Saint-Rémy-de-Provence stands out as one of the most picturesque towns in Provence. It’s of intermediate size by south-of-France standards–smaller than Arles and Avignon but larger than Eygalières and Fontvieille. Nestled between the Durance and the Rhône rivers, it’s in the Alpilles region where olive trees…
Best known for ski slopes, hiking trails, psychedelic fall foliage, and the Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe Vermont has another temptation to offer visitors: a rollicking farmers’ market. When the market began in 1993 it consisted of a dozen vendors–predominantly farmers selling organic produce to a…
Summer ended with a bang. There was a party, a wedding, and–no, thank goodness, not a funeral–but a quiet retreat to Martha’s Vineyard. Now I’m settling back into Cambridge, Massachusetts. The French have a term for this transition: la rentrée. It’s the re-entry, or return,…
It’s one thing to shop at farmers’ markets as a regular customer, and another to shop as a chef. Occasionally I see chefs at markets. They might be recognizable as a celebrity or from the tell-tale white jacket. I pay close attention to which stalls they…
It wasn’t long ago that iceberg lettuce was the main or only option at grocery stores for salad greens. (“Green” is deceptive since most iceberg lettuce leaves are sickly white or pale lime in color.) Nowadays it’s common to find produce shelves brimming with spring mixes,…
Sweet juicy strawberries and cherries, freshly picked from local fields, still tingle in my mouth. Mistral winds still prickle goosebumps on my arms. The songs of les cigales (cicadas), still ring in my ears. Such are the vivid memories of my recent trip to Provence. Since photos communicate the variety…
During my Provence trip with New York Times Journeys, we were treated to many marvelous and tasty adventures. One of the travelers was John Boydston, a freelance photographer based in Atlanta. Check out this photo essay of the Arles market (a Saturday and Wednesday market, although…
There are certain sights that I’ve come to expect when visiting Paris, especially in springtime. Leafy cathedrals of allées. Hedges dotted with cream and pink blooms. Even under grey skies, a riot of cheerful blooms in the Tuileries, Luxembourg Gardens, and other parks throughout the city. At…
[Guest post and photos by Ethan Lipsitz] Ever find yourself in LA on a weekend and looking for something to do? There is a thriving vintage flea market scene in and around Los Angeles that’s worth exploring. I moved to the area in 2008…
Love Paris? Love exploring markets? Here are 6 practical tips to take with you as you stroll and shop at the markets of Paris. (Be sure your volume is turned up!)
The south of France is prime hunting grounds for rustic antiques and flea market treasures. The town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, located between Avignon and Gordes in Provence, is home to one of the best weekly markets in Provence. Each Sunday it springs to life with market stands overflowing…
Spring is a perfect time to go hunting for unique vintage pieces, and we don’t want you to miss out on great antique shows. Ryan Stills, Jordan Bellows, and Morgan Young from Invaluable.com have rounded up some wonderful events taking place throughout the spring, organized chronologically,…
Recently I’ve gone to two major travel shows, one in New York and the other in Boston. The New York Times Travel Show drew a record-breaking crowd of 30,000 participants in the span of 3 days and nearly 600 exhibitors. The Boston Globe Travel Show was considerably smaller…
At the New York Times Travel Show, the theme of my session was “markets as a window into the soul of a place.” It’s my mantra. Here’s why I’ve embraced it with gusto. Markets are social hubs. Amble through almost any market and you’ll see residents going…
There’s always a surplus of things to do in Paris, including the temptation to do nothing at all. A very walkable city, Paris rewards those who travel through it at a slow pace. There is so much to see, and I’m not talking about tourist…
Over the holiday I traveled to Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. After navigating past the throng of people at the Cancun airport hawking tourist attractions, the final leg of the journey was a 1.5 hour drive south to Tulum. Jade-green waters and white sandy beaches created a…
What’s so beguiling about santons? The small figurines are pleasing to hold, even in children’s hands. Hand-painted with exquisite details, santons breathe personality into a wide range of forms. Often they are passed from generation to generation and associated with holiday memories. Santon is derived from santoùn, a Provençal…
What began as an antidote to the crushing commercialism of Black Friday has evolved into a shopping tradition of a different sort. The Basilica Farm & Flea in Hudson, New York (along the river in New York’s Hudson Valley) is held each November and May. The November…
My presentation last Friday at Farm & Coast Market in Padanaram Village in South Dartmouth gave me an opportunity to do something I’ve never done before: reflect on my research in both Paris and Provence and—I know it might seem like a strange comparison—also to…
In an earlier post I shared 5 Tips for Negotiating at French Flea Markets. Thanks to a reader’s suggestion, I’m adding another suggestion to the list: Tip #6: If you purchase an expensive item at a flea or antiques market, ask the seller for a…
