but YOU must bring a water bottle (with your name on it) and snacks. Appropriate clothing is required including athletic wear, sneakers/cleats.
Use the button below to submit payment and register for the Camp. Also, you MUST bring the signed paperwork to the first meeting in order to participate in the camp. Please print pages 13 - 22 and read pages 23 - 31. Please choose session to register for the 2016 Speed, Agility, & Conditioning Camp for ALL Sports. The camp is 3 days from 9:30am-12:00pm. The dates of the camp are: Session I June 14-16 and Session II June 21-23. The cost of the camp is $125.00 per camper.

Boys Xcelerate Lacrosse Camp: June 20-23

Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camps mission is to provide the best coaching to student athletes across the country through positive reinforcement, encouragement, and commitment. Building confidence is an essential component to a young person’s development and a very important step in achieving success both on and off the field. Our goal at Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camps is to provide the leadership necessary to help build this confidence and to help each camper reach their full potential. We want everyone that spends a week with us, to leave camp knowing they can achieve anything. All camps will be housed in the Hill Dormitories which are configured in suites consisting of two double rooms (two students per room) connected by a bathroom. Campers will have a variety of meal options served buffet-style for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in The Village Dining facility. Xcelerate Lacrosse Camp practices and instruction will be held at the Hutsell (Wilbur) Track. For more information about the Xcelerate Boys Lacrosse Camp, visit; http://www.xceleratelacrosse.com/lacrosse/camps/boys-alabama-auburn-university/.

Girls Xcelerate Lacrosse Camp: June 23-26

Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camps mission is to provide the best coaching to student athletes across the country through positive reinforcement, encouragement, and commitment. Building confidence is an essential component to a young person’s development and a very important step in achieving success both on and off the field. Our goal at Xcelerate Nike Lacrosse Camps is to provide the leadership necessary to help build this confidence and to help each camper reach their full potential. We want everyone that spends a week with us, to leave camp knowing they can achieve anything. All camps will be housed in the Hill Dormitories which are configured in suites consisting of two double rooms (two students per room) connected by a bathroom. Campers will have a variety of meal options served buffet-style for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in The Village Dining facility. Xcelerate Lacrosse Camp practices and instruction will be held at the Hutsell (Wilbur) Track. For more information about the Xcelerate Girls Lacrosse Camp, visit: http://www.xceleratelacrosse.com/lacrosse/camps/girls-alabama-auburn-university/.

Dance Intensive Camp: June 27 - July 1

Auburn University Dance Faculty will host a 5 day dance intensive this summer. Each day will be filled with classes in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Tap and conditioning such as Pilates and Yoga. In addition; students will also learn choreography and improvise on their own to build choreography to be performed on the final day. All levels of students ages 11-19 are welcome! 
 This is a rare opportunity for dancers in the Auburn community to train and perform in the beautiful new facilities at AU. The trained dancer and the novice can all finish this 5 day intensive with more technique and appreciation for the art of dance. A final performance on Friday, July 1st at 5:30pm will be open to the public. Invite your friends and family!

This camp is intended for rising 6th – 12th grade students. Tuition is only $200 per person. Enrollment will be limited to 30 students so register early. Register here: https://mell-base.uce.auburn.edu/wconnect/CourseStatus.awp?&course=C160627A&Publish=ANYWAY.  Auburn University Theatre provides undergraduate theatre training and performances in the award-winning Telfair B. Peet Theatre. Ensembles include the Radio Flyer Theatre Company, which features productions in the style of the Golden Age of Radio, and the Mosaic Theatre Company, which creates and performs original works of theatre around issues of diversity. In addition, various musical performances are held throughout the year in the Telfair B. Peet Theatre.

