Final Sewickley Chamber Night Mart closes out the summer on a high note
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Nothing escapes the watchful eye of Sewickley Police officer Darcel Bouyer.
He sees everything, even when there are hundreds of people walking up and down the business district.
The law enforcement veteran with five years experience in the borough does so from a special vantage point — a custom police bicycle.
His presence was known at July’s Sewickley Chamber of Commerce Night Mart, and at its final one of the year Aug. 26.
Bouyer said he moves “very carefully” past the various vendors peddling jewelry, candles, wooden creations and more to folks getting snow cones at The Ultimate Pastry Shop and dancing along Beaver Street to Bobby Thompson and the Groove.
Bouyer and several other officers mingled with patrons and residents throughout the evening.
“It’s good to see everybody come out and see Sewickley, and see all the vendors out here and all the stores that are up here as well,” he said “It’s a good time.”
Resident JR Price brought a few family members with him to night mart.
“I like it,” Price said. “I like how they expanded on the food trucks (this year). The lines are a lot less busy and you can get food within a shorter period of time. It was a little crazy in the beginning when they had a smaller amount of food trucks.
“We definitely feel safe coming down here in town all the time. We’re big walkers. We go around all the time. We love it and we like the bike patrol.”
A rain shower a little more than an hour into the event sent some vendors and patrons scrambling for cover. Fortunately, the showers only lasted a few minutes.
Pittsburgh artist Baron Batch was a special guest of Exposure, an art gallery in the heart of the business district.
He displayed various paintings on cloths and canvases, including a piece with a giraffe with the message “Keep Your Head Up.”
Batch has created art in the Pittsburgh area the past decade. He commended Exposure owner Ann Fernandez for showcasing his work alongside other local creators.
“She just has this awesome curated space of local artists,” Batch said. “She invited me out here for the night market. There’s a lot of clients that I have that are out this way, and I never really get out here. It’s nice to be out here in Sewickley.
“I’m seeing a lot of people I know. A lot of clients that have supported me over the years, and a lot of kids that are familiar with the work and have learned about it in school, which is pretty crazy. It’s a wonderful evening.”
Batch said young artists should embrace having fun and “explore the process” of creating.
The chamber hosts its Night Mart once a month from June through August.
The layout was slightly changed for the last one.
Erica Parr, night mart coordinator and owner of Closet Rehab, said the band space was moved from Locust Street to Green Street to make more room for businesses.
There were about 25 artisans and nine food vendors, including six food trucks Aug. 26.
Participating businesses included Found Woodworks, Cutie Paws Bakery, Wander & Root Gypsy Plant Shop, East Wheeling Clayworks, Jim’s Smokin’ Que, Papa Duke’s Gyros, Veggies n’ At, and Slurp-n-Burst Boba Tea.
It was scheduled for 6-9 p.m. However, people started showing up at least a half hour early.
“End of summer, people are really going out with a bang,” Parr said. “Kids just started school this week. People are still kind of enjoying the last of what feels like summer. People definitely like to get an early start. They’re always out here asking us what food trucks we have.
“We really try to make sure that we get really good vendors in so that it is enjoyable for the entire Sewickley and surrounding communities. … We maxed it out for the last month.”
Parr likely coordinated her last night mart. She moved her jewelry business to Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood at the end of last year and business has been booming.
It is unclear if the layout would remain the same.
“It’s tough to say how things will end up for next year and whomever they have chair the night mart for next year,” she said. “There may some changes, play around with the layout. I’m probably not going to do many pop-up (markets) next year just due to focusing on the storefront.
“I was able to jump in and help (the chamber) for this summer. It’s busy. It’s a lot, but it’s good.
”Everyone in the community loves it. Neighboring communities, people travel to come here for the evening. It’s a great thing for the town and definitely for the chamber. It’s something that people look forward to. As vendors, it’s always a great night for everyone that comes out.”
More information about Sewickley Chamber activities can be found at sewickleychamberofcommerce.org.