Did you know that just a short, leisurely walk from the One Manhattan Square condos, you can find the Lower East Side’s (scrap that — New York City’s) finest weekly street market? The moment it opened in 2010, it was clear that Hester Street Fair was different from other markets. An explosion of mouthwatering street food, finger-on-the-pulse artists, and eclectic vendors, the fair has been described by the New York Times as a “hyperlocal block party.” As summer draws to a close in NYC, there is still time to revel in the many pleasures of this amazing market before it closes up shop till next year.
What You’ve Been Missing Out On
If you haven’t been to Hester Street this summer, you’ve already missed out on some seriously good times: iced coffee competitions, “Girl Power” fairs, lobster and beer festivals, a celebration of all things CBD, homemade crafts and jewelry — plus, a glut of delicious food from local vendors, such as Macaron Parlour, Melt Bakery, and Petee’s Pie Company. But don’t feel too bad about that…
…It’s Not Over Yet!
Here’s the good news. Hester Street Fair doesn’t wrap up until October. Still on the docket is a vegan food festival (Sept. 21) led by Chef Rootsie, whose specialty is transforming all kinds of popular dishes into vegetarian and vegan delights. After enjoying some of Rootsie’s tasty treats, you can browse top-quality handmade shoes from Adelante. On Sept. 28, start your weekend right with something iced or steaming from City League Coffee Roasters, and then tune into the sounds of Brooklyn rockers The Britanys. Things take a decidedly Teutonic turn on Oct. 5, when Hester Street Fair’s own biergarten appears for an Oktoberfest blowout.
A Date for Your Calendar
If you ask the team at Extell Developments what they’re most excited about, many would say it’s the Hester Street Fair’s Vintage Day on Sept. 14. Don’t miss this opportunity to style up your autumn wardrobe, thanks to a slew of vintage clothing stalls and boutiques. Score tie-dye T-shirts and vintage Harley-Davidson threads from Atlantic Oaks Vintage. Check out French-style berets and candy gingham dresses from Wear Is She Now. And shop original and reworked vintage garments from the ’70s to the ’00s, courtesy of Melrose Thrift. To top off the party, there’s vintage throwback music from DJ Ella Hussle, Lala, and Radio Rahill — plus, Vietnamese banh mis by the legendary Mr. Fish Sauce, served from the back of a bike cart. Now that’s what we call seeing off summer in style.