Union Square Holiday Market

If there’s one alfresco shopping event worth braving the cold for, it’s this one. This European-style winter market boasts more than 150 local and national vendors hawking an impressive selection of handcrafted gifts, ranging from jewelry and accessories to leather goods and artwork. Go for the: Brew-your-own beer kits from the Brooklyn Brew Shop; handmade, monogrammed stuffed animals from Hazel Village; and wooden puzzles and board games from Kubiya Games. Stay for the: Food vendors like Veselka Pierogi Bar hailing in from Greenpoint, Arancini Bros, Sigmund's Pretzels. You could easily spend a whole day here. Open November 15 through December 24. Closed Thanksgiving Day and at 4 PM on Christmas Eve.