2012 Union Square Holiday Market

19 Dec 2011, Posted by Hal in events, 0 Comments

I expected the holiday market in Union Square, a few blocks South of the CO-OP office, to be a tourist-trap selling kitschy crap. My jaded cynicism was misdirected – the refreshingly interesting pop-up shops may, dare-I-say, interest actual New-Yorkers.

The annual market, in its 16th year, will occupy South Union Square until Christmas Eve. The vendors include fashion designers, toy and novelty-object makers, photographers and fine artists, food purveyors, and booths promoting human rights issues.

There is a decidedly International atmosphere as you journey down the concentric circles of the market: Indian spices of a thousand colors; eerie Mayan Christmas ornaments, Tibetan crafts and woodworks; fragrant Belgian waffles; etc.

The usual suspects of Union square (caricaturist, chess-players) were still there coaxing the Christmas crowd to “have a seat” and lose money. A loud woman promoted her online TV show about legalizing marijuana. Some skateboarders braved the cold. They seemed to peacefully coexist with the trendy new neighbors that the holidays have brought in.