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Markets Picks This Weekend – May 21-22: So Many Markets, So Little Time!

WOW! This Saturday is chock full of market openings and events! I’m posting the Market Picks mid-week so you can prepare and plan your busy, hungry weekend. We’re hoping it turns out sunny and apocalypse-free.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Brooklyn Craft Central’s Shop the Archway: Markets of New York City is a proud sponsor of this wonderful artisan and food market! The location is worth seeing too. The photo above is a tote bag from Astor Knot, one of the clever artisan entrepreneurs you’ll meet under the Archway! (Brooklyn)

Agora Long Island City Market: The Agora Market in Long Island City is the second artisan and food market to open in Queens! This Saturday is their second event. I didn’t make it to the opening, but the photos look great! Where you there? (Queens)

Bedford Barrow Commerce (BBC) Block Association’s Ye Olde Village Fair: This neighborhood street fair is back for it’s 18th year! And for the first time, it is featuring only juried crafters and artists. (Manhattan)

Christopher Street Block & Merchant Association Affair: Lucky for us, this neighborhood fair coincides with the BBC event. Nothing better than strolling through the lovely streets of Greenwich Village this weekend! On Christopher St. between Seventh Ave. and Hudson St. (Manhattan)

Bust Craftacular: There’s no denying that the Bust Craftaculars are huge handmade shopping events! They are always wildly popular and loaded with fantastic artisans. This spring’s events will be no different, except for its new location at 82 Mercer Street between Broome and Spring! (Manhattan)

Smorgasburg – A Brooklyn Flea Food Market: The Brooklyn Flea is about to become an even bigger international foodie mecca! Smorgasburg launches on Saturday in the Williamsburg waterfront location between North 6th and North 7th St., at the East River. There will be over 100 food and food-related vendors, including a Greenmarket. Smorgasburg will be a weekly event. (Brooklyn)

Sunday, May 22, 2011:

Astoria Market: The Astoria artisan market is back for its second year at Bohemian Hall! Artisans, craft shopping, and beer – if that’s not the trifecta for a good afternoon, I don’t know what is! (Queens)

Fine Art and Designer Craft Fair on Bleeeker Street: This festival to raise funds for the Greenwich Village Youth Council is in its 16 year! The quality of the artwork and crafts will be very high, so definitely take a stroll through this market in the heart of the Village.

Greenflea and 79th Street/Columbus Avenue Greenmarket: This weekend, the Greenmarket is back on Columbus Avenue after three weekends of being hosted by the Greenflea during Crafts on Columbus, which ended last weekend. I just have to mention my good friend Carolyn of Wacky Magnets, whose funny magnets will crack you right up! Look for her bright yellow tent just inside the Columbus Avenue Entrance! (Manhattan)

All the ongoing weekend Markets are running full Swing! This week’s picks:

Artists & Fleas: The oldest Market 2.0 in the city, Artists & Fleas’ new location is spacious and filled with great talent and products! (Brooklyn)
Arthur Avenue Retail Market: It is Bronx Week! Go celebrate with some incredible Italian delicacies and a hand rolled cigar from La Casa Grande at this market! (Bronx)

I will definitely see you at Shop the Archway, and I’m figuring out how I can make it to the other great events as well! Let me know what markets you’ll be visiting! And welcome to the lovely Italian journalist who contacted me for market recommendations for her visit to our fair city.

Inspired by Squash & This Art Print Could Be Yours!

Winter Squash Print by Claudia Pearson for Greenmarkets (image from Claudia Pearson)

Who doesn’t love a squash? Butternut, Potimarron, Spaghetti, Acorn, Blue Hubbard – there are more varieties than I ever gave this humble vegetable credit for.

And I absolutely love this new Squash Print by talented illustrator, Claudia Pearson, which she created in partnership with GrowNYC. I first saw this print in December in the Union Square Greenmarket information tent, where I was doing a very very cold book signing. The print is 18″ x 24″ and will be available shortly on Claudia’s Etsy Shop for purchase.

However, if you visit Claudia Pearson’s blog and leave a nice comment about one of your favorite ways to cook squash, you could win a poster of our very own! Claudia will pick the very lucky winner randomly on March 8th.

This winter, I picked out a few new kinds of squash at the Greenmarkets and peeled and hacked them up with my newly sharpened knives. I usually toss the firm, cool chunks in a bowl with olive oil, sea salt, and pepper, and popped them in the oven on a cookie sheet fro 45 minutes at 375°. They invariably came out crispy on the outside and warm, soft, and full of flavor on the inside. Frankly, it was kind of a revelation for me how much I love squash. Next winter, I’m making potimarron soup.

