Union Market: Old & New

Union Market in DC has been in 'soft open' mode for a number of weeks, and is scheduled to officially launch next Saturday the 10th of November. I visited a couple of weeks ago for the first time, and returned today for more exploration and of course shopping.

Union Market is just north of Union Station, off Florida Avenue and next to Gallaudet University. It is a reimagination of a market that has been at the same location since at least 1931. I believe every city at one time had at least one great urban market. Some cities have maintained their markets, like Victoria Market in Melbourne, and other cities have great new markets like Borough Market in London. I am hopeful that Union Market can follow in the steps of Borough Market.

Union Market has obviously been imagined as a social space, not just a place to shop.

Rappahannock Oyster Co. already looks like one of the anchors for the market. Even in the middle of a Sunday afternoon it was busy and I can't wait to return and sample some oysters and wine.

I had a productive time shopping, getting exceptional smoked salmon from Neopol Smokery and merguez sausage from Border Springs Farm. I also dropped off some knives for sharpening, and picked up some spices.

I also purchased some coffee beans from Peregrine Espresso, and enjoyed the complementary cup of coffee they offer when you buy a package of beans. Peregrine coffee is private label Counter Culture, and delicious.

The old Union Market is about a block away from the new. From reading the history, at its peak it had 700 vendors, but could not sustain itself when DC banned the open air sale of meat and eggs in 1962. There are all kinds of reasons for frustration about the stupidity of that decision, but 50 years later I am more curious about whether the relatively small new Union Market can spur the rejuvenation of the old.

There are still quite a few merchants in the old market, and from the number of trucks it looks like they do a big wholesale business. A city the size of DC can certainly support a market far larger than the new Union Market. I hope that the new market is a catalyst to reinvigorate the old, creating a market with scale fitting for a capital city.

The Sugar Cube, Alexandria

There is no type of food store where the treats for sale are as colorful as they are in a candy emporium. This was my first time in The Sugar Cube in Old Town, and I was impressed by the quality and selection. They also have a variety of kids candy making classes, which I will need to investigate further. The Sugar Cube had a mix of artisan candies including chocolate bars and salt caramels, as well as old classics like candy corn.

The Phelps Catfish

We have videos and various photos posted of our catfish, but none capture his(?) size to my satisfaction. He moves quickly, only comes to the pond surface briefly to eat, and blends in to the pond water. I tried today to get a few more photos, which are a little better.

We are not certain the exact species of the catfish. We bought him quite a few years ago when he was 3" or 4" long to go in our small backyard lily pond. We literally did not see him for at least three years except during the annual pond cleaning. In the last few years he has become too big to miss, and is a voracious eater. We suspect the catfish is the reason tadpoles we purchase never seem to survive. I estimate he is now about 14" long and over a pound. He will mow down as much fish food as we give him.

Antique Scale

Digital measuring tools are not only binary in their guts, they are binary in function. They either work or not. When the batteries die on our digital scale or thermometer, they become useless pieces of plastic.

Analog measuring tools are different. They may loose precision and require calibration, but it takes a lot to break them.

There is also beauty in this hanging scale that my digital kitchen scale will never have.

Union Market: Old & New

The Sugar Cube, Alexandria

The Phelps Catfish

Antique Scale

My Old Shoebox