Crafty Bastards 2012

 

A couple of weekends ago (on 10 November), Carlos and I ventured out to another part of DC that we haven't yet visited: the area north of Union Station which houses the newly-renovated Union Market.  This was a REALLY cool area that we will definitely be visiting again!  Our reason for being here was to attend the 2012 Crafty Bastards arts and craft fair.  We have gone to Crafty Bastards for the past two years, but this is the first time that it was held in the Union Market area. 

We arrived about a half hour before the fair opened so we peeped around the indoor market and its varied vendors.  Union Market renovated only a couple of months and you can tell that this really gentrified building is a little out of place in its current location and seems to cater to hipsters and foodies.  I really liked it (and am neither a hipster nor foodie) -- I especially liked the bakery (we bought a huge delicious sourdough loaf for $4) and dairy (fresh eggnog!).  We also saw coffee and tea shops, an oyster bar, cheese shop, vegetable stand, and old-fashioned soda shoppe (among other neat-looking vendors).

Once Crafty Bastards officially opened, we got our wristbands (we had to pay $2.50/each for entry this year, bleh) and started our wanderings.  I am glad we came early because this space became crowded very quickly.  We looked at all of the great vendors and purchased a few goodies (some are gifts and I can't show them) -- there was a lot of really high quality creative art here!

 

After making a pin, buying some goodies, and looking at everything, we hopped back inside Union Market to get a snack: tasty vanilla creme soda and a mulled apple cider ice cream from Trickling Springs Dairy.  It was so crowded that we stood near the seating area to eat. 

 

By this time, we were ready to leave (it was so crowded everywhere by this point!) so we wandered back to the metro to go home.  I ended up buying a really cute long-sleeved shirt for myself with a little silkscreened mountain scene.  We probably won't be in DC for Crafty Bastards next year, but we will definitely visit Union Market again soon to stock up on gourmet treats.