June » 2011 » Markets of New York

Photo of the Day – June 30, 2011: Onurth Organic Skincare

Onurth Natural Skincare Remedies - Body Bath Salts

Onurth Organic Skincare is a women-owned holistic business that creates natural remedies for the face, body and bath. I first came across them at the Union Square Holiday Market, and we recently ran into each other at the BBC (Bedford, Barrow, Commerce Street Association Fair).

Onurth offers a wide variety of synthetic free, completely organic products, including remedies for sensitive/dry, oily/overactive, mature/sun damaged, and specifically men’s skin types. The odds are that you will recognize every ingredient on their labels. Onurth products are beautiful and smell wonderful too.

I really like the body products, including body scrub, massage oil, and even a body mask. Their Tea Tree Healer seems to fix whatever ails your skin. They use fair trade ingredients wherever possible, and they use organic ingredients and packaging to maintain a minimal carbon footprint. And if that’s not good enough for you, Onurth donates a portion of their profits to UNICEF and the Red Cross.

You can shop for Onurth products online. And follow the links on their site to join their mailing list and find out their market events around New York City. When I talk about finding life’s luxuries at the markets, Onurth is exactly what I mean.

Photo of the Day – Wednesday 6/29/11: Caja Jewelry

Caja Jewelry was one of the first design companies that I met at the Brooklyn Flea when I first started doing research for my book, Markets of New York City: A Guide to the Best Artisan, Farmer, Food and Flea Markets. I immediately loved their nameplate jewelry. It reminded me of the Sex and the City scene in Paris when Carrie Bradshaw finds her missing “Carrie” nameplate in her vintage Chanel clutch and gets her mojo back.

Fast forward to February, 2011 when Caja’s nameplates adorned the models on no less than 20 pages of this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Not to mention the ads I saw on bus stops and in the 14th Street subway station. Seriously huge deal. And because SI gives credit where credit is due, Caja’s company name appeared next to each photo.

Caja makes a wide range of handcut designs in addition to the name plates. They make name plate cuffs, which I’ve never seen before. And their charms are delicate and whimsical. I love them all, but the cleaver really speaks to me for some reason…

So I am thrilled to report that while they’re business is taking off, Caja owners and designers Andrea and Juan can still be found in the city’s artisan markets. I recently ran into them at the Renegade Craft Fair, and they sell their designs at several local shops, including our favorite Better Than Jam Coop. Visit the Caja Jewelry online shop, and please “like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter!

Photo of the Day – Tuesday June 28, 2011: La Newyorkina

La Newyorkina is making New York City sweeter and more delicious than ever! Proprietor Fany Gerson is bringing her creative confections everywhere we want to be: the New Amsterdam Market, the Hester Street Fair, and now the new section of the High Line.

I caught up with Fany at the New Amsterdam Market recently, where her lovely friend Liam (pictured above), was giving out samples of her homemade ice cream with a Mexican influence, such as cinnamon strawberry and cajeta. Fany also created many of the donuts for Dough, one of New York’s top donut shops. I had one of Fany’s dulce de leche donut when I participated in a donut tweet-up, for which I am eternally grateful to Food Culturist, Nicole Taylor. If you haven’t tried La Newyorkina’s frozen pops, you will definitely want try all the flavors, especially the mango-chile and tamarind, as you explore the High Line.

Fany’s lovely dessert cookbook, My Sweet Mexico, was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award this year. And her brand new book, Paletas: Authentic Recipes for Mexican Ice Pops, Aguas Frescas & Shaved Ice, was just released earlier this month. Check back here for a book review coming soon!

Weekend Market Picks for June 25-26 and It’s Strawberry Season!

We’re in the middle of Strawberry Season in our Farmers Markets! The berries are just getting plump, juicy and ripe — perfect for enjoying one delightful bite at a time, or for burying your face in to win the Messiest Eater Award at this Saturday’s Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket!

This weekend boasts several brilliant annual markets, including Funday in Carroll Gardens, the Makers Market in the Socrates Sculpture Garden, and the new Independent Designers Pop Up! Check out all these unique events this weekend:

Saturday & Sunday

Independent Designers Pop Shop at Chelsea Market: I just posted about this fabulous collection of clothing and accessories designers, as well as our fine friends from Australian Scent with their highly effective and wonderful smelling beauty products. The event runs through Monday evening.

Makers Market at Socrates Sculpture Park: This is the third year for this outstanding collection of over 30 makers from across the country. “Experience the convergence of design and contemporary craft in an open-air marketplace.” The Market runs Friday – Sunday.

