May 2009

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May 29, 2009

Scavenger Hunt Items: May 30

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We continue with the vintage+new tandem for the Hunt, which has a distinctly utilitaarian and summery feel this week.

When you find one of the items above, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo with the generous vendor here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday around Noon.

Happy hunting!

From left:
1. Box of Venus watercolor pencils, made by the American Lead Pencil Co. in NYC. Vintage

2. Cotton print dress in matching bag. Handmade in India. New

What's New?

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What's new mostly this year is the friggin' weather has been cooperating with ze Flea on a full-on weekly basis. Sacre bleu this weekend looks beeyooteefull!

Oh, we also got some killer new vendors.

Housing Works is back, Housing Works is back! Combining the prowess of the ambitious and excellent AIDS housing, health, and more organization's Gramercy and Brooklyn (Montague St.) thrift shops, the HW folks will have a sampling of vintage furniture, clothing, accessories, books, shoes, and more every Saturday in Fort Greene starting this week. Rejoice! B7/FG, Sat

Mary Ellen and Keith of Walker Antiques down in southeastern Pennsylvania are always a huge hit at the Flea, and though they're technically only new this year, we don't want you to miss out. They've got this country/industrial/salvage look (above) that makes some New Yorkers squeal with faux-pastoral glee--which we support. Old doors, dime-store signs, metal lamps, giant wooden workbenches, and the like. W1/FG, Sat

Stylish onetimer alert! Kit von Dalwig and her collective of Brooklyn designers and architects have an assortment of vintage collectibles, design items, and clothing to dispense with. We have a feeling a few folks will be willing to oblige. W6/FG, Sat

City%20Owl.jpgSpeaking of industrial, City Owl Vintage is Ashley's upstart Brooklyn biz as a collector, and it's a doozy. Foundry molds, glass beakers, metal bins and lamps (right), all packed into an 8x8 booth. Scour and ye shall find. E37/FG, Sat

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. E36/FG, Sat

The well-loved Red Hook soap and flowers shop Saipua (which is moving to Van Dyke St. this weekend) is setting up shop with their pals Box and Flea and Totally Bruce this Saturday. They have beautiful bandannas, totes, jewelry, and of course Saipua's trademark soaps. E24/FG, Sat

Chairloom%2009.jpgChairloom was around a lot last season, but this is just their second appearance of '09. Upholstered classic chairs (right) and ottomans, no more no less. Expert to a T. V5/FG, Sat

In Dumbo for the last Sunday indoors, a couple of local folks will have tables worth seeking out.

Longtime film publicist Reid Rosefelt (Stranger than Paradise, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) and his wife Melissa will be unloading a career's worth of DVDs and CDs on Sunday. They have mostly foreign and independent titles as well as some rarities--plenty to dig through for the cinebuff. #41/81 Front, Sun

Estelle Swaray has tons of designer dresses and handbags she needs to dispense with--please help her out! #19/81 Front, Sun

May 28, 2009

Flea TV

Alexis%20Bledel.jpgThis Saturday you can catch a segment featuring the Flea on LXTV's First Look, which airs on Channel 4 WNBC in NYC on Saturday nights at 7:30pm and 1:00 am (after SNL). It will also show on taxi TVs that feature NBC programming in the near future. Bigtime!

The segment includes the 3 favorite places that actress/model Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, right) likes to go in NYC. Senor makes a brief appearance too.

Thank you Alexis--wherever you are--for being a fan of the Flea. We're humbled!

Anodyne Will Make You Feel Better

Peter%20Cole%20Spring.jpgPeter, Jarka and Charlie. Sounds like the newest hipster band to come out of Williamsburg, doesn't it? You can actually catch them every Saturday at the Flea--although not in skinny jeans and Vans, but as the endlessly adorable and familial proprietors of a booth called Anodyne. Papa, mama, and super precocious 7-year-old Charlie.

Anodyne wheels and deals in vintage clothing that Jarka cleans, fixes up and details; objects carefully selected by Peter; and most recently, handpainted purses by lil' Charlie! Charlie also displays skills in the B2B industry, as she'll watch a vendor's booth if they gotta pee and even makes one-of-a-kind business cards, like the one in the slideshow. (Um, adorable!)

Peter, an accomplished Brooklyn-based sculptor by day, currently has a really cool show up at the Dumbo gallery/design shop Spring (right)--give it a gander after strolling the Dumbo Flea this weekend.

Anodyne is in W47 in Fort Greene every Saturday.


Feelgood Flea

HOB%20Shuttle.jpgWe at the Flea are fans of fabric: the social variety in this case. You may have noticed a cavalcade of causes along the Lafayette Ave. fence of late--these are folks who we like who spread the word about their work to Fleasters from near and far. It's the old-fashioned town square thang, so give those peeps a peep before you pop in to shop.

Here's some of what's on tap this Saturday:
Heart of Brooklyn, the consortium of top Central Brooklyn cultural institutions, will be making the Flea a special onetime stop on its HOB Connection free shuttle service this Saturday. Hop on the shuttle outside the Lafayette Ave. gate and get a free ride to the Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Prospect Park Zoo, or the Brooklyn Public Library. The shuttle will also make stops at Prospect Heights restaurants and shops. Four pickup times: 10am, 12:30pm, 2pm and 4pm. All aboard!

