Have you checked out #Assembled in Somerville?

assembled

Are you in or around the Somerville, MA area? If so, I highly recommend coming over our way and checking out the uber-local Assembled, the Handmade Arts Market at Assembly Row. It offers local artisans, music and some pretty darn delicious food trucks - if you ask me. ;)

Did I also mention free admission??

I have the pleasure of living right across the street from the Assembly Row area, which most people know as the area of Somerville that has the Christmas Tree Shops. :P Whatever landmark you need to use is fine, but I think that gives most people an idea of where in the city this is located.

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Assembly Row is nestled between the Sullivan Square and Wellington stops on the Orange Line, but does offer ample free parking if you are stopping by while out and about.

There is a booth (pictured above) where you can catch what Assembly Row should look like when it is completed next year with outlet shops, restaurants and a movie theater. They are even getting their very own orange line stop (Yes closer to my house!)

They actually shut down a portion of the through street to hold the event. The info booth sort of acts as the separator between the artist booths and the food trucks. It makes it flow nicely.

One one end of the street are all the amazing vendors - think Etsy type products! :)

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I am always impressed with such creative people so this area of the market always inspires me. There are folks out there selling art work, clothing, bird feeders, hand painted stemware, woodwork, home-made delicacies and so much more.

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I loved this wine rack, but unfortunately we do not have the decor to pull it off.

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Can you tell there was a theme to my shopping? ;)

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Books made in to pocketbooks! How creative. I wish I was cool enough to come up with things like that. I'm just glad there are people out there than can ... and do! :)

And then I caught the cutest dress in the corner of my eye and knew I had to grab it for my 'niece' Joanna.

The booth was adorably designed all around ... I mean hello great use of sidewalk chalk!

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 Sarah Joyce Designs and company easily won for cutest booth of the day! (She was sharing the booth with another designer)

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The Black and Red Lady Bug Pillow case Dress would be mine!!

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How freakin' adorable will Joanna look in this? I didn't care that it was a size too big. I had to buy it. :)

Then as we continued around the booths my other half spotted something she just had to have.

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There were a lot of cute things at this booth, but the thing she had to have was a piece of stemware.

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Yup,  a beer stein with a painted mustache on it ... and matching shot glass!

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The big decision then was ... which mustache to pick! The tough choices in life... :P

The booths were all amazing and I made sure to stop at each to really appreciate all the time and hard work that went into these pieces.

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After seeing such amazing artists and passing tent after tent of yummy fudges, popcorn and BBQ sauces,

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it was time to hit up the food side of the market!

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They had about half a dozen picnic table set up in the middle of the street with the 4 food trucks spread out on either side.

trucks

It was wicked hard to decide which truck to try, but we finally picked the Away Cafe!

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We decided on the Sausage Basil Onion (left) and the Smoked Pulled Pork (right).

food

Boy was the decision tough - drunken chicken sounds pretty fantastic - but these were DELICIOUS!!!

And we were lucky that on August 3rd the Dock Dogs were performing!

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The pups were adorable and some were making jumps for the first time. A little stage fright for a few, which made it even cuter when they finally did get in the water.

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Do you like the pup I had the honor of standing next to during the performance?

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Jealous of his hair, right?

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So make sure if you find yourself in the Somerville area on a Saturday between 11-4 be sure to stop on by Assembled ... I promise it won't disappoint. Plus, it feels good to support, shop and eat local!!

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