People who visit Eastern Market tend to be welcoming Washington D.C. locals. They appreciate open-air markets, farm grown produce and hot espresso on early Sunday mornings. Typically these individuals are accompanied by adorable children and futuristic-looking strollers. Elizabeth and I do not have a real-life child, however, our lovely friend Deborah does. We borrowed her toddler, Zoë, for the occasion. Fully prepared with a cute kid, notebook and drawing materials we explored the large marketplace on a beautiful, sunny day. Immediately, we noticed the location teeming with vendors and bustling with hectic shopping activity. Everything from fragrant handmade soaps to artists selling Rothko inspired art was in reach.

Upon arrival you’re moved to walk a dog, push a baby stroller and start buying stuff…what exactly?

Well, anything. Handmade scarves. Stoneware pottery. Food. Lots and lots of food. You can’t find fresher nor more reasonably priced fruit and vegetables anywhere in the area, and the array of choices vendor to vendor is quite impressive.

It’s alluring appeal stems from the market’s rich history & engaging residents. It’s one beautiful orchestration of people enjoying their neighborhood. The beloved market is a community hub located in Capitol Hill and is the city’s oldest public market.

Again, you’re bound to find everything you want at this market. We wandered around creating a wish list of things to purchase:

2 vintage bicycles
A bushel of apples
A deep-crimson Persian rug
Handmade lavender candles
Letterpressed stationary
One 20 oz hanger steak
Vintage jewelry & clothing from the ‘60s
An endless amount of handcrafted furniture & antiques

With each turn our list grew longer and LONGER. And our temporary child grew hungry. Obligated to feed Zoë, we shifted our focus to food and went to visit Eastern Market’s South Hall. The 13 indoor merchants (listed below!) offer an amazing selection of meat, fish and poultry. You’ll also find vendors selling homegrown plants and floral arrangements. Unlike the outdoor market, a majority of these vendors are open Monday – Sunday.

Blue Iris Flowers
Bowers Fancy Dairy Products
Calomiris Fruits & Vegetables
Canales Delicatessen
Canales Quality Meats
Capitol Hill Poultry
Capitol Hill Produce

Eastern Market Grocery
Fine Sweet Shop
Market Lunch
Market Poultry
Southern Maryland Seafood
Union Meat Company, LLC

For lunch, we stopped at the Fine Sweet Shop, treating ourselves to bagels and lox.

Note: Zoë doesn’t care for lox and happily enjoyed her peanut butter & jelly sandwich for lunch.

We also sampled their German chocolate cupcakes.

One more note: The 3-year old was a harsh chocolate critic., however, she loved every bite.

Overall, Eastern Market is an eclectic mix of food vendors, quality sellers and arguably one of the best places to people-watch in the District. Here are some shopping tips:

1.) Expect lots of people and prized canines during your visit. It will be crowded. There will be dozens of children present. We found the environment pleasant & family-oriented. If you don’t like kids or dogs keep your visit brief.

2.) Take the metro. Parking can sometimes be a challenge. Avoid the frustration and use public transportation. The Eastern Market metro stop is on the blue and orange lines and is a short distance away from the market. (Click here for the metro map)

3.) Perfect location for antiques, vintage goods or collectibles. The flea market has a great selection of handmade furniture & unique decorative pieces. You will continually find affordable and well-made items for your home. Delivery is often available.

4.) Bring a dog or a child. It’s the hip thing to do.

Eastern Market

225 7th Street SE

Washington, DC 20003

http://www.easternmarket-dc.org/

Happy Shopping!

Elizabeth & Glory

Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market

Location: 20th St. NW between Massachusetts Ave. & Connecticut Ave.

Click here for map.

Nearest Metro: Dupont Circle (Red Line)

About This Market:
The Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market is an old-fashioned, traditional market filled with the essentials: fresh fruits, organic vegetables, butchered meats, delicious baked goods and a variety of delectable jams & jellies. On Sunday, Elizabeth and I began a farm-to-table shopping adventure. In search of tasty (yet affordable) finds for our upcoming dinner party.

On our fancy-pants menu:

Broccoli & Goat Cheese Soufflé
Sesame flatbread
Hummus with Crisp Maitake Mushrooms
Roasted Chicken
Baked Sweet Potatoes

Sounds delicious, huh? More on that later…

Needless to say, we found everything we were looking for and more. The vendors represented an array of well-known local farms. From The Quaker Valley Orchards to the Red Apron Butchery, we had our choice of top-quality farm-produced goods.

The market is an ideal Sunday afternoon destination, great for people watching & shopping. It’s festive environment, accumulation of wonderful products and local-loving sellers only add to its charm. Most importantly, one can find an impressive selection of seasonal items. (Elizabeth scored 10 huge turnips for only $4.00!)

If you choose wisely, $50.00 dollars can fill your fridge for the week or you can splurge on $9.00 mushrooms. You have tons of options. Overall, we found the produce reasonably priced and kept closely to our dinner party budget.

Top vendors include, Blue Ridge Dairy Co., which is well known for their amazing Honey YoLite yogurt & scrumptious cheeses, and my personal favorite, Atwater’s Bakery. We highly recommend the Sweet Heat Aztec Brownie. Absolutely amazing.

Bakery Warning: There is always a very long line, however, the pastries are well worth the wait.

Last thing(s):

Both cash & credit card is accepted. The Dupont Circle FRESHFARM Market also accepts SNAP (EBT/Food Stamps).

Come prepared with a tote bag. You’ll need it!

At times, it can be slightly packed. Don’t let this stop you. Remain steadfast and remember, Whole Foods has even longer lines. Making a list prior to shopping can help you navigate thru the crowds.

Happy Shopping!

Elizabeth & Glory