Artisan Market » Markets of New York

Some Things to Amuse You While I Go Eat BonBons

Hi!

I’m taking a few late summer days off before the fall season starts. In my absence, I invite you to explore the postings on the site and read about the amazing people, places and things at the markets.

Please mark your calendar for this event next week:

Markets 2.0: The Resurgence of Traditional Markets in NYC:

Join us for this panel event at the New York Public Library Mid-Manhattan Branch featuring SuChin Pak of the Hester Street Fair and Robert LaValva of the New Amsterdam Market, moderated by yours truly. It’s going to be a fascinating look inside this wonderful movement in the city. Thursday, September 1 at 6:30 PM.

And now, here are a few things for you to amuse yourself with while I’m reading cookbooks and guidebooks on the sofa, and munching on peach ricotta crostini:

Earthquake Damage at SchoolHouse Kitchen in Brooklyn:

If you know their Anytime Spreadable Fruit, you understand the tragedy of this image.

100 Images: Markets of New York City

Featuring the people, products and events in the markets over the last year.

Saturday Afternoon at the Hester Street Fair

I love love love how this video captures the spirit of this wonderful market on the Lower East Side. Love the song too (Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side by the Magnetic Fields) – it’s on my “River Running” playlist.

This is just the funniest dog video. Poor sweet boy.

I think 56M of the 57M views are mine.

I’ll be back soon! In the meantime, let me know what you found and ate at the Markets of New York City!

~ Karen Seiger, Author, Blogger, Market Enthusiast

Photo of the Day – August 16, 2011: Chane T-Shirt Designs

If ever there was a font of ironic and funny t-shirts, it’s Chane. I’ve seen Chane’s Modsushi Collection at the Young Designers Market, and I recently saw them at the St. Anthony’s Artisan Market on Houston and Sullivan Streets in Soho.

The Modsushi Collection includes food tees, like the one pictured, and many other great ones as well. “I ♥ Mayonnaise,” and “I ♥ Ketchup” resonate with me. The social commentary tees are nothing if not timely: “Laid Off is the New Black,” and “Low Wage Worker.” There are also some more, well, scatological ones that clearly appeal to the less demure than yours truly: ex. “I ♥ Peeing Outside,” which, interestingly, comes in all sizes from XXL to Onesie. All t-shirts are handprinted on American Apparel, Anvil and Tultex garments.

If you’re looking for a message to wear on your chest, Chane probably has just the one. How about this one: “Your Trailer or Mine”?

Weekend Market Picks and Corrente Leather Handbags!

Tenille and Corie of Corrente Leather Handbags

By now, you may know that I get excited about entrepreneurs raising funds in clever ways to grow their businesses. Last weekend, I featured Brewla Bar’s Kickstarter Project. And this weekend, I’m thrilled to feature Corrente Handbags’ Kickstarter Project!

Corrie Humble is the wonderfully creative designer behind the Brooklyn-based Corrente, and she is raising money to produce an exciting new line of handbags. Please have a look at her Kickstarter project and contribute, or share the link with your friends! It all helps Corrie meet her goal!

This Weekend’s Market Picks in the Meatpacking District!

Some of the world’s best known designers have boutiques in the Meatpacking District. And now there are amazing independent and emerging designers in the neighborhood as well, not to mention one of the finest food markets in the city. So I thought I’d feature two designer and one food market together as one great way to spend a day in Manhattan.

Chelsea Market: This food market is open 7 days a week. It is filled with specialty food shops, from imported Italian products, freshly baked breads, and fresh fruits and vegetables, to cheese, fish, and meat shops. You can visit this market for lunch or dinner, and you can also stock up on fine delicacies for your weekly home menu. It’s also the perfect place to find gifts for the foodies in your life.

Independent Designers Pop Shop at Chelsea Market: This is the second market event for this group of artisan entrepreneurs from around the city. The list includes clothing designers, a lovely variety of jewelry and accessories, lingerie, handmade bath and body products, and more. So come to Chelsea Market for food and for this incredible opportunity to shop directly from some of New York’s best and brightest designers. And I’m not just saying that – this group is really talented! It runs through Monday, August 8th.

Young Designers Market in the Meatpacking District: This market has been a pillar of Nolita for years, and they recently opened a second location on 14th Street. If you like jewelry, you will find an amazing variety of designs and styles here. New and independent fashion and accessories designers also sell their high quality products here.

