Behold the Yam Behold the sweet potato. It seems like a non-descript root, but bake it in the oven, and it magically softens and even caramelizes itself. And they are positively loaded with nutrients: vitamin A ( beta-carotene), vitamin C, manganese, copper, pantothenic acid and vitamin B6, plus potassium, dietary fiber, niacin, vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and phosphorus. See? They deserve to be respected and savored. Pick up some plump ones in your neighborhood farmers market. We

Adopt your new best friend at Badass Brooklyn Fall Fest (Photo courtesy of Badass Brooklyn Animal Rescue) The weather is clearly turning towards the cooler seasons. I love autumn, and I still get that nostalgia for summertime just like I did when I had to go back to school. You know what I’m talking about, right? The refreshing weather and everyone’s return from the beach to the city also means that the markets are in full swing! Check out these amazing market events around t

Eat Your Colors Do you find yourself sweating while sitting still? Do you dread opening your air conditioning bill? Have your popsicles turned into juice puddles on the way home from the store? Well, that’s August for you. On the other hand, we have the most beautiful, fragrant, and delicious fruits and vegetables in the greenmarkets all over the city right now. The tomatoes are juicy and luscious, and I can’t shove enough luscious peaches in my cake hole. So make the most of

Wonderfully tasty hummus drizzled with olive oil from MTerranean Food trends come and go, but the Mediterranean diet that has been around for millennia. MTerranean, owned by my friend Abdul Elanani, is a wonderful eatery at the Gansevoort Market in the Meatpacking District, offering takeout and a new eatery bar. The staples are largely plant based, with only a small portion of protein on a daily basis. Abdul offers his clients an incredibly fresh take on traditional dishes, i

Caramel Apple Pie from Daily Pie I had the great good fortune recently to be invited to a wonderful dinner party with creative entrepreneurs, mostly from the markets. (Thank you, Heartbeat!) But wait – it gets better! I sat myself down next to Meghan Daly, the founder and owner of Daly Pie. Meghan grew up in a family of pie lovers. Her mother was her inspiration for starting her own pie company, despite a successful corporate career. She has never been happier — you can tell

Abingdon Square Winter Greenmarket It’s a blustery weekend, which means it’s a great time a) to enjoy our fun indoor markets and 2) show our appreciation for our farmers markets, which set up outside, pretty much rain or shine. So rather than stay cooped up inside watching the Super Bowl (there, I said it), get out and enjoy the brisk air and visit these beautiful markets! (If you must watch the game, then pick up some tasty snacks at the markets on Saturday.) Weekend Market

Black Radishes – One Tough Vegetable Happy Halloween! Here’s are some black radishes for you. They are no a black swans, but they beautiful in their own right, don’t you think? For some great recipes, Author Kathy Erway seems to know her way around an heirloom radish. Weekend Market Picks Friday, Saturday & Sunday October 31 – November 2, 2014 Brooklyn Night Bazaar: New York’s premier night market is having a Halloween Extravaganza tonight! The best costume wins $500! Plus li

GoodWeave Child Labor Free Rug Certification Label You know how much I adore things that are made by hand. If I find something made by a child, it means even more to me. Except when that child is actually working in a factory 18 hours a day for no pay, little food and no education. So I want to take this opportunity to share with you a campaign by GoodWeave, an organization that rescues children from the rug looms in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, rehabilitates them and sup

Irixx Screen of D.U.O. Gear at the Conception Emerging Artists Show on Friday (Photo by Irixx Screen) Irixx Screen is having his first gallery show! You may know him from his D.U.O Gear shirts, hats, jackets and giant bear hugs at The Market NYC, where he holds court and makes friends with people from around the world. He is also a talented and passionate fine artist. I am so happy to let you know that Irixx is participating in a group show called Conception. It is happening

Badass Brooklyn: Saving Badass Dogs from Idiot Humans. (Photo by Hillary Benas Photography, courtesy of Badass Brooklyn) The fall market season is really heating up! Are you looking for an old bike or an antique book? Do you like vegan food or high fashion? Then there’s an event for you somewhere in the city. I want to make a special mention of the Badass Brooklyn Fall Festival on Sunday because proceeds go to support animal rescue and foster activities in the city. This orga

