Indoors, soon to be outdoors...

Have you been attending the Nyack Farmer’s Market all winter? It continues year-round, with an indoor edition each Thursday at The Nyack Center. The popular weekly destination for fresh fruits and vegetables — and so much more — thrives each week on the corner of South Broadway and Depew.

There are vendors selling artisan breads and sweet pies, fruits and vegetables, teas and candles. And there are a few businesses on hand offering demonstrations of their products and services (knife-sharpening anyone?) and on occasion, performances. It’s a great way to support the shop local movement, the farm movement and artisans and artists from throughout the region. Most of all, it’s fun, free to enter and you’ll usually run into someone you know. Great chance to catch up and talk about spring’s impending arrival The indoor edition continues from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays until the grand return to its outdoor home April 3. See you indoors, see you outdoors – both editions are worth the trip. For more, check out the Nyack Farmers’ Market Facebook page, which is frequently updated.

MARCH MADNESS... THE MARIA LUISA WAY (WE'RE NOT TALKING BASKETBALL)

So March is here, the month when spring (finally) makes its debut. We know we are ready. How about you? This month finds both our shops, Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa filled to bursting with new merchandise. Sure, some of the winter-sale merchandise is still here, but you're going to want to stop by and see what's new. And it's quite a lot.

As always, expect our trademark blend of texture, silhouette and color from favorite (and some new) brands in clothing and accessories, including footwear, jewelry bags and scarves. And don't forget gift items, baby items, furniture and home accessories. On the event front, we'll kick the month off with another installment of the successful "First Friday" series; see sidebar for full details.

This month is also Women's History Month, with events planned throughout the county, including the March 8 "Women of Leadership & Vision Brunch" at the Nyack Center. And finally, we want to also make sure you mark March 29 on your calendars. If you attended - or heard about- last summer's memorable poetry and literary evening, its spirit continues with "In Celebration of Renewal." This evening dedicated to welcoming spring with poetry and music will get under way at 6:30 p.m. at ML by Maria Luisa. Stay tuned to Facebook for updates. So as we say goodbye to this rough winter and get ready to welcome spring, we are pleased to be offering a few special events and look forward to seeing you in the shops soon. Time to emerge from that winter hibernation! As always, continue to follow us in between these monthly newsletters through our blog posts, Facebook pages and on Twitter. ML

GETTING EVER CLOSER

Before you know it, we're going to be welcoming spring - and that means street fair season is about to kick off. One of Nyack's favorite traditions, its street fairs, will kick off in April, so mark your calendars now. Following tradition, the Nyack Chamber of Commerce sponsors a pair of the events, with SpringFest kicking the year's slate off April 13 and SeptemberFest set for Sept. 7.

The schedule is rounded out with fairs May 18, July 13 and Oct. 12. These three events are sponsored by the Art, Craft & Antiques Dealers Association and run by P.J.'s Promotions. Click through the links for full details, though the routine is pretty set. Fairs run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, with participation from vendors set up along the downtown streets (Main and Broadway) with most merchants also taking part. See you there!

Did you hear the one about the two Facebook pages that fell in love...

...and lived together happily ever after? Well, that's our coy way of reminding you that timed to coincide with Valentine's Day, we merged our two Facebook pages. You'll find everything you need to know about Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa conveniently located on one page

(Maria Luisa Boutique). LIKE us, SHARE and check it out often for updates on new merchandise, special events and the like. It's our way of staying in touch with you - and we hope you consider it your way of staying in touch with us between visits. We welcome and look forward to your comments, updates and likes.

VALENTINE'S DAY IS NEARLY HERE...

AND MARIA LUISA'S YOUR LAST-MINUTE DESTINATION

Love is in the air, as they say. And that means it's time - really time - to wrap up that Valentine's Day shopping. Friday will be here before you know it. And if you're doing last-minute shopping, no one needs to know Maria Luisa Boutique and ML by Maria Luisa (Gifts & Accessories) are waiting for you with thoughtful, stylish and fun gifts ideal for anyone you're shopping for. It might be a scarf for your mom, luxurious lotion for your sister, something for your daughter, a quirky toy or desk accessory for your son or even a new lamp for your significant other.

Or maybe you're shopping for yourself- anything from a new necklace to an entire new outfit for a special night out. We've got plenty of options, and our team members are ready to offer all the help and advice you might need. And if you want to make things easy for anyone that might be shopping for YOU, feel free to, um, forward this email by "accident" or print it out and just happen to leave it on the ol' kitchen table. Just sayin'... HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

ML

A LOVELY AFTERNOON

Maria Luisa Whittingham would be the first to say it wasn't about her, but we want you to join us in saying congratulations again to Maria on her recent award, presented Jan. 17 at the Nyack Seaport. Maria was honored, along with Leadership Rockland and The Martin Luther King Multi-Purpose Center, Inc. in Spring Valley,

during Nyack College's 2104 Social Justice Day luncheon. The event, which featured a moving dramatic presentation by Mark Judelson and a special recognition of The. Hon. Donovan Richards, Jr., New York City Councilman (who attended Nyack College), recognized those whose efforts carry on the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In presenting her award, Earl Miller, executive director for community relations of Nyack College & Alliance Theological Seminary, noted that Maria is a "boutique owner whose second business is helping her community and the world." We agree.

“Love, Loss, and What I Wore”

A BENEFIT FOR RIVERTOWN FILM > Wednesday, February 5 – at Elmwood Playhouse > Dessert and Wine at 7:30, Performance at 8:00 WEAR YOUR MARIA LUISA outfit and be recognized with a 'shout out' > > Rivertown Film and our Cultural Partner Elmwood > Playhouse bring you an evening of outstanding > theater; a special benefit performance of a play by > three-time Academy Award nominee Nora Ephron > (Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in > Seattle) and her sister, about women’s > relationships and their wardrobes. > > “Love, Loss, and What I Wore” is a hilarious > collage of experiences that women share in their > lives, and a feel good play celebrating women of > different ages, backgrounds and ethnicities. > Wonderfully different and uniquely staged, this play > offers men insightful belly laughs about the > opposite sex…and is a perfect evening out for a > group of women friends who have and continue to > share insights about each other’s lives. > > The critically acclaimed Ephron brilliantly uses > recollections of What They Wore to trigger memories > and share what clothes say when we are trying to > find our identity through them. Funny, powerful, > sweet & saucy; goes right to your heart and soul! It > won the 2010 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical > Experience, which is exactly what you can expect at > this Elmwood Playhouse performance benefiting > Rivertown Film. This performance will sell out so > reserve now for a memorable evening, and thanks too > for supporting Rivertown Film. > > Tickets are $30. Seating is limited so order in advance > HERE. > > DidierWebAvida > > Dessert from Patisserie Didier Dumas & wine courtesy > of Avida Wine Bar at 7:30; play begins at 8 PM. >