OC Great Park Progress

Today I decided to head over to the Great Park to see how the construction was coming along. Boy, they sure have made progress since I was there last. No lake yet but there is now a large grassy area and I think part of the sport complex area is done and I think you can check out equipment as well. It was hot out today so I didn't really walk around too much to investigate. Next time.

This is the newly finished Palm Court and Art Center.

The carousel!

I believe this hangar is being converted into a stage for future concerts. Yay!

There is also a Farmers Market there that operates on Sunday from 10-2pm. I noticed that the farmers market has moved further away from where it was which was next to the giant balloon.

The farmers market is also growing...

More food trucks as well...

...and lots of food vendors!

The park also provides benches in the shade for picnics.

This row of stalls are vendors selling non-food items. I may have to check it out on a future visit.

This was dinner last night! Meal of champions! Not. I should really eat better...and I will this week!

The Great Park Balloon Ride

If you live in south OC or have driven past Irvine on the 405 or 5 freeway, you have probably caught a glimpse of an orange looking sphere floating in the sky. That orange sphere is the Great Park Balloon and can carry up to 30 people at a time to 400 feet above the park. It is an observation deck of sorts and it's purpose is to allow people to see the progression of the construction of the Great Park. It is a a neat thing to do if you have some free time. Plus it is free! I can see myself having a picnic here soon!

Inside the visitors' center, there is a large map of what the Great Park will be once completed and know it is going to be an amazing place. I cannot wait to go running there.

Simple. Just go to the visitors' center and fill out a waiver. You get put on a list and on this particular day, our wait time was 20 minutes. They give you a pager, like at the Cheesecake Factory and when it is your turn to ride the balloon, they page you and you head over to the loading dock.

Getting off the ground. Scary!

This area here, once a landing area for military planes will be a lake in the future! They have it marked for demo. You can't see the demo lines in this photo but it is neat to see this place before it transforms.

North is THAT way.

Started to clear up a bit.

She got up there all by herself. ;^)

The Great Park (OC) - Farm and Food Lab

In the same area as the Farmers Market is a small area called the Farm & Food Lab. This is an area filled with box gardens that each have a theme. For example one of the boxes was called the Pizza & Spaghetti Garden and planted inside that box was basil, tomatoes, oregano, etc. I wish my garden looked like theirs.

The Pizza and Spaghetti box.

Broccoli plant

Lamb's Ears - the leaves are so soft!

Strawberries

Compose drum - looks like a face.

This is just amazing!

Hay Bale Garden...

...for when you are short on space.

I didn't make it up...LOL.

Farmers Market @The Great Park (OC)

So as I mentioned in a previous post, I visited the Farmers Market at the Great Park this past Sunday for the first time. The Farmers Market is open every Sunday rain or shine (I believe) and they have only been operating since the start of summer I believe. They are opened from 10-2pm. You will need to visit their website for the exact location if you are not from the area because there is currently not a physical address since the park is still being built. Various food trucks also gather there on Sunday to provide you with breakfast, brunch or a snack break from the shopping. I had not gone until now because I had not made a point to do so but I love Farmers Markets and since Sister K was in town, I thought it would be a good time to go and check it out. This post will be part 1 of 3 as it is rather long. This post focuses primarily on the Farmers Market. Post 2 will be about the Farm & Food Lab and Post 3 will be on the balloon ride.

Plenty of parking. The sky looks threatening but the sun came out shortly after I took this photo.

There were a decent amount of stalls but they were mainly selling things like nuts, honey, cooking oils/vinegar, soups, meats, bakery items, etc. There were only a couple of stalls actually selling produce. I was disappointed. This Farmers Market is no where near the same level as the one by UCI on Saturday (8-12pm).

Goat cheese samples.

Macarons!

Pecan tartlets, seriously, what's not to like?

Cupcake pops!

Food trucks!

Roasted peanuts!

You can bring your doggy here!

Porta-potties that actually flushes and had a sink inside. I forgot to take a photo of all the water dispensers they had throughout the park. They really take care of their visitors.

I believe the Irvine Company moved this carousel from Fashion Island during the remodeling to here.

There is a very interesting story on how the Great Park was established on the website but perhaps in my next post I try to remember some of the highlights of how this amazing park came into existence. I've lived in Orange County for a while and have seen all the politics that surrounds the decision to transform this once military base into what will sure be an amazing place once completed.