Holiday markets are like a game of Whack-a-Mole: they’re popping up everywhere and you want to hit them all. Good luck with that, because we can barely keep track of them. Here are the latest three to come our way.
Winter Warmer Gift Market
Dec. 11 to 29 at Swords-Smith, 98 S. 4th St., Williamsburg; opening party Thursday from 6-9pm
Hit the Swords-Smith store for independent designers of jewelry, home goods, textiles, candles, ceramics, art, design objects, and more. Participants include Williamsburg’s whimsical, Wes-Anderson-esque textile designer Coral & Tusk, slick and inventive home accessories designer Insek, and cheeky accessories designer Welcome Companions (check out their glove coinpurse and hat handbag), just to name the first three listed on the flyer. The launch party, Thursday from 6 to 9pm, promises drinks by Brooklyn Brewery and music by Mike Crash.
Ilegal Pop-Up
Dec. 11 to 14 at 1 Worth St.; noon-7pm Thurs-Fri and noon-5pm Sunday
This party isn’t quite as illicit as its name suggests: it’s actually being put on by Ilegal Mezcal, but as far as marketing ploys go, this one looks pretty fun. Sweet, sweet mezcal drinks will be free during the “happy hours” on Thursday and Saturday at 6pm and Friday from 5-7pm, plus there’ll be performances by acts like Della Grove, Cowboy, Austin Wender, and Oh, Cassius!. As you can see from the schedule, on Saturday there’ll even be a bike rally starting from Williamsburg’s Jane Motorcycles. Or just drop in to shop for duffel bags by Jack + Mulligan, vintage axes from Underdog Guitars, art by Brooklyn’s Ocean Clark, and mezcal “cakecups” from Bee’s Knees Baking Co., which will be pouring coffee daily.
Holiday Market in Ridgewood
Dec. 14, 11am-5pm at Gottscheer Hall, 657 Fairview Ave, Ridgewood
If hearing that the owner of Greenpoint’s Pencil Factory just opened Ridgewood’s “first craft cocktail bar” has left you wanting to make a run for the Brooklyn-Queens border, this is just the excuse. For its last market of the season, Ridgewood Market is busting out a ton of good cheer. The organizers are promising over 40 local artisan vendors, vintage finds, food, music, and maybe even Santa. Oh, and there’ll be booze for sale, since the whole thing takes place in a 90-year-old beer hall.