There may not be any sleigh rides or snowmen, no snowball fights or icicles to lick and no white Christmas, but it’s not so bad here. You don’t have to spend 30 minutes wiping off your car only to find out your doors are frozen shut. You don’t have to pull chunks of wet ice out of your boots or worry about your hair frizzing to astronomical lengths thanks to freezing rain.
When you go out to shop in New Orleans, you can do it peacefully and it is still magical to see the city decorated for the holidays with a lush green layer poking out from beneath glistening Christmas lights.
No matter where you spend your holidays, there is one aspect you can’t avoid and probably don’t want to: gifts. It may not be the Rockefeller Center, but the Freret Street market can help you complete your holiday shopping at the portion of the price; and it’s not bargain shopping when you’re getting memorable handmade goods.
This Saturday, December 11, from noon to 5p.m., the Freret Street market is open and offering all your holiday needs. Walk around sipping on eggnog and listen to local musicians as you shop. I asked my mom what she thought of the homemade praline cookies I bought her last year and she said, “Oh sweetie, they were so delicious; do you think you could get them again?”
The French Quarter Candles on sale at the market are natural-scented soy candles that burn for hours. They have a long list of fragrances and you can’t order online. The 2010 holiday scents are Black Currant, Orange Zest and Ginger. They also have a beignet scent that warms the entire house.
The market will have a variety of vendors from stores all over the area. For your beloved bookworms, check out bookstores like Deep South Samizdat Books. For your artsy friends, scoot over to the long and varied list of art vendors. Nola Woodworks, Tharp Art Inc., Stone Creations by Colleen, Robin’s Art World, Molly Ward Photography, and Jeffery Dupuis Photography are just some of the art vendors that will be there. You can even frame what you buy without leaving the lot, just head to Zack and Casi’s Frames.
It’s always hard to please your special girl with a gift, but who can deny jewelry, especially when it’s eco-friendly? Up-cycled Jewelry, Jackie’s Jewels, and P. Marie’s Jewelry will all be there to help you find the perfect gems for your lady.
Everybody loves food, especially during the holidays. Vendors such as Great Harvest Bread Co., New Orleans Chocolate Devil, Niecy’s Meat pies, Seasonal Pies, and Nola Bites will all be there to keep your belly full.
Last stop, handmade greeting cards. If you don’t want to spend a lot but still want to show people how much you care, send them a special card with all your love and thanks.
Elle Maloney can be reached at [email protected]
