Every year around the holiday season (typically the middle of November), New York City opens outdoor holiday markets, the most famous of which are found at Union Square, 42nd Street Bryant Park, and Columbus Circle. Urbanspace hosts these markets and creates a space for entrepreneurship to flourish and for a diverse spread of communities to gather.

The largest of the three markets is in the Union Square location. It holds more than 150 vendors, touting a wide variety of booths–books, home and decor, food and drink, and much more. The shops are open seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The subway is an easy method of transport to Union Square, which is notably a central location for restaurants and other retail shops. You can even bring a dog along to play in the Union Square dog run. 

The Bryant Park market takes place at an ice-skating rink. It accommodates 100 different vendors, including food, jewelry, and other small business shops. Their vendor “S’Mores N’More” gained popularity for their famous hot chocolate. They top their hot chocolate with different flavored jumbo s’mores. It’s the perfect beverage to sip on in the cold winter weather. While the market provides a wide selection of shops and holiday spirit, this location is susceptible to large crowds. It is near impossible to meander and browse at a comfortable pace without people in the way. Additionally, lines for food vendors are lengthy. Although the crowds add to the holiday atmosphere, the Bryant Park location is not ideal for leisurely shopping. 

The Columbus Circle market is located conveniently near the Heschel School. Many students pass the market every day on their way to or from the subway. While, by area, smaller than the others, this location competes in holiday spirit. The Columbus Circle market also tends to be less crowded and more enjoyable to walk around. 

With the holiday season in the air, be sure to check out any of these holiday markets for some quality present-shopping.