Mr. Bruton, aka Johnny Ciabatta because that’s what he eats, had a sore throat the night I met him, but that didn’t stop him from belting out tunes by Neil Young, George Harrison and Buddy Holly.

The evening started quietly enough. Disconnected strains of a folk ballad carried to the far edges of the neighboring woodland as I approached the market. Rounding the patio corner, I came upon a large man with sandy hair crooning to himself with his eyes closed. When he opened them and saw that he had an audience, albeit of one, he grew animated.

“I’m Johnny,” he said, offering me his hand, and on learning my mission, spoke passionately of the The Palisades Market and the openness to new ideas of its visionary owner, Diane Walsh Fuhrman. “This place is heaven,” he said. “Diane and her partner Jeff are forging a vibrant hub of community life here and Open Mic is a great part of it. All sorts of people have played here, from the neophyte to the professional. John Seeger and his band, WA2C, have spent a whole evening here, as have Katie Elevitch, Steve Kellman and Max and Sam Seeger. Then four little girls who stopped by with their parents for Jane’s Ice Cream ended up performing. “It’s magic,” he said. “Tonight it’s quiet but other nights it’s been mobbed.”

An Appalachian 3-string strum stick is available to anyone who might be intimidated by a guitar. “No bad chords,” Johnny said, and demonstrated with a rendition of “This is Your Land.” Poets and comedians are also welcome,” he went on. “There are no rules. Just come.”

A young man drove up and rolled down his window. “When does it start?” he asked. “It starts now,” Johnny said. “Cool.” The young man parked his car and came over, guitar in hand. “I’m Johnny,” he said. We all laughed. A group of ice cream eaters wandered over to see what was going on. The new Johnny strummed a tune and sang one of his own compositions, a startlingly fresh take on an ageold theme. The ice cream eaters decided to stay, and so did this reporter, well past her bedtime.

Open Mic Night will continue on Saturdays from 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm as long as weather permits. BYOB. Sign up at The Palisades Market for notices of upcoming events. Look for Jazz Sundays, fundraisers for the Rockland Farm Alliance, the new Hungry Hollow Co-op produce stand with lock box, and grass-fed beef and free-range chickens from Fleischer’s Meats.

The Palisades Market is open Monday through Thursday 6am to 9pm, Friday 6am to 10pm, Saturday 7am to 10pm, Sunday 7am to 9pm. (845) 359 3911