I have no excuse. It’s not as if Thanksgiving occurs on a rotating basis. It’s the fourth Thursday every November. Even leap years. Nevertheless, the weekend descends upon me and I wind up in an annual scramble to assemble a side dish with enough picky-eater consensus and stability to be transported across state lines. But even I, with my short-sighted meal planning capabilities, can give friends a family a taste of Dayton with the cooks’ last call known as Stock-Up Wednesday at the PNC 2nd Street Market.
The Market is usually open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays; however, on Thanksgiving Eve, the vendors hoist their booth curtains to accommodate perpetual procrastinators (such as yours truly), as well as home chefs in search of reprieve from meal preparations before they’re saddled with the responsibility of preparing enough eats for the Super Bowl of gluttony. Plucky shoppers will use this special day to pick up their turkeys, appetizers, desserts and other items they pre-ordered from their favorite vendors. Don’t kick yourself if you missed making a pre-order; the vendors will do another round of in time for Christmas.

Nothing makes up for a charred turkey better than a trip to the 2nd Street Market! We're closed on Thanksgiving Day, but stop by 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday or 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
The Market will be closed on Thursday, November 24, but will re-open on Friday, November 25. Great time to grab some lunch before you head out to MetroParks Ice Rink for opening weekend. Or “dinner” if you hit the department stores almost immediately after snapping the wishbone.
If you’re one of the “lucky” ones hosting out-of-town guests instead of being one yourself, the Market would be a dandy place to bring the relatives. Even persnickety Aunt Pauline will be charmed by the quaint atmosphere, browsing the handmade wares of local growers, producers, bakers and artisans in a restored, century-old railroad freight house.
So whether you’re in need of a loaf of fancy, crusty bread, a bottle of wine (or two) for your host, or just want to avoid your mother’s condescending glare as you meekly set the pizza box down among other buffet options, muttering something about paying tribute to your family’s fractional Italian heritage, get the goods you need to pull a holiday “Hail Mary” during Stock-Up Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. November 23, at the PNC 2nd Street Market.
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