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September 2008« August 2008 - October 2008 »September 30, 2008See What Happens When You Flea?
Elma and Brian of Blint Design hold it down every week in B2 with their beautifully crafted funky but modern jewelry, and after years of hard work they're about to set up their own brick-and-mortar shop, Baubles & Thorn. Their brownstone ground-floor spot at 111 Lafayette Ave. (at S. Oxford St.)--just down the block from the Flea--has its grand opening tomorrow (Wed.) evening at the fab new shop, 6-9p. You're all invited!
Then Design*Sponge highlighted their awesome stuff in their recent post about the Flea's upcoming Fall Furniture Festival (starting this Sunday!), curated by Greenjeans, and just last week Time Out ran this cute/hilarious story (right) following the gals as they salvaged wood from Fort Greene garbage piles. Well-deserved yo! (Nightwood is in B1 this Sunday, and in the Furniture Fest Oct. 19.) Marisa's spanking-new whoopie pie (and more) outfit WannaHavaCookie got a visit from a producer from that arbiter of culinary taste, Rachel Ray, and wouldn't you know it, this Thursday at 10:00am, Wanna's "Baker's Choice Sampler" will be featured as the Snack of the Day on one of the most-watched food shows on TV. (Check here for local listings.) Marisa is around E5 or so every other Sunday. If you have other Flea success stories to share, let us know! Time Out photo credit: Jeff Gurwin September 26, 2008Pizza Pizza!
We've been talking to him about it for months now, and Dave is finally ready to go public: his Pizza Moto mobile brick-oven pizzeria will debut this Sunday at za Flea. Yes, you heard right. We met Dave, who's a chef at Lunetta on Smith St., through Betsy and Rachel from Salvatore Bklyn Ricotta--about as awesome a reference as there is--and after he successfully tested out his insane but glorious idea at the ricotta gals' recent wedding (yay!), we knew the Flea was the next frontier. Dave built the brick oven (right) by hand, and he'll be starting off simply with 8" traditional margherita pies (mozzarella, tomato, basil) for $8. That's it. He'll be in F2, back by the bleachers between Choice and Blue Marble. Mangia! Scavenger Hunt Items: September 28
For newcomers, when you find the item, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday at Noon. Happy hunting! Clockwise from top left: 2. Purple enamel E.T. pendant. Vintage 3. Groovy ceramic owl. Vintage September 25, 2008What's New?
St. Kilda Jewelry is holding a super-special sample sale at the Flea on Sunday. Friendly Nora has been spreading the word about her beautiful "Love Ring" (above) and other lovelies, so come early for the good stuff. (Refinery 29 named it Sale of the Day this week.) B13, right in front. We're psyched that Rick Gallagher of 280 Modern, the former stellar Lafayette St./Soho antiques shop, will be at the Flea. Rick says he'll have "books, tribal art, victoriana, ephemera, folk art, and more." Good enough for us! B8.
A trio of fine folks from the old Chelsea fleas and the 25th St. Garage (which closes at the end of November) make their Flea debuts Sunday: Rhonda Polen and Bruce Moore (aka Going Hollywood, Mara Vernaza and Katie McDonnell. Rhonda and Bruce will have "American art pottery, glass, mid-century modern furniture, chrome (Chase, Revere), advertising pieces, fabrics, '40/'50s, Art Deco--wow! Katie and Mara specialize in high-end vintage clothing, and Mara always has great bags of all kinds. Katie and Mara are back-to-back in B20 and B23. Going Hollywood in L14. Tahir Boutique, the groovy, affordable vintage shop on Orchard St. on the LES, is back for their second Flea Sunday, after a successful debut last weekend. Owner Arianna is well-liked (for good reason) and their wide range of clothes and accessories are, like, really hip. W46.
Pals Heather and Mabel have dubbed themselves Two Closets and will bring cleaning out both this Sunday. Mostly size 2-6 clothes and accessories for the ladies--sounds like stylish stuff! E32. Elizabeth Kenney has nice pocketbooks, jewelry, shoes and other gently used contemporary items. B11. September 24, 2008"Flea Flickr" Take 2
Heavy on the culinary delights (there are so many!), Alexis nails the spirit of ze Flea quite nicely we think. Especially love the cloud-writing snapshot and the huarache close-ups. She shot these on the day of the "Superstar DJ Record Fair," Sept. 14. Enjoy! Click here to send us your pics for a future post. You can also post them on our fab new Facebook page. September 23, 2008Finders/Keepers Week 11
Val's in E12 every Sunday with awesome vintage jewelry, mostly earrings. Check back Friday at noon for this week's items. September 19, 2008Scavenger Hunt Items: September 21
For newcomers, when you find the item, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday at Noon. Happy hunting! 1. Penny earrings, gold-plated, dated 1964. Vintage Where's My Scooter!?
