About Alexandria's Arlandria

Yesterday on our post about the newly opened Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisan's Market in Alexandria, we promised more information on one of the market's newest vendors - MT's Pastries.

MT is Melissa Taylor, a self-described Air Force brat who was born in this area and then traipsed up and down the Eastern seaboard as a military dependent. Now living in Maryland with her son, Melissa's day job is with the DC Government.

The other (unofficial) MT in this story is Mary Tucker, a co-worker of Melissa's by way of Georgia and Amsterdam and the best friend/cheerleader a girl could hope to have. The story goes something like this -

Melissa Taylor and Mary Tucker

Melissa routinely treats her co-workers to brownies and one day Mary says "You should be selling these." Melissa smiles, nods politely and goes back to work.

But Mary is serious. Used to the open air markets of Europe, Mary does some research, makes a few phone calls and before she knows it, Melissa is officially signed up as a vendor at the Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisan's Market.

Now Melissa has to find a commercial kitchen, come up with a logo, packaging, pricing and all those other retail "things" but MT's Pastries is born and we are the lucky benefactors.

Why was Mary so serious about this quest? Well, let's start with the brownies, or what Melissa calls, the best brownie ever. One with walnuts, one plain.

Large squares of deep, rich chocolate with a slight crunch on the outside and a molten, almost-but not-quite fudge like interior. Chewing is optional - just let the chocolate slowly disintegrate from the heat of your mouth.

Melissa started baking at about age 12. She liked brownies and it seemed a good place to start. She took a basic recipe, made adjustments, tested each iteration on family and friends and kept adjusting until she found what she calls the "secret recipe." Twenty some years later the recipe is still delighting family, friends and, now, customers at the Four Mile Run Market.

Melissa likes to keep it simple but two additional brownies will make an appearance in the coming weeks. One is Nick's Peanutty Brownie Creation, a contribution by her son and Twisted Sistah, a blondie/brownie combination.

Mary, ever the promoter, says there is also a cheesecake to die for and maybe a cookie or two to come. For now though Melissa is concentrating on those brownies while Mary looks for more farmers markets to conquer.

Seriously, next Sunday at the Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisans Market, the best brownies ever at MT's Pastries.

And if you want to look at houses, I'll treat! Give me a call at 703.927.4554.

Michael

The newly organized Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisan's Market in Alexandria is off and running. We were out of town for the grand opening and home buyers kept us busy last week so today was our first look at this welcome addition to the community.

More precisely located in the Arlandria neighborhood of Alexandria, the Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisan's Market is a huge step forward for a community that has, at times, struggled with identity and a sense of place.

The Market though is a perfect example of how a community can start to "think big" with active citizen involvement. Combine that with the anticipated development of Potomac Yard and Four Mile Run Park and the possibilities are endless.

But back to the market! Personally we're thrilled to have a Sunday market, especially since rain kept us away from the Del Ray market on Saturday. The Arlandria Market is also open until 1:00pm, taking advantage of the after church crowd.

Right away we ran into Kevin Beekman and Melissa Garcia, two of the organizers of the market. Melissa and Kevin made a point of welcoming everyone who stepped through the gates - a nice touch for newcomers - especially if you're not familiar with the area. Need directions? Click here.

These beautiful tomatoes from Pleitez Produce caught our eye first thing and I am happy to say that they taste as good as they look. The purple heirlooms just pop with flavor.

Jill, a Del Ray resident who stopped in after a visit to the gym, was checking out cranberry beans (also from Pleitez), not something you see a lot of in this area.

In the meantime I was following a lead from Kevin and talking to a vendor who had just joined the market - MT's Pastries.

Her specialty? BROWNIES. Not just BROWNIES, but the best BROWNIES ever.

You want to know more don't you?

Well, you'll have to come back tomorrow and I'll tell you all about what makes MT's Pastries a winner at the Four Mile Run Farmers and Artisan's Market in Alexandria.

Michael

The newest farmer's market in Alexandria will soon be open in Arlandria and will be formally known as the 4 Mile Farmer's and Artisans Market.

The market will be open on Sunday's from 8am to 1pm, at 4109 Mt. Vernon Avenue in the old Duron building.

The first market day is set for June 20 with a minimum of five vendors. This will be a nice supplement to the more familiar Saturday markets, especially for Del Ray residents.

The Market mission statement states, "The Market will bring fresh, nutritious food to people of all income levels, provide an opportunity for local artisans and producers of goods to bring their wares to market, strive to reflect the diversity of the community, and improve the quality of life for Arlandria residents and visitors."

If you know a local artisan or a farmer in the region, are an artisan or farmer looking for a place to sell your wares, or are an area resident that wants to get involved with the Farmers and Artisans Market, please contact Travis Hester (travishdc@delrayfarms.org) or Nick Partee (nickdeuva@gmail.com).

A huge amount of credit for this market goes to a core group of Arlandria residents who are pushing hard to keep the continued development of the area front and center with city council, retailers and property owners.

Our blogging friends at the Arlandrian are right in the middle of that group - kudos to all of you!

Michael

P.S. photo and information courtesy of the Arlandrian

The Preston Condos of Potomac Yards are located near the George Washington Parkway in Alexandria, Virginia. The Preston offers something for everyone and cuts down on what could be an otherwise lengthy commute because of the ease of access to the Parkway. Located across the street from the Preston Condos is the Potomac Yard Shopping Center where you'll find great shopping, entertainment and dining for the whole family. In addition, the Preston is located near the Four-Mile Run Bike Trail and the historic Mount Vernon Trail, and the Preston is within ten minutes of Reagan National Airport. The Preston is situated within a few minutes of the Potomac River and residents can participate in the fishing and sailing recreational ventures that this natural landscape provides. Residents can also enjoy a convenient shuttle bus that connects to Braddock Road and the Crystal City Metro stations along Jefferson Davis Highway.

The Preston features steel and concrete construction and offers a sleek architectural style with a crisp, urban design. Aside from the outstanding views, other amenities include high ceilings, individual storage units, an exercise room, a private rooftop deck, and underground private parking. The Preston houses 53 contemporary one and two bedroom homes with a balcony or terrace depending on the unit. The Preston is located at 181 East Reed Avenue in Alexandria, Virginia.