The Eastern Market made a mountain out of a molehill—Capitol Hill, to be exact. The market’s founders first pitched their tents in 1873 and since then the market has grown into the oldest year-round fresh food venues D.C. has to offer.
There is plenty to explore around those signature white tents. New this year, the Eastern Market debuted Fresh Tuesdays, held once a week from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. This market features a mix of old and new vendors selling everything from organic produce to Amish baked goods to fresh lamb, beef and chicken.
“The new fresh Tuesdays weekday farmers market is the beginning of a summer/fall tradition of Tuesday farmers market at Eastern Market,” Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee Chair Donna Scheeder said.
And for the artistic shopper, over 100 arts and crafts exhibitors open their booths at 7 a.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. on Sundays for the Weekend Outdoor Market. Visitors can browse through handmade goods, antiques or jewelry, and many of the vendors represent third generations of family business.
“People love the variety and the arts and crafts vendors play an important role in making the weekend market a tourist destination,” Scheeder said. “You don’t find that anywhere else.”
Archelaus, a card-making vendor, has been producing and selling unique greetings since 2005. Cards range from best wishes to birthday and get well to graduation, illustrated with check boxes that allow you to customize your well wishes such as, “Best Wishes on your Cosmetic Surgery,” or “Happy Birthday to my Distant Acquaintance.”
“We do strange and we do beautiful. Every once in a while, when the stars align, we do both at once,” said an Archelaus representative who prefers to be referred to as Customer Service Minion #1. “Our notorious checkbox cards constitute our most popular line, for they are highly versatile, enabling one to do anything from congratulate someone on their new way elephant to condole them on their existential angst.”
So whether you’re looking for greeting cards or groceries, art posters or pottery, head to the (Capitol) hills this fall and check out the Eastern Market.
