What once was New York City's largest and oldest pushcart fair, the Hester Street Fair, has returned to the Lower East Side for the second year in a row — more than a century after it first began in 1895.
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Thanks to four entrepreneurs known as The Big Social, the Hester Street Fair has brought the city's small vintage shops and boutiques together, as well as plenty of local food vendors and accessories, since its successful rebirth in 2010.
The Big Social, which consists of television host Suchin Park, architect Ron Castellano, and businessmen Adam Zeller and Suhyun Pak, re-established the fair in order to keep the spirit of the Lower East Side alive. This year, it will be partnering with the New Museum's Festival of New Ideas and the Lower Feast Side Food Festival. The fair will begin May 7 and run to October.
Just by stopping by the New-York-City-based vendors' tents, customers will find vintage clothing, handmade bags and jewelry, crafts and homemade T-shirts.
Maruska, owner of children's vintage clothing shop Stinky and Minky, is coming back for her second year at the fair.
"[The fair] is fantastic; they do a great job setting it up," she said, adding that it's a good way for a store owner to tap into the Lower East Side community. Maruska, whose kids' outfits are fashioned from '50s and '60s stock, said she has collected vintage clothing continuously from her travels and contacts made around the world.
Belle Costes is another vendor who will be at the fair.
"I found out about the fair accidentally one day, when they were relatively new," she said. "It took me a while to get a spot because there are a lot of vendors waiting in line."
Costes, who creates handmade jewelry, has been working on a new selection of Victorian handbags. The purses consist of high-quality leather and are uniquely made. She is sure to incorporate vintage brooches and lace, as well as found objects, into her artistic pieces.
21-year-old Natasha Spedalle of Wink and Flip will be offering new lines designed straight out of a fashion magazine for just a fraction of the price.
"This [summer] season we're excited to offer chunky emerald cocktail rings, turquoise mosaic-style statement necklaces, a Chanel-style leather bracelet with big gold links, gold bib necklaces that look like lace," she said.
Some of the other vendors who be present at this year's fair include Marble & Milkweed skin care, The {NewNew} crafts and Time Will Tell watches.
But perhaps the most tantalizing part of the fair is the unbelievable selection of food. Melt Bakery's ice cream sandwiches, First Prize Pies, Macaron Parlour, Taiwanese shaved ice, Herbin Spoonful's caramels and sauces and La Sonria Empanadas are only a few of the wide selection that will be available for all to try on Sundays.
