THE GOOD LIFE......

, SHOPPING.......

A. BROWSING MARKETS INSTEAD OF THE MALL

Lucky for reluctant shoppers, outdoor outcroppings of stalls spring up each year at this time, proferring handcrafted tchotchkes,
unique apparel, housewares, beauty products,
toys and exotic delicacies.
Featuring 300 vendors adjacent to a skating rink,
the Strasbourg market is the largest in France
and has been around for almost half a millennium.



Situated in the shadow of the Strasbourg Cathedral, it includes a series of charming timbered buildings housing shops and a gingerbread bakery (through Dec.31;strasbourg.com).
Cologne, Germany, boasts six Christmas markets, including the Floating Christmas Market, held on a boat moored on the Rhine alongside the Old Quarter (through Dec.23; germany-christmas-market.org.uk).
Town Hall Square in Tallinn, Estonia, is home to one of the youngest Christmas markets in Europe, established in 2001.
Unlike others in the region, it doesn't close until New Year's Day, giving visitors extra time to peruse the selection of felt hats and slippers, wreaths and handmade candles, as well as toy animals handcrafted from sea grass (tallinn-life.com).
Craftworks are plentiful at the expansive Liseberg market in Goteborg, Sweden, which is located on the grounds of a giant amusement park strung with 5 million lights.
At the Liseberg Ice Gallery and Bar, the walls, furnishings and even drinking glasses are all made of blue ice (through late December; liseberg.se).
If you still can't find the perfect gift, there's always Santa.

- E.M -

B. ACCESSORIES OF THE SEASON

A christmas tree should be just as well dressed as
the guest sitting down to dinner.



To that end, Faberge makes its bejelwed eggs into ornaments in
deliciously
bright colours ; CZAREVITCH (blue), ANASTASIA (red), SWAN (purple), CLOVER (amber)
($200 each; neimanmarcus.com).



Jay Strongwater's Hinged Crown ornament, set with Swarovski crystals,
plays Tchaikovsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" when opened ($395; jaystrongwater.com).



Ne'Qwa Art hand-paints its glass ornaments on the inside,
and can customize its design to match any holiday whimsy,
from snowmen to Santa (prices vary; neqwa.com).
Some decorations can double as dessert.


Exclusively for Selfridge's department store in the Britain, Artisan du Chocolat has produced colorful spherical baubles,
made of its finest houseblend chocholate ($89 for 1kg; artisanduchocolat.com).


Biskuiteers brings cheer with its
Christmas Luxe Baubles tin,
chock-full of edible decorations
with sparkly icing and gold ribbon
to hang on the tree ($63; biskuiteers.com).




But for the ultimate in festive decorating,
hosts can adorn the table with Fortnum and Mason's Cardinal Chorus crackers,
which resemble oversize wrapped candy and explode when pulled at both ends, revealing goodies like cuff links and jewelry ($1,480 for six; fortnumandmason.com).



Then the halls will be truly decked.


- JOANNA HEATH -