For the 8th year, Washington City Paper will host Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair. It's tomorrow 10AM-5PM at Marie Reed in Adams Morgan -- 18th St and Wyoming Ave NW . This fair/festival seems to grow every year, but has a few tried and true elements that bring me back each year.
With nearly 200 vendors, there is a lot to see this year! Yes, there will be t-shirts, shoulder bags and screen-printed greeting cards with birds on them. Probably pillows, too. But so much more! (Full disclosure: I bought a cool black t-shirt with birds on it at Adams Morgan Day. So, there). New this year: Young & Crafty; aged 9-18 and selling wares along side the big kids. That's awesome! Oh yeah, this is a juried fair, so quality is no issue here. Part of that quality is wrapped up innovation. Is it art? Functional? Both? Who cares! It's awesome, get it!
Yes, the success of the fair lies with the infinitely creative folks who mostly hand make the items you'll see for sale. I've gotten to know a few of them over the years and while this is the BIG event of the year for them, many work day in and out to make a living selling on eBay, Etsy, indie stores in DC and smaller fairs or trunk shows. See all the vendors here.
Of course the other big draw is the bboy/bgirl battle! Forget Jersey's Best Dancers, these kids are the East Coast's best dancers. They battle it out individually and in teams for hours (1PM-5PM) to a live DJ and hilarious MC. The old lower basketball court doubles as the "arena." Once you get a good spot on the fence or down close, don't move! No kidding; Crafty Bastards may draw 30,000 people or more this year.
Crafty Bastards is FREE. It happens rain or shine.
Enjoy the day, enjoy the weekend!
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| BBoy/BGirl battle, 2008 |