PS 261 in Boerum Hill (Baby Flea's potential school?) will be holding a fundraiser at the Flea this week, with a trove of baby and kids clothing and accessories (car seats, high chairs, etc.). You can always get useful stuff super-cheap at these rummage sales--and feel good about helping a local school. They'll be in S4, by the bleachers and backstop.

Clinton Hill's PS 11 PTA is holding a doozy of a fundraiser for its classroom libraries next Friday, June 5, in the gorgeous upstairs space at iCi Restaurant on Dekalb Ave., featuring authors Colson Whitehead, Jennifer Egan, Toure, and more. You can buy tix ($30) for the event at their Lafayette table this Saturday only.

The folks from the Prospect-Lefferts Gardens House + Garden Tour (the 39th Annual if counting at home) features 11 historic homes in this stunningly handsome Central Brooklyn neighborhood (aka "Lefferts Manor"). The tour takes place this Sunday, and you can get your tix ($20) out front this Saturday from Rob and Elaine, who are OG PLG.

Ever been to the insanely awesome "Halloween House" at 313 Clinton Ave. (Lafayette/Dekalb)? Totally amazing over-the-top displays and performances every year. Spooky Janna from the house is raising funds for their ever-expanding scarefest out front, and she'll be back next Saturday, June 6.

Watch Out!

Steelcake%20Kanye.jpgJust a quickie newsflash that your favorite rapper/celeb Kanye West is a fan of our fab Dumbo watchmaker Matthew's Steel Cake Watch Co. "Ye" featured the snazzy Steel Cake Square Chrono (right) on his entertaining and informative UniverseCity blog recently, and basically we just thought that was cool.

Look for Matthew's watchworks on fashion biggie Stacy London's "What Not To Wear" TV show sometime in June.

This Sunday is the last for the indoor Dumbo markets at 76 + 81 Front--get it while ya can! (Not to worry though: Brooklyn Bridge Flea coming soon--starting Sunday, June 14.)

May 27, 2009

BFF of the Week: Joanna Spinks

So I'm chattin with Joan Van Hees at B13 asking her to hook a chick up with a BFF but she's way too busy handling the hungry vintage buyers. I mean, I get it, everybody wants some. But sometimes we all need a little help in meeting that next special someone.

But just as you think you're gonna be alone for the rest. of. your week., the stars align and the racks part and there they are. Meet Joanna Spinks.

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Where are you from?
I'm from Boston but I live in Clinton Hill now.

If you were a vendor at the Flea, what would you sell?
Clothes. Definitely.

What are you doing later?
Going to the gym. I'm trying to look good in my new dress!

Where are you going to wear your new dress?
Everywhere. Everyday.

What did you do last night?
Hung out at Smooch in Fort Greene and then went to a rooftop party in Bushwick.

Finish this sentence. Brooklyn is...
Brooklyn is no longer my home. I'm moving to Boston to get my Masters in French.

Thanks Joanna!

We hope that when you wear your Joan Van Hees in Boston, speaking that sexay French, you'll think of us.

May 26, 2009

May 23 Slideshow

Memorial Day was full of memories at the Flea. Click for some photo mementos.

You can comment on the blog now, so feel free to share your thoughts.

Finders/Keepers May 23

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Word is out on the Hunt: Fleasters are scavenging high and low every Saturday morning, you can see it in their eyes. Our vendors love playing too--who doesn't love a game of hide-and-seek?

Left to right:
Leonor (left) is a regular from Crown Heights who "came to win," a spirit we appreciate. Here she is with Mark, the creative culinary mind behind Whimsy & Spice (his wife Jenna brings the design and finesse braun). Inside the mystery box were cookies, biscotti, brownies, and some of their insane homemade marshmallows. Like many of our food vendors (Salvatore, Nunu, Fine+Raw, Kumquat, Pizza Moto, Crop to Cup), we love W+S because they emerged and are growing on the same timeline as the Flea. Some folks call that community--we call it yummy. They're in E10 most Saturdays.

Lovely Lois (left) was visiting her daughter in the BK from Wilmington, Delaware, and found that cute pixie pushing a cart in John (right) and Stephanie's vintagesteph booth--inside one of the cool cabinets that John makes himself (they're a huge hit this season). John and Steph come down for Fort Greene and Dumbo most weekends from the New Hampshire coast (they run their own flea on the Mass. North Shore), and are as nice as can be. W20 most Saturdays.

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

May 22, 2009

Scavenger Hunt Items: May 23

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What better way to kick off summer than rummaging through a schoolyard searching for free stuff--so American!

When you find one of the items above, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo with the generous vendor here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday around Noon.

Happy hunting!

From left:
1. Ceramic cart-pushing pixie dish. Vintage

2. Mystery gift box full of goodies. (You won't be disappointed!) New

May 21, 2009

What's New?

