I've always loved open air markets. We decided yesterday that for our anniversary, we'd just have a casual day in the city and decided our first stop would be Eastern Market in the Capitol Hill district.
We've always enjoyed this market when we've visited and today was no exception. It was the perfect day for walking through the scores of vendors represented, both with local and global goods.
It's always changing and there is always something new to discover.
If we lived in this neighborhood, we would certainly make this market a weekly stop as it is full of fresh, local vegetables.
Walking through this market reminds me of when I lived in Buenos Aires, as this was just the way that you purchased your fruits, vegetables, meat, and herbs. You always had fresh food and could just walk down the street to the corner market that sold your fruits and veggies and around another corner to buy your fresh pasta, meat, or bread. At no other time in my life have I had fresh fruit like I did when I lived there. (and it was so cheap- so that was a bonus, too!)
One of my other favorite things about large cities are the markets and street vendors that sell fresh flowers... it's every wedding planner's dream. (ok- so I'm not a wedding planner, but if I were- I'm pretty sure I would rather purchase flowers this way than through an expensive florist)
For those who love to practice their culinary skills, outdoor markets have so many fresh ingredients
and herbs.
(one of my favorite things for cooking)
One of the things I love most about coming here is the fresh food and fruit sampling. I have to say I just may have visited several of the "peach vendors" a few too many times while I was there. (it's my job to make sure they are selling good fruit, right?)
I just might have had the best peach ever-- Really. There were fresh peaches, strawberries, watermelon, tomatoes and cherries and a number of other types of fruits- along with different sauces and salsas. (though I skipped on those since I'm not a fan of double-dipping- and before you judge, I bet a lot of you reading this are the exact same way)
There are a number of amazing art, photography, pottery, clothing, textile, jewelry and other types of vendors and artists represented. There were lots of vendors with fresh blocks of handmade and organic soap in about every scent you could think of. (and as hot as it was outside when we were walking around, I could have used some of that soap)
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| So many types of soap- check out the one with oatmeal towards the top |
After walking through all of the vendors and the Market area that sells fresh pasta, cheeses, breads, and meat (sorry- there are no pictures of the meat- just let your imagination fill in the blanks), we headed through a few more vendors and then decided to walk through some of the neighborhoods and head towards a local coffee shop in the area.
Nate has always wanted to visit Ebenezer's CoffeeHouse...
ONE. because Nate loves coffee (which might be putting it mildly)
AND
TWO. they sell coffee that goes towards church outreach
Ebenezers was started by Mark Batterson of National Community Church, which has planted several churches in the DC area. All of the profits from their coffeehouse go towards community outreach projects for their church campuses. Since Nate loves coffee, he's always been fascinated by what this ministry has chosen to do with a coffeehouse. It's a pretty ingenious concept.
The upper part of the coffee shop houses a seating area
as well as serves a variety of hot and cold drinks and small snacks.
while the lower area is used for various community events and small concerts. Originally when it first opened, they held Sunday services in the lower part of the shop.
They sell Fair Trade Coffee from One Village Coffee and Nate and I decided to spend a little while in the cool AC as it was quite hot walking around today. It was a really cute urban coffeehouse, with a lot of exposed brick, so it was the perfect place to just sit back and relax. (Sorry Starbucks, but this coffeehouse might have you beat)
Ebenezers motto is "Coffee With a Cause" and each of their coffee cup sleeves has the verse I Samuel 7:12- "Thus far the Lord has helped us". While Nate somehow was able to drink a hot drink, I opted for an iced one. I'm not a coffee drinker, so being married to one has always been intriguing to me as I just don't understand how you can drink a hot drink on a hot day. He tells me if I drank coffee I would understand.
It was a full down of walking around DC, strolling the streets, looking at homes we could never afford in neighborhoods we'll never live in. (real estate in DC has always amazed me) We ended our evening at a great Italian restaurant for an anniversary dinner and topped it off with an amazing piece of cheesecake and then headed home.
I'm am one blessed wife and thankful to have had some down time to spend with him. What a wonderful end to an anniversary weekend.
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