To Market, To Market: Stockbridge Market

I haven't done a "To Market, To Market" post in a very long time. Moving away from the UK has meant that I don't get to visit markets, any kind of market, as frequently as I'd like to. So, when visiting my friend in Edinburgh and she suggested checking out Stockbridge Market, I made sure we made it there so that I could get my market fix. 

It runs every Saturday from 10am to 5pm and is located at Jubilee Gardens along the Water of Leith. On this fine spring morning, we took a very scenic route down through Dean Village and the waterway path toward the market. It was a beautiful morning with brisk air and blue skies. The perfect marketing weather! We definitely weren't the only ones to think this, as we passed countless strolling mom's and tots and sniffing meandering dogs on long leads. 

Had I not been with my friend who knew where we were supposed to be going, I would have just continued on that lovely little pathway, but my rumbling tummy convinced me that market food was what I needed. 

Jubilee Gardens is a small park space, but boy do they ever pack it in with vendors! You can find all sorts of different foods and artisan items, this is seriously foodie heaven! There is the usual market fare and also some traditional British and Scottish treats, like scotch eggs, haggis Sausage rolls, and shortbread. We couldn't help ourselves and purchased a small feast breakfast. 

Eventually the heaving crowd and long lines got the better of us and we existed in search of a cafe nearby to rest our feet and share a pot of tea. As with most markets, arrive earlier in the day to avoid longer lines. We had arrived later in the day along with most of Edinburgh. 

If I lived in Edinburgh, this would certainly be a frequented weekend location, fulfilling my grocery treats that just can't be satisfied by Asda or Tesco.

Do you have a favourite market?

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First Annual Pixel and Bristle Design and Typography Market

I have a little obsession with typography, have for some time now. It's not really something I get a chance to play with often in my job or daily life, but when opportunity presents itself, I'm on board. That said, when I heard about the upcoming first annual Pixel & Bristle design and typography market being held at the trendy Drake Hotel, I made sure my calendar was free that day.

Admission was free and there were over 20 vendors selling their designs and works; from prints and totes, to mugs and other ephemera. It was a small room, but jammed full of graphic talent. 

There were individual artists there, graphic collectives, and collaborative partners. For example Worker Bee Supply work with artists on a inspirational design and hand prints their pieces with a portion of every print sold going back to the artist.  Check out their website, there are some fun pieces available with free shipping in Canada and USA. (Not sponsored, just thought it was a cool idea)

Along with all the ephemera pieces available for sale there was Strange Flora with some incredibly beautiful jewellery which I couldn't resist buying a long necklace.

My favouite booth had to be Snap + Tumble, where there was a small letter press set up and you could print your own postcard for $5. Obviously I did! (And now I'm seriously considering doing one of her workshops)

The event was reminiscent of Pick Me Up London, but on a teeny tiny scale. I hope each year it grows and maybe even take inspiration from the British graphic arts festival for future events.

Are you as obsessed with typography as me? Would this kind of event interest you?

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To Market, To Market: Billingsgate Fish Market

Today I'm trying something a little different for my post about this famous East London institution, Billingsgate Fish Market. In this post I've used Cockney Rhyming Slag, historically created from this part of London. Try to guess what it means or visit here (or here) and look it up!

I've saved the best for last, or at least my most favourite thing I did during my epic trip to England all the way back in January; Billingsgate Market. 

To visit the Lillian Gish market you must get up before dawn, it opens for business at 4 AM Tuesdays to Saturdays running into the late hour of 9:30 AM.

When I lived in East London, I was literally just up the field of wheat, but never found it lemon squeesy to convince myself to actually get up that Liz Hurley and scapa flow!

On the short ball of chalk to the market we encountered no other pedestrians along the way at this pre-dawn hour, and very few vehicles on the A12 except for the occasional night Uncle Gus. As we approached the market building, however, there was distinct activity happening as people entered the building toting large, empty suitcases and others exiting with boxes and large bags filled with seafood purchases. Clearly these were people making commercial purchases and wondered if we'd be getting in the way or be unwelcome and stick out like a rotten Lillian Gish. Passing through the main doors, my eyes had to adjust to the bright, florescent lighting contrasting the inky blue morning sky outside.

We were immediately greeted by the sellers at the first stall with a hearty "Awright, luv?" the warming rhetorical question of every friendly Londoner I've ever met. Everything was just fine.

We made our way up and down each wet aisle, impressed with the many varieties of the seafood for sale and the fact that there was no Aunt Nell. I mean, I know fresh Lillian's shouldn't Aunt Nell at all, but I thought a room with that much Lillian's about, there was surely going to be a bit of an odor. Nope. Not so.

We watched the sellers, adjusting their product as things sold, informing little, old women there for a weekly shop how to cook a particular item, and saw fathers and young sons working and laughing together in their daily routine of selling fish.

We finally decided on some fresh Scottish Salmon and some bagged, frozen seafood, now we were Hank Marvin!

To the cafe for a nice Ruby Lee and a kipper breakfast. I don't know what it was, but it was the best Ruby I've ever had! Perfect milk to tea ratio, the mug was exactly right, it was the ideal temperature and poured by a friendly cockney woman from behind the counter.

This is definitely something off the beaten path for the everyday tourist and although I no longer can boast a London address as home, I did feel I was witnessing a very London practice; the hard working-class men of East London doing what they do and have been doing for years and sometimes generations.

If you made to the end of this post with cockney rhyming slag and all, I commend you! I hope you got a kick out of it and enjoyed trying to guess what the heck I was saying. I promise I won't be doing that again. 

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