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Wondering what to do with the fam/out-of-town guests or your own staycation this holiday weekend? There are nearly a dozen new Flea vendors to ogle and admire this Saturday--and your guests don't need to know that this is actually true every weekend. It's a special event!

Our pals from Layla, the fab Indian textiles and jewelry shop in Boerum Hill, will be setting up in Fort Greene for the first time. They have great deals on their gorgeous colorful merch, all of which is summery with a cap "s." B8/FG, Sat

Hide (HEE-day) has been scoping the markets for months now, figuring out what to bring to blow Fleasters away. He's been in the styling biz for years, and specializes in vintage furniture, guys and gals clothes, and jewelry that he makes himself out of cool keepsakes like buffalo nickels and the like. He's talking up his suitcase collection too. High hopes for Hide! V8/FG, Sat

Judi is a dealer and designer operating as Studio 357 up in Cos Cob, CT, but her heart is still in her old stomping grounds in Brooklyn Heights. Her self-told synopsis: "With a suitcase and $50 after college in my home state of Minnesota, headed for NYC with a General Design degree and a thirst for the Big Apple. Designing spaces and shopping for clients for years, the collecting bug hit hard! Every item has a story line and a past. I try to have knowledge to share with my customers--when they look at the chair they bought they can pass on the story." 100% Flea Spirit. Among her stuff on Saturday will be four chairs from the Bozo the Clown estate (above right)! B23/FG, Sat

Michi.jpgBrooklyn Aloha is a cool next-gen newbie booth. Cutie Michi (right) collects vintage Hawaiian dresses and accessories, and also sells awesome Lauhala-style straw hats that her Aunt makes back home on the island. Abby's handmade clothing, vintage clothing and jewelry is inspired by Hawaiian style. And up-and-coming shutterbug Maori sells her beautiful photos from Japan, Thailand, and NYC, great stuff. E20/FG, Sat

Arbor Arts is a cool Brooklyny photo project. Laura takes black-and-white shots of letters and symbols that naturally appear in tree limb and branch formations, often in Prospect Park. She does single images (hearts, etc.) and also words, especially names. Check out her booth--words don't do these images justice. E29/FG, Sat

Les and Loretta are scurrying up from Estrous, PA, and they've been in the game for a minute. They heard about the Flea selling at Brimfield last week, and this Sunday they'll be taking a turn in the 81 Front St. Dumbo market for the first time. Here's what Les tells us is his specialty: vintage Bakelite, coffee pots and percolators (above left), and firemen items. C'mon! 17+18/81 Front, Sun

Stylistic Alert! Ingrid is moving and has everything "from vintage folding bikes to clothing to paintings." She must get rid of these items--help her! V17/FG, Sat

Melinda is a shelter-mag writer from Cobble Hill who's also an eagle-eye collector. She Flea'd a couple times last year, and she's back this Saturday, in her market guise as The Larkin Idea, with pal Alexis. Vintage and antique china, housewares, jewelry, stamps, ephemera, all neatly displayed and ripe for consumption. L2+3/FG, Sat

Clifford and Alisha have been in what they call the "junk/collectibles business" for just a few months now, an offshoot of Cliff's father's Hawley, PA, biz. Here's a list of stuff they hunt for: "folk primitive kitchenware, old art and photography books, small flatfiles, lamps, handcrafted chairs, depression glass collections, antique folding tables, handpicked photographs, artworks, crafts and prints, wonder-objects, like antique viewfinders, stereoscopes." Wow! Their outfit is called Chicken Dolphin--no idea why. Ask 'em! E18/FG, Sat

Strelick.jpgArthur Strelick has gorgeous jewels and jewelry, and also all these cool Civil War artifacts (right). His glass cases are meticulously organized and browseworthy to the max. (Buyworthy too of course.) V16/FG, Sat

Bee-In at the Flea

Rooftop%20Bees.jpgBuzz Alert: Old pal Melissa Lohman Wild will be showing (and selling) her new documentary about NYC's rooftop beekeeping community at the Flea on Saturday from noon to 3pm in the Groundworks booth (W30).

It'll be looping on a laptop, and you can check out the short film (logically titled "Rooftop Bees"), chat with Melissa about John Howe, the Fort Greene beekeeper in the film, and chat with Alice and Carmen from Groundworks about the bee-friendly plants and flowers they'll have for sale this week (lavender, bee balm, tomatoes).

Urban beekeeping is all the rage these days, so come see what all the buzz is about.

May 19, 2009

BFF of the Week: Heather Illick

Heather was trying on dresses at Cherry Vintage and checking out her steez at Kimono Lily's mirror. The dress was so great I almost wanted to tear it right out of her hands. But then I thought about what Michael Corleone always taught us: keep your friends close but your enemies closer. What up new BFF!

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Where are you from?
Omaha, but now I'm in Prospect Heights.

If you were going to sell at the Flea, what would it be?
Vintage dresses. Or ice cream. Or macarons--those French-style ones.

What are you doing after this?
Going to band practice. We have a gig tonight at the Bell House for popfest.

What's your band called?
Eux autres.

What did you do last night?
Went to bed early so we wouldn't be hungover for our show.

Finish this sentence. Brooklyn Is...
Always surprising.

