13 chances to be finished in one day

What is a shopping mall but a descendent of the great, teeming public marketplace, rendered plastic and joyless?

Happily, Western New York’s economy seems to be turning inward, emphasizing the things we can do for and provide one another rather than the ways we can send the fruits of our labor into the sucking vacuum of the global economy. With that emphasis, there has been a rebirth of bustling, social, local marketplaces, especially during the holiday season, where one can find the work of local artists and artisans. We’ve made note of a few…

Give Local a Chance Bash

Friday, November 25

515 Main Street

Okay, this isn’t really a marketplace—but it leads to local merchants and artisans. The local apostles of the buy local movement, Buffalo First!, are throwing a party this Friday, 7-11pm, at Main Street Studios, as the holiday consumption season gets underway. In addition to plugging the efforts its members are making to keep your shopping dollars local (so that, as you must know by now, they stick around and invigorate the local economy rather than vanishing down a tube leading out of town to god-knows-where), the party features a silent auction for the kinds of prizes you cannot hope to find anywhere else, including: a cooking lesson with chef Kate Elliott of merge; a tour of the city guided by Buffalo Rising’s Newell Nussbaumer; a drinking date with Flying Bison Brewery’s Tim Herzog at Ulrich’s Tavern; Spanish lessons at El Buen Amigo; and dinner at the Eights Bistro with Lexington Coop general manager Tim Bartlett. Irresistible. The event will be DJed by PROJEX and Queen City Cartel, and the entry fee is a mere $5.

Rust Belt Threads

Amanda Beaulieu

Queen City Market

Saturday, December 10

Karpeles Manuscript Museum, 453 Porter Avenue

The first ever Queen City Market is the ultimate one-stop shop for Buffalonians this holiday season. More than 50 diverse vendors will fill the space at Karpeles Manuscript Museum at 453 Porter Avenue on Saturday, December 10, 11am-6pm. Karpeles Museum, a City of Buffalo Historic Landmark, built in 1911, is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon searching for that one-of-a-kind vintage item for a loved one. Artists will be selling either handmade or vintage items that range from clothing to art, and even artisanal cheese. Some notable vendors include Rust Belt Threads, a locally based online Etsy store with everything from 1970s holiday party dresses to silver 1960s barware; photography from local photographers Jill Greenberg and Chelsea Kedron; jewelry from Heather Mordaunt, owner of hm2 Jewelry; retro stationary from Christa Penner, owner of CDesign Illustration; some rare used books from Jeanenne Petri of Westside Stories Used Books; Buffalo-made chocolates from Park Edge Sweet Shop; metal work from metalsmith Amanda Beaulieu, vintage home items from Compost This; and art from cultural collective Sugar City. Food will be available for purchase from Lagniappes French Quarter Café, Lloyd’s Taco Truck, and the Whole Hog Truck, as well as vegan cupcakes from Sugar City. This event is free and open to the public, and is full of the artists you know and love from Buffalo. Come out, shop local, and make your friends and family happy with items from this creative marketplace. For more info visit qcmbuffalo.com.

Victory Gardens Pop Up Shop

Friday, December 9-Sunday, December 11

1004 Elmwood Avenue

Victory Gardens is an online boutique that sells high-quality, reconditioned vintage clothing, accessories, and small household items. Created by Buffalo native Brett Mikoll, the online store features everything from men’s sweaters, women’s blouses, vintage tie bars, rings, jackets, and other cool, reasonably priced items. Guys, your girlfriend would love an emerald colored evening change purse, and girls will hit the nail on the head with a warm, Old Bull Lee Flannel Jacket. You can expect to see the entire online collection, as well as items from various local artists, when the Victory Gardens Pop Up Shop pops up as a physical store for one weekend only. Grab a one-of-a-kind gift at 1004 Elmwood Avenue, between Bird and Potomac, right next door to Ashker’s Café (formerly the Comfort Zone Café) December 9-11.

Serendipity Shoppe Holiday Discount Days

Through Saturday, December 31

875 Elmwood Avenue

In the basement of the Lafayette Presbyterian Church, the Serendipity Shoppe is a secondhand store with a virtuous purpose: Proceeds from the store benefit those living with HIV/AIDS in the eight counties of Western New York, through donations to organizations such as Benedict House and AIDS Network of WNY. Among the hodgepodge of collectibles and furnishings, you’re bound to find the perfect gift—a gift, in fact, that gives twice. Plus, through the end of the year, all items are marked down 20 percent. Not bad.

