Holiday Market returns to Astoria’s Sweet Afton
BY TAMMY SCILEPPI
Even Grinches and Santahaters
can’t say no to having
some holiday fun this time
of year.
Everyone’s welcome at one
of Astoria’s hippest hotspots,
Sweet Afton, where the mood
is mellow, the food memorable,
and the drinks are always
flowing.
The gastropub’s popular
Holiday Market promises to be
a good time, according to founder
Christine Haber, who organizes
the annual event, now in
its ninth year. Stop by Sunday
between noon and 5 p.m. to discover
an irresistible selection of
one-of-a-kind and handcrafted
finds by local artisans at reasonable
prices that would surely
turn even Mr. Grinch’s frown
upside down.
The beloved bar, which will
be celebrating its 10th anniversary
in 2019, has become a true
neighborhood destination for
work by local artisans.
“I’ve lived in Astoria for 20
years and if you rewind a decade
to the time when Sweet Afton
opened, there really weren’t
local spots like this where people
would congregate the way
they do here. It was one of the
first gastropubs in the neighborhood,
and it set off that
trend here,” Haber said. “So
many relationships have been
created at Sweet Afton – it connects
people. I worked as a server
when the bar first opened
and many of the vendors were
customers, or people that I met
through working here who’ve
now become friends.”
Each holiday season, vendors
offer their wares at the market.
About a dozen artisans will
be selling jewelry, ornaments,
clothing, artisanal cocktail ingredients,
handmade purses
and wallets, paintings and other
artwork. Featured products
will include feminist tote bags
by Cricket La Lou Totes, Astoria
themed calendars by AJ the
Awful and handmade wooden
cutting boards and lamps by JTwoodworks.
Haber said her vision was to
start a unique market featuring
local creatives’ offerings.
“As an artist (I sell the I
Sweet Afton is hosting its ninth annual Holiday Market.
Heart Astoria line of handprinted
apparel and totes), I was
so frustrated with participating
in markets that were impossible
to get into, paying $100 just to
get a table,” she recalled. “When
you’re new to the neighborhood
or new to selling your wares,
you’re worried about making
your money back. You might not
even make a profit if the public
doesn’t know your work yet.
Many customers, residents
and their families, as well as
Photo by Noah Fecks
visitors come out to support the
market. It’s always a fun day.
The group Caroling for Charity
comes in to sing, and brunch
is served all afternoon. You
can browse, shop, and enjoy
a breakfast burger and a hot
mulled cider.
Brunch service will continue
until 4:30 p.m. Sunday,
with hangover-curing classics
from “Chopped” champion
Nick Testa, like the Benny
Burger (poached egg, hollandaise,
crispy potatoes, Canadian
bacon, frisée) and bar director
Mike Di Tota’s elevated cocktail
menu, with choices like arugula
topped Bacon Bloody Mary
(made with bacon-infused bourbon),
hot spiked cider, and The
Upstate (brown butter-washed
bourbon, pear, cinnamon, orange
blossom water, bitters).
“Vendors who sell with us
know that they’re going to do
well, as it’s a really vibrant,
well-attended market. Artists
who are new to the neighborhood
or to selling their
work, can get their products
in front of a big audience. It’s
a great place to launch a new
business,” Haber said.
Emily Toxie Keating and
John Keating of Astrid Paper &
Home are excited about selling
their work at the market; this
will be their second year.
“This is a fun market for
us because of the festive atmosphere
– you might catch us with
a beer or two to celebrate one of
our last shows of a very busy
season,” John Keating said.
Crafting artisanal tonic
syrup with natural ingredi-
CATERING MENU
Buffet Menu Sit Down Dinner
Minimum 40 Guests 3 Hour Function
(Mon.-Sat. 12-3pm or 1-4pm)
Assorted Breads & Rolls
All Unlimited
Large Tossed Salad
Fresh Cooked Turkey and Roast Beef Platter
Potato & Macaroni Salad
Choice of Five Main Dishes
Baked Ziti Penne a la Vodka Chicken Marsala
Sausage & Peppers Eggplant Rollatini
Meatballs Chicken Francese Shepherd’s Pie
Minimum 25 Guests 3 Hour Function
(Mon.-Sun. 5-10pm)
Assorted Breads & Rolls
House Salad
Choice of Three Main Dishes
Served with Potato & Vegetables
Broiled Filet of Sole Chicken Marsala
Penne a la Vodka Shrimp Scampi
Chicken Francese Spinach Ravioli
Shepherd’s Pie 16 oz. Black Angus Certifi ed
Shell Steak $4 extra / per person
Buff et Only...........................................................$18.95/pp
Dinner with Soft Drinks...................................$21.95/pp
Dinner w/ Domestic Tap Beer, Wine & Soda...$23.95/pp
Dinner w/ Mixed Drinks, Domestic Beer
(Bottle & Tap) Wine & Soda..............................$26.95/pp
Dinner w/ Top Shelf Liquors, Imported &
Domestic Beer (Bottle & Tap), Wine & Soda...$37.95/pp
Dinner w/ Domestic Tap Beer, Wine & Soda..$24.95/pp
Dinner w/ Mixed Drinks, Domestic Beer
(Bottle & Tap) Wine & Soda................................$27.95/pp
Dinner w/ Top Shelf Liquors, Imported &
Domestic Beer (Bottle & Tap), Wine & Soda...$37.95/pp
FRESH COFFEE, BREWED DECAF & TEAS
DESSERT
Chocolate Truffl e Cake
214-22 41st Ave., Bayside, NY 11361 718-224-9898 maggiemaysbayside.com
TIMESLEDGER,44 DEC. 14-20, 2018 TIMESLEDGER.COM