Thanks Heather!

Gosh, I never knew the Flea would be so cool as to be best friends forever for a week with a real live rocker. Just goes to show: you never know who you are going to meet at the Flea. Until next Wednesday, y'all.

Who is Long Island Eddie?

We'll be profiling our regular vendors every week from now on. They're all characters, trust us.

Have you met Long Island Eddie? He's the sweet dude in the sweat pants and beard with the old-school accent selling second-hand furniture and custom-made farm tables in a triple booth on the Clermont fence every Saturday.

For the last 20 years, Long Island Eddie has been traveling the country buying from estate sales and markets, selling at antique expos--doing the traditional vendor thing. He speaks in terms of truckloads, warehousefuls, containers, and the like. Eddie's precisely honed skill makes what would/could be a 500 dollar bench cost 175 clams for you at the Flea. Repeat customers abound, naturally.

But Eddie also does the unconventional thing. Custom-made farm tables and benches are his specialty, and he takes orders at the market--check out the samples in his booth, and in the Long Island Eddie slideshow below. By the next day, dedicated Amish folks will be working hard on getting your table delivered to the Flea within the next three weeks.

Since there is no longislandeddie.com, .net, or even .biz, check this slideshow for a snapshot of Eddie's stuff. And while your checking him at the Flea, also take the time to peruse the jewels of his pal Susan, who displays with him every week in his booth.

Reach old-school Eddie at 631.286.5564.

May 18, 2009

May 16+17 Slideshow

Kids, kitsch, kitchenware, camaraderie, kimchee--connected by ze Flea. Enjoy.


Finders/Keepers May 16

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The Hunt was all up in your (tabletop) grill on Saturday, which dodged another weather bullet at the Flea. It must be spring somewhere!

Left to right:
Sara (right) is a journalist who just moved to Fort Greene and made her first Flea visit this week. Logical progression: move, unpack, buy more stuff at the Flea--or just Scavenge for a vintage electric grill. Phyllis is an OG Flea vendor whose blog Reclaimed Home about renovating her Bed-Stuy brownstone has morphed into her offline booth of eccentricities, rejuvenated household items, and bizarro trinkets. Phyl=serious hoot. She's around C6 every Saturday.

Kristin (second from left) comes on the regular from Red Hook, because she enjoys the "unusualness" of the market. Alice and Carmen (right) of Groundworks, a southern Brooklyn nursery, sweetly donated the potted succulents, which were discovered right quick. Groundworks is right up front in W30 every Saturday--for all your horticultural needs.

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

May 15, 2009

Scavenger Hunt Items: May 16

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Hunt and peck for this week's items, which are a pretty nice cross-section of the Flea overall.

When you find one of the items above, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo with the generous vendor here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday around Noon.

Happy hunting!

From left:
1. Stainless steel tabletop electric grill. Vintage

2. Readymade succulent garden (takes hot sun and very little water). Natural/earthmade

May 14, 2009

What's New?

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Phyliss Asher is a Brooklyn-based prop stylist who's whittling down her collection of vases, lamps, collectibles (above)--and vintage Playboys. She does the Flea when it strikes her fancy--she killed in Dumbo in February--and her stuff is picture-perfect. B20/FG, Sat

Flea Snack Alert! Melanie and Steve, the pop-up pup purveyors beyond Asia Dog, will debut tomorrow in Fort Greene with their kimchi, banh mi-style, bbq pork belly, and more styles of tasty weiners. They got your old-school, chicken, organic, and veggie varieties of dog, which have made them a big hit at Trophy Bar in Williamsburg on Tuesdays. Grub Street likes 'em, so will you. F4/FG, Sat

Jennifer and Andrew live around the corner from the Flea, are avid Fleasters, are now ready to share their collecting acumen with you. Their booth, Gentleman's Outfitters, will feature men's vintage clothes and shoes--Burberry, Barneys, Paul Stuart, etc.--and a nice little collection of records and accessories. These local but sophisticated booths are pure, unadulterated, distilled Flea--sip them like a fine aged Rye. E17/FG, Sat

Cherry Boutique is a swanky vintage shop on 8th Ave. in the West Village, and now Randy and friends are busting their Flea cherry with top-notch mens and ladies 20th C. garb. They're bigtime, and also move a ton of Joseph LaRose shoes. B1/FG, Sat

Gleena.jpgAsya comes to the Flea from Pawtucket, RI (go PawSox!), via St. Petersburg, Russia (and the Slope), and her delicate porcelain tableware is almost painfully pretty. Butterflies, mustard-seed pods, cherry blossoms decorate her Gleena bowls, cups, and vases (right), without being saccharine and annoying. A keeper. E18/FG, Sat

Jen's totes and T's as Black Sheep Heap say things like "Beet the System" and "Avant Gardener," and although we generally eschew the pun slogan, her aesthetic and process remind of Bread + Puppet and '70s country fairs, so we "dig" it. E25/FG, Sat

