The March 2010 Freret market in New Orleans

Freret Market sign. Photo: Kathleen K. Parker

The March 2010 Freret Market  took place on Saturday March 6, 2010, and as usual it was brisk with activity.  From Animal Rescue New Orleans pet adoptions to political coloring book offerings, the market provided interesting sights, sounds, tastes, and locally made products.

The market is held the first Saturday of each month, from noon to 5 PM, with the exception of the months of July and August. Free parking is available. A family friendly market, it is a fun venue for your whole family, including the family dog!  It is also a marketplace that aims to encourage shoppers to stay local, to buy from area vendors, and to help Independent enterprises succeed here.  

At the March bazaar, I met several vendors and/or their representatives.  Please see slide show below

Karen Ocker's Ray Nagin Coloring Book. Photo: Kathleen K Parker 

First on my tour was a visit to Karen Ocker’s display. Karen is a New Orleans artist who has published coloring books about local and national politicians, including New Orleans’ Mayor Ray Nagin and George Bush. This humor packed Ray Nagin Coloring Book is a clever and witty compilation of the mayor’s most controversial statements that are paired with illustrations. Both books are suitable for coloring and are definitely keepsakes. The books are sold online and at New Orleans bookstores.

Moving on, I was lured into the display area of Stone Creations  by Colleen. Frank and Colleen Andara design coasters with New Orleans motifs or with your customized design, home décor, clocks, business advertisements, wedding invitations, birth announcements, and more. The tile coasters are delightful, and anyone who wants mementos of New Orleans can purchase tiles decorated with a fleur de lis, an image of a local venue - past or present and other art and photography.
 

Gamache Designs Photo: Kathleen K Parker 

Up again and shopping, I made my way to look at JoAnne Casey’s hip Nola Girl t-shirts. Everyone should own at least one!  “NOLA Tee provides tee shirts, tote bags and other New Orleans theme gifts for people who love New Orleans. A portion of the proceeds from many of (their) items goes to charity,” states the website nolatee.com. 
 

Enticed by the colorful clocks on display, I moseyed over to Judy Gamache DiGeorge’s tent.  Judy told me the following: “Basically I look for interesting and unusual records such as vintage 78's and colored vinyl, local artists and classic labels, children's colored vinyl. I paint on them, glue all kinds of objects on them, layer them, sometimes melt them, and add funky hands (i.e. forks and knives). I hope to appeal to a wide variety of tastes. I love to create and the clocks are a great way to enjoy music in a whole new way.” She also takes custom orders.  Check her out on facebook - gamachedesigns - or email her at judydigeorge@cox.net. 
 

Feeling thirsty, I headed for Beaucoup Juice’s stand. Snowball flavors are made from fresh juice. One of Saturday’s delicious snowball flavors was watermelon. Beaucoup Juice aka Beaucoup Nola at 4719 Freret St. also serves smoothies, ACAI smoothies and fruit and vegetable juices.  They cater parties and events and may be phoned at 504-430-5508 or emailed at beaucoupnola@gmail.com.
 

Next, I wanted to see Jon Dikhuizen’s NOLA Woodworks creations. Products include picnic tables for adults & children, Adirondack chairs, and porch swings. Every table is made by hand and is composed of Southern Yellow Pine and stainless steel hardware. New woods are being introduced in the line, so please visit the website for updates. This company was born after Hurricane Katrina when Jon and friends were helping each other with house repairs. They realized they needed outdoor furniture, built a few pieces, found the work pleasing, and expanded the products from there.
 

At the end of my visit, I plopped myself down to listen to music by the local 'Psychedelic Swamp Rock' band Coot  who was performing at the Freret Street Market. Coot's songs are composed and sung by local singer-songwriter and lead guitarist, Brian 'Rooble' Rueb. Other members of Coot are Andreas Argenti, Hirsh Katzen, Aaron Wolfson, and Daniel Weiner.  The band has recently played at Tipitina’s, dba, Carrolton Station, and has been heard on New Orleans WWOZ fm. radio.  A sideline: According to Brian’s wife Margarita, “Local TV weather forecaster Margret Orr appeared later in the day at Saturday’s market and requested that festival-goers and vendors do a second-line around the band’s stage area, while Coot played something distinctly New Orleans. The occasion was to honor the recently deceased, Rudy Rowell, a local artist and long-time vendor at the Freret Street Market. Throngs of vendors and attendees pulled out make-shift handkerchiefs and danced to the song ‘Bayou Girl.’”
 

“Ya gotta love New Orleans!”
Check out the Freret Market next month. You will be glad you did!

For more information:

Animal Rescue New Orleans

Coot on Facebook

Kathleen K. Parker's Photography