Williamsburg » Markets of New York

The Mesmerizing Reliquary Ring by Stern Design Works

Rebecca and Cameron Stern of Stern Design Works create wonderful jewelry designs, often inspired by nature. Their snow necklaces are made from casting molten silver in actual snow and coming up with unexpected, complex features on the cooled silver. Their “Flora” collection features oak and gingko leaf pendants.

I recently saw them at the Hester Street Fair, and they have a new collection of teensy, eensy, weensy farm animals set in tiny resin landscapes. The red rooster necklace was long gone, but the pink pig, the black and white cow, and the orange hen were utterly adorable.

And then there is the Reliquary Collection, a mesmerizing set of glass pendants and rings with moving particles of metal, sand, or 1 mm glass balls floating freely inside them. They are wonderful designs with almost a Jules Verne-like Steampunk feeling. The ring in the video has meditative qualities, as watching the tiny glass balls roll around inside the glass dome can induce a trance-like state, even in the middle of the bustling market.

Stern Design Works will be selling their jewelry at Artists and Fleas market in Williamsburg through the holiday season and also at the Columbus Circle Holiday Market in December.

Weekend Market Picks – September 17 & 18, 2011 + Comfort Food Kitchen!

Anzac Biscuits from Comfort Food Kitchen

… And then Fall arrived on Thursday night at 7.25PM! Wasn’t that crazy?! Fall makes me super nostalgic for school days, cozy sweatshirts, holding hands, and cookies. So it is perfect timing to go see chef and baker Suzanne Michaud of Comfort Food Kitchen this Sunday at the Hester Street Fair!

The Comfort Food Kitchen features cookies made from historic and heirloom recipes. In fact, Suzanne told me her first memory is of eating chocolate chip cookies that her neighbor made especially for her. Her Florentine Biscotti recipe was brought to the US from the Old World over 100 years ago by a friend’s grandmother. The delicious, chewy Anzac Biscuits are made from a recipe given to Suzanne by the lovely father of a dear friend. Anzac Biscuits are the national cookie of Australia They were made by women to send to their men in the armed services during WWI (Anzac stands for Australia New Zealand Army Corps). The biscuits are made with old fashioned golden cane sugar syrup, which helped them stay chewy and moist as they reached loved ones.

Suzanne promised me she’d be bringing the biscotti and Anzac biscuits to the Hester Street Fair this Sunday, as well as some other tasty treats to make the shopping even sweeter!

And now for the Market Picks!

Saturday & Sunday, September 17 & 18

Artists & Fleas: Drop by Williamsburg and visit this run, vibrant indoor market! It is loaded with talented fashion and accessories designers, as well as vintage collections. Delicious food too, with short lines! And congratulations to founder Amy Abraham and her business partner Adelaide Lancaster on their awesome new book, The Big Enough Company!

Hester Street Fair: Do not miss the second annual Stylist Tent Event on Sunday! Sponsored by Uniqlo, this event features clothing and accessories contributed by fashion industry insiders. They tag their items and bring them to Hester Street. And you and I get to pick through these gems and take home something fabulous for next year’s Fashion’s Night Out! The market is also open on Saturday!

Saturday Only, September 17

East 67th Street Market: This Saturday Flea Market has vendors in the schoolyard of PS 183 on East 66th and East 67th Streets between 1st and York Avenues. There are also some phenomenal, must-see vintage vendors inside the halls and cafeteria. Stop by for vintage decorative items, jewelry, and more, including cashmere sweaters!

Morningside Park Farmers’ Market: This market is run by Community Markets and sponsored by the Friends of Morningside Park at 110th Street and Manhattan Avenue. Come find farmers and food purveyors, and join in the yoga class with Lara from Land Yoga at 4PM!

Sunday, September 18

79th Street Greenmarket: Open on Sundays on the Upper West Side, this market is one of the larger Greenmarkets in the city. Right now it stretches from 77th – 80th Street alongside the Natural History Museum. So it is a scenic, beautiful market filled with 32 vendors during growing season. It is also right across Columbus Avenue from the weekly Greenflea on Sundays.

Grab your coziest sweatshirt and meet me at the markets! It’s going to be chilly and beautiful – perfect for shopping!

