4MRMarket Report "End of Season Halloween Blowout" Edition

4MRMarket is closing for the season and we're having a party. 

Buy fresh produce, see a show, AND a great cooking demo by celebrity chef Will Artley!

This Sunday will be this year's last Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market of the season, but it will be a great one! Here's what'll be happening at 4MRMarket:

From 8-10, come stop by the market tent or lounge to hear about the special surprises that we have lined up for next season, capped off by an official announcement regarding the huge anonymous donation received last week.

At 10:30, come see a stunning performance by an acclaimed neighborhood actress. Award winning actress and Author of children’s educational picture books, Mizz Gale Nemec, presents a fantastic retelling of a classic Fairy Tale. Mizz Nemec brings all the characters to life in this engaging story by the Brothers Grimm. Mizz Nemec’s books make great gifts and will be available for purchase after the show. One show only!

At Noon, see a cooking demonstration by local celebrity chef, Will Artley. Chef Artley is one of the DC area's rising star chefs.

Will recently decided to part ways with Evening Star, but he's a huge supporter of the farmers market and the local food movement. Not to mention, he knows what to do with those great fresh ingredients once he gets his chef's knife on 'em!

Come learn a few tips and tricks, and maybe there will be some samples to pass around!

Here is the schedule for Sunday:

• 8:00am - Market Opens with produce, grass-fed beef, locally raised pork, coffee, baked goods, artisan-made products, and perhaps some surprises!
• 10:30am - A performance of Hansel and Gretel by Award Winning Actress Gale Nemec.  Bring the kids, grab a seat in our hay bale mini-amphitheater, and enjoy the lovely fall weather! Plus, Mizz Nemec’s books make great gifts and will be available for purchase after the show.
• 12:00pm - A cooking demo by local Chef Will Artley
• 1:00pm - Market closes, with plenty of time to head down to Del Ray to watch (or march in) the Halloween Parade.

So come out to Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market, 4109 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria VA, 22305 on its closing day of the season!

Remember, 4MRMarket is open April through October on Sundays from 8am-1pm. We've had a lot of fun this year and it's been more than a pleasure. With this last 4MRMarket report until next year, we've put together this collage we call, "A year at the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market" with all of our favorite 4MRMarket memories.

We hope to see you Sunday...and in 2012!

PS. Happy Halloween! Why not wear a costume to the market?

_______________

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 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. (click here for directions)

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/

On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket

Contact us at: 4mrm@arlandria.org

Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1

4MRMarket Special Report "Chef Will Artley Cooking Demo" Edition

Buy fresh produce, see a show, AND a great cooking demo from neighborhood celebrity chef Will Artley!

As we reported yesterday, this Sunday will be this year's last Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market of the season, but it will be a great one! We've added a cooking demo at 12 noon by Chef Will Artley.

Chef Artley is one of the DC area's rising star chefs.  He recently decided to part ways with Evening Star, but he's a huge supporter of the farmers market and local food movement. Not to mention, he knows what to do with those great fresh ingredients once he gets his chef's knife on 'em! Come learn a few tips and tricks, and maybe there will be some samples to pass around!

Here is the schedule for Sunday:

• 8:00am - Market Opens with produce, grass-fed beef, locally raised pork, coffee, baked goods, artisan-made products, and perhaps some surprises!
• 10:30am - A performance of Hansel and Gretel by Award Winning Actress Gale Nemec.  Bring the kids, grab a seat in our hay bale mini-amphitheater, and enjoy the lovely fall weather! Plus, Mizz Nemec’s books make great gifts and will be available for purchase after the show.
• 12:00pm - A cooking demo by local Chef Will Artley
• 1:00pm - Market closes, with plenty of time to head down to Del Ray to watch (or march in) the Halloween Parade.

So come out to Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market, 4109 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria VA, 22305 on its closing day of the season!

4MRMarket is open April through October on Sundays from 8am-1pm.

PS. Happy Halloween! Why not wear a costume to the market that day?

4MRMarket Special Report: "Special Performance Caps Off End of Season" Edition

Buy fresh produce and see a show!

The end of this years' Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market season is approaching this Sunday October 30th. And we're throwing a party.

