farmers markets » Markets of New York

Weekend Market Picks + Draugsvold Jewelry!

Fabulous Statement Necklace Made with Vintage Elements by Melissa Draugsvold at SUPER!market

I am thrilled to feature an amazing jewelry designer, Melissa Draugsvold this weekend. I first heard the buzz about her designs at SUPER!market in January. You know you’re onto something when the other designers are wearing her jewelry themselves!

Melissa’s one-of-a-kind designs are intriguing statement pieces made from romantic, evocative, and nostalgic pieces of vintage jewelry. You might recognize an element in one of her necklaces as something your favorite fabulous auntie wore. Or maybe you saw something like it in a glamorous Old Hollywood movie. She has a spectacular necklace made from vintage crystal brooches from the collection of Rufus Wainwright. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Nylon, Women’s Wear Daily (WWD), Lucky Magazine and more. Beyonce and Kim Kardashian have been seen sporting their own original Draugsvold designs. And you can meet her in person and try on her wonderful designs in person this weekend at SUPER!market!

And now, here are the Market Picks for this coming balmy weekend!

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, February 17 – 19, 2012

Independent Designers Pop Shop at Chelsea Market, open every day through February 29th

The Market NYC on 14th Street between 8th & 9th in the Meatpacking District

Saturday Only, February 18, 2012

Inwood Flea Market at 108 Cooper Street, CUNY in the Heights Building, Manhattan *NEW!*

SUPER!market at 268 Mulberry Street in Nolita, Manhattan

Saturday and Sunday, February 18 -19, 2012

Brooklyn Flea + Smorgasbrewery (Sunday only), One Hanson Place, Brooklyn

Hell’s Kitchen Flea, West 39th St. between 9th & 10th Avenues, Manhattan

Sunday Only, February 19, 2012

Jackson Heights Greenmarket, 34th Avenue @ 77th Street, Queens (Composting and textile recycling every Sunday!)

It’s going to be a beautiful weekend, so get out there and enjoy it! And bring a totebag for all your new treasures!

Saving A Home One Delicious Cake At A Time

I was in Park Slope, Brooklyn on Saturday last weekend and visited the farmers market sponsored by Community Markets on 5th Avenue and 4th Street. The Community Markets organization provides access to locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables and locally produced food products to communities within the city and also in Rockland and Westchester Counties. They manage 18 markets, and the one in Park Slope runs year-round.

I was delighted to see Mortgage Apple Cakes at the market. I’ll be honest and say that I haven’t actually tried the original apple cake because I keep getting seduced by the glazed wonder known as Apple Rum Upside Down Cake. Back to that in a minute.

Mortgage Apple Cakes is a baked goods company with an inspiring story. Several years ago, founder and owner Angela Logan had been unable to find work, and her house went into foreclosure. Rather than sit idly by and let her home and investment disappear, she took back control of the situation and did a few calculations. If she could sell 100 of her luscious apple cakes in 10 days, she could earn enough money to save her house.

And that’s what she did. Almost.

What actually happened is that her story made the national news. Friends and supporters from all over the country bought cakes, and she saved her house. And she had a brand over night. That was several years ago. Now she has a commercial venture, selling her apple cakes and cupcakes, apple pound cake, caramel apple cake, and apple rum upside down cake online and in the markets. She has plans to establish a storefront with a community focus. She plans to host a good old fashioned bake sale each month to help someone else in need.

Now back to that apple rum upside down cake. It is everything you want in a cake. It is sweet, beautiful, rich, and has a wonderful texture. And then there is the marriage of yellow cake and apple, and ample sugary glaze. I can confidently say that it is truly one of the best cakes I’ve ever had. And I’ve had a lot of cakes.

So last weekend, I was so glad to see Angela and her cakes doing so well at the Park Slope market. I meant to try the apple cake. But I ended up with two big pieces of the apple rum upside down cake again. While I look forward to actually trying the original, I do not regret my purchase. When I got home, I made a pot of tea for my husband and myself, and we ate the cake in big bites, savoring every one.

I also want to share this great interview of Angela so that you can see for yourself the dynamic spirit behind the wonderful Mortgage Apple Cakes.

Four Beautiful Words: Crispy Purple Potato Chips

I’ve had a bad cold for the last three weeks, drifting in and out of mild misery. But I’m feeling better every day now, thanks for asking.

