Hey there!! I am probably dozing by the window, please give me a bit more time :)📣 Eastern Market Blurbs
I write for the community newsletter of Eastern Market, DC’s biggest and most historic market. By talking with vendors from all walks of life and observing their interactions with customers in an ethnographic approach, I aim to capture business highlights and subtle characteristics in their personality.
If you’ve ever tasted true Egyptian desserts, you’ll understand why so many say this: Loza has the best authentic pastries in our community. Serving Eastern Market since January 2023, with just enough sweetness, moisture, and rich aroma of ghee, each bite will bless you with layers of flavors and a satisfying moment of indulgence.
Asmaa–the independent owner and baker of Loza–knows the secret recipe for her pastries. It lies not only in the high-quality ingredients or handcrafted techniques. She has a personal and less describable definition of the “taste” she wants to deliver. Relentlessly being perfected over the years, it manages to serve up the peace, comfort, and nostalgic warmth of gatherings that have conquered the hearts of customers, many of whom have become her acquaintances through brief stays at the vendor tables.
Come visit Loza at the market, and try out the unparalleled baklava, kunafa, basboussa, cookies, traditional coffee, and many more seasonal bites! She’s ready to greet you with a modest smile and a big, earnest hug from each mouthful you will soon praise for.
If you encounter Igweco at the Eastern Market on a sunny day, you’ll be captured by the glittering “creeks” in the sunlight, sandwiched between pieces of fine wood. That’s the signature resin-fused wood art handcrafted by Igwe Bandele. Challenging the traditional impression that art can only be displayed, Igwe embraces the utilitarian potential of art that blends into every household corner: dining tables, console tables, coffee tables, desktops, trays…
Walking inside Igweco’s vendor space is like exploring a mini exhibition of wood. Each piece is displayed in its original color and texture, with a variety of thickness revealed from the translucent resin. Having worked with wood for over 50 years, this humble craftsman is willing to share the names of wood species, the unique characteristics he sees in the grain patterns, and the thoughtful design of resin that brings the primitive beauty to another level.
Stop by and feel the magic of Igweco’s functional art made of wood and resin. Igwe has lots of stories to tell. So does the wood.
As a professionally trained artist, Tsolmon Damba has intricate ways of telling the stories of his homeland, Mongolia. Flipping through the artworks, it is impossible not to teleport yourself to the middle of a vast wilderness. You’ll hold your breath as horses gallop over the grasslands, wondering where the strapping men on the horseback are heading. The sky and mountains in the backdrop, carefully blended in watercolors, witness the vigorous yet simple life of nomads. It’s a depiction combining both Tsolmon’s distant memories and his refined imaginations—a surreal vision harboring his nomadic nostalgia.
Other works look like static snapshots of a corner in a palace. Branches are curved in extremely aesthetic angles, enlivened by birds and butterflies delineated in considerate detail. The tranquility in these sceneries aligns with Tsolmon’s soft and modest nature enfolded within the manliness. Even having accumulated countless accolades internationally, he is still experimenting with new styles and modern approaches to recreating the horses and characters.
Come and stop by Tsolmon’s Mongolian art at Eastern Market. Every work you see is the one and only original piece, hand-painted with a rarely found, untainted love for the root of one’s life. It whispers a breathtaking definition of home.
Where there is light, there is attention to jewelry. Being one of the long-standing vendors at the Eastern Market, Deco Jewelry has been shimmering in the neighborhood with sterling silver jewelry since 1989. With over a thousand pieces, the diverse selection of rings, earrings, and necklaces, including some with semi-precious stones, perfectly serves the diversity of the DC population. There’s something for everyone.
Every piece is handpicked by Allen Small, the professional jewelry seller with forty years of experience. His jewelry collection has been presented at other markets as well as national events. The extensive experience has granted him the capability to pick the best quality jewelry at affordable prices. It also makes him witness how people’s passion for interacting with the seller has decreased over the years, thanks to the advancement in technology.
