Brooklyn, I'm Trying

The Holiday Market Guide 2017

Liz Norment — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 18:47:30 +0000

It can be hard getting into the Christmas spirit while you’re living in Brooklyn. We don’t really have space for a tree, and given the lack of control of the heat inside our apartments, it is probably ill-advised. Carolers don’t come to our walk-ups. The closest we get to mistletoe are roaming plastic bags stuck in barren trees and they don’t exactly evoke a desire for a passionate interaction beneath. Our stockings are usually not hung from the chimney with care but instead strewn about the floor of our rooms, along with everything else from last night, and the night before, and the night before that.

So how will we get into the Christmas spirit? By touring around to all of the amazing, festive holiday markets in this city, all bundled up and perusing unique treasures while sipping mulled wine and painlessly crossing off everyone on our list.

See below for my guide to all the best holiday markets in the city and get out there and be fucking merry. Tis the season.

Holiday Handmade Cavalcade Brooklyn

All the care and thought of a DIY gift but D’d by another Y. Because you might have thought you had time to learn to macrame this season, but you don’t. (you don’t.) Over 50 mega crafty little elves will be peddling their unique goods. It’s from the people that brought you Etsy, so you know it will be damn good. One weekend only, so get there.

What not to miss

Approachable, ethereal paintings from ResetReality, the beautiful and rebellious jewelry of Topolski, oriental ornamental wears from Haru NY.

How not to miss it

One weekend only, Dec. 16-17th at Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont St.
handmadecavalcade.com

Union Square Holiday Market

Admittedly this is my favorite market in the city. I used to have an office job and the only good thing about it was I my desk was right by a window that overlooked union square. I loved seeing the market come together, a circular maze of booths and vendors and holiday magic. Get lost here for a while. Get churros and chocolate. Get gifts. Feel good. Get into the spirit.

What not to miss

Astrid Schumacher for the ethereal soul-shaker on your list, Line Posters for the urban nomad in your life, and Arancini Bros for you, just for you. Share with no one.

How not to miss it

M-F 11-9pm

Sat 10-9pm

Sun 11am-8pm

more info here.

Grand Central Holiday Fair

I like doing really touristy stuff around the holidays in New York, and a visit to Gran Central to see the miniature train scene is always on the list. Go check it out and see the stunning Christmas tree and shop over 40 booths of goods, foods, and gifts. Plus grab a few oysters at Grand Central Oyster Bar and do that cool whisper trick in that secret corner (message me for details).

What not to miss

The Blue Hound for rugged and refined jewelry for men and women, Spratters and Jayne for your best and coziest defenses against winter, and Woodstock Mobiles to enhance your hanging menagerie.

How not to miss it

89 E 42nd St.

M–F 10AM–8PM

Sat 10AM–7PM

Sun 11AM–6PM

more info here

Brooklyn Winter Flea + Holiday Market in Industry City

It’s your favorite flea market + food festival under one huge industrial roof in industry city. Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg combine for the Winter Flea with over 75 vendors plus 25 smorg faves and so many vintage finds to dig through, plan on spending a few hours here. Plus they have a few bars serving holiday cocktails, beer, and mulled wine, so all of that deliberating over the perfect gift will melt away. Plus, make a reservation to take a tour and taking at ICD Distillery and smooth out your holiday shopping stresses.

What not to miss

oikobo jewelry, quick brown fox letterpress, the always funky dan’s parents’ house, NYC postcards + maps for funky gift tags, oh and all of the food vendors.

How not to miss it

241 37th St.

Now through Christmas Eve, sat +sun, 10am-6pm.

more info here

Winter Village at Bryant Park.

Bryant park transforms into a magical winter village over the holidays, with charming crystal-like glass booths, a pretty fucking competitively-sized Christmas tree and a skating rink that is (but perhaps shouldn’t be) opened to everyone, for free, plus the price of skate rental if needed. If you can’t get into the spirit here then you’re name is scrooge and your heart is small. Real small. Plan to spend a few hours here, perusing and consuming and gliding about merrily. You’ll be in good company and I guarantee good spirits too.

