I found out about the Hester Street Fair because this guy complimented me on my shirt and I told him I got it at the depop pop-up--depop is an app where people sell/resell clothes, kind of like a hip eBay. He recommended that I check out the street fair because they have some cool clothing there, vintage stuff he thought I would like. Upon his recommendation, to the Hester Street Fair and had an absolutely incredible experience! I got four shirts, a dress, a metal chain belt, and a long sparkly skirt. All of the items were I found were vintage and awesome. I even got a deal on a Jean Paul Gualtier too. I highly recommend the fair to other vintage-obsessed fashionistas! read more

Small outdoor food fair and easy to get to via the F line. Came to meet the infamous FoodBaby family! They were just as cute in real life as they are in the pictures! Scant amount of vendors and most of them were desserts. The karrage from Tojo's Kitchen was okay, but I've had much better. Dr. Clarks scallop fried rice was very good, but their yakisoba needed work (needed some bonito flakes and kewpie maybe). The turkish delight donut from Supermoon Bakeshop was delicious! Best part of the market was the free pineapple juice from John's Juice if you followed them on instagram. Big Mozz was a dissapointment; the Mozz sticks were too salty for me this time! Several vendors listed in the promotional flyer didn't show up due to the rainy weather. I'll have to come again next time see if my opinion on this street fair changes! read more

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I went for the Brasil Fest. As we enter the area there were checking I.D. And placing a green wrist tag on people to be able to buy alcoholic beverages. Nice. The area is not too large, it's enclosed, if one suffers of claustrophobia don't go. Although because it's open aired venue it feels open. Food vendors, apparel, gifts stalls lined the area. I guess they had more people than expected, food and beverage stalls sold out of certain items way before closing time. The food was delicious. Feijoadas, Food Bowls stalls, Sweets and Pastries. Sangria and Cold Beer. The event was scheduled to go up to 7:00PM. DJ kept the music going. Live Bateria groups came and went providing for good samba dance improvs. Come early to eat, stay late to party read more

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The Hester Street Fair is located in Seward Park. Reminds me of a small flea market. With tables line up in several rows with vendors displaying their goods- clothing, jewelry, baked good and food for sale. Nothing that stood out or rave about. Nice to visit if you never been to one before. There was a brewery table in the back that was promoting their $3.00 special. Walked around and then headed out back onto Essex Street, Orchard Street, etc..to check out other shops and eateries. There is just so much to see and do in the Lower East Side. read more

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This is a pretty small fair (open only on Saturdays) but it has some great food options on most weekends. Some of the things I've tried: - It's A Cuppie ($3 each): This place makes cupcakes with cookies baked inside them (?!?). Yeah, crazy, but delicious. I tried the Peanut Butter Chocolate and Chocolate Velvet flavors. The chewy, moist cookie inside mixed with the nicely dense cupcake make for an excellent combination. - Ample Hills Creamery This is some of the best ice cream I've ever tried. The Salted Crack Caramel is amazing. It's also a great opportunity to try it here since I'm too lazy to ever go to Brooklyn to try it at the store location. - e.e. cookies These cookies are amazing and they also give free samples, so you don't even have to buy any. After sampling almost every single one with the help of my wife getting some for me so I didn't feel too shamed, I felt guilty so I bought the Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookie and it was well worth it. This place has really excellent cookies - very chewy and moist and perfect consistency for a cookie. - FattyCakes This place makes some really unique and interesting cookies. Unfortunately, the two I tried were extremely disappointing. I got the "Movie Theater Cookie", which was a chocolate chip cookie with popcorn and swedish fish. The swedish fish made for a very strange and unpleasant combination, and the popcorn tasted stale. I also got the "Build Me Up Buttercup", which was a peanut butter cup cookie, that I also didn't bother finishing. Anybody that knows me knows that if I throw eat even a bite of a cookie, it is a massive failure. I just realized I am a sugar addict. I'm sure some of the savory options are really good also. I know I really want to try the fried chicken biscuit from Pies-N-Thighs too (also because I am too lazy to go to Brooklyn, but I never manage to see it when I come to the fair). Other great booths include: - Melt (ice cream sandwiches) - Baconery (baked goods such as cookies and brownies all made with copious amounts of bacon) - Macaron Parlour (macarons obviously). Make sure you check out the fair's website before coming to make sure they have some good vendors for the weekend to avoid disappointment (it's updated weekly to reflect the full list of vendors for the upcoming weekend): http://hesterstreetfair.com read more