Saturday I was feeling particularly low energy as I was walking through Union Square. The Greenmarkets always make me feel better, and so I was strolling along amongst the tents, despite the brisk cold, on my way to the 6 train. And then something bright purple caught my eye. (It has happened before – purple food makes me happy.)

The bright purple this time turned out to be a sample bowl of beautiful and delicious potato chips from Mountain Sweet Berry Farm. The Andean Mix includes the true purple chips made from purple Peruvian potato, mixed with rich yellow chips made from ruby crescent potatoes. This farm has three other flavors of chips made from other potatoes. The Crunchy Indian chips are made from Ozette Indian potatoes. The other two varieties are Brown Butter and Pure Pleasure.

UPDATE: The chips are fried in rice bran oil, which has a mild taste and is good for high heat frying. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, MD., it has additional health benefits as well.

Potato chips are one of my very favorite foods in the whole world. But I’m a purist. No ranch, no BBQ, no salt and vinegar. I like simple potatoes and salt. Each chip from Mountain Sweet Berry Farm has a pure potato taste and yet a wonderfully distinct flavor. The purple ones were my favorite because a) they’re purple, b) they taste rich and wonderful, and c) my mom is from the Andes mountains, and so I feel a personal connection to them. That said, they are all mouthwateringly delicious.

Mountain Sweet Berry Farm comes to the Union Square Greenmarket Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Go try them for yourself and let me know which one you like best! And check out this wonderful video featuring Rick Bishop of Mountain Sweet Berry Farm on Serious Eats.

Weekend Market Picks for November 12 & 13 + Gloves by Lamia Akar

Whimsical Sexy Mini Gloves Handmade by Lamia Akar

I visited the The Market NYC / Young Designers Market in their great new digs at 328 W. 14th Street between 8th and 9th. Happy to report they are completely settled in, and full up with a wide range of jewelry and fashion designs.

Many things caught my eye, but I was absolutely delighted by these handmade gloves by Lamia Akar. Lamia makes fingerless leather gloves in bright colors, black, white, and every combination thereof. The gloves come in a variety of sizes and lengths, all fingerless, some with big snaps that make a satisfying sound when you squeeze them together. They are all wonderfully designed and made. She makes tiny mini gloves, the ones in the photo, that are sweet and fun, and quite sexy. Lamia’s designs offer a tasteful way to a dose of color and whimsy to any outfit!

And now, on to this weekend’s Market Picks to get your holiday shopping started!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

East 67th Street Flea Market: Located in the schoolyard and cafeteria of PS 183 on E. 66th and 67th Street between 1st and York Avenues, this flea market features some amazing vendors. You may find the cashmere lady, who sells nothing but cashmere sweaters on a schoolyard table. Several fine vintage jewelers sellers have amazing sparkles in their cases. The market also has fresh produce and food vendors selling both snacks and provisions for your week.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Community Markets in Park Slope: I love the markets produced by the Community Markets organization because they feature wonderful regional farm produce, and they also have local food businesses selling their products. I am thrilled to to see that some of my favorite food purveyors will be at this Brooklyn market on Sunday (5th Ave. and 4th Street in front of PS 51), including Raaka Virgin Chocolate and their new flavors, and the famous Mortgage Apple Cake, with their mouthwatering, superlative, and economy-saving cakes.

Saturday and Sunday, November 11 & 12:

Independent Designer Pop Shop: I simply have to keep this month-long market on the list again this week. It is a lovely, boutique-style market featuring New York’s fine emerging designers. It is located in the space across from Posman Books and next to Chelsea Market Baskets inside Chelsea Market! And I’ll be doing a book signing there on Saturday from 12 – 3PM! So come shopping and come get your market guide book signed! And “like” the market on Facebook to win a $50 gift card on Saturday!

The MarketNYC / Young Designers Market: As I wrote above, I am happy to see that this market is fully ensconced in its new space near the Meatpacking District. There are literally dozens of designers in multiple rows throughout the market. Look for the red tent on 14th Street, and plan on spending some time looking at all the designers’ tables. Lamia Akar was just inside the eastern exit when I met her last week.

Dekalb Market: Every time I come here, there are new things to discover – new artisans, new food vendors, and new shipping containers turned into a matrix of treasure-filled boutiques. There’s local food, handmade artisanal wares, art installations, and music. I have it on good authority that the New Zealand style Dub Pies are ridiculously tasty. What else do you need? Oh yeah – and a farm. I wonder if a pumpkin grows in Brooklyn?

Eat, Shop, Play — in the Markets of new York City!

