June » 2010 » Markets of New York

The City Cook Podcast: A Few of Our Favorite Foodie Things

DiPaula Turkey Farm at the Jackson Heights Greenmarket

Kate McDonough, also known as The City Cook, produces podcast interviews with people from all aspects of the food world. I love the interview with Schatzie about how to buy a steak – it’s full of funny, colorful stories. If you are looking for advice on finding a perfect knife, the interview with Norman Kornbleuth is the perfect primer. Kate’s husband Mark learned about Markets of New York City, and he got it for her birthday. She liked it enough to invite me to do an interview, which she just posted to www.thecitycook.com. It’s so exciting to be one of her guests and talk about all wonderful people and food at the markets. And I cannot wait to see Kate’s cookbook when it comes out in November!

Events of Note at the Markets this Weekend!

Take a Free Pedicab Ride to the Makers Market at the Old American Can Factory in Gowanus!

There are some wonderful, creative, and tasty events going on this weekend in the Markets of New York City!

Friday, June 11: The Inaugural Pushcart Market, sponsored by The Pushcart Project

The first ever Pushcart Market [Friday, June 11, 10AM - 6PM on Park Place between Broadway and Church Street] brings some of NYC’s best street vendors together on Park Place. Shop for jewelry, gifts, crafts, clothes and more from boutique vendor carts and enjoy a panoply of appetizers, entrees, nibbles, and sweets including:
* Jamaican jerk chicken and grilled fish by Vendy Awards finalist Fauzia Abdur-Rahman from the Bronx’s foodcart “Heavenly Delights”
* Indian/Mediterranean biryani by Vendy Awards Finalist and People’s Choice Award Winner Bangladesh native Meru Sikder from “Biriyani Cart”
* Seasonal vegan/vegetarian delights and desserts by vendor star Cinnamon Snail
* Handcrafted ice cream by vendor rookie Guerrilla Ice Cream, and more!!

Saturday, June 12: Handmade Hearth and Home

Presented by The {NewNew} at the Brooklyn Indie Market [Saturday, June 12, 2010 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Rain or Shine.
at the Brooklyn Indie Market, the red and white striped tent on Smith and Union Street, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn]

This weekend marks the first in a series of special shopping events sponsored by the Brooklyn Indie Market and The {NewNew}: Keep it Local, Handmade, and Sustainable: Mindful Shopping Made Easy. It is a series of curated market events, starting with handmade homewares and home decor! The next event is “Kidding Around,” featuring handmade clothing and toys for children, on June 17. The third event of the series on September 18, will be “A La Mode,” which will bring together some of the most creative independent fashion and accessories designers in New York City.

All of the items in this series are handmade locally. And if you cannot make it out to the Brooklyn Indie Market, you can purchase every item featured, and much more on Etsy.com.

Sunday, June 11: Pedicabs at the Makers Market at the Old American Can Factory

[Sunday, June 11, 11AM - 5PM: 232 Third Street at Third Avenue, Gowanus, Brooklyn]

The Makers Market will have two Pedicabs to carry you to between the Farmers Market on 5^th Avenue and the Makers Market!

And next week:

Tuesday, June 15 Tenement Talks: Panel on the Resurgence of Markets in New York City with Kimm Alfonso, Anne Saxelby and Karen Seiger

New York Tenement Museum, 108 Orchard Street, 6:30 PM

I will be hosting a panel featuring Cheesemonger Anne Saxelby and Silk Screen Artist Kimm Alfonso. We will be discussing the resurgence of markets in New York City in recent years. Refreshments will include artisanal American cheeses from Saxelby Cheesemongers and handmade beef jerky from New Jerk City!

Have a great time and let us know what you find!

Photo of the Day – June 9, 2010: Sigmund Pretzelshop

Gruyere Paprika Pretzels from Sigmund Pretzelshop

As if the fact that Sigmund Pretzelshop sells hand-rolled, organic pretzels wasn’t enough, they also make a mouthwatering variety of flavors, including this perfect specimen of gruyere paprika, which brought me great joy at the Hester Street Fair recently. To add to their irresistibility, they also make pretzel sandwiches at their shop (29 Avenue B (between 2nd & 3rd)! For dessert, try a caramel pecan pretzels. Sigmund Pretzelshop offers us the perfect pretzel meal, and I, for one, appreciate it.

