Brooklyn Flea

Dan Hendricks first sold with us in May, pre-"What's New?," so we're showing him some second-round love. He explained at the time how "My two bedroom apartment is looking more like a modernist storage space" (above). Senor drooled. Dan's back. L5

Michaela and Barret run Avalon, their mid-century furniture and lighting biz, out of Center 44 in Midtown, and they're pals with Garage vets like Joseph Sipos (Estate of Art Vintage) and Susan Blank (frames galore). They shop the Flea a lot; this time they're on the other side. V11

Sparkly Susan also does the Garage, focusing on vintage jewelry and mid-century objects (right). She's also a roller-disco fan in Providence, and we think it's Jay Stewart's presence at the Flea that may have convinced her to cross the bridge at last. Woo-hoo! B21

Prop stylist (always a good sign) Wendy Schelah is doing her big closet clean-out (always a good sign), including Danish Modern hanging lamps, Italian table lamps, and vintage housewares (meow). Her pal Anna, a published author (including Yummy Mummy Manifesto) and contributor to Elle (always a good sign) and Conde Nast Traveler has a "mountain" of vintage handbags, dresses, and accessories. Beware the deluge! W38

"Lazy" Eddy and Katrina are double-decade flea vets--Broadway/Grand, Stormville, Brimfield (right)--and now their Treewood Antiques calls Oceanside, Long Island, home. Whaddatheygot? "Furniture, lighting, and accessories from 19th century to industrial to mid-century modern." They Flea'd last week, but came onboard too late for ze blog. Find 'em, they're good. W11

Carroll Gardener Lewis Williams does jewelry decorated with olde English-style charms, like the ring at right. His a vet of London market stalls, sounds like a charmer of a chap. E26

Planet Clare is Clare(duh) from Philly's trove of goods collected from her world travels: Mexican folk art (right), Central Asian wedding hats, Uzbeki and Turkmeni embroidered cloths (aka "suzanis"), and the like. We're pretty selective about stuff from the "world crafts" interzone, have a good feeling about Senora Clare. B18

The lovely lads of Treasures + Pleasures are already getting into the giving spirit. They recently came across a trove of '60s Lucite children's jewelry--candy-stripe bangles, necklaces, smiley rings, and the like--some of which you can see festooned on the teddy bear at right.

Rafael, George and, Carole will let youngsters shopping with an adult pick an item from the kids jewelry at the Flea--absolutely FREE! We think that's pretty cool and generous, and right in line with the positivity of our new era. T+P is in L8/9 every Sunday.

(While we're on the holiday tip, stay tuned for news about Gifted, our awesome holiday market, starting Nov. 30 at the Masonic Temple, that gorgeous building across the street from the Flea. T+P is just one of the 40 or so snazzy vendors--regular Fleasters and non-- we're curating over 4 Sundays. More news soon!)

Jay Stewart is in the house. Armed with milk crates crammed with disco, R&B, hip-hop, and soul hits, grooves, and promos, Jay's booth at his Sunday debut was a revolving door of diggin' DJ talent: Danny Krivit (Body + Soul), db, Gary Pini (Profile Records), blogger Andy Beta, and Senor (who snagged Patrice Rushen's Pizzazz around 8am).

Jay was a last-minute addition last Sunday (shout-out to Shane da Bikejack for the hookup), and he'll be back from now on in a permanent location in the backstop (W8)--where Senor and Hermano Flea spun this summer--where he can provide some mellifluous tones for marketgoers and vendors. No stranger to the 1's and 2's, Jay came up through the NYC disco/house primordial soup with Larry Levan and the Paradise Garage crew in the '70s and '80s; now he holds court at the legendary Central Park roller-disco scene near Sheeps Meadow (above).

And ya don't stop...

We like this one, just fits in with the Flea somehow.

The fine folks from Greene Grape Provisions on Fulton St. will be taking pre-orders for their Tom Terrific Thanksgiving birds: heritage and free-range turkeys, geese, and capons.

Just like in ye town squares of olde, stop by your local market (the Flea) and chat with the bird expert, who can tell you how big a fowl to buy, how to know when your goose is cooked, and just what exactly a capon is. (The expert is from top turkeys D'Artagnan.)

They'll also have samples of the delish deep-fried that Myrtle Ave.'s Jive Turkey churns out. Now, Jive Turkey's birds are first come-first served for Thanksgiving--which is why the lines go around the block this time of year. Greene Grape has magically scored a few Jive boids for pre-order, and they're reserving some of those just for Fleasters like you. Come quick before those Toms are gobbled up!