Just a quick note about a couple special vendors this week.
Back at home in BK, Daniel Sklaar's Fine + Raw Chocolate (right) is back at the Flea after a super-sunny day cut short his debut. His raw chocolate is yummy and intriguing to talk about. (Sweetie Justine's Nunu Chocolates are equally convo-worthy of course.) Fine + Raw ain't got no sugar, no dairy, no nuttin' really, just pure uncooked goodness. Taste it, you'll see. First your tastebuds take notice, then your mouth starts yappin' about it to everyone you know. E8 Fab Furniture Fest @ Ze Flea!
Our pals at Design*Sponge wrote a divine post on the event this morning. Thanks gals! The focus of the festival is furniture designed and made in Brooklyn, with a few local/regional designers as well (upstate, Vermont). Every Sunday in October, a rotating cast of 5-6 furniture designers out of a total roster of 15-20 will be highlighted in a special 20'x30' "pod" at the Flea--likely spots B7-12 off the handball wall to your right when you walk in. If the fall fest goes well, we'll try do this twice a year. We have high hopes that special events like these will keep the Flea fresh for regulars, give never-beens a reason to come through, and of course build a little community among our borough and city's stellar creatives of all kinds. Here's the preliminary list of designers onboard so far. And check back with us and the Greenjeans Fall Furniture Festival site for news and updates as October approaches. 4Korners September 15, 2008Finders/Keepers Week 10
This week's winners are both avowed weekly Fleagoers, which fills Senor with pride to the point of brimming. (No one found either of the records this week. Incroyable!) Check back Friday at noon for this week's items. Here are this week's winners, from left: Alexis Ching (right) of Clinton Hill found the kaffiyeh-scarf-design record bracelet at 11:12am. She's joined by Monkey of WrecordsByMonkey, who melt down vintage vinyl and create all kinds of cool bracelets and accessories. Note their new cuckoo record clock in the background! The Monkeys are in W27 every single week. September 12, 2008Scavenger Hunt Items: September 14
For newcomers, when you find the item, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday at Noon. Happy hunting! From left: 2. Aretha, Live at Fillmore West (Atlantic, 1971). Vintage 3. Bracelet featuring kaffiyeh design (made from recycled album vinyl). New 4. Framed photo of Maria Seymour-Conway, Marchioness of Hertford. Tinted plate, gilt frame. Vintage September 11, 2008What's New?
Stephen Antonson used to sell mid-century furniture and lighting to shops in the city, but now that he's out of that game, what do with a storage unit full of chairs, tables, lamps, and photographs? Find out in C5.
Diane Burke designs greeting cards and the like that include vintage/found items like old buttons, stamps, and dried flowers. E25 What's old is new this fall, as many of our regular vendors from spring return. Adele Amore returns with her expertly curated vintage costume jewelry and '50s housewares. L8 Chairloom is back with her perfectly crafted and matched re-purposed seats of all kinds. V6 Alison Tauber's gorgeous handmade pillows and contemporary fabric patterns are finally back at the Flea. W44 And Kim of Keep It Moving Design--she of the knitted plants and vegetables that everyone [hearts]--will be among us again as well. E31 Record Press
Check back tomorrow for some exciting last-minute additions to the Fair. Time Out also has a "Subway Tour" focused on taking the G train to Classon Ave., which shouts out the Flea and awesome regular vendors like Brooklyn Junior and Counter Evolution, as well as local pals Tillie's and Choice Market. September 10, 2008Jamaican Me Hungry!
The folks from the Blue Mountain Jamaican restaurants (Flatlands, Flatbush, Canarsie) will be serving up nothing but their finger-licking specialty (plus some Jamaican sodas) starting Sunday: jerk chicken! Travis Sylvester, who sells clothes in the W30s every Sunday, let it be known that his pops, Junior, has been a staple/legend in the jerk scene for more than a decade, and when Senor Flea and Mr. B sampled their freshly jerked birds (left, with plantains and veggies), it was decided on the spot that the Flea needed this spice of life. Seek out Junior and fam back by the bleachers near the Clermont entrance, over by Shane the bike guy. Hot Bread Kitchen returns for fall, with vaunted status to boot. They were (deservedly) featured on the cover of Edible Brooklyn's summer issue (right), and also received a prestigious Echoing Green fellowship. One line should truly convince you: Jersey tomato, feta, basil focaccia. What?! E1. Yum. Superstar DJ Record Fair This Sunday!