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I am a food festival junkie. I guess the first step is admitting you have a problem. But there is just something about grabbing some food from specially curated local vendors and sampling different types of cuisine that you eat with your hands all in one cool outdoor space . That is what is so nice about the Hester Street fair. I have been to all of the different locations but what makes this location different is that it is situated along Sixth Avenue inside Bryant Park and they are working hand in glove with the HBO Film Festival. Its a great way to unwind when you have a case of the Mondays because you can just spend some time hanging out in one of New York's nicest parks to see and be seen. The nice central midtown location of Bryant Park doesn't hurt either. This little fair has some of the usual offerings of Khao Man Gai- with their hainanese style chicken rice, Oaxaca Taqueria- tacos anyone, Lizzmonade- refreshing summery drinks, Luke's Lobster- summer=lobster roll time, Handsome Dan's Candy- like a small candy store complete with cotton candy maker, Duck Eateries- healthy snacks and juices, Deviant Chef- innovative fusion food, Ludlow Pizza- nothing says New Yawk like a good slice from a freshly made pie, Low Country- cajun crawfish broil and Pop Karma- finger food and because its in Bryant Park they also have an extra Wichcraft stand here if you want some sammiches. Very convenient if you are meeting up with some friends to catch a free summer flick on the big screen in the park or just want to sit on one of the small outdoor cafe tables littered all over the park. One tiny table and 10 chairs will do just fine. It's only operating on Mondays nights here in the summer so stop by and catch it before its gone. read more

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*Special coverage of the BAKE FOR HOPE- Bake Sale." Sorry to be selfish but after last week's crazy food festival (I admit it was fun) this week was a joy to walk in and stop by the "BAKE FOR HOPE- Bake Sale" organized by Anna C. to support the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Kudos for Anna! The selection for the Bake sale were amazing! (see photos) If you missed it... pooh! There were so many items to sample. My two favorites were the Red Valet cupcake, the biscotti with almonds and pumpkin loaf. Add a cup of freshly grinded coffee from Kickstand Coffee it completes me... yes... you ... complete... me (tears; fake). I actually ran back for a second red valet cupcake then I ran to Chinatown and back with shopping in record time. Ten minutes later I was OD on sugar. Kudos to all the ladies that worked the booth. read more

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Having visited other markets organized by neighborhood folk like the Brooklyn Flea, I think I expected the Hester Street Fair to be larger than it was. I think the entire thing was made up of about less than twenty stands altogether, mostly enclosed in the Hester Street Fair gated area and then two green market vendors outside the fence. That said, I have to say the quality of what was there was really great. Among the vendors I did check out were Lanewyorkina, who made the MOST incredible passion fruit ice pop I've ever had in my life. I also picked up some tasty pumpkin cookies from a vendor raising money for breast cancer awareness. Other vendors sold mini landscapes with small cactus plants while others sold retro clothing. It's a very artsy blend. As I had eaten beforehand, I was able to resist the Korean tacos and the buttery smelling lobster rolls - but I'll be back for them! The green market vendors outside the fair have an amazing assortment of veggies and fruit. I tasted apples I've never had before including Quince, Sunshine and Wine apples. The size of the veggies were insane. Their Leeks were about 1/3 larger than the ones in my local supermarkets and their sweet potatoes were gigantic. I can see myself doing some serious produce shopping here. Overall I'm very pleased to see that a local group is doing something like this. As I understand it, all the vendors have to be in a 200 mile radius of the area so there are a lot of "local" vendors, and I think that brings an excellent "flavor" to the market. read more

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This is a fun little alternative to the madness of other area markets (Brooklyn Flea). It's on the edge of Chinatown, so there is A TON of other stuff to do in the area. It was sort of raining when we went, but there were enough vendors to make it worth the effort. It seems like there are theme days, and this past Saturday was all about dogs. They had vendors specializing in dog treats, dog clothing, dog accessories, and more, but they also had several independent jewelry designers, food vendors (five stars for Baba's treats), and a couple random booths. It's worth checking out, and make sure you go with a hungry tummy- there's some great food to check out! read more