Also! Empire State cheese galore. Try an Old Chatham Camembert from, er, Old Chatham; Cave-Aged Tilset from Harpersfield; and Kunik Triple Cream and honey lavender fromage blanc from Nettle Meadow Farm in Warrensburg. Try some/buy some.

Another gorgeous day at the Flea (6000+!), and 3 really psyched Hunters.

Check back Friday at noon for this week's items.

Top left:

Diane Lee Brown (right) and Robie Anson (middle) are weekly Fleasters (like many Hunt winners), but they read the blog for the first time (sacre bleu!) last week and headed straight for Rebecca's awesome Bid Brooklyn booth where they Sparklets seltzer bottle awaited them. It was 10:01am. Diane rocks Boerum Hill; Robie's a Clinton Hiller. Rebecca holds it down around W42 most Sundays.

Top right:

Julianne Southwell (right) put her spiral silver earrings right in upon Scavenging them at 10:39am. She traveled down from the Upper East Side, and found Jessica DeCarlo's jewelry booth. Jess rocks E23 every Sunday.

Bottom left:

California gal (Berkeley to be exact) Liz was audibly hunting for the raw chocolate, and by 11:11am her Spidey senses had succeeded. Daniel of Fine + Raw Chocolate (a Senor fave) promptly spilled his platter of cocoa nibs all over the ground in raw euphoria. (Liz had first looked for the spiral earrings, but after learning they'd been scooped up already she bought a pair anyway, which she's wearing in the pic.) Daniel's in E9 pretty much every week.

Since we missed a week of Hunting, we're back with 3 items for Scavengers this Sunday.

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:

1. 1940's Sparklets seltzer bottle. Vintage

2. Sterling silver swirl hoop Earrings. New/Handmade

3. Artisan raw creamy chocolate. New (duh!)

This week's new vendors are plentiful and diverse--just like the wave of hope sweeping across our fair nation. (Nice pivot, eh?)

Without further ado, the November 9th newbies:

Setting a new long-distance record for Flea-vendor travel, Mike and Rebecca of Rivich Auction are hoofing it all the way from Chicago this Sunday. In light of recent national events, we'll gladly welcome some good vibes from the Windy City, and since we met it's become clear that Rivich is a major Midwest source for awesome, usable antiques--their stuff has graced the pages of Elle Decor and Domino. Welcome them warmly! W19/20.

Spotted is the New Milford, CT, shop (above, left) of Jennifer Floyd, a veteran of the Broadway/Grand, Chelsea, and Brimfield fleas, not to mention vintage shops on Christopher St. and in the Meatpacking District--i.e., the real deal yo. Her speciality is mid-century modern furniture and home accessories, and she'll also be porting in Patrick Wise (above, right), a character who specializes on funky-fancy jewelry. Check 'em out. B9

More antiques! Ellen and Kenn were born and raised in Brooklyn, and now live on Staten Island. Their Zazalooie Antiques promises loads of well-picked smalls, glass, silver, serving items (right)--the kinda stuff you love to stare at...and then buy! W1

Mary Ellen and Keith of Walker's Antiques + Collectibles are coming up from SE Pennsylvania with a promising double-spot full of "early to mid 20th century, including farm primitives, industrial, factory, or shop pieces, as well as painted and galvanized metal items...work tables and benches, butcher benches, metal tool stands, metal cabinets, small tables, and stools. We also carry galvanized buckets, metal bins, wire baskets, wood and metal tool carriers and various containers and stands that could be used for indoor or garden decorating." Sounds amazing! W15/16

The vintage-clothing-collecting duo of Gabriel Roman + Jason Frank call themselves Archives when they sell their '20s to '60s men's and women's wares at Manhattan Vintage and the Pier Show. Sounds like classy stuff, high hopes. W42

Back home in Clinton Hill, local fella Cornelius Freeman recently started a home staging business, and he's acquired a lot of mid-century pieces and modern '70s items. O Fleasters, please help Mr. Freeman avail himself of this stylish burden! L14

Alana has designed for Ralph Lauren, Urban Outfitters and Lilly Pulitzer, and she's been coming up to the Flea every Sunday from Philadelphia to her old 'hood. Now the shoe's on the other fashionista foot: She's dubbed her clothing collection (right) Petersen + Petersen Design Cartel and sharing it with you: "Military-inspired, beaded dresses, motorcycle boots and jackets, strappy heels, vintage sweaters from the '40s to the '70s." Her husband will also have some bright modern paintings for sale. Dig, baby, dig! E24