Niagara Holiday Market

Friday, November 25-Sunday, January 1

Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls

The Niagara Holiday Market is not your ordinary holiday market. Located on the edge of Niagara Falls, this is the largest European-style holiday market and festival in the country. Beginning on Black Friday, November 25, the market will run for 37 days, through New Year’s Day, and expects to draw thousands of customers. National retailers and local boutiques will both be present along three blocks of Old Falls Street, from 3rd Street to the main entry of the State Park. Unique artisans, crafts, gifts, clothing, and specialty food will be available from vendors like Tony Walker & Co, Oatka Glass, 464 Gallery, the Buffalo Sabres Store, Zillycakes, Downtown Chic, the Orange Owl, Chuck Alaimo Photography, 32 Degrees, Wild Things, and more than a dozen Etsy vendors. The gift ideas are just the start, though, because the Niagara Falls Conference Center will host a holiday concert series featuring acts like the Canadian Tenors, Christmas with Aaron Neville, the Holiday Sounds of Music with Elisabeth Von Trapp, and the BPO’s Family Concert, “A Visit With St. Nick.” On Monday, November 28, 5-6:30pm there will be a tree lighting spectacular featuring live music and figure-skating performances.

The Parkside Holiday Art & Craft Show

Saturday, November 26

96 Jewett Parkway

This market is for serious artists only. Participation is limited to original works of art and handcrafted items; no imports or commercially produced items on the tables at this event. That means you are guaranteed to walk away with a piece of art that someone once loved, and will hopefully love again. This show will feature photography, jewelry, scarves, pottery, soaps, lotions, candles, and many more unique gifts all created by local artisans. The fourth annual Parkside Holiday Art & Craft show happens Saturday, November 26, 10am-5pm, at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 96 Jewett Parkway. Shoppers will receive two coupons with their $2 admission good for $1 off a purchase of $10 or more as incentive for guests to spend their hard-earned holiday money at this local only market.

Kriskindlemart at the Broadway Market

Through Christmas

999 Broadway Street

For thousands of people, Easter necessitates a trip to the Broadway Market to get all the fixings for the holiday table, including a butter lamb. But the Christmas holiday season is becoming another time of year to visit the East Side market that’s been serving Buffalonians since 1888.

The fifth annual Kriskindlemart kicked off on Saturday (11/19) and will run through Christmas—with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, when the market will be closed. What is a “Kriskindlemart,” you ask? It’s the market’s annual food and craft festival, and it’s gaining momentum as a Black Friday shopping destination among consumers who’ve grown tired of trekking out to overcrowded suburban malls. Local jams and jellies, handcrafted virgin olive oils, area wines, organic coffees, and veggie burgers as well as seasonal crafts are available from local vendors. There’s also some great live music and opportunities for kids to meet Santa. That’s in addition to all the Broadway Market staples like traditional meats, poultry, fish, baked goods, produce, and horseradish you can pick up there year-round.

If you’re a local vendor, there’s still time to reserve space during Kriskindlemart to sell your wares this holiday season. The more, the merrier. Call 893-0705 or visit broadwaymarket.org to find out more.

Clutter: A Buffalo DIY Market Round 2

Saturday, December 3

19 Wadsworth St.

Clutter, Buffalo’s Indie Flea Market that debuted in October, is returning to Sugar City for the second time on Saturday, December 3, noon-8pm, to provide holiday gift options for the craft-loving and community-minded. The curated market was modeled after Brooklyn Flea, which runs several of the largest flea markets on the East Coast. Clutter’s vendors cultivate an Allentown vibe by promote locally made, handcrafted, and vintage gift items. Visitors can peruse vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories, vinyl, tapes, posters, buttons, patches, jewelry, hand-knit scarves and hats, home textiles, holiday cards, prints, stationery, zines, books, and more. Local vendors include Etsy shops Louder Space, Owl La Mode, and Super Giant, vintage sellers Vanron’s Vintage and Leigh Viande Vintage, record distributors Warm Bath Label, Feral Kid Records, Spiral Scratch Records, and more. Hot cider and kettle corn will be served. As an alternative community arts and cultural events venue, Sugar City is a fitting venue for a market that promotes a do-it-yourself aesthetic, just as Sugar City encourages a participatory culture and do-it-together attitude.

The Western New York Artists Group

Through Saturday, December 31

1 Linwood Avenue

The 17th annual Artful Gifts: The Fine Art of Giving show has been running at Art Dialogue Gallery since November 18, featuring hundreds of pieces by local artists.

