Let's Get Fresh: Ugly Christmas Sweater Market
By Bob Workman on December 13, 2015 from Let’s Get Fresh via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Merry Christmas, Marketeers! Since it seems every other day of the over-hyped holiday shopping season has a nickname denoting its existence as more than just another normal day on the calendar we at the BFM decided to re-christen a day to call our own. Hence,
welcome to Farmers and Artisans Sunday in Bridgeport. Doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue like “Black Friday” or “Cyber Monday” but it’s the best I could come up with to describe today’s Market at the Bridgeport Conference Center.
If you are looking for a truly unique gift for the person who has everything (and we all have one of those folks on our list, don’t we?) then get yourself out to Charles Pointe and check out what our artisans have created for the holiday season. From bowls hand-crafted from WV hard woods to vintage fashions you are sure to find a one-of-a-kind, locally produced present that will please even the most Bah-Humbuggiest person on your list. Below is our handy-dandy shopping guide.
- Jughead Pottery – Whimsical pottery designs and silver jewelry
- Chef Bear’s Bowls – Hand-crafted WV hardwood bowls and platters
- Dirty Hippie Creations – Hand-made soy candles
- Feathered – Vintage clothing and accessories
- WV 00 Bagel – Home-made bagels
- Ginny Thompson Jewelry - Hand-crafted jewelry designs
- My Little Cupcake - Uh, cupcakes, need I say more?
- Heelbilly Hound Dog Treats - All-natural homemade dog treats
- A Simpler Time – Hypertufa planters, hand-made WV garments
- Patty’s Paca Products – Hand-sewn alpaca clothing items
- Lazy J Farm - A variety of WV made products including fresh ground flour
- Harmony Farm - A large variety of WV winter produce
- Jennings Brae Bank Farm - WV produce and farm-raised pork products
- Master Gardeners – All-natural herb products
- Sweet Wind Farm - Pasture-raised chicken
- Mountain Momma Organics – Gift sets with organic soups and coffees
- Z&Z Woodcrafters - Hand crafted wood products from WV hardwoods
- Bonds Creek Farm – WV pickled products, WV salt, gifts
- Shipley’s Forest Hill Farm – Grass-fed beef and holiday food items, WV honey
- Hawthorne Valley Farm – Grass-fed beef, Bloody Butcher corn meal and pancake mixes
- Gardner Farms - Farm-raised chicken, lamb, turkey, rabbit, duck, pork
- Chrizart - Tamarack approved jewelry designs by Christine Keller
- Back In Time Bakery – Salt-rising bread and many other baked goods
- This n That Bakery – Holiday baked goods
- Little Red Hen Bakery – Baked goods and gingerbread houses
- Ginger Blue Naturals - All-natural body products
- In A Jam - Locally-made artisan preserves with WV fruits
- Indian Creek Farm – Free-range Chicken
- Quantum Bean Coffee – Locally roasted coffee and coffee related gifts
- Riversong Spa – Holiday jewelry and gift certificates
- Running Bug Farm – WV knitted items and farm fresh eggs
- Mike Diaz Woodworking – Hand-made furniture from WV hardwoods
- Mia Margherita Coal Fired Pizzeria - Gift Baskets
In addition, many of the Market’s food vendors will be taking orders for your holiday feast fixings. I think you can ask anyone who shared
Thanksgiving with my family this year and they will tell you that Reginald III: Final Destination (Yes, we name our local turkeys at the Workman/Wyatt Thanksgiving, don’t you?), our turkey from Gardner Farms, was the best turkey they had ever eaten. The Gardners made it easy by setting up a Bridgeport drop-off on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. So, don’t forget to eat local even during the holidays. Actually, especially during the holidays!
You can also pick up some ready-to-eat brunch grub from the chefs of the Bridgeport Conference Center. Chef Joe White and his staff will be on hand cooking up all of your favorites.
Also at today's Market will be the Bridgeport Arts Council providing information and tickets for the upcoming Winter Jazz Weekend in Jazz at Charles Pointe. This year's event will take place the weekend of Jan 22-23 at the Bridgeport Conference Center.
The featured performer at this year’s WJW will be the Grammy-nominated jazz pianist/vocalist Judy Carmichael. Judy also hosts a radio show on Sirius/XM NPR called Jazz Inspired where she has interviewed some of the biggest names in show business including Robert Redford, Billy Joel, and Tony Bennett. Read Judy’s impressive resume here: http://www.judycarmichael.com/
Of course the big guy in the red suit will be on hand as will the Market's resident guitarist, Rus Reppert. Or maybe we'll just kill two birds with one stone by having Rus wear a big red suit. Who knows?
In closing, don't forget to wear your Ugly Christmas Sweater to today's event and drop a non-perishable food item by the Market Info table for the Shepherd's Corner. In exchange for all that you'll be entered in a drawing for a Market gift certificate.
Until next month, Stay Fresh!
The Bridgeport Farmers Market Association is the seven member all volunteer board of directors that governs the Bridgeport Farmers Market. It is supported by a wonderful group of community volunteers who help in the setup and maintenance of the market. For more information on the Farmers Market or to see how you can help please e-mail us at bridgeportfarmersmarket@yahoo.comor, better yet, LIKE us on Facebook and follow us on both Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out the Market’s own YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/BridgeportFarmersMktor for more BFM video content you can now go to http://vimeo.com/bridgeportfarmersmarket/videos
Go here to see all of the entries in the Let’s Get Fresh blog: http://tinyurl.com/kdv4mhl
