Spring Street » Markets of New York

Weekend Market Picks – July 30-31, 2011 and Brewla Bars Video

We have a new video blog! Watch this interview with Rebecca from Brewla Bars. Brewla Bars are frozen pops made from brewed beverages, like coffee and tea. They have a frozen root beer float bar that I can’t get enough of. You can find them at the Fulton Stall Market every Sunday. And please support their awesome Kickstarter Crowdfunding Project!

For my Market Picks this weekend, I’m thinking about Lower Manhattan. There are some wonderful, established markets that stay enticing and exciting by keeping outstanding sellers and bringing in new ones all the time. An afternoon stroll through all of these markets takes you through Soho, Nolita, the Lower East Side and points in between.

Saturday and Sunday

Ahkun Summer Pop Up Shop: Ahkun is a non-profit organization that connects micro-financed companies to the global marketplace. They are holding a pop-up shop at the Lower East Side Girls Club. Shop for “style with a conscience,” featuring fair trade organizations, independent designers, sustainable brands, and gourmet popsicles!

St. Anthony’s Market: I love strolling through this market on Houston Street because there are always so many interesting vendors there. Plus, it’s wide open, right on the sidewalk, and easy to get to. I bet you’ve walked by it a million times. So this weekend stop, chat and stop!

Nolita Market: The Nolita Market is on Prince Street between Mulberry and Spring Streets. This is another sidewalk market, set against the beautiful backdrop of the brick church wall at the Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It’s a nice walk from St. Anthony’s so make sure you hit both!

The Market NYC – Young Designers Market: This is a market you have to visit on a regular – and frequent - basis because there is so much design talent in jewelry, fashion, and accessories. They have two locations every weekend now, the original at 268 Mulberry, just around the corner from the Nolita Market, and the other at 328 14th St. in the Meatpacking District.

Essex Street Market: This indoor market is a haven for foodie explorers. There’s a lot to discover, from the cheeses, the breads, and the fresh fish, to the international foods, the handmade chocolates, and the Italian gourmet food shop. It’s also the home to La Tiendita, the city’s only “girl made and fair trade” social venture business, founded in 1998 by the Lower East Side Girls Club. So visit their facilities for the Ahkun Market, and then stroll over visit their shop, La Tiendita, at the Essex Street Market for some delicious baked goods!

Have a great mid-summer weekend! And don’t forget to tell us about your own Market Haul!

Aixa Sobin Hits the Streets with Fine Handmade Leather Wares

I met Aixa Sobin last year at Artists and Fleas in Williamsburg. Her leather bags, belts and bags are made from rich, buttery leathers, and she hand sews each ond of her original designs. I ran into Aixa on the the streets of Soho and asked her talk with my video camera. Two women nearby had just purchased stylish belts from her, and one of them said, “Can you imagine finding handmade leather products like this right out on the street?!”

You can find Aixa Sobin most days out in front of Balthazar on Spring Street between Crosby and Broadway.

Her website is www.aixasobinleathers.com, and she also has a store on Etsy. And follow Aixa on Facebook!

Photo of the Day – August 12, 2010: Mano Jewelry Designs

The Old Cathedral Market on Prince Street in Nolita is picturesque against the churchyard’s old brick wall. It is a relatively small market, but it is filled with some pretty amazing handmade crafts. Under one umbrella halfway down the block, you will find Mano Jewelry Designs. This artisan creates handmade rings, necklaces, and cuffs in silver for men and women. He uses rich and unusual accents in his pieces. His silver rings and cuffs have bands of ebony wood around them. He has one large men’s ring in silver and ebony with a black diamond embedded in it. The combination of the earthy ebony with the dark diamond makes a seriously masculine statement.

The ebony bands come in narrow and wider widths and sizes, and people have chosen them as wedding bands. The silver bands pictured also come in sizes for women and men. Each piece exudes quality craftsmanship, care, and attention to detail.

Stop by Mano Jewelry Designs and see for yourself at the Old Cathedral Market on weekend days!

Photo of the Day – August 10, 2010: Grey56 Leather

Tweed and Leather Bag from Grey56 Leather at the Old Cathedral Market

Grey56 Leather sells their beautiful handmade leather goods at the Old Cathedral Market on the sidewalk in Soho every weekend. Their designs are geared towards men, including buttery leather bags and masculine cuffs and belts. The bag pictured is their original design made from wool tweed fabric and soft leather, and it is fully lined. All of their pieces are handmade in Manhattan with an extremely fine level of craftsmanship.

These designers are another wonderful reason to shop at the markets of New York City to find high quality and trendsetting artisanal products.

The Old Cathedral Market is open weekend days on Spring Street between Mott & Mulberry in Soho. You can also find Grey56 Leather’s products in their Etsy shop online