Friday, October 20, 2017

4MRMarket Report: Return of the Entrepreneurs.

The Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market (4MRMarket) will be open every Sunday from 9am until 1pm in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. (click here for directions)

We're proud of how 4MRMarket acts as a business incubator: creating opportunities for start-ups and entrepreneurs to experiment with new and exciting business models. We hear from new businesses all the time, looking to start at 4MRMarket and we're proud to provide a place for them to strive to reach their dreams. It's exciting to see. We hope folks continue to check them out and give them a chance. Feedback is invaluable.

This year we're incredibly excited to get to know Sweet Twist of Ecuador as they have continued to extend their offerings: ice cream, empanadas and now Central American coffee. Ana arrived this year from Ecuador where she has a much-acclaimed shop in Quito. For now, just a well-kept secret, don't wait to catch them as we're sure they'll soon become as popular as back home. Check out this video from Ecuadorian TV (one of many)!



Montoya Farms has the fruits of the Harvest. Captain Xans will be back with more of the Alaskan salmon he caught this Summer. A great way to start the week. Savory n' Sweet has apples pie pockets, plum and goat cheese tarts fresh from the oven, and the savory and sweet rolls Kremena remembers from her Bulgarian childhood. Candace Linn has Fall candles.

And Bagel Uprising will back after recovering from Art on the Avenue. Look for them this week and future Sundays. 

And we're incredibly proud to announce that we've been awarded an Alexandria Beautification Award along with our non-profit partner, the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation, for our combined ongoing efforts to contribute to park improvements. We capped that off this week by extending our tree planting efforts with the planting of Food Forest with the help of TD Bank & Tree Stewards volunteers and the Arbor Day Foundation for #TDTreeDays.

Also help us with the collection for St. Rita's Annual Clothing DriveSt. Rita's Church, partnering with Grace Episcopal, is conducting its annual clothing drive and will be collecting gently worn, clean cold weather clothing and rain gear of all sizes this week. The collection box will be at the 4MRMarket Tent and the clothing will be distributed on Saturday, November 4th from the St. Rita School Hall to our neighbors in Arlandria.

As a 100% neighborhood volunteer run market, we are proud that 4MRMarket serves as an incubator for small start-up businesses, a space for non-profits to promote their causes, and a community gathering place for live music, fellowship, and quality food and craft options. We're happy to announce the new vendors approach us almost every day. We love hosting new businesses and watching them grow. And we've been there through their ups & downs.

On 4MR Stage, ~10am - Noon

The 4MRMarket Stage will be play host to a great local talent: Janna Audey!! See her at 10am!

Janna performs a mix of her own material and adaptations of songs by her favorite artists and songwriters. Whether you see Janna by her lonesome for an intimate, storytelling show, as the duo alongside husband and electric guitarist, Rob Santos you'll understand what the Janna-buzz is all about. It's about the music, providing a sense of community, connection, feeling, laughter, positive energy, and FUN.
http://www.reverbnation.com/jannaaudey


Since its inception, 4MRMarket has hosted the 4MR Concert Series. This season marks another year where the 4MR Stage will be home a weekly concert series featuring local artists that volunteer their time to bring you a little kick-start to your Sunday! Nearly every week, there will be an artist on stage from 10am to noon. They graciously accept tips and friendly applause, so please help support music at the market from these volunteer musicians!

Remember, the concert is free, but all our performers welcome tips and friendly applause for sharing their craft with you on a lovely Sunday morning.

Please see the 4MRMarket FaceBook event page for more information about the show!


For the current list of revolving vendors this season at 4MRMarket, see our vendor page on our website: Meet our Vendors

Come early but stay for some fresh ice cream
from Sweet Twist of Ecuador
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More ways to support 4MRMarket:


DONATE. Help 4MRMarket help 4MRPark. Tax-deductible donations can be made to support us in our efforts to revitalize Four Mile Run Park. Donate to our partner the Four Mile Run Conservatory Foundation to fund tree plantings, clean-ups, water stations and other amenities at 4MRExpand or throughout the park.

VOLUNTEER. We love help with set-up and tear-down and/or helping folks shop using SNAP or Credit/Debit cards. Just find a Market Manager to ask to help, or email us at 4MRMarket@arlandria.org for more info.

FOLLOW. Keep up to date on all the goings on by following 4MRMarket on FacebookTwitterInstagramGoogle+Email 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 participants can take advantage of the Inova-sponsored "Double Dollar" program again this year that doubles the first $20 SNAP participants spend. An extra $20!! 4MRMarket is proud to have been the first farmers’ market in Northern Virginia to accept SNAP.
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Buy Fresh Buy Local 4MRMarket products.
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.

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/
On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket
On Twitter: @4MRMarket
Subscribe to Updates: via Email
Contact us at: 4MRMarket@arlandria.org
Or call the 4MRMarket info line: (804) 4mi-Run1