Hester Street Fair - Waffle and fried chicken grilled cheese sandwich! Delicious! - Street Vendors Near Me - New York, New York

Although I pry myself in keeping my Jersey girl nickname, I love NYC, especially for the street fairs. They run all through the year and in various parts of the city. Recently, I subscribed to this foodie newsletter called Grub Street which gives a run down on all the news and events happening in and around the city. Early last year, I came across the Hester Street Fair and decided to check it out. It was a small fair with about 20-25 small kiosks selling innovative food creations, ethnic trinkets, and other interesting items. It was an opportunity for an entrepreneur to get their foot in the door and appeal to the city folk. If you can make in the "city" you can make it anywhere. By the time my friends and I parked and walked over, it was already getting packed. It opens around 10 or 11am and ends late afternoon. Here's the list of some things we tried and liked: Sigmund's gourmet pretzels, Empanadas, Melt Bakery's gourmet ice cream sandwiches, Roni Sue's chili chocolate truffles, Watermelon sorbet and Ginger Beer. Each of these items was $5 or under. So it's easy to make a meal from going to a few of the foodie stalls and trying the fruits of their labor. I also found the mini ecosystem creations by Casa Helecho quite interesting. I just wish they weren't so expensive. read more

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I was here for the Grub Street Food Festival on 10/5/2014. There was a bunch of food options but most notable were: - An Artistic Taste - Brussel Sprouts (5 STARS) - they sure know how to make the brussel sprouts. It was fried and very juicy with the sauce over it. (contains: Fig Jam - Mint Whip - Confit Grapes - Pecans) - Tipsy Scoop - Raspberry Limoncello Ice Cream - The alcohol is definitely potent. Not bad for ice cream. I just didn't like that there were many seeds in the ice cream. The OK: - Brooklyn Soda Works: "Plum & Basil Soda $4 - Taste was ok. Nothing amazing "Apple & Ginger Soda $5 - You taste the ginger more than the apple flavor. I am just glad that the ginger flavor wasn't overpowering or the type that burned down your throat. - mamak - Curry Laksa $9 - wasn't that good compared to Hong Kong Street Cart's Curry Laksa. Hong Kong Street Cart used to make them but not anymore. - Claudy's Gourmet​ - coffee creme custard - very soft and flavorful. One is good for 2 or more people to share because it is so sweet you can't finish it alone. read more

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Finally found my CBD supply at a booth there! Popped.NYC is a permanent resident at Hester and is so convenient for me to buy from a trusted seller :) It's an unexpected treasure in the Lower East Side! Food, Music and crafts makes it a perfect Saturday outing. read more

Hester Street Fair - CBD Vendor - Street Vendors Near Me - New York, New York

This is my kind of fair. Combine a farmer's market with star vintage shoppers selling their favorite finds and refurbished garbs and you have the Hester Street Fair. From the very first booth to the last, I was in heaven. It's not your typical flea market. Don't come here expecting to find knick-knacks at reasonable prices. Most of these vendors are very proud of their goods and aren't afraid to hike up the price in the name of hard labor. I left with a vintage purse, hand-sewn dress and my belly stuffed with samples. I'm upset I hit up brunch earlier that day because those omelettes, shrimp rolls, kimchee, and pretzel cookies were absolutely to die for. Especially the pretzel cookie- I feel like it must be the best cookie I have ever tasted. I think I'm going to make this a weekly routine. Each weekend rewarding myself with one more piece of attire or accessory for making it through the work week. I know it won't be a challenge to always find something, these people found all the great things and now it's your turn to pick and choose! read more

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Stopped here when we were in town. There were a number of vendors selling various things. They also have a few food vendors and a dj spinning. I am not sure of the name but there is an empanada vendor and they are outrageously good. Home made and oh so good. Good place to come during the weekend. read more