Come see a stunning performance by an acclaimed neighborhood actress and hear about some other surprises that are in store for next year.

Join us for this classic Fairy Tale told by Mizz Gale Nemec, Award Winning Actress and Author  of Children’s Educational Picture Books. Sunday, Oct 30th, 10:30am. One show only!

At the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market, 4109 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria VA, 22305 on its Closing day of the season!

Mizz Nemec brings all the characters to life in this engaging story by the Brothers Grimm. Directed by Award Winning Director: John Strawbridge.

Free! Donations are welcome. Plus! Mizz Nemec’s books make great gifts and will be available for purchase after the show.

PS. Happy Halloween! Why not wear a costume to the show?

The $200 Park goes LARGE

The former electrical substation before Stormaggedon.

When the City of Alexandria purchased 3550 Commonwealth Avenue from Dominion Power, they had Open Space funding available and a goal of expanding park space, but they didn't really have a plan for it. What happened next though was something really magical.

Neighborhood volunteers teamed with City staff to forge ahead even in the face of economic troubles and budget crises. For just $200 it started to resemble a park, using only cast-off garden plants donated by neighbors and mulch ground up from cut-down, unhealthy, storm-battered trees formerly used to screen the old substation. For regular readers of The Arlandrian this is not news. We documented the progress along the way with our stories: "Where Did THAT Garden Come From?" and "New Park Uncovered At Spring for Alexandria". The tale of a community coming together is something that we are really amazed by and, frankly, more than a little proud.

And that gamble by citizens, that investment out of pocket and in blood, sweat and tears, didn't go unrewarded. Today they get their return. Dominion Power, already supporters of the Four Mile Run Farmers & Artisans Market through their Dominion Green outreach program, have stepped up to assist at the Reed Avenue Park as well.  Here's their press release:

Dominion volunteers will work with City of Alexandria Department Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities and community volunteers to turn a former substation into a beautiful community park. Alexandria community volunteers began to create the neighborhood park by adding flower beds and a walking path. Dominion volunteers will help continue the transformation by replacing shrubs and trees that have signs of decay and rotting with new trees that will provide shade for park users expand the walking path and plant additional flowers in the garden.

The Dominion Foundation donated $2,500.00 to help with the project and more than 20 employees will spend part of the day volunteering. Thursday, October 27, 2011 8am–1pm.

When The Arlandrian stopped by early this morning, the Dominion team was already well along. Throughout the day, despite the rain, the volunteers reestablished the paths and garden started by community members last year. And with help from City crews, fresh mulch was laid from the last of the broken trees (the victims of all of the weather events over the last year or so). The City also matched the Dominion dollar contribution with additional plantings. All in all, 4 new maples, 3 crepe myrtles, and 12 arborvitae have now made the community gardening project into a bona fide pocket park. The boost by Dominion and the City was exactly what the project needed to get the park to a place where community members can continue to build on and maintain. Mayor Euille rushed to the neighborhood between official duties to express the community's gratitude and appreciation to the crew during their lunch break. Still a work in progress, a story that is still unfolding, the Reed Avenue Park at 3550 Commonwealth Avenue is an incredible neighborhood accomplishment that continues to reflect the community pride.

New Potomac Yard Metro Alternative West of CSX Tracks

Intial Alternatives Considered
(EIS Screening of Alternatives Presentation)

The hope of a Potomac Yard Metro station on the west side of the CSX tracks is still alive.

More importantly, during the City's scoping phase of the Environmental Impact Statement preparation, Alternative D3 was introduced and kept on the table. This is important, because options on the west side (the Route 1 side) of the CSX tracks move the metro closer to more potential riders and will therefore increase potential ridership. If you've followed the PY Metro news closely, you'll recall that the 'D' series of alternatives are aerial station options that require the tracks to elevate, cross over to the west side of the the CSX tracks, then return to the east side to rejoin the existing tracks. (Read more about PY Metro here and here. Also, see the official site.)

The aerial alternatives had all been deemed prohibitively expensive and/or technical infeasible. But during the scoping phase of the EIS, the new D3 alignment for an aerial station within the PY development footprint proved a contender. It is listed in the EIS Initial Screening of Alternatives as: "Consistent with purpose and need, consistent with land use and development plans, technically feasible, [and] financially feasible." In fact, all five remaining options meet these four criteria.