You can spend half a day wandering through these markets, and then pick up a picnic at Chelsea Market for a stroll along the entire length of the fabulous High Line Park!

Weekend Market Picks – July 23-24, 2011!

The image above is by Naima Rauam, a fine artist known for her images of the old Fulton Fish Market. She keeps this institution alive through her watercolors. You can meet the artist in person every Sunday at the Fulton Stall Market.

Here are this weekend’s Market Picks!

Saturday and Sunday, July 23 and 24

Dekalb Market: This weekend marks the Grand Opening of the new Dekalb Market in Downtown Brooklyn! This market combines artisans, food entrepreneurs, and agriculture, along with music and educational events. It is made from upcycled shipping containers, and I cannot wait to see how it turned out!

Better Than Jam Pop Up on Governor’s Island: Bushwick’s Better Than Jam Coop is running this year’s Etsy artisans coop on Governor’s Island! Take the free ferry to the island, where you’ll find many of the local market artisans’ work in this historical home-turned-handmade-boutique.

Saturday, July 23

Abingdon Square Greenmarket: This farmers market feels neighborly and intimate as it wraps around the lovely park in the West Village. In fact, it actually has 16 farmers and food vendors during the peak season now! Go and enjoy this sweet market for yourself while it’s bursting with the ripest fruits of the season!

Sunday, July 24

Fulton Stall Market: The Fulton Stall Market is just such a great place to hang out in the shade, grab a snack, and have a snack and a chat. The vibe is laid back, and there’s a great variety of things to choose from, including produce, meats, and other staples, as well as frozen pops, coffee, and handmade crafts. They’re right across the street from the New Amsterdam Market, and it’s easy and lovely to stroll through both!

Greenflea: The Greenflea is great on a weekend like this one because there is a lot of shade among the vendor tents, and there are also vendors selling inside the school. So don’t let the heat deter you from visiting one of the best vintage and flea markets in town.

I think we all agree that it’s hot in New York City. So let’s move along and talk about what we’re going to do this weekend, shall we? For starters, we’re putting a bottle of water in the freezer tonight so that it will be frozen for tomorrow. We’ll pull it out in the morning, slather on the sun block, bust out our floppy sun hats, and heading to the markets!

My Market Haul – And Then Some!

Have you heard of “haul videos”? Usually they are videos created by girls showing us their “haul,” or everything they bought at the mall that weekend. Well, I get just as excited about the things I find at the artisan, farmer, food and flea markets in New York City!

So here is a photo of My Market Haul for this past weekend. It doesn’t include all the delicious things I tasted or gobbled up, but I thought it made a pretty collage. I made it to the markets closest to home on Sunday, namely the Fulton Stall Market and the New Amsterdam Market. Items in this photo are the following market items:

Peaches, Tomatoes and a Maitake Mushroom, Do Re Mi Farms – Perfect!
Balsamic Vinaigrette Basico, SchoolHouse Kitchen – Tangy and tasty!
Cream Soda Syrup, P&H Soda Co. – As a gift for someone very lucky special.
Moses Sleeper Cheese, The Cellars at Jasper Hill – It’s creamy and delicious.
The Queens Guard and Ceylon Teas, Bellocq Tea Atelier – Both blends are remarkable, especially iced.
Eiffel Tower Ring, UrbanRose – I got three of these for my Francophile friends to ensure we all end up in Paris together very soon.

I will be featuring the other amazing things I ate at these markets during the week. What treasures did you find?

Weekend Market Picks for July 16-17, 2011

I am thrilled to feature the wonderful array of products from SchoolHouse Kitchen! I first tried their jams, chutneys, mustards and vinaigrettes at the New Amsterdam Market, and I cannot get over the flavors and the combinations they use. My current favorite is Cherry Blackberry Sage & Clove Spreadable Fruit, which is equally delicious on toast as it is as a marinade for chicken. They just brought out two new vinaigrettes that got rave reviews at the Fancy Food Show in DC last weekend: Poppyseed Vinaigrette Revival and the Coconut Citrus Vinaigrette. Yes, you read it right! They give a percentage of their proceeds to education charities, and all the products are made with high quality, natural ingredients. I have taken their motto to heart: Eat well, eat in moderation, and be adventurous.

