Crafty Bastards Returns to Union Market

Photo courtesy of Crafty Bastards

Crafty Bastards is back! This is the 10th iteration of the Washington City Paper backed arts & crafts fair. It's one of the District's best fall events. The fair is still going strong after outgrowing the Marie Reed site on 18th Street in Adams Morgan. It is now a two-day event, happening on Saturday and Sunday September 28-29, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM each day. The site is Union Market; 1309 5th St NE, between Florida and New York Avenues. It costs $5 per day. 

There is usually an eclectic mix of product, from colorful handmade scarves, to quirky jewelry, screen printed posters, whimsical baby onesies, and decoupaged (insert unexpected household item here). The vendors get better every year as the organizers always try to add a few new high quality participants. The crafters are from all over the U.S., with the 2013 crop from places like Chicago, Denver, North Carolina, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Oregon and elsewhere. Still, the locals are in the house with sellers like Mount Pleasant's Nana Clothing representing the District. 

See you there! I'll be there on Sunday, as another great event is happening that Saturday, VegFest DC!!! Cool weekend.

Crafty Bastards is Saturday, in New Location

After this busy, busy week in DC, the weekend kicks off Saturday with an old festival on a new date, and at a new venue. After years of hosting Crafty Bastards at Adams Morgan's Marie Reed school, the Washington City Paper is moving the indie arts event to Union Market in Northeast DC.

Crafty Bastards will feature over 140 vendors with textiles, hand-bound books, jewelry, screened t-shirts, photography, clothing accessories, stationary and much more. Unlike previous years, there will be a $5 charge to shop and peruse the creative wares from crafters from all over the East Coast. The festival will be held outside, in the parking lot just across Neal Street NE from the Union Market building (between 5th and 6th Sts) . Haven't been to Union Market yet? Not to worry; there are several transit options. Even better, the weather is forecast to cooperate: a sunny high of 62 degrees.

Crafty Bastards opens at 10:00AM this Saturday and ends at 5:00PM. (2 for 1 admission if you purchase online by Friday.)

Oh yeah: Happy Election Day!!!!

Video: Crafty B-Girl and B-Boy Battles

Crafty Bastards was a beast. I felt so overwhelmed walking the narrow and slow moving aisles at the craft and art fair. It was hella crowded in each of the four of the main areas, all outside the Marie Reed Learning Center at18th St and Wyoming NW. Everyone making the best of what was possibly the last summer-like weekend of the year. And just before this rather miserable rain we've had the last two days. Lucky.

Slightly less crowded was the recessed area where the break dancing competition happened, the "Performance Pit". I felt much better down there. And that's where I took this video. The b-boy and b-girl competitions are best viewed from up on high behind the fence, but those spots are hard to come by. I was happy down below.

Was it just me or was there a lot more crotch grabbing this year? Perhaps a year-late MJ tribute. Despite that, I thought the level of dance was higher than 2009 and many of the same dancers were took part. There were way more women this year, which was awesome. Hopefully that trend continues. And there were more tandem and synchronized moves between partners. This video is form the second round. The sound is a little blown out so turn it down if you're in the office. Sorry about that. Check out other dance videos and more on The 42 Bus Vimeo page.

Crafty Battles 2010: BBoys and BGirls (1) from The 42 Bus on Vimeo.

Video: Crafty Bastards Breakdance Battle--The Finals

The b boy break dance battle has become quite the tradition at Crafty Bastards, the arts sale-fair in Adams Morgan. The fair itself was on point featuring many vendors who I've begun to recognize for their original work over the years. I thought there were more clothing and accessory options for men this time around, something I've lamented before. We like style, too! Hopefully there were more buyers than window shoppers.

Well, the break dance battle was held on the pit of an old play area of Marie Reed School. There was a bracketed elimination style tourney set up and the dancers were from all over the mid Atlantic; DC, Phila, VA Beach. This is the video of the final match up between two teams.

In related news The 42 Bus has just started a Vimeo video channel, where I'll be posting various videos. I'm still trying to figure out how else to be creative with it, so if you have ideas throw them my way. Thanks and enjoy the first video from The 42 Bus.

Crafty Bastards B Boy Battle '09: The Finals from The 42 Bus on Vimeo.

Double Duty Festivals This Sunday

Fiesta DC and Crafty Bastards will grace the route of the 42 bus this Sunday. Fiesta DC has become the de facto Mt Pleasant day and has previously drawn over 40,000 visitors. It happens right in the middle of Hispanic Heritage Month. Of course, Mount Pleasant is the literal home to many Latin residents and a home to quite a few businesses as well. The main attraction of Fiesta DC is the parade of nations, during which dance and other cultural groups represent their distinct nations. Fiesta DC is all around fun and obviously one of the best parts is food, which could carry this event. But there is also music, lots of free stuff (i.e. Adams Morgan Day),and people watching.

Washington City Paper's Crafty Bastards has proven worthy of major festival status, even though its technically a marketplace. Last years CB was on a hot and humid day, but was one of the best fests of the year with lots of unique clothing, jewelery and art, plus performances (break dancing!) and again, good people watching.

Fiesta DC will be held all along Mt Pleasant Street from Argonne Pl to Park Road. Crafty Bastards will again be held at Marie Reed campus on 18th Street NW at Wyoming. The CB Crafts and Arts fair is from 11-5 and Fiesta DC operates from Noon-7. I'm making time for both!

Crafty Bastards: Photos

More Weekend Fun!

Seems to be quite a busy weekend around town and in the neighborhood. In addition to the walking tour chronicled below there are a few other events accessible on the 42 bus route. In Mount Pleasant there's Fiesta DC, which should consume pretty much the entire neighborhood, for the entire day on Sunday. Also on Sunday, in Adams Morgan, is Crafty Bastards, the popular indie handmade crafts fair. The fair operates from 10 till 5 and will be held at that wonderful bastion of 1960s dead-tech modernist concrete architecture, ne'e school, Marie Reed Community Learning Center on 18th Street at Wyoming Ave.