Alt Brooklyn Holiday Markets For That Special Weirdo In Your Life Who Doesn’t Have a Thing
We already brought you a list of the best Brooklyn markets to hit for your holiday shopping back in November, but remember—the holidays are all about spending LOADS of cash. We trust that you’ve already hit every single on of those markets and already blown wads of Benjamins. But seriously, cough it up bub. This is the most wonderful time of the year we’re talking about here, and the only way to do your part is to buy more PRESENTS.
If you’re struggling to find gifts for some of the stragglers on your list—maybe they’re very particular kinds of people—check out our picks for the most unique markets we could dig up.
Can Factory Publishers’ Holiday Party & Book Sale
Do you know someone who still reads books, like actual paper books? Ha. Well, we’ve got the place where you can find something great for that particular weirdo in your life. A bunch of small presses based in Brooklyn and beyond will be represented at this event, including Archipelago Books, Akashic, and Ugly Duckling Presse. Word on the street is they’re selling “discounted” books. Also editors, authors, and publisher will be on deck if you feel like chumming it up while you knock back free wine and beer. Sounds like a rager to us.
Thursday December 18th at 6 pm, Old American Can Factory, 232 3rd Street, Gowanus
Vegan Shop-Up: Holiday Edition
Vegans—they’re such a pain in everyone’s ass, well, save for animals and honey bees. But for real, shopping for this rare breed of gentle human can be difficult. Did you buy a handbag made of freaking leather? No, of course not. You’re not stupid. But are you sure that pleather purse is made of all cruelty-free materials? Are you sure that bag’s resistance to bruising and buffing wasn’t tested out on pack of newborn lambs? We didn’t think so. Return that sadness spreading sack to the Forever 21 whence it came and get thee to the Vegan Shop-Up. Here you’ll not only find guaranteed vegan purses and shoes and other handcrafted goods, but all sorts of vegan treats (raw chocolate, macarons, fudge, caramels, and more).
Saturday December 20th, 12 pm to 6 pm at Pine Box Rock Shop, 12 Grattan Street, Bushwick
Bushwick Vendors Market
If gifts made in Brooklyn ain’t local enough for you, go wild and shop hyper-local at the Bushwick Vendors Market where neighborhood locals hawk everything from handmade goods to Snoop Dogg vaporizers that may or may not be made in China. Who knows? All you gotta do is ask though, we assure you. And don’t worry if you’ve spent the past few weeks shopping for yourself—because, like, you gotta look out for number one—this market is happening way late in the game.
Sunday December 21st, 11 am to 5:30 pm at Palisades 906 Broadway, Bushwick
The Not For Sale Holiday Party
After all this talk about throwing cash around to show how much you love your friends and family, why not attend a celebration where you can give and receive without money changing hands? If you can make something (baked goods, crafts, sand art, whatever), have items to spare (stale pasta, melted crayons, and dead orchid stumps need not apply), or can provide a service (you can cut and dye hair? Cool! Industry City suggests you set up a chair), then you’re welcome to attend this holiday-themed swap. And hey, if you’re like me and sort of hate the whole holiday routine, something like this might even sort of renew your faith in humanity. Industry City Distillery has teamed up with Holes in the Wall Collective to bring you an event with live music, puppet installations, and oh yeah, free drinks. Feel good about taking advantage of free stuff for once.
Friday December 19th, 8 pm to 11 pm at Industry City Distillery, 33 35th Street, Sunset Park
(Photo: Dripper World Instagram)
“The Alley”
Punks are the hardest people to shop for and though they may say they don’t want any worthless garbage from you, deep down they might feel a little left out if you respect their anti-capitalist wishes and eschew gift buying for them. This year, don’t screw up. Go to the good people at The Alley, a mini-mall of shipping-containers-turned-tiny-shops under the J train, and they’ll steer you in the right direction. There’s the Street Fever junk shop which has mad buttons, mystery tapes, vintage threads, and cool tchotchkes. Just don’t expect anything Betty Boop themed to be priced under $200. The owner rather likes Betty Boop, so don’t touch that stuff, ‘k? There’s also Dripper World, a shop that carries punk and hardcore LPs and tapes from Brooklyn and beyond, as well as some pretty sick screen printed shirts and perhaps the borough’s coolest selection of scarves. Hit up Better Read Than Dead for used books and Rebel Rouser for used 7 inches, LPs, tapes, and punk ephemera.
Every day, noonish to nighttime at 871 Broadway, Bushwick
