Athens Locally Grown

How to contact us:
Our Website: athens.locallygrown.net
On Twitter: @athlocallygrown
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/athenslocallygrown
On Thursdays: Here’s a map.

Market News

As promised last week, below is a list of upcoming holiday artisan markets, as printed in the Flagpole and otherwise passed along to me. I’m sure there are others that didn’t yet make the list. I’ll spread the word when I hear their details via out Twitter and Facebook feeds. If you don’t already follow them, you can find the addresses right above. You’ve already demonstrated your commitment to buy some of your food from local farmers. Giving gifts made from local artisans is just as important, and can be even more rewarding!

Deck the Walls, a holiday-themed market held annually by the Lyndon House Arts Center, is currently open Tuesday through Saturday from 12–5 p.m. until Jan. 4. The Gallery Shop and Lower Atrium Gallery are stocked full of unique items made by 70 regional artists, authors, crafters and musicians, with the gift selection including paintings, prints, embroidery, photography, scarves and more. New additions to this year’s shop are glass ornaments by Hung Nguyen and Patti Quinn, pottery by Dewitt Smith and Adrina Richards and sculptural works by Tex Crawford and Lisa Freeman. For more details on the Lyndon House, located at 293 Hoyt St., visit http://athensclarkecounty.com/lyndonhouse.

Saturday, Dec. 13 & Sunday, Dec. 14, Carter Gillies will be joined by fellow potters Geoff Pickett, Jeff Bishoff and Nancy Green for the annual Carter and Friends Pottery Market. Both days are from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and are located at 572 Nantahala Ave. in the Boulevard neighborhood. Call 706-546-7235 or email cartergillies@hotmail.com for details.

Grab a hot drink and peruse gifts at Normal Bar’s Holiday “Yart Sale” on Wednesday, Dec. 10 from 5–8 p.m. Featured artists and makers include Hannah Jones, Katherine McGuire, Leslie Snipes, Amanda Burk, Basil Mattox, Tin Cup and a handful of others. Normal Bar is located in Normaltown at 1365 Prince Ave. For details, find “Holiday Yart Sale! at Normal Bar” on Facebook.

An outdoor patio under twinkling lights makes for a festive setting at the juried Athens Holiday Market, held at Big City Bread on Thursday, Dec. 11 & Friday, Dec. 12 from 5 p.m.–9 p.m. Peruse the works of over 50 local artists while a live string band performs around the bon fire. The lineup includes paintings by Dan Smith, glass terrariums by Lindsay Troutman, jewelry by Barbara Allen, watercolors by Jamie Calkin, stained glass by Susan Staley, wooden Santas by Ken Calkin and Don Highfield, and birdhouses by Frank Saggus. Big City Bread Cafe is located at 393 N. Finley St. and can be reached at 706-353-0029.

Ted’s Most Best is having a Holiday Market Saturday Dec. 13th 12-7pm out on the patio, featuring all local artists and crafters with a fun eclectic group of holiday gift options.

As part of Christmas at the Classic Center, the Handmade Holiday Market, set for Dec. 13–14 & Dec. 20–21 from 10 a.m.–5 p.m., will offer a selection of seasonal crafts and gift items. Exhibitors include Beca Designs, Daisycakes Soap, JazzyKreationz, Kristen Ashley Artist, Oscar Bites Dog Treats, OuttheBox Creations and Studio Earth. Other festivities at the Classic Center include ice skating on the new indoor rink, a display of gingerbread houses created by local bakers, breakfast and portraits with Santa, and a Festival of Trees which features a forest of 50 Christmas trees decorated by local businesses. The State Ballet Theatre of Russia will perform The Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 20 and Sunday, Dec. 21. A portion of proceeds from Christmas at the Classic Center will benefit Extra Special People. The Classic Center is located at 300 N. Thomas Street. Visit http://classiccenterchristmas.com for a schedule of daily activities.

For handmade ceramic and sterling silver jewelry, funky functional pottery, tree ornaments and one-of-a-kind carved items, drop by Soup Studios’ 10th Annual Holiday Market on Saturday, Dec. 13, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Soup Studios is located at 2140 S. Lumpkin St. To see examples of founding potter Jamie Voivedich’s brightly colored, whimsical works—some of which have been featured in Southern Living and on HGTV—visit http://soupstudios.com.

In addition to an abundance of locally sourced produce, honey, eggs, soaps and prepared food items, the vendors of The West Broad Farmers Market will offer handmade crafts, cookie-decorating for children and caroling by local schoolchildren during a Holiday Market on Saturday, Dec. 13 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. The market, which is hosted at the old West Broad School, 1573 W. Broad St., aims to develop new food-based entrepreneurs, build a neighborhood-centered economy and increase access to healthy, affordable foods. For more information on the market’s goals, visit http://athenslandtrust.org.

Heirloom Cafe and Fresh Market hosts one of the last opportunities for seasonal shopping on Sunday, Dec. 14 from 9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. during brunch hours. Handmade wares will range from printmaking, textiles, jewelry, jams and preserves, botanical bath items, felt-work and more, with the 14-name vendor list including Kenneth Kase, Jim Norton, Beth Zorbanos, Chelsea Born and Tiffany Matthews. While at Heirloom, which is located at 815 N. Chase St., be sure to stop next door at the house of painter Susie Burch, who will have her home studio open. Visit http://heirloomathens.com for details.

Finally, since both Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on a Thursday, we are currently planning on taking both weeks off. I am talking with the growers to see if it’s feasible to hold perhaps a Tuesday pickup on December 30th. I’ll let you know how that goes.

Thank you so much for your support of Athens Locally Grown, all of our growers and artisans, local food, and our rights to eat it. You all are part of what makes Athens such a great area in which to live. We’ll see you on Thursday at Ben’s Bikes at the corner of Pope and Broad Streets from 4:30 to 8pm!

Other Area Farmers Markets

The Athens Farmers Market is open on Saturdays at Bishop Park. You can catch the news on their website. The West Broad Farmers Market is open throughout the month here in Athens, and you can find more information about them here: www.athenslandtrust.org. The Washington-Wilkes Farmer’s Market in Washington is open every Saturday 9-12 behind the Washington Courthouse. The Oconee County farmers market is open Saturday mornings in front of the Oconee County Courthouse. The other area markets I haven’t mentioned have yet to open for the season, so far as I know.

All of these other markets are separate from ALG (including the Athens Farmers Market) but many growers sell at multiple markets. Please support your local farmers and food producers, where ever you’re able to do so!

We thank you for your interest and support of our efforts to bring you the healthiest, the freshest and the most delicious locally-produced foods possible!