With five Saturdays left in its first season of operation, the Davidson Farmers Market has been a success for both shoppers and the local farmers and vendors who participate, organizers say. About 300 people visit on a typical weekend, co-chair Mary Jane Leach said. The market has brought new life to downtown on Saturday mornings, where shoppers can be found strolling on Main Street and slipping into local stores. At Summit Coffee, sales are up, and the manager reports they’ve even added staff to handle the traffic.

Catch the market’s sights and sounds in this 7 minute, 22 second audio slide show. Our thanks to the musicians of the market’s Lake Norman Jam for the background music. Click on the video to play. Can’t see the video or is it too fuzzy? Go directly to the YouTube page and watch the high-resolution version.

A group of Davidson moms and their kids spent Tuesday’s school holiday (it was a work day for teachers) hiking, playing and hanging out at the town-owned Fisher Farm Park, off Shearer Road. Kids posed for a picture atop a truck hauling hay. The kids are, from left: Adam Daily (holding Ben, the dog), Jacob Noble, Zachary Markl, Gabby Moore, Keegan Hahn, Cole Maye, Brandon Poag, Mitchell Newell, Luke Maye, Drake Maye, Josh Main, Beau Maye, Nicholas Noble, Hunter Bloom, Connor Hahn, Connor Newell, Matthew Chaiken, William Chaiken. (Thanks to Jackie Noble for the photo)

Mamadou Diabate and his kora ensemble played Tuesday night at Davidson College. Read on for more about the event. (David Boraks photos)

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Stephen Curry posed with local schoolkids on Friday. (Gail Goss photo)

On Friday afternoons, local elementary and middle school kids gather on the Village Green to kick off the weekend. Last Friday, Sept. 5, some encountered our own local celebrity – Davidson College basketball star Stephen Curry. Read the full story

Pat Land (left) of Mocksville, N.C., tosses pins with Paul Pompi, a member of the Lake Norman Jugglers, at Saturday's juggling festival. (David Boraks photo)

Members of the Lake Norman Jugglers and their counterparts from Atlanta, Baltimore, Washington, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and other places took over the Village Green Saturday morning for the 19th Annual Hurricane Hugo Juggling Festival.

Jugglers showed off their skills, and some experts taught newbies a few tricks at the festival. About 70 jugglers were pre-registered for the festival, and many more than that showed up, organizer Bill Giduz said Saturday morning. Read the full story

In 2007, race winner Josh Parkey chose this cake baked by Amy Diamond (left). (Bill Giduz photo)

One of the traditions of new student orientation week at Davidson College is the Freshman Cake Race, a 1.7-mile foot race started in 1934 to help the track coach spot potential recruits. It’s called the cake race because top finishers get their pick of dozens of cakes baked and decorated by members of the college community.

The race has been run every year except World War II and 1972. This year’s running is Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 5 p.m., beginning at the college stadium, and organizers are seeking bakers to supply the prizes again. Read the full story

B&J's team member Ellyn Henderson "takes the cake!"

Davidson’s Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Shop on Main Street does not encourage resting on one’s laurels. The store, which won a Charlotte-area “Scooper Olympics” earlier this summer, took on rival teams from Greensboro and Raleigh Aug. 4 to try for a statewide ice cream title. How did they do? Read on for more.

Also: Photographer Chris Record moves to Charlotte; a price hike with an apology at Davidson’s Summit Coffee; a quarterly loss at UpSnap; and we take note of how the economic climate is hitting home here … Read the full story