The season is truly changing, faster than we thought possible. Leaves have started to turn red, yellow, and orange, and at the Market apples and pears are on the upswing; nectarines, peaches, and tomatoes are on the wane; and the various winter squashes -- including pumpkins -- are coming into their own. If time has gotten away from you as well, be sure to update your calendar because October is our last full month of weekly Markets. After that, we take a brief break until the Saturday before Thanksgiving (November 21) when all our vendors attend for a rousing send-off to the weekly Market season. After that, we transition to the Winter Markets (held in the regular Market space on the third Saturdays of December through April), where vendors offer prepared foods, cheese, wine, baked goods, etc., but few fruits and veggies, and only for 2 hours (9:00 to 11:00 am). However, we really do get ahead of ourselves: the change of seasons brings new delights, and for that, we are grateful.

---

Dog-Gone Good

Dog Day was a rousing success last Saturday, raising almost $500 for the nonprofit rescue group Animal Friends of Lansdowne, whose volunteers did a simply spectacular job of organizing the day. Thanks to everyone who brought a dog or came out to show support for our four-legged friends. Wasn't the Dog Parade filled with fine canines? Close to 40 dogs of all ages and breeds participated, which is impressive. Our sentimental favorites were the sweet things available for adoption from one of the rescue organizations, which included Peace Love and Doggie Paws, Rags 2 Riches Animal Rescue, and PACT for Animals. It's not too late to adopt one of the pups featured on our Facebook page. You can see more pooch pics at John Kelly Green's photography website, where all participants in the parade should go immediately to download their photos for absolutely free.

---

Random Meal Inspiration

Last Saturday, we interviewed the intrepid current and previous winners of our friends' annual Rib-Off barbecue competition. Guests bring side dishes like this corn pudding (made with Market corn, of course), this spicy peach or nectarine coleslaw, and a simple salad of really ripe tomato wedges, cucumbers, and an oil and vinegar dressing, among other things. A few lucky friends judge the rib entries and then everyone gets to dig in. The twice-winning chef braised the ribs in the oven using Alton Brown's "Who Loves Ya Baby-Back Ribs" recipe. She won first prize for her ribs with a glaze of ginger beer, maple syrup, and a coffee/chocolate spice mix. Her second entry, which won third place, had a final glaze of cooked-down leftover cherry preserves along with port wine and Asian spices. The second place winner used a coffee/cocoa/garlic/salt-and-pepper dry rub that was applied to the pork ribs right before they went onto the grill NEXT to the hot coals; a lid kept the indirect heat slowly cooking the ribs for about an hour and a half without singeing. The final sticky-sweet glaze was made of cooked-down apple cider vinegar and molasses, applied to the ribs before they were reheated in the oven. If you like the idea of that dry rub and don't want to wing it, try this recipe. A previous Rib-Off winner used the pork-ribs-in-a-slow-cooker-for-hours technique for maximum tenderness and the smoky version of this Kansas City Style Barbecue Sauce for maximum flavor. You don't have to limit your barbecue to pork, however. In addition to great pork ribs, Livengood's poultry and beef selections could benefit from a good barbecue.

Our other inspiration this week is an oldie but a goodie: African peanut chicken soup. Philly pholks may remember this dish from the local restaurant chain called Saladalley, which, alas, is no more. You can get close if you try this Senegalese peanut chicken soup recipe, but our version simply includes sautéed chopped celery, carrots, an onion, and a couple of tomatoes, cooked and chopped/shredded chicken, chicken broth, cooked rice, and a few dollops of peanut butter melted into the broth. Don't forget the hot pepper sauce! You should also pick up some sweet potatoes and take a run at this version, for good measure.

---

Vendors

Weekly: Bonnie's Wondergardens, Buy the Dozen Bakery, Frecon Farms, Freeland Market, Fruitwood Farms, Green Zebra Farm, Livengood Family Farm, MyHouse Cookies, Poniton Farm, The Avenue Deli, and Wilson's Curiously Good Foods. Nonweekly: Creative Shepherd Farms, Kia's Cakes, Spotted Hill Farm, Taste Artisanal Market, and Taste of Puebla. Visiting: Relishing Grannies.

Thank goodness there's only one schedule adjustment for this week's Market: Mojo's Popcorn is a no-go this week because they'll be moving to the 2nd and 4th Saturdays this month (aka October 10 and October 24). Be sure to look for them then and, of course, at the final Market of the fall season on November 21, the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

---

Community Day Deets and Just Desserts

Mark your calendar for Community Day #3, coming up on Saturday, October 31. It's a chance for your local business, club, group, church, or other entity to get the word out about who you are and what you do. Interested? Just fill out this form and get it to us before the deadline, which is October 17. Don't dawdle, now! Early entries are more likely to secure a spot, which tend to run out fast.

The Sweet Endings Dessert Contest is also slated for that day, so it's not too soon to start trolling through your mom's old recipe cards, the cookbooks you got when you set up house, or the many online recipe websites to help you find the perfect entry. Winners get not only bragging rights but also some of our famous wooden Market Bucks (spendable at any Market vendor). How to get in on the action? Just make a delicious dessert using at least one Market ingredient, submit this form on the day of the contest along with a $5/dessert entry fee, and our fine panel of volunteer judges (tough duty, huh?) will select the winners. In addition, we do a silent auction of your dessert and all entry fees and the bid proceeds are donated to the local community food bank.

---

FirstGlance Film Festival Preview Tomorrow

Lansdowne is getting a free preview of the 18th annual FirstGlance Independent Film Festival tomorrow night, starting at 7:30 pm at Vinyl Revival, the "music, movies & more" shop located under the Lansdowne Theater marquee. Enjoy free light refreshments and beverages (or BYOB) while you view trailers for up-and-coming indie films being shown at the FirstGlance Festival (October 23-25 at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia). Film genres include science fiction, horror, fantasy, comic book, superhero, and fan films and trailers. The Preview party is free and open to the public.

---

Lansdowne Theater Ticket Booth Grand Opening

This Saturday we will all get to see what's been under the plastic wrap around the renovated, rebuilt, and restored Lansdowne Theater ticket booth when we celebrate the grand unveiling at 11:30 am. Lansdowne Mayor Anthony Campuzano and members of the Delaware County Council and the Historic Lansdowne Theater Corporation are expected to attend.

This summer, the booth's original 1927 design and its stainless steel detailing from the 1930s were restored to their former glory, and after Saturday we will be able to see the booth whenever we walk or drive past, as in days of yore. But that's not all we can admire -- the entire outdoor lobby was renovated, with original poster cases restored, the walls re-stuccoed, and the beautiful pendent light fixtures cleaned, rewired, and repainted in their 1927 color scheme. If you want to support the rebirth of this glorious theater, there's a crowdfunding campaign underway until October 17th. If the spirit moves you -- and we hope it does -- you also can make an in-person donation at the ticket booth unveiling.

On Saturday, October 10, at 3 pm, the theater lobby will feature a free reading by author Gus Kearney, a former Lansdowne resident and retired California educator who set his coming-of-age book, "The Education of Joey G.," in our fine borough in the 1950s and '60s. Proceeds from book sales will benefit the Lansdowne Theater, which will be a double win for supporting the arts.

---

Firehouse Open House

In honor of National Fire Prevention Week (October 4-10), the Lansdowne fire station at 26 N. Highland Avenue will hold an annual open house on Thursday, October 8, from 7 to 9 pm. Come out and meet your local firefighters and first responders as well as enjoy live demonstrations, free goodies for the kids, informative fire prevention materials, and light refreshments.