You know the weather is getting nice when you find street fairs. Knowing myself, I can't stay away from new foods and crowds of foodies. I was just in the area when I heard music coming from the park so I had to walk through the fair. In the front, there are clothing and accessory vendors with the food vendors in the back followed by a DJ and beer area. It's a small space but is a good taste of something different in Chinatown. The vendors that stuck out was Bang Cookies, Scalco Sweets, & Wisco Fresh. Bang Cookies are organic cookies offered in a variety of flavors that are extremely moist and tasty. They have more of a cake-y texture at $5 a cookie. Scalco Sweets is also organic and gluten-free, which is more of a cookie-bark but is also amazing! Wisco Fresh is cheese curds from Wisconsin selling bags of different flavored curds for $10. If you are swayed by all of the vendors, you might end up emptying your walle, but overall it's super cute mini food fair! read more

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I'm going to be generous here since it was only the first weekend of the Hester Street Fair. Billed as Manhattan's answer to the Brooklyn Flea, everyone was abuzz this Saturday as hordes of hipsters, fashion folk and the inevitable "amateur photogs" marched through the lower east side to Hester Street. The "fair" itself was about half a city street long. Much shorter than the pop-up street fairs and certainly smaller than its Brooklyn brethren. As it is everywhere in our fair borough, the space is small and the number of people trying to fit into it is impossibly large. The selection is extremely limited and frankly, not the best quality. We talked to a few vendors who basically went antique collecting in some not-so-distant boroughs and came to the city with marked up prices (these were friends, mind you). There were three or four food vendors that we couldn't even identify and the lines were too long to grab a nibble. Looking forward to the evolution of this fair. Hope it expands both in size and content. Nice place to browse if you can handle the crowds and feel like perusing vintage clothes, furniture and jewelry in an outdoor setting without stepping out of Manhattan. read more

Hester Street Fair - Street Vendors Near Me - New York, New York

With much ado, the Hester Street Fair kicked off last weekend. Taking Jane's advice, I dragged the boy out of bed way early, since we had brunch reservations, and made him tag along with me to scope it out. It would've been better spending the rest of the morning in bed.* Crazy crowds, excessive lines for food, and yawn-inducing peddlers of wares that I have absolutely no need for assaulted us left and right. The one saving grace was that the boy scored a jar of kimchee that he wanted as a side for hot pot dinner... which we ironically didn't actually have. If you like your kimchee home-made, scope it out: http://blog.skimkim.com. The gigantic lobster rolls at least caught my eye. Although there wasn't an overwhelming number of food vendors, the sights and smells had my mouth watering. Perhaps those might be worth a future return visit. Otherwise, I'd be completely disinterested. In and out in under fifteen minutes. It was -that- exciting. *But then, we would have missed out on the beautiful sun-lit walk over and the jar of kimchee we haven't yet opened. read more

I've come here more times than I can count and it's a fun way to spend a Saturday morning. They rotate vendors every week and the food selection is usually pretty good. There's also good music and while it's small with 20 or so vendors, it's nice to go with friends and walk around. read more

A great little market on Hester Street - or technically in Seward Park that runs on Saturdays & Sundays. Not a "street fair" in the modern, NYC sense of the phrase. A street fair has really come to mean a commercialized hellhole with block after block of socks, sheets, pashminas, and fruit stands. Hester Street Fair is NOT this. Small & manageable, the Hester Street Fair is comprised of all local vendors. On any given Saturday or Sunday you can find ice-cream, mexican style ice-pops, coal-fired pizza, jewelry made from old coins, art, vintage clothing & sunglasses, soaps, desserts, and tons more. My favorite thing to do is go down, take a few laps, decide what I want, and then head towards the rear of the fair. There's a little walkway you can go through, and you come to a patch of grass that has mats laid down all around. I plop my butt down there with whatever goody I chose that day & bust out my latest read. I don't normally get much reading done, as this is a prime location for people watching. That and, well, it's not too long before I need to go get myself another treat. Tips: - There are 2 porto-pottys that are stationed at the fair, they usually aren't too bad. - Very kid friendly! Sometimes there are activities for kids, I've seen a few birthday parties, and there are usually some picnic tables set up in the middle of the fair that work well for families. - Many of the vendors do accept "square" payments, and I read recently some will start accepting bitcoin, but many will still be cash-only, so make sure you have some on hand. This is a great thing to do on any weekend with nice weather. There is also PLENTY to do in the area, so if you tire of the market, you won't have to head home just yet. You can walk the Williamsburg Bridge, check out the Essex Street Market, and lots more! Do it! You won't regret! read more

