Christmas in NYC: Holiday Markets

On Friday, I stumbled upon my first Holiday market just outside the Bowling Green stop, in front of the US Customs House. A "mini" version of the markets you'll find at Bryant Park, Union Square or Columbus Circle, its highlights are an Italian sausage stand and Breezy Hill Orchard's apple cider and gingerbread stand, but as you know, I'm obsessed with food. Also lots of scarf and hat and jewelry vendors. So yummy - perfectly chewy, just the way I like it. They have gingerbread women too.

On Saturday, after our trip to the Museum of Arts and Design and before lunch at Nougatine, we strolled through the Columbus Circle market. This is a much larger market and is open everyday through Christmas Eve. Stopped at Breezy Hill Orchard's booth...again...but this time the gingerbread was harder than the day before. I prefer it chewy. Oh well. This woman sold German delicacies, hot apple cider and Gluhwein...oh and a German Advent Calendar. This market's got your requisite scarf and hat vendors (though I passed on a purchase, as the quality of the product seemed more suited for tourists who need to keep warm for a week than a native who needs cold protection for a whole season). Also craft vendors, like Vernakular, who sold journals with great NYC-centric photo covers (at $25 a bit pricey) You can buy jewelry, candles, toys, baby clothes, pocket hand warmers, games, and other knicknacks.

Even if you don't buy anything, just walking through the market and seeing the people and sights is a good time.