New York Buzz -- Dreaming of the Christmas Markets

With temperatures along the East Coast well into the 90s (what our friends in Arizona call "a bit chilly"), it seems as good a time as any to start thinking about the holiday season, when we all gripe about how cold it is. 

In New York City, an annual tradition for holiday shoppers is hitting the markets that pop up in parks, squares and circles all over town. Two of the most popular are at Union Square (pictured below) and Columbus Circle, where the design is meant to evoke the Christmas markets in cities like Copenhagen and Munich

The markets offer a wide range of gift categories including decorative home, children’s toys and apparel, stationary, books and prints, pet products, men’s and women’s apparel, men’s and women’s accessories, jewelry, kitchen and garden items and packaged candy and treats. Notable craftspeople include Pamela Barsky, an artist who sells chic canvas pouches; 4MULA, who specialize in gorgeous living ornaments, wreaths and terrariums; and Josh Bach, a men’s clothing purveyor that specialize in ties, cuff links and other men’s accessories.

Shoppers can also warm up with food and drinks from many of the top dining destinations in the city, including Arancini Bros., Mayhem & Stout, Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen, Momofuku Milk Bar, Breezy Hill Orchard and others.

The Union Square Holiday Market is located at the intersection of Park Avenue South, Broadway, 14th Street, and Union Square West; it will open on November 21st and run through Christmas Eve. The market is open 7 days a week and has over 150 vendors.

The Columbus Circle Holiday Market is located at the intersection of Central Park West and Central Park South; it will open on December 4th and run through Christmas Eve. The market is open 7 days a week, and has more than 100 vendors.

Another good market is in Bryant Park, right behind the Library, and surrounding the free ice skating rink that takes up much of the space. (For obvious reasons, this market attracts lots of children, so those seeking a quieter experience may want to opt for the uptown or downtown shops.)