What to Do in NYC This Weekend: Holiday Market Time, Beer/Wine Tastings, and a Few Holiday Gifting ideas

With the holidays fast approaching (we still cannot believe it's December already!), we bring you a couple of places to go (and a few gift ideas) for holiday shopping this weekend.  Whether you're looking for homemade gifts or liquid hostess gifts, we show you the Gifted from Brooklyn Flea in Manhattan, Union Square Holiday Market, and a few beer and wine events happening this weekend.

 

Though the Brooklyn Flea Gifted pop-up store has little food items, we did spot these ingredients that would be perfect for the homebrewer on your list.  Brooklyn Brew Shop sells a home brewing kit that features a glass gallon jug, a three-piece air lock, and an auto siphon for pouring the beer into bottles.  The kit also includes your choice of grain, yeast, hops and sugar in a variety of flavors ($40) so you can get started right away.

Other food items at the store (that were so good, they never had a chance to be photographed!) included beautiful mini cupcakes from Kumquat Cupcakes, sweet treats from Liddabit Sweets, spicy garlic pickles from McClure's Pickles.

The Gifted by Brooklyn Flea pop up store is located at 20 E. 4th St. (at Lafayette St.) in NYC.  It continues until Dec 13th, and then runs again from Dec 16-Dec 24.

Then we were off to the Union Square for the Holiday Market.  We spotted these lovely wine carriers ($28) from The Vintage Box (booth #C2) by Advah Shani.  We think these would make lovely hostess gifts and would be beautiful as part of a table centerpiece.  If you are interested in her creations but cannot make it to the market, she can be emailed at advashani@gmail.com. 

 

Holiday shopping can take its toll, so happily there are a few vendors on hand to satisfy our hunger pangs. We were intrigued by the helmet-wearing vendors of Viking Cuisine.  We ordered the aebelskiver ($6, warm danish pastry) with chocolate sauce on top.  It was piping hot and rich because it was made out of buttermilk.  Not the most graceful small bite to eat (yes, we had chocolate syrup all over our mouths), but a good hot quick bite on a cool day.     

Walking around with the crowds, we also spotted Vendy winner Wafels & Dinges, a few coffee spots, a number of German sausage kiosks, a delectable brownie chocolate bar, and this creperie stall which was making both sweet (nutella was on hand, of course!) and savory (sausages were grilling on a nearby pan) crepes.

The Union Square Holiday Market is located at Union Square Park (Broadway to 4th Avenue, East 14th Street to East 17th Street) and runs until Christmas Eve (Dec 24).

Though we found these charms recently at an artisan event, we thought our fellow foodies would appreciate these designs by Californian artist Jack Incherdchai of Chicztudio.  Some of his designs are available online or you can email him at jack@chicztudio.com.

And if you're looking for a liquid gift for a party host or hostess, taste-test the goods beforehand at these events:

All this weekend, Rattle n Hum is celebrating its 1st anniversary with over 20 craft beers (domestic $5, imported $7).  Rattle n Hum is located at 14 E 33rd St (btwn 5th Ave and Madison Ave).

On Sunday, City Winery is hosting an afternoon of New York wines (from more than 35 wineries), New York foods (like cheeses and ice cream) , and live jazz music.  Tickets are $45, which includes a souvenir tasting glass, and are available online.  City Winery is located at 155 Varick Street (between Spring and Vandam Streets).