I love this time of year, when the very timbre of Gotham oozes holidays and festive feelings. Chanukah is a mere month away and so, as they have done the past ten-plus years or so, the Upper West Side's destination Jewish Community Center is holding its annual holiday sale on Wednesday, December 3 and Thursday, December 4, in the main lobby of the Samuel Priest Rose building, from 11am to 8pm.

PJ Cobbs' Central Park

The JCC’s very talented studio art/craft teachers will be selling their wares, so count on being able to buy a wide variety of wonderfully wrought handmade crafts — from exquisitely wrought designed, beaded, blown-glass, gold, and silver jewelry; textiles/scarves/wovens; ceramic and glass sculptures; and utilitarian objets, including serving pieces and dinner ware, toys, novelties, cutting boards, and so much more.

A fused glass plate by Melissa Terman

There will be booths from nine of the JCC's artists/instructors, including Melissa Terman (glass art and jewelry), PJ Cobbs (silk painting and wearable art), and Jungwon Lee (ceramics); prices will range from as little as a few dollars for small items (think stocking stuffers, even though we are not stuffing Chanukah stockings here!) to thousands for fine, 18-kt. gold jewelry and sculptures.

The JCC is located on the Upper West Side at 334 Amsterdam Avenue at 76 Street; check out more info on the art studios here. (If you're intrigued by all you see, you can even register for classes from these gifted instructors! The second semester begins in January.) Cash and checks are preferred, but plastic is also accepted.