Boston Holiday Markets

Hello, cold, cold Fall! We've actually had a pretty mild Fall here, I'd say, so far. But the temperatures have surely dropped this week and winter is coming! Frog Pond Ice Rink opens this weekend and the lights are in the trees on Comm Ave - 'tis the season!

Now, this also means Farmer's Markets and Flea Markets close up shop for the season. I'll be getting my last uber-convenient loaf of When Pigs Fly from the City Hall Farmer's market this afternoon. But all is not lost; there is a crop of Holiday Markets to attend and get your fill before the streets are covered in dirty snow and everyone is inside with their winter hobby.

Here is a list of what I know about so far, I'll continue to add to it if I learn of more.

DOWNTOWN CROSSING HOLIDAY MARKET
November 27 - December 24
Mon. - Sat. 11 - 7 & Sun. 12 - 6
On Winter Street next to Macy's in Downtown, Boston. There will be handmade jewelry, pottery, housewares, food ... I work nearby and my work is helping put this on so I'm sure I'll be here a few times.

BOSTON HANDMADE DOWNTOWN GALLERY
November 26 through December 24, 2010
Wednesday - Sunday, 11am - 7pm

"Make 2010 the season of handmade with gifts created by more than 20 local artists, artisans, & craftspeople

at 505 Washington Street, in the heart of Downtown Crossing Boston, between West and Temple." Also close to my work - yay!


GRAND OPENING: STUDIO CARTA

Saturday December 4th
12 - 6pm

97 Boylston Street, Brookline, Ma. This is Angela Liguori's new storefront; come see her beautiful things! I'll be there!

PAPER AND FABRIC
Saturday December 11th, 10 - 6p

Sunday, December 12th, 12 - 6p
At Michelle Willey, 8 Union Park Street (South End), Boston, Ma. Beautiful things from Jill Bent and Angela Liguori. I'll be there, too!

BOSTON BAZZAR BIZZARE

December 5th

12 - 7pm

At the Cyclorama in the South End, 539 Tremont St. This a mega-sized show - it's great. I'll be here, too!

SOWA HOLIDAY MARKET

Saturday and Sunday, December 11th & 12th

10 - 6pm

The last hurrah for SOWA for the season, it's $5 to get in and you'll be nearby to check out Paper and Fabric, too. It's at the Cathedral High School Gym in the South End, 74 Union Park Street, Boston. I'll probably be here, too.

FORT POINT HOLIDAY SALE

December 3rd, 4 -7pm

December 4-5, 11 - 4pm

Held at 12 Farnsworth St in Fort Point, Boston this will have the work of great local artists. I haven't been myself, but I think this will be more artsy, less crafty.

Ok, I'm overwhelmed! Let's divide and conquer!

Is this one of those Happy Weekend posts?

Perhaps. The week has flown by and I think the weekend will too so I don't have much to offer but this shot of Boston from my window, taken this morning. This is overlooking Marlborough Street toward the Common and the buildings in the far are Downtown. I love Boston. So does my friend Devin, he just wrote about the neighborhood he lives in, Charlestown (have you seen The Town yet?). Whether it's better than Back Bay; I think not, friend!

This weekend I'm busy working on grad school apps but I'm squeezing in time tonight for chili with my wonderful friend Nina - I'll be bringing this orange cake from Sweet Paul, a fantastic food e-zine. This week I made the white bean and kale soup from the same issue, I had to eat it for about 9 meals but I enjoyed every one of them.

Next week I predict I'll finally get the post on baking tin can cakes together and possibly another small post here or there. We'll shall see!

As they say, have a great weekend!

Brimfield - Summer

I went to Brimfield Saturday. This was my first Saturday visit, I usually go during the week. It was also my first July visit. It was so much smaller - so much smaller that we probably covered 90% of the fields and went from end to end. But, it's still Brimfield which at its largest is an unimaginable large - this was a very real, imaginable large. Talking to folks we found out that it's the heat that keeps vendors and visitors away during the July show and our heat has really been something lately. But I'm from Middle Georgia, so it ain't no thang to me.

I bought two more picnic blankets, for no other reason than true love. I love their weight, the linen of the pastel one and the deep blue of the check. I'm thinking of ways to turn them into blankets/throws for chilly nights. I bought two Royal Albert tea cups, one with a floral pattern to add to my 3 cup collection, and one with a french blue and gold inside that makes me feel lucky to have found - and they were just 50 cents each! As were the two small blue plates! I bought some bias tape, 3 for $1, some blue beads for a big, bold necklace that's floating around in my head, an impeccably made crochet doily (hope this inspires me to do my own) and finally 3 more silver plated salad forks for my collection.