Abilities Unlimited Camp: July 11 – 29

Abilities Unlimited is a 3-week summer camp (July 11- 29, 2016) for children and youth with and without developmental disabilities ages 5 - 12 years and counselors-in-training ages 13 – 22 years. The camp runs Monday-Friday from 8:30 – 3pm (after care from 3-5pm). The camp will incorporate bicycle training, swimming lessons, and an adapted physical activity/recreation curriculum. In addition, academic and transition activities are incorporated into the daily curriculum. Our goal is to build motor competence and confidence, as well as social, cognitive, and life skills in those with disabilities. Our program is supported by funding from East Alabama Medical Center and the Office of the Vice President for University Outreach. This program is run in partnership with Lee County Special Olympics, iCan Shine, Inc., and Exercise Connection. Pick up and drop off will take place in front of the School of Kinesiology Building (301 Wire Road). Campers will spend their instructional time at the School of Kinesiology. Additional instructional rooms and facilities will include: Beard Eaves Memorial Coliseum, the Student Activity Center, and the Martin Aquatics Center. Campers will have buffet-style lunches at The Village Dining facility, where they have unlimited options of a buffet-style meal. Snacks will also be provided in the morning and afternoons. If your camper has any food allergies please make sure to indicate this information on the registration forms. Abilities Unlimited is a collaborative project with faculty from the School of Kinesiology, Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling, and the Transition Leadership Institute at Auburn University. Below is the information for the School of Kinesiology faculty that are currently supported by a grant from the Office of the Vice President for University Outreach. Apply here: https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_77eo801ZGbgZYZ7

IHF’s Global Coaching Clinic to be held at Auburn University

IHF’s Global Coaching Clinic to be held at Auburn University 

Auburn, AL – The International Handball Federation’s Global Coaching Clinic’s second phase will take place at Auburn University from May 18-26, 2016. The first phase of the first IHF Global Coaching Clinic for Pan-American countries and was held in Mexico City, Mexico in February 2016. 

This week, Auburn will host 19 international coaches, primarily from South American nations, along with four USA Team Handball coaches for this final phase of the certification process. There are also four lecturers/officials coming in from Europe. 

Javier Garcia-Cuesta (Spain), a former Olympian and Head Coach to the USA Men's Senior National Team, will be a guest speaker at the Auburn clinics. Other guest lecturers include: Executive member of the IHF Executive Committee, Frantisek Taborsky (Czech Republic); Handball at school expert, Dietrich Spate (Germany); world renowned professional handball player, Zoltan Marczinka (Hungary); and world champion goalkeeper, Alexandru Buligan (Romania). USA Team Handball Chief Executive Officer, Mike Cavanaugh, will also be in attendance this week. 

Seventeen top coaches from all over Pan-America were selected to participate in Mexico City. Additionally, coaches from the hosting country were invited to attend the course as observers. Four USA Team Handball coaches were in attendance: Tony Kostresvki, Mark Ortega, Craig Rot and Julio Sainz. The IHF started offering Global Coaching Clinics (GCC) that authorize coaches to obtain top coaching licenses – “level A” – in July 2011 with the first ever in Asia and Africa. 

Mario Garcia de la Torre (Mexico), an IHF Council Member (Representative for Pan-America) and Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee of Mexico spoke at the opening ceremony in Mexico City. 

“This clinic presents the first important step in creating a long-term concept in order to systematically increase the performance level of Pan-American handball teams, and many further steps will be needed to follow. The continuous and well-structured education and promotion of coaches throughout Pan-America presents a key element to obtain this target.” 

Courses include small seminar groups and special team building activities, but also psychological and pedagogical aspects of coaching. The USA Team Handball Men’s National Team and Women’s National Team will be serving as demonstrators for the practical sessions of the event. After successful completion of Phase 2 in Auburn, each coach will earn their top level IHF Global Coaching Certification. 

Auburn University has been the home to both the USA Team Handball Men’s and Women’s National Teams since the summer of 2013. Athletes from all over the country reside, work, or go to school in Auburn in order to condition and practice year-round. Auburn has hosted a number of international matches at the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum, bringing competition from Canada to Uruguay. 

USA Team Handball’s mission is committed to insure the integrity and growth of the sport of team handball. The commitment is focused on offering the necessary training materials for empowering our membership to execute quality programs that provide the utmost enjoyment of the sport. The foundation of our program is built on education based grassroots development. From the base of our development, we hope to create a structure for recreational competition as well as a pipeline for elite athletes. 

The Auburn University School of Kinesiology shares this goal and is developing a grass-roots youth program to introduce children to the sport of team handball around the state and in the southeast region.

“The Auburn School of Kinesiology has been instrumental in providing a new home for USA Team Handball athletes and we appreciate the support of the Auburn-Opelika community in welcoming our athletes and coaches,” said Alicia McConnell, USOC director of training sites and community partnerships. “We look forward to a fruitful relationship with Auburn University as an official U.S. Olympic training site.” 

Satisfy your Sweet Tooth in Auburn-Opelika!

Satisfy your Sweet Tooth in Auburn-Opelika! 

Mother's Day weekend is here! Treat your sweet mama to a local sweet treat at one of these divine establishments.  

 

 

The Overall Company:

Coffee. Pops. Biscuits. What else do you need? Celebrate the Southern lifestyle at The Overall Company, located inside the John Emerald Distillery Tasting Room in downtown Opelika. These popular Pop flavors are available year-round: Strawberry, Cookies N Cream, Chocolate, Salted Caramel, and Vanilla Bean. Spice things up with a Poptail and try the Bourbon Coffee Pop. 

D Squared Donuts:

Each donut is made the old-fashioned way: handcrafted every day early in the morning to be served that day. Their donuts are made from quality scratch ingredients and feature homemade recipes for many of their toppings and fillings. Not only is their signature square shape one of a kind, the taste is too! Did I mention they have ice cream?

Crepe Myrtle Café:

Located next to Blooming Colors, the Crepe Myrtle Cafe offers a beautiful and relaxing environment (perfect for Mom!) to enjoy savory and sweet crepes, salads and sandwiches. Much of the produce used is grown right here in Auburn, and customers also have the ability to purchase farm-fresh items in their store. Be sure to indulge in their dessert crepes and other delectable treats. We recommend the Peaches N’ Cream Crepe – grilled whiskey soaked peaches, sweetened sour cream, brown sugar and candied pecans, or the Sinful Strawberry Crepe - sweet strawberries topped with sugar, cinnamon, whipped cream, and a splash of Strawberry Liqueur. Yum.

O Town Ice Cream:

The Opelika story being told through Ice Cream! They offer 31 flavors of decadent ice cream and are located along the railroad tracks in downtown Opelika. Try the Chunky Monkey Park, Spring Villa Vanilla, Summer Swing Strawberry, Railroad Tracks and more. Described as “A sweet treat destination for the authentic Opelikan” by the Opelika-Auburn News. 

Piccolo:

Located adjacent to Ariccia Trattoria in the Auburn Hotel & Dixon Conference Center, guests are welcomed into Piccolo by the roaring fireplace in the winter complimented by the sound of classic jazz on the weekends. Rated the number one bar by Alabama Magazine in 2014 and 2015, the bar is a great place to enjoy a cocktail accompanied by macaroons, gelato or banana tiramisu. The lounge offers a comfortable, clubby environment. Leather club chairs, a cozy fireplace and comfy banquettes serve as a relaxing getaway. Enjoy live jazz every Friday and Saturday night of non-home football game weekends.

Venditori’s:

Formerly Provino’s, Venditori’s is conveniently located off of exit 57. The name itself means Sellers in Italian – which is the owners’ last name. If you’re craving Italian food, there is no better place. After dinner, be sure to try their Midnight Chocolate Layer Cake, Tiramisu, Chocolate Mousse Cake, Cannoli Siciliana or another of Venditori’s mouthwatering desserts.

