The Arlandrian: 4MRMarket Report: "Pre-Mother's Day Crafts" Edition

This Sunday on the 4MRStage, you'll find another talented and funky musician in Frenchy LeBlanc (follow this to the Facebook page for the his band, "The Stylemasters").

Frenchy will play a set from 11am-Noon. When Frenchy LeBlanc plays with "The Stylemasters", they play Swing’n Blues, Rockabilly, HonkyTonk, and some Old School Rock n’ Roll, so their performance should include a melange of throw-back, toe-tapping tunes! Come watch from the 4MRMarket Lounge and get your day started off right! Click here to view video on YouTube if the video below is not displayed.

Frenchy LeBlanc with his band, The Stylemasters
playing Johnny Cash's "'Big River"

Get all your Mother's Day gifts out of the way this weekend at 4MRMarket! Expert weavers Uncommon Knits -- one of our most popular craft vendors in years past -- will be there this Sunday! Shiny Soap and Fiber gives you a host of items Mom would love with her hand made goats milk, herbal, and hand milled soaps, in addition to knitted Angora rabbit fur items! We introduce another new craft vendor this weekend in Trey Apothecary, an Old Town based candle-maker selling soy hand-poured scented and double-wick candles. You can also find mom-friendly health and beauty products from Kalika Natural Beauty and healthful and delicious teas from Whole Health.

And don't forget to stock up for the week on local produce from C&T Produce, pasture raised beef and pork from the nearby Shenandoah from Stifler Farms, artisan made cheese from Tom's Amish Cheese, and or a variety of other goodies!

Here is our list of 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.
The Stifler Farm aka "What's For Dinner Now" - Farm-raised Black Angus beef, humanely raised on lush pasture fields of the Shenandoah Valley, naturally farmed pork...and now... 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!
Whole Health (Alexandria) - Organic teas and body scrubs from one of the largest Message and Acupuncture Therapy businesses in Northern Virginia (approved by the Alexandria Health Department).

Here is our list of craft vendors for this Sunday!

Uncommon Knits (West Virginia) - Handwoven linens made with 100% cotton and hand-stitched hems for your kitchen, dining room and bath.
Trey Apothecary (Old Town) Artisan soy hand-poured scented and double-wick candles and scented hand-made fragrance balm.
Shiny Soap and Fiber - (Hollywood, MD) - Crafty Shiny whips up hand made bathes of goats milk soap, hand milled soaps, herbal soaps, knitted items from Angora rabbit fur, and even soap dishes!
Kalika 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.

Crafts available on a rotating basis.

See below all the ways to help and participate in the market!

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, 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 4MRMarket@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 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 8am until 1pm from April 14th until November in Four Mile Run Park at 4109 Mt Vernon Avenue, Alexandria.

(click here for directions)