GrowNYC Youth Market in Long Island City! (Regarding the banner, there’s one in Brownsville too!) I can still hardly believe it’s August! I am trying not to waste any of what’s left of summer, although somebody brought up our plans for Thanksgiving tonight. [Puts fingers in ears and chants, “Nononononono!”] There are a million outdoor movies to enjoy, and music festivals too. Let’s take advantage of all of it, shall we? And let’s start with the Weekend Market Picks! Saturday,

It is a big weekend for ice cream and other frozen treats! There’s an Ice Cream Social in Manhattan and another in Brooklyn. And here is a shout out to Washington’s own DC Scoop at the Union Market with 15 local ice cream vendors! I am also incredibly excited to be featured in Edible Brooklyn! Check out this list of 10 Brooklyn markets where you should eat this summer. Weekend Market Picks! Saturday, July 19, 2014 LIC Flea: It’s a big weekend at the LIC Flea market! They are

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone! If you haven’t told your mom how much you love and appreciate her recently, do it this weekend. And better yet, give her something incredibly special as a token of your affection and to make up for everything annoying you’ve ever done. Best of all, take her with you to a market and let her pick out her own gift! You know you owe her big time. I met up with the talented and lovely Juli Ra of Juli Ra Design this week. I absolutely love crocheted

Mad. Sq. Eats outdoor food market is open for the month of May For everyone who didn’t drown on Thursday, we all deserve a beautiful spring weekend! It looks like Saturday is going to deliver. Not sure about Sunday yet, but no matter because there are some great markets going on throughout the city! Saturday, May 3 Harlem Seoul at El Boar-rio: This is the first food event by El Boar-rio since last season and since the Urban Garden Center re-opened after the horrible gas explo

Beautiful old instruments and sheet music at the Brooklyn Flea’s market at PS 321 in Park Slope, Brooklyn – Now open for the new season! Happy Easter! I hope you are planning to get out and enjoy springtime while it is with us. It looks like the weather is going to be great too! So plan on spending time outside this weekend shopping and eating at these amazing spring markets: Weekend Market Picks Saturday, April 19, 2014 Union Square Greenmarket: Union Square is the largest f

Last week, ABC Kitchen, one of my very favorite restaurants, launched the second season of ABCSA, delivering locally grown, seasonal foods from the Hudson Valley to 100 fortunate and smart farm share owners. Anything created by Jean-George Vongerichten that involves the philosophy and aesthetic of ABC Carpet & Home is bound to be inspiring, beautiful and delicious. I went to the gathering in abcmkt this week to learn more about the CSA, and I met some of the people who are pr

The Bleecker Street Flea and Artisan Market is one of many markets now open for the 2014 Outdoor Season The Spring Outdoor Market Season is upon us! So without further ado, here are the Weekend Market Picks: Saturday, April 5, 2014 Brooklyn Flea Outdoor Season: OPENING WEEKEND! The Brooklyn Flea had a cozy winter season indoors, and now its time to bust out into the sunshine for the 2014 Outdoor Season! It is open Saturdays only in Fort Greene until May 4, when the Sunday mar

Despite rumors of a nor’easter next week, it is officially springtime in the city. And that means that the Union Square artists are back outside. They are permitted to sell in Union Square as expressive matter vendors, under the First Amendment of the Constitution that protects freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. These painters and photographers are the real thing. Stop at their tables and learn about their art. You may be inspired to take home some new pieces to liven

Knoll Krest Farm from Dutchess County, New York is best known for its delicious, organic eggs from cage-free chickens. Once you have a farm fresh egg, you will never look at a yolk the same way again. Fresh eggs have so much more flavor, and the yolks are invariably a deeper yellow and sometimes even orange. It stands to reason that if you have an abundance of eggs, one way to preserve them and turn them into more products is to make pasta. And that is exactly what Knoll Kres

Vespertine Reflective Clothing by Sarah Canner What if bikers could be seen at night without having to put on dumpy crossing guard gear?  What if you could look fabulous and be visible as you bike through the night streets of New York City or Paris? These are the questions fashion designer Sarah Canner asked herself. The answer she came up with is Vespertine Haute Réflecture, an innovative and fashionable this new approach to biking gear and beyond. I met Sarah at this season