And now for this weekend’s Market Picks for everyone who is staying in town this weekend of visiting New York City from far and wide:

Saturday & Sunday

Antiques Garage and the Annex: These two markets are located across 6th Avenue from each other, and it’s worth it to stroll through both locations. The Garage has two floors of diverse vintage and antique items, from books and prints to clothing and ship memborabilia, and everything in between. You know you love digging for treasures, and you should spend some time at the Annex – clothing, jewelry, records, and vintage everything. Manhattan

Essex Street Market: If you haven’t gone shopping at the Essex Street Market, go this weekend. And bring a tote bag! This market opened in 1940 when Mayor LaGuardia got all the street vendors off the street and into new market buildings. Today, you can find cheese, fish, meats, coffee, pastries, bread, handmade chocolates, and much more! Manhattan

Park Slope Flea Market: Have you been walking past this market for years, take the time to go inside and see all the wonderful things there. The Park Slope Flea is a classic flea market, with vintage clothing, homewares, furniture, and even artwork and sweet bonsai trees. Brooklyn

Saturday

Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket: The Grand Army Plaza Market is the largest one in Brooklyn, akin to the Union Square Greenmarket in size and variety of foods sold. But it’s a lot more laid back, with families, joggers from the park, and people strolling with their dogs, all browsing through the produce, bread, fish, and more. GrowNYC has textile recycling and compost collection every weekend too! It’s also a short walk from the Park Slope Flea! Brooklyn

Sunday

Greenflea: The Greenflea is back on the Picks List because it’s just so great. There are some amazing vendors there, including vintage, fleas, jewelry of all kinds, delicious market food, furniture, and this guy (Scott Jordan). Wander around the outdoor market, and then visit the vintage vendors inside the school cafeteria. Manhattan

It’s going to be a wonderful weekend, so head out to the markets and let us know what you bought and what you ate! And don’t forget to pick up something delicious from SchoolHouse Kitchen on Saturday at Smorgasburg and Sunday at the New Amsterdam Market!

Photo of the Day – July 13, 2011: Sanjules Art Creations

Sanjules Art Creations at the Astoria Market

Artist Sandra Second and her husband Julien of Sanjules Art Creations had the sparkliest table at the Astoria Market last Sunday! They transfer their original artwork to sheets of adhesive crystal fabric and apply them to high quality T-shirts. Originally from the Caribbean, Sandra and Julien make their home in Brooklyn, where they produce all of their t-shirts and jewelry. The Photo of the Day features the fabulous “Foxy.”

In fact, all their designs are bursting with color and creativity. They have their own version of the “I ♥ New York” design, where the text is actually enveloped inside the heart. They have versions for Brooklyn and Queens, as well as cities their fans and customers have requested. They also have a line of heart-shaped flag designs for Afro-centric countries throughout the Caribbean and Africa.

Sanjules has designs for men, women and children. You can wash these garments inside out, and the sparkly crystals will not come off! Visit the Sanjules website (they’re working on a redesign, which should be ready to launch soon). They sell their designs at artisan markets throughout the region. Follow Sanjules on Facebook to find out they’ll be next!

Photo of the Day – July 12, 2011: WebbedWare Vintage Fabric Jewelry

Courtney Webb is the thoughtful and clever designer behind WebbedWare. Courtney uses vintage fabrics to create colorful, versatile, and very pretty cuffs, necklaces, earrings and rings. The fabric is affixed to the metal design foundation using a clear acrylic that not only protects the fabric and makes the entire piece more durable, it also enhances the colors. Each cuff and ring is lined with leather for a very comfortable fit.

To me, WebbedWare designs appear retro and modern at the same time, like the classic Diane Von Furstenburg Wrap Dress. They also have a preppy feel, with bold and classic patterns. You can wear every one of Courtney’s handmade pieces to any kind of event at any time of day.

Find Courtney and WebbedWare every weekend at the Artists and Fleas Market in Williamsburg, or visit her online shop. Courtney is also a member of the {NewNew} Etsy Artisan Group.

Weekend Market Picks: July 9-10, 2011 + Cherries!!!

It is going to be a fantastic weekend to spend outdoors in New York City. If you are second homeless and therefore staying in town all summer, then come hang out with me at the markets. And if you are visiting New York City, definitely check out the fantastic food and buy all your souvenirs directly from New York’s finest artisans!

And stop by any Greenmarket to pick up plump, juicy cherries, like the ones in the photo from the Cheerful Cherry Farm!

