If you’re looking for a unique holiday market with high quality vendors, check out the Union Square Holiday Market which runs through December 24th, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. More than 100 booths have a variety of items, from gourmet foods to soaps, from hats to dog clothing, from toys to jewelry. My daughter and I spent a leisurely 2+ hours strolling from shop to shop, buying a few gifts and nibbles. Here’s what we saw:
The Union Square Holiday Market. Yes, it’s crowded. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012Copa Soaps smell so good and are a good deal at $5/each. Nice gift box assortments too. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012This poetry booth makes a number of hanging poems in different colors – all with an eraser board on top to personalize them. They run $30 for small, and $60 for large. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012Day of the Dead pillows at a colorful textile store. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012This French chocolate store had tasty samples (no chewing allowed!) and delicious $4 hot chocolate (for $1 more, you get a truffle at the bottom). Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012More textiles. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012
Several puppet stores with different kinds of puppets – many handmade. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012Mini cannoli – yummy! These are $2/each or 3 for $5. We brought some home to share. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012Next to the cannoli stand is the crepe stand. Here’s our gorgonzola, pear and walnut crepe (with honey and balsamic vinegar) before it was folded. The downside was the long wait – only one person making crepes. Probably waited 25 minutes for it. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012These adorable Hazel Village animals can be dressed with cute outfits (seen here). Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012Tons of spices and teas. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012These “Wannabe Dragon Monsters” are adorable, and hand-made. They become dragon monsters when you make a wish. You clip the felt on the back in one spot to make the wish come true. When it comes true, you clip another. Soon enough you’ll have a spiky monster. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012These beautiful flavored dipped pretzels are from Fatty Sunday & Co. Flavors like toasted coconut, banana cream, mocha ‘spresso, PB&J, and classics with sprinkles. Bags were $7 for 5 pretzels. Very colorful! Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012I loved these sayings, printed on canvas bags. Most were more of an adult theme, but all were witty. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012The Turkish store had a lot of colorful items, like these glass lanterns. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012Another puppet store! Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012Several stores sold soaps, but none as colorful as these, sold by the shop with the Dead Sea products. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012One more from the Turkish store. I’m a sucker for beautifully painted dishes and their bowls were gorgeous. Copyright Deborah Abrams Kaplan 2012
