The two-acre Battery Oval was fenced off for two years to give the lush Kentucky bluegrass time to take root among the lawn’s 38 shade trees, but it finally opened on June 25.
BY TEQUILA MINSKY
After two years of renovations, the Battery Oval was finally open for business over the weekend — literally.
The long-awaited lawn celebrated its June 25 opening day with the Battery Fair, where 90 small-batch purveyors of food, flowers, crafts ond other twee goods drew locals out onto Downtown’s new backyard.
Stalls lined the walkway encircling the Oval, vending locally produced food stuffs from vinegar and olive oil to cheeses, baked goods, sauces and sweets. Various libations — alcoholic and not — from beers to ciders to teas, were also for sale, as were such items as heirloom seeds, flowers, ceramics, essential oils, and fabrics.
Devout foodies Nate and Debby Harris took the train in from New Haven, Conn., to check out the artisanal wares on offer at the Battery Fair on June 25.
Nate and Debby Harris approvingly sipped a vinegar sample. Having taken the train from New Haven, they arrived at the Fair around noon and were enthusiastically making their way around the Oval. The couple watch the Food Channel, are admitted foodies and both cook. Debby commented on how much they enjoyed talking to the vendors as well as other foodies who, like themselves, were checking out artisanal wares.
“It’s nice to be outside in this beautiful weather,” Debby said.
Other visitors relaxed on the scattered, specially designed lawn chairs while others read or napped on the two-acre expanse of Kentucky bluegrass between Battery Pl. and State St. under its 38 shade trees.