In addition to releasing a Bill Laswell-produced electro-funk album as Vodu 155 in 1995, Lionel and Constant are old-school Fort Greeners who now hang at the Flea on Saturdays. They have affordable vintage lamps, housewares, and some records, and Lionel also makes these awesome painted and sequined wine bottles that are the right decoration for an artsy pad. E23/FG, Sat

David's Artisan Emporia is a cool new fair-trade online shop for stuff like colorful telephone-wire baskets, totes made from recycled feed bags, lavender soaps from Zambia, silk scarves from Laos. Proceeds go to local artisans all over the world--you know the deal--and we like Dave and his outfit and his positive outlook. E16/FG, Sat

May 13, 2009

BFF Of The Week: Homa Dashtaki

This weekend there was some serious hotness chillin' at the Flea. It was super-hard determining who was going to be our best friend for the next seven days. But after being hypnotized by the the prosciuttorized pig thigh at Salvatore Bklyn Ricotta, I came face to face with ma girl. Meet Homa.

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Where are you from?
Boerum Hill, originally from California, and before that, Iran.

If you were a vendor at the flea, what would you sell?
Dresses.
Do you make dresses?
No.
Awesome.

Finish this sentence: Brooklyn is...
Schizophrenic.

What are you eating?
One of Betsy and Rachel's cannolis.

What are you doing later?
I'm going to DC to help my sister move.

And what did you do last night?
I watched Ernest Goes To Jail.
Hot.

Thanks Homa!

See y'all next Wednesday!

Flea Press

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Quickie update on some Fleasters in the news this week.

Justine's Nunu Chocolates (above) got some well-deserved NY Times Flo Fabricant Dining section coverage today, focusing on her snazzy new Atlantic Ave. shop (between Nevins + 3rd Ave.). She's at the Flea every Saturday in E2, without fail.

And the Flea was on the cover of the Metro free paper on Monday, with big pics of Papushka Vintage and Treasures + Pleasures adorning it. Brooklyn is now a "haven for the anti-mall experience"--but you knew that already.

May 12, 2009

This Sunday: Dumbo Flea-->Manhattan Bridge Arch

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This Sunday only, May 17, the Dumbo Flea is making like a hobo and setting up camp under the Manhattan Bridge. Actually, "The Arch" is a glorious new public space that we're hoping to help activate via the presence of thousands of Fleasters. A 65-foot-high tunnel through the Manhattan Bridge from Adams to Pearl Street, The Arch will feature about 35 of our finest vendors: vintage/antiques, jewelry, clothes, Halcyon DJs, a few nibbles (that raw-chocolate ice cream is back), and ole Flea magic.

Here's a link to the spot: MAP.

Big shoutout to Jane, Kate and the Dumbo Improvement District for making this fabulous venue happen.

The NY Photo Festival is also going on this week May 13-17 (that's actually why we're not at Front St.), so check out some snazzy snapshots at the locations all over DUMBO before or after you Flea.

May 24 and 31 we're back at 76 and 81 Front St. Then no Flea June 7--and Brooklyn Bridge Flea coming June 14!

May 11, 2009

Pail in Comparison

This weekend at the Flea was just damn glorious. There might have been something in the weather that made people snatch up the goods like nobody's business. You usually see purses and man-bags getting bigger as the day continues, or the occasional plastic bag (which we all know was recycled from last night's grocery shop, so chill) but we rarely see someone using a bucket. Enter Max Wastler.

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Max copped this bucket from Smith Vintage Modern--aka Kevin and Al from Hudson, NY (C2/3 every Saturday)--'cause he just loves anything galvanized steel (who knew). But guess what y'all, Max is a tastemaker, outfitting the blog scene with his own Do's and Don'ts at all plaidout. So that means he knows what he is talking about.

Max is going to use his bucket as an umbrella holder, planter, garbage can, who knows? Not he. But he had to have it. Until then, it's just a bucket for his goods. Pretty sure I saw a chunk of green glass from Kings County Salvage (W1) in there....

Finders/Keepers May 9

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What a gorgeous Flea! A nice cross-section of Fleasters comprised this week's Hunt winners, both of whom scavenged before noon--which is fast becoming the Hunt norm. The early bird catches the Flea!

Left to right:
Casey lives down the block on Vanderbilt Ave., and claims to have only missed 4 or 5 Fleas since Day One. (For proof, note his Flux Productions T.) Casey says he always know where the Hunt item is but lets other people win--only this time he couldn't resist the cowhide satchel, which Hope (right) and Sophia donated as part of their fab Go Bang! booth. They're in E12 most Saturdays.

Note: Casey runs a cute blog called Out About Brooklyn.

Dan (right) was visiting from Beantown (go Celts+Bruins+Sox!), and found the tiedyed scarf for his sister Anna (center), who lives in Brooklyn. Lovely Debbie (left) had it hidden in her gorgeous Martine's Dream booth, which features brightly colored clothes and accessories, often from India, every week in V11. (She also does Dumbo on Sundays now too.) Doesn't the Hunt bring people together so nicely? This photo says yes.

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

May 9 Slideshow

Check out the lady who fell asleep for an hour in a chair for sale in Kevin from Hudson's booth. (She's the last pic.) That's Travis Sylvester with the preppy green pants above. He sells all those ties every Saturday.