Hester Street Fair - Front entrance to the Hester Street Fair! And the iconic sign! - Street Vendors Near Me - New York, New York

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You know what caught my attention in the promo? -Santos Party House Musack -Luke's Lobster -Bahn Mi's -Mexican Corn -Prize Giveaways -Popsicles -Ping Pong Table What did I end up getting? A pulled pork empanada and a mango chile popsicle. WTF happened?! I think it was too hot for my brain to comprehend everything...they did have a mist tent which was nifty. The ping pong table was taken by "real" players who would probably scoff at my amateur skills. SPIKE in your face! or whatever the term is. There were small vendors selling clothing, accessories, customized business cards and little trinkets. My friend bought a bike chain beer opener. I think the heat got to him as well. The vibe was really chill, not many ppl showed up or at least when I was there...except for Suchin Pak!! At least I think it was her. Bastille Day anyone? read more

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I've only went to Hester's Fair twice(this year &I last year's)... But this year compared to last year they've added more well known food vendors as well as having Citibank sponsor them to add a seating lounge that provided heat lamps and free bottles of water that can be accessed for all the Citi card holders! This fair this year definitely beats Madison Square Eats, though compared to Williamsburg and Brooklyn Bridge Park's Smorgasburg... It's a little smaller. What I really do love about this fair compared to others is that it's well spaced out.. So it doesn't feel as tight and crowded as Smorgasburg plus the lines are so much shorter. There's also plenty of bench tables in the middle for you to sit down and eat at. Each year they always have a "beer garden" section right next to the park where all the food vendors are. Some of the awesome vendors that they had this year that I LOVE in order: 1. CARNAL - smoked beef ribs brushed with bone marrow and topped with tomatoes 2. GOA TACOS - delicious juicy crispy pork belly in a crispy flaky soft Indian pancake shell 3. Mighty Quinn's BBQ - beef briskets! 4. Luke's Lobster Roll Desserts/Sweets: 1. EGGETTES - Hong Kong style egg cake cones w/ ice cream &a toppings 2. ICE & VICE ice cream 3. DOUGHNUT PLANT read more

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Rolled up for some ice cream sandwiches after lunch...but the La Sonrisa empanada stand pulled me in like a greasy, tasty, salty tractor beam. I was like the millenium falcon pulled in by the death star. Yes, I had empanadas as my friggin' dessert. And yes, I have problems. read more

Hester Street Fair - Empanada tractor beams will pull you in, too. - Street Vendors Near Me - New York, New York

The Hester Street Fair is actually currently located at the South Street Seaport. Overall, it has vendors for food, handmade items, and vintage. I give it three starts since I think while it's a nice place to check out if you are in the area, the smaller size selection of vendors does not make it a destination to travel to. I also don't feel like there is enough of one type of item (food, vintage, etc.) that would make it a go-to for anyone particularly interested in one thing or the other. read more

Other than the cold I had some great Japanese food. Can't wait for the next Hester Fair. read more

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I found this place on accident. I was walking back to my sister's place and noticed this street fair happening across the street. There are various vendors ranging from jewelry and clothes to food. I really liked rummaging through vendors that sold vintage clothing. There was a white flapper-esque dress I really admired and I also brought a hat from another vendor. My sister was a fan of the kimchi vendor that was giving out samples of their kimchi topping a slice of salami and Ritz cracker. I thought that was a great snack idea. My sister and I also came back here the following day for the Grub St Food Festival. It's easy to drop a lot of money but if you're there to sample food from several vendors, its good to go with a group of friends. I was also happy to run into Luke's Lobster there, so I got to cross that off my list of things to eat in NYC. It's definitely worth seeing, whether you're a resident or visitor of the city. read more