Bo Bikes Bama this Saturday!

Bo Bikes Bama this Saturday!

Looking for something to do on Saturday? Grab your helmets and join hundreds for the 5^th Annual Bo Bikes Bama charity bike ride. This annual ride is led by Auburn legend, Bo Jackson, and raises money for the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund, which provides crucial disaster preparedness and emergency management resources for the great state of Alabama.

“The reason for this ride is for state unity and to pay homage to the great Alabamians who lost their lives on April 27th, 2011. I am my brothers’ and sisters’ keeper.”  – Bo Jackson, Heisman trophy winner, All-Star athlete, and proud Alabamian

“When Bo Jackson first biked across Alabama in April 2012, he was on a mission to help his fellow Alabamians recover from the tornadoes that devastated their state the previous year. Now, Bo Bikes Bama has become an annual tradition where Bo and hundreds of others unite to ride for the future of Alabama and all her citizens.”

According to an article in the Time Free Press, 355 tornadoes were produced during the vicious outbreak of April 24-28, 2011. There were 324 tornado-related deaths, including 238 in Alabama.

 

This year, the 5th Annual Bo Bikes Bama ride will again take place in Auburn, AL Saturday, April 30, 2016. Participating riders can choose either a 60-mile or 20-mile route. Both routes will take riders through the campus of Auburn University, while the 60-mile route will pass through Tuskegee and neighboring Macon County.

Online registration closes at noon on Tuesday, April 26, but riders may still register on-site Saturday, April 30. The Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau will have a rest stop near mile marker 37 for riders in need of a quick bite or beverage. Stop by and say hi!

For more information about local events, visit www.aotourism.com.

Gameday Countdown

It is official. We are only 24 DAYS away from kick-off in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Luckily, we only have 18 DAYS until the Tigers are back in action. If you are like me, you can feel your blood pumping. You are starting to get anxious and maybe even a little impatient for those Saturdays on the Plains. Well, while I can't speed up time, I can help you get ready for the big day! Throughout the next few weeks, I am going to give you the run down on everything gameday. From hotels to events, you will be ready to head down to the Plains in no time!

Hotels

Despite the rumor, hotels are NOT sold out. As of last week, the Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau is reporting 29 hotels that still have availability for the first game against Jacksonville State. Auburn and Opelika have no shortage of rooms. Auburn currently has 18 hotels, with two of those being brand new with the Courtyard by Marriott on Exit 51 and Candlewood Suites on Exit 57. Opelika has 16 hotels, including the Marriott at Grand National on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Don't let staying in Opelika scare you, in a few minutes, you will discover that the Tiger Transit system makes it easy for you to travel between the two cities on gameday. The Auburn-Opelika Tourism Bureau works hard all season long to ensure that availability is up to date. We provide a listing for you to view each week at www.aotourism.com/football with the most current rates and openings at each hotel in Auburn and Opelika, although these should be used as a guideline due to availability constantly changing. If you have any questions, you can always call us and we will be happy to help you find room. Below is an example of our Football Hotel Availability listing:

Parking

Parking can be overwhelming on gameday, but have no fear, we are here to break it down for you. Below are parking instructions straight from the Fan Guide. If you would like a copy of the Auburn Fan Guide, please email us at info@aotourism.com.

Rule & Regulations
No parking is allowed on the roadway, bike paths and sidewalks.

For pedestrian safety the Mell Street corridor, bound by the intersections of Thach and College, Mell and Samford, and Miller and College will close to all vehicular traffic approximately two to four hours prior to kickoff. To improve safety, parking and post game exiting, game day guests will ONLY be allowed to access parking in the Mell Street corridor from College Street via Roosevelt Drive. Guests parking south of Roosevelt Drive will be required to park facing south and guests parking north of Roosevelt Drive will be required to park facing north.