Photo of the Day – June 8, 2010: Strawberry Season at Kernan Farms

Sweet, fat strawberries from Kernan Farms at the Abingdon Square Greenmarket

It’s strawberry season! I feel as though James should be making strawberry rhubarb pies (he has a special magic with pies), but the strawberries are so sweet and delicious that it is impossible not to eat them all straight from the container. Kernan Farms out of Cumberland, NJ brought these plump, luscious beauties to the Abingdon Square Greenmarket on Saturday. Once we polished off this batch, we got some more on Monday at Union Square. Can’t wait for Wednesday’s market!

Photo of the Day – June 7, 2010: Beetle & Flor

Ceramic casting of a racoon skull with gold lustered teeth, by Beetle & Flor

I first saw Beetle & Flor’s ceramic animal skulls at the Homemade: Brooklyn pop up store in Kill Devil Hill back in March sponsored by Shiny Squirrel and Sew Moni , and I spent some time under their tent at the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend. Beetle & Flor’s finely crafted ceramic skulls of North American wildlife, raccoons with golden incisors and snapping turtles with gold lustered beaks, make for unusual and beautiful conversation pieces. What I didn’t realize is their connection and dedication to working with artisans around the world to help them turn their crafts into successful livelihoods. Spend some time reading their entire website, and you may learn a few things or realize that you have found some kindred spirits. I did both.

The Renegade Craft Fair Will Rock Your Crafty World

Well, folks, they’ve done it again! The craft fair wizards of Renegade are putting on an incredible event in McCarran Park this weekend. We spent a lovely afternoon strolling among the colorful tents, marveling at the beautiful, creative, witty, clever, and superlative designs. There are over 300 independent artisans from around the country, and I guarantee that you will be amazed by many-if not most-of the people you meet and the things you see.

Take a look at some of the creations that caught my eye, listed below and in the photo gallery above (all photos by James Wesolowski):

Delicate ceramic figures by Michiko Shimada, sharing a tent with ceramicist Beetle and Flor
Soft and funny handmade dolls with great expresses and even mustaches by Pinkypunk
Rustic birdhouses made from reclaimed wood by Eric Erf Wood Design out of Chicago
The Better Than Jam Co-Op features handmade fashion and accessories by local designers
Knitsybitsy works with Ecuadoran artisans to kit their hysterical sea creature toys
Ornamental Things brings her handmade jewelry all the way from Austin, TX (and the recent Renegade Craft Fair there)
Gold Teeth Brooklyn makes great and unusual gold teeth jewelry, and other cool things like pistachios, not to mention greeting cards featuring Peeps (and more)
Clay, Wood & Cotton has a collection of beautiful home decor items under their red tent, which they’re sharing with the super cute and clever KnitKnit Knits
Shara Porter prints lovely and familiar items, from hedgehogs and guinea pigs to bicycles and horseshoes, on leather handbags, wallets, and purses, many of them vintage
If you’re looking for chalkboard bedside tables to remind you of your To Do list every morning, check out Scraptones, who is also selling very cool decorative wooden blocks with architectural images printed on them
Illustrator Virginia Kraljevic’s “tent” is actually a small boutique full of wit and charm. She’s right next to the ever talented members of The {NewNew}
I picked up the cutest octopus necklace from Destroyed By Design. I may need to get that kiwi too. This artisan is sharing a tent with her fabulous sister and clothing designer AngelRox
Moth Written is selling really fun t-shirts with sayings like “I Love Brooklyn,” or “Kiss Me I’m Irish,” except written in Arabic, the idea being to foster a dialog between East and West. I almost got a “Peace” pin, but I opted for “Breakfast,” because nothing fosters dialog like toast and eggs (only not with your mouth full).

These are just a few of the thousands of handmade items at the Renegade this year. Put on your walking shoes, grab your sunblock and water bottles, and enjoy a day of inspirational shopping!

