4MRMarket Report: Mother's Day Edition

The 4MRMarket Site is growing up before our eyes

Last week was the grand opening of 4MRMarket, and it was one heck of a market.  Thank you to everyone that came out. It was one of the busier days we've ever had, and we didn't even have our full compliment of vendors up and running yet.

The transformation of the market site from a series of vacant lots to a spacious plaza was impressive to see close-up. It also made the market feel much more welcoming and enjoyable and several shoppers told us as much. When imagining the trees, pavement murals, seating areas, landscaping, and other decorative elements yet to come, it's easy to see this will be a great plaza for the market, festivals and other events for years to come.

This week, we add market regular Pleitez Produce back into the fold, as well as a talented jewelry maker  named Love and Glitter. Come out and expand your shopping list as the market grows throughout the season!

Perhaps, if you haven't found that perfect gift for Mom yet, you can pick up a veggie garden worth of plants from C&T Produce and help her create her own backyard garden. That way, she'll remember you every time she enjoys a tasty caprese salad throughout the summer with homegrown tomatoes. Or how about a pendant or her favorite jewelry item from Love and Glitter? You could also invite Mom along to the market and sit in the 4MRMarket Lounge just enjoying the day, having breakfast, and shopping for a nice meal later that day!

St. Elmo's probably will not be there again this week due to soon-to-be resolved staffing issues, but you can come by the 4MRMarket tent to get yourself a cup o' Joe to kick-start your morning.

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Here is who you'll find at 4MRMarket this week:

• Pleitez Produce (Northern Neck) - A full range of locally grown produce, herbs, and more. 
• Bread and Chocolate (Arlandria) - A range of baked goods.
• C and T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce.
• St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - May or may not make it this week - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies. 
• Baguette Republic (Sterling, VA) -  A traditional artisan bakery producing a large variety of artisan breads, pastries and cookies using the best European techniques and tradition.
• Number One Sons (Alexandria, VA) - Traditional fermented vegetables and soy products.
• Love and Glitter (Ellicott City, MD) - Our newest vendor brings an experienced jeweler into our midst.  Come find that last minute gift for Mom!

• The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" will be off this week due to a previous commitment.

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

See below all the ways to help and participate in the market!

The supercool 4MRMarket t-shirt

BUY. Proceeds of our 4MRMarket T-shirts go to support the expansion and revitalization of 4MR Park. They cost $12 and come in 4 colors. See us model a few at the market.  You can pre-pay online via Pay-Pal (send money to 4MRM@arlandria.org).


DONATE. Help 4MRMarket help 4MR Park. Tax-deductible donations can be made to support us in our efforts to revitalize Four Mile Run Park. Donate to the City's Living Landscape Fund. More information here.


HELP. If you'd like to volunteer with the 4MRMarket, go to: volunteer.4MRMarket.org to sign up or look for the "volunteer" tab on our website. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT sales, help us keep our books, help set up or tear down for the market, or help us find musicians to play the market. You can also find a Market Manager to ask to help, or email us at 4MRMarket@arlandria.org for more info.


READ. Keep up to date on all the goings on by following 4MRMarket on Facebook or Twitter or via our website  and blog.

SPREAD THE WORD.  Please tell folks about us. And tell folks about some of the great things we're doing. For instance, all SNAP/EBT participants can take advantage of the Inova-sponsored "Double Dollar" program again this year that doubles the first $10 SNAP participants spend at the market. 4MRMarket is the first farmers’ market in Northern Virginia (and still the only) to accept SNAP. 

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The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market (Alexandria, Virginia 22305) brings fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors. It is part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run park and the surrounding neighborhood.

4MRMarket is open every Sunday from 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. 

(click here for directions)

Buy Fresh Buy Local 4MRMarket products.

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/

On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket
On Twitter: @4MRMarket

Contact us at: 4MRMarket@arlandria.org

Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1

New Views on 4MR Expand

Conceptual view of the 4MR Park Gateway

Some aerial views of the Four Mile Run Expansion were just made available. See below.

4MR Expand was envisioned by the 2003 Arlandria Plan and incorporated into the 2005 Four Mile Run Restoration Master Plan. Four parcels were nominated to be acquired with Open Space Funds and after the City purchased the lots, environmental remediation was done to the site.

Citizen volunteers helped clean up the site and repair the building and a group of local architects and designers offered a plan for the site free of charge and unspent funds earmarked for Streetscape improvements in 2003 were redirected to finish the work.

Architects Anonymous plans for the site are on-going and it is very much still a work in progress. The asphalt is barely dry but expect to see trees along Mt Vernon Avenue and the edges of the site very soon.

View from the Architects Anonymous presentation

Examples of the kind of design elements that are planned to be incorporated. 

It's Almost Here: 2012 Opening Day is Sunday May 6!

Get your reusable bags ready to fill with farm-fresh goodies and artisan made crafts.

Sunday, May 6th will be the Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market  opening day! This should be a great season at 4MRMarket!

Opening day raffle for all customers! Come out to 4MRMarket and be entered in a drawing to win 2 tickets and a parking pass to see the Nats play the Marling on May 12th. (Thanks to the generous donation from Hume Springs Citizens Association Vice President Jacob Cuomo).