All Peppers All the Time from Eckerton Hill Farm

Wednesday was a glorious, sunny fall day, a far cry from this past weekend’s insane snowstorm. These wonderful, colorful peppers in the bright sunshine made me very happy. They come from Eckerton Hill Farm in Lobachsville, PA at the Union Square Greenmarket. Their sign said, “All Peppers, All the Time.” They weren’t kidding!

I have no idea how many kinds peppers they have, as the lunchtime crowd was too big for me to chat with the farmers. I’ll find out if you really want to know.

Any idea what to make with these lovely specimens?

Remembering Steve Jobs with Bugged Out – Cross Posted from Sirene MediaWorks

Cross Posted from Sirene MediaWorks

I wrote this posting for my business blog originally. And then last weekend I visited with the lovely people from Bugged Out at the St. Anthony’s Market. They are known for their sweet bugs designs, and they also have an exclusive line of fruits and veggies that they created for the New York Botanical Garden. In memory of Steve Jobs, they had hung out only their smiling apple shirts and totes on the church gate at the market. I thought it was such a nice gesture, and perfect for a cross posting of Remembering Steve Jobs on Markets of New York City.

Remembering Steve Jobs

I have loads of early Mac memories.

- I was one of the first kids in my high school in the early 1980’s to write a term paper on a computer, my dad’s Macintosh, In 1993 we saw it in the Smithsonian Museum of American History together, while he still had his in his lab and used it to write stories and letters to his daughters.

- In college in the mid-1980’s, I was a writing tutor for students with learning and physical disabilities. They all used a Mac IIe because those with visual impairments could see the screen, and those with learning disabilities didn’t have to deal with pens and paper. What a difference that computer made for their writing.

- In my first job out of graduate school, the company had PC’s, which, I assure you, felt like work. But during that time I saw a demo of a Next computer, and I’ll never forget that amazing, rotating, purple 3D skull graphic. And the fact that computers didn’t have to be the color of nasty putty!

- My husband is a Mac fanatic through and through. I remember a day when Apple wasn’t doing so well in the market. Imagining a PC-only world was absolutely and utterly unbearable to him. I think he’s on his 23rd Mac computer these days, not to mention countless iPods, iPads, and iPhones (yes, we waited in line for the first one – even had a pizza delivered to our sidewalk spot on Houston and Green Sts. in NYC). I have received the gift of Macs. Our families and friends all consult him on all their computer needs. His brother bought a PC, and they barely spoke for a year. Now he has a Mac.

So while it’s possible to imagine a world without Apple, it’s nowhere I want to live. Steve Job’s death has been so very sad to me on a selfish level because he made my world so amazing. I am sorry for his family and friends, and for the millions of others whose lives he not only touched, but changed radically. Kids today are hard-wired for touch screens. They have no idea how it used to be. Before Steve Jobs.

Smiling Apple by Bugged Out for the New York Botanical Garden

Weekend Market Picks, October 8-9, 2011 and Metropolis Soap Company on Kickstarter!

This weekend weather is going to be gorgeous, which is lucky because there are many wonderful fall events going on in the city’s artisan, farmer, food and flea markets!

And let’s support our awesome friends at Metropolis Soap Company! They only have a couple more days to meet their goals for their Kickstarter Project! I love their vegan soaps because they smell wonderful, they come in such a great variety of scents, and my skin loves them. And I love this project because it a true market-based story. Not only do the markets of New York and around the world offer a wealth of experiences and products for us shoppers, they are are also tremendous incubators for new businesses. Metropolis is raising funds to cover the fees for the world-renowned New York Gift Fair early next year, which could really take their business to the next level. It is an important project and an inspiration to other aspiring artisan businesses! So please make a contribution share the link, and show some soapy love!

Saturday and Sunday, October 8-9, 2011

ID Pop Shop: As I’ve said before, this group of independent designers have come together for a full week at Chelsea Market to offer their fine work to smart pre-holiday shoppers! Come for design, come for gifts, come for inspiration. You’ll be glad you did! The market runs through Monday, October 11.

