Shopping Locally: Craft Fairs, Sample Sales and Holiday Shopping Events

Buying local is the hip new thing, but beyond just being trendy and "supporting local businesses," buying local is important to us because it builds community and sustains what we love most about NYC: its cool, eclectic mix of unique, small shops and walkable city streets.

There are several Holiday shopping events that make shopping locally into fun, outings. Plus we've got a round-up of sample sales.

Shop Local Events

Buy in Brooklyn Snowflake Celebration
First two Thursdays in December (4th and 11th), 2008, 7pm to 10pm

Perhaps the largest local shopping event, Buy in Brooklyn's Snowflake Festival turns Park Slope, Brooklyn into a winter wonderland with a small own atmosphere. Shops will stay open late and offer special promotions: a sale, giveaway, raffle, fun activity or other offer.

Some of the promotions for kids: Brooklyn Mercantile will be demoing holiday activities and making paper snowflakes. Captain Cocoa will be passing out treats at Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company. Bump Brooklyn and Firefly will offer 10% off. At Corduroy Kid clothing will be 10% off and have giveaways and treats for kids. Little Things Toy Store will be giving free Thomas & Toby Gift Set with every $100 Thomas purchase, 20% off Melissa and Doug Puzzles, art supplies and plush animals. Plus more discounts and treats.

See the full list of participating stores and promotions at buyinbrooklyn.com.

Shop Brooklyn
Weekends through december 21st, throughout Brooklyn, shops and restaurants displaying the shop brooklyn logo in their windows will offer a special deal, discount or promotion. Simply ask "what's my Brooklyn bonus?" and find out what the offer is.

Craft Fairs

Hearts and Crafts Fair
Saturday and Sunday, December 6th and 7th, 12-6pm
Cafe Grumpy, 193 Meserole Avenue, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

The Hearts and Crafts Affair seeks to create a community of artists and a venue for over 20 local artists to showcase their handmade goods.

The Handmade Holiday Craft Fair
Sunday, December 7th, 2008, 12-7pm
3rd Ward, 195 Morgan Avenue, East Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Not your ordinary craft fair, the Handmade Holiday Craft Fair will have over 50 local artisans, craft mavens and culinary masters selling their handmade goods and treats. Expect the unusual, like LED hula hoops, dog costumes, custom electronics, furniture, jewelry, plus chocolates, cookies and more. There will also be free gift bags, live music, free snacks and free workshops in textile design, electronics and collage.

Bust Craftacular
Sunday, December 14th, 10am-7pm, $2 Entry
The Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th St, NYC

Indie-designed and handmade wares from over 200 unique and talented crafters. Find knitwares, jewelry, beauty products, ornaments, vintage clothing, gourmet sweets, handbags, home decor, naughty soap s, baby gear and more. Look for Amy Sedaris, who will be on-hand signing her book.

Brooklyn Flea Holiday Market
December 7, 14, and 21, 2008, 11am-6pm
Brooklyn Masonic Temple, 317 Clermont (entrance on Lafayette), Ft Greene, Brooklyn

While the Brooklyn Flea goes on across the street, an indoor Holiday Market will offer crafts and handmade goods from over 60 local artisans. You can see the offerings of jewelry, home goods, toys, children's clothing, fine foods and much more on the Brooklyn Flea website.

Sample Sales

Holiday Designer Sample and Vintage Sale
Sunday, December 7th, 12-4pm
jimmy's no.43, 43 E 7th St, Manhattan
With holiday cheer for children and adults - holiday prosecco cocktails and beers!
you'll also get a chance to browse through a large selection of original
designs - dresses, skirts, children's clothing,accessories - vintage and samples!! plus lots of fun calypso, fiorucci, others....all items $10-$20

BookSmart Warehouse Sale

Tuesday - Friday, December 9-12, 10am-5pm

Tuesday - Thursday, December 16-18, 10am - 5pm
27 West 20th Street, #506

New York City's premiere book warehouse is having their semi-annual warehouse sale. Find 25-70% off the entire stock of kids' books, Caldecott winners, adult fiction, picture books, board books, reference and best sellers.

Kit + Lili Sample Sale

THrusday and Friday, December 4 and 5, 11am-7pm
55 Washington St, ste 728, DUMBO, Brooklyn

Find designer children's clothing up to 80% off., bringin cool kid duds into the $20 range.

Cadeau Maternity Sample Sale
December 4, 10am-7pm
254 Elizabeth Street (at Houston) No Checks.

Maternity clothes at up to 70% off. Also through December 3 get 20% off online with code LUXE20.

Estella Designer Children's Holiday Clothes Sale
December 8-24
493 Sixth Avenue, Greenwich Village, NY

Find designer children's Holiday clothing a up to half off. Estella will also make a donation to needy children for every Holiday purchase made

If you want to do your shopping online, but still want to support a local business, just click through any link to Amazon on Mommy Poppins and know that a small percentage of what you buy comes back to support your favorite website and local, mom-owned endeavor.

Read more about local shopping:

[NY Times article about shopping in the new Chinatown]