Brooklyn Flea

Simply put, another perfect day at ze Flea. Check out some of the lovelies that rolled through.

Really nice Fleas both days this weekend, thanks for comin' out. Saturday's Hunt took a little while, Sunday's was over by 10:15am.

From left (click to enlarge):

1. Saturday: Haylie Johnston (right) is an artiste in her own right (can't you tell by her groovy shades?) who was simply delighted to find the vintage Coca-Cola T, as evidenced by her sun-dappled grin. Haylie is a painter, sculptor, and installation artist: Check out her work here.

Mike gave a big thumbs-up to being Saturday's Hunt vendor, and he's generally positive and upbeat about all things Flea, which is how we like 'em. You can find him in W36 on Saturdays, or on his Vintage Pimps site.

2. Sunday: Simply smiley Sarah (right) from Park Slope was really psyched to discover the seashell sculpture on Sunday at One Hanson, and she must have come looking for it because it was barely 10am. Sarah digs ze Flea: "I love to bring out-of-town friends to the Brooklyn Flea! Friends here with me today are from D.C. and Seattle." Has a finer Hunt winner ever existed?!

She's with friendly George, who's a Brooklyn public-school math teacher by day and a vendor by weekend under the nom de Flea Un Jour, Georges. His seashell "ball" complements Un Jour's selection of nature-oriented curiosities: hand-mounted black coral seafans, bois rouge "painted wood" corals, ostrich eggs, and blown quail eggs housed in bell jars. George(s) also sells vintage pieces that go with his cool handmade stuff. His quote was simple and to the point: "It was great fun participating in the Scavenger Hunt." He'll be back at One Hanson this Sunday (booth #36).

A "Classic" item for Saturday, a crafty one for Sunday. Hunt away!

Note: The Fort Greene outdoor market happens every Saturday; One Hanson is on Sundays—indoors and outdoors. Both 10am-5pm.

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.

From left (click to enlarge):

1. Saturday: Circa 1980's "Enjoy Coca-Cola" T, size small. The Real Thing. Vintage

2. Sunday: Seashell "ball" on carved-wood pedestal. New/Handmade

Sundays at One Hanson are going back to the future. Starting this weekend, all your favorite foodies are leaving behind the (windy, dusty) back parking lot and returning to the lower-level vault every Sunday. We missed it down there too!

The vault itself has been spruced up: a new coat of paint, nice lighting (with dimmers!), and air-conditioning to keep the air moving and cool. We're also adding a bunch more tables so it's easier and nicer to hang and eat down there. Stay tuned: in June there will be more vault-related news to report....

The Flea was honored to be honored by Citizens Union, the 113-year-old civic engagement and good-government reform nonprofit, at its Spring Gala—a big deal, especially after receiving a similar accolade from the equally venerable Municipal Arts Society less than a year ago.

Senor and Mr. B. were on hand to accept CU's 2nd Annual Community Leadership Award, for our "creativity in building forums for exchange—both physical and virtual—that are strengthening New Yorkers' spirit of community." We both made heartfelt speeches and were truly humbled by the honor, despite feeling ever-so-slightly out of place in a roomful of suits in a Manhattan penthouse.

Seriously, a weekend doesn't go by when we don't stand in the middle of the Flea and gaze with wonder at the incredible, and ever-changing, vibe that's created every time we do a market. So thanks to all of you for helping make it great—onward and upward!

(We'll add an embarassing pic as soon as we get one.)

Today's Times Styles section features a profile (and slideshow) of the Flea's favorite vendor family, Peter, Jarka, and Charlie Cole (above, as a swami), as Guy Trebay follows them around for a week of scouring estate sales, junk mounds, and musty basements in search of wares for that weekend's Flea. It's a great story, so use your time reading that instead of this post.

We love the article title, "They Stalk the Banded Mink," which is reminiscent of Guy's Day One Times-Flea love note, "Scavengers on the Urban Savannah," which we just reread and got all misty-eyed.

The Coles—aka "Anodyne—are in booth W47 every Saturday in Fort Greene. Don't miss Charlie's polka-dot manicures....

What: Some of the best Pork Dumplings around, with a perfectly delicate wonton hugging a mound of pork and scallion, plus an addictive salty/sweet sauce, garnished with sesame seeds. Tangy Asian sriracha hot sauce is offered (and recommended) for the spice-lovers. The veggie dumplings are equally perfect. (New York liked 'em so much they put the recipe in the mag.)

Who: Friendly couple Ben and Sohui run The Good Fork, the critically acclaimed Red Hook resto with an Asian-inflected menu. Awesome Sam runs the Flea stand, and spins vintage vinyl on a cool old record player.

How much: $5 for 4 dumplings.

What else: The menu changes with the season, but most recently the Chicken, Meatloaf (!) and Steak Sammies have been a delicious addition.

When+Where: Saturdays in Fort Greene—and of course in Red Hook!

What: Vintage steel industrial dairy strainers, transformed into pendant light fixtures.

Who: Catherine and the gang behind the "thoughtfully designed goods" of Foundation4.

How much: The lamps range in price from 45 to 75 smackaroos.

What else: Objects from Foundation4 are practical and relevant, created with a sense of social responsibility. Try the Rescued Notebooks ($6-$12), Soy Candles ($12), or the Cork Candle Holder ($5). Bigger-ticket items include pillows, mirrors, and small tables.

When+Where: Saturdays in Fort Greene (W26) or online at Foundation4.com.

If you Flea'd with us last weekend you know we were wind-challenged—each big gust ushered in a renewed round of collective "oohs," "ahhs," and nervous groans from the huddled public. Vendors tied newby vendors' tents to their own, shoppers prevented canopies from taking flight, good times all around.

Anyone who knows Monkey (of WrecordsByMonkey, the record vinyl-recycling maniac) is smitten by his irreverent yet uber-sincere love for life and all living things. He's basically the poster boy for the Flea's positive vibe, and we love his little blog report on Flea camaraderie last Saturday in the yard.

Windswept Flea did nothing to deter Scavengers from the Hunt. Both winners had won by noon. Nice sleuthing!

From left (click to enlarge):

1. Gym (right) almost looked unhappy that he'd won, having deciphered that the image on the blog was from a Book City Jackets book cover. He promptly scampered off, muttering only that he didn't have a book he'd be covering with his prize. Humph!

He's with contrastingly friendly fun Jeremy, whose Book City Jackets are one of the "handmade" vendors we prize most highly, just because they're such a unique, dedicated concept for a biz. (They are also well-loved by the New York Times, Remodelista, and Daily Candy.) Each book cover features an artist-edition print from a BCJ series, and makes your book cooler as well as safer. It's a win-win for readers. Jeremy and BCJ have you covered in E38 in Fort Greene each Saturday.

2. Marc (middle) moved to Brooklyn a few short weeks ago, and has already figured out that ze Flea is ze place to be. He and pal David live in the Slope, checked the blog Sunday morn, found the psychedelic/mod coasters for their new home—bam-bam.

They're with Gary from Alphaville, the former Houston St. home to vintage robots, Mr. (and Mrs.) Potato Heads, and all sorts of fun/kitsch/Americana. Gary and Steve have revived the 'Ville at the Flea at One Hanson (#38), where they just had their best Sunday yet (as did old pals Charlie + Sarah btw). Good times.