Vehicles are not allowed inside areas enclosed by bollards, posts, chains or fences. Cars in these areas or those found blocking roadways, sidewalks, emergency lanes, fire hydrants, driveways or other vehicles are subject to being towed at the owner's expense.

Non-university golf carts and all-terrain vehicles are not allowed on campus.

All streets must remain open to traffic and emergency vehicles, except those that are blocked by law-enforcement barricades surrounding Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Accessible Parking
To utilize the AU Accessible parking lot, two items must be present at time of entry:

1. The state-issued handicapped license plate or hang tag;
2. The individual holder of the handicapped registration form must be present in the vehicle with photo ID.
3. Fans parking in ADA lot are not permitted to rope-off or hold spaces for any reason.

RV Parking Information
RVs arriving prior to their designated time may park in the large grass parking areas located at the corner of Donahue Drive and Lem Morrison Drive, beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday (2 p.m. Wednesday for Alabama Game). RVs must leave campus by 4 p.m. on Sundays.

No-RV zones remain in effect in the core area of campus and other sites. Please refer to the Game Day Map in this guide to determine which areas are designated No-RV zones.

In order to minimize dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning casued by engine exhausts from RVs, trailers or portable generators, owners should ensure that engines are properly vented. Always park in a manner that ensures adequate space between vehicles. Install carbon monoxide detectors if possible.

That was overwhelming and wordy, but to sum it all up, check out the gameday parking map below.

Shuttles

Don't want to bother with parking? Auburn University Tiger Transit system offers a free service on gamedays that takes the worry and hassle out of gameday. The Tiger Transit buses run four hours prior to kickoff, continuously during the game and for two hours post-game to return fans to their stops. What more could you ask for? Tiger Transit pickups are located at various locations around the Auburn-Opelika area, so no matter what direction you are coming from, you can enjoy this luxury on gameday. Below are the transit pickups:

OFF-CAMPUS STOPS

Duck Samford Park (Airport Road, Auburn)
The transit bus pick-up point is located approximately 100 yards on the left after entering Duck Samford Park.

City of Auburn Softball Complex (2560 South College Street, Auburn)
Conveniently located off I-85 (exit 51), the transit bus pick up point is located next to Surfside Water Park.

Village Mall (1627-53 Opelika Road, Auburn)
The transit bus pick-up point is located off Mall Blvd in close proximity to Belk's parking lot.

TigerTown (2199 TigerTown Pkwy, Opelika)
Located off exit 58, the transit bus pick-up point is located in close proximity to the Kohl's parking lot.

ON-CAMPUS STOPS

War Eagle Way (serves as main campus pick up and drop off point)
All game day Tiger Transit shuttles will drop-off and pick-up on campus on War Eagle Way, immediately north of the Nichols Center.

Facilities Division (Samford Avenue)

Lem Morrison and Donahue

West Parking Lot (W. Thach Avenue)

Community Garden (Samford Avenue across from facilities)

We hope that you are well equipped with where you are going to stay and how you are going to get to the action, but as always, if you have questions, please give us a call at (334) 887-8747. Stay tuned for all about tailgating! For more information on gameday, please visit www.aotourism.com or www.auburntigers.com.

This week in Auburn-Opelika:

August 13-22: Auburn University Welcome Week
August 18: Bartender of the Year Competition at the Hotel at Auburn University.
August 18: Opelika Mainstreet Farmers Market from 3-6 p.m.
August 20: The Market at Ag Heritage Park from 3-6 p.m.
August 20: Jazz! Food! Art! at the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
August 21-23: Thunder Road Classic
August 21: Young Frankenstein at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center
August 21: Come Home to the Corner in Downtown Auburn.
August 21: Comedy Night featuring James Gregory and Jody Fuller at the Bottling Plant Event Center
August 21: Act of Congress in concert at Sundilla
August 22: Tails & Trails 5K Run and One Mile Walk at Town Creek Park

For more information on these events, or upcoming events, please visit www.aotourism.com!