May 8, 2009

Scavenger Hunt Items: May 9

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Hunting season is in full swing this spring at the Flea--scavenger goggles out! Enjoy.

When you find one of the items above, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo with the generous vendor here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday around Noon.

Happy hunting!

From left:
1. Three-panel cowhide and leather satchel with two buckles and a shoulder strap. Vintage

2. Tie-dyed red and white scarf of Indian cotton. New/handmade

What's New? Part 2 (Vintage/Antiques)

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You can get a glimpse at a city's soul by scouring its flea markets, and in Year Two of ze Flea our exemplary vintage/antiques vendors are starting to attain that level of seriousness and solidity. From clothes to furniture, jewelry to salvage, they're so in tune with what Fleasters crave that being there feels like equal parts timeless bazaar, nostalgia stroll, and history lesson. And can we just say: Aren't Flea vendors the nicest you've ever encountered?

Kelsi is a stylish stylist by week, new Fleaster by weekend. Her killer stuff last week included a set of stackable stools (above left)--from The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She's got the real midcentury big pieces you drool over, plus groovy knick-knacks up the wazoo. Even if she's hiding under a giant hat like last week, say hi. V13/FG, Sat

Go%20Bang%20glasses.jpgThe next generation of dealers is the Flea's heart and soul. Take Sophia and Hope, whose Go Bang! booth is inspired by none other than the great Arthur Russell. (Treehouse, Senor's monthly DJ party at Frank's Lounge, is also named for one of his tracks. Wed. May 13 is the next Treehouse btw.) Anyway, these snazzy gals can't be a day over 25, yet their picks of accessories, glasses (right), and jewelry are refined, sophisticated, and customer-friendly. They doin' it for the luv yo. E12/FG, Sat

Another next-gen duo is Darlene and Sara, whose freshly launched Fringe + Feather focuses on belts, clutches, scarves, shoes--and felt monsters. They're new to the game, but that don't mean they ain't playas. Check 'em. E25/FG, Sat

On the flipside, Ron Serin has been collecting old-school for a decade-plus, focusing on antique jewelry, American pottery and dinnerware, vintage prints, records, hammered aluminum, and stained glass. We'll let his goods speak for themselves. V15/FG, Sat

Fran + Mike's outfit is Romantic Treasures, for which they display whatever they're collecting that week, which generally includes vintage prints/ephemera/photos, and Fran's cute magnets, pendants, and notecards made from pretty vintage buttons. Plus, they're sweet as honey. L12/FG, Sat

JAHK at the Flea! is a newly minted name for a former Chelsea vendor who prefers anonymity. She does the vintage-clothing thang. V16/FG, Sat

Little ditty 'bout Bob and Diane Pannullo, two American kids slingin' best that they can. They've always got a rack of militarywear, as well as men's coats, vintage eyeglasses, and men's hats (fedoras, straw hats). Nice folks, also former Chelsea. B5/FG, Sat

Jill Fenichell makes melamine kitchenware for a living as Bongenre, but at the Flea she transports like Star Trek to VintageDealerLand, unloading her trove of art and prints, as well as well-kept "wood/glass/pottery/books/lamps/small furniture/maybe some prints" from her mom's old house. Great stuff! W11/FG, Sat

We mentioned last week that Diana would be bringing several crates of records from her beau's Tropicalia in Furs East Village shop to her Revival Vintage Boutique booth. The "rain" stopped her last week, but weather gods willing tomorrow will mark the debut. B20/FG, Sat

When Judi told us that under her vendor name The Good, The Bad + The Ugly that she'd be selling "midcentury furniture, weird dolls 20's -40's, and 70's clothing and accessories," it was hard to say no. We're curious too! W45/FG, Sat

Rachel of Hollywood Fourth does loads of high-end bags (above right)--Fendi, Kooba, Chanel--and jeans too (Seven, J Brands, etc.). She conveniently lives upstairs from the Dumbo Fleas, and her booth is soooo fashionable. #14/81 Front, Sun

What's New? Part 1 (Food + New Stuff)

This week's What's New? is special. Here's why: Even if a vendor started on opening day or the 2 Saturdays after that--we're still calling them new. Plus, there are so many newbies we've split 'em up into 2 posts: one for food and new stuff, the other for vintage and antiques.

Forthwith, some of the fabulousness that's fresh to the Flea family. That's f'd up!