Images from a Snowy Day at the Union Square Greenmarket

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloomy days stays our farmers from the Union Square Greenmarket! The snow has been falling like popcorn since last night, turning into slush when it lands. And our farmers and local food purveyors are out there today, selling cold but tasty baked goods, apples, pretzels, squashes and more. Breezy Hill Orchard has hot apple cider!

Thank you for keeping the market going, no matter the weather. Days like today, as much as the glorious, bountiful days of summer, are why we love New York City’s Greenmarkets as much as we do!

With apologies to the US Postal Service Creed.

Video of the Day: The New Astoria Market & Yania Creations

Last weekend I headed up to see the new Astoria Market! I’m so happy to see Queens kicking it up a notch in the handmade world. The borough has wonderful food from all over the world, the glorious Jackson Heights Greenmarket, and apartments that are [relatively] affordable, and now they have the Astoria Market! Queens, you got it goin’ on!

The market takes place every Sunday in the large. wood-paneled auditorium inside Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden, the oldest beer garden in New York City. So if you’ve been there for some suds, now you can also enjoy shopping from a great selection of very talented artisans selling beautiful handmade jewelry, as well as other accessories, tee shirts, clothing, children’s toys, and a whole lot more.

I met up with Yania of Yania Creations, who makes colorful, beautiful jewelry using amthyst, garnets, citrines, pearls and other precious and semi-precious stones. Her sense of color is quite daring, with wonderful, bright combinations. I really love her work. Yania is also a member of The {NewNew} Artisan Group.

Definitely go visit the Astoria Market on Sundays from 12pm – 5pm! And when you’re done shopping, walk over to the beer garden to fondle all your new treasures.

Totes To Make You LOL: Interview with Leslie Jowett Astor of Astorknot

Leslie Jowett Astor of Astorknot, Featured Vendor at the Brooklyn Craft Central Holiday Craft Market

Leslie Jowett Astor of Astorknot makes fun, vibrant, and somewhat irreverent appliqué tote bags, fusing brightly colored fabric on more brightly colored fabric. These are the totes you notice at the Greenmarket that make you actually LOL. I had the chance to ask her a few key questions.

Your totes strike a funny, ironic note. Where do you get your ideas? I have a deadpan sense of humor, and I get ideas from all over the place. My teenage nieces inspired the Text Message Totes. I’m amused by their Facebook postings, the way communicate such emotion with letters rather than words, like OMG and LOL. Pop culture is a source of inspiration.

Also, everyday stuff out of context just seems funny and maybe provocative. I like it when people on the subway start conversations about the tote bag I’m carrying. I have a friend who is a very busy mother, and knitting is her escape from the daily stress of being a parent. She inspired the tote that says, “I Knit So I Won’t Kill.”

Will you be bringing other items to the Brooklyn Craft Central Market? I only sell totes, but I’ve been playing around with other things. So I’ll be bringing some tote making kits. I sold them at The {NewNew}’s Crafts in Chelsea event, and people liked them. They are an non-intimidating way to do crafts with your kids, rather than filling your house with plastic toys. Of course, I have three sons, so my house is full of plastic toys.

Your Etsy bio says that you knew you wanted to be an artist when you received your first Crayola Caddy at age 7. What is your favorite crayon color and why? There are several new colors that are interesting, but I love the classic red crayon. Red and green are my favorite colors. Red is everywhere. Blood is red, and yet red can also be beautiful. Red is intimidating and soothing at the same time. I love red with everything. The classics never die.

Why did you choose tote bags as your artistic medium? Tote bags are another way of being expressive. Like it says on one of my totes, “Remember that you’re special just like everybody else.” I try to strike a balance between my creative life and my family life. It can be tough, but it’s so worthwhile.

You can find Leslie and her totes at these events:

Sunday, December 5th: Brooklyn Heights Synagogue Book & Craft Fair, where she’ll be selling custom challah covers.
Saturday, December 11th: Artscetera Pop Up Shop, 12 Smith Street, between Baltic and Butler Streets in Brooklyn
Sunday, December 12th: Astoria Market
Saturday & Sunday, December 18th & 19th: Brooklyn Craft Central Holiday Craft Market

Pick up a tote from Astorknot, and you’ll never want to leave home without it!

Photo of the Day – November 9, 2010: Harvest Wreath from Lebak Farm

Dried Flower Holiday Wreath from Lebak Farm

I visited the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket in Brooklyn this past weekend, and I fell in love with this beautiful holiday wreath from Lebak Farm. The dried flowers in bright pink, rust, cream, and bright yellow, along with the feathery grass, all combine to give this wreath a fluffy, cheery, harvest feel. My awesome sister-in-law, Marcy Green of Dragonfly Floral and Event, tells me that the flowers include statice, strawflower (gomphrena), sesame bloom, millet, dune grass, and yarrow.

Lebak Farm is located in Burlington County, New Jersey, and they bring cut and dried flowers to the Greenmarkets. They also had wooden crates full of wheat sheaves, which will be gorgeous as centerpieces or table runners on many a Thanksgiving Table.

