The timing for this year’s ICFF unfortunately coincided with the opening of the South End Open Markets season. Luckily (for us), my friend Jenny Mackintosh was kind enough to write up her thoughts on the day.
Image courtesy SoWa Sundays on flickr. Click through for all the wonderful photos in the SoWa Sundays 2009 album.
Boston’s South End Open Market opened for the season this past Saturday, and of course, I had to get in on the action. Despite the chilly (but sunny!) weather, I ventured into SoWa, only to be overwhelmed by the plethora of options to dip into my wallet and nab some handmade goodies. The SoWa Open Market is part of SoWa Sundays, which run May through October in the South End.
If you’re not familiar with SoWa Sundays, they are a combination of an outdoor craft fair, antiques market and farmer’s market. This past weekend also marked the annual SoWa Art Walk, adding even more activity to the mix. When I arrived on Harrison Street, I was immediately confused, as I saw no tents, tables or vendors, but plenty of spectators and a (very loud) DJ. I quickly learned that I had only hit the SoWa Art Walk part of the locale, and that the entire event actually stretched down several blocks.
“Lots of people browsing; not too many buying.”
Venturing further down, I was greeted by the friendly white tents and the Herb Lyceum truck and tables boasting fresh herb plants, honeys and teas. My overall impression of the fair — bustling, cheery, plenty of couples with dogs in tow — but very few carrying shopping bags. I overheard two vendors talking about their sales (at this time, around an hour before closing): “Lots of people browsing,” she observed, “but not too many buying.”
Vendor highlights
The overarching theme I sensed in most of the booths I visited was of whimsy, fun and bright colors. Here were some of the highlights:
Greg Stones Greg Stones seemed to capture the interest of nearly everyone at the fair that day — I couldn’t even get into his booth to take a good look past the selections he had posted outside. His quirky, dark comic strip-like watercolors caused me to laugh out loud. |
Chroma Lab Chroma Lab had a sparse but colorful booth showcasing their fun furniture — I was a big fan of their bright yellow telephone table, topped with an old rotary phone. |
The Pebble Collection The Pebble Collection had a great selection of cocktail rings and pendants with its signature “bubbly” style. |
Lilian Asterfield Lilian Asterfield also drew a crowd on Saturday, with many shoppers drawn to her funky upcycled necktie scarves. |
Other highlights included: Stonehouse Studio, J. Crabbit, Dutch Kitchen Bake Shop (Fitchburg, MA), and, of course, Rosie the Riveter:
Image courtesy SoWa Sundays on flickr.
As for the farmer’s market — I have to admit, I was a little disappointed. Though the prices were decent ($0.75 for a bunch of radishes), the whole market was supplied by Russo’s (read: not farmers.) While the website touts changes throughout the season, I was a little dismayed by the boxes of Dole bananas and California carrots “hidden” under the tables.
If you’re looking for a great place to shop this summer, the South End Open Market is definitely where it’s at. With vendors signing up for individual Sundays, you can guarantee that every Sunday is different.
The SoWa Open Market is open every Sunday through October 25th from 10 am to 4 pm, excluding holiday weekends (careful — that means Memorial Day weekend too!)
Jenny Mackintosh is a custom jewelry designer and craft blogger in the Greater Boston area. She blogs on CreatureofCraft.com, and her jewelry can be found at JMackGems.com.