What not to miss

Season standouts: Soap and Paper Factory for refreshingly affordable sundries, Avigail Adam for delicate ature-inspired jewelry and beadwork with a story to tell and pass on, and MrMarker Golf Gifts for likely one or two or all of the men in your life. And obviously the ice-skating rink and christmas joy just dripping from the trees, which is just for you darling.

How not to miss it

41 W 40th St.b/w Fifth and Sixth ave.

through jan. 2

m-f 11am-8pm

sat-sun, 10am-8pm

more info here

Renegade Craft Fair, Industry City

This is the last weekend which means that all of you renegades who still haven’t started your shopping have a chance. Come browse over 100 handmade and gifts and talk to the makers behind the crafts and understand how much love went in to each piece. Then tell the story on Christmas morning and fucking win the holidays this year.

What not to miss

Le Petit Elefant for the most charming paintings, Brooklyn Beach Rocks for handmade ceramic jewelry inspired by just what it sounds like, Sylvah Park for anotha leatha thing, and Mahisi for bags with a story.

How not to miss it

274 36th st

Dec. 16-17th 11am-6pm

more info here

Times Square Holiday Market

Dude you know what, I’m ok with this. I think it’s time we all forgive Times Square and come back to it. Revisit it, with new eyes and a clear heart. And what better time than the holidays? None. Yeah, that wasn’t rhetorical. They’ve transformed all of that aggressive neon and holagen flashing light into a kitschy winter wonderland that not even tourists would trust but I’m serious, that’s what makes it cool. Just go.

What not to miss

That creepy, greasy elmo guy who isn’t in a booth but he is requesting money for his services. Somehow. A life-Sized Gingerbread Scene created by the Culinary Students of America, which of course begs the question, what size exactly is “life” in a gingerbread world? The Naked Dancing Cowboy (maybe.), handmade jewelry, Waffles and Dinges.

How not to miss it

Open daily through December 22nd from 11am-9pm. It’s in Times Square. If you don’t know where that is, just arrive in New York and look for the light.

Happy gifting, Brooklyn.

<3L.

18-20 december 2015

Liz Norment — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 19:25:01 +0000

things i’m doing this weekend… to ensure that this city won’t forget about me during my holiday hiatus.

FRIDAY
A Very Murray Christmas at the woods, williamsburg
playing bill’s new holiday film on repeat AND offering free jameson to instagram followers, plus free jameson for life if you bring bill murray. which, given his affinity for showing up unannounced at random places, there is a chance you’ll just happen to be walking in at the right time to claim him as your date. if this party doesn’t get you in the christmas spirit, give up at this point. 7-9pm, 48 S. 4th st.

Open Source Food Kitchen, williamsburg
hungry for food or for philanthropy? or maybe just to exchange some ideas with other movers and shakers? open source kitchen throws this weekly food exchange to give people who are hungry or not so hungry a place to openly mingle and warm up with artists, writers. and bums. with soups. plus you can play everyone’s favorite game- homeless or hipster? in other words, just come as you are. 7-9pm, 306 17th st.

Holiday Circus Cabaret, williamsburg
circus cabaret? sounds like the perfect mix of youthful innocence and raucous desire that will make for a perfect last-friday-before-christmas chance to get on santa’s naughty list. 29 wythe ave, 8.30pm. $25.

oh yeah, and deadmau5 is playing at barclay’s. and. i will be there. (you can too!)

SATURDAY
French Morning Market, Cobble Hill
but i’m le tired- well, now you’re le not once you check out this magnifique french holiday market– for the francophile on your list or to help satiate that constant desire to be back in france. (smothering brie on your face is totally acceptable- i miss it too man.) Church of St. Paul, 234 Congress st. saturdays, 10am-2pm, and sundays 11am-6pm.

