The Central Arts Market, to be exact.
You know there has to be a story so, without saying anything bad about anyone, here it is.
When I started vending, last summer, I was worried there wouldn't be markets going on through the summer. I'm so grateful I found the Roosevelt Row weekend markets. The same group that does First Friday every month had a weekend market as well. I thought it would be a great place to jump in, get started, and work out the kinks. I was grateful when I got into First Friday - even if it was me setting up in 115 degree heat!
I tried a few other markets and wasn't feeling it. Either it was too far &/or not my customer demographic, or they were closed for summer, only taking a specific type of vendor, had a waiting list, or would reply to my outreach through their jurist program with, "we already have people who sell jewelry." Ummmmm... I can leave the jewelry at home and still stock a full booth!
*crickets*
But it was okay because every weekend I was able to be out at the weekend market -- where I was getting to know the other vendors, where I was figuring out what I was doing, where I was making friends. And somehow it just started feeling like home and I started looking forward to going and seeing everyone.
At the beginning of December we learned that the weekend market was being shut down. We were all reeling - wondering what we were going to do and where we would go, and expressing how sad we would be to not see each other every week. What were we going to do?
That's when our fearless leader stepped up and asked us to give him a bit to sort out some things -- and he came back the next week with information on where he was starting up a new market and if we wanted to come ... YES! 100 YES! So we all started spreading the word, making plans, and getting excited! And we did our Holiday Market in December, before we took a few weeks off for the holidays and a much welcome rest.
This weekend we will be back - starting with First Friday and then rolling through the weekend. For our First Friday kickoff we will have amazing vendors, food trucks, live music, all the fun you could want in a more intimate space. It's going to be a party and I hope you can join us!
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