market faves!

Plein air favorites...

Coastal Growers Farmers' Market, Southern Rhode Island

http://www.coastalmarket.org/Summer_Market.html

Union Square Greenmarket, New York City

http://www.grownyc.org/unionsquaregreenmarket

New Amsterdam Market, New York City

http://www.newamsterdammarket.org/index.html

Portland Farmers Market, Maine

http://portlandmainefarmersmarket.org/

Le Marche Rue Raspail, Paris

http://www.linternaute.com/paris/magazine/diaporama/06/marches/raspail/1.shtml

Campo dei Fiori, Rome

What are your favorite open air markets?

en plein air

Open air markets enchant me.  Elemental, ephemeral, they appear and disappear within hours.  Full of passion and pride, each grower, forager, purveyor, artisan brings to market their very best.


Local, seasonal, sustainable, ofttimes organic, handmade and we hope humane, the shopper stands directly before those who nourish, nurture and care. Benevolence wafts throughout the market, enveloping everyone in one big primordial hug.   


Sensory encounters abound.  Colorful sights, tastes and perfumes.  Stinky cheese, maple sugar, mulled cider, skeins of yarns, yeasty breads...


For the hunter, the freshest fruits, vegetables, herbs, fungi, sprouts, seaweed, crustaceans, mollusks, fish, eggs, dairy, meats, poultry... 


For the gatherer, a celebration of bread, pastry, confection, chocolate, honey, jam, maple syrup, cheese, wine, beer...


For the body, fresh air and nourishment, for the home, woolens and flowers, for the garden, seeds and plants, for the pets, cookies, carrot tops and catnip...


For the soul, a momentary community of kindred beings dancing together, for just a while, to the music of contentment.