Union Square Greenmarket

Usually packed with busy New Yorkers headed about their daily activities, Union Square transforms during the Greenmarket, an outdoor farmers' market held every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8am-6pm, year-round. Local purveyors offer everything from seasonal fruits and vegetables (more than 1,000 varieties can be found at the market) to grass-fed beef and raw milk cheeses from rural New York. While the organic treats steal the show, the eco-friendly market offers more than just one-stop shopping; there is a clothing-recycling drop-off once a week, and cooking demonstrations and tastings are held almost every day. Separate from the Greenmarket, the Union Square Holiday Market (which runs from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve), with venders selling jewelry, gourmet treats, themed decorations and festive food and drinks, adds a dose of holiday cheer to bleak winter months.