Park Slope Flea Market at PS 321: Enhance your visit to 7th Ave. and the Greenmarket by popping over to this quiet, lovely flea market between 1st and 2nd Streets. It is a long-established market, so if you are neighbor passing by every weekend, take some time to stop in and browse the tables. I’ve found some great clothing, vintage laces, old books and ephemera, and so much more!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket: I love this market because it is so full of energy, community, families, and nice dogs. And awesome famers too! And today, the Edible Brooklyn editors will be at the info tent signing copies of their gorgeous new Edible Brooklyn: The Cookbook, featuring recipes from local restaurants and a delicious food demo.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Astoria Market: The Astoria Market is well into its second year, featuring emerging artisans and designers from Queens. I always meet inspiring people making amazing things at this market. It also has a relaxed vibe, which is great for looking carefully at the items on each table. This Sunday is Oktoberfest at the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden too! Crafts and Beer? Yes, please!

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market Food Truck: Fleas and Food! Now we’re talking! Sunday is the October Gourmet Food Truck Bazaar at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea (on 39th St. at 9th Ave.) These food truck gatherings are great for trying some of New York’s most innovative food on wheels, all in one place! This weekend’s event features Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, Kimchi Taco Truck, Gorilla Cheese Truck, Two Pitas in a Pod, and Kelvin Natural Slush.

Brooklyn Night Bazaar: A night market comes to NYC! Finally! The Brooklyn Night Bazaar will take place at the Dekalb Market on Sunday from 5PM till midnight. It will feature over 70 independent merchants and food vendors, music, art, a beer garden, and even petanque (the French love child of bowling, shuffleboard, and horse shoes). The weather is supposed to be great, so bring a big sweater and a cozy friend, and step into the Night Bazaar!

Photo of the Day – October 5, 2011: Hawthorne Valley Organic Yogurt

I really love the taste and texture of Hawthorne Valley Organic Yogurt, which I purchase at the Union Square Greenmarket and take to my office. The yogurt is quite liquid, and it has tiny curds throughout it. The texture and flavors (plain, maple vanilla, strawberry and lemon) are rich yet gentle, perfect for a sensitive palate like mine.

Hawthorne Valley Farm is located in Columbia County, NY, and their vision is to “Nurture the land that nurtures us.” (from HawthorneValleyFarm.org) This farm is quite extraordinary for its commitment to Biodynamic methods, which “recognize the importance of both human and biological community life and strive to bring renewing forces to both.” It feels like a privilege to be able to shop from this farm in the Greenmarket on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Stop by and try this amazing yogurt, as well as their other creamery products, baked goods, and sauerkraut products! They also offer 7 yogurts for the price of 5, which makes them even more irresistible!

Weekend Market Picks – October 1-2, 2011 + Over the Moon Jewel

We are headed into a wonderful weekend full of fantastic market events! Several annual events are going on this weekend and some into next week. Hopefully we’ll get some crisp autumn air this weekend and less hair-frizzing humidity!

I am very happy to feature a wonderful jewelry designer, Barbara Wilkinson of Over the Moon Jewel! Barbara has a true eye for color and composition, and her background in art is evident in her designs. She creates pieces for a diverse array of styles and tastes, using brightly colored semi-precious stones and delicate pearls, happy hoop earrings and yoga-inspired charms, sterling silver and gold tones. She also makes sexy jewelry for men. Barbara will be at the week-long ID Pop Shop III, which runs Monday, October 3 – Sunday, October 10th inside Chelsea Market. Definitely go meet her in person and check out her beautiful designs!

Saturday and Sunday

URGENT – GrowNYC Hurricane Donation Collection: GrowNYC is working in all boroughs with City Harvest, Regional Food Bank, and Move for Hunger this weekend and next to collect basic food and products for communities affected by Hurricane Irene. 10% of the Greenmarket system’s farmers have lost all of their crops for the seasaon, and they and their communities need our help. Go to GrowNYC.org to see which markets have collection sites and the basic food and personal products needed.

Crafts on Columbus: This is the second weekend of Crafts on Columbus, which takes place next to the Natural History Museum. The this semi-annual craft market is a great way to get a jump start on your holiday market shopping because there is such a rich variety of handmade crafts here. The market skips next weekend and then runs for one more weekend on October 15th and 16th. (Columbus Avenue between 77th and 81st Street)

Madison Square Eats: This pop-up food market is filled with delicious local food purveyors and Flatiron neighborhood restaurants serving up pizza, tacos, crepes, chocolate, cupcakes, beers, and more! Madison Square Eats runs through October 21. Bring your friends! (West side of Madison Square Park between Fifth Avenue and Broadway, and 24th and 25th Streets)

Pompeii Flea and Craft Market on Bleecker Street: This market started right after 9/11 as a tribute by local artists and neighbors in the Village to the spirit of New York City. Now it is a staple of Bleecker Street on the weekends. Stop and browse through vintage bakelite jewelry, dichroic glass and crocheted metal jewelry, and much more! (Bleecker Street between Carmine and Leroy next to Our Lady of Pompeii Church).

