Last week, over on the Trip Advisor Boston forum, a visitor asked about Christmas Markets. It made me think about the special Holiday Markets and events like CraftBoston that I could recommend to anyone thinking about a special shopping experience that will result in presenting unique, handcrafted, or at least carefully selected gifts for the holidays, or to stockpile for the rest of the year.
Here are some of the events and places I recommend to avoid chains, keep the money local, and support hard working artists and artisans.
The Downtown Crossing Holiday Market (next to Macy's) begins November 24th and operates daily.
The Museum School of the Museum of Fine Arts will hold their Annual Art Sale of student, alumni, and faculty work from November 29th to December 2nd. (The photo above of one of the pieces on offer is courtesy of the Museum School. )
The Somerville Holiday Market on December 2nd at the Armory, 191 Highland Avenue, Somerville MA.
The Society of Arts and Crafts' Craftboston Holiday Show is December 7, 8, 9 at the Cyclorama on Tremont street.
SOWA Holiday Market Saturday & Sunday, December 8 & 9, 2012. This is always a fun event and if you've attended in the past, you should note that they have a new location. This year's market will be held at the Ben Franklin Institute, 41 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA.
Bazaar Bizarre Boston, Sunday December 16th, is in its 12th year. You'll find this collection of mostly New Engalnd artists and craftspeople at the Boston Center for the Arts Cyclorama building on Tremont Street.
Holly Fair 2012 at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, December 15th & 16th, was added to the trip advisor list by ChristineP, and she has a reputation for knowing how to enjoy Boston. It's at 42 Brattle Street in Cambridge.
Places to Shop for the Holidays or Anytime!
Stop into the Society of Arts and Crafts shop on Newbury Street to find very fine handmade gifts.
If you are in the North End, stop by the North Bennet Street School Gallery for carefully crafted gifts from this school's skilled students and alumni. This neighborhood also has a nice collection of small shops and is a wonderful place to buy food gifts.
And, Beacon Hill, and Charles Street in particular, still has a wonderful collection of neighborhood shops where you can buy hand selected items in a warm, friendly place. The community has done a great job of protecting their neighborhood from chains so it's worth a visit.
Any more places or events you love to shop? Add them in the comments below or send us an email and we'll check it out for a possible update to this list.
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Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2008-2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino plus contributions from the SOWA Holiday Market site and the Museum School of the Museum of Fine Arts.
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