Brooklyn Flea

Looks like that New Yorker article is having an effect: two Manhattanites won the Scavenger Hunt this weekend. Where Brooklyn at?!

(Click to enlarge):

It was bearded Charles' (left) first time at the Flea, which he learned about from reading, yes, The New Yorker. He's from the big island, and was evidently excited to find the miniature metal piggy and horsey, which are super-cute. Katie of Rain Lily says they're made in India using the ancient "lost wax" metal casting technique. She's deeply dedicated to selling handmade items made by folks with less all over the world, especially women, and her eye for interesting stuff is awesome: Cambodian scarves, Northern India prosperity hens, jewelry, all kinds of pretty things. She's in #51 at One Hanson every weekend.

Lee is also from Manhattan, but he wouldn't tell us much beyond that. That's cool man. He found the Jacques + Julia cookbook in Mario's Avalon Books booth, which is always jampacked with interesting used books as well as Mario's artist pals graffiti-style small prints, which are in the background. Grafadelic!

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

The big Taiwan magazine La Vie has a nice feature on the Flea this month—and the editor in chief back in Taipei liked it so much they sent a crew to photograph and interview our vendors over the weekend. We bow in appreciation.

Did someone say 70s? Temps, not the decade. See you at the Flea on the Hunt.

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. Piggy and horsey small metal statues, made in India using the ancient "lost wax" casting technique. Approx. 3". Handmade (Saturday)

2. Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home, by Julia Child and Jacques Pepin. Vintage (Sunday)

We're doing something special: Photographer Jordana Zeldin is transforming a room at the bank into a pop-up photo gallery for the next two weekends, presenting a series of images inspired by and shot at the Flea, titled "everything you want, everything you need." Jordana has been working on this project for a couple of years, and we're over the moon to finally host her excellent work—inside the Flea no less! Good times.

In addition to the limited-edition framed and signed prints on view (and for sale) in her temporary "installation space," Miss J has created custom View-Master reels of photos from the project, which you can look at in vintage View-Masters she's found all over the country—how Flea! Throw in puzzles, T-shirts, customized Keds, and naughty playing cards all made from the series and it's a Flea tour de force.

Jordana lives in Fort Greene, and this is her third solo show. We hope you'll stop by and check out her work. The "gallery" is in a room to the right of the main entrance, next to Choice Market's pastries, behind some former teller windows—#8 on our vendor layout.

Sugar and spice, and everything nice.

What: Whimsy & Spice Cinnamon Chocolate Malt Biscotti.

Tasty with: Coffee, milk, or Earl Grey Infused Hot Chocolate, found warm and ready at the Whimsy & Spice booth! Or if you prefer, naked—unlike regular thick-cut biscotti, their biscotti is moist enough not to do a dip.

How much: $8 for 8 biscotti.

What else: Chocolate Chili Cashew Biscotti, Hazelnut Whiskey sandwich cookies, Earl Grey sandwich cookies, homemade marshmallows including vanilla-rosewater-cardamom, and plenty of seductive treats that live up to their cute name.

Where: Mark and/or Jenna are downstairs in the vault on a rotating schedule (check the weekly layout), including this Saturday. Or online at www.whimsyandspice.com.

This week we chat up vintage jewelry and antique dealer Adele Amore, selecting this Flea doyenne to launch the Vendor of the Week feature on video. Check out the moving pics, and check out Adele most weeks at One Hanson—her booth moves around, so check the vendor map each week to find her. That's Amore!

This weekend achieves a pinnacle of sorts in terms of quality vendors at the Flea at One Hanson. With temps in the 60s, ain't no excuse to miss it.

Longtime mustachioed vendor David Sokosh (he of the turn-of-the-century getup, refurbished antique Brooklyn-made Ansonia Co. clocks, and Williamsburg Bank paintings) has more time on his hands. He's launched a new series of "Brooklyn Watches," (above) which he makes himself and are powered by vintage gear movements. They have a classic/retro look, and of course say Brooklyn on their face. Maybe you'll wind up with one! #28/Sat+Sun

ModHaus is the 4000sf showroom that Shannon and Sue run up in Boston (go Sox!), and it looks as spectacular as Don Draper's office. Their online shop boasts some tiptop stuff: Danish teak galore (chairs, tables, lamps, and more), mid-century pottery (the cool kind with geometric patterns like in Don's office), and every other refined incarnation of '50s and '60s design you can imagine. They're taking 2 spots this weekend to really come correct, so be there and be square (which is cool now btw). #3+4/Sat+Sun