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Tasty Treats
Saxelby Cheesemongers is an extraordinary little cheese stand at the Essex St. Market on the Lower East Side, and among eponymous Anne's local/special cheese purveyors is Consider Bardwell, a 140 y.o. Vermont farm whose raw-milk cow and goat cheeses regularly garner awards. Lo, Saxelby and CB have joined forces in Fort Greene, with Chris hawking divine fresh fromage and Anne slinging artisanal grilled CB cheeses--in the same booth. Are there McClure's Pickles on there too? You know the answer. E9/FG, Sat

Bad news first: no Fine + Raw Chocolate in Fort Greene on Saturday. Good news: that's because Daniel is launching his insane raw-chocolate ice cream on Sunday in Dumbo! Taste it, give him feedback (he loves that stuff), and run through 76 and 81 Front St. on your agave-nectar high. #35/81 Front, Sun

This a Senor fave. Skiz runs an underground hip-hop label called Wordsound, which was Brooklyn-based and is now in Baltimore. Back in the day, Senor interviewed Skiz a few times, reviewed his records, etc. Now Skiz is making his own Sri Lankan Roasted Curry Powder (above left), representing for his homeland, where he recently traveled with Anthony Bourdain for "No Reservations. The curry powder is a little smoky, warm and sweet, and loaded with personal history--which you can read all about on Skiz's fun Rice + Curry blog. He'll have a nice chicken dish so you can sample. E24/FG, Sat (right across from the other foodies)

New Stuff

GTT%20Urn.jpgSarah makes beautiful lamps using ash-veneer in various designs, from ribbons to leaves (above right). We think they're pretty. Her biz has the jolie nom Bonne Nuit. E13/FG, Sat

Josh, Mary, Fay, and Vanessa are just some of the folks who comprise Gypsies, Tramps + Thieves, a Clinton Hill-based but geographically diffuse collective of makers: pottery (right), jewelry, clothing, art objects, all with a slightly goth, bohemian edge. We love their communal attitude, and their personal style. B10/FG, Sat

Greenpointers Jason and Katherine do the salvaged-wood/materials thing in their furniture and functional objects, from wood desks and wall shelves to ceramic pedestals and vases. Their work ranges from industrial and rough to delicate and warm. W14/FG, Sat

Habib has been hawking beautiful handmade rugs from Kashmir, India, the last few weeks, to much Fleaster acclaim. He's got colorful, fun designs--less traditional, more modern, affordable too. C6/FG, Sat

Ezra's Gnome NYC T-shirt outfit is our fave of the whole video-game/'80s retro tidal wave of T madness.

Pratt grad and Fort Greener Matthew designs chunky-cool watches (below) under the guise Steel Cake. Produced from stainless steel in limited editions, Matthew's timepieces are worth a gander, especially after your trip to BKLYN Designs on Sunday. #29/81 Front, Sun
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May 7, 2009

BKLYN Designs + Flea = Dumbo Double Delight!

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Perhaps as karma for the destruction wrought on the Dumbo Flea by the 5 Boro Bike Tour last Sunday, this weekend you can double down in Dumbo by taking in BKLYN Designs, the annual curated showcase of our fine borough's best product/industrial designers, furniture-makers, wallpaper-conceivers, and all things visually enticing.

Post-expo, drop by the Front St. markets, which are in full swing for spring with furniture, antiques, jewelry, clothing, design objects--you know the deal. Is your mom cutting-edge? Throw in a snack in Brooklyn Bridge Park (future home of the Sunday Flea), and you've hit the Mothers Day trifecta you didn't win at the Derby.

BKLYN Designs is conveniently located around the corner from the Dumbo Flea at St. Ann's Warehouse on Water St. Check their website for exhibitors and directions.

May 6, 2009

BFF of the Week: Mike Repaci

BFF means Brooklyn Flea/Best Friend Foreva. It's Jess' new snapshot of a Fleaster and the story behind their find.

One of the best parts of the Flea is you hot freaks walking around in the sunshine, buying your stuff and eating your tacos. It only makes sense that we want to engage, right? Right. Meet Mike.

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Why are you here?
To see what the big deal is.

Why are you holding that?

To put the finishing touches on my Lady Birley Halloween costume.

What is your secret haggling weapon?
Intimidation.

Finish this sentence: Brooklyn is...
My home...BY CHOICE.

What are you trying to eat while you're here?
Had my heart set on some food from Central America, but the line was too long. Settled on a white pizza, cooked in a portable oven made to resemble a brick oven. In the end, the long line was a blessing...the pizza was excellent.

Thanks Mike!

Check back every Wednesday to meet the next accosted amigo. Maybe it will be you. Muahhhahhah.

May 4, 2009

Flea Fan #1


Meet Wendy, Cobble Hiller and the self-proclaimed #1 Flea Fan--beat that! (Thanks to Neala of Farfalla for introducing us to Miss Wendy.)

Wendy wanders the Flea every week, and lucky for her she's actually working as she peruses. Wendy has the job every Fleaster covets: as Design Director for the Food Network, she buys, organizes, and places props in all the shows. And guess where she's buying tons of that stuff? That's right, ze Flea.

Jess got the chance to chill with her new pal Wendy this past Saturday as she revealed her fave picks for the day--check 'em out in the slideshow. Wendy's eye is finely honed, like a diamond basically, and she tracked stuff down in booths in every corner of the yard. She's also keen enough to know that every Saturday is a new beginning, and that even regulars can re-stock totally different items from week to week. (Yes, we're asking you to be a repeat Fleaster too.)

And for a behind-the-scenes look at Wendy's digs at the Food Network and how she makes her design choices, peep the hilarious video below.

So next time Emeril goes bam!, he just might be gesticulating wildly with a wooden spoon from the Flea.

