There seems to be a new initiative from Janice Booker for RIA. I like this effort for one main reason: it creates a sense of neighborhood, if done correctly, just like the markets on Capitol Hill, in DuPont, and other areas of the city. I am cautiously optimistic. If this takes off for Ms. Booker, I hope that she will take the initiative to redevelop the other parcels on RIA (especially where her law office is located) which has rapidly become an eyesore for the Avenue.
So to my fellow RIA Insiders, let’s help make a sense of community and support this effort:
BOOKER WADDELLE DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, INC.
is pleased to announce
”The MarketPlace In Woodridge”
A Year-Round Farmers’, Artists’ and Quality Crafts Market
1915 Rhode Island Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC
2011 Calendar
FRESH PRODUCE MARKET
The Parking Lot, 1915 Rhode Island Avenue, N.E.
Saturdays, May 14th – December 10th
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Wednesdays, May 25th – December 14th
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
ARTISTS AND CRAFTS MARKET
The Annex, 1915 Rhode Island Avenue, N.E.
Saturdays, May 28th – December 24th
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Artists and crafters of quality merchandise and purveyors and producers of “living greener” products and services are encouraged to inquire
Bilingual (Spanish) assistants on site
Manager: Janice Lillian Booker,
Assistant Manager: Philisha C. Rembert
Phone: (202) 529-3610
Fax: (202) 529-3878
Email: info@themarketplace1915.com
The MarketPlace In Woodridge is easily accessible on public transportation. The 82, 83, 84, 86 and T-18 Metrobus lines traverse Rhode Island Avenue, stop at 18th and 20th Streets, and terminate at the Rhode Island Avenue Subway stop.
From Fort Lincoln or Brookland, the H-6 Metrobus crosses Rhode Island Avenue at Franklin Street. For cross-town customers, the E-3 Metrobus crosses Rhode Island Avenue at 18th N.E. Walk 1.5 blocks east on Rhode Island Avenue.
The MarketPlace in Woodridge is on Historic US Route 1 and is in close proximity to Interstate Routes 50 and 295-South. Interstate 495 is approximately 8.5 miles east of the market.
rhodeislandavene.com 
I haven’t gone yet. What are the prices like? I noticed the church at 17th & RIA with a flea market and free health screenings going on this past Saturday, too.
Last year I went at least once to the Mt. Rainier Farmer’s Market. They will startup next Saturday and will be located on RIA near 34th. I like them having chefs come and prepare foods. They also sold artwork. The food prices were decent.
Also, don’t forget to support Art Enables. They are opened the 2nd Saturday of the month and would like to see visitors.
I dropped by over the weekend and tried the “ribs dinner.” It was $9 – not cheap, but delicious and generous portions. My wife and I also picked up some produce. The selection is somewhat limited and most is probably not local. Everyone there was very friendly, and we plan to go back. It’s a plus for the neighborhood, in my opinion.
We stopped by this weekend too. Agree that most of the produce was not local (pineapple, mangoes, etc.), but still much more gratifying then giving my money to Giant or elsewhere. His prices were great–more than a week’s worth of produce for $20, and the quality was pretty good too.
I hope this picks up–it’s a great addition to our community.
For those interested, I think they said they were accepting WIC and other programs as well.
It’s week 2. I still haven’t had time to go! I’ve also heard from others that some of the produce is not local. I haven’t even had the chance to get to the other farmers markets that have opened. I notice that the Bloomingdale Farmers Market and Mount Pleasant Farmers Market advertise a lot (weekly) on the Brookland Yahoo Group. The Waddell Farmers Market should do similarly and on other listservs throughout DC. Hopefully, the market can grow to offer more produce and other goods.
Why doesn’t this blog ever get updated? The RIA corridor needs an active voice!! Please step up RIA Insider!
OH my goodness–I just found this. This could be the beginning of something good–let us hope so. I will gladly buy non-local produce (I do sometimes anyway at Whole Foods) just to support such a venture. Perhaps the local organic growers will come along when more people know about this and work it into our weekly routines–we certainly need local sources of good food (and pet food!), so for now, any kind of farmers’ market will be much appreciated.