The Markets Take Fashion’s Night Out

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the markets of New York city are the heart of innovation in design, food, decor, and many other trends that we’ll see a couple of years from now in mainstream catalogs. And this Thursday, September 8th, 2011, the markets are taking part in Fashion’s Night Out in a fun, fabulous, winning way :

Manhattan

Hester Street Fair Takes Over Henri Bendel on 5th Avenue: 50 of Hester Street’s fine designers, artists, chefs, and craftspeople will set up their boutiques on the entire 3rd floor of this venerable, striped establishment. Time: 3 – 11PM, Location: Henri Bendel, 712 5th Ave. at 56th Street

Fashion’s Night Out at the Corrente Flagship Store: Celebrate the new season with handbag designer Corrente and two talented jewelry designers Rebecka Froberg and Teresa Kahres at the new Corrente Flagship. Stop by for a sip of wine, a bit of a nosh, and some fabulous of shopping with these independent New York designers. Time: 6 – 9PM, Location: 179 Orchard between Houston and Stanton

Brooklyn

Fashion’s Night Out with Artists & Fleas: More than 30 independent fashion designers, accessory-makers, vintage enthusiasts and artists showcase new collaborations, new collections and Fall/Winter looks for a night of pop-up shopping and Fall fashion fun. Time: 6 – 11PM, Location: Artists & Fleas, 70 North 7th Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Moved to Sunday due to the weather! Dekalb Market’s Red Carpet Event with Food, Drinks & Tunes: Open Bar, food tasting and art, with a fashion show featuring local designers 66 Blackbirds, Hank & JoJo, Rubyzaar, Little Poco, Honeysuckle + Hearts, Harriets by Hekima. Time: 3PM, Location: 138 Willoughby Street, Brooklyn

Meanwhile, Back in the Meatpacking District:

My dear, talented, wonderful friend, fine artist Amarillis Kroon is having a FNO solo show at the late night Meatpacking salon, Red Market. Originally from Hungary, Ami is a long-time resident of the West Village. I have dubbed her work Nouveau Art Deco, and you will see exactly what I mean when you see the divinely fashionable ladies she is featuring in this show. She also has a magical talent for pet portraits, capturing the very soul of her subjects. Time: 6 – 11PM, Location: 32 Gansevoort Street, Meatpacking District, Manhattan. (Image by Amarillis Kroon: Homage to Sonia Rykiel)

So grab your finest threads and meet me for a fabulous Fashion’s Night Out in the heart of it all, the independent markets of New York City!

Amarillis Kroon at Red Market Salon - 2011 Fashion's Night Out NYC

Weekend Market Picks for August 20-21, 2011 And Orange Foods at the Greenmarkets

As I walked through the market this week, I noticed the beautiful, bright variations of the color orange. Here are some of the fresh and delicious products I found at the Union Square Greenmarket during the week to remind us that summer is still with us. Enjoy all of the seasonal wonders of local foods at our farmers markets throughout the city. The photo gallery features these items and farms:

Orange Carrots from Phillips Farms
Orange Tomato Soup from Central Valley Farm
Bright Zinnias from The River Garden
Sun Gold Tomatoes from Race Farm
Translucent Red Pepper Jelly from Berkshire Berries

This weekend, I’m focusing on Food and Farmers Markets! All the best trends come out of the markets, so here’s a little tidbit to think about as you stroll through the markets this weekend, nibbling on a meatball or a cake pop:: Food in the form of a ball is the new Cupcake!

Saturday and Sunday, August 20 & 21

Chelsea Market: Chelsea Market is an indoor market filled with foodie pleasures. I often have breakfast meetings here, or I’ll pop in for a cookie or a taste of chocolate. That’s the great thing about this market: you can also have brunch, lunch and dinner here, or pick up fine fresh, local, and imported ingredients for a special meal.

Saturday, August 20

Hester Street Fair: I foresee about 19 courses in a meal at the Hester Street Fair – their food lineup is fantastic, as usual. Go to this market to eat. And eat some more. Not to mention the goods, with some of New York’s most creative designers and makers all under the London plane tree canopy on Hester Street.

Smorgasburg: A frequent Market Pick, Smorgasburg is another market where you’d better be hungry to eat right then and there. Seriously tasty stuff, freshly baked, grilled, sauced, and scooped. And the Williamsburg Waterfront Greenmarket has the season’s best produce and tasty food demos.

Sunday, August 21

New Amsterdam Market: It’s the Second Annual Ice Cream Fest! Try 10 amazing artisanal ice creams! Sad to say that advance tickets are sold out, but there will be plenty to taste! This event is a benefit for the market, so come and show your support!

Fulton Stall Market: Situated across the street from New Amsterdam, the Fulton Stall Market has a much different vibe. They’re there to serve the local neighborhood and tourists with delicious food you can grab on the run, fresh produce, and also handmade crafts from members of the {NewNew} Etsy Artisan Group.

Go forth and build up a big weekend appetite! And if it’s food in the shape of a ball, snap a picture and then eat it. Mark my words – it’s a trend.