Whether you’re ready to treat yourself or your loved ones with a shiny decoration, you’ll surely find your favorite piece at Deco Jewelry. If you happen to be in the mood for a small talk, try asking for some honest opinions from the man behind the table. The quiet, undisturbed profile is only part of who he is.
At the bustling corner of the market, a bunch of plants sitting in artistically painted pots are quietly growing. Next to them is the creative green thumb, Devona. Turning a fun hobby into a business, she has been spreading the joy of connecting nature and arts for four years at Eastern Market. Each pot is originally designed following her instant intuition, turning out as diverse abstract patterns and color palettes.
It’s a genius idea to turn half of the space into an art creation workshop. Everyone is welcome to paint a small pot at the table using free art supplies. This generous gesture is well-received by old and young alike, adding so much liveliness to her booth while bringing the community close together. Her brand, “I Am Growing”, is an explicit statement of her determination to thrive in whatever circumstances, just as the plants she takes good care of.
Devona’s even more passionate about growing with you. Stop by and say hi to her, or meet new people while creating your art on a beautiful sunny day. It’s on a first-come, first-served basis, so you’d better be quick.
Anthony Drive is jokingly claimed as the person who laid the first brick of Eastern Market hall, being one of the oldest vendors who has witnessed years of change. He sits leisurely in a folding chair, giving out an aura that resembles an emperor who bears no worries in life. He does look like one. Surrounding him are thousands of shiny African jewelry pieces, most of which were originally designed and handcrafted within his family’s generations. Despite running an independent business, his identity as an artist is still too prominent to miss. Bold, erotic, noble, spiritual… Those characteristics rooted in African heritage are uniquely blended in the earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and rings. In the eyes of craftsmen like Anthony and his son, materials represent more than their physical compositions. They are “unfinished products” to be polished and transformed into delicate beauty.
And such beauty is universal. If you walk by his vendor and hear, “Beautiful things for beautiful people!”, don’t just smile and pass. Step in and try them on! Each jewelry may unexpectedly fit you perfectly and give you a refreshing look. It has been waiting for you all along.
Proudly serving 100% handmade Ethiopian cotton products, Medie has an ambition to weave an inspiring cultural story into her independent business—Eco Cotton Threads. Each product you see has begun its journey from top-quality cotton grown in Ethiopia, hand-picked and processed by seasoned local farmers: shawl, scarf, shirt, hat, pillow, crochet, bedspread, blanket, throw, towel…… Don’t be fooled by the simplicity in their appearance. If you take a closer look, there’s admirable intricacy disguised in the naturally uneven colors and thoughtful woven details that fulfill their functionality. As the brand name captures, eco-friendliness lies at the heart of the supply chain and the core values Medie holds dear. Leveraging crop rotation techniques and biodegradation, environmental harm is minimized at every step of the process.
Behind every product is a team of artisans that Medie takes great pride in—she even carries framed pictures of them and many more in her phone. Their talent and hard work are adequately compensated, which forms the humane foundation of her growing business. Though Medie insists she started from scratch in 2017—without even knowing how to sew—it’s clear that Ethiopia’s spirit of handcraft and reverence for nature have been unconsciously running deep in her blood. For her, Eco Cotton Threads bridges the two worlds she inhabits: one where she was born, and the other she would always call home.
Come and meet Medie and her cotton products when you get a chance. She’s more than willing to share the production process of each piece, as well as her dedication to building a business towards kindness. She also has loads of fun stories of her avid learning process. Wondering what the colorful dyes are made of? You’ll be surprised.
At Knopp’s Farm, shopping for fresh produce can be a fun and eye-opening experience: tomatoes in untamed shapes and vibrant colors, some even resembling plums and apples from afar; orange watermelons; peppers in all sizes, shapes, and colors; greens tucked into paper containers…… The imperfection in their appearance becomes a desirable trait. You can almost picture them hanging on the stems just a few hours ago, enjoying the last bit of sunshine before being brought to the market.