Loads of Market Events This Weekend June 5th & 6th!

Sarivole Bakery's Organic Mocha Almond Cookies!

I caught your eye with the ridiculously delicious cookies from Sarivole Organic Bakery, didn’t I? You can shop online or in person at the Hester Street Fair!

Since there is so much happening in the Markets of New York City this weekend in addition to the wonderful weekly markets, I am posting several key events for your shopping pleasure!

First Friday the Loom (TONIGHT!)
Jane Street Outdoor Sale (Saturday on Jane and 8th in the West Village – Get there around 9 or 10!)
The {NewNew} Treasure Chest Boutique on Governors Island (Opens this weekend through the summer)
The Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit (Saturday and Sunday)
Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn (Saturday and Sunday)
Jonathan Adler’s Curated Corner and an Ice Cream Social at the Brooklyn Flea at One Hanson (Sunday)

Have a great weekend and don’t forget your sun block!

Sun, Sea, and Design at The {NewNew}’s Summer Home on Governors Island

This weekend marks the official opening of The {NewNew}’s Treasure Chest Boutique, their summer outpost on historic Governor’s Island. The {NewNew} is a group of New York area artisans who all sell their handmade items on Etsy.com, the world’s most vibrant online handmade marketplace.

Over 30 artists, designers, makers, and crafters have created a boutique that evokes the perfect seaside home filled with beautiful handmade wares, with attention to every corner and detail. It is the kind of place that will make you want to look at every detail and linger on the porch for a chat. You will find fashion designs, jewelry, ceramics, home decor, toys, stationery, and much more. I guarantee you will not leave without a treasure of your own, or the perfect gift for someone special.

It is a short and beautiful ride just across the harbor. Governors Island was a US Army and Coast Guard military base that was closed down in 1996. After years of consideration, the island is now a public space, managed by the Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation and the National Park Service. There are concerts on the island, a huge picnic ground, bike rentals, and Water Taxi Beach.

This weekend, in addition to The {NewNew} Boutique, the 3-acre organic farm run by Added Value opens on Saturday, June 5. This farm is a wonderful education initiative and a great opportunity to volunteer and get your hands dirty.

You get to Governor’s Island via a free ferry from the Battery Maritime building at 10 South Street, leaving every 30 minutes on Fridays through Sundays. You can find The {NewNew} Treasure Chest Boutique bringing new life to Historic Home 6B in the heart of Nolan Park, a 5 minute walk from the ferry landing.

Photo of the Day – June 3, 2010: Zip Code Tees from Upwardly Mobile NYC

New York City Zip Code Tees and More by Upwardly Mobile NYC

I love those New York City t-shirts with the zip code of your favorite neighborhood in town. Your zip code is an identification thing that is somewhat similar to the 212 vs. 646 phone prefix, although it doesn’t carry quite as much gravitas (unless you live in 90210–and watch loads of TV). I finally found the source of these shirts at the BBC Street Fair, or the Bedford-Barrow-Commerce Block Association Fair two weekends ago. Upwardly Mobile NYC makes the zip code t-shirts, and also many other very clever and fun designs. I love my red “Make Cupcakes Not War” shirt; truly words to live by. You can find these tees and more at all the big street fairs across the city this summer! If you are desperate for a 10014, shoot me an email, and I’ll let you know where to find it!

Photo of the Day – June 1, 2010: Stinky & Minky Children’s Clothing

Adorable Children's Clothing by Stinky & Minky

Stinky & Minky is a brand of delightful handmade clothes for lucky children. Designer Maruska Saunders sews colorful clothing made from fabrics that look the way all childhoods should look – cowboy PJs, little white daisy dresses, and loads of polka dots. Ms. Saunders uses actual vintage fabrics, as well as vintage-inspired ones. I first saw her work at the Brooklyn Lyceum Market in the spring, and she was recently selling her collection on the Village streets at the Bedford-Barrow-Commerce (BBC) Block Association Fair. If you absolutely must have an adult sized set of those cowboy pajamas, Ms. Saunders might just custom make them for you, but only if you behave yourself.