All photographs and words in this guest post by Ashley & Aron Bruhn of Hither Thither

The shopping opportunities in New York are staggering! Many visitors crowd Fifth Avenue’s grand department stores, and SoHo is a must for any serious shopper, but there’s also a wealth of unique wares to be found at any one of the amazing markets being held around the city on any given weekend.

Look out for the New Amsterdam Market under the Brooklyn Bridge near South Street Seaport, the relatively new Hester street fair on the Lower East Side, and–perhaps the most well-known, and a personal favorite–the Brooklyn Flea. The highly catered market, full of new and vintage treasures, is held in some of the most stunning locales around the city.

The flea food vendors are as much a part of the market as anyone else–maybe even our favorite part–and there’s now a food-only market called Smorgasbord, held on Saturdays in Williamsburg, in full view of the Manhattan skyline.

Whether you’re angling for independent crafts or just in the mood for some good style-spotting while people-watching, we highly recommend taking in one of the unique markets around the city.

Ashley & Aron Bruhn, Hither & Thither

All photographs and words in this guest post by Ashley & Aron Bruhn of Hither Thither

People often ask us what they should see or do in New York. There are so many iconic sights–it is hard to know where to begin–and so we usually leave destinations like Ellis Island or Times Square to the guidebooks. And we travel, for better or worse, we have a tendency to sacrifice some of those big-ticket items on the chance that we might inhabit a place as a local for a time: have a drink in a hip neighborhood, or shop at the local markets.

With those things in mind, here is a New York that might appeal as much to tourists as to locals. These are a few of the things we love best about the city; this is how we would visit the city we live in. Over the next month, I hope that we can see it together…

Ashley & Aron Bruhn, Hither & Thither

All photographs and words in this guest post by Christine Chitnis.

It seems only fitting that I should end my visit to Pia’s {blog} house with a post devoted to the incredible farmers markets of New England.  We have covered gorgeous landscapes, and peeked into artist studios… but I only briefly touched on my absolute favorite thing about the region… the bountiful seasonal produce, unique artisanal food products and succulent prepared foods available at New England’s farmers markets.

As someone who enjoys cooking, and is always game for a kitchen experiment, I loved discovering unusual produce and intriguing food products during my market travels.  Favorite discoveries included quail eggs, rabbit meat, black currants, duck eggs, black radishes, kimchi, mini Savoy cabbage, kohl rabbi, homemade tempheh, an incredible variety of pickled produce, including pickled fiddleheads, raw cows milk, handcrafted cheeses… and the list just goes on.

Supporting our farmers allows them to continue to experiment and grow, leading to a more diverse array of offerings at our local market…an important step in preserving unique, and heirloom varieties of produce and food products for future generations.  This summer, make it a goal to try something new in the kitchen…your local farmers will thank you!

Christine Chitnis

All photographs and words in this guest post by Christine Chitnis.

Aside from taking in the incredible scenery of New England, my book writing travels granted me access to some amazing artist studios.  To me, there is nothing better than seeing where artists create, what they surround themselves with for inspiration and the tools they use.  Many of the events highlighted in Markets of New England are open studio tours, and indeed, these were often my favorite events to cover.

Many of the artists that I met are not only keeping alive traditional art forms, but are creating new and exciting methods of crafting.  They pay careful attention to the source of their materials, often using reclaimed and recycled goods…creating new out of the discarded.  I also noticed that community is now, more than ever, an important aspect of the ‘artist life.’  Whether collaborating on projects, or organizing city, and state-wide art events, artists are finding strength in numbers.

It is inspiring to think that with a renewed commitment to the arts, and the ever-present ingenuity of the art community, New England will remain home to a thriving creative scene.

Christine Chitnis

All photographs and words in this guest post by Christine Chitnis.

As a relative newcomer to New England, I used my book-writing travels to explore the region in its entirety.  I was often struck by the contrasting landscapes that I would encounter.  On one hand, wild, untamed cliffs that drop steeply into the raging ocean below…on the other hand, manicured gardens, and farms, carefully tended.  I am always amazed at how we can cultivate this rugged land, not only to grow food, but to grow gardens dedicated to beauty.

I suppose that when most people think of New England, they think of the coast- and indeed, the coastal land is truly stunning, and most definitely a defining feature of the region.  But, there is so much more to this area of the county, including mountains, lakes, meadows and pastures.

I especially found such beauty in the rural images that I captured.  Centuries old farmhouses, still standing the test of time.  Stone walls, covered with moss, weaving through the countryside.  Cold-frames and greenhouses, erected to grow sustenance during the brutal winter months.  To me…these images encapsulate the ‘real New England,’ and pay tribute to the hearty people that choose to call this place their home.

Christine Chitnis