"Staten Island, a ferryboat's ride south of Manhattan, is home to New York's largest community of Sri Lankans and most of the city's Sri Lankan restaurants as well. A smaller Sri Lankan community can be found in the Queens neighborhood of Jamaica. In recent years people might have needed to drive an hour — braving the airport traffic near JFK, swinging down to the Belt Parkway that girds southern Brooklyn and crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge into Staten Island — for a taste of Sri Lanka.
"Lately, however, those cravings can be sated closer to home at Queens Lanka in Jamaica, a specialty grocery that also boasts a small but mighty kitchen and a few seats to accommodate dine-in customers. There’s no room for the weekend buffet that figures prominently in several of Staten Island’s Sri Lankan restaurants, but for curry, kottu roti and banana-leaf-wrapped lamprais, there’s no need to leave the neighborhood.
"Rasika Wetthasinghe is the chef; Suchira Wijayarathne runs the market. A helper assists with preparation in the kitchen a few days a week, and a number of the kitchen’s bespoke spice blends are prepared elsewhere, but by and large this is a two-man operation." Read more on Culinary Backstreets.
Indonesian bazaar at the Elmhurst Memorial League
Sunday, January 22, 11:00-5:00
Elmhurst Memorial League, 8824 43rd Ave. (near Whitney Ave.), Elmhurst, Queens
www.Instagram.com/p/CnKaq50rLSi
Previously: www.Flickr.com/search/?user_id=61177627%40N00&sort=date-taken-desc&text=indonesian%20gastronomy%20association&view_all=1
Free admission
Burns Night Ceilidh with the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
Thursday, January 26, 7:00-10:00
Metro Baptist Church, 410 West 40th St. (Ninth-Tenth Aves.), Manhattan
www.RSCDSNewYork.org/burns-night
A friend of EIT, who attended a previous year's event, reported that dancing is highly encouraged of all attendees
Admission: $25
Estonian Food Competition
Saturday, January 28, 2:00-5:00
Estonian House, 243 East 34th St. (Second-Third Aves.), Manhattan
www.EstonianHouseNewYork.com/events
Admission: $10
Día del Ekeko: Gran Feria de Alasitas
Saturday, January 28, noon-???
Club Cultural de Queens, 4119 108th St. (at 42nd Ave.), Corona, Queens
www.Facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2006083752930209&set=a.101372913401312
Previously: www.Fi2W.org/bolivian-immigrants-celebrate-alasitas-festival-by-making-big-dreams-small
Free admission
Morenada Central de New Jersey Gran Feria de Alasitas
Saturday, January 28, 12:30-???
440 Hoboken Ave. (Summit-Central Aves.), Jersey City
www.Facebook.com/photo/?fbid=617441636855298&set=a.540489174550545
Free admission
Empire Harley-Davidson Chili Cook-Off
Saturday, January 28, noon-2:00
Empire Harley-Davidson, 8 Industrial Ln., New Rochelle, New York
https://Events.Humanitix.com/2023-empire-harley-davidson-chili-cook-off
Free admission
Tết Nguyên Đán (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) Celebration of the Vietnam Heritage Center
Sunday, January 29, 1:00-3:30
New York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West (76th-77th Sts., 3rd floor), Manhattan
www.VHCNYC.org/cultural-events/vhc-tet
Tickets: adults, $22; reduced for students and children
Project Barkada Festive Fiesta
Thursday through Sunday, December 15-18, various hours
203 Moore St. (Bushwick Ave.-White St.), East Williamsburg, Brooklyn
www.Eventbrite.com/e/festive-fiesta-holiday-pop-up-tickets-482853416567
Free admission, "however, a suggested donation of $5 or a toy would be much appreciated!"
Maligayang Pasko: A Filipino Christmas Market
Friday, December 16, through Saturday, December 24, noon-8:00
Canal Street Market, 265 Canal St. (Broadway-Lafayette St.), Manhattan
www.Facebook.com/photo/?fbid=140370182117843&set=a.131291099692418
Free admission
Pinoys of New York Christmas Bazaar & Toy Drive
Saturday, December 17, 10:00-6:00; repeats December 24
Little Manila, Roosevelt Ave. between 69th and 70th Sts., Woodside, Queens
www.Facebook.com/photo?fbid=153873710723051&set=a.129467419830347
Previously from this organizer: www.Flickr.com/search/?user_id=61177627%40N00&text=%22little%20manila%22
Free admission
Harlem Night Market at La Marqueta
Saturday, December 17 4:00-8:00
La Marqueta, 1590 Park Ave. (at 115th St.), Manhattan
www.Eventbrite.com/e/harlem-night-market-at-la-marqueta-tickets-469165585897
Free admission
Our Lady of Czestochowa-St. Casimir Cake and Pierogi Sale
Sunday, December 18; in past years, "after all masses"; noon would seem a good time
Our Lady of Czestochowa-St. Casimir, 183 25th St. (Third-Fourth Aves.; take walkway to the lower rectory hall, in back), Greenwood, Brooklyn
www.OLCBrooklyn.org/p.pdf
Previously, on Palm Sunday: www.EatingInTranslation.com/2020/04/babka-cake-and-pierogi-sale.html
Free admission
Annunciation Philoptochos Christmas Bake Sale
Sunday, December 18, noonish-early afternoon
The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 302 West 91st St. (West End Ave.-Riverside Dr.), Manhattan
www.Facebook.com/AnnunciationNYC/photos/pcb.5584567598245248/5584565944912080
Free admission
La Gran Fiesta Navideña de Los Pleneros de la 21
Sunday, December 18, 3:00-early evening
Taino Towers Crystal Ballroom, 240 East 123rd St. (at Second Ave., 4th floor), Manhattan
www.Facebook.com/events/511438720931090
Admission: adults, $20; children and seniors, $15; food available for purchase
Ongoing
Eater-Shopify Holiday Market, daily (except Monday, till December 18)
Church of Sweden Christmas Shop, Wednesday through Sunday (till December 24)
Columbus Circle Holiday Market, daily (till December 24)
Union Square Holiday Market, daily (till December 24)
Winter Village in Bryant Park, daily (till January 2)
Grand Bazaar NYC, Sunday (year-round)
Free admission to all
Holiday Food & Shopping Pop-Up Market on Sixth Avenue
Thursday, December 8, 11:00-4:30 (postponed from December 7)
Various locations on Sixth Ave. between 44th and 54th Sts., Manhattan
www.Eventbrite.com/e/holiday-food-shopping-pop-up-market-on-sixth-avenue-tickets-473477322417
Free admission
Pinoys of New York Christmas Bazaar & Toy Drive
Saturday, December 10, 10:00-6:00; repeats December 17 and 24
Little Manila, Roosevelt Ave. between 69th and 70th Sts., Woodside, Queens
www.Facebook.com/photo?fbid=153873710723051&set=a.129467419830347
Previously from this organizer: www.Flickr.com/search/?user_id=61177627%40N00&text=%22little%20manila%22
Free admission
Indonesian bazaar at the St. James Parish House
Saturday, December 10, 11:00-5:00; repeats monthly
Parish house of St. James Episcopal Church, 8407 Broadway (St. James-Corona Aves.), Elmhurst, Queens
www.Facebook.com/IndonesiaFoodBazaar
Previously: www.Flickr.com/search/?user_id=61177627%40N00&sort=date-taken-desc&text=indonesian%20james&view_all=1
Free admission
Finnish Christmas Bazaar
Saturday, December 10, 11:00-3:00
St. John's Lutheran Church, 83 Christopher St. (Bleecker St.-Seventh Ave.), Manhattan
www.Facebook.com/photo/?fbid=548944873944470&set=a.498433512328940
Previously: www.EatingInTranslation.com/2019/12/finnish-christm.html
Free admission
Continue reading "New York-area food events, December 8-15" »
German Christmas Market of New Jersey
Friday through Sunday, December 2-4, 10:00-9:00
Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta, New Jersey
www.GermanChristmasMarketNJ.com/_files/ugd/153414_165a93c1c21b4899923c608b48e4dfc2.pdf
Tickets: adults and teens, $10; seniors ages 65 and over, $7; kids ages 12 and under, and veterans, free; "100% of all proceeds are donated to local Sussex County charities"
Via New Jersey Isn't Boring
Trinity Lutheran Church Christmas Craft Fair
Saturday, December 3, 10:00-4:00
3118 37th St. (31st Ave.-Broadway), Astoria, Queens
www.Facebook.com/TrinityLIC/photos/a.174405679247769/5876321382389475
”Café for light lunch, cakes and jams table”
Free admission
Edible Island
Saturday, December 3, 11:00-4:00
Staten Island Museum, 1000 Richmond Terr. (Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, Building A), Livingston, Staten Island
www.StatenIslandMuseum.org/event/edibleisland2022
Free admission; donations welcome
Part of the Holiday Hop at Snug Harbor
Estonian Christmas Market
Saturday, December 3, 2:00-6:00
New York Estonian House, 243 East 34th St. (Second-Third Aves.), Manhattan
www.EstonianHouseNewYork.com/events
Previously: www.Flickr.com/search/?user_id=61177627%40N00&sort=date-taken-desc&view_all=1&text=estonian
Free admission
Harlem Night Market at La Marqueta
Saturday, December 3, 4:00-8:00; repeats December 10 and 17
La Marqueta, 1590 Park Ave. (at 115th St.), Manhattan
www.Eventbrite.com/e/harlem-night-market-at-la-marqueta-tickets-469165585897
Free admission
Eat Pie and Shop
Sunday, December 4, 11:00-4:00
P.S. 29, 425 Henry St. (Warren-Congress Sts.), Cobble Hill, Brooklyn
www.Facebook.com/photo/?fbid=840077763713576&set=pcb.840079487046737
Previously: https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=61177627%40N00&sort=date-taken-desc&view_all=1&text=%22eat%20pie%20and%20shop%22
Free admission; proceeds from tasting tickets (in past years, $5 per slice) benefit the school's PTA-funded arts and enrichment programs
African Restaurant Week Holiday Festival
Sunday, December 4, noon-7:00
Ideal Glass Studios, 9 West 8th St. (Fifth-Sixth Aves.), Manhattan
www.Eventbrite.com/e/african-restaurant-week-holiday-festival-nyc-2022-tickets-465438006607
Previously, at various locations: www.Flickr.com/search/?user_id=61177627%40N00&sort=date-taken-desc&text=%22african%20restaurant%20week%22&view_all=1
See website for ticket details
Holiday Food & Shopping Pop-Up Market on Sixth Avenue
Wednesday, December 7, 11:00-4:30
Various locations on Sixth Ave. between 44th and 54th Sts., Manhattan
www.Eventbrite.com/e/holiday-food-shopping-pop-up-market-on-sixth-avenue-tickets-473477322417
Free admission
Ongoing
Church of Sweden Christmas Shop, Wednesday through Sunday (till December 24)
Columbus Circle Holiday Market, daily (till December 24)
Union Square Holiday Market, daily (till December 24)
Winter Village in Bryant Park, daily (till January 2)
Grand Bazaar NYC, Sunday (year-round)
Free admission to all
Thank you!
