Each summer, the Avenue for the Arts comes alive with energy as shop owners open wide their doors and tables appear up and down the street to herald the return of The Market.
After years of experimenting with more dates (often four), the winning combination turns our to be two. So on Saturdays June 8 and July 13, the street will be bustling with exciting works of art, finely crafted or ironic clothing, and an abundance of distinctly unique gift items and handmade books.
One of the featured businesses this year at The Market is Daydream Studios, a thrilling creative venture by Amber Gerard and Lynn McKeown, whose product line consists of witty handmade buttons and other treasures. Other businesses featured this year include Littlewings Designs, Glucose Girls, Visionary Images Photography, three.bunnies, and RARE ATTITUDE.
It is also the closing event at Miscellany for Patrick and Alexia (she got into grad school at Pratt), and they will be hosting a garage sale inside their eclectic boutique. They will be missed by many because of their unique representation of local creatives like Issue Press and Cabin Time presented alongside international brands. Recently, Miscellany even presented an exhibition of rising contemporary art star
Katie Bell. (Google her.)
G-Sync Events has unearthed a secret addition this year's market: the debut of comic and artist Sarah Jean Anderson, who will not only be making live art, but conducting comedy sets in conjunction with the creation of her work. Think of her contribution as a blank canvas that's stapled to your funny bone via performance art.
There are plenty of opportunities to support the arts this weekend, but if you are looking to make a difference, spend it in Heartside. This is a region of our city where the bar is continually raised with each event. You dollar really goes a long way in ensuring this community's rich future.
Editor’s Note: Rapid Growth has featured Ice Cream Gallery and Toys in the past as one of those rare shops in our city that supports and beautifully represents our delicate, yet vital counter culture scene. It is no secret to those on the street that it is a challenge these days to keep something as simple as the lights on with tiny retail businesses anywhere, but the challenges are especially rough here. If you are out on the street, please visit Ronnie’s shop where he will be selling his delicious brand of ice cream as a fundraiser for this boutique of cool and collectable. Your palate will jump for joy over the diverse offerings like bacon and waffle flavored ice cream, but your cash infusion will ensure this business, which focuses on supporting so many local artists, will have a fighting chance to establish itself on our landscape. You might even find a great toy. I know I always do. Thanks - Tommy
Admission: Free