The Arlandrian: 4MRMarket Report: "Mini-staycation" Edition

Enjoy a free show and some great weather at 4MRMarket!

August is the time of year in the Washington area when most people try to get in a nice family vacation before the start of the school year, or just try and get away from the oppressive heat of DC if just for a few days in the mountains or on their favorite seashore.

But we have good news for you! Sunday mornings have been mild, breezy, and beautiful at 4MRMarket!

Drop by from 8am to 1pm do a little shopping, enjoy a coffee or tea, and enjoy a free concert on the 4MRMarket Stage between 10 & 12.

The forecast says it should be in the high 70s to low 80s, sunny, and beautiful! Life is full of little moments like this where you can get away without getting away, so why not take advantage with a 4MRMarket staycation this Sunday!

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On Stage!

On Sunday from 10am-noon, the 4MRMarket Stage will play host to Matt Tarka, another market veteran!

Matt Tarka will be on-stage from 10am-noon

Matt Tarka is a singer/songwriter whose introspective lyrics and sharp rhythms are designed for your back porch or a ride into town. Tarka’s songs can jolt you like a conversation with an old friend, picking up right where you left off on the trail. He has been compared to rockers turned folk artists including Kevin Seconds, Vic Ruggiero, Jesse Malin, TV Smith and Gene Clark.

He can be found performing his brand of folk rock at such venues as Axum Lounge (DC), The Velvet Lounge (DC), The Ottobar (Baltimore), MilkBoy Coffee/The Fire/Dawson Street Pub (Philadelphia), among many others.

Tarka recorded his debut EP in July 2011 titled Motorcycle Breakfast, produced by Dave Mallen. This collection of songs delivers a poignant message in a somewhat playful and endearing way. DC Rock Live’s David Hintz writes: “The best of his style are the vocal lines he writes that are simple enough on the face of things, but have a few hooky moments that bring his songs to life.”

Tarka takes the stage from 10am-noon (See our Facebook event page).

Remember, the concert is free, but Matt and all our performers welcome tips and friendly applause for sharing their craft with you on a lovely Sunday morning.
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Free Swag!

Last week was the start of National Farmers Market Week! It's just now wrapping up, but there are still a lot of INOVA sponsored Buy Fresh, Buy Local bags to be had for free! Come by the market and pick yours up this weekend!
Pledge to celebrate at 4MRMarket this summer and the folks at American Farmland Trust will send you a free "No Farms No Food" bumper sticker. Your pledge will help show prospective vendors that there's community support. (Donations to support AFT are optional.)
The Buy Fresh, Buy Local and Win campaign continues this weekend at 4MRMarket!

Bring your “Farm. Fresh. Pledge.” punch card if you already have one. If you didn't get started yet, just ask for one at 4MRMarket and earn one punch for each $10 you spend on Virginia Grown products.Collect all 14 punches for a chance to win a Virginia Grown® / Virginia’s Finest® gift basket valued at $250. 4MRMarket will also award prizes to monthly drawings from all punch cards received. (See the official rules for more details).

You can fill up your bags with a great selection of produce, meat, cheese, teas, health and beauty products, and more.

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4MRMarket 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.
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).
St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Del Ray) - Brewed coffee, tea, and always a few extra goodies!
Old Town Suds - (Alexandria) This maker of eco-friendly soaps, cleaning supplies, bath bombs, and more! Old Town Suds started because Steffanie was allergic to most commercial soaps on the market; then she became really sick and wondered if her health was being made worse by everyday chemicals. Their decadent soaps & nose-pleasing cleaning products are tough on dirt but easy on humans, pets, and the Earth. Look for Port City Beer soap & Legend (Richmond, VA) Beer soap plus the Cup of Joe soap that looks like a latte!
Charlette Marie 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.
Raining Cats & Dogs - Gourmet Organic and Gluten Free Pet Treats
MemoryCard Photography - New to the Alexandria area, Emily previously showed her work in and around the Williamsburg area, but just recently began selling her photos in the Alexandria area. She currently has inventory up at Killer E.S.P. on King Street in Old Town Alexandria. She specializes in nature photography such as landscapes, flowers, and water scenes. Feel free to check out her Etsy page!
Ekaa, Hands That Create, (Columbia, Maryland) Hand-crafted Home and Fashion accessories.
Furloughed Feds Fine Frippery- Home baked goodies (cupcakes, brownies, coffee cakes, caramel candies) and breakfast treats (muffins, biscotti, granola), served (for a reasonable price) to the public, in lieu of serving the public. "Let Them Eat Cake...and other Goodies!!"
Others pending!

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

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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, come talk to us any Sunday. You'll be able to volunteer to help process SNAP/EBT and Credit / Debit Card 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, Twitter, Google+ 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)