Photo of the Day – July 12, 2011: WebbedWare Vintage Fabric Jewelry

Courtney Webb is the thoughtful and clever designer behind WebbedWare. Courtney uses vintage fabrics to create colorful, versatile, and very pretty cuffs, necklaces, earrings and rings. The fabric is affixed to the metal design foundation using a clear acrylic that not only protects the fabric and makes the entire piece more durable, it also enhances the colors. Each cuff and ring is lined with leather for a very comfortable fit.

To me, WebbedWare designs appear retro and modern at the same time, like the classic Diane Von Furstenburg Wrap Dress. They also have a preppy feel, with bold and classic patterns. You can wear every one of Courtney’s handmade pieces to any kind of event at any time of day.

Find Courtney and WebbedWare every weekend at the Artists and Fleas Market in Williamsburg, or visit her online shop. Courtney is also a member of the {NewNew} Etsy Artisan Group.

Two Fleas Grow in Williamsburg

A lot of people asked me what I thought of the Brooklyn Flea moving to Williamsburg, just steps away from the new location for Artists & Fleas. In my experience, several markets in close proximity to each other pretty much always thrive and benefit from the increased number of visitors. For shoppers, it’s fun to be able to visit several different markets in easy walking distance from each other. So I am looking forward to the warmer weather and the throngs of fans of each market cross pollinating the two. I urge everyone to migrate over to the Meeker Avenue Flea Market as well for more vintage furnishings.

The new location for the Artists & Fleas market feels like they found a new, better, comfy home for their local vintage and artisan vendors. It’s just a great space, and I thought the lighting was perfect. Then I looked up and saw that the bright light was actually from the full sun shining through multiple skylights. The market vendors can keep their tables and products in place during the week, and so they each have created distinct looks and displays in their booths, making the market a jewel box of tiny handmade and vintage gems. I’ll post about several of the fantastic artisans there soon, but I have to say that the guaco taco I had from the Brooklyn Taco Company was delicious, healthy, and satisfying. And if you’re looking for Mexican Coca-Cola, which is sweetened with sugar rather than corn syrup, the Brooklyn Taco Co. has a bottle for you at Artists & Fleas.

The Brooklyn Flea’s latest location on the waterfront in Williamsburg is wide, open, and welcoming. It’s been a bit breezy, but it’s a great location with all of the charms and quirky hallmarks of this market. I went on opening day two weekends ago and everyone seemed quite at home in the new location. In addition to rows and rows of tents teeming with flea finds, vintage treasures, and handmade clothing, accessories and more, the famous food vendors were out in full force with loads of people waiting in line for a delicious, artisanal nosh.

Featured in the photos below:

Olde Good Things (pink elephant)
Organic Blossoms (tiny terrarium graveyard)
Park Delicatessen (skateboards, flowers, dry goods)
She Hit Pause Studios (Polaroid photo images)

I have to say it was wonderful to run into a friend from Washington, DC in the crowd! Wendy McAllister is the author of Crave DC, a “unique and stylish guidebook for DC living.” Follow her on Twitter @CraveDC! Congratulations on your awesome book, Wendy!

Photos of the Day – September 2, 2010: Peppers from S.&S.O. Produce Farms

Remember that glorious, perfect day last Saturday? I had the great good fortune to spend it doing a book signing at the Greenpoint Greenmarket in McCarren Park. One of the larger markets, it has been fully embraced by the community, and it is also the perfect destination for people exploring the Williamsburg and Greenpoint neighborhoods. I met many nice families and dogs shopping at the market, with Hillary Hawke and the Flipsides playing the perfect plucky market soundtrack on a banjo, a washboard, and a suitcase for a drum. As usual, the most beautiful things at the market were those that were in peak season.

That day the peppers from S.&S.O. Produce Farms were Best in Show. They came in all shades of greens, purples, reds, oranges, yellows, and every combination thereof. The flavors ranged from tasty school lunchy bell peppers to tiny ones that blow steam out of your ears. I couldn’t pick just one photo to represent the beauty of these peppers or that day itself, so I have posted 4 bonus images from the market. Bully for you if this is your market. If it isn’t, then definitely stroll over to McCarren Park on a Saturday very soon.

Thank you to Market Manager Chelsa and GrowNYC for all you do for the neighborhoods of our fair city!

Photo of the Day – July 29, 2010: Another Work In Progress

I remember the days when my sisters and I would sit on the living room floor playing Monopoly for hours on end. I was always the banker, and I always cheated. Those were nostalgic, care-free days (and I hope my sisters have forgiven me by now).

