The first of several articles on what to buy your favorite cyclist for the holidays.
First World Trash Bike Bags at the 59th Street Holiday Market
Yes, we know times are tight. And the New York and New Jersey region just suffered the agony of being hit by Hurricane Sandy. Some just aren’t in the holiday spirit, and others just don’t have the funds.
But we thought we would call out some of the businesses that are owned and run by cyclists, and provide good things for you to use.
We ran across Jennelle Malbrough’s stand in the open air tzchotski market on 59th St. and Columbus Circle. Malbrough wasn’t there, but her friend/ employee Amy (who wouldn’t give her last name) was tending the shop of bags called First World Trash made out of discarded, recycled outdoor signage!
It’s semi-waterproof–let’s say water resistant, and she’s stitched together several different over the shoulder style bags, many of them for bicycling.
Malbrough is a cyclist herself, and you can see that coming through in the messenger bag styles, as well as the way she’s used recycled seat belts that she pulls out of cars sitting in
junkyards.
Apparently Malbrough goes everywhere on her bicycle, including to and from her studio in Brooklyn. You can also find her bags online if you don’t feel like visiting the 59th St. market.
However, we do advise a trip to the market, which hosts many diverse shops, some that will surprise you, including handmade hats by two Korean women whose specialty is a gorgeous little red riding hood cap for girls; jewelry of all kinds; traditional Russian nesting dolls, or Matryoshka made and brought here by nuns from the Saint Elizabeth Convent in Minsk, Belorussia who tend for disabled children; amazing teas and spices sold loose; hard milled soaps in every scent you can think of imported from Provence, France along with lavender sachets; and many other wonderful gifts for your friends and family.
The market also has an incredible outdoor food venue with amazing variety, Mexican snacks, Dutch desserts, French hot chocolate, German hot toddies, and many, many other delicious hot foods and sweets.
Visit the market at 59th Street at Columbus Circle, reachable by the A, B, C, D, 1, trains, and by bicycle of course.
Dates: November 28 – December 24, 2012, Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Dec. 24th: Closes at 4 p.m.
Delectable Goodies from TavernDirect, started by Cyclist Lou Bivona
We also wanted to highlight the continued work by cyclist Lou Bivona in selling his dipping oils and other tasty treats from his business,
TavernDirect, which was modeled after the late Tavern on the Green recipes.
The proceeds from sales at TavernDirect go in part to Lou’s long established charity that benefits children who are lost or exploited, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, of which Bivona is a the founder.
Many of TavernDirect’s packages are made to be sent for corporate and personal gifts, like a gift box of Blackberry Ginger Balsamic Vinegar, Autumn Fig Balsamic Vinegar, and Golden Ginger Teriyaki for $44.95, or the Tavern Trio for $19.95. Fifty cents of every product you buy is donated to NCMEC.
