Brooklyn, I'm Trying

Brooklyn, I'm Trying

an urban lifestyle + travel blog by liz norment.

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The NYC Holiday Market Guide.

it’s christmas. and what does that mean to us brooklynites? 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 anyway. carolers don’t come to our walk-ups. the closest we get to mistletoe are roaming plastic bags caught up in 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 room, along with everything else from last night. and the night before. and the night before that. which at least at some point will become the night before christmas…

until then, how will we get into the spirit this year? holiday markets. and mulled wine of course! at the same time. with all of the beautiful talent and artisans in this town, let’s make the chore of christmas shopping enjoyable with these amazing outdoor markets and walk around all bundled up, sipping a cup of mulled wine and racking our brains on what to get everyone on our list. (there will be a guide for that too! stay tuned.) see below for a list of my favorite holiday markets, and let shopping be fun again! or let’s just get drunk and keep circling around to get free jam samples. jamples. don’t act like you’re above that. no one is.

 

winter_fleaWinter Flea, Fort Greene.

it’s your favorite flea market + food festival under one very very tall roof in fort greene! brooklyn flea and smorgasburg combine for the winter flea at hester one. over 75 vendors plus 25 smorg faves and so many vintage finds to dig through, plan on spending a few hours here. AND you can drink while you browse. christmas shopping is fun again!

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
now through christmas eve, sat + sun, 10am-6pm.
$1 to enter, kids free.
1 Hanson Place, Fort Greene. 

 

2016-bk-pops-holiday-eflyerRenegade Craft Fair, Industry City

crafts are dangerous again! this impeccable collection of makers and creators promises to be your official destination for unique and one-of-a-kind gifts. plus, it’s in industry city. and that is my favorite.
what not to miss
22 teeth for deconstructive wall art, tabulae eyewear who put the spec in specialty, rayo and honey for mantras via pennants without penance, and sasha for what’s next in neccessories.
how not to miss it
Saturdays + Sundays, Dec. 3rd-18th, 11am-6pm
233 37th st.

 

brookling-night-bazaarThe Brooklyn Bazaar, Greenpoint.

yeah, ok. you got me- this isn’t a holiday market per se, but it’s still the best damn night market around. and it’s here all year, but you better believe it will be decking the halls of this former polish social hall it now inhabits to transform itself into a gift-discovering mecca on greenpoint ave. plus, there’s puttputt so you can #treatyoself too, boo.

what not to miss

every single vendor, located on the main floor, where you can browse, booze, and buy until your heart is full and your wallet is empty. puttputt on the ground floor, shuffleboard on the top deck, fried chicken at the brooklyn star. everything. do everything here.

how not to miss it

thurs 6pm-1am

fri-sat 7pm-2am

sun 6pm-1am

bkbazaar.com

150 greenpoint ave

 

 

fad-weekendFAD Weekend Holiday Market, Cobble Hill.

this is the best indie market around, featuring a rotating list of unique artists and creators to find the best and most brooklyn gifts around. design-focused and born out of the appreciation of pure craft.

what not to miss
steve riley designs for stunning architectural jewelry, brooklyn-based ceramicism for the best in pottery, lauren rymer (aka rymie)’s stunning design + paper work,
how not to miss it
in the basement of st. paul’s church, 190 court st.
sat + sun 11am-6pm, dec 3-18.

 

 

 

and across the river…

 

union_square_holiday_marketUnion Square Holiday Market

this is as german as it gets. surrounding the subway exit, visit over — vendors in booths arranged in a tight little maze around union square. come in and get lost.
what not to miss
the turkish booth, that made me realize i didn’t need to travel to turkey last year to visit the grand bazaar and bring back souvenirs (PSYCH.), stunning handmade jade jewelry from taiwan, and classic silhouetted subway art.
how not to miss it
now through 12/24, everyday.
m-f 11am-8pm
sat 10am-8pm
sun 11am-7pm

 

 

16hsf-holiday-logo-900px

Hester Street Fair, Seaport District, LES

this NY (and international!) street fair favorite moves down south to its holiday home, located in historic grounds of what used to be NY’s largest pushcart market
independent designers, artists, entrepreneurs.
what not to miss
funky socks from jimmy lion, a vintage post card rack to answer all of your creative paper and correspondence desires, sneakers from triesti, and so much more to discover.
how not to miss it
www.hesterstreetfair.com  rsvp for special offers!
FREE WINE ON WEDNESDAYS
open daily 11am-8pm, nov 25-dec 3rd
fulton st and water st

 

 

 screen-shot-2016-12-02-at-12-23-09-amWinter Village at Bryant Park.

someone has been a very very good park this year, and i get the feeling that it was bryant. because it has been blessed with the gift of this fucking fantastic holiday market. OH WAIT, bank of america bestowed this present upon us, not santa. whatever it still rocks. except, one of the rules of the “overlook” is to use inside voices. so. i just wanted to make sure everyone heard that loud and clear. http://wintervillage.org/visit/overlook
what not to miss
mulberry + grand for jewelry, raaka chocolate for the best there is, and obviously the ice-skating rink and christmas joy just dripping from the trees.
how not to miss it
*tasting tuesday’s gets you free bites at most vendor booths. YEAH. so go on a tuesday.
through jan. 2
m-f 11am-8pm
sat-sun, 10am-8pm
41 W 40th St. b/w Fifth and Sixth ave.

grand_holiday_bazaar

Grand Holiday Bazaar, Upper West Side.
only 12/3-12/4, 10am-530pm, 10-11, 17-18, 12/24- last day
indoor + outdoor, donates ALL proceeds to four neighborhood public schools
what not to miss
how not to miss it
100 W 77thst

 

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