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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!

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!

Weekend Market Picks — And Yona’s Gourmet Delights!

Yona's Gourmet Delights Provides the Perfect Snacks for Market Shoppers

I’ve been munching on Yona’s Gourmet Delights for several years now. It never ceases to delight me to find Yona’s delicious borekas and mini-quiches at a market. You can purchase a bag of three, and they make for the perfect snack. Her tables are always my first stop at the Greenflea, and recently saw Yona herself at the 9th Avenue Food Festival with Oreo Cookie Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, and Carrot Cakes. Gigantic and sweet – just the way I like my cakes!

Here are my Market Picks for this weekend – June 11-12, 2011:

Saturday and Sunday

Renegade Craft Fair: The Renegade is like heaven on earth for hand made craft lovers. From the most whimsical to the finest design, every artisan at this event is seriously dedicated and talented. This is a juried event, and it is highly competitive to get accepted into. So trust me when I tell you to set a budget for the day, even though I know you will exceed it with no regrets.

Crafts at Lincoln Center: This wonderful outdoor American crafts show runs this weekend and next. 400 juried craftspeople from around the country bring their handmade treasures to Lincoln Center. The event features continuous entertainment, craft demonstrations, exotic and natural foods. And if you’re driving into the city, you can get a $2 discount coupon for parking in the nearby indoor garage.

Saturday Only

Artisan Market at Fort Greene Park: This sweet market features local artisans who are there in the shade of the black walnut trees outside Fort Greene Park, bringing their work directly to you. It is in its 7th year, and it continues to provide a venue for some remarkable designers, from ceramics, fine clothing designs and hats to handmade soaps and children’s toys. I’ve seen some remarkable products in this sweet market.

Fort Green Greenmarket: I always tune into the happy vibe at this farmers market. It is a distinct and unique feeling based on the great relationships between the market vendors and the community, who find true value and pleasure underneath the market tents. Neighbors stop by for fresh juice and a muffin after a run in the park, or they’ll bring their kids to pick up produce for the week. So go to the Artisan Market and pick up some delicious fresh treats at the Greenmarket just up the hill.

Sunday Only

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Food Truck Bazaar: Don’t have time to chase your favorite trucks around the city? Then come to this one-stop food truck shop for all your favorite treats! Kimchi Taco Truck, Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, Kelvin Natural Slush Truck, and The Cavity Shoppe, as well as the HKFM debuts of Coolhaus, Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck and Two Pitas in a Pod!

Hester Street Fair’s Sunday Summer Picnic: The Hester Street Fair is devoting Sundays to special food events, and this weekend is the first one! They invited over 20 food purveyors because of their picnicky food. How awesome is that? The idea is to come, grab a bite of something delicious, grab a seat, and chat with your neighbors. You can play ping pong and enjoy live music too. Can’t think of a nicer way to spend a Sunday!

Enjoy the weekend! And don’t forget your sunscreen!

Market Picks for June 4-5 and Happy Birthday to My Sister Andrea!

It’s my middle sister Andrea’s birthday! I thought I’d post a picture of the two of us on the way to the beach in Cape Elizabeth, Maine sometime during the latter half of the 20th Century. She’s will be coming to New York in a couple of weeks, and we’ll definitely be hitting the markets. She loves markets as much as I do! Please tweet her a Happy Birthday message @AndyMike01!

I can’t help but go on about the beautiful weather we’ve been having, which couldn’t be better for strolling through this week’s Market Picks:

Saturday and Sunday

Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit: The WSOAE is back on the list for its second weekend. There are some fantastic works of art on the sidewalks of the Village, as well as beautiful handmade crafts. Saturday and Sunday

Artists & Fleas: This market is full of carefully selected fleas and fine handmade jewelry, accessories, soaps, art, photography, and much more. And I’ll fill you in on a secret: they also have fantastic local food vendors! Satisfy your inner foodie without spending valuable shopping time waiting in lines. Saturday and Sunday

Saturday Only

Smorgasburg: This market is such a brilliant idea for food lovers and for the talented and tasty food innovators in the city. For my own sake, I am hoping the lines have calmed down a little at the Brooklyn Flea’s new food market. For the market’s sake, I’m sure it will continue to be jam packed with eager eaters! Saturday only

Sunday Only

New Amsterdam Market: The market opens this weekend for a season of weekly events. They are promising the return of our favorite food vendors and also some new ones we will surely fall in love with immediately. Thankyouthankyouthankyou. Sunday only
Fulton Stall Market: Back for the season too, this market is a wonderful service to the Seaport neighborhood. It features a lovely, balanced mix of food vendors, farmers, artisans, and even fine artist, Naima Rauam, whose paintings feature beautiful scenes from the Fulton Fish Market. Sunday only

Enjoy your weekend and Happy Marketing!

