Farmer’s Market: Del Ray Neighborhood, Alexandria, Virginia

Tucked away on the north end of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, is the cutest darn little neighborhood you could imagine.  Craftsman style homes, generous porches, young urban couples pushing babies in strollers, dogs playfully walking alongside their owners, coffee shops, “unchained” restaurants, and a charming little farmer’s market.  Del Ray: fun, quirky, lovable.

The Del Ray Farmer’s Market is open EVERY Saturday 08:00 am – 12:00 pm.  It’s located at 203 East Oxford Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia at the corner of Mount Vernon and Oxford Avenues.  

At the height of the season, there are around 20 farmers and vendors selling fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheeses, breads, fresh pasta, baked goods, cut flowers and home-made dog treats.  You can grab your Saturday morning coffee there, and a young man on the north end of the lot sells incredible Salteñas, a Bolivian baked empanada.  The Salteña is a little different than the empanada though.  Inside a perfectly crisp pastry shell is a stew-like filling of meats, peas, and potatoes with a slightly sweet flavor.  Mine was a breakfast Salteña, so there was also a bit of scrambled eggs inside.  It’s slurpy.  Hold it upright, nibble the edge, and get lots of napkins from the Salteña guy.  I sat under a tree and got lost in my Salteña and iced coffee.  I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand for effect… 

If you drive, there is street parking on Mount Vernon and the side streets (you’ll be better off looking on the side streets). There is a paid parking lot across Oxford Avenue behind the Virginia Commerce Bank.  You can also take the bus; there is a bus stop at the market (Mount Vernon and East Oxford) for both Metro and DASH buses.  You could also take the metro to the Braddock Road Metro stop, but you’ll have a fairly decent 20-minute walk.  

For additional information, and to check out the list of vendors, take a look at the Del Ray Farmer’s Market website.