Another Work in Progress evokes those sentiments with spiral notebooks, sketch books, note pads, treasure boxes, and wall clocks made from old board games. Proprietor and artisan Dara Hymowitz collects vintage board games of all sorts and creates these handmade works of usable art. A notebook made from a Bingo card would be a perfect gift for Grandma. I think we all know someone who would appreciate the Scrabble board wall clock. Dara cleverly places the clock hands in the center of a Twister spinner to make a conversation piece of a wall clock (pictured).

She also creates beautiful hand-bound and spiral-bound books, as well as stationery, and mini book jewelry. So if books are your passion, you just might find the one to fill with your hopes and dreams, just like we did when we were 12.

You can find Another Work In Progress weekends at Artists and Fleas in Williamsburg, or visit her Etsy shop online.

Photo of the Day – June 16, 2010: Meeker Avenue Flea Market

The Meeker Avenue Flea featured on Good Day New York with Julie Chang - and Elvis.

I first went to the Meeker Avenue Flea Market last September. I was very impressed with this market even though it had only been open for two weeks. I knew I had to put it in the Markets of New York City guidebook; I had a strong feeling that it would be sticking around. Now, just ten months later, my hunch has been confirmed. The Meeker Avenue Flea Market has developed into an amazing source for antique and vintage furniture and decor.

When Good Day New York asked me to take Entertainment Anchor Julie Chang to a flea market, I thought of Meeker Avenue immediately. Not only is this market open 7 days a week, but it is a true destination, deep into Williamsburg, for antiques shoppers and dealers alike. We saw battered steamer trunks that had obviously seen the far corners of the world. There was a romantic sleigh bed, and an art deco bar in perfect condition. There were chairs, tables, and even antique bicycles for sale, as well as more contemporary items like desks and conference room chairs. The extremely long stainless steel commercial kitchen tables evoked a million possibilities for restaurants, diners, or soda fountains. And who doesn’t need a vintage Elvis lamp with glowing blue eyes?

Most of the items to be found at this market have had many prior lives, like the tiny school desks that brought back so many memories. But they were built to last, unlike much of today’s disposable merchandise. Not only can you find high quality craftsmanship, but you are keeping these pieces out of the landfill by bringing them home and shining them up for their next incarnation.

The Good Day New York segment on the Meeker Avenue Flea Market aired today. You can visit the market any day of the week, and they also have an online shop featuring many of their one-of-a-kind pieces. You can spend an entire weekend day at the markets in Williamsburg and also visit the two nearby Artists and Fleas markets (on 6th Street and in McCarran Park), and the Greenpoint Greenmarket on Saturdays.

If you didn’t catch the information at the end of the Good Day New York Segment, my Picks of the Week are:

- Hester Street Fair – Food, fleas, and farmers on the lower East Side
- The {NewNew}’s pop-up shop on Governor’s Island all summer long
- Brooklyn Indie Market in Carroll Gardens with a great neighborhood vibe, and high quality handmade jewelry, clothing, soaps, home decor, and more.
- Fulton Stall Market – Farmers, food and crafts in the South Street Seaport-

Big Weekend for Markets in New York City!

Handmade Cavalcade, April 24, 2010 at Berry Park in Williamsburg

Market Season is definitely upon us! Here are some great events to help make this a spectacular weekend:

Saturday, April 24:

Spring Handmade Cavalcade – Sponsored by the NewNew Artists Group, featuring over 25 vendors selling their wonderful handmade designs. Berry Park in Williamsburg, 10am – 5pm

Saturday and Sunday, April 24 & 25:

Brooklyn Flea Annual Plant Sale – In partnership with GrowNYC, Greenmarket vendors will be selling “annuals, bulbs, herbs, perennials, vegetable starters, you name it.” Don’t miss this once a year event! Saturday at Ft. Greene location and Sunday at One Hanson.
Crafts on Columbus – The American Arts and Crafts Alliance, Inc. hosts this long-standing craft fair over three weekends through May 9. Make it a day by visiting the Greenflea and the Greenmarket on Sunday too! Columbus Avenue between 77th & 81st Streets.
Hester Street Fair - The Hester Street Fair launches this weekend. Loaded with artisans, farmers, food vendors, and flea vendors, Hester Street Fair brings the traditional markets of the Lower East Side back to life. Hester & Essex Streets, 10 – 6 pm

Also launching on Friday, April 23:

Homemade Brooklyn - Homemade Brooklyn opens a week-long pop-up store featuring artists, artisans, a film screening and more. 522 Metropolitan between Union and Lorimer, 12 – 8 pm

See you on the streets and lots in the city. Rain or shine, it’s all good!