Some more show photos after the jump.

Places: Mike & Patty's Boston

I've been meaning to give a shout out to this place for a while. Most here who know me have been promised an escorted visit. Started by two former Fromaggio Kitchen folks, Mike & Patty's is smaller than my studio apartment and located in Boston's secret neighborhood, Bay Village.

Great day at Todd Farm!

A quick post just to share about a great trip to Todd Farm Antique Market! [You can read my post about the market here] The morning was lovely and for the first time, for me, when we got there the front parking lot was full! I got two lovely, lovely print hankies ($1 each); an antique glass doorknob (my apt's bathroom has not had a doorknob at all since I've lived here! $9); a couple of small milk jars (one from Mass and one from Maine 2 for $5) and canning jars ($2 each); a fantastic structured, real leather satchel ($15) and a free Martha Stewart back issue (July 2002) to boot!

It's only 30 miles north Boston folks, smell the grass, see the Colonial homes and get bargaining.

Great day!

places: Boston Farmers Markets

Tis the season! Here in Boston, when it's the season - it's on. Antique markets, outside cafes, picnics at one of many parks, kayaking or sailing on the Charles, train rides to beaches... and farmers markets. The farmers markets in Boston are wonderful. There are many, many throughout the city and Brookline, Cambridge (yes, these are not the City of Boston), and Somerville. You can find a list of all the farmers markets in Massachusetts here. But I wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the ones most local and dear to me which are those in Boston proper. The markets, for the most part, operate on different days of the work-week so there is usually one up and running at one of these locations.

places: SOWA Market, Boston Sundays

The SOWA Market in Boston's South End is in full swing! This year the market has moved from its old spot next to Gaslight, to just a bit further down Harrison Ave. (but still close enough to grab brunch at Gaslight before heading to the market). This new spot is fantastic for the market. It's at 460 Harrison Ave, which houses many of Boston's talented artists, their fantastic galleries and studios. There is an outdoor section with food vendors - and to my delight, Dels (now I can have some between Brimfields and trips to RI); an outside market and interior vintage market that's a lovely addition. I couldn't get to Todd Farm Sunday because of the rain and so I took trips instead to Cambridge Antique Market and SOWA and my need for Sunday antiquing was met. Check it out this Sunday!

More photos and details after the jump.

Allsaints Spitalfields Boston Storefront

When Pottery Barn left its giant spot on Boston's famous Newbury St, it was a tell-tale sign of the "economic conditions" - but now, not a year later (or maybe it has been?) many of Newbury's vacant storefronts are being re-opened - including this prominent space.

The store that took over the space is Allsaints Spitafields and it seems that they've acquired all the remaining vintage sewing machines, ever (except that I know there is one here and one here in Somerville, Ma). The entire extra long storefront is covered in shelving displaying the machines. It's pretty fantastic and draws many-a-onlooker. More photos after the jump.

Brimfield - This Week!

Just a reminder that this week is the first Brimfield Antiques show of the year! The show runs from the 11th until the 16th. I won't be able to make this one but will definitely make one or two of the next two. More information on this (the largest Antique Market in the country) can be found here on a previous post.

Todd Farm Antiques

Glory be, it's flea market season in New England!

Places: Cambridge Antique Market

This place is my lifeline during the off season for tag sales and flea markets.

This is Kind of a Big Deal

Not only are there buds on trees but I took the photo of this bud after 5pm - and it wasn't completely dark. If I could make spring myself - I might - but then again, I just might not. Boston winters have taught me patience. But the extra light and these little buds are exciting - something is on the horizon. Soon the sidewalks will be trashed with petals, seating will spill out of cafes onto the sidewalks, faces will be up instead of down, protected from the wind, and no one will miss a beat. And that's good because the natives are getting restless.

I have a big day tomorrow, that's why this post is so short, and indeed, I've had a crazy challenging overwhelming busy number of months recently - but Spring is coming! And there is no place like Boston in the Spring, don't even get me started.

Marden's Fabric Department

My world was forever changed when I discovered Marden's fabric department in Sanford, Maine.

Brimfield Antiques Show

Brimfield is the largest Antiques and Flea Market in the country and lucky for me it's just an hour or so outside of Boston. I made my visit there for July's show. A friend and I Zip Car'd a Honda Element and set off for treasures.