Miss Wit » Markets of New York

Thanks for Celebrating the Launch of Markets of New York City!

Last week we launched Markets of New York City at Posman Books in Chelsea Market. It was exactly what I hoped my Big Fat New York Book Launch Party would be, which is to say, lovely, intimate, delicious, and full of my nearests and dearests. Starting with my mom, Haydee Seiger, who sported a vintage silk dress for the occasion. My gorgeous and fabulous sister Andrea Seiger was adorned with her favorite finds from markets all over the world, from New York to Veracruz and Accra. My perfect and charming in-laws Judy Nicotra-Parker and Marcy and Thom Green showed the love too, as well as my tiny nieces Tessa and Maddie, the adorable little girl in the section on Chelsea Market (p. 169). And my bestest friend from first grade, Matt Israel, who traveled from Las Vegas despite being in the middle of launching a top-secret new product line.

The markets in the guidebook were well-represented by the wonderful vendors and visionary managers, the very people that make the markets of New York City so amazing and exciting!

I would like to thank the brilliant and kind people from The Little Bookroom. And the wonderful artisans who set up our mini-market: Miss Wit, Off the Mat, Rocks & Salt, ShayaNYC, and Take Me Homeware (Check their websites to see where they’ll be each weekend!) The delicious platters of food were contributed by Amy’s Bread, Buon Italia, and Manhattan Fruit Exchange in the Chelsea Market. And thank you to Sohung Tom of Sohung Designs for my killer dress! Thanks also to Time Out New York for helping promote this event out of all the amazing things going on in the city every single day. And, of course, my darling husband James Wesolowski was the one cutting up the bread, taking photos, and being the wonderful man he is.

Thank you everyone who showed up in person and in spirit (that would be my sister Leslie, who was in the middle of giving final exams)! I will remember and cherish that evening forever.

Fabulous Food and Crafts at the Brooklyn Lyceum

On May 1st and 2nd, the Brooklyn Lyceum was host to the wonderful Spring Food and Crafts Market. I went to the Lyceum’s Holiday Market in December, and I bought loads of gifts. The manuscript for the guidebook had already been submitted, but I called my editor at Little Bookroom and asked if there was any way we could make a last minute addition. This market was too good to leave out of the book.

Fortunately, Little Bookroom and our wonderful book designer worked it all out, and the Lyceum Market is indeed featured in the guidebook, which is officially released on May 11. So when the Lyceum invited us to do a pre-publication launch of Markets of New York City at the Spring Market, I was thrilled.

There were over 100 truly talented artisan and food vendors, and likely over a thousand wonderful shoppers. I cannot say enough about the high quality of the handmade goods. It was nice to see vendors meeting their repeat customers who come find them at the various markets around town. And there was a good deal of buzz around the food, which was in abundance, including BaconMarmalade, P&H Soda and Syrup (who kept me going in the heat with icy cream sodas), and the beautiful macarons from Macaron Parlour. I also brought home Niki and Doug’s Ramp Butter, which we have been slathering on pretty much everything this week (everything that wasn’t already slathered with BaconMarmalade, that is).

People were very excited about the guidebook, those who wanted to know where all the great markets are and even those who know all about them already. This was my first experience as a New York market vendor, and I had a great time, although it gave me first-hand experience as to how hard the vendors work every weekend while the rest of us are strolling through the markets munching on cupcakes and Yona’s mini-quiches. On Sunday evening, I went home, put my feet up, and fell sound asleep.

Book Launch Events – Posman Books and Brooklyn Indie Market

Tuesday, May 11 – Official Publication Day!

Markets of New York City goes on sale online and in bookstores today!

Thursday, May 20 – Publication Party! You’re Invited!

Book signing and reception from 6 pm – 8 pm (Bonus – Meet my mom, Haydee, to whom the book is dedicated.)
Posman Books at Chelsea Market
9th Avenue at 15th Street, Manhattan (A, C, E, 2, & 3 Trains to 14th Street)

Refreshments will be provided by Chelsea Market shops, including Manhattan Fruit Exchange, Chelsea Wine Vault, Buon Italia, and Amy’s Bread.
Five artisans representing several of the markets featured in the guidebook will be selling their handmade items as well:

Shaya NYC: Fine Handcrafted Jewelry
Miss Wit Industrial Light and Tragic: Tee Shirt Designs
Off the Mat: Soaps, Scents, and Accessories Inspired by Yoga
Rocks and Salt: Handmade Hats an Accessories
Take Me Homeware: Unique Handmade Ceramics

Saturday, May 22 – Markets of New York City Celebrates Handmade Brooklyn!

