Brooklyn Flea

It's like I'm walking in the African grasslands and I spot a herd of beautiful zebra grazing nearby. And then my reverie is over and I realize it's just two hot chicks wearing the same dress at the Flea. As I was about to snap a shot of my prey, one turns around, armed with a taco, as if to say, "I know, right??!" It was the verbiage that got me. That and the dress. OK, and the taco. Meet Alexandra.

So, what do you do?

I'm an environmental attorney. God that sounds lame.

What do you wish you could say?

Actually? I don't think I could really be doing anything cooler.

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

Organic Big Macs. Or compost heaps. One of the two.

What did you do this morning?

I woke up at 8 to go to work.

What are you doing later?

I'd really like to crash the MJ party someone was just talking about but I'm going to Floyd for beer and bocce.

What is your fondest memory of Michael Jackson?

What is that MJ record that when you unfolded the three panels, he was there laying down with like, a puma or a tiger, or something? When I was little, I would open it up in my bedroom and lie next to it and pretend he was my boyfriend. Sometimes we would make out a little bit. [Um, that was "Thriller!" --ed.]

Finish this sentence. Brooklyn is...

Brooklyn is better than yours.

Damn Alexandra. But thanks!

Perfect scavenging weather at the Fleas, and the Hunt didn't last long (when does it anymore?). Earlybirds catch the Fleas!

Clockwise from upper left:

In a moment of clarity, Abby and Eric (right) from Crown Heights found the Boodles British Gin mirror at Sydney's Baxter's Bazaar booth in Fort Greene, where he unveils his treasure-seeking finds of the week. Sometimes it's giant metal cash registers, sometimes piles of century-old newspapers, sometimes vintage drinking tcotchkes. Eric and Abby "are gonna put it up," though they were slurring their words so it's hard to say really.

Reid and Karen (left) sauntered down to the Bridge from the East Village and promptly discovered the groovy lightbulb money clip in the always pretty Bonbon Oiseau booth. Deb (not pictured) makes gorgeous jewelry, money clips like this one, and hair adornments that fly out of her weekly FG and Bridge booths. C'est si bon!

Our Dumbo pal Rebecca (center) of Moontree Letterpress has branched out from her stationery base into these cute moss terrariums, which folks found Saturday and Sunday. She was a last-minute Hunt addition, so if you know the names of her winners feel free to pass 'em along.

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

Just a stunning suite of Fleas this weekend--the way they were meant to be really. Thanks for comin' out!

One for Saturday, two for Sunday (last-minute straggler wanted to join the fun).

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. 1970s Boodles British Gin bar mirror. Vintage (Fort Greene/Saturday)

2. Money clip with lightbulb (cash not included!). New/handmade (Brooklyn Bridge/Sunday)

3. Moss terrarium with letterpressed care instructions. New/handmade (Brooklyn Bridge/Sunday)

Fashion bible Women's Wear Daily picked up the Flea+Madewell collaboration, cutely describing our hookup as a "summer share" in Soho and East Hampton. Thanks Rosemary! (Subscribers only on their website fyi.)
Frankly, the credit for this project goes to our smashing vintage-clothing vendors, who collect with reckless abandon every week just to clothe you in the coolest, most affordable duds. These folks literally criss-cross the country searching for the best stuff, which is the real reason why the Flea has become Fashion Central every weekend.
The list goes on and on: Jellyroll, White Dove, Used+Abused, Rough+Tumble, Papushka, Cherry Vintage, Rue St. Denis, Vintagepimps, Dulcinee, Joan Van Hees, Hairy Mary's, Angels+Warriors, Anodyne, Go Bang!, 3Free Design, Gentleman's Outfitters, Funky Fanny's, Estate of Art, Martine's Dream, Collecther, Marilyn Hitchcock, Kelsi Ammon...

Fleasters may be interested to see this photo of our new home under the Brooklyn Bridge which comes courtesy of our friends at the Fulton Ferry Landing Association. As you can see, it wasn't exactly a touristy hotspot back in the 1970s. The building you see in the spot where the market is now held was called the Purchase Building. Most recently it served as the headquarters for the Office of Emergency Management.