The Arlandrian has previously reported the PY Metro Advisory Group's findings that show the 'D' (aerial station) and 'C' (underground station) series of alternatives significantly increase the amount of potential development, and therefore people, within the 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile walkshed. They move the station further into the eventual PY development area, and also closer to the medium density neighborhoods to the west. These neighborhoods include Arlandria, Del Ray, Lynhaven, etc. Alternative 'A' would serve significantly fewer people without a lengthy walk, which will drive some away from Metro as a feasible transportation option. The new D3 option is close to options B1, B2, and B3, but if it is on the west side of the CSX tracks, it saves a lot of walking and one set of steps (you'd have to go up, over, and down to get to any alternative to the east of the CSX tracks). Options D1 and D2, which did not make the cut, were further north and so would have served the planned densest part of the yard even more conveniently, but did not prove technically feasible. Review the report for more information about feasibility.

The underground station alternatives proved to be extremely expensive, and based on the EIS scoping document, not technically feasible. The proximity to Four Mile Run and the CSX tracks appears to be to blame. With option D3 on the table, the PY Metro station could serve almost as many people as the underground and alternate aerial options for a much smaller cost.

Other new alternatives that were considered during the scoping session and found incompatible with stated goals were a VRE station, parking garages, and additional stations developed in other parts of Alexandria. When a final alternative is chosen, it will be compared with the no-build scenario. At that point, the PY Metro Station Implementation Work Group will send the EIS forward to WMATA. The public has opportunities for input throughout. See the high level project schedule below (with projected station opening in 2016).

Potomac Yard Project Schedule (EIS Screening of Alternatives Presentation) 

This decision on which alternative to choose is far from made. One of the reasons the 'D' series of alternatives was rejected earlier was the developer didn't want to deal with building out the PY development while working around Metro construction. This is still a possible concern, though perhaps the new alignment was devised to mitigate this impact. It is also possible that option D3 is still more expensive than option 'A' and the various 'B' options. More information should be available tonight.

There is a public meeting tonight to review the Initial Screening of Alternatives at 6:30pm in the City Hall, Council Work Room, 301 King St.. Please attend if possible and lend your support for option D3.

Potomac Avenue is open!

This morning Potomac Avenue quietly opened for traffic. The new road in Potomac Yard connects Route 1 and Monroe Avenue to Crystal Drive in Crystal City via a re-purposed old railroad bridges over Four Mile Run.  The Arlandrian took a tour:

Turning South onto Potomac Avenue in Crystal City.

Approaching 33rd Street

At the intersection with South Glebe Road.

Heading onto the bridge over Four Mile Run into Alexandria with
the view of car heading north confirms it.
(I swear I heard someone complain about the traffic)

Looking back north toward Arlington behind the Target.

Work has started to connect the grid. 

At the other end: Potomac Avenue where it connects to
Route 1 and Monroe Avenue (via Main Line Blvd).

4MRMarket Report: "Come Enjoy the Weather" Edition

Help 4MR Park realize its revitalization!

This Sunday's 4MRMarket (from 8am to 1pm) should be a sunny, perfect early fall day, ranging from the low 60s to the mid-70s. What better way to spend a day like that than to get out. Come enjoy fresh produce, coffee and tea, baked goods, and great artisan crafts. There are only 4 markets left including tomorrow, so get your fresh food fix for the fall!

Just like every week, you can enjoy a tasty pastry in the 4MRMarket Lounge, and once again, Travis is cooking up a surprise for lucky market goers to sample!

See the "DONATE" note, below about helping get 4MR Park renovations even further along!  This fall, the City will start converting the vacant lots into a beautiful park plaza.  There are limited funds to do this project, so donations would be very helpful!

Here are other ways to help keep this community enterprise alive:

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 next week's market or pre-pay online via Pay-Pal (send money to 4MRM@arlandria.org).


DONATE. Help 4MRMarket help 4MR Park. 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. More information here.


HELP. If you'd like to volunteer with the 4MRMarket, go to: volunteer.4MRMarket.org to sign up or look for the "volunteer" tab on our website. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT 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 4mrm@arlandria.org for more info.


