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market

eastern market.

My girlfriends and I decided to take my best friend to Capitol Hill for some good eats and a stroll around Eastern Market.  We ate at Good Stuff Eatery, which by the way, has the most amazing burgers ever.  It’s hands down better than Five Guys — which would probably be my second favorite burger.  I ordered the handcrafted Collette Burger with mushrooms and handcut french fries topped with rosemary and thyme — AMAZING.

The restaurant is a family operated business — one of the family members being Chef Spike from a past season of Top Chef.  Chef Spike is the head Chef, and he’s there everyday, so we got to see him in action as he cooked burgers.  We even got to see a tiff between him and his mom — Chef Spike ran off, he was definitely heated.  Not sure what it was about, but don’t let that stop you from trying Good Stuff.  You won’t regret it.

At Eastern Market, I stopped by my favorite stall, The Red Persimmon, and picked up a hand block printed nightie for my girl.  Lately I’ve been coming up with designs for baby/toddler nightgowns for the Susie Mey shop.  When I saw this one at Eastern Market, it just confirmed that there’s a niche of people looking for the old world style and comfort that a simple nightie brings.  These days women, and especially girls, don’t wear them much, but I will forever be a fan of vintage inspired cotton nightgowns.  They are feminine and beautiful, and what girl wouldn’t want to feel like that?

hand block printed nightie from eastern market

to market, to market.

Back in the spring I won a $100 random drawing at Eastern Market.  Yes, oh joy!!! I’ve been holding onto it with the hope that Greg, myself and the baby could get out and spend a quiet Sunday afternoon somewhere special — just us time.  It’s hard to find this sorta time with the lifestyle we’re currently living.  So when it finally happens, I love “just us time”.

And, Eastern Market is one of those special places.

We chose this past Sunday to pay our visit to the Market.  Dhara loved every second of it — the plethora of people walking this way and that, tons of unique artisan stalls selling goods like antiques, great clothing, artwork, handmade jewelry and soaps.  Not to mention the food — local fruit and veggies, meats, cheeses, desserts, and fresh cut flowers.

Oh, how grand it would be to live close to this Market.  I recently read it being #7 on a list of most popular markets in the WORLD, according to the HuffingtonPost.com.  Very cool that it’s on the same list as some legendary European and Asian markets.

After strolling the market and making my purchases, we had lunch at an authentic Salvadoran place — pupusas, plantains, rice + beans.  Yum.

a view of eastern market from our parking spot on an overcast, but pleasant day

my favorite booth at the market — red persimmon — they sell Indian wares such as quilts, thin cotton robes, peasant nightgowns, cloth market bags and kurtas

dhara admiring polish pottery

inside the newly renovated main building after a devastating fire last year

fresh local fruit

after lunch we stopped at the local coffee shop

dhara saying goodbye to eastern market

I debated using my $100 win on some turkish bath towels, but ended up using it on some much needed, charming polish pottery to add to my expanding collection

However, I wasn’t the only one who scored something neat that day.  It just so happens that Dhara received the neatest little gift from Gifty Aunty in Rochester, MN.

so beautifully wrapped


a swedish bowl + spoon set made from farmed bamboo! created for form, function + the environment and designed by Moritz



dhara was super eager to test it out. thanks gifty aunty!