<\/p>\n
Williamsburg Winter Village is open Fridays through Sundays in December. Credit: Newsday\/Carissa Kellman<\/p>\n
“It started as we were going to put on a hot chocolate festival … and then we just started thinking bigger and bigger about how much we love winter festivities,” Brotman said. “I post about restaurants, bakeries and sweet treats throughout New York City. Everything here is a bite that\u2019s one of my favorites.”<\/p>\n
Organizer Jeremy Seaman, of Nue Movement Events, emphasized that the goal was not to compete with Manhattan\u2019s markets. “We\u2019re not trying to replicate Bryant Park. Travel to Bryant Park can be a pain. We just wanted to bring something to Brooklyn that\u2019s never been here in the past.”<\/p>\n
The 17,000-square-foot venue at 151 Banker St. is transformed into a winter wonderland. A towering 20-foot Christmas tree anchors the space, surrounded by smaller festive trees, twinkling lights\u00a0and a nine-foot sleigh perfect for photos. Live music fills the air on weekends, and Santa makes regular Sunday appearances. Tickets are $12 per person, ages 3 and up, and can be purchased online<\/a>.<\/p>\n From cinnamon buns to tacos, the Winter Wonderland offers a variety of food and treats to try. Credit: Kendall Rodriguez<\/p>\n “We don\u2019t make any money off vendors from sales. There is a\u00a0small vendor fee but we wanted to be able to have small businesses here that may not be able to afford larger fees at other markets,” Seaman said. “We also charge a fee to enter to avoid crowds and keep lines short.”<\/p>\n A feast for the senses<\/p>\n Food is the heart of the Winter Village, and many vendors offer exclusive menu items. Most bites are priced between $5\u00a0and $15, and vendors are offering lower price points than usual, with free samples circulating for the first wave of visitors each time slot.<\/p>\n Sufganiyot doughnuts from Breads Bakery. Credit: Kendall Rodriguez<\/p>\n Warm up with Hale & Hearty (haleandhearty.com<\/a>) chili mac and cheese ($10), bite into the spiced sweetness of a Noa\u00a0(noaacafe.com<\/a>) gingerbread cinnamon roll ($9), try\u00a0sufganiyot doughnuts\u00a0($4) from Breads Bakery\u00a0(breadsbakery.com<\/a>) or sample Fillings\u00a0(fillingsnyc.com<\/a>) mini pie flights ($13), which includes three bite-sized slices of pie.<\/p>\n Cheese lovers will want to line up for the Raclette Street melted cheese sandwich ($14), where gooey imported Swiss cheese is scraped straight onto your bread or potatoes. Fans of classic comfort food can enjoy buffalo chicken fingers with fries and toast ($18) from Yankee Doodle Dandy’s\u00a0(yankeedoodledandys.com<\/a>) or chicken birria tacos ($5 each) from Tacos Del Barrio, while chocolate devotees can sip Maury Rubin\u2019s Color of Chocolate\u00a0(colorofchocolate.com<\/a>) hot chocolate ($7), crafted by the creator of City Bakery.<\/p>\n Hot chocolate from\u00a0Maury Rubin\u2019s Color of Chocolate, one of the vendors at\u00a0Williamsburg Winter Village. Credit: Kendall Rodriguez<\/p>\n Holiday shopping is woven into the village experience, with locally crafted gifts like Lena Gianna Jewelry (shoplenagianna.com<\/a>)\u00a0and Alvea Every Day\u00a0(alveaeveryday.com<\/a>) Italian leather accessories. Shops rotate each weekend, making each visit a new opportunity to discover something special.<\/p>\n Things to do nearby<\/p>\n The Williamsburg Winter Village is tucked into the heart of Greenpoint, making it easy to extend your visit beyond the market. Grab with a sweet Polish treat at Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop\u00a0(727 Manhattan Ave., peterpandonuts.com<\/a>) or creamy gelato at\u00a0Caffe Panna (16 Norman Ave.,\u00a0caffepanna.com<\/a>), then browse vintage treasures at Dobbin Street Vintage Co-op (37 Norman Ave.,\u00a0dobbinstcoop.com<\/a>), where retro home goods and quirky finds make for perfect holiday gifts.<\/p>\n For a playful twist, head to Sunshine Laundromat & Pinball (860 Manhattan Ave.,\u00a0sunshinelaundromat.com<\/a>)\u00a0a secret bar hidden inside a fully functioning laundromat. With 23 pinball machines and a lineup of local beers, it\u2019s a festive stop that blends nostalgia with fun.<\/p>\n For skyline views, grab a rooftop cocktail at Arlo Williamsburg\u2019s ART\u00a0(96 Wythe Ave.,\u00a0arlohotels.com\/williamsburg<\/a>) or The William Vale Hotel\u2019s Westlight (111 N. 12th St.,\u00a0thewilliamvale.com<\/a>), both offering 360-degree vistas of Brooklyn and Manhattan. For a little adventure, test your skills at X Golf\u00a0(105 N. 13th St., xgolfbrooklyn.com<\/a>) or throw axes at NY Axe Throwing Range\u00a0(98 N.\u00a011th St., nyaxe.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n Parking is available on the street or at a variety of garages nearby. The garage at 25 Kent Ave. offers 12-hour parking for $15 and is a four minute walk to the village.<\/p>\n IF YOU GOWilliamsburg Winter VillageThings to do nearbySunshine Laundromat & Pinball\u00a0is\u00a0a fully-functioning laundromat\u00a0with 23 pinball machines and\u00a0a bar serving local beers; open daily 7 a.m. to\u00a02 a.m., until 4 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.Shop vintage\u00a0at Dobbin St. Vintage Co-op, which sells affordable ’60s and ’70s home goods.Grab rooftop cocktails at Arlo Williamsburg\u2019s ART or The William Vale Hotel\u2019s Westlight, both offering 360-degree skyline views.Activity stops:\u00a0Play golf at X Golf nearby or throw axes at NY Axe Throwing Brooklyn.<\/p>\n Newsday travel reporter Carissa Kellman uncovers adventures, bites and hidden spots on Long Island and beyond, with the same drive that once kept her courtside at high school sports games.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n