Encouraging Santa to Shop Locally

For most, the holiday season is about sharing and giving. And for many, there is an added pleasure when gifts are sourced locally or crafted by neighbors. Luckily, then, that this is Brooklyn -- a place filled with artisans and crafters. During the month of December, these creative people travel all over the borough and the city to sell their one-of-a-kind wares.

"People appreciate owning something and buying something that is well-crafted and not mass-produced," said Nanette DeCillis, founder and director of Arts Cetera.

Arts Cetera normally hosts Mommy-and-Me-type classes for infants and toddlers, but during the Christmas season the Smith Street venue doubles as a pop-up shop for local vendors. These shops are literally popping up all over Brooklyn, offering temporary vending locations to neighborhood merchants.

"It's a new trend," said DeCillis. "We give local artisans a place to show their stuff and sell at a very reasonable rate."

And vendors don't have to shell out hundreds of dollars in rent, which often slashes profits. Arts Cetera offers its weekend tables for $75 a day or $125 for the weekend.

Not only does Arts Cetera's pop-up shop give something to local vendors, it also lets the center, known for its children's classes, cater to an older crowd.

Arts Cetera will host its last pop-up shop for the holiday season this Saturday from 1 to 8 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm.

By Brooklynites for Brooklynites

Handmade products are commonly found at the various holiday markets and pop-up shops. Not only did 's  offer a wide variety of handmade gifts, including ornaments, jewelry, and infant and toddler clothing, at its one-day fair, the money made from the bake sale and renting space fee went to the preschool.

For church member and vendor, Cliff Harkness, who sold trinkets from his house, seeing so many people in the church was just one thing he enjoyed.

"I [also] enjoy getting [all of this] out of my house," he said, pointing to his table of merchandise.

Vendors at the St. Nick fair weren't only from Carroll Gardens and its nearby neighborhoods. Masumi Hayashi brought her handmade jewelry — a mix of sterling silver and gold rings, earrings and necklaces — from her Williamsburg store, Linn Designs.

"There are nice people," said Hayashi, who rented space at the fair for the second year in a row. "There are good sales, and the organization [that puts this together] works really well."

The Atlantic Avenue Scene

In order to bring local shoppers to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, several dozen shops and restaurants have offered special deals, longer hours and discounts every Thursday in December.

The Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the economic development of the Atlantic Avenue area from Fourth Avenue to the East River waterfront. The Shop & Dine Late Night Thursdays is just one event the organization puts together every year.

Nat Rubin, board member and owner of The Moxie Spot restaurant, said the goal of the Thursday night specials is to get local shoppers not to just run into one store, but to make a night of shopping and dining.

"Generally, Atlantic Avenue is a challenge," he said in an interview, referring to foot traffic. "It's not a strolling avenue."

And while The Moxie Spot, which is largely catered toward children, doesn't necessarily see a huge increase in guests with its Thursday night special — free beer and wine or dessert with proof of $20 purchase on Atlantic Avenue — just a few doors down,  notes a significant increase in customers.

Last Thursday, the fine foods store hosted a book signing for Melissa and Brendan Vaughan's "The New Brooklyn Cookbook: Recipes and Stories from 31 Restaurants that Put Brooklyn on the Culinary Map."

The book "celebrates the new culinary scene in Brooklyn," said Melissa Vaughan in an interview.

And dining in Brooklyn's own restaurants is just another form of local shopping.

"Local shopping shows a support of community," said Michael Harlan Turkell, photographer of the new cookbook.

Sahadi's will host its second book signing Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring  by Virginia Jerro Gerbino and Phillip M. Kayal. Guests will enjoy a complimentary wine and cheese sampler.

"Local shopping is important for a lot of reasons," said Christine Whelan of Sahadi's. "You get unique things — jelly, honey — and it's fun to show that New York City does produce something."

Local Shopping Promotion

Not only are stores and restaurants in the neighborhood trying to promote local shopping with special deals, local organizations and politicians are doing their part as well.

Shop Brooklyn, founded in 2008 by Brooklyn borough president, , is an awareness campaign that highlights the uniqueness of Brooklyn's thriving neighborhood vendors.

It also "reintroduces Brooklyn to Brooklynites and [reminds] them to shop local, not just during the holidays, but year-round," said spokesperson Mark Zustovich. 

Merchants who participate in Shop Brooklyn — more than 300 this year, according to the organization — offer a "Brooklyn Bonus," which includes freebies, discounts and special promotions.

"Brooklyn retailers live here too," said Zustovich. "Local ownership ensures that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and will feel the impact of those decisions."

Not only does shopping locally often make possible unique, one-of-a-kind purchases, it keeps money circulating in the community.

Council Member Brad Lander said keeping the money circulating in the community will help grow other businesses and create new jobs.

"Small business owners give far more support to local not-for-profit groups," he said in an email. "And, of course, our neighborhood shopping strips are a big part of Brooklyn's distinct local character."