14 Hip Holiday Markets and Indie Pop-Up Shops in NYC

December 5, 2014

As December dawns, the holiday gift markets roll in, and it’s harder than ever to turn around in NYC without encountering a pop-up shop or makeshift mall offering everything anyone could ever want–whether they know it yet or not–for the body, mind, soul and home. We’ve assembled a list of smaller, cooler pop-ups and holiday markets that mix music, food and fun freebies like haircuts, goodie bags and beer with this year’s selection of clever, crafty gifts.

holiday gift market, pop-up shop, holiday, xmas, shopping, Flea, Brooklyn Flea, 1000 Dean, Berg'n, Smorgasburg Winter Flea + Holiday Market at 1000 Dean.

If you haven’t already had the chance to become a fan of the new, bigger, better Brooklyn Flea in its new home at Brownstoner founder Jonathan Butler’s 1000 Dean (and the permanent Beer Hall/Smorgasburg next door at Berg’n), the Winter Flea + Holiday Market at 1000 Dean is another excuse to stop, shop and people-watch. The weekend flea morphs seamlessly into a holiday shopping spree filled with new and vintage fashions, jewelry, furniture, accessories and, of course, your favorite edibles all from local purveyors and creators.

holiday gift market, pop-up shop, holiday, xmas, shopping, night market, greenpointBrooklyn Night Bazaar. 

Fridays and Saturdays 7PM-1AM may not be the times you’d associate with shopping, but the Brooklyn Night Bazaar begs to differ. In addition to live music, DJs, food, art, mini golf and table tennis, the Greenpoint night market is a great place to find cool gifts like jewelry, watches, fashions and home goods while feeling like you’re at a party.

Also in Greenpoint, the Greenpointers Holiday Market will take over the 6,000 square-foot Greenpoint Loft on December 7th with the usual crafty unusuals plus plenty of beer, food and free nail art.

A little further afield, Shwick Market of Makers brings the holidays to Bushwick seven days a week. The market kicked off December 1.

holiday gift market, pop-up shop, holiday, xmas, shopping, bust, craftacularBUST Holiday Craftacular.

The queen of all craft fairs, the BUST Holiday Craftacular comes ‘round again with top local artisans offering hats, apparel, jewelry, toys, and more that you won’t find at the mall, plus food and beer. Though it’s sponsored by the cheeky grrlmag, there’s plenty of stuff for guys, too. The Craftacular happens on December 6th and 7th at the Brooklyn Expo Center.

Similarly, the Etsy Holiday Handmade Cavalcade is the place to go for cute and creative gifts of the sort that get everyone asking, “Where did you get that?” The Cavalcade hits Chelsea Market December 13-14.

holiday gift market, pop-up shop, holiday, xmas, shopping, degenerate craft fair, art market, craft marketDegenerate Craft Fair.

The Degenerate Craft Fair, happening on the weekend of December 6-7 at 87 Lafayette Street in Tribeca bills itself as the “anti-art fair,” showcasing artists and designers selling affordable versions of their work (most of the items offered will cost less than $50). There’s also music and free beer, and the first 50 guests get a goodie bag.

On December 13th and 14th, the Refinery29 Tinseltown Bazaar sees the popular style blog and uber-design publishers Sight Unseen in a partnership at Openhouse in Nolita. You can expect “the raddest finds” by curated vendors in fashion, beauty, and home. Look out for: Fancy Feast’s giveaways of select cat (and cat-lover) gifts, a European Wax Center brow bar and a Fekkai hair-styling and scenting bar. And food, of course.

holiday gift market, pop-up shop, holiday, xmas, shopping, wired, gadgets, technologyGramovox bluetooth gramophone; Chill personal beverage dispenser. You’ll find more like this at the Wired Store.

The by-now-classic Wired Store is well-known as the season’s ground zero for all things techno-fabulous. At the 10th annual holiday event, this year’s “best designs for amplifying your life” can be fondled at 459 West 14th Street from December 11-21.

For more amplifying, premium German audio brand Sennheiser brings a “sonic cocoon” to 11 Kenmare Street through December 28 for a chance to test out (and, of course, buy) their best headphones and other products. There will also be in-store events like musician visits; follow their Twitter for more info.

holiday gift market, pop-up shop, holiday, xmas, shopping, TictailTictail Holiday Pop-Up offers cool internationally-sourced goodies like the brilliant baby booties at right.

Lovers of Scandinavian design will be happy to find out about the Tictail Holiday Pop-Up that takes place at 90 Orchard Street through December 20. The Stockholm-based enterprise has curated an international collection of apparel, jewelry, bags and more, all in a minimalist cutting-edge Scandi style that should make this little shop a popular stop this season.

For unstoppable shoppers and fashionistas, Capsule Market Square will offer a curated selection of 100 coveted labels spanning men’s and women’s ap­parel, accessories, home goods, art and furniture un­der one roof on December 6th and 7th at 548 West 22nd Street.

Fort Greene favorite Greene Grape is hosting a pop-up shop through December 31 at 680 Fulton featuring housewares, bric-a-brac, fun finds, a vintage collection of salt and pepper shakers, lamps made from old-timey microscopes and scientific paraphernalia, handmade jewelry and more just a few doors down from their chill new Annex cafe and the classic Greene Grape wine and food markets.

holiday gift market, pop-up shop, holiday, xmas, shopping, velcroVelcro Holiday Hackshop.

Wrap it all up

The Velcro Holiday Hackshop at 199 Lafayette Street is a pop-up promotional effort by the sticky-stuff purveyor (yes, that Velcro) to introduce shoppers to all the many uses of Velcro, some of them more exciting than others. In addition to photos with Santa, a hot chocolate bar and more, they’re offering a free gift-wrapping station through December 19, so make it your last stop before stocking-stuffing and you’ll be able to cross one more thing off your list!

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