We need banners (and fliers?) and word of mouth for this to succeed! How cool…maybe upper Rhode Island Avenue can actually be revived.
Many are the eyesores on Rhode Island Avenue in my opinion, by the way. Seems to me that the Avenue has a long way to go, although that can happen relatively rapidly once it really takes off, I hear.
The residential areas on either side of the Avenue are being slowly but steadily improved as the decaying houses mixed in among the better kept homes are slowly increasingly fixed up by a few of the more tasteful renovators. We all need to spend time on our front porches, plant young shade trees, pick up some of the litter, go by Art Enables, encourage the owners of local businesses toward slightly more stately, muted storefronts, and support farmers’ markets! Oh, and support any good local restaurants that we can find. (The new vegetarian restaurant in Mt Rainier on 34th next to Glut is my favorite addition to the region.)
Anyone know when Flip-it is ever going to open?
Be conscious of what you mean by “revived”. I’m a resident of this neighborhood and this essentially means “gentrified”. The apartments they’ve built next to the metro station are appallingly expensive and serve only to bring more chain stores to the area rather than local businesses. You want a cookie cutter life subsidized by the city for new developments (which is what they’re doing in this neighborhood) that’s fine. But don’t try and hide that behind the notion of “reviving eye sores”. That’s just incredibly insensitive, and a major reason why DC is an elitest overpriced food desert where neighbors are indifferent.
I agree Sandals! I have no problems buying the non-local produce knowing that it’s going to help the neighborhood. If you haven’t stopped by the market yet, they park a truck out on RIA and have a banner and folks out there helping to wave people in. They have flyers they’ve been handing out as well. They said they’ve had a steady stream of people, and I hope it just keeps getting better!
Flip-it will open on Wednesday. You probably missed the pre-tasting that took place this Saturday, but a pic is available at http://twitpic.com/56xnnp.
I understand Ms.Booker went door to door with flyers about the Farmers Market. I don’t think you can get more personable than this. Wish Flip-it had done the same thing. Maybe a BID like in NoMa can help keep the community informed about new openings and events. I’ve gone to a couple of openings for retail in NoMa and I have been glad I did. NoMa is also having a Farmers Market on Wednesdays.
Oops–I don’t even know what a BID is. Perhaps my age is showing?
Bravo to Ms. Booker. Maybe pretty soon someone will start selling organic and/or local produce as well–can’t wait. Just imagine–free range chicken eggs, locally grown organic greens, herbs and tomatoes, a cute set of stalls. Why not?
This brief article on Woodridge Market was published in the Brookland Heartbeat Summer 2011 edition at http://www.brooklandheartbeat.org/summer11_brief.html
New Farmer’s Market in Woodridge
A new year-round farmer’s and craft market has sprung up in Woodridge. The market, called The Marketplace in Woodridge, was founded by Janice Booker, Woodridge resident.
The market operates on Saturdays and Wednesdays at 1915 Rhode Island Avenue NE. The market features locally-grown and seasonal fruits, vegetables, nuts and preserves at prices significantly less than grocery-store prices.
Lynndale Farm, part of the Miller farm family from St. Mary’s County, is the featured farmer. Ms. Booker said she is hoping to add a baker and on-site barbecue very soon.
The farmer’s market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. The craft market is a “work in progress” said Ms. Booker. She said her plan is for the arts and crafts market to be up and running by mid-July.
Parking is plentiful at the farmer’s market, which is held across the street from the Shell gas station on Rhode Island Avenue. Longtime residents will remember the spot as where Long John Silver’s used to be. The site is leased from the International House of Prayer for All People.
Ms. Booker said bilingual assistance is available for Spanish speakers and the location is wheelchair accessible. WIC and CSFP senior coupons are accepted.
For more information, call Janice Booker at (202) 529-3610 or email info@themarketplace1915.com.
Brookland Farmer’s Market Is In Full Swing
Licking Creek Bend Farm is back at the Brookland farmer’s market, held every Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. under the Michigan Avenue bridge on the 10th Street side of the Brookland metro station.
Licking Creek has fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. A local baker has a stand with fresh bread, pastries, baked good and locally roasted coffee. There is also a bicycle clinic for on-the-spot bicycle repairs.