Follow the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket on Twitter!

Meet Me At The Markets This Weekend!

Everyone is working feverishly to get ready for the holiday markets that will be opening very soon, and I’ll be keeping you posted about all these events. For this weekend, though, I thought I’d share my plans, and maybe you can meet me there!

TONIGHT, Friday, November 6, 2010

First Friday at The Loom: It’s a Zombie Fashion Show! That’s right – the Better than Jam Co-Op, featuring many talented designers and artists from the artisan markets around New York, is hosting a fashion show at The Loom in Bushwick. Plus complimentary wine, snacks, discounts at the shops, nail and hair services, and an on-site tattoo artist! (Hold me back.) And did I mention zombies? 7:00-10:00PM, 1087 Flushing Avenue.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Abingdon Square Market: I’m finally doing a book signing for Markets of New York City at my market! I’ve been shopping here for a decade, and it’s the perfect Far West Village neighborhood experience. Fruits, veggies, breads, cookies, cheeses, flowers, kids, doggies – everything you want on a Saturday morning in New York City. Location: Hudson & 8th Ave between West 12th & Bethune Streets. I’ll be there 9AM – 12PM

Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket: Just browsing, munching and shopping in Brooklyn for the afternoon. Hoping for some delicious hot cider, apple cider donuts, and maybe some Crispin apples to take home. Hey – it’s fall and the apples are beckoning! Also looking forward to seeing the artisans near the entrance to the Prospect Park again.

Park Slope Flea Market: I owe this market a little love – it’s been too long. It’s one of the longest running markets in the city, and I love wandering around and looking at everything in detail. I’ve seen great furniture, beautiful miniatures, classic books, and even bonsai trees.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

NYC Marathon!!! Last year, as we ate a bowl of cereal at the crack of eleven and watched the New York Marathon on NY1, we promised we’d get up and out this year to watch it in person. We’ll be somewhere up on the Upper East Side in the morning to cheer on the runners. Are you running?!

New Amsterdam Market: It feel so luxurious to be able to go to this market every Sunday now. Hopefully Jimmy’s No. 43 will have their melt-in-your-mouth brisket sandwiches, or maybe well try Porchetta for lunch. Probably both (it gets tiring watching the Marathon!). Hopefully we’ll get there before Basis sells out of their honey, and we always grab a sack of chewy, buttery, amazing salt caramels from Liddabit Sweets.

Which markets will you be visiting this weekend? I’ll be checking in on Facebook, Twitter, or Foursquare! Hope to see you there!

Photo of the Day, 11/3/2010: Seckel Pears from Caradonna Farms

This morning I strolled through the Union Square Greenmarket with a friend, and we selected a pound of these sweet, firm seckel pears from Caradonna Farms. Hailing from Ulster County, New York, Caradonna’s tent is filled with the bounty of the fall harvest, including apples, squashes, concord grapes, and hearty greens. We had the pears for breakfast with a hot cup of Earl Grey tea. It’s mornings like these that make eating with the season so delicious and so right.

Photo of the Day – September 22, 2010: Milk Thistle Organic Dairy

Icy Cold Milk from Milk Thistle Organic Dairy

I came across Milk Thistle Organic Dairy at the 82nd St. Greenmarket when I was feeling particularly thirsty and hungry. I tried a pint bottle of their organic chocolate milk. It was velvety, rich and creamy, and just sweet and chocolaty enough to balance out the delicious flavor of the milk itself. Milk does have a flavor in real life. The processed grocery store milk rarely tastes like anything more than white liquid these days. But organic milk reminds you of why babies love it so much!

Milk Thistle is a family-owned farm in Ghent, NY. They use no pesticides or fertilizers, and their cows are free from synthetic hormones and antibiotics. It is a certified organic farm. And every cow has a name. (See Milk Thistle’s site for their Greenmarkets schedule.)

Photos of the Day – September 13, 2010: Muddy River Farm

I spent the morning at the Poe Park Greenmarket in the Bronx last Tuesday, where I met the farmers from Muddy River Farm in New Hampton, NY. I liked the looks of their fresh herbs, as well as the variety on their tables, from fat purple eggplants and cippolini onions to Jerusalem artichokes and garlic. I used their carrots and leeks in my split pea soup this weekend. The flavors were deep and delicious, clearly fresh from the farm.

The Poe Park Greenmarket is large and bustling, especially for a weekday market, and it is full of fresh produce and local products. Representatives from the Department of Health’s Stellar Farmers’ Markets conduct cooking demos going on all day, as well as nutrition and health sessions that attract a lively crowd of 25 or more shoppers. Muddy River Farm sets up there on Tuesdays, and you can also find them at the Union Square Market on Fridays.