Crystal Market – Eastern Market Comes to Crystal City
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 8, 2008
Crystal City (Arlington, VA) – The eclectic and colorful shopping experience of DC’s Eastern Market comes to Crystal City this September with the introduction of Crystal Market. Located in the 2200 Crystal Drive courtyard, Crystal Market will be open every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11:30 AM to 6:30 PM starting September 18th until October 25th.
Set in one of Crystal City’s many beautiful open spaces, Crystal Market will offer a unique assortment of paintings, ceramics, glasswork, jewelry, hand-made soaps, candles, and clothing. In addition to beautiful handicrafts, Crystal Market will feature live musical performances during lunchtime and early evening hours. For a complete line-up of performances, visit www.crystalcitymarket.com.
“With the tremendous success of Artomatic, Arena Stage, and Crystal Screen, we know that people increasingly look to Crystal City for interesting and creative experiences,” said Angela Fox, President/CEO of the Crystal City BID. “By giving area employees, residents, and visitors another fun way to shop, browse, and listen to music, Crystal Market demonstrates Crystal City’s expanding capacity as a dynamic place to live, work, play, and stay.”
Crystal Market has been designed to meet the needs of Crystal City’s many constituent groups. For the 30,000 office workers, Crystal Market provides lunchtime attraction, as well as another excellent reason to stick around after work - visiting the market, grabbing a bite to eat, and enjoying a drink or show. Crystal Market also welcomes residents returning home from work, hotel guests, and patrons to Arena Stage, the Washington Shakespeare Company, and Crystal City’s many trendy restaurants. To ensure a well-run market, Crystal City has partnered with “A-list” Diverse Markets Management, the group that operates the successful Eastern Market in Washington, DC.
“We are thrilled to be bringing the Eastern Market to this beautiful venue in Crystal City,” said Michael Berman, Executive Director of Diverse Markets Management. “More than 100 arts vendors enthusiastically responded to the Crystal Market opportunity, and early audience responses have been equally receptive and excited.”
During its first weekend, Crystal Market will also be open on Sunday, September 21st as part of Crystal City’s annual wine tasting event, Vintage Crystal. The event will feature tastings of wines from all over the world, music from the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, and tasty bites of food from area restaurants. As a centerpiece for the tastings, Jaleo will serve up their famous giant paella, giving patrons a sneak preview of Jaleo’s 6th Annual Paella Festival running from September 29th to October 12th. Crystal Market will also be extended to Sunday, October 26th, during its sixth and final weekend as part of the festivities associated with the Crystal Run Marine Corps Marathon “All Day Street Festival.”
The opening of Crystal Market highlights a month full of creative activities in Crystal City. Starting September 2nd, graffiti artist Kevin Irvin will begin painting the mile markers that will welcome Marine Corps Marathon runners throughout Crystal City and Arlington on October 26th. Those interested in watching Mr. Irvin’s inspiring creativity can stop by the temporary street-level studio in the Concord Apartments. Then, from September 15th to 21st, area residents, employees, and visitors are invited to take part in Crystal City’s hosted site of the locally-grown art program, CHALK4PEACE. Meant as a fun forum to present diverse visions of peace, CHALK4PEACE welcomes artists young and old. The event will take place at the site of the Crystal Flight statue, “Chalk It Up,” at the corner of Crystal Drive and 18th Street, where free chalk will be provided on-site daily from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Crystal Market is convenient to the Metro via the Yellow/Blue lines and the Crystal City Metro. Free public parking is also available at certain nearby garages after 4:00 PM with hourly rates applying at all other times.
Come explore and enjoy an artful Crystal City with an open-air art market, local musical entertainment, theater, and dining offerings. For additional information, please visit www.crystalcity.org (click on events).
About the Crystal City BID
Established in April of 2006, the Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) is creating a soul for Crystal City. A public-private partnership, the BID is providing a higher level of service to visitors, workers and residents in Crystal City - driving to become a world-class destination in both Arlington and the greater DC region. For more information, visit www.crystalcity.org.
About Diverse Markets Management, LLC
Diverse Markets Management (DMM), LLC is a DC-based firm specializing in the development and management of outdoor public exhibitor markets. Principals in the firm are experienced leaders in specialty vending and in managing relations with this unique group of small business entrepreneurs. Members of the DMM team have an experienced and successful history of working together on markets, especially at historic Eastern Market. Key attributes of the team include the manager of The Flea Market at Eastern Market (FMEM), decades of business activity as exhibitors and managers, as well as long working relationships with other stakeholders of the Market. Because our team has actual investments and livelihoods based on vending and deep roots in the city, we have a particularly personal commitment to a market's success. We are strongly dedicated to developing and maintaining a financially sustainable market while enhancing the ongoing integration of a m
market's success. We are strongly dedicated to developing and maintaining a financially sustainable market while enhancing the ongoing integration of a market into the community.
