Sadly, this outdoor market closed permanently in September, 2012. If you're not stressing out about holiday shopping yet, you will be soon. (Sorry!) But there's no reason to wait until the annual holiday markets open to start your gift search. The Dekalb Market is a funky new shopping spot in Downtown Brooklyn and it's open seven days a week, year-round. I'd heard great things about it from other families, so last week my four-year-old and I went to check it out.
The market is housed inside a series of repurposed shipping containers stacked on top of one another, kind of like a life-size set of my son's colorful Duplo Blocks. The bottom crates have been transformed into various shops and restaurants. The offerings are really cool and diverse, including designer duds, handmade jewelry, fine art, children's clothes and toys, coffee from Joe and sumptuous Jacques Torres chocolates.
In addition to being a great shopping spot, Dekalb Market makes for a fun family outing. There's lots of space for kids to roam around and you can even pack or buy lunch and eat at the picnic tables, where you'll sometimes be entertained by live musicians. Here's how my son and I spent our day (and our money) at Dekalb Market.