Brooklyn Flea

Classic American iconography abounds at the Hunt this weekend.

When you find one of the items above (click to enlarge), 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.

From left:

1. Reprint of Action Comics Superman No. 1 comic book. Vintage (Saturday)

2. Walt Disney Co. 1970s Mickey Mouse figurine, approx. 5" tall. Vintage (Sunday)

A couple of new foodies to share with you: Anarchy in a Jar, the local renegade jam-makers, and Sigmund, the tasty new East Village pretzel shop, both enter the vault this Saturday, so bring your (extra) appetite.

Laena and Liv's innovative jams first appeared at the Flea last year, paired with Salvatore Bklyn's perfect ricotta mini-sandwiches, and now they've gotten production going to a point where they can Flea solo. A sampling of the Anarchy this weekend: ginger-pear, strawberry-balsamic, and blueberry-maple syrup jams, and clementine and lime-and-pandan marmalades. Spread the word, and the jam.

(Flea veteran Miss Amy's Preserves is back in the vault this Sunday as well, and she's always a huge hit with her jams, tapenades, and yummy mustard (made with Blue Point Oatmeal Stout). She comes in from Suffolk County, sweet as can be.)

Lina opened her cute Sigmund shop at Ave. B + E. 3rd St. a couple months ago with a secret (vegan) recipe for German-style pretzels to much fanfare. We sampled almost all her flavors the other day—everything from classic to seven-chili to gruyere + smoked paprika to garlic-parsley—and aside from the tummy doughache, we thought they'd make a perfect snack for adult and mini-Fleasters alike. In addition to a splendid mustard, Sigmund does nice homemade (and free) toppings like beet-horseradish mayo and herb goat cheese. Yum.

We got some more new foodies coming onboard soon, stay tuned!

We got a regular Sam Adams on our hands....

What's your name and what did you buy here?

My name is Gary. I bought a mix to brew beer at home [from Brooklyn Brew Shop]. I have the kit already, which I bought a couple months ago at the Flea under the bridge.

So you're a regular?

Yeah, I've been a few times.

Do you live around here?

Park Slope.

What do you do?

I'm a doctor.

Are you a regular brewmaster as well?

Well, this is my third batch. I've been buying about one a month. I'm thinking about buying the home kombucha kit to make fermented tea.

When you brew, do you share with friends and family?

If they're daring.

Does it turn out great?

The first batch wasn't, but the second batch was great.

Thanks Gary. And enjoy your homebrewin'!

Joan of Citybitz transforms snips and clips of photos of NYC landmarks into pendants, card cases, mirrors, money clips, and other handy items. She's a good egg.

She was inspired by the bank at One Hanson (who isn't?) to launch a few new items that reflect some of the space's myriad gorgeous details. Two card cases (left and right) show the relief concrete lions and that insane blue tile-mosaic ceiling in the lobby (sacre bleu!); and a mirror incorporates pics of the vaulted ceilings, chandelier, and other eye candy.

Joan's in #65 on the lefthand wall behind the teller windows every weekend at One Hanson. Get the picture!

Anatomical diagrams, detailed floral prints, world maps, Brooklyn street maps from the '70s, and fruit innards are just some of the illustrious prints you can find at Intaglio Antiques every weekend for the duration of The Flea at One Hanson. Meet the folks (the cutest couple ever) behind it all, discover the source of their cheap thrills, and even meet a shopper.

What is your name and company's name?

Tunde Bodnar, and my company is Intaglio Antiques.

And what's your hometown?

We live in Southbridge, Mass. But I was born and raised in New Jersey.

What do you sell and how long have you been selling it for?

We sell antique prints and maps—all original. I have been in the antique business for 10 years and [my partner] Ralph has been in it for almost 30 years.

What's your specialty?

The gist is that these are all pre-offset prints, which means they are all engravings made from steelplate or copperplate. Off-set means mass-produced and photo mechanical, so these are all pre-photo mechanical.

What is your most memorable sale?

It's not spectacular, it's just when people buy something and they get so excited about it. Take the [City-use] Sanborn Maps, for example. The shoppers get very excited when they find their home or street.

What keeps you coming back to the Flea?

The shoppers are great, all the venues have been great. Eric and Rob do an excellent, excellent job promoting and organizing. Years ago I lived in New York, and now that I live in Massachusetts, I don't mind spending time in New York at all.

Is this your full-time job?

This is my full-time. Finding these prints and maps consumes about 80% of my time during the week. They are hard to come by and they are expensive. I get a lot of them out of Europe and it just takes a lot of time.

What do you do for fun?

This! This is my fun. I really enjoy this. [Addressing a buyer] Tell us, why did you buy these?

Buyer: They're gifts for my wife. She is a crafter and a writer and she has some old typewriters. I have bought her a few old Singers off eBay and I think she will really appreciate these. Plus, her grandfather was a typewriter repair man, so....

See? This is my cheap thrill!

Thanks Tunde and Ralph!

The Hunt must have been missed, as Scavengers struck early both days this weekend.

From left:

Rickey (right) rode his Vespa all the way down from Washington Heights on Saturday morning to find the Indian print block in—where else?—the My Little India booth. Rickey loves the Flea, first time at the bank, works for a church, braved chilly winds on his Vespa. Well done! Here he is with lovely Avian of MLI, which is upstairs on the mezzanine in #73 every weekend, under the insane giant stained-glass windows. They bring everything from hand-dyed soft cotton comforters and pillows to Avian's handmade leather bags to unique wooden furniture and unique items like Rickey's new print block.

First-time Fleaster Alisha (right) ventured to Brooklyn from the East Village Sunday and stumbled upon the glow in the dark undies—for men. She said she's gonna wear 'em herself; we'll leave that one alone. Jamie Xmas of Antique Wardrobe was harboring the vintage Day-Glo thong in booth #1, where he holds court with the coolest old-time vintage clothes and tchotchkes, displayed with a sense of whimsy. Not your run of the mill duds with Jamie, he's a total pro.

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

Winter lack of sun got ya down? Let the Flea light your way to happiness with lamps galore, from '40s antiques to newfangled microphone lamps. Stone cold lampin'.

Ken Jackson is super-sick and can't do his Brooklyn history talk tomorrow. So we're rescheduling the event, will have the new date soon.

Sorry, folks.

The Scavenger Hunt is back, long live the Hunt!

Two very different items this weekend at One Hanson. Nuff said.

When you find one of the items above (click to enlarge), 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.

From left:

1. Sheesham wooden stamp from India. Originally used for block printing, handy for home craft projects. Vintage (Saturday)

2. "Sexy Glow in the Dark Underwear" (mens). Circa 1980s—unused! Vintage (Sunday)

Since we're getting all historical, and since this is "Americana Week" in NYC, we want to highlight some of the antique awesomeness going on at the Flea.

You may have noticed a display of beautiful paintings of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank in booth #28 right when you walk into the bank. That's David Sokosh's always entertaining spot, where he sells self-repaired Brooklyn-made antique clocks and shares space with Lon Black and his incredible vintage postcard collection (including some of the bank building).

David is one of the only sources for Robert Goldstrom's long-running series of paintings of the bank tower (above), which combine a timeless feel with a truly American style. They're a treat to look at (and chat with David about), and would be right at home in any Brooklyn/NYC living room. (Peep the video on his work below.)

Every floor of One Hanson will be packed with treasures this weekend, so if you're in town for the trade shows in Mannahatta, make sure to schedule a jaunt to the most beautiful interior space in Brooklyn too.