Sunday:

Atlantic Antic - This New York Street Fair sets the gold standard for New York street fairs. Far from the affairs that block traffic and annoy the natives, the Atlantic Antic incorporates the local businesses in four Brooklyn Neighborhoods and provides literally blocks and blocks of food, music, and shopping from unique local crafters and designers, and lots of things for kids (pony rides!!!). Bring your appetite, your friends, and your walking shoes to this annual event.

Starting Monday through Sunday, October 10:

ID Pop Shop III: This is the third event for this new group of independent designers. This week-long market features some of New York’s most innovative and talented designers in fashion and lingerie, jewelry and accessories, body products, and more. It is located inside Chelsea Market, so go do your shopping at the ID Pop Shop and then grab a delicious bite to eat from the shops throughout the food market. (Chelsea Market on 9th Ave and 15th Street)

YOU ARE INVITED! Please come to Chelsea Market Baskets on Saturday afternoon from 3-7PM! I will be doing a book signing and enjoying the Food Network’s Food and Wine Festival in the neighborhood!

And to my friends in Washington, DC: Do not miss Crafty Bastards on Saturday! And let me know what treasures you find!

Weekend Market Picks – September 24-25, 2011 + Bar Suzette

Nutella Banana Crepe from Bar Suzette at Madison Square Eats

This weekend is jam-packed with exciting market events! The annual London Terrace Street Fair is on Saturday, and I am positively GIDDY about the 25th Annual Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Flea Market and Grand Auction on Sunday I’ve been waiting an entire year for both events!

The mouthwatering image is a nutella and banana crepe from Bar Suzette at Madison Square Eats. This month-long local food market in the Flatiron District is back today, September 23 with more delicious, local savory and sweet treats. Plus beer!

Saturday and Sunday, September 24-25

Crafts on Columbus: This outdoor craft market features fine local and regional artisans on the sidewalk of Columbus Avenue from 77th to 812st Street along side of the Natural History Museum. It also runs October 1-2, and then again on October 15-16.

Saturday Only, September 24

London Terrace Street Fair: It’s time again for the fabulous, annual London Terrace Street fair on West 24th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues in Chelsea. Imagine hundreds of people in the historic London Terrace building emptying out their closets, and there you have an incredible yard sale. Local artisans and food vendors are in the street as well.

Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket: This large GrowNYC farmers market is holding a Pickle Party with Rick’s Picks on Saturday! Meet pickling master Rick Field in the info tent at 11 am as he shows how how to make his famous Smokra, pickled paprika okra!

Agora LIC Market: This Long Island City market is holding its fourth event of the year, featuring crafts, food, family fun, in St. Mary’s Lot, 10-31 49th Avenue, between Vernon Blvd. and Jackson Avenue. I haven’t been able to make it to this market yet, so I’m aiming to check it out this weekend!

Sunday, September 25

Astoria Market: This indoor craft market in Queens is back on Sunday at Bohemian Hall. Stroll among the tables filled with handmade jewerly, t-shirts, toys, and fine arts, and you’ll definitely find a treasure to take home with you!

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Flea Market and Grand Auction: Hooray!!! Broadway turns out her closets onto the Shubert Alley and West 44th Street! You may find props, costumes, souvenirs, and playbills galore. And bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences in the live and silent auctions, including a chance to conduct the orchestra for Phantom, an onstage appearance in Mama Mia, and a pre-show “flight call” of Spiderman. Check out all the auction items! Giddy, I tell you! And proceeds go to fight AIDS.

Fairway Market and 92nd Street Y Street Fair: A shout out to my friend Strongman Steve Weiner, who will be doing a strength performance at this family event on Lexington Avenue between 90th and 91st Streets. Steve is seriously strong. He can roll up frying pans, twist horse shoes into hearts, and rip phonebooks vertically with his bare hands. Oh – and combo lift 1000 lbs.

And one more shout out to market veterans Nina Valenti of Nature vs. Future fashion design and Jason Laurits of Paste Graphic T-Shirts, who are hosting an Open Studio sale of their unique, lovely products during the DUMBO Arts Festival on Saturday and Sunday starting at noon at 10 Jay Street, #500 in DUMBO.

Have a great weekend and wish for dry weather! A few clouds are good, but no more rain for a while!