This season 4MRMarket will be held on a brand new plaza next to the brand new stage at the re-purposed Four Mile Run Conservatory building.

From the re-purposed paint store, looking North, the first phase of construction brings a brand new, permeable and semi-permeable plaza. Soon, the plaza will be lined with trees, covered in eye-catching colors, and host to the weekly 4MRMarket and various concerts, performances, and community events of all types.

A future phase of construction will add more gardens, trees, and connecting paths to the new space.  Community volunteer support will help some of this happen faster.  A continuing work in progress, future volunteer gardening days are likely on the horizon, so please be ready to lend a hand as things come together.

Plaza concept from Dec 2010 Architects Anonymous Presentation

Check out the full 4MRMarket Report for all the details.

To be sure you get all the 4MRMarket news and updates, you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.  Also, please rate us on Yelp and anywhere else you use to rate your favorite spots to help us keep the market going strong this season.

_______________

The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market (Alexandria, Virginia 22305) brings fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors. It is part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run park and the surrounding neighborhood.

4MRMarket is open every Sunday from 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. 

(click here for directions)

Buy Fresh Buy Local 4MRMarket products.

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/

On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket

Contact us at: 4mrm@arlandria.org

Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1

4MRMarket Report: 2012 Grand Opening Edition!

Come see the revitalization take shape.
Help with the trees!

Sunday May 6th is the grand opening of the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market, 2012 Edition!

This year, 4MRMarket will have a full slate of vendors and a new market environment. After all the hard work and volunteer effort, the Four Mile Run Park plaza area is nearly complete. Come see first hand 4MRMarket in its revitalized home and be amazed at the transformation of the gateway to the Alexandria's biggest park.

4MRMarket will be from 8am to 1pm again this season.  The weather looks like it will be a sunny, perfect spring day in the mid 70s. What better way to spend a Sunday morning. Come enjoy fresh produce, coffee & tea, baked goods, and great artisan crafts.

Just like last season, you can enjoy a tasty pastry and coffee in the 4MRMarket Lounge.

See the "DONATE" note, below. 4MR Expand Phase 1 is just about complete, but the as yet unfunded Phase 2 includes trees, rain gardens, additional landscaping, banners, painting the plaza, etc.  Help move renovations even further along! Your donation can help further the 4MR Park plans! (For more information about 4MR Expand, see here and here).

The supercool 4MRMarket t-shirt

BUY. Proceeds of our 4MRMarket T-shirts go to support the expansion and revitalization of 4MR Park. They cost $12 and come in 4 colors. See us model a few at the market.  You can pre-pay online via Pay-Pal (send money to 4MRM@arlandria.org).


DONATE. Help 4MRMarket help 4MR Park. Tax-deductible donations can be made to support us in our efforts to revitalize Four Mile Run Park. Donate to the City's Living Landscape Fund. More information here.


HELP. If you'd like to volunteer with the 4MRMarket, go to: volunteer.4MRMarket.org to sign up or look for the "volunteer" tab on the 4MRMarket website. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT sales, help us keep our books, help set up or tear down for the market, or help us find musicians to play the market. You can also find a Market Manager to ask to help, or email us at 4mrm@arlandria.org for more info.


READ. Keep up to date on all the goings on by following 4MRMarket on Facebook or Twitter or via our website and blog.

SPREAD THE WORD.  Please tell folks about us. And tell folks about some of the great things we're doing. For instance, all SNAP/EBT participants can take advantage of the Inova-sponsored "Double Dollar" program again this year that doubles the first $10 SNAP participants spend at the market. 4MRMarket is the first farmers’ market in Northern Virginia (and still the only) to accept SNAP. 

---

Here is who you'll find at 4MRMarket this week:

• Pleitez Produce (Northern Neck) - A full range of locally grown produce, herbs, and more. 
• Bread and Chocolate (Arlandria) - A range of baked goods.
• C and T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce.
• The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" (Shenandoah) - Natural, locally farm-raised black Angus beef, and now fresh, farm raised Pork, including bacon and andouille, chorizo, and breakfast sausage! (all flash frozen for convenience)
• St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies. 
• Baguette Republic (Sterling, VA) -  A traditional artisan bakery producing a large variety of artisan breads, pastries and cookies using the best European techniques and tradition.
• Uncommon Knits (WV) - Handwoven linens made with 100% cotton and hand-stitched hems for your kitchen, dining room and bath.
• Benevolent Eaters Guild (Alexandria, VA) - Traditional fermented vegetables and soy products.
• Indigo's Friends - Come see Imani Russel's upcycled line of clothing and jewelry.  Reduce, Reuse, and Upcycle, indeed!

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

_______________

The Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market (Alexandria, Virginia 22305) brings fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors. It is part of an overall vision to expand and improve Four Mile Run park and the surrounding neighborhood.

4MRMarket is open every Sunday from 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. 

(click here for directions)

Buy Fresh Buy Local 4MRMarket products.

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/

On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket

Contact us at: 4mrm@arlandria.org

Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1

Uncovering the new 4MRMarket

Stay tuned to find out more tomorrow.