JM DRYGOODS IS OPENING THIS WEEK IN AUSTIN!

Jon and I have been working hard on the new space here in Austin and we are finally opening our doors!
This Friday evening JM DRYGOODS MARFA will host a Grand Opening party at 607 Nueces St. in AUSTIN, TEXAS. The shop is in an old house close to downtown just across the street from RANCH 616 and the soon to open RATTLE INN. It feels ALMOST like JM in Marfa and I am so happy to recreate it in this place. I am also super excited to debut SILLA, a line of beautifully handcrafted furniture from our very own Marfa, Texas. Silla is an wonderful, small workshop crafting handmade, thoughtful designs with an authentic Modern West Texas sensibility. I am also proud to continue to offer MARFA BRANDS SOAPS AND GLASSWARE!

And of course, the travels to Oaxaca have brought to Texas some AMAZING artisans including MASTER EMBROIDERER Odilon Morales (DUERMO CON MIS HUIPILES!) of ARTE AMUZGO and my heart of hearts CARACO DE FUEGO CERAMICS from Oaxaca's eminent  ceramic artist OMAR HERNANDEZ. There is so much to tell you about. Please come by this Friday evening. I wish I could have all of Marfa and OAXACA there loitering out front, but if you happen to be in Austin, do stop in, have a sip of tequila and hang out on the front porch with me and SILLA and Jon and of course JACK MAVERICK. You are always welcome round here!

Part Four: Buen Dia y No Te Preocupes

 Exploring Oaxaca with Susana and Mish

DAY TWO:

NAVIGATING THE MARKETS, EXPLORING THE STREETS AND NEGOTIATING WITH MARQUERITA

By now we have made it through the biggest and craziest Abastos Market and are ready to check out some others.

 We also want to visit some cooperatives who sell indigenous crafts. We are dying for some good street food, and we need to find Jack, my son, a bow and arrow.  

First Stop: CASA DE CAMBIO to cash in our boring dollars for these beautiful Frida ones

This is my favorite lady. Her food was so good you could cry. I am sitting here now tearing up thinking that she is there and I am here.

NEXT, TRY TO FIND MERCADO DE LAS ARTESENIAS Y JUAREZ

Reminder: Neither of us can actually  find  anything unless it is accidentally.

I have a map.

check.

Another Reminder: No one else knows where anything is either, so we are good.

And most great things in my life have almost always, without fail, been found accidentally.

Viva La Corn.

Comida Coriente

My fondest memories of Mercado life (back in 1992 Guatemala) is the Song. La Cancion de la Comida Coriente. Here, she sings the specials of the day. Susana and I order the  Carne Asado con ensalada de tomate y pepino con arroz y limon....Y naturalemente cervezas....

Part Three "ABASTOS": Buen Dia y No Te Preocupes

It is the first day of our self guided, three day tour of Oaxaca City. We head to the huge and bustling Mercado Abastos in search of the perfect huipile, textlie or hammock or some lead on something strange and beautiful. This market must span over several city blocks. Outside, vendors and taxis and buses bound for all over the state idle and zoom by. A caller hangs precariously at the doors of the buses singing to passengers before he is swallowed up and carried away to his final destination. It is hot, the air is filled with fumes. I am jazzed. It takes me back to all the travels, all the markets. It smells like...like some home that resides in me. I can't wait to go inside the belly of this beast.

to it It is