Hester Street Fair - 6 Weeks Young I checked out the Hester Street Fair on Saturday and loved the community feel to it. I saw dogs, kids, locals, and tourists enjoying a nice weekend at the outdoor market. Though the space is small, the quality of vendors is up there. I particularly liked Simon Tung and his Macaron Parlour. I've never seen macaron flavors such as Maple Candied Bacon, Red Velvet, Bailey's Irish Cream, or Earl Grey tea when it comes to macarons, but the flavors did match the names of the treats, and matched them well (I didn't try the Earl Grey, but tried the others). The oh so popular Luke's Lobster was in the house too. Starting next week, on Sundays, until November, the Hester Street Fair will be accompanied by a Green Market at its entrance, along the sidewalk. Markets like Hester Street Fair as precisely what NYC needs more of. If only this market were double in size, I'd easily give it a 5-star rating. read more

Hester Street Fair - Hester Street Fair entrance - Street Vendors Near Me - New York, New York

Literally one of my favorite fairs. Hester street fair is tucked away in a little space on Essex St but don't let the size fool you. There are tons of booths - local artisans , food and a rocking DJ. It's definitely a place to check out if you're into weekend fairs and want to take a lazy stroll after having some delicious food or even if you want to cop some great pieces. So my fav two from my recent trip was BeannBean coffee their citrus ginger iced tea was so refreshing on a hot day and the perk is that you can buy some to make your own at home. Another true treasure was David Sussman Designs he has these amazing hand made pieces two of which I purchased and featured in my photos. I'll be there again tomorrow to cop some more of his pieces and see what other finds they have . Just check it out ! You won't regret it read more

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I stopped by Hester Street Fair to check out MCMC Fragrances, and it took every last bit of self-restraint to forgo all the delicious food in anticipation of a run to the Doughnut Plant right after. There were enticing lobster rolls, gourmet popsicles, macarons, and homemade ice cream sandwiches. I tried a couple samples of some fantastic spicy pickles, and my friend snagged a couple of jars. The fair is on the small side and not easy to spend a long time wandering, but I imagine if I had gone to eat, I would've stayed for a while. There were several cool vendors, including various clothing booths that looked tempting, but I was with a few male friends who probably didn't want to watch me ogle clothes. I stopped by the MCMC booth, where Anne McClain, who designs and produces every scent, sat and chatted with customers. I bought a roll-on perfume called "Hunter" that I love. MCMC is an indie fragrance line, and Hester Street Fair seems to be a veritable gathering place of emerging talent in various fields. It's definitely worth a visit on a seasonable afternoon. read more

I've been waiting to come here since I first read about it on urban daddy. This street fair is really a small venue. But what it lacks in size it makes up in some quality vendors: Sigmund pretzels Macaroon Parlour La Newyorkina popsicle BBQ pulled pork that was going to be served at 3:00 I could go on but I was having a carb overload wtih Sigmund pretzels greeting you at the entrance. This is a foodies dream, all in one small place. Enjoy read more

Past by after a game of street basketball. Hester Street fair music caught my attention. Completely walked around the small fair within 15 minutes. There is a ice cream booth, a bar, a lobster bun booth, a Jamaican food booth, hand made jewelry booth, t shirt booth. I stopped by a waffle booth called: Whammees. Whammies was serving Asian/American waffles. I had the fried chicken waffle sandwich. 2 waffles held the fried chicken. The fried chicken was very moist, marinated and lightly fried. Underneath the chicken was lettuce, Union and sliced tomatoes. The sandwich was $9.00, but the best was $1.00 ice cold canned ocean spray juice. Atmosphere: 4/5 music, outdoor picnic tables Food: 4/5 crazy idea that tastes delicious Service: self Price: 3/5 but drink was cheap Whammees are at Hester street fair only certain weekends. read more

Hester Street Fair - Juicy egg cake/ fried chicken sandwich - Street Vendors Near Me - New York, New York

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It's my least favorite outdoor flea, I've tried to make it work and I don't plan on giving it another go. As others have said it's very small, it's a small area with a limited number of vendors. But like everything else in NY, that doesn't stop it from becoming crowded. I felt it goes beyond that though and becomes claustrophobic. There are tables in the center, with vendors on either side. If there's something special going on, some event or one time vendors showing up, lines snake everywhere. It's hard to stand still long enough to look at anything the vendors are selling without the flow of crowds getting all up on ya, and if you're getting food good luck grabbing a seat to eat it at. There are porta johns, which is good, and a small yard that juts up against an apartment building where you can sit on the ground and eat, but even that gets overrun. Also, I don't think the foods that good. The lobster rolls have been fine, but it would be so much nicer to just eat them in a restaurant. The Caribbean booth happened to serve me an expensive platter of almost inedible food once. Oxtail that had been cooked down too long so I mainly got a serving of bones, under-cooked rice, and mealy, uncleaned shrimp. Two stars for the DJ, who has the little neighborhood kids dancing, and that one local guy whose always dressing in black and is covered in keys. Him and this little girl were the only ones dancing one day and it was pretty cute. read more