The Flea's first-ever special event is nearly upon us: this Sunday, Sept. 14, the Superstar DJ Record Fair comes to town, with 10-15 musicians and DJs selling records (and some CDs) from their private collections for one day only. (Everyone will be located under a giant tent near the backstop/DJ area--W21-27 on the map.) Fleagoers will have access to the personal/secret collections of some of the finest DJs, musicians, and record labels in our fair city: Other Music employees (including Duane and Mikey), dj /rupture, DJ Rekha (of Basement Bhangra fame), Def Jux Records (head honcho and former Company Flow MC El-P will be in the house!), McBoing Boing (Rubulad), DJs db and Dara (of the NASA, Breakbeat Science, and Jungle Nation crews), Crito of the experimental and awesome Broklyn Beats collective, Doug and Casey from the EAT Records shop/cafe in Greenpoint, and local collectors Chris Bishop (aka DJ Chas Kit), Brett Webb, and more. (Note: DFA Records is a very last-minute cancellation for this Sunday. Very sad!) In addition, the Superstar DJs will get a half-hour or so each to spin on the Flea's modest sound system, and every record they play will be for sale. And every item in this week's Scavenger Hunt will be a record or record-related. Fun. As if that weren't enough, our regular crew of Flea vendors will be bringing out vinyl and music-related treasures galore at their booths around the market. Jarontiques, for example, has a trove of original posters from Bill Graham and the Family Dog, who put on legendary concerts with the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, LOVE, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in peak-hippie late '60s San Francisco. Like, really far out, man! Alex from Unbreakable Records returns to the Flea Sunday, and he'll have crates of old funk 45s, among other treats. Check out the Village Voice preview of the fair out today. Note: Our fabulous flyer was designed by Noel Claro, the excellent chick who does all our visuals with both speed and pizazz. Thanks Noel! September 9, 2008Flea Flickr
So each week (ideally) we'll be posting a few flavorful photos to give you a taste of what you missed and what to expect if you've never been (say it ain't so!). The first photo (above) shows The Real World: Brooklyn crew shooting at the Flea last Sunday. Anyone know which contestant/resident they were filming? And we hereby issue a clarion call to submit your Flea photos to Senor for guest posting in this very weekly blog spot. Captions/IDs appreciated. Click here to send us your pics. You can also post them on our fab new Facebook page. Enjoy the view! PS: Amy from Greenjeans posted this snazzy Flea Flickr yesterday--good stuff. September 8, 2008Facebook Flea!The inevitable has arrived: the Flea's very own Facebook page. To join, simply click here and then "Become a Fan." We'll be posting lots of photos, video, and info on upcoming special events like this Sunday's "Superstar DJ Record Fair" (more on that tomorrow) and October's Fall Furniture Festival curated by Greenjeans. Feel free to add to our Wall and post your own pics, too. (Face)book 'em Dano! Finders/Keepers Week 9
Here are this week's winsome winners: September 5, 2008Scavenger Hunt Items: September 7
When you find the item, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday at Noon. Happy hunting! From left: 2. Cut glass candy dish, probably 1960's. Vintage What's New?
We've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Victoria Hoffman and her trove of vintage quilts since she first inquired about the Flea back in May. She's finally ready to roll, and judging by the c. 1885 Log Cabin quilt (above) her booth is a must-see. C14 Martha McDonald is trekking down from Massena, NY, up near Montreal, with a lot of great stuff. To wit: "architectural antiques and a varity of antiques, not really large furniture, maybe the odd table or chair set, lots of collectibles, some vintage clothing, primitives, like old crocks, and sadd irons, also vintage fabric frames and dishes." Martha also referenced "pillars of all sizes," which is intriguing to say the least. Say hi to Martha halfway down the midway, and maybe buy her a cup of coffee--that's a long trip! W36 In a common vendor refrain, it's time for Daniel Goldsmith to part with his "two storage spaces full of western goods, art, small furniture, pocket watches, 1920's-'50s ladies watches, very good but used computer parts and some Hollywood stuff from movie sets that I collected over the years." Allow the Flea to help Daniel make a clean break with his past! Near the pupusas, E27.