Kristine (dba "KJ's Closet") is similarly unleashing her deep closets upon the Flea: "Ladies coats, dresses, tops, sweaters, pants, shoes, bags and accessories...ranging in price from $12-$60--everything either gently used or pre-owned, but never worn. Brands include Burberry, Tahari, Gucci, Versace, Tracy Reese, Sweeties, and Velvet." Spidey senses tingling... W45

The cool Smith St. skateboard/coffee shop Homage Brooklyn debuts at the Flea Sunday, where we're hoping boarders of all ages will come through for their snowboards, clothes, sneakers, longboards, and skateboards. Killer! B23

Desiree and Tino just opened a screen-printing shop in Greenpoint called Seshwan, and also co-operate a very cool T-shirt line called Verte (right). They'll have a classic Flea mash-up of Verte T's, totes, pillows, and some vintage clothes and accessories. Look for the cool kids. W46

Py-O-My is Suzy's upstart mini-pie company, and judging by her scrumptious-looking apple baby (right), you can color us butter yellow with anticipation. (Suzy also bakes coconut-cream, pecan, pumpkin, and strawberry-custard pies, among others.) Grab a mini-pie and a hand-pumped espresso from Crop to Cup next store and you're good. E3

Christopher Starling hand-turns all the wood in his awesome pens, corkscrews and bottle-stoppers (right), magnifying glasses, and other items. He's new to the vendor scene, looks like great stuff. E36

Amy Kreiling makes leather and canvas bags as well as some jewelry and handmade books, while her pals Laura Fortune does whimsical enamel jewelry and objects. (They both happen to work at the Ted Muehling store, where Senor scored his perfect wedding band.) E34

The 2009 I Heart Brooklyn Girls calendar will make its public debut on Sunday, offering "foxy, feisty femmes from Brooklyn fashioned after images made popular in the '40s and '50s by pinup artists Elvgren and Vargas." A portion of proceeds from calendar sales benefit the Lesbian Herstory Archives. No pics here, come see for yourself! E24

We mistakenly touted Isabel Roxas as starting 2 Sundays ago. Isabel is an illustrator, designer, and Fulbright Scholar, and after 4 years working in the Philipines, she's back living in Astoria--and the first thing she wants to do is get her work out there, via the Flea of course. She'll be selling prints, silkscreened notebooks and other paper goods (right), and her booth will definitely be worth checking out. E32

So many new vendors! Gotta save space, here's who else is onboard:

Illustrator Drew Morrison is on the surreal/carney tip with his affordable prints. W37

Erika Lively is a one-timer, cleaning out some good vintage furniture and clothing. She's also a veteran of the Organic Grooves music/style scene. B5

India Haylor needs to unload a closetful of designer duds. E35

Smash + Grab is Jenny and Martha's vintage-clothing collection. Check out these up-and-comers. E14

Ross + Leo is Jessica's brand spanking new line of magnets, designed by all sorts of local artists and pals. E16

Ken runs SA Swank, and he'll have chunky, colorful jewelry made of stones, glass, bone and more--all straight outta South Africa. B18

Leslie Torre will be selling at her first Flea, unveiling her tote bags "with an NYC flair." E15

Lovely Molly of Flea fave Chairloom is doing a mitzvah this Sunday: if you've got a beat-up chair in need of a complete makeover (see her handiwork above), you can bring it to the Flea this Sunday, Nov. 9, and she'll cart if off in her truck, and then return it to you--re-upholstered, fresh, clean and snazzy--in a few weeks.

To arrange a pickup this Sunday, just drop Molly a line (chairloom@gmail.com) and y'all can work out the details (fabric, pillows, etc.).

The Flea: Living the good life made easy, friendly, and affordable.

Presidents come and go, but when you want real stability and solidity in life, pizza crosses demographic lines like nothing else in America.

So when we heard about Dave Sclarow's mobile brick-oven Pizza Moto, we knew: a) that it would be huge, fast; and b) that the Flea had to have it.

With "b" accomplished over the last month, "a" is upon us--witness today's New York Times Dining section profile on ze mobile maestro for evidence. Go Dave!

On a day of grand exultations, add one more.

Just a quick note before we get to our regular weekly posts that the Flea returns this Sunday, Nov. 9, at its regularly scheduled time: 10am to 5pm. We'll be there until Dec. 21, and stay tuned here for news about our upcoming Holiday Market and other exciting developments.

See ya Sunday!