What: Spring Handmade Cavalcade
Where: The Bell House, Gowanus
When: May 9 & 10, 10a.m.—4 p.m.
Why: This weekend, a small band of Etsy DIY-ers will attempt to channel Frank Sinatra’s New York mantra, “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.” Initially, these handmade enthusiasts found most bazaars in New York booked or nearly impossible to get into.
Upon learning that two of their team members had a place in Beacon, “We cavalcaded to the Hudson Valley and tried selling at their second Saturday gallery event,” said Kristin Couse, event coordinator for the Spring Handmade Cavalcade.
After finding success off the island of Manhattan, the DIY-ers formed a regional support group of independent artists called the The {NewNew}, comprised of local Etsy sellers from the New York and New Jersey metro areas. Now, nearly two years later they’ve grown to over 200 sellers and are hosting their third handmade market this spring weekend.
Of the more than 30 diverse handmakers, expect to see booths with goods like vintage textiles repurposed into home accessories by Cakehouse, daydream inspired stationery by msshoelace, body adornment jewelry by Lingua Nigra, handmade soap and body essentials by Nordea’s Soapery and sweet bites by Nine Cakes.
It’s possible you’ve seen these artists’ work around the neighborhood at other outdoor markets or events. However, at The {NewNew’s} events “there’s no reselling vintage. Everything is 100% handmade by artists in your own community, some living three blocks away who just want to connect with you,” said Kimm Alfonso, head of The {NewNew}.
Whether you can afford fine jewelry or something as simple as a homemade cupcake, at least come out for the music, drinks, and that good ole New York spirit permeating in the grand hall of The Bell House.
How to Get There: Take the F train to Brooklyn. Exit 4th Avenue near 9th street. Walk North on 4th avenue towards 8th street. Turn left on 7th to the address. The Bell House is open every day with 2 for 1 happy hour from 5pm-8pm. (The Bell House, 149 7th Street, Gowanus, Brooklyn, 718.643.6510,thebellhouseny.com) For more {NewNew} designs, visit their flickr set.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram