Saturday, July 12, 2014

4MRMarket Report: New and Improved


Sunday at 4MRMarket, we have a new artisans at the market! We also have additional seating for market goers in the ongoing process of making the 4MR Plaza into a fantastic park and recreational area! The benches (pictured) and picnic tables will give market goers even more space to sit and enjoy the market.

New benches at 4MR Park Plaza!
This Sunday, 4MRMarket welcomes District Line Co., a t-shirt designer from Arlington, to the market! They features a local Arlington design (and we've encouraged her to come up with something good for the proud Alexandrians among us!).

We also welcome back dog gym Frolick Dogs to 4MRMarket this week with demonstrations on their doggie gym apparatus!

Savory 'n Sweet will have all the great Bulgarian baked goods you've come to know and love, Caffeine features freshly roasted Ethiopian and Guatemalan coffees, What's for Dinner Now is back this weekend with their fantastic pasture-raised beef and Naturally raised pork, plus so much more will be at the market this weekend!

Check out this article about Kremena Stefanova and Savory 'n Sweet from this week's DIY Del Ray!

Savory 'n Sweet features recipes Kremena learned from her mother and
grandmother in her childhood home in Bulgaria.

This Week on 4MR Stage...

Virginia singer/songwriter Joseph Keith will be on the 4MR Stage from 10am-Noon this Sunday!  Joseph is an up and coming musician "with a talent for catchy riffs and melodies."  He's recorded 5 studio albums at just 19 years of age. His 4th alblum, "Yesterday's Gone" was recorded in Nashville with backing from top studio pickers who have played with Bob Seger, James Taylor, Nanci Griffith, Garth Brooks and Uncle Kracker. Don't miss this one!


See Joseph Keith on the 4MR Stage this weekend! (click for video)


Our musicians volunteer their time on Sunday mornings to make yours even brighter! They graciously accept tips and friendly applause, so please help support music at the market!

Composting at 4MRMarket

Bring your (non-animal) food scraps to 4MRMarket in any type of container you choose, or purchase one on-site for a very low fee.
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4MRMarket Vendors this week:
  • C &T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce from a locally, family-run farm in Stafford, Virginia.
  • What's For Dinner Now -- aka The Stifler Farm. Farm-raised Black Angus beef, humanely raised on lush pasture fields of the Shenandoah Valley, naturally farmed pork, and of course, Uncle Frank's Grilling Sauce!!
  • Tom's Amish Cheese Store (Lancaster, PA) - Artisan Cheese and yogurt, farm-fresh eggs, and Pennsylvania honey.
  • St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and always a few extra goodies!
  • Sweet 'N Savory (Alexandria) - Your local Bulgarian baker! Maker of Savory and Sweet Breads, Breakfast Pastries, Fruit Pies, Breadsticks, and Granola.
  • Caffeine. - Serving freshly roasted coffee from various sources (Ethiopian and Guatemalan this week) at their pour over brew bar!
Crafters and More

  • District Line Co. (Arlington) - Local t-shirt designer with featured designs for Arlington.
  • Felicity's Handcrafted Soaps - (Alexandria) This specialty crafter of hand-made soaps and knitted items will be at the market every other Sunday!
  • Charlette Marie Beauty (Centreville, VA) - A naturally effective, eco-friendly, line of handmade bath and body skin care goodies. Her products are made with bio-dynamic, natural botanical active ingredients.
  • Frolick Dogs (Alexandria) - Chat with dog whisperer Kevin Gilliam, see Cinco Swim demo their new dog gym equipment, and get passes to try out their brand new dog gym!


4MRMarket News:

Did you catch the article about 4MRMarket on page 8 of this week's Alexandria Times?

Well, the cat's out of the bag: our business is other people's businesses...promoting them!

And as promised, there is  now a way that you can help 4MRMarket raise funds for Four Mile Run Park!! We have partnered with the City of Alexandria and CitizenInvestor to provide a way to directly contribute to 4MR Park. Please help us build on the $2,000 that we've already raised to plant more trees in Four Mile Run park by contributing whatever you can, big or small. All donated funds go toward the purchase of new trees (or the water to make them grow)! Contribute at: http://www.citizinvestor.com/project/4mr-park-fall-tree-planting

See the brief video about the project:




Also click on over to the Wells Fargo Works Project and see the 4MRMarket submission to win a grant to help us help more start-up businesses get a leg-hold in the the competitive market place!

And stay tuned for more news!!

See below all the ways to help and participate in the market!
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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 4MRPark. 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 to fund tree and other amenities at 4MRExpand More information here.

HELP. If you'd like to volunteer with the 4MRMarket, come talk to us any Sunday. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT and Credit / Debit Card 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 FacebookTwitterGoogle+ 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. And C&T Produce now accepts SFMNP vouchers!
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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.

4MRMarket is open every Sunday from 9am until 1pm from April 27th until November in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. 

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