Saturday & Sunday

Brooklyn Flea: I’m definitely feeling the need to visit the Brooklyn Flea, as it’s been a few weeks. Looking forward to seeing my usual favorites and checking out what’s new in food, artisans, and fleas! Saturday in the Ft. Green location and Sunday in Williamsburg.

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market and Sunday Gourmet Food Truck Bazaar: The Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market is one of the largest and best traditional fleas in the city, and they have invited members of the {NewNew} Etsy Artisan Group to add to the variety. The first Sunday of every month, they also host the Food Truck Bazaar, featuring some of the city’s fabulous food on wheels!

Saturday

Hester Street Fair: Gotta send you to the Hester Street Fair this Saturday! In addition to the well-selected vintage, flea, and handmade sellers there, they sent out the list of featured food vendors. Appetizers, main course, main course, dessert, dessert, dessert. Take notes and let me know what you ate!

St. George Greenmarket: This is a good weekend to hop on the Staten Island Ferry and visit the St. George Greenmarket. It overlooks the harbor and the New York City skyline, and it features premier Greenmarket sellers of fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, seafood, and more. This borough features amazing vistas, architecture, and even wildlife – more than 117 species of birds!

Sunday

Astoria Market: Yes! The Astoria Market is back this weekend. Handmade and vintage goods at this artisan market in the Main Hall of the Bohemian Hall — you know, the one with the Beer Garden! Check out some of the very cool products you’ll find there this weekend on the Astoria Market Blog!

New Amsterdam Market: The New Amsterdam Market is back this Sunday after a July 4th hiatus. This weekend’s food market lineup includes breads, meats, mead, lobster rolls, artisanal sodas, sweets, imported tea, and many more edible luxuries.

Take pictures and let us know your favorite finds and tastiest treats! Someone is making me a cherry pie on Sunday! If you have a great recipe, please share!

Weekend Market Picks for July 2-3, 2011!

I love staying in town when everyone else leaves because it feels like I have it all to myself. But I’ll share New York City with you this weekend if you happened to stay in town or come for a visit!

Here are my Artisan, Farmer, Food and Flea Market Picks for this Fourth of July holiday weekend:

Saturday and Sunday, July 2 – 3, 2011

Antiques Garage: It’s supposed to be a beautiful weekend, but if you’re just too darn hot, go stroll around the Antiques Garage. It has two full floors of antique and vintage dealers, selling clothing, memorabilia, furniture, jewelry, and many many more treasures. On the second floor, look through the amazing collection on the tables of Hobbit Rare Books and Prints.

Bleecker Street/Pompeii Artisan Market: To be honest, I walked by this market a thousand times on my way to or from Murray’s Cheese and Faicco’s on Bleecker Street for a prosciutto ball. But when I actually stopped to look, I was amazed by the wonderful handmade and vintage wares, as well as the sheer variety of styles. You can find Bakelite jewelry, handmade soaps, and sweet vintage hats here. Check out Monica Jean Davidson’s jewelry designs! (Bleecker Street between Carmine and Leroy)

Nolita Market: I bet you’ve walked right by this market on your way to or from Soho. I encourage you to stop and really check out all the amazing artisans there. Shaya hand-hammered jewelry, Grey 56 fine leather goods, funny tee-shirts and a whole lot more fill the tables along the beautiful brick wall that surrounds the Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Smorgasburg: I know I’ve been going on about how great Smorgasburg is, and I’ll keep doing it! Go hungry and bring a totebag. You will find an incredibly array of prepared foods to eat then and there, and you will want to bring home fantastic artisanal products to cook with and eat later. Look for SchoolHouse Kitchen’s jams, mustards and Chutneys!

Williamsburg Waterfront Greenmarket: As if Smorgasburg wasn’t great enough, there is a big, wonderful Greenmarket on the site too with almost 20 farmers doing food demos and other family activities. So many delicious foods are in season right now!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Fulton Stall Market: There are loads of edible and artisanal treasures at the Fulton Stall Market this weekend down at the Seaport. Sweets and savories to eat while you shop, as well as produce, fresh fish, dairy, cheese, and baked goods. This weekend is the debut of Wooly’s Ice, selling shave ice flavored with special syrups and fresh fruits. Sounds perfect for a holiday weekend!

Have a wonderful Independence Day!