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Holiday Markets – Union Square
I am so happy to be launching this blog during the holidays because there are so many wonderful markets to visit!
The first sign of the holidays for me is the red and white striped tents going up in Union Square. (Holiday items appearing in the “Seasonal” aisle at Duane Reade just doesn’t get me in the spirit.) And there are wonderful markets wherever I go! Besides the diversity of the products, the New York holiday markets seem to be getting better food options! Mozzarepas, soups, waffles, crepes, cookies, cupcakes, artisanal chocolates – you can have quite a snack, or even a meal as you browse. The other good thing about the big holiday markets is that a lot of vendors take plastic.
This year’s market at Union Square is chock full of amazing things. It’s easy to breeze through and say to yourself, “Earrings, necklaces, scarves, soaps. Check.” But I advise that you take your time to linger and admire the beautiful things you can find there. Adel Chefridi makes gorgeous, dainty earrings and necklaces with rich colored stones. Last year, my favorite Secret Santa gave me a string of labradorite beads from Adel. Then I found Karma Living and decided to write a Yoga Gift Guide. (see below) I got my hands scrubbed, rinsed and moisturized at Lotus Sea Scrubs and bought a mini- Ganesha necklace with amethyst beads from Astrid Schumacher. I’d been eyeing this necklace since I first laid eyes on it at the summer at the Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral Market. All in about 20 minutes.
On the outskirts of the market are the “usual” amazing artisans who set up their tables in Union Square all year long. I met Danny, who makes keychains, rings, and beautiful mobiles out of old cutlery. He turns forks into tiny dancing people. Don’t tell anyone, but Santa is putting spoon keychains in everybody’s stocking this year, engraved with their initials by my friend Joseph Callari at Your Name Here Inc. on 14th and 9th. Tell him I sent you, and he’ll give you a 20% discount on your holiday engraving! He is amazing and can engrave anything, from an iPod or a $150 bottle of champagne to a rock (the champagne and the rock went to the same couple, but that’s a story for another day).