New Video! Market Signs: Beautiful, Personal, and Helpful

As I wander through the farmers markets, artisan markets and flea markets, I love to look at all the different kinds of signs. Signs are written in chalk, Sharpie, pen, and colored markers, on chalkboards, whiteboards, cardboard, or bits of paper – whatever it takes to get the message out to the customers. I especially like the handwritten ones, and the ones with special messages on them. I also like the straightforward messages about the item and pricing. And the ones that go the extra distance to provide a bit more information, or even a marketing twist: not just a seedless watermelon, but a “Sweet Little Seedless Watermelon.” How can we possibly resist?

The theme song is “Heaven,” by Brooklyn’s own Hilary Hawke and the Flipsides. You can often hear them playing at the Greenpoint/McCarren Park Greenmarket.

Even the Heat Can’t Dampen the Fun at the Union Square Market

Yesterday’s heat advisory dampened t-shirts all over town, but it certainly did not dampen the energy at the Union Square’s Saturday Greenmarket! The fruits, vegetables, seafood, bread, honey, jam and so much more remained cool and fresh under the tents. James and I were out on our Summer Markets Book Tour, spending the day with the Greenmarkets/GrowNYC team and meeting market shoppers from across New York City and the world – Australia, England, Spain, and Mexico!

I’ve posted 10 of my favorite photos of the day, taken by James, featuring the energy and colors of the markets. We even enjoyed an extended visit from a butterfly, who landed on one of the chefs from the Natural Gourmet Institute as they prepared a food demo of blueberry cornmeal pancakes. I guess even a butterfly can’t resist a home made pancake.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hi, especially my friends Chris and Lucinda, Joseph and Miss Molly the Min Pin (pictured), Lauren and Lauren, and Jen! And a huge thank you to Market Manager Tara and her team, and to GrowNYC for your hospitality yesterday and for your wonderful service to the city! Follow Union Square Greenmarket on Twitter (@unsqgreenmarket).

And now I’m off to the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market for the afternoon! It’s going to be another wonderful day at the Markets of New York City!

Basis Good Food For All Brings Fresh Local Food to the City Streets

I first met the people of Basis Good Food For All at the New Amsterdam Market last year. I was impressed with the quality and variety of the foods they had in their market stall, including fresh produce, creamy dairy products, beautiful brown eggs, and jars of golden honey that is among the best I’ve ever tasted. But I was also surprised by their reasonable prices. Eating locally produced, fully traceable foods is something to aspire to, but one of the biggest challenges to this pursuit is the fact that it is quite expensive at this stage in the Food Movement. That said, I firmly believe that Basis is leading the way to the next stage, which is to make this healthful lifestyle accessible to everyone.

In their own words, “Basis is a mission-driven company based in New York City committed to good food for all. We are passionate about good food that is traditional, localized, and 100% traceable. We partner with producers and local communities to sell good food at affordable prices.”

That really says it all. So when I heard about their neighborhood market yesterday on 48th Street and 8th Avenue, just a block off of Times Square, I went for a visit. The market is one of several activities of a new partnership between Basis and real-estate company Stonehenge Partners to educate consumers and bring good food from family farms to the community in and around Stonehenge properties throughout New York City.

The two small tents were filled with the same beautiful, healthy products that I’ve seen at the New Amsterdam Market. The clientele was a mix of neighborhood residents buying fresh groceries (veggies, fruit, milk, cheese, butter) and tourists picking up snacks (yogurt, plums, peaches). It was great to see neighbors discovering the market on their way home from work. There’s something about coming across a farmers market in the middle of the hustle and bustle of a mid-town cross street that makes you stop for a minute, take a deep breath, and gather some juicy tomatoes for dinner.

Basis was also voted Best Grocery Delivery by New York Magazine earlier this year. So while it’s wonderful to go see them at the markets, you can have your fresh, local groceries delivered to your home or office (see the Basis website for details about delivery service and upcoming events).

Luckily for us all, Basis will return to the New Amsterdam Market on Saturday, July 24 from 11AM – 4PM on South Street between Beekman Street and Peck Slip. Get there early for the best selection – that honey sells out quickly!