Vanderbilt Hall Holiday Craft Fair
Beautiful ornaments hang on display. Photography from around the world gives all a glimpse of various parts of our diversified planet. Handmade crafts are sold by the creator herself. Jewelry sparkles from a distance away. Children’s excitement echoes throughout the fair. Aisles filled with curious shoppers looking for that one perfect gift. Holiday music brings all together at this holiday craft fair held in Vanderbilt Hall. Smiles are exchanged as visitors are reminded of what the holiday season should truly be about.
Upon entering Grand Central, one does all he or she can to push through the regular rush hour crowd. Today is different as today one is able to enjoy the beautiful crafts of those who have combined to put their work on display for all those looking for holiday spirit. Vanderbilt Hall is known for hosting a variety of events, however this holiday craft fair sure is a commuter’s favorite. From November 15th through Christmas Eve, Vanderbilt Hall turns into a spectacular fair of 75 different vendors. Vendors sell everything from photos of landmarks in New York City to handmade ornaments to hang on one’s Christmas Tree. This year’s fair welcomes the products of 18 new vendors.
What location could be more convenient for last minute holiday gifts than Grand Central Terminal? As commuters wait for trains to arrive, they can conveniently browse through the aisles of this 12,000 square foot Hall. The rushed commuter has the possibility to shop for last minute gifts, even on Christmas Eve, as the fair remains open until December 24th.
This craft fair, located in the magnificent Vanderbilt Hall, is sure to capture the curious eyes of those passing by. Not only does it provide one with the unique opportunity to purchase from a wide variety of 75 vendors, but it offers something that truly is one of a kind. Upon entering this hall, it is difficult to not feel joyous and relaxed. Smiling faces of children with their parents experiencing their first few years of Christmas in New York light up the aisles.
What makes this fair so very different from all other holiday fairs is the wide array of vendors hosting it. This fair truly has something to offer for all those last minute shoppers looking for a unique, well thought out gift for a family member, friend or perhaps a spouse. Not only does the fair provide one with the opportunity to buy local, handmade gifts, but it also brings a little bit of various parts of the city into one location. The Modern Museum of Art, for example, brings various products from its gift store into the fair so shoppers have the opportunity to conveniently get a taste of what artwork they have to offer.
There’s no better place to display and sell artwork than New York City. Many tourists enjoy taking a piece of NYC with them as they head home to their respective towns, states, or even countries. Stands selling merchandise that is truly unique to the city are therefore greatly appreciated as they offer individuals the opportunity to purchase a piece of art that is representative of NYC. Such stands as Skendzic Photography do just that. Skendzic Photography, which displays unique black and white images of New York City, gives one a whole new perspective of the city. One image that stood out in particular is that of the Empire State Building, a favorite among many visitors. Something about these images provide the viewer with an authentic and realistic picture of the city, one that is not altered too much by the artist. The photographer behind Skendzic Photographer was successful in capturing a genuine representation of various parts of New York.
Artwork bought here can not only be used as beautiful decoration but can also serve as the perfect gift for a wide range of age groups. Several stands display the work of very talented local artists. Another stand that provides shoppers with the opportunity to bring home a piece of artwork is that called “Alternative Art”. This stand offers a variety of images, those ranging from nature inspired to those capturing landmarks of NYC. Like Skendzic Photography, this stand also allows the visitor to bring home photographs of various landmarks in the city.
What seemed to be a favorite among shoppers were those stands that allowed individuals to freely enter the stands and be given the opportunity to browse at their own leisurely pace. The holiday season can be rather stressful and craft fairs like these make it possible for shopping to be both productive as well as enjoyable.
The holiday season is one of giving and kindness, which is exactly what one can do at this holiday craft fair. One stand in particular, Hats For Health, led by Jane Elissa Atelier, is geared towards the spirit of giving. Upon browsing through a variety of stands, I had to stop upon approaching this stand as not only were the hats beautiful, but they were designed to raise both awareness and money for cancer research. Individuals are given the opportunity to choose between a variety of hats, with a portion of the profit given towards cancer research. It is great to see such a stand be part of this fair as it reminds individuals of what the season of giving is all about. Although one could simply purchase a hat somewhere else, that might be slightly less expensive, here one is able to reach beyond him or herself to contribute to a great cause.
Whether one is looking for children’s clothing, holiday decorations or perhaps a beautiful piece of artwork, the holiday craft fair in Vanderbilt Hall is the place to go. Even if one is not necessarily looking for a last minute gift or have any real reason to attend the fair, a stroll through the aisles of this fair is sure to put him or her in the holiday spirit. The unique attributes of the 75 vendors combine to produce a one of a kind unification of art and emotion. Just hearing the echoes of children’s excitement will evoke great emotion and remind visitors of how joyous the holiday season is.
Vanderbilt Hall Holiday Craft Fair
The above images are samples of Skendzic Photography of New York City. Skendzic Photography is currently hosting a stand at the Holiday Craft Fair.
source:
http://www.grandcentralterminal.com/go/mallevents.cfm?eventid=2145378268
http://manhattan.about.com/od/citylife1/tp/nycshopholiday.htm
http://www.skendzicphoto.com/newyork/7272Wborder.html