The gallery is also the venue for an event hosted by the Western New York Artists Group on Friday, December 2, 7:30-9pm. Live music will be provided by Lewis and Klark Guitar Duo, playing selections from their forthcoming eponymous CD. Refreshments will be served.

Proceeds from the holiday art sale benefit the participating artists and the Western New York Artists Group. The gallery is open 11am-5pm, Tuesday-Friday, and 11am-3pm, Saturday.

Patti Harris

Mundo Images Gallery Holiday Open Studios and Galleries

Friday, December 2 - Sunday, December 4

500 Franklin Street

Next Friday, 5pm-9pm, and again next Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 6pm, Mundo Images Gallery will host four artists working in a variety of media. The work of two members of the Buffalo Society of Artists, Patti Harris and Anita Easter, will be on view. Harris specializes in mixed-media collage, Easter in painting and photography. Akron artist Thomas Sundberg will show his contemporary landscapes in pastel, pen and ink. Cast and fused glass gifts will be on display courtesy of Catherine O’Connor of Art Effects Glass. O’Connor is known for her decorative tiles, sinks and vessels. Mundo Images owner Ann Peterson’s popular eco-friendly greeting cards will be available, along with photos she’s taken from around the world. Peterson is also offering boxed sets featuring photographs of Buffalo.

Friday’s event is an Allentown First Friday event. Visit mundoimages.com or call 598-8850 for more information.

West Side Bazaar and ZGM Fine Arts Global Market

Through Friday, Dember 30

242 Grant Street and 1045 Elmwood Avenue

West Side Bazaar offers art from places like Indonesia, India, Nepal, Thailand, Peru, Rwanda, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Tunisia, Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Located at 242 Grant Street between Sweetness 7 and Guercio’s, the eclectic shop is part of the renaissance in that rebounding neighborhood. But they’re still about 10 blocks west of the trendier Elmwood Village where holiday shoppers abound.

Thanks to a collaboration with ZGM Fine Arts, located at 1045 Elmwood Avenue, selected pieces from the Grant Street shop will be available at the gallery which is housed in a 100-year-old building that was formerly a synagogue. While window-shopping along Elmwood this season, be sure to stop in to check out the exotic global art along with the work of Michael Morin, Wayne Geist, and Don Zinteck, currently on display at the gallery. Open Thursdays and Fridays 5-10pm; Saturdays 10-5pm.

As a bonus, drop by on Saturday, December 3 at 7pm for a performance by reggae favorites Neville Francis and the Riddim Posse. The collaboration continues through December 30.

Lewiston Holiday Jewelry Show

Saturday, December 3 - Sunday, December 4

100 Center Street, Lewiston

The seventh annual Lewiston Tour of Homes, which is a showcase of Lewiston’s most impressive homes that have been dressed for the season by Western New York’s most creative professionals, is an elegant addition to any holiday vacation. The selected homes are Barton Hill, Widow Dougherty’s Cottage, the Alderman House, White Christmas on the River, and Holiday Hideaway. This year the tour’s theme is “Christmas Through the Years” and features a Holiday Jewelry Show to enhance the holiday mood. On Saturday and Sunday, December 3-4, 10am-5pm, the Holiday Jewelry Show comes to the Fairbanks Room off of the main lobby in the Barton Hill Hotel. There will be an array of jewelry vendors offering a variety of styles including vintage, modern, and traditional. The jewelry show offers sparkling additions to your gift list or even to your wish list. Also part of the tour is a special dessert tasting, 11am-5pm. Sample holiday pastries from two of Lewiston’s award-winning bakeries, the Village Bake Shoppe and DiCamillo Bakery, served with signature poinsettia cocktails compliments of Supermarket Liquors and Wines and Wegmans. Tickets, which include access to the tour, jewelry show, pastry tasting, and more holiday fun are $25 and can be purchased at LewistonHomeTour.com or by calling 754-4214.

Last Minute Panic at Western New York Book Arts Center

Friday, December 16 - Saturday, December 17

468 Washington Street

The annual Last Minute Panic sale at Western New York Book Arts Center has become so popular that its success belies its name: There is no longer any need to panic if, the weekend before Christmas, you have yet to begin gift-shopping. A trip to WNYBAC will settle you. In addition to the fantastic and unique printwork and artisanal books and paper products that are always available at the center, a host of local artists and craftspeople will vend their wares for two days only (4-8pm on Friday and noon-6pm on Saturday). This is the fourth year for Last Minute Panic; if it’s your first visit to WNYBAC, we’re betting the vibe and the location, right beside the annual ball drop, will draw you back on New Year’s Eve for their annual fundraising gala.