Tracy Kovalench
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 05/98) - The sun was shining, people were smiling and Creedence Clearwater Revival filled the airwaves.

Last Saturday the Yellowknife city market opened its gates for another season of fun and trade. Early-morning treasure hunters congregated for coffee, culture and one last buy for the day.

"At 10 o'clock people were everywhere," says young entrepreneur Pablo Saravanja. Saravanja has joined forces with Shona Miller to run the market's concession. Home-made pasta supplied by Cosima Meraglia, a.k.a. Mama Giorgio, kept both merchants and shoppers energized all day long.

Saravanja says he isn't pulling in a ton of money, but plans to take a trip with whatever profit he makes.

"If its only $20, I'll take a cab to Rae," joked Saravanja.

Spirits were high overall. For people down at the market, shopping was just part of the weekend experience.

Sculptor Bob Kussy shares a shop with four other carvers on market grounds. Visitors stopped in to strike up conversation, or quietly observed him hard at work.

Artist Dawn Oman will come every weekend to sell her wares, but also enjoys the market's social atmosphere.

"It's nice to see people come out," said Oman. "I've already met people from Saskatchewan and Australia."

This year may be the last for Oman and fellow merchants to display their work at the market. Owner Matthew Grogono plans to leave town on sabbatical to Nova Scotia in the fall.

Grogono is planning to leave by mid August and has the market up for sale. Ideally, he would like to see a board of directors keep the market going. If nobody steps forward however, Grogono will pack up his tents and sell it piece by piece.

"I would be upset to see it die," says Grogono, "I think it's a valuable component of the community."