Saturday

Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket: According to GrowNYC, strawberry season is “almost over.” Wha?!! Where have I been? The good news is that you can get your fill of strawberries at the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket’s Strawberry Shortcake Eating Contest! It starts at 11AM, and anyone can participate if you mosey on over to the Market Information Tent a few minutes before 11. The fastest, messiest, and cleanest eaters get an award!

Hester Street Fair: Hester Street has a KILLER lineup of sellers this week – looks like 75 top notch artisan, food, and flea vendors. I love their picnic tables at the back of the market, and also the grassy space beyond the fence where you can snack on your pickles, lobsters, meatballs, macarons, pies, and so much more!

Shout out to Jersey: Not Yo Mama’s Craft Fair: Jersey City is hosting almost 100 local artisans at this third annual event! I know they put on a great show, so head over to The Morgan Lot at 107 Morgan Street on Saturday, 11am – 7pm!

Sunday

Carroll Gardens Greenmarket: The Carroll Gardens Greenmarket is a big part of the Sunday mornings in the neighborhood. Once time I visited this market on a day they were holding a grape stomping demo. You could pop off your shoes, jump inside half a barrel of grapes, and stomp away. Then you could rinse your feet off in a bucket of water. It reminded me of this. This weekend’s market doesn’t have grape stomping, but it will have 19 farm stands, so you can pick up everything you need for your table this week.

Smith Street Funday: It’s “Brooklyn’s most exotically perfect bazaar,” according to Carroll Gardens Blog Pardon Me for Asking. Local artisans, independent designers, food purveyors and more make up the eight blocks of this event. There will also be music and entertainment at 4 different venues. Stinky Bklyn sponsors the Fourth Annual Stinkfest and Cheese Eating Contest, which starts at 2:30 PM,! Who’s in?!

Have a great weekend at the markets! Let me know what treasures you find!

Independent Designers Pop Up in Chelsea Market

Independent Designer Pop Shop at Chelsea Market

Opening Day of the Independent Designers Pop Shop at Chelsea Market today revealed a wonderful array of high quality clothing, jewelry, and accessories. The clothing designs are particularly exciting, with smart, eco fashion by Nina Valenti, the extremely innovative and beautiful creations of Selma Karaca, and more.

Most of the designers here also sell their creations in the artisan markets around the city, and this ensemble is quite visionary. If you are looking for tomorrow’s fashion and design trends, you cannot miss this event, where you can go meet all of these talented designers in person:

Featuring:
Alexandra Beth Designs
Atlantis Jewelry
Australian Scent
Bijoutique
Ceola
Corrente Collection
GLAM
Guru
Nature vs Future
Over the Moon Jewelry
Rebecka Froberg
Sandra Baquero
Selma Karaca
Sohung Designs
T. Kahres Jewelry
Umsteigen
Vale Jewelry
Vernakular Photo Designs

The market runs Wednesday, June 22 at 11:00am – Monday, June 27 at 8:00pm.

Photo of the Day: Colorful Jewelry Designs from Yania Creations

Yania Mor of Yania Creations has a knack for color combinations. She creates a vast array of jewelry designs made with colorful stones and crystals in sterling silver and gold-filled settings. What I love about Yania’s work is the diversity of shapes and colors, with a distinctive style throughout the collection. She makes designs with large stones and settings, as well as dainty, refined pieces. You can get a sense for Yania’s designs from the range of earrings in this photo.

I have a pair small of amethyst earrings with a pearl accent that I wear constantly because they are so pretty. And I have my eye on Adeline, a pair of smokey topaz earrings with multi-colored tourmaline rondelles.

Yania sells her designs at artisan markets around the city. You can meet her this weekend at the Smith Street Funday Sunday Street Fair! Or shop from her Etsy.shop. Yania is also a member of the talented {NewNew} Etsy Artisans Group.

Photo of the Day: Saru Star Makes Dirty Jewelry

When I see dirt, I get inspired to clean it up. When Sayo Granich-Lee sees dirt, she gets inspired to make it into jewelry.

Sayo is the designer behind Saru Star. She creates fine, beautiful jewelry, which she sells online and at the markets around the city. I met her at the Hester Street Fair, and I saw her this weekend at 7th Heaven in Park Slope. Upon closer look, those pearly white stud earrings are made from acrylic denture teeth. And those earthy, mosaic-like cufflinks? Dirt.

Yes. Sayo and her little sister go around town and collect dirt. Then it goes into the studio, where it is processed, waterproofed, and set in sterling silver. And so a humble clump of city refuse is transformed into fun — and very interesting — designs.