READ. Keep up to date on all the goings on by following 4MRMarket on Facebook or Twitter 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 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. 

---

Here is who you'll find at 4MRMarket this week:

• Pleitez Produce (Northern Neck) - A full range of locally grown produce, herbs, and more. 
• Bread and Chocolate (Arlandria) - A range of baked goods.
• C and T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce. 
• St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies. 
• Simply Healthy Water (Vienna, VA) - Try Dennis and Eileen's homeostatic filtered water and see if it's something you want to be able to enjoy every day.
• Indigo's Friends - Come see Imani Russel's upcycled line of clothing and jewelry.  Reduce, Reuse, and Upcycle, indeed!
• Mujeres Artesanas de Alexandria (MAdA) - Hand-made crafts.
Uncommon Knits (WV) - Handwoven linens made with 100% cotton and hand-stitched hems for your kitchen, dining room and bath.
• The Stifler Farm (What's For Dinner Now) (Shenandoah) are back from vacation selling grass-fed beef and pasture raised pork. And sausages!

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

Plan ahead and contact any of these great folks online if you'd like to shop virtually during the week.

VeloCity bike co-op should be on-site doing teaching bike maintenance and repair, depending on volunteer availability today.

VeloCitizen Kris bringing the mobile
bike repair shop to 4MRMarket

_______________

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 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. 

(click here for directions)

Buy Fresh Buy Local 4MRMarket products.

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/

On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket

Contact us at: 4mrm@arlandria.org

Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1

4MRMarket Report: "The Home Stretch" Edition

Delicious Fall Greens are now available!
Photo from Troo Food Liberation

It's a brisk fall morning at 4MRMarket, and we're all set to go.  This is our last month for the 2011 edition of the market, so come out and make it a great last hurrah!  We have veggies, meat, baked goods, etc. just like every week, and the Market Lounge is set up to enjoy a nice fresh breakfast, and Travis is cooking up a surprise for lucky market goers to sample!

Today we'll draw the names for four lucky winners for a $5 Gift Tokens as our way to reward customer loyalty.

Here are other ways to help keep this community enterprise alive:

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 next week's market or pre-pay online via Pay-Pal (send money to 4MRM@arlandria.org).


DONATE. Help 4MRMarket help 4MR Park. 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. More information here.


ANSWER. Do you like to bike to 4MRMarket? If so, please fill out this survey from the League of American Bicyclists to help get 4MRMarket certified as an official Bike Friendly Business.


HELP. If you'd like to volunteer with the 4MRMarket, go to: volunteer.4MRMarket.org to sign up or look for the "volunteer" tab on our website. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT 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 4mrm@arlandria.org for more info.


READ. Keep up to date on all the goings on by following 4MRMarket on Facebook or Twitter 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 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. 

---

Here is who you'll find at 4MRMarket this week:

Have a heart.
Sampling fresh sausage and variety meats.

• The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" (Shenandoah) - Natural, locally farm-raised black Angus beef, and now fresh, farm raised Pork, including bacon and andouille, chorizo, and breakfast sausage! (all flash frozen for convenience) 
• Pleitez Produce (Northern Neck) - A full range of locally grown produce, herbs, and more. 
• Bread and Chocolate (Arlandria) - A range of baked goods.
• C and T Produce (White Oak, VA) - A huge selection of locally grown produce. 
• St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and a few extra goodies. 
• Simply Healthy Water (Vienna, VA) - Try Dennis and Eileen's homeostatic filtered water and see if it's something you want to be able to enjoy every day.

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

Plan ahead and contact any of these great folks online if you'd like to shop virtually during the week.

VeloCity bike co-op should be on-site doing teaching bike maintenance and repair, depending on volunteer availability today.

VeloCitizen Kris bringing the mobile
bike repair shop to 4MRMarket

_______________

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 8am until 1pm from May through October in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria. 

(click here for directions)

Buy Fresh Buy Local 4MRMarket products.

For more info see: http://www.4mrmarket.org/

On Facebook: facebook.com/4MRMarket

Contact us at: 4mrm@arlandria.org

Or call the 4MRMarket hotline: (804) 4mi-Run1