With so much of the holiday pop-up action positioned near Algin’s no-fee apartment rentals in NYC, you can find fun, cheer, and all the best gifts with ease. Follow us on a brief tour of some of our favorite shopping destinations this season. The Columbus Circle Holiday Market is one of the most beautiful places for holiday shopping. The Grand Central Holiday Fair features exciting up-and-coming vendors from all the boroughs of New York City. And the Union Square Holiday Market offers a wide range of handmade gifts in an alfresco setting, full of warm cider and holiday energy!

Columbus Circle Holiday Market

Internationally known, the Columbus Circle Holiday Market encompasses the full beauty and splendor of the holiday season. Situated at 59^th Street and Central Park West, the market is set against the natural majesty of Central Park: a fitting frame for possibly the most elegant market of its kind in the entire city. Get lost in stall after stall along aisle after aisle of jewelry, unique art, scrumptious local food, and home goods of all types. The market runs from December 4^th through the 24^th and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm and on Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm. Stop by, and you’ll quickly realize that, in its 15^th year, it’s still getting better and better.

Grand Central Holiday Fair

Equally impressive in its presentation, though set in an utterly different environment, is the Grand Central Holiday Fair. One of the longest-running indoor holiday fairs in NYC, it spans more than half of the historic Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central. For six weeks, fair-goers can snag unique clothing, toys, artwork, and much more from 40-plus vendors selling merchandise of all types and at all price points. However, what they all have in common is that there’s a focus on delivering American-made and handcrafted items. You’ll also find that many of the materials are locally sourced and that many of the businesses maintain a socially conscious model in their practices—the Holiday Fair Committee devotes the year to finding just this type of vendor. The fair runs from November 18^th through December 24^th, Monday through Friday from 10 am to 8 pm, Saturdays from 10 am to 7 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm. Shop for a friend or a family member, but don’t be surprised if you take home more than one special gift for yourself this holiday season. 

Union Square Holiday Market

Host to festivals and markets throughout the year, it’s no surprise that Union Square is the location for a Holiday Market by Urbanspace that is renowned as “a must-visit destination for unique gifts created by local craftsmen and artists.” Millions of people will sojourn to the park not only for this market’s eclectic mix of goods for purchase but also for the range of experiences and activities. Come out for Little Brooklyn and Urbanspace Provisions. Visit the Warming Station and Lounge to regroup or take the little ones to the Kid’s Arts Studio. Add to that their live music, and you’ve quite possibly found the most innovative holiday market in the entire region. The market launches on November 21^st and runs through December 24^th. Swing by Monday through Friday from 11 am to 8 pm, Saturdays from 10 am to 8 pm, and Sundays from 11 am to 7 pm. If you think you’ve seen it all in the city, think again. This market is one-of-a-kind.

Holiday shopping can be exciting again—especially when it’s a bit off the beaten path and full of community spirit but still close to home. Convenient to Algin’s no-fee apartments in Manhattan, these three holiday market favorites also have convenient hours that let you drop by on the weekends or even after work to browse and explore at your leisure. Come by and celebrate the holidays anew.