Local farms like Knopp’s are at the heart of Eastern Market’s spirit. Everything here is fresh and locally grown, most of which comes directly from Steve Knopp’s 40-acre farm in Federalsburg, Maryland. It’s a family-owned business that has been going strong for over 70 years, with Andrea now being in charge of the sales at Eastern Market together with her husband, DJ. Their amiable characters, accompanied by quiet affection for each other, have encouraged customers to take time to appreciate the magic of farming and share the recipes being brewed in their minds. Such a laid-back, down-to-earth approach is rewarded with a continuous stream of customers, and Andrea has been actively enjoying this even with a newborn on the way. Meanwhile, DJ is exemplifying being a pillar of a big family. He has a “secret” life outside the market: a social media influencer with millions of followers. But showing up to support his wife and farm business is perhaps the influence he’s most proud of.
Whether you’re planning meals for the week or just want to check out what’s in season, Knopp’s Farm is a must-visit. And if you have a moment, ask DJ how he builds his social media empire. He’s always up for a laugh.
You might have encountered Noemi’s cactus crochet in other Mexican cultural events as well. People like to call her “the cacti lady”. Handmade from organically dyed local wool, these cacti come with various shades of green and forms, vibrantly scattered on a “desert” with gravel and miniature plants. Her ingenuity extends to the choice of containers: used can, salsa & chip bowl, espresso shot cup, tequila shot glass, spice grinder…… Each of them offers a glimpse of Mexicans’ everyday life while balancing the delicacy of art.
Before showing up at Eastern Market in 2018, Noemi has been living like a nomad in several continents together with her husband and kids. Despite loving the cultural diversity, she feels more and more attached to her Mexican roots, which in her mind highlights the spirit of family and caring for each other. That’s why she went above and beyond to source crafts from Mexican local artisans and bring their talent to a different country, so they won’t have to separate from their loved ones. She is wholeheartedly proud of these people and always ready to share their stories through a photo album she carries along. Together with her signature cacti crochets, these cat toys, coasters, jewelries, alebrijes (a kind of brightly painted, fantastical Mexican mini wood sculptures) have turned an independent business into a truly remarkable cultural embassy, fully voluntarily operated by her pride and a genuine desire to lift others up.
It’s always a joy to see our vendors passionately talking about their roots and how they narrate them through their creative work. Whether you are curious about Mexican culture or simply looking for a new toy for your furry friend, Noemi is the next vendor you’d want to visit.
Tiny things always boast extra cuteness. Surrounded by a world of crafts for adults, Lil’ Fishy pops up as a delightful invitation to imagine what it feels like to dress up a toddler. For various seasons and occasions, your choices include tees and sweaters, pants and dresses, onesies, scarves, bibs, aprons…… Most are printed with succinctly designed DC elements that resonate with locals’ pride in the city.
Mu, the owner behind it all, discovered this secret when she first moved here from LA, where Lil’ Fishy was founded. Her mixed career and cultural background have granted her unique perspectives on adapting sales strategies in a changing market. She continuously introduces new designs and categories to enliven the brand, and even extends the product line to teenage and grown-up “fishies”. Having worked as a babysitter before starting the business, Mu understands the high standards for baby products. She involves herself in the entire production process, and serves only clothes handmade in the U.S. that are made of 100% hand-dyed cotton to protect sensitive skin. Now in its 17th year being part of the Eastern Market, you can probably say that Lil’ Fishy has helped to bring up a generation in our neighborhood. Mu is still ambitiously expanding its footprints across the city, with the help of the “manager”–her bubbly daughter who fits the brand’s character just right.
Come and say hi to Mu next time you stop by the market! And don’t be surprised if you see her handing an Asian food takeout box to a customer. Guess what’s inside: )