Featured Local Hot Spot:

Deep Ellum Outdoor Market

As a kid, I moved around a LOT (I guess that is the price you pay when your dad is in the moving business). I’ve had the pleasure of living in Chicago, IL; Ann Arbor, MI; Minneapolis, MN, and Dallas, TX. One thing that ALL of these cities have in common is their support of the Arts.

Some of my favorite childhood memories are the hours I spent hanging out with my family, walking through local street fairs. I LOVED eating local treats, picking out handmade jewelry with my mom, and chatting up local artists with my dad. Dad always tries to incorporate local art into my family’s homes.

In an effort to support local artists, artisans, vendors, and fellow makers, I’m going to start sharing some local hot spots, events and/or gems that I’ve found in the DFW area.

I recently discovered the Deep Ellum Outdoor Market (DEOM). Held monthly at 2636 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75226, The Deep Ellum Outdoor Market (DEOM) is a Dallas hot spot every third Saturday from 11AM – 5PM.

Last month my parents, SBM and I celebrated my dad’s birthday by checking out the DEOM. We had a blast and, true to his nature, my dad picked up some pieces for our family’s cottage up North.

Brandon Castillo, Founder and Director of DEOM, lived in Spain for two years where he taught English and often attended the weekly El Rastro Market. Inspired and wanting to contribute in the building of his own community market, Brandon moved back to Dallas to make it happen! Deep Ellum has a long history of being a cultural center for the arts and he knew that it was the perfect spot execute his dream.

“What I want to do is to see Deep Ellum be the cultural center of Dallas… I want to see people on the street walking around, creating a community.”
-Brandon Castillo

According to deepellumtexas.com, Dallas’ Deep Ellum began to develop in the late 1800’s as a residential and commercial neighborhood on the East side of Dallas. Over the years, it has been known for a number of reasons.

When I was barely 18, I remember making many a trip from Denton to Deep Ellum to check out the local music scene. We would squish 4 people deep in the back of my tiny blue VW Beetle – it is a wonder any of us lived to see 21.

Since my college years, Deep Ellum has gone through several “re-branding” periods. Currently it is in the middle of a major facelift! I have enjoyed watching as more people and local businesses move to this up and coming hot spot.

One of my favorite attributes of this Dallas gem is the number of local artists who call Deep Ellum home. You can see local art displayed in the galleries that line Main Street, and don’t miss the street murals on Crowdus and Commerce Street.

If you are looking for something fun to do this weekend (May 17, 2014), make sure to check out the Deep Ellum Outdoor Market!

Their (DEOM’s) goal is to create more meaningful and accessible public spaces in our city, and the market is a sustainable and monthly way to do that. They facilitate access and creative use of the streetscape and public areas, creating new possibilities for meaningful experiences by enabling artists to engage a large and diverse audience, often expanding their reach.

The Deep Ellum Outdoor market ALWAYS has local music, and… FOOD TRUCKS!! This month they are featuring is:

· The Gypsy Playboys (12:00 pm to 1:30 pm). You can expect a mix of Western Swing, Gypsy Jazz, and Gypsy Rock. Playing nearly 200 years worth of music, this hot, young trio harkens back to the roots of Americana

· Rapidgrass Quintet (1:45 pm to 3:15 pm) Rapidgrass Quintet is a super rad, high-energy, fusion string-band made up of old and new friends from the front-range Colorado bluegrass scene

· Sydney Wright (3:30 pm to 5:00 pm) Sydney Wright plays piano, guitar, ukulele, and drums as a solo artist and is in several side projects. Her voice will capture your soul with the passion of a thousand raging rhinos. At solo performances, she often incorporates the use of a loop pedal, which allows her to create a full band sound by creating live overdubs of instrument and drum samples, tasty guitar licks, and harmonious vocals.

While you’re jamming out to the live music, make sure to stop by my tent and say hi! Yup, the DEOM decided that Made By Jennah made the cut. I am SO VERY EXCITED to be a vendor this month! SBM and I will be there with plenty of free samples, soap, and of course, beard balm (for all of my bearded-friends)!!

Here is a list of all of the other vendors that will be at the DEOM in May 2014. Make sure to say hi, get to know your Dallas artisans, and (of course) support local growth by buying local.

May DEOM Vendors: