EverGreen

When the mercury dips low, no number of hats/ scarves/gloves can keep you from shivering off those extra-insulating holiday pounds. All you want to do is curl up under heaps of blankets, down coffee and wait for spring. After all, that's when everything comes back to life, the farmers' markets reopen, and your bone-rattling chill finally releases its grip. On first glance this winter may seem just as tragically cold and empty as previous years' winters — except now, you've got the GreenMarket (4814 Washington Boulevard; 314-361-3114 or www.greenmarketstl.com) to carry you through. This open-air market — continuing throughout the winter on the first and third Saturdays of each month (December 3 this week) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — delights not with its size but with the treasures found within.

First of all, you've got an excellent variety of baked goods from places like the practically perfect pastry shop La Dolce Via (we recommend the quiche and the brownies with pecans) and the Mills Apple Farm (the lovingly baked pies and giant cookies from here will stick to your ribs just fine). Then, there's Missouri-harvested shrimp (that's right, they're homegrown!) from the Storks; bacon, beef jerky and more from Hinkebein Hills; Living Springs Ranch's raw milk and fresh eggs; and fresh, organic stuffed pastas (with yummy wintry ingredients like butternut squash) and pans of lasagna from Stellina Pasta. And we almost forgot that Kuva Coffee is there to help keep you warm! All this (and other quality vendors' goods) should be more than enough reason for you to put on a brave face and head out to the GreenMarket — and homemade pies should get you to rejoice all the way there! — Alison Sieloff

Hungry for Soccer?
Three Fried Men can help

SUN 12/4

So, have you been to an indoor soccer game lately? If the answer is "no," this might be the week to rectify that oversight. Even if you're not sure you enjoy soccer (and if you're an American, you probably have your doubts about the "other football"), you know you enjoy live music — especially songs about cannibalism. Yeah, that's right. Local roots-rock group Three Fried Men play a brief set between halves at the Steamers game, and the band has chosen to play its song "Just One More Mountain," which is about the Donner Party. You'll come for the cannibalism, but you'll stay for the goal-scoring. That's the plan anyway. Tickets are $12 to $30, and the game is at 6:35 p.m. at Savvis Center (South 14th Street and Clark Avenue; 314-241-1888 or www.savviscenter.net). — Paul Friswold