My trek into the Del Paso Blvd area is usually limited to a quick stop at Chando’s Tacos, but I expanded my circumference early last summer to include GOOD: Street Food + Design Market. Its progressive vibe and objective of bringing an assortment of creative vendors under one roof all set against a clean, bright backdrop made for a refreshing, hyper-local shopping experience for which Sacramento was in desperate need.
Many Sacramentans must have felt the same way because GOOD, landing on the first Sunday of the month, became a big hit. The faire was intended to run for 6 months from June through November, but Roshaun and Maritza Davis of Unseen Heroes, the event team behind GOOD, decided to open its doors for the rainy first weekend of December for a festive, holiday version of the event complete with Santa.
"The vendors requested [the holiday edition]," said Maritza, explaining that the vendors felt they should take the opportunity since people look for them now that they’re familiar with their products. "We have some new ones this time, too," she said, "like Dreaded Potter and Oh Lawd! Lemon Cream Pie."
One of my favorite vendors, Something Borrowed, was in attendance on Saturday. The vintage clothing and specialty jewelry collection is owned by Amy Sieffert, who was very attentive, commenting that the sweater I was checking out had been looked at by each customer thus far and even offered to hold it for me in her online Etsy shop, which is her usual business medium. Much like the farmer’s market, the connection you have to the product/food is only made better by the relationship forged with its maker.
Unlike Something Borrowed, Heart Boutique is a brick and mortar store located in the Handle District, but Heart owner Vanessa Lopez never misses the opportunity to display her best goods at her booth. Her table is always a trendy explosion of color and fun accessories. Perfect gift-giving for a fashion-forward friend.
Another highlight was learning about King’s Tribe Clothing, owned by Samuel Parkinson. Observing my strapless camera, Parkinson shrewdly suggested I take a look at his handmade camera straps, each one a different material and design from the next. I ended up buying one made of subtle, sparkly (oxymoron?) blue fabric with pink accents. It has so much more personality than anything I would’ve found at Target. His clothing, which includes men and women, is urban with tribal accents.
Antique collector/curator Samuel Martinez’s booth was an eclectic assortment of wares, from a collection of 1960s Sexologie magazines (I can totally see myself framing the covers in my bathroom!) and records, to a deer head he’d hand-covered with seashells. What a fun twist! "They were going to throw [the deer head] out," Martinez said incredulously, as only someone who sees the beauty in old things can. Catch his booth at next Sunday’s Antique Faire.
The market wasn’t exclusively shopping, eating and hanging out, though (not that there’s anything wrong with that!). Saturday’s event offered a hot toddy tutorial taught by seasoned Sacramento bartender Andrew Calisterio. The approachable mixologist demonstrated how to craft the boozy beverage using rum, honey, lemon, and hot water. You can usually spot Calisterio at Sactown hotspots Grange and Golden Bear, so it was a treat to learn how to make the perfect holiday elixir from the local pro.
On hand was artist Danny Scheible, who worked within his masking tape and clothing hanger medium to design the Christmas tree centerpiece. Scheible, his head adorned with a tape wreath, busied his hands with a new tape creation as he told me about his recent exhibit at the California Museum and his hanger installation at the Old Soul Coffee at Weatherstone.
GOOD: Holiday Edition had just enough of the regular vendors I’d grown accustomed to with a good balance of new elements fit for the holiday season. It was a great way to get in the holiday mood and support community and local businesses. "Next year it’ll start in late spring instead of early summer," said Maritza. "We’re looking forward to the break!"
For more on GOOD and fashion in general, check out my personal style blog, Babesicle.
