My first time in Manhattan before Christmas and would appreciate any information on the Christmas Markets. I've read that there is one in Bryant Park and one at Grand Central. How can I find out more information ,( especially days and times,) of these
Markets. Thanks.

There are several markets in the city over the holidays and they are open NOW through Dec 24th.

Bryanat Park - 42ns and 6th
Grand Central Station - 42nd and Park
St. Barth's - Park Ave around 50th, I think
Columbus Circle - 59th and Central Park West
Union Square - 14th and Park Ave South

The are open from around 10 or 11 to 6-9pm and probably a bit later closer to the holiday. kTimes will vary by fair.

Hope this helps, and have a GREAT holiday.

By typing Christmas Markets in NYC in a search engine you'll find websites like this http://www.girlsgetaway.com/2010/11/...new-york-city/

I think the Christmas Market in Grand Central is a little more upscale and features more unique artists. Plus it has the added advantage of being indoors.

Of the other markets, I like the one at Union Square the best. For some reason, the other ones just don't do it for me though they have many of the same booths at all the markets.

I can speak from experience about 3 of the choices:

The market at Union Square is outdoors and has many, many tented booths placed in rows one next to the other. At certain times, it can be a quite a crush of people in some of the narrower alleys between booths. I think this market has the most different types of booths in more price ranges.

The Grand Central Station market is indoors in the beautiful former waiting room of this magnificent terminus. Limited space so fewer booths, a bit more upscale since it costs more to have a booth at this prime location. The station itself is well worth a visit.

Bryant Park market is a lovely classic-style park, with glassed-in booths spread out on its lovely pathways. The booths surround a temporary ice skating rink erected just for the holiday season. There's a rink-side bar and other refreshment options.

I was at the Union Square market this past Friday at 4-5 pm. It was crowded enough that I thought there is no way I'd go there on a weekend- the walking aisles are narrow. But it was great. I enjoyed the crepe stand where they offered savory crepes and sweet crepes (the Nutella and Banana one was awesome). There were other food booths (specialty canolis, pretzels, hot cider and mulled wine, etc) and lots of varied high quality handmade jewelery, clothing, toys, all kinds of unusual items too. Prices reasonable for the quality. If you really needed to do gift shopping you could spend several hrs there and get a lot of shopping done.

Agree emd3! I've been to Bryant Park a number of times so
had to see Union Square. Did not realize how many wonderful
food stalls there were, even those w/glass bottled milk.

While the Christmas shops had more varied merchandise &
very cute at that, the paths were too narrow w/the crowd
onslaught.

OP, thanks for posting the question....I didn't realize that there WERE Christmas Markets in the city, but will definitely visit at least one during my trip in early December. Can anyone tell me which would be the closest if I was coming from NJ Penn Station and eating at Lombardi's? I'm thinking it would be the Bryant Park one, but am not sure.

Closest to Penn Station = Bryant Park (about half a mile walk, though in the opposite direction from Lombardi's, if you mean the pizzeria on Spring St)

Closest to Lombardi's = Union Square (though not really that close, at least a mile apart)

You'll probably want to use a subway to make the connection between these locations

OH I just realized you are coming from NEWARK Penn Station! (There is no "NJ Penn Station"--just Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station.) Plus I saw your other question about reaching Lombardi's

Therefore, I suggest to include the two locations, take the PATH train from Newark Penn Station headed to 33rd St/Manhattan and get off at 14th St/6th Ave. Walk east along 14th St from 6th Ave to Union Square, 5-8 minutes walk.

After visiting the Christmas market, take the subway from Union Square--take the 6 train downtown to Spring St. Walk east a few blocks on Spring St to Lombardi's.

The tripbetween Newark Penn Station and Lombardi's is not very direct. I'd probably take the 6 train to Brooklyn Bridge and then walk a few blocks across town to the World Trade Center station of the PATH train to catch a train back to Newark.

Reverse the process if you plan to go to Lombardi's first.

The N and R trains from Prince St near Lombardi's to Cortlandt St at the World Trade Center would also be a good idea, but service is just being restored to this station next week for the first time since 2001 and I'm not positive that it is restored in both directions. The 6 train would be more of a sure thing.

At the best of times, expect the trip from Newark to Lombardi's to take about an hour.

ellenem, the N/R has been restored at Cortlandt Street *uptown* for about a year now. Downtown will be shuttered for quite a while - it currently looks like a storage bin for whatever they're doing farther into the pit.

At any rate, it's feasible to take the PATH *from* NJ to WTC, then walk east to the N/R at Cortlandt Street, go 3 stops to Spring Street (Lombardi's) *or* 5 stops to 14th Street/Union Square (Christmas Market). If you have lunch then shop, you can take the downtown 4 or 5 express train to Fulton Street, which will put you pretty close to the WTC PATH station...

I have friends selling art and photographs at the Bryant Park market, so please take a look.

Oh and FWIW, Union Square is host year-round to the largest of the NYC Greenmarkets: http://www.grownyc.org/unionsquaregreenmarket. The Christmas Market is additional and of course seasonal. Sounds like Rhea58 happened to be in Union Square on one of the farmers market days!

This is a listing of the major NYC Christmas Markets and their dates for 2010:
http://gonyc.about.com/od/christmass...ay_markets.htm

There are also a ton of holiday craft fairs at this time of year. One I know of is the Annual Handmade Holiday Cavalcade in SoHo, hosted by a crafts group called The New New:
http://thenewnew.blogspot.com/p/local-nyc-events.html

The very hip Brooklyn Flea holds an annual Gifted market in their indoor location near the Atlantic Avenue Terminal (very easy and not too far to get to from Manhattan!):
http://www.brooklynflea.com/gifted/

Thanks so much all (and the clarification of Newark vice NJ :^) - I'm obviously a tourist!). The plan is to go to Lombardi's Pizza first and then to the closest Christmas market and then back to Newark.

We arrive on a Friday afternoon and plan on spending all day Saturday touring (WTC, Statue of Liberty, Tenement Museum, Katz Deli, etc.) before heading back to the Prudential Center for the Andrea Boccelli concert.

suzski, I'm going to add more about your day on your other thread here http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-lombardis.cfm (since what I'll say isn't about Christmas Markets)...

I already added my say on the other thread but if you are in the neighborhood - of Lombardi's check out MOCCA and the TOAST exhibits.

http://thestarryeye.typepad.com/expl...rtoon-art.html