Market Madness

Gifters, crunch time is here! With less than four weeks left
to the year, it’s your last chance to nab that perfect holiday present. Don’t
worry, there’s no need to scramble just yet. To help keep the frenzy to a
minimum, we’ve compiled some spectacular markets and shops so you don’t have to
traipse all over the city. Get ready, get set, shop! —

For a dreamy, sparkling backdrop, hit up the Holiday Shops at
Bryant Park around the illuminated Citi Pond skating rink. Find both
fashion and function for kids at BearHands
& Buddies, whose Thinsulate-lined, paw-shaped mittens will keep little
fingers warm all winter long.

While you’re in the area, cross Sixth Avenue
for a sugar fix at Dylan’s
Candy Bar pop-up shop. Be one of the first to sample this infamous uptown
tastemaker’s new cupcakes, then delight a sweet tooth with imported treats and
novelty confections like Angry Birds gummies.

Uptown shoppers browsing the classic Columbus Circle Holiday Market will
delight in the hand-crafted offerings of the Lil New Yorker pop-up
shop. From La Muse Kalliope’s
plush animals to Bugged Out’s
organic cotton onesies and tees, vendors bring you the best of Etsy for a truly
creative gift.

No time to find stores out of your way? Stop by the Grand
Central Holiday Fair on your way back from work, where you can snatch up
great stocking stuffers from the Transit
Museum. Just a few blocks up, St.
Bart’s Holiday Gift Shops at 50th Street
& Park Ave offers hundreds of options for seasonal wares, along with a holiday concert series to put shoppers in the spirit.

Another pop-up to love is Jade’s
ToyBox in Tribeca, specializing in themed gift sets that are eco-friendly
and educational. The Goodnight
Sleepyhead toy box, including animated classic bedtime stories and a plush
bedtime companion, will make tucking little ones in a joy. Artsy tots can get
creative with the magnetic chalkboard paint and JTB custom book from the Pint-sized
Picasso box, and the Doc
Box’s human X-rays and body puzzle will prime a curious preschooler for
medicine.

To support small businesses this season, head over to Dekalb Market in Downtown Brooklyn. Perfect
for host thank-yous, Pip
& Estella’s vintage furnishings also lets you say goodbye to IKEA and
give your home a winter refresh. Or if you’re fair trade-minded, the NYC Fair Trade
Coalition is hosting a midtown market that ensures ethical business
practices.

Also run by Urban Spance NYC, but more centrally located, the Union Square
Holiday Market is another can’t-miss shopping classic. If it’s a one-stop-shop you’re
looking for, this plaza is hosting ever 100 vendors–with plenty of nibbles to
fuel you through your big day of browsing.

Take the entire family out for an early holiday treat at South Street Seaport. An evening
at one of the infamous historic district’s special concerts–think Cantori New York and Big Apple
Chorus— will be more priceless than any toys or sweets you purchase there.

In Inwood, Bread and Yoga’s 2nd Annual Holiday
Market is the answer to last-minute shopping prayers. There, score a safe
and comfortable baby carrier for the new mom from Art of Baby
Wearing, or order deliciously vegan treats for entertaining from Chick Pea and Olive.

For busy Park Slope bees, PS
321 once again has vetted the year’s best gifts for families in the
neighborhood. Don’t be so distracted by the movie shorts and baked treats that
you miss History2aTee,
who makes organic cotton T-shirts for children featuring their favorite historical
heroes like Amelia Earhart and Helen Keller.

Crafty souls can find one-of-a-kind gifts at 3rd Ward’s Handmade Holiday Craft
Fair, where each product promises to be truly unique. South Slope’s Holiday
Craft Fair boasts a similar originality, from Brooklyn Owl’s felt hair clips to MonsterPak’s custom school
bags.

If you’re shopping for the person who already has everything, snag a quirky
little something at Jingle, a holiday
pop-up store at Chelsea Market.
There, you can snag the fun designs on FredFlare.com
without waiting for shipping (or paying for it!).

For one day only (December 17), the Greenpointers
Holiday Market will be bringing more creative crafts to its Brooklyn
neighborhood. We hear RedTailFeathers,
which makes fabulous frames to show off your favorite family memories in, is
reserving a table, so keep your eyes peeled and your cash ready.

Few of us ever find reason to spend more time in Times Square
than we have to, but WIRED’s holiday
pop-up shop is a must for geeky gifts. Gifts that both kids and science
teachers would approve of abound, like a DIY
fuel cell kit that only requires backyard soil and dinner leftovers.

Looking for gourmand goods? Brooklyn
Craft Central’s Holiday Market is good for more than handmade ware. The Jam Stand offers gifts of culinary
sophistication. Opt for a seasonal spiced cider jam for the kids and a boozy
wine-infused concoction for the older crowd.

Families who turn to Yelp for weekend planning (after exhausting all New York
Family offerings, of course) will also get the chance to dine on the trusted
forum’s 80 favorite retailers at the first-ever Yelp
Giftacualar Holiday Market. Loyal users know they’ll find fabulous
products here, but we’re also excited about the gift wrap offerings and photo
booths.

Little fashionistas can ring in an avant-garde New Year with accessories from
the Gaga collection at Barneys.
Instead of the same old red-and-white trimmings, let them make a statement with
this snazzy unicorn stocking this year.

Last but not least, we can’t forget about the smallest members of the family.
At Pet Socialite’s pop-up in Soho,
pamper your pooch with an eco fleece jacket from Animal Wrappers or, for ultimate warmth, a
hoodie puffer from Hip Doggie.