The Flea under the Brooklyn Bridge has hit the ground running, with 100+ vendors dealing mostly in nice vintage and antique items, plus your favorite handmade and jewelry folks from Fort Greene. It has a different feel somehow, you kinda have to see it to know it.

Anyhoo, starting this Sunday you'll have a foolproof reason to stroll down to the waterfront this summer. Namely, lobster rolls. Fresh from Maine. Mayo or butter. Grilled Nissen buns.

The folks from the new Red Hook Lobster Pound (284 Van Brunt St. at Verona Pl.) truck up to Maine every week and bring back tons of fresh lobsters for Brooklynites to steam, suck, butter, etc. Now, they're bringing lobster rolls to the masses at the Bridge Flea--and after Senor and Mr. B's office tasting last month we know you're in for a treat. The real deal as they say.

Prices will be based on the market that week, but will likely hover in the $13-15 range. They'll also be slingin' Jonah crab claws, ready for your cracking and snacking pleasure.

And--why not?--we're re-introducing Fort Greene faves Choice Market (doing sushi in addition to their perfect pastries) and, well, pupusas. Plus ya got yer Stumptown Coffee, People's Pops, McClure's Pickles, Rick's Picks, Fine + Raw Chocolate, and Blue Marble Ice Cream.

Um, yum!

For those of you interested in keeping up with flea market gossip in the New York City area, today was a big news day: First, the NY Post ran an article about Thor Equities' failed attempt at starting a market in Coney Island: "Sitt's ads for his "Flea by the Sea" are a stretch even by propaganda standards, as the pictures on this page show. Sitt's tented flea market, shown as two rows of striped tents crammed with happy visitors, so far consists of a single, thinly-populated tent even though the "festival" started on May 15." Then The Observer broke the news that developer who bought the property that houses the Antiques Garage at 112 West 25th Street in Manhattan has recently filed plans for a 29-story hotel on the site. "It's news to me," said Alan Boss, whose lease requires that the developer give him three months notice before kicking him out. Interesting times in the flea market business.

The Flea is steppin' it up.

In perhaps our highest-profile collaboration to date, this week two Madewell shops in Soho and East Hampton will begin featuring a section of vintage clothing and accessories curated from Flea vendors. The Madewell gals scoured the market over the past month and handpicked pieces from our fabulous vintage vendors, and they'll be back to re-stock the sections throughout the summer. Each shop will display info about the Flea in the section, which in the Soho store will be located inside a funky wooden structure made of tree branches. (How Flea!)

The partnership will kick off with an in-store party at the Madewell Soho Broadway shop this Thursday evening (invite at right) featuring yummy Flea food vendors you know and love: Red Hook pupusas, Nunu Chocolates, Salvatore Bklyn cannolis and cheeses--and new Flea foodie (starting this Saturday) Brooklyn Brew Shop's "Madewell Microbrew" brewed specially for the event. Best of all, you're invited!

See you at the Flea (at Madewell)!

Brooklyn Flea + Madewell

Thursday, June 25

6-8pm

Madewell Soho, 486 Broadway (at Broome St.)

212.226.6954

Rainy day didn't stop the Hunt--then again what would?

Diana, Juan, and Eduardo, all from Clinton Hill (woot!), found the amber glass candlesticks in the always pleasing City Owl booth. Proprietress Ashley isn't pictured (she's the shutterbug), but her melange of metal industrial stuff, tabletops, and urban salvage all in an 8x8 is one of our finest '09 additions. The Owl sleeps (or not) in E38 Saturdays; check the Friday layout for their spot under the Bridge Sundays.

This fine lady (her name's on the way) scored the balsam-fir pillow from the Old Village Hall booth, which made its debut on Sunday under the Bridge. Scott (right) and Erica live in the East Village and upstate, where they have two shops in Andes, NY, Old Village Hall and Delaware Trading Post. Scott designs and silkscreens fabrics for upholstering chairs and pillows (that's Myrna Loy from The Thin Man on the pillow above), also designs interiors for shops and restaurants. They're a great coupla folks, hope to have 'em back soon.

Peggy Ram is her name, and she was at the Flea from New Jersey with her two daughters from Manhattan. (Thanks Kyle!)

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