Spend a Sunday afternoon at SoWa

Fresh fruit and veggies-- yum!| Photo by Briana Seftel.

Sort of like a quieter and more posh counterpart of Manhattan’s East Village, the South End is the place to be when it comes to anything artsy. Stroll down any of the main streets—Columbus, Tremont, Shawmut—to find out why. One of the most exciting and interesting events happening in the South End is the South of Washington Street (SoWa) Open Market, which is a farmers’ market, foodie heaven and shopper’s paradise wrapped in one. It doesn’t just appeal to one group—SoWa has something for everyone. If students want something special or are just looking for some grub, leave Newbury Street behind and make the trek to SoWa.

SoWa runs every Sunday from May through October 30. Leave at least a couple of hours to explore, eat and shop. The farmers’ market is small but packed with gorgeous produce and local, artisanal food products. They sell everything from honey to pasta to farm fresh eggs at a much better quality and price than any supermarket.

If the journey to SoWa has left one ravenous, do not panic. As well as food offerings in the farmer’s market, each week there are different food trucks, and there are at least six or seven to choose from. Some include Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, The Cupcakory and Go Fish. Come lunchtime and everyone and their mother line up for the delicious and cheap food. Plus, there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the food.

Spend a beautiful day exploring SoWa. | Photo by Briana Seftel.

After inhaling lunch, don’t leave without browsing all of the handcrafted jewelry, clothes and gifts. This is not the average swamp meet style of stuff either; each stall offers locally made treats which sell everything—including t-shirts, pillows and leather goods. Lovers of vintage-y things will revel in the jewelry from Emrys or the clothes from Bobby from Boston. This is the place to go when looking for something truly unique.

The industrial-chic space which houses SoWa is well worth a look, and some of its permanent inhabitants offer cool stuff as well. Every few Fridays and Sundays, artists will open their doors to the public. It’s modern, it’s sculptural and it’s the Boston art scene conveniently down one street.

Don’t spend another Sunday afternoon inside dreaming of something fantastically cool to do. Go to SoWa while it is still open, bring some friends and enjoy the day. SoWa encapsulates what the South End is about—and more.

SoWa is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and is located at 460 Harrison Avenue.

About Briana Seftel

Briana Seftel (COM '14) is an aspiring journalist with an appetite for adventure. When not writing for the Quad, she enjoys exploring the great city of Boston.

View all posts by Briana Seftel →

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