Time Out New York » Markets of New York

Tonight’s Tenement Talk – The Resurgence of Markets in New York City

Please join us tonight, Tuesday, June 15, for the Tenement Talk at the New York Tenement Museum. I will be discussing the recent resurgence of markets in New York City with Anne Saxelby, Proprietor of Saxelby Cheese in the Essex Street Market, and Kimm Alfonso, Designer and Printer of Kimmchi Silkscreened Apparel. Kimm is also a director of The {NewNew}, a group of New York metro area artisans who work together to foster creativity and commerce in the handmade markets.

Refreshments will include a selection of regional cheeses from Saxelby Cheese and artisanal beef jerky from New Jerk City. Rumor has it that tonight is the debut of New Jerk City’s Manhattan flavored beef jerky!

See the listing in the Books Section in Time Out New York for more details and map to the Museum!

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.

Toast as Design Inspiration Part 3: Raw Toast Design

When we got to the Brooklyn Lyceum’s Holiday Market last December, I immediately lost my husband in the crowd. A few minutes later, he reappeared and said, “Come with me – I found the perfect gift for Dean and Trish’s new baby.” And we raced over to meet Jesse Kuhn of Raw Toast Design. Dean and Trish promised us that they would stay in the city after their baby girl was born, rather than moving out to a big house in the suburbs. And so the gift James found was a very sweet image of a bright yellow sun with a pacifier in its mouth, rising up over the city skyline. That image turned out to be Jesse Kuhn’s “The Early Birds,” a featured illustration in Time Out New York Kids. It now hangs in the light-filled room of a beautiful baby girl — in New York City.

Jesse is a designer and illustrator. He creates original artwork for commercial use, and he also sells them online and at some of the artisan markets in New York City. His images are clever and funny, and they are beautifully drawn with generally subtle colors. I actually feel bad for the “Poor Little Calamari” being dragged out of the ocean by a seagull, but the expression on his face and his dangling little tentacles simply crack me up. As does “Meathead,” which is one of the best descriptive words in the English language in my opinion. “Carbon Footprint” reminded me of the woman I recently saw allowing her cute but destructive little dogs to dig up the first fragile daffodils of spring. You know that feeling. That’s the kind of thought or emotion that Jesse captures so well.

So why the name “Raw Toast Design? Jesse describes it best:

“Raw Toast actually came about during a late night run to a casino diner many years ago. It was summoned to the counter after a friend had asked for the fastest thing they had on the menu. The waitress politely tossed some bread-n-butter in front of us. I then mumbled, “Raw Toast”… Everyone laughed and the name sort of stuck with me after that. So a couple years later it became my ’stage name in the art world.’ The simplicity of bread and butter is what I try strive for within my illustrations as well…simple, clear, conceptual statements, with a subtle sprinkling of wit and sarcasm.”

Jesse is currently busy with a wonderful educational program called The Quirkles®, which consists of “26 imaginary scientists that help children everyday, all over the world, develop a love and appreciation for science.”

You can meet Jesse at the Renegade Craft Fair Brooklyn on June 5^th and 6^th. His favorite toast is “wheat, lightly toasted with real butter…not the tub stuff. If I’m feelin’ fancy I’ll splash some American cheese and scrambled eggs on top of it.” Sounds good right about now, doesn’t it?

(All images from www.rawtoastdesign.com.)

Fun Valentine’s Day Events at the Markets this Weekend!

Whether love is in the air for you or not, there are some great artisan and food events planned for this weekend. Clearly Brooklyn “hearts” Valentine’s Day! (Check the Markets of New York City Facebook Page for updates!)

Greenpoint Food Market: A Food Affair
Saturday February 13^th, Noon – 5:00 PM
Church Of Messiah
129 Russell St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn
http://www.greenpointfoodmarket.wordpress.com/

Greenpoint Food Market is a monthly event people who are “inspired by all foods fresh and local, artisanal and handmade.” This weekend’s Valentine’s event, “A Food Affair” is a mix of innovative foods and food-related items. (Personally, I’m kind of excited about the Kissing Booth!)

“The day will feature a cascade of lovely treats: from aphrodisiac inspired recipes to heart shaped cookies, a photo kissing booth courtesy fellow Greenpointers Color Me Katie and Hyla Skopitz, a secret foodmirer bulletin board to share your food crushes and indulgences, and a heart-hunt: find the heart, win a GFM goodie bag. We are also very pleased to present music by DJ Jimmy T and a performance by Rifle Recoil @ 3pm. We are also grateful to add to a growing list of food-related artworks by artists Jessie Oleson and Jesse Kuhn who will share a few prints on food and love!”

Valentine Fling – Brooklyn Indie and The NewNew
Saturday February 13
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM at Starting Artists
211 Smith Street (at Starting Artists), Brooklyn
Brooklyn Indie Market
The NewNew

The Brooklyn Indie Market is partnering this weekend with the NewNew Artisans for a Valentine’s Day Art Bazaar:

“Valentine’s Day can strike dread in the heart of the hardiest New Yorker: If you’re coupled, there’s the delicate dance of aligning your own celebratory expectations with those of your beloved; if you’re unhappily single, all the emphasis on romance can be special kind of torture. In response to this, Brooklyn Indie Market and The {NewNew} are joining forces to present A Valentine Fling: A day of fun, flirting, and handmade shopping on Smith Street.”

Park Slope/Gowanus Market and the Makers Market at the Old American Can Factory
Sunday 11 AM – 5:00PM
232 3^rd Street at 3^rd Ave, Gowanus/Park Slope Brooklyn
Community Markets
The Makers Market

The partnership between the Makers Market Artisans and Community Market’s local farmers continues this weekend. You will definitely get all your Valentine’s Day shopping done here: top quality handmade gifts, dinner ingredients, and wine included!

“Kiernan Farm Grass Fed Beef is joining the market. Along with their fabulous grass fed beef meat, they’ll offer honey, maple syrup and Sprout Creek Cheese! Manhattan Milk is selling farm fresh products including cream-top grass-fed yogurt, yogurt smoothies, milk and eggs! Adair Vineyard is offering their array of Hudson Valley wines and Made by Molly is featuring chocolate chubbies with roasted, salted almonds!”

Artists and Fleas: Valentine’s Day with a Twist
Saturday and Sunday, February 13-14, 2010 at 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Artists & Fleas: Indoor Artist & Designer Market
129 N 6th St Between Bedford and Berry in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
www.artistsandfleas.com,
Facebook Event Invitation

Artists and Fleas in Williamsburg has great handmade and vintage items every weekend, but this weekend’s special “Un-Valentine’s Day” is bound to have something special for everyone!

“Artists & Fleas kicks off another year of de-cupid-ifying events. Want to shop for those you love or those you no longer love? Get on your spite with some of the delicious delinquency that the folks behind Dirty Bandits have cooked up. They know that life can sometimes throw you a curveball and the only way to live is to play.”

Pop-Up Shop: Liddabit Sweets & Kumquat Cupcakery
Open now through Sunday February 14, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Kill Devil Hill, 170 Franklin St (between Java and Kent Sts), Brooklyn, NY
Time Out New York Announcement
Kill Devil Hill Blog
Kumquat Cupcakery
Liddabit Sweets

Two sweethearts of New York’s artisanal food world, Liddabit Sweets and Kumquat Cupakery, are teaming up this weekend to open a Pop-Up Shop at Kill Devil Hill in Brooklyn. Their Valentine’s Day specials include 1 or 2 dozen rose and gem min-cupcakes or a box of handmade chocolates and candies. They’ll also have their most popular items to satisfy even the bitterest sweet tooth!

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone from Markets of New York City! ♥