(Photo: Daniel Maurer)
The holiday season doesn’t have to mean fighting tourists as they try to pry the last soy candle out of your freezing fingers at the Union Square Holiday Market. Below, we’ve singled out some of the chiller (and less chilly) gatherings of local independent vendors and makers. Most of them will be serving up booze, to quell your anxiety about what to get the thankless grumps in your life. Happy holidays!
The A/D/O Shop Supermarket
Dec. 15 and 16, noon, at a/d/o, 29 Norman Ave., Greenpoint
Shop for “apparel, design objects, home goods, books and jewelry” at the chic creative space that houses Norman restaurant. Among the vendors are Tantuvi, which designs vibrant geometric rugs made by a cooperative of South Indian women, and Don’t Worry Baby, designer of funky crop-tops. Wine will be served from 4pm to 7pm.
WOMYN
Dec. 15, 11am to 6pm, Grand Central Atelier, 46-06 11th St., Long Island City
Long Island City art studio Grand Central Atelier is curating this marketplace of female-founded art and fashion companies, featuring New York-made clothes by Of Her Own Kind, Sabrina SL’s jewelry and clothing for “ethereal women,” Brooklyn-designed, Italian-made luxury handbags by Creagh, and more. There’ll be hand-poke tattoos, as well.
FAD Market Holiday Pop-Up
Dec. 15 and 16, at City Point, 445 Albee Square W, Downtown Brooklyn
This one at City Point, home of Alamo Drafthouse and DeKalb Market Hall, promises 70 indie designers and makers offering “handmade jewelry, apparel, bath and body care, tableware, home furnishings and more.” There’s also a VR experience that allows you to meet Santa virtually, with no worries of Bad Santa-esque whiskey breath.
Winter Smorgasburg + Brooklyn Flea
Saturdays 11am to 8pm and Sundays until 5pm, at Atlantic Terminal, 625 Atlantic Ave., Downtown Brooklyn
In addition to its usual dizzying array of food and knick-knack hawkers, this weekend the Brooklyn Flea welcomes new vendor Wilder Duncan, whose rogue taxidermy has been featured on Bedford + Bowery. Will he be selling some sort of grotesque stuffed reindeer mashup? Only one way to find out.
Group Partner Holiday Market
Dec. 15, 16, 22 and 23, at 892 Lorimer St., Williamsburg
Hester Street Fair and Group Partner have teamed up to curate this holiday market at the ceramic studio’s home across from McCarren Park. Among the vendors are Jen Fisher, whom you may have seen hawking books on Avenue A; Greenpoint kombucha brewers Mombucha; and “inactive-wear” designers Offhours, who will be selling their “homecoat” (basically a comforter with sleeves).
Le Souk Holiday Market
Dec. 16, 1pm to 6pm, at Extra Fancy, 302 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg
This pop-up at Williamsburg seafood spot Extra Fancy promises “apothecary, home decor, vintage, gifts, jewelry, DIY, candles” from the likes of jeweler Empress & Judge, CBD supplier Needle Rock Farms, skincare line Rodan + Fields, and more. Plus there’ll be live music, poetry readings, and you can get a Polaroid taken with Santa.
Damn the Mistletoe Holiday Market
Dec. 16, noon, at Three Diamond Door, 211 Knickerbocker Ave., East Williamsburg
Roving pop-up Mama Yoshi will serving Japanese comfort food, like katsu sandwiches, at this market inside of a bar. Shop till you drop or drink till you drop, the choice is yours.
Sugar x Spice Holiday Makers Market
Dec. 16, 1pm to 6pm, at Brooklyn Bazaar, 150 Greenpoint Ave., Greenpoint
The second annual installment of this DIY fair promises a photo booth, a full bar, a card-making station, and over 30 makers, including Make Stitches Get Money, a maker of cheeky and custom cross-stitches (e.g. “No Flex Zone”) and Dirty Dude Apothecary, a maker of liquor-flask diffusers and other items for the Manthropologie set.
Renegade Craft Fair
Dec. 22 and 23, 11am to 5pm, at Brooklyn Expo Center, 72 Noble St., Greenpoint
This annual craftacular returns to Greenpoint with DJs, food trucks, cocktails, and, of course, dozens upon dozens of local makers. The impressive directory of vendors includes potters, jewelers, woodworkers, weavers, soap makers, chocolatiers, distillers, and all the rest.