Brooklyn Wine Exchange, cobble hill
after a long day of christmas shopping on charming smith st (have you been to this shop? because it’s perfect for all of those people on your list who are awesome.) squeeze into this cozy little gem of a wine shop on Court st- they offer free (free!) wine classes every wednesday and saturday and have an extensive wine selection and extremely knowledgeable staff. get in there. this saturday, sign up early to get a sparkling little lesson about champagne from the bubbly Clement Calleja of Billecart-Salmon.

Free Salsa Lessons, two locations in brooklyn.
take a break from your weekly youtube salsa dance lessons and head to dance fever studios for this free salsa event! get your hands on a stranger that doesn’t start with swiping right. lesson starts at 8pm, come single or with a buddy, plus your dancing shoes. Dance Fever studios, 159 20th Street.

Pancakes and Whiskey’s Annual Holiday Party, williamsburg
nothing says “holiday” like pancakes and whiskey. the group, not the actual food products. join them and bands snowmine, salt cathedrals, and bellows at rough trade- so you can load up on albums for all of the hipsters on your list at the same time. everyone wins in this scenario. get tix. bring syrup. 64 N 9th St, 8pm.

SUNDAY
Whiskey Bike Ride with the Brooklyn Bike Crew. errrywhere.
nothing gets me up at 10am on a saturday like a long bike ride with the promise of a whiskey bar at the end. never mind, literally, nothing gets me up at that time on a saturday, but i’m going to give it a try. sleep in OR join me in the below- bikes and whiskey, sounds risky! starts at bedford ave and the eastern parkway, 10am-2pm.

Please Touch the Art, dumbo.
it’s unseasonably nice out- no one knows why (well, we have an idea…) but let’s bask in it for as long as we can until it leaves us. head down to brooklyn bridge park to check out Jeppe Hein’s interactive installations. touch the art, dance in the fountain, it’s december, who cares. pneumonia, be damned! brooklyn bridge park, everyday during those precious hours of sunlight. go quick because it leaves us jan. 1.

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Brooklyn Flea <3’s Smorgasburg <3’s Brooklyn Night Bazaar Holiday Market, sunset park
then, of course keep biking south of dumbo- to smorgasburg/brooklyn flea/brooklyn night bazaar’s christmas love child in industry city. this holiday market is every saturday and sunday and boasts all the vendors you love from each of these cherished events, plus some you’ve never even heard of. face it- you have gifts to get, you know you do. drink while you shop to take a bit of that edge right off of your holiday shopping.

Atletico de Madrid, champions of the world (kind of!), at banter bar in williamsburg.

this is exactly what i will look like sunday at banter bar. find me.

i realize that not everyone will give a shit about this game but let’s face it- college football season is effectively over and we all need a real sport to watch while we gently wash down our hangovers on sundays. enter- the greatest soccer team in the entire world, fighting to win this game and the lead en la liga, spain’s league that boasts those two other soccer teams that are always battling for number one. best place to catch it? banter bar in williamsburg. see you there in your rojo y blanco. AUPA. 2.30pm, 132 Havemeyer st.

where to eat this weekend– fada in williamsburg
a little bit of marseilles right on driggs ave. dollar oysters on sunday nights, steak tartare, poutine, live music every night! plus a well-curated wine list. i want to live at this place. join me.

where to drink this weekend– milk + roses, greenpoint
this enchanting little gem in NoGreePo beckons you in with its rustic charm- antique books line the walls, a baby grand piano with a live pianist nightly, a hidden garden in the back with gnomes peeking out of the bushes, giggling and chirping just ever so perceptively. oh yeah, and their cocktails are dope. get lost in here, for a while.

reasons to cross the river this weekend–
other than battling the crowds at the union square holiday market (seriously, i don’t even care that it’s packed. it’s full of joy and love and treasures. go.), there is a room filed with balloons at Gavin Brown’s Enterprise in chinatown just begging to bring out your inner child. and they’re red (naturally) so it’s festive. check it out- 291 grand st, noon-6pm.

photo courtesy of Gothamist.