Friendly Chuck's Atlantic Ave. plant shop Dig has been setting up, er, digs at the bottom of the lower-level stairs at One Hanson, to much Fleaster approval. Houseplants, herb starters, and a few bells and whistles brighten up this corner of the bank, just in time for spring's looooong-awaited return. Lower-level stairs/Sat+Sun

Zach and his ZZ Imports family carpet biz are a big hit this winter, with their rugs finding their way into many a shoppers' home. We've wanted a solid rug vendor for a long time, and Zach and ZZ are finally the ones. Go ahead, walk all over 'em. #75/Sun only (lower level)

Nathan Ursch's parents are antiques dealers, and now he's got the bug. He collects mid-century modern furniture and architectural pieces, and we can't wait to see what he brings for his Flea debut this (gorgeous) weekend. He works for Design Within Reach by day, so look out for the serious stuff. #35/Sat+Sun

You might remember Maurice from his days in the Lafayette/Clermont corner last fall, and now after a health hiatus he's back on his game. Maurice is eminently proud of bringing "really nice stuff" (antiques, furniture, art) to the Flea, and we hope you'll prove him right. #39/Sat+Sun

Alphaville was a great vintage toy shop on Houston St. across from Film Forum for many years, but alas it is no more. Steve and Gary have pulled a Geppetto and resuscitated Alphaville at the Flea, bringing their awesome robots, TV characters, space icons, board games, Potato People (Mr. + Mrs. P'Head), and a trove of other nostalgic goodies. Stroll down Memory Lane or teach the tykes about real fun! #78/Sat+Sun (lower level)

Bubbly MerrieDee sells a tried-and-true mix of vintage postcards, clothing, bric-a-brac, hi-fi's, small 50's modern furniture, and more at her good-times booth Woody's Cabin, up on the mezzanine. #69/Sat+Sun (mezzanine)

A trio of handmade artists new to the Flea are upping the ante at One Hanson, and they're all onboard this weekend:

Stephanie of Coral + Tusk sells at John Derian and Acorn Toy Shop—and the Flea when she's in town. Baby Flea loves her stuff, which features intricately hand-stitched pillows, framed canvases, kids clothes, and the like (above left). So good! #25/Sat only

Kate Durkin joined the Flea circus at Gifted, and now her knitted owl, whale, dachsund, and sailboat pillows (above center) are really catching on at the bank. Kate's small-scale paintings are also adorable, featuring innovative stitching patterns and child-like but very mature imagery. There's a reason why she's already shown up on Design*Sponge, Flavorpill, Apartment Therapy, and even Project Runway! #62/Sat+Sun

SKT Ceramics is Susannah's classy but cute porcelain mugs, necklaces, and beer steins featuring her hand-drawn bears, squirrels, baby penguins, and more (above right). Handmade in Brooklyn, food-safe, naturally. Up-and-coming, to be sure. #64/Sat+Sun

We caught up with Sadio and Seranie at Joe Sipo's Estate of Art Vintage Lifestyle (#40), checking out a bounty of dresses. The settled-on 20-dollar beauty will look perfect on Sadio, but perhaps Seranie will have to find himself a different outfit.

What are your names?

I am Sadio, and this is Seranie.

How old is Seranie?

He's 17 months.

Is this your first time to the Flea?

This is my first time in a long while at any flea market.

Do you live around here?

No, we live in Queens. My father has a friend here so we came with him.

So, where are you going to wear this dress?

I just bought it 'cause it's nice, nowhere specific. That's just me. If I see something that I like and I can afford it, I'm going to buy it.

What are you going to do on this cold rainy day?

Go home, maybe to the movies, but probably just relax, and stay dry.

Sounds nice. Thanks S+S!

Daylight Savings clearly took a tool on Fleasters this weekend: No winner Saturday (the cameo!), and a late winner Sunday. Hmmmm.
(Click to enlarge):
Melody and James (middle and right) from Clinton Hill hadn't been to the Flea in a bit, but in a lucky late-afternoon glance downstairs in the vault they spotted the rosewood coaster+caddy set. Such a cool Hunt item! Dina and Rob of Satyricon donated it (their second in a month, our mistake), as part of their self-proclaimed mix of "industrial, modern, and glam." (Dina's cousin Ricky (left) has been manning the booth of late.) They kill it with quality every weekend down in #79.
Check back at noon Friday for this weekend's items.