Mini Oktoberfest Markets Here For The Next Few Saturdays
With the sounds of polka music and bratwursts sizzling over a fire, a little corner of the North Loop is being transformed into a German market this season.
For the next few Saturdays (September 28, October 5th & 12th) from noon to 4pm, vendors will be set up again in the alley between MartinPatrick3 and the Hewing Hotel.
“The space is just gorgeous, it’s totally Old World,” said Mich Berthiaume of Mich’s Markets. “I mean you just can’t get a more glorious space anywhere so I’m thrilled to be here.”
The idea for this event came over lunch at the Monte Carlo this summer where she was meeting with the co-owners of MartinPatrick3, Greg Walsh and Dana Swindler.
“I peeked over and said, ‘why don’t you guys utilize the alley more,’” Mich said. “And they said, ‘what do you want to do?’ And I said, ‘Let’s do Oktoberfest.’ And they’re like, ‘We’re in!’”
The three had teamed up earlier in the summer downtown when the Olympic Gymnastics Trials were at Target Center. Mich helped turn Nicollet Mall into a Parisian style market, Promenade du Nord, and asked the team at MartinPatrick3 to decorate an elaborate window display at the Dayton’s Project.
“I think it’ll bring more community again,” Dana said. “It’s just fun.”
The Hewing is staffing the bar in the alley for the event, as well as providing German food.
A rotating list of vendors will be here for the next three Saturdays. At the kickoff event, September 21st, a dozen vendors sold everything from candles and crafts to cookies.
By Mike Binkley, North Loop volunteer
