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Welcome to Drunk Shopping, our feature celebrating the time-honored tradition of getting totally wasted while the sun's still shining before buying a bunch of debatably useful stuff that the sober you would be too timid or too restrained to take home. Each Friday we'll cobble together a new itinerary starting you off with a boozy Saturday or Sunday brunch before meandering through a few neighboring retailers and happy hours notable for seasonal specials, limited time availability, fantastic deals, recent openings, or new shipments.
It's practically the end of December. No one has time for anything fun because we all have too many allegedly fun commitments: Putting up decorations, holiday get-togethers with colleagues you'd never get together with otherwise and/or relatives absolutely no one likes, and, worst of all, shopping for other people. So this week Drunk Shopping is simplified for the short-on-time. Our friends at the Hester Street Fair are reassembling in Nolita with an indoor holiday flea complete with real food (not just green tea popsicles and kimchee-drenched hot dogs) and—much more importantly—a bar. So just saunter on in—it's called the Big Social Holiday Market and it's happening at the Open House Gallery.
The market actually opens today and stays open through the 23rd, 11am to 8pm. We suggest an early stop on Saturday or Sunday. Start at the Pies 'n' Thighs booth for their outrageous chicken-biscuit sandwich; other options include rolls by Luke's Lobster or the Skim Kim table for freshly baked kimchee-laced potpies. As for cocktails, Santos Party House and Beast will be on scene with holiday-spirit-in-a-cup: Mulled wine, hot toddies and spiked hot chocolate.
If you can tear yourself away from the food vendors you'll find the Hester's usual selection of locally-produced objets and jewelry, vintage and retro clothing as well as previously-loved designer apparel, coffee and baked goods to go, and unique eyewear. Basically, it's a broad and easy selection of last-minute giftables.
Round out your morning (let's be real—afternoon) with Macaron Parlour macarons or some crazy-assed Robicelli's cupcakes (flavors include Irish coffee, eggnog, chocolate candy cane and hot buttered rum). Really, it's fine—you can never eat again starting January 2nd.
Then hit the street to really round out your afternoon—Spring Lounge awaits and you have more spirit to drink. A true drinker's bar, they open at 8am (noon on Sundays) and offer about a million beers with a handful of selections starting at $4.
Enjoy! And please do share your Drunk Shopping tips, tales, and war stories in the comments!
· The Big Social Holiday Market [Hester Street Fair]
· Drunk Shopping archives [Racked NY]
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