We didn't welcome Beantowner Liz Donovan of Doc and Gam's last time, so we'll do it now. She's got a nice eclectic, affordable mix for gals and guys, including preppy letter sweaters, jean jackets, flannels, and Pringle cardigans. Don't feel like fall yet, but it's a-comin'. W44 On the upscale tip, 25th St. Garage vet Marijo Hornung swoops in straight from Brimfield with his "high-line" vintage clothing and costume jewelry. Purses out, ladies! W35 We thank recent newcomer Harry Cooker, also of the Garage, for sending Marijo our way, and urge you to peruse his well-curated selection of antiques over on the Vanderbilt fence, which is becoming quite the string of top-notch stuff! V6 Rounding out the first-timers: ADC Pottery and Glass represents the ceramic work of three Brooklyn artists: Last-minute addition Honor Bowman of Wing Nut Brooklyn makes headbands, hair clips, wedding veils, and cocktail hats, working with craft birds, silk flowers, pearls, buttons, feathers, and costume jewelry. Pretty! E35 So Baked
The folks at Baked (above) on Van Brunt St. in Red Hook make their Flea debut Sunday, and we're excited to see what special goodies they pull out of their bakers' hats. Co-owner Matt mentioned whoopie pies and mini coca-cola and rootbeer bundt cakes, which sound like a promising start. They'll also have copies of their new book for sale. (Ask about their upcoming new location, in New Orleans' French Quarter!) E8, with the other foodsters. Laura and Lorin are the two blondes behind Hot Blondies Bakery, whose blondie, butterscotch white-chocolate chip, and s'mores brownies are scrumptious (and big) enough to fell a man, baked or not. They're new to the baked-goods scene, and we like their chances. E5. We would be remiss if we didn't proclaim the virtues of our stalwart fave (and cutie) Keavy, whose Kumquat Cupcakery remains a staple of many Fleasters' visits, and whose success we continue to hail. She rocks new flavors every week, pretty much guaranteed to knock your knickers off. E4, every week. Where the Sidewalk Vends
This week marks the first outreach effort of the Greene Hill Food Coop, the promising new community venture that's actively seeking organizers, supporters, and members. Senor Flea, who grew up packaging tofu with Mamacita and Hermano Flea at a Boston co-op in the '70s, can't say enough good things about the potential positives of Brooklynites coming together in the name of healthy/local/yummy food. Put the co in op yo! The Fort Greene Indie Bookstore Initiative (right) is back for a third week of spreading the word (what else?) about their concept for a new local bookshop that emerges out of community wants and needs. We're all for this kind of '60s, Jane Jacobs-y stuff, and strongly encourage you to browse their offerings if you haven't already. OK, consider this post tabled! September 3, 2008The Office
Among the goodies Amy mentioned: a bunch of Knoll chairs and tables ('60s–'80s) (pictured), loads of great Steelcase tables and chairs (same era), a couple of modern, wood/metal desks, and some wooden credenzas. A lot of the items are office furniture, which we've always thought looks just as nice at home typically. Amy said the stuff would be priced to sell too, which elevated her booth to can't-miss/blog status. Look for Amy's name on the layout when it's posted (every Saturday at noon btw). Let this font of furniture whet your appetite for the Flea's upcoming Furniture Festival, curated by Greenjeans, featuring up-and-coming local furniture makers and designers every Sunday in October. Woo hoo! September 2, 2008Finders/Keepers Week 8
Somehow or another just one of last week's 3 Hunt Items were scavengered. Maybe no one wanted to work too hard over Labor Day? The unfound 2 items will return at a later date. Check back Friday at noon for this week's items. Here's this week's happy camper: |
The 
We may have to start saying za Flea from now on. 
Also on the high-design front, the designers' reps 
Young brother-and-sister duo Sara and Mark Strauss are cool. Sara makes nice handmade jewelry, while Mark designs and hand-paints awesome intricate T-shirts (right), which are really worth a look. W25.
Regina from Chelsea (left) scored the penny vintage earrings from Val of 
The folks who recently opened the 
Bucks County (PA) babes Meg, Christine, and Rebecca launched 
Kyle and Kasia, an industrial designer and fine artist, respectively, who met at Pratt, formed 
Fort Greener Amanda Carter has an awesome collection of vintage jewelry, specializing in Art Deco, Art Nouveau and Victorian pieces, with some newer pieces thrown in. The Deco enamel earrings at right look particularly enticing. E32
Some nice profiles of this Sunday's "Superstar DJ Record Fair" DJ/vendors in this week's issue of 
Painter Glen Rumsey is in the midst of a series of bird-inspired paintings (somewhat in the vein of Flea vet 
Pretty much every Sunday there's a table or two set up outside the Lafayette gate for local (or not-so-local) organizations to promote themselves to savvy, diverse, friendly Fleagoers like you. Everyone from wind-power companies to local upstart charter schools to daycare centers to the Brooklyn Wolverines, Fort Greene's new high-school football team, have done awareness-raising in front of the Flea, and we curate that space just as acutely as the vendors inside the market. So stop by, hear 'em out, see what's up.