Meet Ms. Granich-Lee in person at local events in the city, or shop for her designs on Etsy.com

Photo of the Day: Birdhouse Jewelry

Birdhouse Jewelry’s tented boutique at the Brooklyn Flea has become a destination in and of itself within the flea. Designers Amy and Alen Lapierre create lovely, versatile, and unusual pieces that suit any taste. From dainty to edgy, sparkly crystals to headphone charms, the designs are so diverse that I could not choose just one photo to represent their lines. In fact, five photos barely scratches the surface of all that Birdhouse Jewelry has on their display tables.

Amy and Alen’s pieces are all handmade, and they incorporate beautiful crystals, quartz, pearls and more. One of my favorite aspects of their design is the subtle detail, like a teensy bird or a small crystal halfway up a necklace chain. And they are always coming out with new items, including mixed metals, which is definitely a favorite market trend. And even small animal figurines. You just have to go check it all out for yourself.

If you can’t make it to the Brooklyn Flea, check out Birdhouse Jewelry on Etsy!

Photo of the Day: Meet The Man with the Horse Tattoo

The handmade dolls by Mimi Kirchner have great handmade artistry and no shortage of fashioned whimsy. I came across her dolls at the Renegade Craft Fair in Brooklyn last weekend, and I was intrigued by this fine fellow, also known as The Man with the Horse Tattoo. He looks like an old time circus strongman, and he is extremely charming. Ms. Kirchner makes a wonderful variety of dolls, including the wonderful Bird Lady, wily Professor Fox, and this fine fellow’s girlfriend, the Tattoeoed Lady with a Black Bow.

Ms. Kirchner sells her work as mck254 on Etsy, and she writes a fun and insightful blog, Doll. Watch this Etsy Handmade Portrait for a look into her creative world.

Market Picks for June 18 & 19, 2011

Wood Inlaid Labrador Cutting Board by Meb's Kitchenwares at the American Craft Fair at Lincoln Center

Well, Friday’s going to be a wet one, but the weekend weather is looking promising for the markets! My Market Picks for this weekend, June 18 & 19, are:

Saturday and Sunday, June 18-19:

Lincoln Center American Crafts Fair: This wonderful show is in its 35th year, so you know it has to be good. A traditional craft show, this event features fine handmade designs from around the country. You can find jewelry designs with gems and precious metal, art glass pieces, handmade clothing and hats, and kitchen items, like the image above of an inlaid cutting board by Meb’s Kitchenwares. Plus it’s fun to hang out at Lincoln Center. Check out their new fountain!

Saturday, June 18:

Arthur Avenue Retail Market: Miss the smells, sounds, and flavors of Manhattan’s Little Italy? Well they’re all alive and well on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. You can pick up fresh, homemade mozzarella, handmade meatballs, and imported Italian pasta in hundreds of shapes and sizes. I go absolutely insane over the gooey, fresh torrone with almonds, which is completely different from the dry version. This market is truly a time capsule of all the wonderful things brought over from Italia last century. Definitely plan on eating lunch there, and pick up some hand rolled cigars for Father’s Day!

East 67th Street Flea Market: The East 67th Street Flea Market has a wonderful variety of vendors, including an independent farmers market and many classic flea and antiques vendors. There is vintage jewelry of all kinds too. I have seen a Cartier watch once owned by Big Edie of Grey Gardens fame, and a collection of vintage showgirl bling. You can also get your watches fixed and batteries changed in the cafeteria area.

DUMBO Epic Stoop Sale: I’ll come clean and say I just found out about this event. (Thanks, Krrb.com and Open Smile Embrace!) Never heard of it, even though this is the third year. So I have no idea what it will be like, but it sounds like a community flea market, and if it’s stuff from DUMBO households, it’s bound to be worthwhile, right?!

Sunday, June 19:

Jackson Heights Greenmarket: The Jackson Heights Greenmarket in Queens is amazing for food shopping and people watching. It sets up on the perimeter of Travers Park, and it is the largest Greenmarket in Queens. In addition to the fresh local produce and products, this market features a wide variety of hot peppers! This weekend’s events include textile recycling and composting.

7th Heaven Street Fair in Park Slope: This is the third annual 7th Heaven Street Fair, and it looks like it’s going to be another great day! Yes, you will see standard NYC street fair vendors, but this event belongs to that small group of fairs that actually involves local businesses. There will be loads of activities, food, and handmade crafts from many of New York’s finest design entrepreneurs. The fair runs from Flatbush Ave. to 16 St. And how about pulling together a team to do the famous 7th Heaven Scavenger Hunt?!

Have a great weekend, and I hope to see you out at the markets!