FIRST UPDATE, 10:02 AM: The sun is starting to triumph over the clouds at 12th/Holden (map), where the first-ever Highland Park Sunday Market is under way. Good turnout for something that’s brand-new and bound to grow – and some names you’ll likely recognize: Freshy’s Coffee is selling homemade soup, local belly-dancing Troupe Hipnotica is selling unique apparel (and no, it’s not dancing gear, though we’re sure you could dance in it; Kelly from Alki Cab Company is here selling jewelry and wind chimes.

Tiffany Silver-Brace (above), who hatched the market idea, is selling fresh bread (top photo), eggs from her chickens, sourdough starter, and herbs. Photos shortly. If you’ve never been to Highland Park, come out and have a look – this is all unfolding in the lot outside the historic Highland Park Improvement Club (just a couple blocks east of Zippy’s Giant Burgers, if that happens to be your Highland Park . We’re tabling too to cover the kickoff event “live” – come show your support for local vendors and to see the concept grow; the market continues till 1 pm. Dogs and kids welcome – this is pretty laid-back. More photos to come.

10:53 AM: Since the sun isn’t quite all the way through the clouds yet, the four flavors of soup brought by Amber from Freshy’s sound like a particularly good idea. Here’s the menu:

We just took a closer look at some of the arts and crafts – eklectopia is selling custom mugs and glasses, too:

And the table across from ours, with art plus the Troupe Hipnotica apparel (a flyer advertising their tribal-belly-dance instruction too):

11:34 AM: Steady stream of browsers/shoppers, people chatting … Fun to see folks we know and those we hadn’t met yet – like Colleen, who manages the rentals for HPIC (it’s available for events and parties beyond those the club itself and Highland Park Action Committee already own there) and admitted she doesn’t own a computer – but thinks about it from time to time! P.S. We mentioned Kelly from Alki Cab Company earlier – we have her photo, too:

If you haven’t heard of Alki Cab before – that’s cab as in pedicab – as seen on her stickers (a fast-rising classic to add to iconic West Seattle stickers like Easy Street Records, Luna Park Café and the Alki seagull):

You’ve still got more than an hour to get here and check it out; if you miss it, take note, the market will NOT be held next Sunday (the 4th of July) but edition #2 is planned for Sunday, July 11th.

12:45 PM: Very busy this past hour or so – including visitors from other neighborhoods – Justin from White Center-headquartered Full Tilt Ice Cream just came by. We’ve heard from some of the vendors that they’ve done well – again, considering it was the start. Here’s a photo we took within the past hour as noontime browsers shopped and mingled:

We’ll be talking with organizer Tiffany shortly for her thoughts on how it went. Keep an eye on the Highland Park Sunday Market’s Facebook page for updates on future installments.