It was a nice and beautiful Saturday and I happened to be wandering around Lower East Side looking for food. Stood in front of the entrance and saw white tents set up with lots of people inside the lot. Ever since this market opened up last month, I was very eager to come check it out. This isn't any ordinary street fair with lemonade stands, kabobs, grilled corn and knock-off sunglasses. This street fair is pretty unique because all the vendors are local. This street fair has a mixed of unique garments, antiques and jewelry like a flea market. On top of that there are baked goods from local bakeries, candies and other sweets, pretzels, rich spices, unique flavored popsicles, and much much more. Towards the back of the lot, there are some benches for people to sit and eat their food. There is also a grassy area for people to sit around, eat and enjoy their weekend. Another awesome thing is that it is pet friendly, so dogs can run around the grassy area. I will make my way back to this street fair on another weekend. read more

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It was a very happy environment when we hung around here on a beautiful, crisp, summer Saturday. There is always a unique array of booths and tables that show all kinds of culture... That day we saw plants in jars, comic books, jewelry, clothing, Egyptian food, Filipino desserts, lemonade, corn on the cob and more! I admire how all of these cultures and hobbies are brought together into one public space. They even have music playing on the stereo! They also have picnic tables and benches (around five possibly?) available for public seating. My only complaint is the portable potty (two) and washing hands (two) section... The faucet wasn't working so I had to resort to my portable (and nifty) hand sanitizer gel. Other than that, it is a great atmosphere and a place to take loved ones such as friends and family. read more

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I am not trendy enough to hang out on the Lower East Side for more than an hour on any given Saturday. I just do not blend in well. But I still had a great time at the very crowded and surprisingly small Hester Street Fair. I attended during the opening weekend this April, so it may have been a little more crowded than normal. There was an interesting mix of vendors, with some clothing and shoe vendors, some people selling jewelry, and a lot of food. The highlight was Luke's Lobster, which is clearly a huge draw for a number of people as the line wrapped around the entire fair. The line moved fast and the wait was worth it! The lobster roll ($14...cash only) was superb. Finding room to eat in the fair is a little more difficult as there are a limited number of picnic tables. I probably won't be back to the fair this summer, but I will be spending some time at the Luke's Lobster storefront on East 7th Street! read more

I love street fairs and this is definitely a great one! Not to mention, I live down the block from it so it's definitely super convenient. On Sundays, they have the farmers market. The stands here are either clothing/jewelery items or food. I only go to street fairs for the food and Hester Street Fair has some awesome food choices. The places that have stands here are the ones that only real foodies know about and are what other people wish they knew about. Super fresh and super tasty, a little pricey, but super good. A go to place on a nice sunny day for a date or just somewhere to go! read more

