In a reprise of last year’s opening event, the Midtown Farmers’ Market, at Lake Street and Hiawatha, will be encouraging folks to “Shed Your Winter Coats,” and offering a sheep sheering demonstration at 10 a.m. and noon to inspire you. With a chance of rain in the forecast, you might want to, instead, trade in your winter coat for a raincoat. The MOQ editors will be there, sipping hot organic coffee (available at the market, we hope), with the spring issue of MOQ as well as an assortment of back issues.

We’re not sure how much produce, if any, will be available this early, but there will be other good local food, including cheese, meats, eggs, breads, and hot foods to eat at the market; plus handcrafted items, plants for your garden, and did we mention great reading material?

Other reasons to go: Hennepin County Master Gardeners will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to answer gardening questions and diagnose plant problems; and at 11 a.m., it's storytime with an East Lake librarian, featuring stories for children and families.

Meanwhile, at the MOQ table, we’ll be offering our usual market special to new subscribers: buy a one-year subscription for $15 and get the current issue free (your subscription begins with the summer issue). And, hey, if your subscription is up for renewal, we'll extend the same deal, why not? We appreciate our current subscribers. Or ask for a free back issue to peruse before deciding whether you want to shell out any actual cash for our humble publication, which was nominated for an Utne Independent Press Award in 2006 as one of a handful of “Best New Publications”; but what do they know?

The market opens at 8 a.m. (although the MOQ editors will be rolling in around 9 a.m.) and closes at 1 p.m. Located at 22nd Ave. and Lake Street in Minneapolis, just west of the Lake St. LRT station.