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May 2 Slideshow

First slide finds Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth perusing records in Phil's Addicted to Vintage booth (L5), with--fittingly--a sitar for sale in the foreground. Kool things at the Flea!

Random Flea Bonus: Check out this interview Senor did for Ray Gun magazine with Thurston, Ron Asheton of the Stooges (RIP), Mike Watt, and director Todd Haynes, back in 1998 when those guys played together as the Wylde Rattz for Haynes' Velvet Goldmine flick. Here's the link.

Finders/Keepers May 2

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An early-morning sky spray couldn't slow down the Hunt, which had a decidedly cross-continental flavor this weekend.

Left to right:
Allegra (left) from Tucson, Arizona, checked the blog before leaving home, discovered the Hunt, and by 11am she was a winner! She found the cool vintage photograph in Peter and Jarka's Anodyne booth, which is filled with antique Americana, artistic oddities, and more every week in W47.

Erin (right) proudly represents with the WrecordsByMonkey bracelet she Scavenged--with Monkey himself happy to oblige at left. Erin was in town from Lebanon, Ohio, and the Flea was happy to welcome and reward her for trekking to the BK. WrecordsByMonkey are a Flea staple in W28, hawking their bracelets and other accessories made from recycled record-vinyl, and other cool kerchiefs, clocks, and more. (Forgive the BlackBerry pic!)

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

May 1, 2009

Scavenger Hunt Items: May 2

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The Hunt rolls on, rain or shine--just like ze Flea. Don't let a little drizzle put a fizzle in your Flizzle. Fashizzle!

When you find one of the items above, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo with the generous vendor here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday around Noon.

Happy hunting!

From left:
1. Photograph of American family, date unknown, mounted on a 5x7 card. Vintage

2. Stylish bracelet made from recycled record-vinyl. New/handmade

What's New?

The Fort Greene Flea itself feels all-new this season, but there are in fact some actually new vendors every Saturday. And with FG's relaunch has come a corresponding rejuvenation in Dumbo, where many new faces hawk their wares each Sunday as well.

For example, did you know that the hyper-stylish textile and jewelry Boerum Hill shop Layla is setting up in Dumbo every Sunday these days with their Indian-style dresses and luxe pillows--at deep discounts? As Kenneth from 30 Rock would say, It's true! (#9, 81 Front)

We're doing a condensed What's New? this week because of the volume of newbies. (Pics coming soon.)

Vintage/Antiques
Rock it Retro is Alice's fab vintage-clothing biz--she does lots of wholesale biz and is a serious dealer. #15, 76 Front/Sun

Rough + Tumble is Wendy's clothing, furniture and more Pennsylvania shop, and this weekend she makes her Brooklyn debut! W22 FG/Sat; #9, 76 Front/Sun

Tammy and Renee run The New World Order, a far-out/funky vintage shop at 2nd + B in the East Village, and they'll be transporting their Mugler to Margiela collezione to the Flea on Saturday. Darlings, do come! E13, FG/Sat

Brooklyn Vintage is young carpenter Paul's online biz gone offline at the Flea. He fixes up more classical walnut, cedar, and maple desks, dressers, and chests with expert detail, and he's super-knowledgeable about his pieces' history and materials. #23, 76 Front/Sun

Food
Liz and Jen met at the French Culinary Institute, Jen did an externship with the pastry chef at Per Se while Liz makes bonbons at Roni-Sue's Chocolates in the Essex St. Market, and now they're striking out on their own with Liddabit, a cute but sophisticated candy company. Their take on classic candy bars are kind of insane: an artisanal Snickers? C'mon! And the honeycomb quasi-Crunchie? Seriously sublime. The PBJ truffle is Wonkaesque, and whatever else they've invented since we met them is probably awesome too. Worth an umbrella trek, for real. E8, FG/Sat

All in the Pudding is blonde cutie Elyse's new biz for both sweet and savory bread puddings. A novel idea, it's true, but check out a couple flavors: Kobe Burger (Kobe beef, sharp cheddar, sautéed onions, cherry tomatoes), Soul Food (biscuits, yams, sausage, frosted with cheddar & brie grits), and Chocolate Peanut Butter (chocolat en poudre, rose water, peanut butter chips). Try 'em, let us know what you think. #29, 81 Front/Sun

Art/Handmade
Alive Structures are a newish, lady-owned green roof design firm, but they also fabricate these sustainable "Alive Planters" using recycled shredded paper and cement ("Papercrete") and also reclaimed-wood window boxes and container gardens. Also, they seem nice. E32, FG/Sat

Amble Through Bramble is Morgan's crepe-paper rose and flower business, which is, unsurprisingly, booming and blooming right now. She did a how-to on Martha Stewart's TV show this winter (a Flea trend of sorts it seems), and we hope her petals can stand a little drizzle for her Flea debut. E17, FG/Sat

Sheepshead Design is friendly Philip, whose botanical prints on linen frames are unique and stunning. W19, FG/Sat

The Smith St. skate shop/cafe Homage Brooklyn makes its '09 Flea debut Saturday, and we're not sure what they'll be bringing, except a bit of the ruckus hopefully! C5, FG/Sat

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