Cute street fair with a beer garden. Love the little unique vendors in the beer garden. I checked out their wares, chatted with them, got a sneak peek into their lives. Only in New York can you get so personal with random strangers and be content to never see them again. The beer garden's vendors were peddling adorable trinkets you don't really need. A mom and grandma making felt food? Adorable! Look! A middle aged entrepreneur collecting and selling vintage cuff links from 1940s! In another booth- a radiant women selling yarn and feathers incorporated into jewelry? Sign me up! The street fair in Chinatown drew an interesting crowd. Random hipsters from Soho and the Village, and a lot of young Asians. Occasionally a grinning little old lady from Chinatown would slowly walk through. Dogs would bark at one another, sniff the ground for leftovers and repeatedly jump on their owners as toddlers ambled around with mango-red-bean layered popsicles. The Grub street portion of the fair had over 70 vendors. Three of us would scout the vendors, then sneak a peek at the food to determine which looked most appetizing. We ended up trying banh mi, Jamaican jerk corn, Char No 4's chile, and adobo ribs. By far the chile was the best dish. Fatty cut pieces of pork, stewed for hours on end, tasted of toasted and ground herbs with a tomato base. amazing. This is how GOD intended chile to be MADE. They scooped out a bowl from a huge stewing vat. I wanted to tell the person working the booth, Listen mister, just give me the vat. But that didn't seem to fit the mood. So we wandered around for a couple hours, scouting food, looking at cute trinkets, pretending the fair was someone else family reunion and chatting with people in line. Toss in a strange deja vu feeling where I thought a third of the crowd were random acquaintances from college. I would tap my friend and go 'hey don't we know that guy from somewhere? Didn't he used to hang out at the stairwell near the library?' Or 'hey, that girl looks so familiar, did you catch her face, do we know her?' Most of the time, my friend would assure me- that person is in Australia or "Opps, I caught the back of that person's head, I have no idea who that is." Strange day of reminiscing and trying to verify if we should be catching up with someone we once knew or if they were complete strangers that looked like people we knew. Perhaps we were to all these strangers, faintly memorable identities at an food fair consuming massive amounts of chili and mac and cheese in the mid Sunday sun. read more

Hester Street Fair - Jerk corn - Street Vendors Near Me - New York, New York

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Must return soon! Hester Street Fair's smaller than your average street fair, but it's quite charming. It consists of local small businesses that sell food, drinks, vintage clothing & accessories. Lots of vendors had free samples of food to try, so that was great. My friend & I ended up at a vintage jewelry vendor for about thirty minutes and she ended up getting several great pieces at bargain prices. Sure, some vendors are quite pricey, but dig deep and you'll be able to find hidden gems here & there at Hester Street Fair. read more

Summer party in the park!!! Probably about a dozen vendors grouped together on the back-side of the movie screen. Summer Mondays are movie night! I had been thinking about what to eat for dinner and when I walked into this, it was a done deal. At first I had a low blood sugar fantasy about trying everything. That faded shortly after my Kobi dog and I had to get a little selective. I had: + Kobi dogs - *very good and a good value at $3. + Oxaca Taco Revolution tacos - Chorizo, avocado-lime-chipotle salsa, pickled onions and other stuff - delicious. $4 per taco or 2 for $7 -a good value. + Ludlow Pizza - those guys were working their asses off. Pizza was good, maybe a bit pricy @ $9 with pepperoni and a drizzle of honey. But as I said, it's labor intensive. Here we see the sweet and savory theme at work - pepperoni...honey - get it? The oven was a portable brick-lined affair - I want one. + Lizzmonade - Really refreshing. More or less a lemon shake-up with your choice of a variety of muddled fruit mixed in. A large straw means you can suck up the fruit chunks. That was fun. So pizza, hot dogs, tacos and fruit drink about did it for me. Everything else looked great - next time ;-) *Full Disclosure: I have only disliked one hot dog in my entire life, and that was at the hot-dog vendor right by the entrance of the London Eye along the Thames in 2008. That thing sucked. Other than that, its all good - including shrivel dogs at gas stations. read more

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Great collection of food trucks and vendors! It was really unexpected but my friends and I loved it. I got all things pork belly and everything was delicious! They got the nuanced flavors just right and the veggies they had really complimented the meat. The Bread or buns they used were spot on and you could tell the fat on these babies were rendered and made crisp. I'd recommend it (Oh and get a corn on the cob as well!). It is a bit packed so get there early or go there with one or two others at most. Bring cash but if you forget there are some that take card as well! read more

Hester Street Fair - Pork belly sandwich! - Street Vendors Near Me - New York, New York

The Brooklyn Flea is far superior. But this fair, though small, has potential. The vendors were so-so. Old clothes that I guess is suppose to vintage? a few cool home/furniture vendors. I didn't try the food, but all of them looked good. Mexican popsicle, pulled pork sandwiches, tacos...and a lot more I can't remember. Worth a visit. I hardly ever wander down that far south in LES, but the nearby park is cute with shady places to sit and eat and enjoy the neighborhood. But don't expect a huge fair with hours of browsing. It's more like 10 minutes. read more

Hester Street Fair - Street Vendors Near Me - New York, New York

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