Meet many of the vendors featured in the guidebook at this full-day event especially for Brooklyn! Book signing from 11 am – 5 pm
Brooklyn Indie Market, Details on Yelp.com
Smith Street & Union Street, Brooklyn (F & G Trains to Carrol Street)

I wanted to do something to honor a colleague who died in the earthquake in Haiti, Gerardo Le Chevalier. So, with permission of his family, we will be collecting donations for Doctors Without Borders at “Celebrate Handmade Brooklyn” in Gerardo’s memory for their ongoing work in helping Haiti recover from the disastrous effects of the earthquake earlier this year.

Pre-Publication Book Launch at the Brooklyn Lyceum This Weekend!

I will be at the Brooklyn Lyceum’s Spring Food and Craft Market with The Little Bookroom this weekend! Please stop by, say hi, and pick up your advance copy of the guidebook!

Many of the wonderful vendors featured in the guidebook and blog are also going to be at the Lyceum, and they are offering awesome special discounts with your book purchase:

•Alison Tauber: $5 off one shirt

•Bacon Marmalade: Discount on Jars or Baked Goods

•Fine and Raw Chocolates: Chunky Bonbon 2 for $10 (regular price $7 each)

•KnitKnit Knits: 10% off one item

•Lovely Day Designs/LuCrafts: 20% on total purchase

•McFlashpants : 10% discount on total purchase

•Meow Meow Tweet: $1.00 off total purchase

•Miss Wit Tees for Good Times: 15% on total purchase

•Nordea Soaperie: Free 1.5 oz Body Polish with $45 total purchase

•Off the Mat: 20% discount on total purchase

•Pumpkin and Honey Bunny/P&H Soda and Syrup Inc.: $.50 off purchase of sodas and greeting cards

•Rocks and Salt Design: 10% discount on hats

•Sour Puss Pickles: $1.50 off a jar of Green Tomato Relish

•Take Me Homeware: 20% discount on total purchase

•Virginia Kraljevic Illustrations and Cards: 20% discount on total purchase

•Yona’s Gourmet Delights: $1.00 off your purchase of any two combos

Miss Wit’s Industrial Light and Tragic T-Shirt Designs

I can appreciate a good funny t-shirt, except for the fellow I saw actually wearing his “I’m With Stupid” t-shirt in Paris. (His girlfriend was not amused.) When I see a really hysterical one, I’m happy to show my appreciation with a loud chuckle. The cleverest t-shirts I’ve seen in a long time come from Miss Wit, this week’s Vendor of the Week for the Brooklyn Lyceum’s Spring Food and Crafts Market.

If you spend a couple of minutes with Deb Goldstein, Miss Wit herself, you will understand her humor and great energy. The t-shirt that cracks me up the most says, “I can’t stop googling myself.” (But I’m too shy to wear it…) I also love her 1980’s music collection, including “Her name is Rio. She don’t need to understand,” and “Turn Around Bright Eyes.” Deb understands why the Beach Boys are funny too; her Black Flag/Beach Boys tee is one of her best sellers. Her “Ego Friendly” and “Mudflap Girl” designs are a must for today’s hippest fashionistas. Her Oscar’s tee, “…and I want to thank Harvey Weinstein,” struck a lot of people’s funny bones and was a runaway success.

All of Deb’s designs are her own, except for the Beach Boys Song Topics Venn Diagram (original design by Dan Meth) and the beautiful bird and branch designs by her mother. Her brother assists with the graphic design, but Deb learned Photoshop so that she could create more complex images. Some of her designs include “found” images and most are witty takes on popular culture. Her printing is done in Brooklyn.

I’ve posted her images of some of my favorite t-shirts, but you really have to go to Misswit.net to see them all. Or you can meet Miss Wit in person at the Brooklyn Lyceum Market on May 1 & 2! You’ll be glad you did!